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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Ftotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14SC0 

(716)872-4503 


4b- 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  iVIicroreproductions  /  Institut  cenatiian  da  microraproductions  historiquas 


j«ft?HK.',^-^-jtSJt?( 


'1^. 


/ 


Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notat  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  avallabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibiiographlcally  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignificantly  changa 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


D 


Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 

Covars  damaged/ 
Couvartura  andommag6a 

Covars  rastorad  and/or  lamlnatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurte  at/ou  palllcuMa 

Cover  title  misaing/ 

La  litre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  mapa/ 

Cartes  gAographiquaa  en  couleur 

Coloured  inic  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  platea  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planchaa  at/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  matarial/ 
ReliA  avac  d'autres  documanta 


D 


along  Interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrAe  peut  cauaar  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 

diatortlon  le  long  de  la  marge  IntArleure       4 

Blank  ieavea  added  during  reatoration  may 
appear  within  thu  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouttea 
lore  d'une  restauration  apparaiaaent  dana  le  texte, 
mala,  lorsque  cela  6talt  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  AtA  filmAes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentairea: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  la  meiilaur  exempiiiire 
qu'il  lui  a  AtA  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  r.et  cxemplaire  qui  sont  paut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibllographiqua,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
una  image  rerroduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  oxiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthoda  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-dessous. 


□ 


Coloured  pageo/ 
Pagea  de  couleur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagAea 


ir^  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Ja!^   Pagea  reataurtea  at/ou  paliiculAca 

I     I   Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 


Pages  dAcoiorAea,  tachatAea  ou  piquAes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pagea  dAtachAes 

Showthrough/ 
Tranaparence 

Quality  of  prir 

QualltA  inigala  de  I'impreaaion 

Includea  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplAmentaira 


I     I  Pages  detached/ 

[Tpi  Showthrough/ 

I     I  Quality  of  print  varlea/ 

I     I  Includea  supplementary  material/ 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  diaponibie 

Pageo  wholly  or  partially  obacured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refllmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Lea  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  fauillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  filmAea  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  moilleure  image  poasible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  eat  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


J X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


MnMMH"iM>iM*!ii» 


.timmmmmmmmmmmmm 


iar 


Th«  copy  fllmad  h«r«  has  b*«n  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganaroslty  of: 

Library  of  Congrass 
Photoduplication  Sarvica 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considarfng  tha  condition  and  iagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Itaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  apaclfications. 


Original  copiaa  In  printad  papar  covars  ara  fitmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impras- 
sion.  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copiaa  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impras- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illuatratad  imprassion. 


L'axamplaira  fiimA  fut  raprodult  grAca  A  la 
gAnArosit*  da: 

Library  of  Congrass 
Photoduplication  Sarvica 

Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  At*  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattati  da  l'axamplaira  filmA,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Las  axemplairas  origlnaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papiar  ast  ImprimAa  sont  filmAs  an  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraasion  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  iaa  autras  axamplairas 
origlnaux  sont  filmte  an  commandant  oar  la 
pramlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraasion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  talla 
amprainta. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  ^^- (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  tha  symbol  V  (moaning  "END  "), 
whichavar  appllat. 


Un  das  symbolas  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
darnlAra  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha,  salon  la 
cas:  la  symbols  -^  signifia  "A  SUIVRE  ",  la 
symbols  ▼  signifia  "FIN". 


Maps,  plataa,  charts,  ate.  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratios.  Thosa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  includad  in  ona  axposura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  cornar,  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  framaa  as 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrams  iilustrata  tha 
mathod: 


Las  cartas,  planchaa,  tablaaux,  ate,  pauvant  Atra 
filmAs  A  das  taux  da  rAduction  diffArants. 
Lorsqua  la  documant  ast  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raprodult  an  un  saul  clichA,  il  ast  filmA  A  partir 
cfa  i'angia  supAriaur  gaucha,  da  gaucha  A  droita, 
at  da  haut  an  bas,  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'imagas  nAcassaira.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
lllustrant  la  mAthoda. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

-»»"    I«»ll1i 


1 


< 


< 

■  *-! 

o 
< 


Our  Western  Empire  ; 


OR    TIIR 


NEW  WEST 

BEYOND  THE  MISSISSIPPI: 

THK   LATEST  AND  MOST  tOMPREHINSIVK  WORK   ON   TIIK 

slatts  nnlf  fitrritorics  ^<st  of  t|)e  Mississippi. 


CONTAINING 

TRE  rULLKST  AITD  MOBT  COMPLETS  DESCRIPTION,  FROM  OFFICIAL  AND  OTHEK  AUTHENTIO 
SOUBCXB,  OF  THE  OEOOnAFHY,  OEOLOOY,  AND  NATURAL  III8TORY,  (WITII  ABUNDANT 
INCIDENTS  AND  ADVENTURES,)  THE  CLIMATE,  eoiL,  AGRICULTURE,  THE  MINERAL 
AMD    MINING     PRODUCTS,      THE    CROPS,      AND     HERDS    AND    FLOCKS,    THE 
SOCIAL    CONDITION,    EDUCATIONAL  AND   RELIOIOUS  PROtiRKSS,   AND 
FUTUBB     PROSPECTS     OF     TUB    WHOLE     BBOION     LYING     BE- 
TWEEN THE    MISSISSIPPI    AND  THE    PACIFIC  OCEAN. 

TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED 

THE  VARIOUS    ROUTES,   AND    PRICES    OF    PASSAGE  AND    TRANSPORTATION    FOR    EMIGRANTS 

THITHER;    THE  LAWS,   REGULATIONS  AND  PROTI3ION8  FOR  OBTAINING   LANDS   FROM 

THB    NATIONAL    OR    STATB  GOVERNMENTS    OB  RAILROADS;     COUNSEL  AS  TO 


LOCATIONS  AND  PROCURING  LANDS,  CBOPS  MOST  PROFITABLE  FOR 

CULTURE,  MINING  OPERATIONS,  AND  THB  LATEST  PROCESSES 

FOR  THB    SEDUCTION  OF  GOLD  AND  SILVER,  THB  EZER- 


f- 


u: 


OISB  OF  TRADES  OB  FSOFESSIONS;     AND  DETAILED 

DESCRIPTIONS  OF  EACH  STATB  AND  TERRITORY; 

WITH    FULL    INFORMATION    CONCERNING    MANITOBA,   BRITISB    COLUMBIA,   AND    THOSE  RCeiOVS 

IN  TBI    ATLANTIC   STATES  ADAPTED  TO    SETTLEMENT,   BY  THOSE  WHO  DO  NOT  WISH 

TO    00    west;      and    statistics     of     CROPS,     AREAS,     RAIN7ALL,     ETC. 


,-r 


BY  L.  P.  BROCKETT,  A.  M.,  M.  D. 

3NE  OF  THK  EDITORS  OP  THE  "  NEW  AMERICAN  ENCYCLOP/ED'A,"  "  APPLi TON'S  ANNUAl,"  AND 
"JOHNSON'S  UNIVERSAL  ILLUSTRATED  CVCLOPilCDIA,"   ETC.,  ETVl,,  ETC. 


Q[H^  l^mttiratt^  Ptt$lt[ali0tt$  mtb  flap 

BY  THE  MUST   IJISTINGUISHED  ARTISTS. 

,  DiCCAJ^CED  by 


BRADLEY,  GARR^IWW'J&^dOi^.Jrtir.ent  ol  Agrlcultars 


PHILADELPHIA,  66  NORTH  FOURTH  STREET; 
BRANTFORD,  ONT. 


WILLIAM  GARRETSON  &  CO. 
COLUMBUS,  O.;  CHICAGO,  ILLS.;  NASHVILLE,  TENN.;  ST,  LOUIS,  MO.; 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 

i88a. 


'-'^MM^*S^''^^^M^M^':-m.^,Jc^^]ikQ--':i'^:rJI^^ 


T^-'Tt  ._•,:* 


•68^5 


COPYRIGHT  BY  DR.  \.    V.  BROCKlilT.  1880. 


..  .  .^.  . 


•.'•■        '.'■^  ^  :.'    ' 


sg:  iS 


>• 
'>'. 


Preface. 


N    the   summer  of    1879    the   publishers  of   this   work   entered    into 
negotiations  with   the   writer    for   the    preparation   of  a   work   on 
the  West;  it  was  to  be  an  octavo  vohime  of  about  five  hundred 
pages;    and,    having   had   considerable  experience   in   geographical 
historical  works,   the  writer   felt   confident  of  its  completion   in   thj 
early   spring  of    1880.      But    as    he    proceeded    with    his    work,    both    he 
and  his  publishers  felt  that  their  original  plan  was  too  circumscribed   for 
the  subject  before  them.     The  country  to  be  described  was  vast,  beyond  our 
ordinary  conceptions  of  vastness;  much  of  it  had  never  been  adequately  de- 
scribed, and  the  descriptions  hitherto  published  were  as  far  behind  the  existing 
facts  as  a  ten-year-old  almanac.     The  tide  of  immigration  had  doubled  and 
quadrupled  since  1876,  and  what  was  a  howling  wilderness,  with  only  a  half 
dozen  straggling  settlements,  five  years  before,  had  already  attained  the  popu- 
lation and  organization  of  a  State.     The  railways,  which  during  the  six  years 
of  financial  depression,  had  added  very  little  to  their  mileage  in  the  new  States 
and  Territories,  were  now  stretching  their  iron  fingers  across  the  continent,, 
pioneers  instead  of  followers  of  settlement  and  civilization.     The  loaded  trainu 
groaned  beneath  the  weight  of  the  superabundant  crops ;  over  all  the  hillsides 
the  cattle  .oamed,  fat,  sleek  and  contented,  in  unnumbered  thousands ;  all  the 
plains  were  spangled  with  millions  of  white-fleeced  sheep.     Along  both  slopes 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  from  Texas  to  British  America,  in  the  summits  and 
passes  of  the  Sierra  Madre,  the  Sierta  Nevada  and  the  Cascades,  as  well  as  in 
the  smaller  outlying  ranges  between,  and  even  on  the  hills  of  the  lower  Coast 
Range,  gold  and  silver,  quicksilver  and  platinum,  copper,  lead  and  zinc,  coal, 
salt  and  sulphur,  were  yielding  up  their  treasures;  and  every  day  was  adding 
largely  to  the  amount.     The  population,  which  was  pouring  into  this  vast 
empire,  was  composed  of  almost  every  people  under  the  sun ;  and  while  the 
leaven  of  sturdy  law-abiding  citizens  from  the  Atlantic  States  was  large,  it  re- 
mained to  be  seen  whether  the  amalgamation  would  result  in  an  intelligent  and 
patriotic  citizenship;  whether  education,  moral  principle,  and  higher  aims 
than  mere  money-getting,  would  gain  the  ascendency. 

(3) 


A 


-v«,^4-S^*A%ltSSwi55-ii.^-s«J.'^'a  . 


4  PREFACE, 

Then  the  year  1880  proved,  from  almost  its  beginning,  to  he  an  excejilional 
year,  cs|)ei:ially  in  its  relations  to  the  West.  Our  decennial  ccnkii  was  to  be 
taken,  and  it  would  be  possible  by  the  close  of  the  year,  but  not  earlier,  to 
ascertain  whether  the  boosted  increase  of  these  We^orn  States  and  Territories 
was  justified  by  the  cold  aid  Oirdul  etuuidrati'ilis  qf  the  census  supervisors. 
Sin  hundred  thousand  emigrants  reached  our  shores  during  the  year,  and  more 
than  twice  that  number  of  our  own  citizens  migrated  to  the  West.  The  railway 
kings  were  cnliiting  their  tyndicates  aud  making  their  combinations,  wliich 
have  resulted  in  a  twelvcmontit  in  arrangements  fur  the  sixiedy  completion  of 
four  new  trunk  routes  to  tlie  Pacific  on  our  own  tcnitory,  and  of  the  Canadian 
Paciflc  on  our  northern  border.  Eleven  States  and  Territories,  heretofore 
either  in  part  or  wholly  inacccasible  by  rail,  ore  now,  or  will  be  in  a  few 
months,  provided  with  railroad  transit  across  their  entire  breadth  or  length ; 
and  the  year  on  which  we  have  entered  is  only  carrying  out  right  royally  the 
plans  and  pto/ecto  of  its  imperial  pfedeceaaor. 

It  was  evident  to  both  publishers  and  author  that  our  plans  required  extension 
and  enlargement,  and  so  we  went  firom  ordinary  octavo  to  royal  octavo ;  from 
500  to  700,  to  1000,  aixl  finally  to  over  1300  pages.  Resolved  to  represent 
what  had  never  previously  been  even  attempted,  and  what  for  lack  of  material 
could  not  have  been  attempted  with  success-Hhe  present  condition  of  each 
of  the  States  and  Territories  «lbich  go  to  make,  up  "Our  Western  Em- 
pire"— no  pains  nor  expense  has  been  spared  to  gain  from  every  source  every 
fact  which  could  illustrate  their  topography,  geology  and  mineralogy,  climate, 
soil,  productionSi  mineral  wealth,  pastoral  facilities,  population,  accumulated 
wealth,  education  and  religion,  with  notices  of  the  Indian  tribes  found  in  their 
borders.  For  these  purposes,  every  book  and  pamphlet,  ofilcial  and  other, 
every  report,  railroad  publication,  mining  record,  every  newspaper  and  every 
telegraphic  report  affecting  any  of  these  States  or  Territories,  has  been  carefully 
scanned  to  the  number  of  ntore  than  three  thousand,  and  t  correspondence 
opened  and  maintained  with  many  hundreds  of  officiBls  and  others.  '<' 

The  result  is  before  the  public.  It  hat  been  a  labor  of  love,  notwithstanding 
the  toil  it  has  required.  That  it  is  absolutely  free  from  eaor  is  impossible ;  but 
the  great  care  which  has  been  taken  to  secure  accuracy  leads  to  the  hope  that 
there  are  no  errors  of  great  tnagnitiide.  At  all  eveints,  it  could  not  have  been 
completed  with  as  great  a  nteasure  of  perfection  as  it  now  poaaecaes,  a  day  earlier 


than  the  present. 


•tf.i'rt)<-!i.'fTir.  -'(if  "i-tifiariw  '1'%-it.  '"I    ■'  i'')''''i-'i' 


No  man  was  ever  blessed  with  more  kbdly  and  thoughtful  friends  than  the 
writer.    Every  request  for  information  has  bem  most  f  romptly  and  heartily 


\  cxcqitional 
II  wu»  tu  be 
3t  earlier,  to 
il  'IVrritorica 
I  HUptTvisors. 
»r,  and  more 
The  railway 
tions,  which 
impletion  of 
he  Canadian 
,  heretofore 
t>e  in  a  few 
1  or  length ; 
royally  the 

:d  fxtennion 

ctavo;  from 

to  represent 

of  material 

ion  of  each 

lestem   Em- 

ource  every 

fy,  climate, 

ccumulated 

nd  in  their 

and  other,  . 

and  every 

n  carefully 

spondence 

hstanding 
isible;  but 
hope  that 
have  been 
lay  earlier 

than  the 
heartily 


4 


rUF.FACR,  } 

met  by  those  to  whom  it  was  addressed ;  and  in  many  caics  voluntary  contribu- 
tions of  great  labor  and  value  have  l)een  added.  Two  most  valued  and  helpful 
correspondents  have  died  while  the  work  wan  in  progress:  his  Kxcellenry,  'Vil- 
liam  A.  Howard,  (lovernor  of  Dakota,  and  Hon.  Alfred  (Jray,  Scrrctary  of  the 
Kansas  St.ite  'ioard  of  Agriculture.  Of  the  living,  the  warm  and  hearty  thanks 
of  the  writer  are  due  to  his  Kxcellency,  Gen.  John  (,'.  Fremont,  (lOvernor 
of  Arizona,  for  valuable  information  relative  to  that  Territory;  to  Hon.  W.  H. 
H.  Headle,  of  Yankton,  Dakota,  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  of  Da- 
kota, for  much  information  and  valuable  memoranda  in  regard  to  liouthcastcrn 
Dakota  and  the  Black  Hills;  to  J.  B.  Power,  Esq  ,  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  for 
a  valuable  essay,  and  many  imporMnt  documents  in  regard  to  Montana  and 
Dakota;  to  H.  H.  Young,  Es(i.,  Secretary  of  Minnesota  Board  of  Emigration, 
for  documents,  etc.,  relative  to  Minnesota;  to  Hon.  Andrew  McKinley,  of  St. 
Louis,  President  of  Missouri  State  Board  of  Immigration,  for  letters  and  valu- 
able documents;  to  his  Excellency,  Albinus  Nance,  Governor  of  Nebraska,  for 
many  documents;  to  his  Excellency,  J.  P.  St.  John,  Governor  of  Kansas,  and 
J.  K.  Hudson,  Esq.,  Mr.  Gray's  successor  xs  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture of  that  State,  for  documents;  to  Robert  E.  Strahorn,  Esq.,  of  Omaha,  for 
valuable  documents  and  descriptions;  to  A.  L.  Webber,  Esq.,  of  Hot  Springs, 
and  to  United  States  Senator  A.  H.  Garland,  for  aid  in  regard  to  Arkansas ;  to 
A.  L.  Stokes,  Esq.,  of  Chicago,  for  valuable  documents  in  regard  to  Oregon; 
to  Edward  J.  Brockett,  of  Orange,  N.  J.,  for  many  valuable  historical  and  de- 
scriptive works;  to  Charles  C.  Savage,  Esq.,  of  Brooklyn,  for  valuable  docu- 
ments and  information  concerning  Colorado;  to  Gen.  N.  A.  Miles,  U.  S.  A., 
for  oflicial  reports  of  the  exploration  of  the  Yellowstone  region ;  and  especially 
to  Rev.  Wayland  Hoyt,  D.  D.,  of  Brooklyn,  for  his  invaluable  aid  in  regard 
to  Montana  and  the  Yellowstone  Park.  There  may  be  others  whose  aid  ought 
to  be  acknowledged,  but  whose  names  are  not  no'v  recalled.  If  so,  they  will 
please  accept  the  grateful  thanks  of  one  whose  memory  of  names  is  less  tena- 
cious than  of  loving  deeds. 

In  the  hope  that  this  book  may  contribute  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  our  be- 
loved country,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  the  writer  subscribes  himself  the 
public's  most  humble  servant.  Ln  P.  B. 

Brooklyn,  February,  1881. 


-! 


'•'.'•  ii:^^^^''^^'^^^^'^^^^^'^'*^'''  ''^■*^'*'  '■'  ''•■■■'"•'■•''' 


}^' 


■  ■W'-MSpm.i,,,-  ,,  -_  „  ,  ^y^^ljiitit^S>f10ltftlt 


Contents. 


PKirACR I 

TaHLK  OP  CoNTRNTt 7 

PART  I.— OUR  WESTERN   EMPIRE. 

CHAFrFR  I. 
What  it  CoMPmtiiKwns— The  Wmt  nrvoNO  T»r.  Mimimippi— Its  A«ia  and  V.t' 

TENT  —  COMPAHMON    WITH    OTHItR     KmI'IRKII— Cl.lMATR —  MdUNTArNH— NaTIIEAL 

Phenomena— S<ii I. — The  Alkalink,   Volcanic  and  "  IIah  I.anim"— i'R»iMmi- 

NANCE  OP   AEABI.E    ANU    rAHTCEH    I.ANtW— NUTHi  I  lOUS   (iRASSKM   IN  THE  CiKAZINO 

Lanm 33 

CHAPTER  II. 

Thi  Great  AUiEicAN  Desert  :  Where  ii  it  ?— The  HuNnREDTii  Meridian— "  Eli 
Perkins's"  Scare— The  Facts  in  Reply— Colonki  (Brevet  BriqauierGenbral) 
Hazrn  on  THE  Northern  Pacipic— (Governor  Howard's  Answer,  and  other 
Facts — Dakota— Wvomino  and  its  Aoricultvee — Montana — B.  R.  and  Mr.  Z. 
L.  White  on  its  Crops— The  small  modicum  op  Truth  in  thue  "Desert" 
Stories — The  reported  "  Desert  "  heyond  the  Rockies— The  Utah  and  Ne- 
vada Desert— Testimony  ok  Surveyors-General— The  Texan  Desert*  and 
Arizona— The  Grbat  Amirican  Dukht  a  Myth 37 


CHAPTER  III. 


) 


The  whole  Region  Abounding  in  Mineral  Wealth— Production  op  Gold  and 
Silver,  other  Metals,  etc.— Forests — Grasses — Root  Crops— Fruits— Vini- 
culture  

CHAPTER  IV. 

Wild  Animals  and  Game— Beasts  op  Prey— Grizzly  and  other  Bears— Mr.  Mur- 
phy's Grizzly  Bear  Story— The  Coucar,  Puma,  or  Panther— The  Jaguar  and 
other  Felid*— Lynxes— What  sort  of  an  Animal  a  Lynx  is- The  Martem 
and  Weasel  Tribe— The  Gray  Woi.k— The  Coyote— Is  the  Prairie  Wolp  a 
Coyote ?— Colonel  Dodge's  Opinion— Amphihia— The  Whale  TriBe— Birds  op 
Prey— Perchers  and  Song  Birds— Pickons  and  Grouse— Waders  and  Swim- 
1UR»— Reptiles— Fishes— Mollusks  and  Crustaceans— Domestic  Animals..  . . 

CHAPTER  V. 


5« 


56 


Population— The  Increase  since  1870— Tables  Showing  the  estimated  Increase  in 
bach  State  and  Tbrritort — Notes  in  regard  to  each  State  and  Territory.    63 

(7) 


oK^iiS3«S*'S*&4?4'7^"v'i: :: 


n 


coyntArnr. 


ni.MTFR  VI. 
The  NArioNAMTiM and  Kai-m  KiriMKNrrn-  I'iir  iNiiiANt— DirrttRNT  lf\»m,  and 

TliriR  <'MA*A('Trill«TI<'<<      'I'llR    MiNvl'li   i>t>    ARI/oNA  —  Nort   (ONI'tRNINil    TIIVM  — 
ArRICANH  ANn  ('»M>RRtl    rrRtilNH   IIRNRRAII.V--(.'HINRaR  AND  jArANMt  — IIUrANO- 

Ammu'^m— KuRorMN*  or  nirr>RRNT  Nationalitirr— Hrituh,  I'ritirm  Ammi- 

TAN.  r.KRMAN,  SCANDIJI^Vi^  f*P*^U,    ll'MJAH,  ^IrMtKM,  »(('.— AMRRICANI  RORN 

IN  THR  SrATRM r<  ■  ■.  j.  ■•,■ , M 

CHAPTKR  Vir. 

CMAHArTTiintir*  Attn  PrnriiARiTiM  or  riii'  roi'in.ATioM— Ifi'MrtRoiw  hnnm  ortHB 
Ki.KNiiiNii  i>r  DirrriirNr  NAtroN*  -  I'Mr  Nrw  r>iAi.ri'T— Spri-imkn*  <ir  it-Tiu 
rRiirrNtirv  ro  li t ¥")><>*'*  i'>>(AsMik.RAi'ii>M  iMiu^Nti,  N|A»9(RfiA>(D  Hariti  nr 
KANrii  i)WNiR»  AND  ft ANriiMrN— 0)1  oNrrit  or  inrrrRrisT  WATtoNAiitiM  and 
KRi.KiioNi— Mr.NN(iNiTi'!t~SrtiN:>ii'ni— M<  RMoN»— ('athoi.ic-  Rmkiratkin— Amk>- 

MATIilNit  OK  <'APITAtl»<IH  KOR  MlNlNO,  HkrDINO,  W(M)|, OROWINO,  »>R  FaRMINO  PUR- 
I09BI— UTHRK  MuPUUr  hRTTLRMKNT „      Jt 


CHAKl  KK   Vlir. 

VARimr    OF   SOIIJI    AND   RllRPArr— Al  KAtlNR    I.A'^DI— TlfR   I.J.ANO  EsTArADO — Mk- 
gUITE     I.ANIW — TlIK    I't.AINH— TPK     DaD     I.AND^i— KIVRR  Ho  I  TOM     I.ANIW— SoiU 

— TiiR  Mulatto  iioiu— Tiir  CiuxoLATk  )[)Q1i.»— Urooraphv  and  (jkocinurv— 

(fKOI.Of;Y— C'l|ARArTFRI»TI''S  OK  TlIK  U<M  KV  MOUNTAINS- -(JtAcrAI,  Er  «ION— 
HORSR-^HOR    MORAINM — VoI.rANIi'    KKMAINt    Of    TIIR    YRM^nVSTONR  COUNTRY— 

The  OEV!iKR!t— WoNorRKi  I.  I.ava  Hki  im—VoiiANic  MouNDu — The  Vicinity 
ov  SAtT  Lake— Prokp-ssor  (ii  ikik's  Simmakv  ok  tiik  («r.oi.<viY  op  niE  Central 

RP^ION— MiNRRAIWJV— MiNr.RAI.  WPAITII  OK  THE  WruT,  NOT  SUKPAMRD  IN  /.NY 
OTHER    PART    OP    THK     C.I.OHK— V  ;|iK     DIH-UMON     OP    (loi.D    AND    SILVER — LEAD, 

CopppR,  Zinc— Iron  p<>und  Kvprywiikhk-Nkkpi— Rarer  Mktaiji — Sai.t  in 
Urine  Sprinim.  I.akm,  Salt  Mar»iiE!i.  and  K<k  k  Salt— RnRAX— Aaphaltum 
AND  Pp.tpolk.um -I.KiNiTP— Coal— BiiiLDiNr.SToNEii— CoioRRD  Rocks  and 
Clays— Precious  Stones  op  all  kiko^— Porcelain  Clays— HARVTA—OciiRRa 
—Mineral  SniiNOR 8i 


CHAPTER  IX. 


.'/       «  !• 


CUMATES— VaRIKTIPS     OP     Cl.IMATE— CAUSES- Cl.IMATE      OK     NoRThWeST     COAST — 

Small  Rancsk  op  Tkmprrature  on  the  Calipornia  Coast- Extremes  or 
Heat  am.  Cold  hktwep.n  the  Coast  Rani.e  and  Sierra  Nevada— Colp  iif 
r^oRTHF.RN  Dakota— pROTRArTED  AND  intense  Meat  at  Fort  Yuma— The 
Soldier's  Tkst— Temperature  on  the  I'iains— The  Rocky  Mountain  Cli- 

{lATE— Hot  at  Min-DAY,  Cool  at  Niciit— Annual  Range  prom  55°  to  65" — 
Ip.althfulnk.ss  op  this  Climatk,— Rainfall- Great  Variations— Compari- 
ion  or  different  Sections— Western  Orecon  and  Northern  Caupornia, 
123  to  13s  INCHES— San  Dieco  and  Fort  Yuma,  3.80  to  a.oo  inches— Gulp 

(?0AST  54  to  67  INCHES — MISSISSIPPI  RiVKR  TO  97TH  MkRIDIAN  45  TO  38 
INCHES— 97TH    TO    II7TH    MP.RinfAN   Sf   TO    II. 5    INCHES— FARTHER   WP.ST,   33  TO 

43  INCHES— Causes  op  deficient   Rainfall— Two  thirds  of  Arable  Lands 

fto  not  rpouirr   Irrioation— One-third   do — Advantages  of  Irrigation — 

*    Crops  larger  and  more  uniform— Winds— Character  and  Effect  or  Dl^ 


■i^w"M<Mrwi^mry- 


CCNTMfirx 


IM,  AND 

rum— 

IlirANO- 

Amibi- 

Nt  NOBN 


1  or  TME 
IT— THI 

ARiT*  nr 
riM  ANII 
H—KWh 
INO  VV%- 


T« 


Kv— Mm- 
«— Soiu 

R  »|I>N— 
)UNTtV— 

Vicinity 
Cbntial 

IN  /.NY 

—  Lkad, 

SaI T    IM 

PHAl.Ttm 

Kl       AND 

OCIIRU 


81 


Coast — 
KMEs  or 
CoLp  iif 
tIA— Thv 

AiN  Cm- 

TO  65"— 

OMPARI- 

JFDRNIA, 

B— Gutr 

to   38 

t,  33  TO 

Lands 

;ation-- 

or  Dir> 


rMiNT  WiNM— TiiR  Winim  r«iNi  fM*  Nii«rH->^>i'i.r  WiNtM— Tmr  l|i»r  Winim 
rRiiM  Mkxhu — IHMitiiiiiiiv  or  tmrir  MiiuiArioN  a*  tiu  CotwrRV  hxomu 
Sirrt.Ru, ^ 

CHAPTER  X. 

Th«  VAtiof«  PRcwr««B<  or  Mi.<iNn^ri.ActR  Mininu— (ioin  DiirovrRV  in  ('Ai.irot* 

KU— MAB»HALL'*    HpBi  IMBNI>-lli;MrilAKV    MAKM    A     KtMKKB  —  l'.    11     KSAUINU't 

KxrkBiMBMT— John  Iiuiwiu.l'«  1)im.-ovmv— Imtuiib  ExiurBMBNt— Tub  Tam*- 
Thb  KiHKiiB  -  rim  Diit  u  AND  tiu  "Tom"— Tub  Suiicb-IIvhraiii.ic  Minim<i 
—illvitBAiJi.ii'.  MiMNo  Nor    .»riiKri^t)k«oLArioN  or  tmr  Kr,i>i>i,N»  wiikbb  it 

IIA(    }MI,*.H    fBAiTIIKIk— Loi>B    nB    IjirWii    MlNINU^ I'BVB     I'ltAUNK    VklN»— TMB 

"CovNrBv"  Hock— Chimnrv«,  Cm n^,  or  ItoNAN/Ait-t'cx  kkp — i'».M>:Nr  Dr- 
ro«iT»— CoNTAi  f  U>iiBa— What  i»  mbant  »v  a  t'oNTArT  I,i>iiK-<.'ARMnNArBi  or 

SlIVfR    A1     Rh  II    A%    SDLPMI'RKT* — (iiil.lt    KiMniNKO    WITH    Slil.l-lll'RRTN— MlNIWt 

ANII  KHiairiMO  Frocrhrr — HiNNiN-i  A  MiiAr-r— •Kdnnincj  an  AiHT^-CumNn  A 
WiNiB— MToriNn— DBrrii  or  Mimbb— ('bbai  Mbat  i»r  Dmhi*  Mikbk-  Tiik  Watbb 
VBBV  Hot,  154*  F.  OB  MoRR— t:o«T  or  ri'MriNo  wt  AND  VrNriiAriNi,  Minr»— 
Tub  KriMti'TioN  or  I'VRiToim  and  otmkr  Orks— (tout  with  Oxidk  <>r  Iron-* 
Cort  or  Kki>ii(tn>n  or  <fOiik_litiicovHBiBii  or  Hii.vrb  Orbs — Siivkb  wiobi.y 
itirruKRK— Varioik  Condition*  and  CoMiiiNAnoNi  or  Hii.vrb  in  tmk  (>Br>— 
MouRo  or  RRMiiinrioN— Tub  rbht  Mininc  Kkuiuns— Piai  bb  Minimi  i  tub  kbit 
IxK-ATiiiN«— DirruuiTirjt  or   I'i.ai  kr    Minino— Dirricui.TiKH  ok  l.«iii|r,  or  Vbin 

MlNINi^^TlIB  HBST  MlNBB  BOUOII?  tr  BV  CAriTALIsTS — TlIK  IIK>r  I.IH.ATIONR  fOB 
ExrBBTt 101 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Othbb  Mbtalb  and  Mini  >  "-  PBowic-n — (jvicK  ilveb— In  ExiiiTBMrK  a.:  Cinna- 
bar—Coi'pbb — I'OUNII   IN  VABIOCS   KoBMD,  ah   MaI.AI  IIITB,   HRO,   llLUB,  VBi.i.nw, 

ano  ViTRr.ouB  Cabbona''x«  an»  OxniBH,  (JocrRB  Clanck,  IVritrb,  Nativr,  rr-'., 

OCt'URS    IN    NKABLV  ALL  THB   STATM   AND   TKRRIIORIM— I-BAP   AND  /.INt— liOTH 

Occur  bitmrb  as  (iai.bna  (Kulphdrkt),  Carhonatr  or  Oxinx,  in  Mmr  or  tkr 

STATRR  ano  TRBBITORIBS— IBON— EVBBVWHBBB  and  in  all  F0R.MS  IN   rilK  (iBKAT- 

«it  AHi;Ni)AN«r— Can  Surri.v  the  World  with  Ibon  am>  ST«r.i.— I'i  AriNifM~ 
FouND  Purr  and  in  Comhin  .ion  with  (ioi.n,  Ibidium  ano  Iridonmin  in  Cali- 
roBNiA,  Orb(U>n,  Colobaiio,  anl  Abizona — Tin — OocvRi  ai  Camitknitb  or 
Oxidb—Nickbl— Found  in  IronObbs — Iridium  and  Osmium— Trllubium—Rabb 
Mrtals  Found  in  Combination  with  (Iold,  and  thb  ij^tteb  aijio  with  (Joi'Pxb 
— Antimony— Absbnic—Manoanf-sb — The  thrrk  Found  in  Variuds  I'okm.h  in 

COMHINATION  WITH  SILVER,  CorPBR,  LrAD,  ZiNC,  AND  IRON— Sui.PHUR— KnI'ND  NA- 
TIVE AND  IM  Various  Combinations  with  M(ht  or  the  Metals— Extknmvk  Beds 
IN  Califobnia,  Nevada,  Utah,  Arizona,  Nfav  Mexico,  Yrllowstonk.  Park,  etc. 
— Borax— In  California  and  Nevada — Soda— In  California,  Nkvada,  and 
Utah— Salt — Coal — Four  Distinct  Coal  Fields:  Eastf.rn,  Uitiminoi's;  Sec- 
ond, LioniteCbbtaceous;  Third,  LigniteTertiarv,  hut  chanckd  iiv  Vouanic 
Action  to  Anthbacitk;  Fourth,  Bituminous,  and  Farthkr  Nor  ih,  An  riiR.\ciTi 
— True  Anthracite  Coal  also  in  Arizona— Asphaltum  and  Pkikolh  m  im 
California,  Nevada,  Wvomino,  Colorado,  and  Montana— Mica — Alum- 
Kaolin— Wood  and  Charcoal  aa  Fuel— Mineral  Springs lit 


i:{|.Jl.-J3Si' '.Vtifci.i*  ■ .  ■•-|- 


--t.lv 


10  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

AoniCULTURB— ARABLK  LANDS  EAST  OF  THRROCKY   MOUNTAINS—  MINNESOTA  F^r.MIWO 

Lands  ank  I'roducts — Dakota  Territory  Farming  Lands — Montana  Farms — 
Iowa  Farms— Missouri  Farming  Lands — Neiiraska  Farming  Lands — Kansas 
Varmino— Arkansas  Farms— The  Indian  Territory  as  a  Farming  Region— 
Texas  Farming,  (  jrain,  Cotton,  etc.— Revikw  of  Farming  Lands  East  ok  Rocky 
Mountains— Much  Poor  and  Indi/ferent  Farming — Revolution  in  Farming 

PRODUCKD  IIV  ACRICULTURAL  MACHINERY— RoOT  CROPS— COTfON — SUGAR — FRUIT 

Culture — Thxtile  Fibres  and  Tobacco— The  Rocky  Mountain  Region — Won-        « 

DERFUL  KkSULTS  OF  IRRIGATION — UeYOND  THE  RoCKIES— FROM  THE  SlERRA  NE- 
VADA TO  THE  Coast  Range — Califori|m — Viniculture  in  California— The 
Products  of  Oregon  and  Washington.TT iji 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Timber  and  Lumber — Rkcklku  Waste  or  the  Forest  Growths- Only  eight  States 
AND  Territories  have  Sufficient  Forests  for  their  own  Supply,  and  some  to 
Spare — Tree- Planting — The  Forest  Growths  in  Different  Sections— Cal- 
ifornia FoKF-STS — What  Tref^  \re  Planted-  Cotton- Wood— Osage  OranCe 
— Catalpa — Maple,  etc.  —  The  Eucalyptus  Globulus  Should  be  Planted- 
Why? — Horticulture  and  Fruit-Culture-  Floriculture — Wild  Flowers — 
Market-Gardening 


M7 


.'    H 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

New  Directions  in  which  Agricultural  Industry  may  be  Developed,  and  in 
which  it  is  already  Developing— Millet  and  other  Forage  Crops — Silk- 
Culture —  Rearing  the  Silk-worm — Stifling  the  Cocoons — Reeling — The 
Filature — .Sciiapp*  or  Spun-Silk— Cocoons  do  not  bear  Transportation  well 
— Advantages  ok  Silk-Culture  in  the  West  — The  SiLKVi>.t.E  Experiment — 
Prices  or  Raw  Silk  and  of  Silkwokm  £ggs — Probability  of  a  Large  Demand 
FOR  Raw  Silk — Textile  Fibres- Flax  and  Hfmp — Paper  Stock  :  Esparto 
Grass,  Tule,  Marsh-Mallow,  etc. — Ramie,  Jute,  Tamiico — ^Thk  Nettle — Dye 
Stuffs— Cochineal— Oil-Producing  Plants— The  Olive— Cotton-Seed  Oil— 
Hemp-seed  and  Linseed  Oil — Oil  of  Sunflower  Seeds  and  other  Seeds— Se- 
samum  Indicum — Tar  Weed  (Madia  Sativa) — Pea-nut,  Ground-nut  or  Goober 
^-Castor  Bk-an  (Ricinus  Communis  and  Sanguinarius) — Tea  and  Cofkee  Culti- 
vation—Fruit AND  Nut-bearing  Treks  and  Shrubs— The  Olive— Oranges 
AND  Lemons— Pomegranate— Fig— Banana,  Plantain,  Pineapple,  Guava  and 
OTHER  Tropical  Fruits — Papaw — Nut-bearing  Trees  and  Shrubs — Introduc- 
tion ok  Foreign  Nuts — English  Walnut  —  Itauan  Chestnut — Almond — 
Other  Fruit-bearing  Shrubs — Japanese  Persimmon,  Carob,  Jujube,  Mezquiti, 
etc—Trees  and  Shrubs  containing  Tannin— The  Sumacs — The  Wattles — 
The  SpiRiBAS  or  Hardhacks 153 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Stock-raising— Cattle-hkrdino,  and  the  rearing  or  Horses  and  Mules — Ths 
Grazing  Lands— The  Stock-growing  Region,  par  exeeUeHee-rVfiirTsx.  Care  or 
Stock — NiniBER  or  Cattle  in  the  West  in  1879— The  Herdsmen  or  Cow-boys 
— Stock-raising  PRoriTABLs  ir  well  managed— Stock-raising  in  Texas — Cu- 


♦  <♦. «.!!.  *«*»j^iaaTBf<rwrai!j'  r" 


CONTENTS, 


II 


A  Farms — 
)8 — Kansas 
I  Rkgion — 
r  OK  Rocky 
N  Farming 
lAR— Fruit 

ION — WON- 
)IKRRA  NR- 

RNiA — The 


131 


BHT  St  AXIS 
ND  SOME  TO 
IONS — Cai.- 
GE  ORANCE 

Planted — 
Flowers — 


M7 


ED,  AND  IN 
[OPS — SlLK- 

LiNG — The 

lTION  WELL 
'ERIMENT — 

Demand 
Esparto 

ITLB— DVE 

>eed  Oil- 
seeds— Se- 
9R  Goober 
fee  Culti- 
Orangrs 

UAVA  AND 

Introdoc- 
\lmond — 
Mezquite, 
Vattles — 


15a 


MAT1C  Advantages — Pasturing  on  the  Great  Ranges,  or  on  one's  own  Land- 
Expense  or  rearing  Cattle  in  Texas— The  two  eIxtrembs  in  Stock-raiiino  in 
Texas— ExAMPLiCs — Beuinnin(>  on  a  Small  Scale — Growth  op  a  Texas  Stock- 
ranchk — Stock-raising  in  Kansas  and  Colorado — Joint-Stock  Management 
or  A  Ranche— The  Colorado  Cattle  Company's  Estate  of  Hkrmosillo^— 
Another  Colorado  Company— Statistics — The  Estimate  ck  Mr.  A.  A.  Hayes, 
Jr.— The  Difference  of  Profit  bltween  "  Store  "  Cattle  and  "  Fat  "  Cattle 
— Mr.  Barclay's  Account— The  English  View  ok  the  Matter — Stock-raising 
IN  THE  Northern  and  Northwestern  States  and  Territories — Shelter 
and  Food  for  Stock— Future  Advantages  for  Shipping  Choice  Stock  from 
these  States  and  Territories  to  Europe  —  Dairy- Farming — Stock-raising 
and  Dairy-Farming  in  California — Horse-Farming  and  Rearing  Mules — 
Camels t 

CHAPTER  XVI. 


16S 


rLES— Th« 
Cake  op 
Cow-boys 

XAS— Cu- 


Shkrp-Farming  and  Wool-Growing — Number  of  Sheep  and  Annual  Increase  of 
LAM.IS  IN  each  State  or  Territory — The  Great  Wool  States— Improving 
the  Breed  —  Merinos — Cotswolds  —  Southdowns — Leicesters— Tastes  Dif- 
fer— Perils  of  the  Flocks  from  Cold,  Starvation,  and  Thirst — Winter 
Shelter  and  Winter  Food  Necessary  in  Kansas  and  farther  North — Dis- 
eases of  Sheep— -The  Scab— The  Tick— Grub  in  the  Head— The  Pale  Disease 
— Paper  Skin — The  Foot-rot — The  Plack-leg — Pleuro- Pneumonia,  etc.— The 
Sheep  that  Browse  and  the  Sheep  that  Crop  their  Food — Shruds  and 
Plants  Poisonous  to  Sheep— Sheep-Farming— The  Shepherds— The  Sheep- 
Farmer  IN  Colorado— The  Purchase  of  the  Sheep-Farm— Buying  the  Sheep 
— The  Account— Beginning  on  a  small  Scale:  the  Man  with  only  f  1,000 — 
Not  Advisable  TO  Marry,  or  bring  a  Family  to  a  Sheep- Farm  when  starting 
■with  a  very  Small  Capital— Crossing  the  Breed  with  the  Big-Horn— The 
Angora  and  other  Goats— The  Rocky  Mountain  Goat i 180 

'  CHAPTER  XVII. 

Employments  in  Cities,  Towns  and  Villages- "A  Man's  cot  to  have  Sand  "—No 
P».ACE  for  Men  easily  Discouraged— Energetic  and  Industrious  Men  can  do 
WELL— Horticulture,  Floriculture,  Arboriculture  —  How  to  Succeed  in 
THESE  Pursuits— Mercantile  Business— The  Road  to  Success  for  the  Trades- 
KAN— Banking  — The  Professions,  Clergymen,  Lawyers,  Physicians,  En- 
gineers, Artists,  Musicians,  and  Teachers  of  Music,  Vocal  and  Instrumental 
—The  Love  of  Music  Illustrated— TrtB  Leadville  Miner  and  his  Piano- 
Teachers  and  Educators — Provisions  for  Education  in  the  States  and  Terri- 
tories— Artisans  of  all  Trades— Machinists,  -Operatives,  and  EMPLovfis  in 
Manufacturing  Establishments— Employments  connected  with  Mining,  Re- 
DUCIN3,  Smelting  and  Refining  Metals— Farming,  Herding,  and  other  Em- 
PLov&s— Day-Laborers— How  to  Spell  "  Lynx  "-Facilities  for  Manufactur- 
ing—Water-Power, Steam-Power— Woollen  Manufacture— Cotton  Manu- 
factures AND  Cotton  Seed— Other  Textiles— Iron  and  Iron  Wares— 
Machinery— Manufactures  of  Wood,  etc 191 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  Future,  the  Glorious  Future  or  this  Grand  Empire  ov  the  West— Tii« 
Cavsu  which  have  led  to  its  Growth— Bishop  Berkeley's  Prediction— Thi 


r.'gls^^M^i^^^iS^^^l'^'*'^^^^^^^^'^- 


■^ifi!' -^'---^-^  *?■%*• -^:i^-'^-:>:iJ&<':^ 


^:^^fi£sftt  >'.5i,  •■■! W&i;.i .  *>-  i 


II 


coNrBNrs. 


. 


f  f  t 


> 


"HMPiRie"  iiR  SAMT— Thb  Ckrm  oftk,;  Grkat  Republic— What  the  Empirk  (i, 

AMD  WHAT  IT  IS  TO  ■« — IT8  GROWTH  ANIl  FUTVRE  CAPACITY— THE  FOTURE  Ctl- 
MATIt— TllK  KUTIRB  SOII.  ASP  PRODUCTIVENKaS — INE'.UENCR  OF  RAILROADS  IN  DE- 
VELOPING THIS  Kkoion — The  Gold  and  Sii.vkr  Mink  as  aiding  in  the  Devkl- 
oPMKirr  of  thp.  Country — The  Future  of  the  Mines  of  the  Precious  Mf.taij — 
Ti«  Wkstkrn  Ru)pb  or  the  Rocky  MoirNTAiNs  full  of  ({old  and  Silver— 
Rbwlts  OF  I ncreaskd  Production  OF  Gold  and  8ilver— Effect  of  Increased 
P«ouucTioN  OF  other  Metai-s — No  Metal  but  Tin  to  be  Imported— Mineral 
Barths  and  Elimbnts  to  bb  Developei>— Coal — Petroleum— Metallic  and 
MmHiAL  Products  or  the  Far  West  in  i88a — Thf.  Production  of  a.  d.  1900 

•—VegRTABLF.    I'RODUCTS  —  WHEAT  —  TWO  THOUSAND   MILLIONS  OV  BUSHELS  IN 

1900— Indian  Corn — Corn  Crop  of  i879--Influknces  affecting  the  Futurk  of 
THIS  CroP'-Sukuuum— Sorghum  Sugar-^Its  Future  Production  and  GoNStiMP- 
TION — Oats— Barley— Rye — Buckwheat — Egyptian  Rice  Corn — Rice,  Not*— 
Summing  up  of  Cereal  Pkoducti —  Root  Crops — Potatoes — Sweet  Potatoes — 
Other  Root  Crops— Difficulty  of  Determining  theiii  Amoun  r— Orchajio 
Products- Textiles— Cotton~Thk  Future  Demand  for  Cotton  —  Woolt- 
WPOL  Clip  in  a.  d.  I9<x»— Silk — Probability  of  thu  large  Production  of  Raw 
Silk  here— Other  Textiles— The  Hay  Crop- Pairv  Products— Tobacco- 
Sugar,  NOT  from  Sorghum— Hops— Oilbearino  Plants  and  Sekds^Summary 
OF  Vegetable  Products,  exclusive  of  Cereals— Fisheries  of  tuk  Pacific  and 
THE  Gulf,  of  the  Lakes  and  Rivers  of  the  Interior— Fish>Culturb,  Present 
AND  Prospective— Live-Stock  in  1880  and  1900— Forest  Protjucts— Various 
Ways  in  which  Wood  is  used  and  destroyed — Probable  Value  uf  Forsst 
fRODUcrs  in  1900 — Manufactures— Future  of  Manufactures — Commerce- 
Internal  ANp  Interstate  Commerce— Its  indescribable  F<xtent— General 
Summary  —  Character  of  Future  Population — Little  Danger  o«f  War- 
Indians- Probable  Early  Extinction  of  Indian  Tribes— The  Colored 
Race — The  Mexicans,  Chinese  and  Japanese — Probability  of  a  large  Influx 
or  Chinese  on  the  Pacific  Coast  in  the  hear  Future^European  Immigrants 
— Emigrants  from  the  Eastxv  United  States — The  Character  of  its  Citi- 
zBRs  the  best  Guaranty  of  its  Future 206 


•■■■  i  '  i!i  Ht)I  •     .'  :  '  •• 

■  ■'      ■■11AV\ 


f'     r  4 . 

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tn  '.;.'•     .   . 

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■;;,1    . 

PAR 

.IV'V'-' 

/•■  ,;i^.«  »A  -  i  /' . 

PART  n.—IMMIGRATIQN.     ;; 


CHAPTER  I. 


Who  ShouLD  Migrate  to  this  Western  Empire,  and  the  Reasons  Why— DipjRA- 

BLENESS    OF    ACCURATE  INFORMATION— W HAT  ENGLISH   ANp  IRISH  FARMERS    ARE 

Saying — This  Book  tho^ioughly  Trustworthy,  and  written  lyiTH  no  Inter- 
est but  the  Immigrant's  to  5erve-t-Intentional  ^nd  Unintentional  Misrep- 
resentation— Who  should  not  come— The  Land-Grant  I<Iailwav  Companies, 
and  the  Emigration  Societif^— The  Hardships  to  which  the  Immigrant  was 
Subjected  Thirty  or  Forty  Years  ago — The  compa!iat;ve  Ease  and  Comfort 

'  OF  THB  IMMIGRANT'S  LOT  NOW — TlIE  IMMIGRANT  SHOULD  NOT  BUY  HIS  LaND  BEFORE 

seeing  it — Ail  Lands  not  ^ual^y  pssiRAPUB-tRAiLWAY  Pamphlets  and  Em- 

lORAT!  s  Society  Circulars  sometimes  Overstate  Advantages— The  Immigrant 

mbui  >  Examine  vor  Himsblf— Age  beyond  which  CMkrkAnoN  is  tTNDsSriiABLE 

—Or   E&  Classes  who  ouoht  not  to  coUe— Invalids— Lazy  "PEofLK— Fickle 


CONTENTS. 


:  Empirr  is, 

DTURE  CU- 
)ADS  IN  Df.- 
rilE  DlVEL- 
S  MICTAI.S — 

D  Silver — 

Increased 

—Mineral 

rALLic  and 

f  A.  D.  1900 

Bushels  in 
futurk  ok 
>  GoMSWai'- 
ice,  No/e — 
Potatoes — 
-Orcma«o 
—  Wool— 
ON  OF  Raw 

ToiACCO — 

-Summary 

'acific  and 
B,  Present 
1— Various 
of  forbst 

1MMERC&— 

-^General 
oif  War- 
Colored 
LGE  Influx 

MMIGRANTS 
IF  ITS  CiTI- 


IS' 


20« 


'— Pl^lRA- 
IMERS  ARE 
NO  iNTEt- 
X  MlSREP- 
rOMI'ANIES, 
3RANT  WAS 

)  Comfort 
lND  before 

•S  AND  EM- 
MMIGRANT 
DE^riiABLE 

s— Fickle 


PIOPLS— THOIk  WHO  HAVE  NO  MONEV— AMOUNT  OF  CAPITAL  NECF.SSARY— Tutf 
VARIES  WITH  THE  OCCUPATION — WhAT  ARE  NecHSBARY  EXPRNBKS—A  LTRRNATIW 

FOR  Men  who  have  only  £100  or  lk':^,  and  a  Family — iiiNui.K  Men  can  an 

ALONU,  TIIUUUH  NOT  WITHOUT  HARDSHIPS  AND  I'RIVATIONB — VVllV  SOME  EmICRANTS 
ARE  Ul&>AriSFIEO-^<*OUR  WESTERN  EMVIRK  "  PKIilFEHREU  TO  OTHER  COUNTRIES  BY 

THE  Emigrant-^ Why  ? , 337 

CHAPTER  II.' 
The  Routes  by  which  "  Our  Western  Empire  "  is  Keached-~What  the  Immiorant 

SHOULD  00  ON  REACHING  CASTLE  UARUBN — THE  JoURNEV   AT   BBST  A   WeARISOMK 

one — The  Northeastern  Region — Chicago  the  Point  of  Departure  for  this 
Region— Cautions  and  Advice  to  the  Immigrant  when  Travbllinc— The  Cen- 
tral Region — St.  Louis,  Omaha,  St.  Joseph,  Atchison,  or  preferably  Kansas 
City  the  Points  of  Departure  for  this  Region,  and  for  most  of  the  South> 
rrn,  Southwestern  and  Pacific  Regions  also — The  Southern  and  Southwest- 
ern States  and  Territories  also  reached  by  Steamers  on  the  Mississipii  and 
the  Gulf,  and  these  and  thk  Pacific  States  by  Ocean  Steamers  from  New 
York — The  Southern  Region — The  Southwestern — The  Pacific  States  and 
TxRRiTORiEs— Time  occupibd  by  the  Emigrant  Trains  and  the  Steamexs— 

TABLE  of  DESTINil[TI'>N8,  ROUTES,  POINTS  OF  DEPAHTURK  AND  FARES  IN  THE  AUTUMN 

OF  1879 248 

CHAPTER  III. 

The  Selection  of  a  Farm — How  to  obtain  Land — Various  Ways  in  which  an  Im- 
migrant with  Capital  may  obtain  a  Farm  very  Reasonably — Advice  to  the 

iMMlGkANT  WHO  HAS  BUT  LIITLE  CAPITAL — In  WHAT  STATES  AND  TERRITORIES,  OR 

PARTS  OF  States,  are  there  Arable  Government  Lands  ? — How  to  obtain  Gov- 
ernment Lands — Prices  .of  Arable  or  Farming  Lands — Purchase  at  Auction 
or  Privatb  Entry— Purchases  and  Locations  with  Bounty  or  Military  Lani>- 
Warrants— Locations  with  Agricultural  College  Scrip— Pre-emption— Th» 
Homestead  Sales- Laws  extending  the  Homestead  Privilb<3B— Provisions 
for  the  Benefit  op  Soldiers  and  Sailors  of  the  lath  War,  their  Widows  and 
Minor  Orphan  Children — Homestead  LandS' Exempt  from  Liability  for  Debts 
Previously  Contracted— Fees  for  Homeoteao  Entries— Land-Warrants— 
The  Timber-Culture  Act— Terms  and  Mode  of  Purohaob/  of  Timber  and 
Stone  Lands—  Tub  Desert  Land  Act-»Purchases  under  it— Grazing  Lands.' 
how  Secured. , ». ,. ^ . , . .  4 ,  254 

„r/!i«  <!,',•,  Hjn.iA    AuTf .  CHAPTER  IV.    ,^,.,;  ^.^^^    .^.,,_^ ,  _  ,  ,  .,^,.j, 
MiNiNeAin>Miratiuu..LAi«De— The  Unitld  States  Law»  AAd'  lUniyiATioNS  op  tMt 

LaMD  OvnCI  IN  RBGAU]  TO  THEM— EXTENT  OF   ClWLlMk^Rn(lllT8'OF  CLAIMANT»— 

Veins— 'How  CoNTKOLLBD^TUNNELiKG—REQUiRKMRNTs^r  Location  and  Labob 

— HOTV  TO  SECUXS  A  Pa/TENT  for  them— •PROVtSlONg  tO%  PL4CBR>GlAIMS— LlkilTA- 

YiONS  AND  Lis)i»— Placer  and  Lode  Cuiims  JoiNTbV-^FKn  to  Surveyors — 
Proot  OF  Claims— Veins  Crossing— Sites  pom  Mills— Drainmoe,  Easemenis, 
ETC. — Vested  Watkr-^rhuit>^Homesti>ads — AoRicuLTUttAL  Lands— General 
Psevisioif— Coal  LA«tBS-^WHa  oan  Ckam- RB6isn>ERiNe  Ciaiiis— CoNFLicrtwi 
Claus-^Thb  ao3  ct  i874<u.TiiK  Act  «i>  1879— Rvt.cs  at  trs  U.  S.  Land  Omu 

— £fVBCT  or  TUB  Adl  OF  J87J — EjiTENT  Of  SURFAOB  GlfMnto— ^StTRVAeK  RfOHT*^ 

;^  The  Miner's  Laws  or  RuL£ST-.-lNTEftp.RETATioN  of  the  SvAmvaa  by  TBB:Liui»i: 
Office — General  Instructions  from  Surveyor-General- Placer  Claims— 


^m 


^*^«S>*4Fi^ 


14 


CONTENTS, 


I 


Mill  Sitbs— DKrirrY-SuRVKVoii's  Fus— Proofs  or  Citizenship  or  Mining  ClaiU' 
ANTS— State,  Tbrxitorial  and  Local  Kulks  or  Laws — Nevada  Statutes — Vir- 
ginia District,  Nevada— Reese  River  District,  Nevada— Statutes  or  Oregon 
^^uartz  Statute  or  Idaho — Statute  or  Arizona— Mining  Laws  or  Colorado 

— SUFl-LKMENTARV  ACT  TO  THESE  LAWS   PASSED   IN    I874— THE  COLORADO  ACf  Or 

1877— Mining  Laws  or  New  Mexico 370 

CHAPTER  V. 

Other  Lands  in  some  or  the  States  more  Desirable  roR  Emigrants  than  Govekn- 
ment  Lands— State  and  Territorial  Lands — Agricultural  College,  Uni- 
versity, and  School  Lands— The  Quantity,  Prices,  and  Terms  or  Purchase 
— Other  State  Lands — Lands  Granted  to  Benevolent  Institutions— Desert 
and  Swamp  Lands— Lands  held  Under  Mkxican  Titles  in  Caiifornia,  New 
Mexico,  and  Arizona — Some  Danger  of  Conflict  op  Titles  in  the!>i>~The 
Texas  Land  System — Three  Modes  of  Securing  Homes  in  Texas  under  its 
Land  Laws,  viz.:  By  SETTLEk^^NT  under  the  Homestead  Donation  Law;  By 
Locating  a  Certificate;  or  hy  Purchase  from  the  State  or  Common  School, 
University  or  Asylum  Lands— No  United  States  Government  Lands  in  Texas 
—Railroad  Lands— Extent  op  these  in  thk  different  States  and  Terri- 
tories— Range  of  Prices — Methods  of  Selling  for  Cash — On  Short  Credit — 
On  Long  Credit — The  Discounts  for  Cash  Payments — Examples — Range  of 
Prices — The  Union  Pacific,  Central  Pacific,  Western  Pacific,  and  Southern 
Pacific  Lands— Their  Rules  for  Selling- Their  Terms  higher  and  more 
Vigorously  Enforced — Buying  an  Interest  in  a  Mine — This  does  not  Neces- 
sarily include  Ownership  of  the  Land  over  it— Buying  Partially  improved 
Farms— They  Should  not  be  Bought  at  too  High  a  Prick 345 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Farming  Life— Management  of  a  Farm  at  the  West— The  Best  Farming  Regions- 
What  Crops  are  Best— The  Immigrant  Farmer  should  decide  what  Crops  he 
wishes  to  Cultivate,  beforehand— If  Small  Grains  and  Root  Crops,  he  should 

UKIDE  BETWEEN  SPRING  WhEAT  AND    WINTER    WHEAT— SPRINO   WhEAT  BBST  IN 

THE  Northern  Tier  or  States  and  Territories— Why  ?— Winter  Wheat  in 
THE  Middle  Tier — Other  Crops — Indian  Corn— Sorghum — Oats— Root  Crops 
— ^The  Region  or  Moorratb  or  Small  Rainfall— Necessity  or  Irrigation  on 
These— Its  Advantages- Crops  Certain— Requires  more  Capital  but  Gives 
better  Results — Hints  to  Immigrant  Farmers— Deep  Plowing  Needed— Ro- 
tation op  Crops— Some  Manuring  an  Advantage— Agricultural  Machinery— 
The  Gang- Plow — Seed-Drill— Horse- Hoe — Cultivator— Reaper  and  Binder, 
or  Harvester,  Mower,  Horse-rake,  etc.,  etc.— Should  keep  what  Stock  he 
CAN.  Feed- Sowing  Grain  in  Drills,  instead  of  Broadcast— Too  much  Seed 
Sown  and  not  enough  Care  op  its  Quauty— Hallett's  Pedigree  Wheat — 
The  Immigrant  in  the  South  or  Southwest— The  Best  Crops  eor  him— Cot- 
ton ir  he  chooses,  but  Vegetables,  Small  Fruits,  Sweet  Potatoes,  and  gener- 
ally Market-Garden  Produce,  more  Profitable  on  /  ccount  op  its  Earlinbss 
— Often  Two  Crops  can  be  raised  in  a  Season— Some  or  the  Cereals  and  In- 
dian Corn  do  well  in  Northern  Texas  and  Arkansas— Need  of  Fertilizers 
HERB— Their  Accessibility- Semi-Tropical  Fruits  most  Profitable  in  Aki- 
ZONA,  Southern  New  Mexico,  and  Southern  Caufornia — How  Farming  can  be 

MADK  MOST  FROFITABLB 363 


'-^^vnm^t^^Ktmalt^^iiMSumti 


370 


345 


CONTENTS.  If 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Wkstern  Fakmino  CoNTiNUMi— What  Capital  is  Necessary  roK  a  Comportable 
UKniNNiNn  ON  A  New  Farm  at  the  Wk-st— What  the  Railway  Men  say  |i,ooo 
WILL  Du— This  Sum  hardly  Sukkiciknt  undkr  IIumkstkau  or  Timber-Culture 
Acts,  without  Great  Trivations— Kikteen   II unured  Dollars  Better— A 

,  I.ARr'.p.R  Amount  Needed  in  some  States  or  Tpjiritorip-s  than  in  others — Less 
Money  Needed  in  Arkansas  or  Texas  than  EiJiEwiuRE,  but  the  Land  Less 
Productive — The  Disasters  and  Drawbacks  to  which  the  Western  Farmer 
IS  Liable  bepore  he  is  pairly  Established- "Drouuht— Grasshoppers  or  Bee- 
tles, Gophers— Cattle  Diseases— Swine  Plague— Cyclones— Prairie  Fires  or 
Floods — The  Remedy  or  Preventive  to  be  pound  in  varied  Locations — Varied 
Crops,  or  the  Addition  ok  Stock-raising  to  his  other  Farming— Buying  a  Par- 
-  TiALLY  Improved  Farm — What  is  Bought— The  Price  varying  in  dipkerknt 
Locations— Advice  to  those  who  are  unable  at  first  to  Buy  and  Stock  a 
Farm— Incidents  of  Farm- Like — Renting  Land  unadvisable — Great  Farms 
objectionable— Why  ? — The  Homestead  and  other  Exemptions  in  the  dip- 
PKRENT  States 379 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Immigrant  as  a  Cattlf-breeder  and  Stock-raiser — Methods  of  Stock-breed* 
INO  in  different  States  and  Territories — The  Texas  Cattle-Ranchk— The 
Large  Rancme  and  the  Small  one — (15,000  to  (25,000  for  the  Former,  and 
14,500  to  15,000  FOR  the  Latter — The  Ranche  in  Colorado— Only  Large 
Ranches  Profitable  as  a  Rulb— How  a  Man  with  a  Small  Capital  may 
eventually  have  a  CattleRanche  of  hisOwn— The  Herder's  Lipk  a  lonely 
one  and  not  without  its  Perils— Wyoming,  Montana,  California — •*  The 
Bulls  of  the  Blessed  Trinity  " — Dangers  from  Grizzly  Bears,  Panthers, 
Jaguars — Dangers  of  the  Great  and  continued  Snow  Storms — Necessity  of 
A  Shelter  and  Fodder  for  the  Cattle  in  Winter— Joint-Stock  Cattle- 
Ranches  in  Montana— Cattle  easily  Fatted  there— In  California  the 
Stock  choice  and  in  Demand,  both  for  Breeding  and  Dairy-farming — Cat* 
tle-breedino  in  New  Mexico,  Utah,  Arizona — In  Washington,  Oregon,  Ne- 
vada, and  Idaho— Minnesota,  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Missouri,  and  Ar- 
kansas AS  Cattle-breeding  States — Lands  best  Adapted  to  this  Pursuit — 
Different  Methods  Advisable  in  Different  Sections— The  Cow-boys  or  Her- 
ders :  THEIR  Care  of  their  Herds — Their  isolated,  half-savage  Life— Round- 
ing up — Branding — Selecting  the  Steers  and  Heifers  for  Market— The  Cap- 
ital Necessary  for  Success — Combining  Dairying  with  Cattle-breeding,  less 
Capital  required— Good  Management  Necessary — Becoming  Manager  of  a 
Joint- Stock  Cattlr-Farm  in  Montana  or  Dakota— A  Fortune  acquired  in  a 
Few  Years  by  a  Shrewd  and  Skilful  Man— How  a  Poor  Man  can  acquire  a 
Cattle-Ranche  in  time — Statistics  of  the  Cost  or  A  Moderately  Largs 
Ranche 390 


363 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Shbbp-parmino  and  Wool-growing — The  Best  Regions  and  the  Best  Bebeds — Thb 
Most  Dikbct  Routes  thither — The  Methods  of  Sheep-farming  in  our  West- 
ern Empire — ^The  Texas  Sheep-farms — Large  Flocks  Preferred — Small  Ones 
less  Profitable— The  Experience  of  Texan  Sheep-farmers — Col.  James' 
Statement- The  Kansas  Poucy  that  of  Small  Shkep-/arms  with  other  Farm- 


#■ 


i'&iS'-'S'*'^^*^®^**^*"*'*****^^ 


*.<■-!  ••■••Uv.':*'... 


Ill 


\ 


.1:1 


J 


!•  COKTRNTS, 

INO  TAnKlEO  ON  WITH    IT      TlSTIlfONV   of   MiOllllS.  McInTOSH,  Ulll.,  lltVAN,  llOt- 

trttf.r.Orinnki.i.,  MATimutANnWADswoRiH— Tint  YdDNoCoLOKAiMjSiiKKi'- Far- 
MiR^-CArtTAr.  RKfjtiiRKti  IN  oirrERKNT  Skctiuni— TtIB  SlICriUKUS — Antauon- 

WMOKTMR  flK1tl>r.RX  AND  .SlIKriir.RDS— IMPRUVINU  TIIK  DRKKDii— WlN i KRINii  THK 
SHKRI'— WaTKR  in  AHUNDANCE  a    NKCE-SSITV— DKSTHUCriUN  or  TIIIC  IlRRUl  KRUM 

Tmhist— Sn(>win(}  Umorr— Fatal  Ekfects  ok  a  Severe  Northkr^The  Siiep- 
MtRt)'!i  \,\f%  MORE  Isolated  and  with  less  Excitement  than  that  ok  the 
Hrrdkr  or  CoW'Boy— Its  Risks  and  Danokrs— New  Mexico  the  vest  Keuion 

FOR  LAROR  SiIRCP "ARMS,  AND    KANSAS  AND  Nk.UKASKA  KOR  SMALL  ONEii — IIoW  TU 

Buy  and  5iTocK  \  SHKeP-AANchE— Tlifc  Amount  ok  Capital  Necewarv->Thk 
Co«T  and  the  PRoriTS— Mr.  Gray  on  the  dikkerent  Hreeds  or  Sheep— Ciiar« 

ACTEK  op  THE  VARIETIES    HG:iT  POPULAR  IN  THE  WksT — DISEASES  Or  SHEEP— Mt. 

F.  1).  CuRTis's  Essay  — Parasites  — LivERROT—l'ALE  Disease— HvDATiDti — 
Worms  in  the  Head— Scab— Sheep-ticks—Footrot — Constipation— Colio 

—  DlAHKIKKA  AND  SCOURS — INFLAMMATION  OK  THE  LUNOS — SnUKKLES  ANDSNORINO 

—Poisons— Abortion  —  Blacklro  —  Paper-Skin  —  Lunu-Worm  —  Stricana  — 
Smrbp  healthier  in  the  North  than  in  the  South — The  Enemies  or  ths 
Shwip— Mow  A  Poor  Man  can  become  a  Sheep-master 40a 

CM AFrtEk  X. 

Other  Farm  Animals— Breeding  Swine— Swine  Husbandry  lkss  Popular  in  thb 
Great  Wf.st  than  East  ok  the  Mississippi— The  States  and  Territories  Mon- 
largely  engaged  in  it — Southern  Swink  generally  ok  Poorhr  Breeds  than 

those  in  the  MORE  NoRTHFJIN  STATES— THE  BEST  BREEDS — BERKSHIRE,  PoLAND- 

China,  and  Chester-Whiie — Modes  of  Management— The  Margin  of  PRorrr 
IN  the  IUsini-:ss — Diseases  to  which  Swine  are  Liablk — The  HonCiioLKRA— 
Swine  Plague  or  Hoc  Fever- Great  Destruction  or  Swine  l^usf.d  iiv  thiA 
Disease— The  Researches  of  Drs.  Detmeks,  Law,  Voyles,  and  Salmon  into 
the  Causf.s,  Character,  Symptoms,  and  Fatal  Results  ok  this  Disease,  and 
THE  Possibility  of  its  Prevention  or  Curb — Swine-farminu  in  Kansas  and 
IbwA  —  Reports  op  Messrs.  Couurn,  LiNscorr  Brotmbrs,  Phindle,  Johnson, 
Sutton,  and  Keagy  on  Methods  and  Success  in  Swinb-parming— Breeding  or 
HoRsts,  Asses,  and  Mules  for  the  Market — This  Pursuit  very  I'KOKn  ablb 
^The  Mustang,  the  Broncho  and  the  Burro — Dogs — The  Shepiicku  D(x>— 
Dog's  for  Hunting— The  Greyhound;  Different  VARUTiEa — Pointers,  Set- 
ters, Bull- Dogs,  Coach-Dogs,  Terriers  —  Mongrel  Hunting  Doos — Indian 
Cur- Dogs— Crosses  between  Dogs  and  Wolves— Worthless  Doca  very  De- 
structive OF  Sheep— The  Raising  op  Poultry— Different  Bbbkd6 — The  Cross 
op  the  common  Barn-yard  Fowl  with  the  Brahma,  Houdan,  Hameueo,  Black- 
Spanish  OR  Plymouth  Rock  the  best— Bantams  good  Layeks— Mr.  A.  P.  Ford's 
Directions  and  Statistics— -Other  Fowls— Enemies  of  Fowl»->-Chickin-Chol- 
BRA — ^Thb Croup. ..,...,... .v«..^i....^i;.i 440 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Special  Crops— Rick  Corn— Pearl  Millet — OTitiftTttlLLETs — Alfalfa — Hungarian 
Grass— Svviiivr  Potatoes— Pea-Nut  or  Ground  Nut  — ThK  SodAI:  QuBsTloN 
ONCE  morf.— Is  not  Corn  worth  more  than  Twenty  CtNTs  a  BMtate  fb  MArti 
ufacture  into  Sugar?— The  Cultivation  of  Textiles— FIa^,  lAxaOr,  RAilife, 
}UTE,  Tampico,  Tule,  Nettle,  Esparto  Grass^  the  Br-vkb  or  S^XMp  CAnb— 
Some  of  the  Cacti— Cultivation  of  OiL-PieoDuciNa  PiANt»'>4'M  t*Ei((-Ktrt  oil' '' 


t 


-^UMH».»,l«i»»,i4i,,^»aj,„3aiji, 


CONTENTS. 


»7 


IBVAN,  Hot- 

SiikkcFar- 
— Antauun- 

4'tKKINU  THK 
iUKUli  FROM 

-The  SiiKP- 

IIAT    ur  THE 

HUT  Kkuion 
lu— How  TO 
ssarv->Thk 
iKKP— Char- 

SiiEKr— Ml. 

IIYUATIDH — 

ION— Colics 

ANUbNORlNU 

Stricana  — 

MIU    ur  THK 


40a 


ULAR  IN  THK 
ITORIES  MOOT 
HREEDS  THAN 
IRK,  l'OI.AND- 

IN  or  FRorrr 

l-ClKILKRA— • 
USr.l)  IIY  Tllli 
At-MON  INTO 
JlSKASt:,  AND 

Kansas  and 

.E,  JoilNSOK, 

Brkkdinc  or 

I'KOKITAULR 
lERU  Doo— 
NTERS,  Set- 
om — Indian 
»  VERY  Dk> 
-The  Crom 
VKO,  Black- 

A.  P.  FORD'f 

ickrn-Chol- 


440 


-Hungarian 

It  QUBSTtoM 

f,  RAMiK, 
pCAnk— 

NtrtoH 


GRoimi I- Nut— Castor  Dran,  Olive,  Flax,  Rape,  Hemp  and  CotTon  Seed,  Tar 
Weed,  Sjsame,  rEPi-ERMiNT,  Spearmint,    Deroamot— CuLnvATioN    oi    Nirr- 

nr.ARINri    AND    FRUlT-HKARINd    TkKE!I     AND     SlIHUIIS— KNtil.lHH     WaI.NIIT,    ULACK 

Walnut,  IIickorv  Nut,  Common  CiiEitTNUT,  Italian  Ciiehtnut,  Ai.mdno,  Kil- 

BERT,  I'KCAN,  IIaZKL'NuT,  I'AWI'AW,  I'F.HSIMMON,  JaPANE.se  I'KK.SIMMON,  i'llMKCRAN- 

ATR,  Mandrake,  Apricot,  Mkdi.ak.Uranok,  L^vion,  Siiadikkk,  ktc— Ordinary 
Fruits,  Applp.s,  Tearh,  Quinces,  rp^AciiES,  Tlums,  Ciikkrikn,  I'runes,  etc.— 
Smai.i    Khuith,  ClRAPiu,    /ante  Currants,  Currants,  (Jooskiierrik-s,   Straw- 

BERRIKS,  KaSPOERHIES,  DLACKBERRIKS,  DeWUERRIPJI,  PARTRIIXiEDERRIPJi,  WlloRTLE- 

■ERRiKH— Market  Garden  Veoetahles— Employment  por  I'ropemional  Men, 
Artisans,  Tradesmen,  Florists,  MaeketUardeners,  I'actory  Operativu, 
BTC— Importance  or  Sustaining  Schools  and  Ciiurchs* 47S 


PART  III.—THE  SEVERAL  STATES  AND  TERRITORIES 

DESCRIBED. 

CHAPTER    I. 

ARIZOJfA. 

Its  Location— Extent— Addition  to  its  Area  uy  the  Gadsden  Treaty— Date  or 
Organization — Only  one-twelfth  op  its  Area  yet  Surveyed — Topooraphy— 
Mountains,  Rivers,  Lakes,  Ca!9ons  — Rrmarkadle  Character  op  these 
CaRons— They  Drain  the  Mesas  of  their  Moisture- The  CaRons  op  the 
Colorado— Their  Descent  by  Major  J.  W.  Powell  and  his  Companions  in 
1869  and  1871— The  Grand  CaRon  of  the  Colorado  one  op  the  Wonders  or 
THF  World— Tablk-lands—Genicrai,  Fremont's  thorough  Acquaintance  with 
Arizona — His  Proposition  to  Hf-store  the  Great  Inland  Sfjiin  Southeastern 
California — A  Moister  Climate  Secured  to  Arizona  by  this  Mf.asure — Soil, 
Climate,  Temperature  and  Rainfall— Yuma  the  Hottest  and  Driest  Placr 
IN  "  Our  Western  Empire" — Wonders  and  Peculiarities  of  Arizona— Miner- 
als and  Minks — Zoology — Adventures  with  Wild  Animals— The  Bite  ok  thb 
Skunk— Rabid  Wolves— Productions,  Mineral,  Animal,  Vegetable— Popu- 
lation—The Indians— Their  large  Number— Different  Races— Some  or 
them  Industrious  and  Honest,  others  Thievish  and  Murderous— Nearly 
Extinct  Races— The  Extensive  Ruins  of  Ancient  Dwellings  Inhabited 
by  Races  now  Nearly  or  Quite  Extinct— The  Casa  Grande— Other  Ruins 
—  The  Ancient  Province  of  Tusayan  —  The  Narratives  op  Colonel 
Powell  and  Professor  Newberry — SiTUAtioN  op  the  Moquis  Villages  on 
Lofty  Mesas — Their  Dwellings  usually  Three  or  Four  Stories  High,  and 
Terraced  in  Front— The  Rear  Walls  Blank— The  Lower  Story  a  Granary 
— Windows  of  Sf.i  enite— The  Neatness  of  their  Apartments — Their  Mode 
or  Life— Ilosi  itality  —  Politeness  —  Occupations  —  Economy  —  Industry — 
Their  Bread  hf  Different  Colors— Virgin  Hash— Ceramic  Art— Blankets 
— Other  Manufactures  of  Wool — Taste  in  Drf.ss — Drf.ssing  the  Hair — 
Salutations  —  Sunrise  Worship— Theology — Gymnastic  Exercises  —  Sacri- 
fices OF  Fruits  and  Seeds  Only— Language  Peculiar — Probably  of  Toltec 
Origin — White  Inhabitants — Present  Condition,  and  the  Advantages  and 
Facilities  it  Affords  to  Settlers— Letters  and  Communications  ,  frck 
Major-General  J.  C.  FxtMONT,  Governor  of  Arizona,  and  Colonel  J.  W. 
2 


:^J:^  v^!Sife^^<»«i^«!*i-'^^^ 


r 


I', 


1  ■ 


CM 


1 


I?  I' 


i 


•»  CO/^TEATS. 

PowKi.i.,  Unitrd  Statm  Arntv,  Exploru  or  thi  Coi.onAno,  trr.— PtoiiABLa 
FuTimK— lli(H)RAP>ii(-Ai.  .Sketch  or  Major  Gknmai.  FhImont.  tub  I'iibumt 
CovtRNOR  or  Ariiona 4gf 

CHAPTER    II. 

ARKAJ^SAS. 

Its  SrrwATioN,  Aiea,  ExTtirr—ToroflRAPiiv— Mountain*,  Rivrrh,  Larbh,  Vallbv^— 
Navkiarir  Rivrrs  anu  Railways— Soil— (iimatk—Rainpai.i. — Minrrai.r  and 
Minrral  and  Hot  Sprimim — Analykih  or  tiir  Hot  Sprinci— Thr  Vii.i.aor  or 
Hot  8prin<!»— The  Inhabitants  ok  tiik  Adjacent  Countrt— Vphrtation— 
Woodland— FoRMT  Growthk  and  tiipir  sizk— Frimt^ — Wii  n  andCiti.tivatro 
Gratp^ — Animam— Inxect  I'mts— AR(ii,roi(Hiv— rRonircTioNfi,  Minprai,  Vr.oE- 
TABi.K  AM)  Animal— Crops— I.ivK  sto«  k— MANUKAm'RKs— Commkrck— Popuij^- 
TioN— Orkjin  r)K  Population  —  Kmu  ation  —  REiifiiotrii  Denominations  — 
Exemptions  —  Donated  Lands  — Vir.ws  or  Hon.  Chari.u  S.  Keysm,  Uos. 
David  Walker,  W.  A.  Wpjinpa,  Esq.,  and  Hon.  A.  H.  Garland,  U.  S.  Senator, 
ON  the  History  and  Probarle  Future  or  Arkansai 530 

CHAPTER    III. 

CALIFORJilA. 

It*  Situation— TorooRAPiiY— Mountains,  Valleys,  Lakes,  Rivers,  Harbors, 
Islands— Arable,  Grazing,  I'imrkr  and  Worthless  Lands,  and  the  Probabli 
Quantity  or  Each— Geol(K3y  and  Mineralogy— Gold  and  Silver  in  very 
MANY  Forms— Quicksilver,  Platinum,  Lead,  Copper,  Tin,  Arsenic,  Iron  in 
many  F'orms,  Tellurium,  Graphite,  Horax,  Salt,  Soda,  Sulphur,  Gypsum, 
Barvtes,  Antimony,  Ochre,  etc.,  among  the  Metals  and  Minerals  op  the 
State— MiNF5  and  Mining  Industry — Immknse  Production  op  the  Preciqu« 
Metaijs  in  the  State— Twenty-one  Counties  Produce  either  Gold  or  Silvee 
or  rioTH— Increased  Production  in  1880— Soils  and  Vegetation — Red,  Adobe, 
Bupp,  Sandy,  Tule,  Desert  and  Alkaline  Soiu— The  Forest  Trees — The 
Sequoias,  Redwoods  and  dTHER  Treks  Peculiar  to  California— Dr.scription 
op  the  Giant  Trees  by  Mr.  Whitehill—ZoAlooy— Great  Variety  of  Animal 
Life- Ueasts  or  Prey— Rodents  Destroying  Crops— Ground  Squirrels  and 
Gophers— Wonders— Propessor  Whitney's  Description  op  the  Vosemitb 
Valley— Other  Descriptions  or  the  Adjuncts  or  Vosemite— Cloud  Rest—"  I 
Salute  the  Grandest  View  in  the  World" — The  Tuolumne  Valley — The 
Eight  or  Nine  Groves  or  Giant  Sequoias— The  Calistoga  Geysers — Natural 
BEIDGF.S— Caves— Grottos — Bell-sounding  Rocks— Lakes,  Salt  and  Fresh — 
The  Death  Valley— Professor  E.  W.  Hilgard  on  Climates  or  the  State- 
Mean  Temperatures  and  Semi-annual  and  Annual  Rainfall  op  Nine  Locali- 
TIES — Agricultural  Products— Cereals — PRorEs.soR  Hilgard's  Account  or 
Wheat-growing— The  "  Giant-header,"  Thresher  and  Sacking- wagon— Dis- 
posing or  THE  Straw— The  Other  Cereals— Beans — Potatoes— Other  Vegk- 
TABLF.S— Hops— Pea-nuts — OTHEfi  Special  Crops— Market  Garden  Crops  anp 
Small  Fruits— California  Fruit— Grapes  and  Wine— Forage  Crops— Alfalfa 
GRASSE.S— Stock-breeding  and  Dairying— Butter— Eggs— Apiaculture— Silk 
Culture—  Manufactures — Railroads— Steamers — Commerce  and  Navica< 
TION,  Imports  and  Exports,  Banks,  etc.— Calipornia  as  a  Health  Resort- 
Population,  HOW  Classipied — Education — Churches — Counties  and  Peinci- 
f>4^  JewNS- History  and  Probable  Future 551 


coArr£Ars. 


rrc.— TtonAiiLK 

;  TUB    rKBMMT 


49> 


IKK*,  VaLLBV*— 
-MlNRItAIJ  AND 

Thk  Vii.i.Aoi  or 
— Vr(;r,TATiON — 

UNnCiri.TIVATKD 

MiNrKAi.,Vr.0B- 

KNOMINATinNS  — 

.  Kkysiui,  II09. 
,  V.  S.  Senator, 


530 


,rF.RS,      HaRBORI, 

dtiik  probablr 
Silver  in  very 
RsENic,  Iron  in 
iLPHUR,  UvrsuM, 

llNXRAU  or  THE 
ir  THE  rRECI0U9 

Gold  or  Silver 
—Red,  Adobe, 
Trees— Tub 
—Description 
ETY  OF  Animal 
Squirrels  and 
THE    Yosemitb 
ouD  Rest — "  I 
Valley— The 
'SEES— Natural 
,t  and  Fresh— 
nr  the  Stat*— 
>F  Nine  Locali- 
s  Account  or 
NG-WACON — Dis- 
Other  V^G|l- 
DEN  Crops  and 
Rops— Alfalfa 
culture— Silk 

AND     NaVICA- 

alth  Resort — 

ES   AND   PRINCl- 


S5I 


CHAPTER     IV. 

Situation,  Doundarirs,  ARRA—ToiixiRAi'iiv— Mountains— Six  DiiTiNrr  Ranges  bc* 

IIDPS  MANY  SniRV  AND  UtlLATKI)  Si'MMITS — I'lKrVTWO  I'RAKt  OVER  ij,a00  FKRT, 
AND  SeVKRAL  IIL'NDRKII  IO,000  KKI-TOH  MimK—l'KN  ToWMt  or  MINEIDVKR  10,000 

Fkkt  aiiove  tiik  Ska,  anu  SixrvoNK  ovkr  5,000  Fkkt— Mountainh  (  <iv».rku 

Willi  I'lNK,  Fir  and  ScRUCE  up  to  tiik  TiMHI.R  LiNF. — VAI.rKV<«,  I'I.AINM,  I'ARKIt— 

North,  Middle,  South,  San  I.uu,  Futks,  Iu.kria,  Animas  and  IIiikkkano  I'arks 

THE  I.ARCFJT,  AND  ItUIT  KNOWN;    Ul'T  THKIE  ARK  IIDNIIHF.DK  OF  SMAI.I  KR  <  INKS  OF 

UKK.AT  llKAiriv  — K1VF.R1— The  North  and  S<iuth  I'LArrK,  thk  Akkansah,  Rio 

(iRANDR,  tiik.  URAND,  URF.KN,  SAN  JuaN,  TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  RiO  C:ol.OKAI)0,  AND 
TIIKIR  AFFLUKNTN— I.AKKS  — MaNVoFTIIFmK  AT(JRRAT  F.I.FVATIilNS,  AH  I'llKliRKKN 
I.AKKS,  ClIII'AOU  LAKFJt,  ETC. — CaRo  — CaN«>N»  OF  THE  AHKANSAM,  OK  THE  <  iUN- 
NUON,  OF  THK  (iKANU    AND   THK  (JMKKN  RiVKRS— CLIMATE   AND    KaINKAI.L— SolL 

ANU  Vegetation— Arablk  Lands— Nearly  16,000,000  Acrkj  ok  tiik.sk— A  Part 
Require  Irrigation — Great  Fac  ii.hikji  kur  this — Crops  as  Akkkcikd  iiv  Irhi- 
OATioN— Hun.  Mr.  Barclay's  Siatkmknt  ahout  it— What  an  Intki.i.kiknt 
EWiLUH  Agriculturist  and  Memiikr  of  Parliament  thinks  of  Farminc  in 
Coloraik)— Presknt  Forest  Arka  ok  Colorado— (jeoi.(kiy,  MiNKKAi,<KiY— All 
thk  t;Koi.<)<;ic  Formations  ok  thk  Co^JT^NK^T  ijlid  bare  in  thk  CaNons  or  on 
the  Prkcii'itous  Sides  of  the  Mountains— Coal— The  I. ksnitk  ok  thk  Terti- 
ary, and  tiik  Uituminous  and  Anthracitk  of  the  Coal  Mkamrks  I  uund  at 
Various  Places  in  the  State— Wonders  Produced  by  KRObioN— .Mh.  Pang- 
born's  Descrii'Tions— The  Fossils  of  Taluott  Hill— The  Coal  Minfji  or 
CaRon  City- The  Grand  CaRon  op  the  Arkansas— The  Anciknt  Ruins  in 
Sou-niwEsTERN  Colorado— Animals — Mines  and  Mining  Industry- Farly 
Mining  History  of  the  State— Mining  Product  Prior  to  1880— Thk  same  by 
Counties—The  Regions  WHICH  ARE  not  known  to  Possess  Mineral  I)ki>osits 
— The  Extraordinary  Development  of  Mining  in  thr  State  since  1875 — 
Mining  Districts — Description  op  each  County  known  to  Possess  Min- 
eral Wealth  —  Its  Mines  and  their  Product — Farming  —  Extent  or 
Arable  Lands— Irrigation  Largely  Practisbo— Its  Advantaors— Rapid  In- 
crease or  Farming  Products— Excellence  op  Colorado  Cereals—Dairy- 
rARMiNG — Raising  Horses  and  Mules —Wagbs  of  Farmhands— Immense  Yield 

or     lERlGATED    CROPS— HiGH     FARMING— STOCK-RAISING — IION.    MR.     BARCLAY'S 

Description  or  Stock  RAISING  in  the  State — Dairy-earminc^-Cattle  should 
be  Fatted  in  Colorado  and  Kansas— Mr.  Stratten's  ExPEkiRNCE— W(X)L- 
ORowiNo — Sherp-farming  Profitaiilr  in  Colorado— Its  RapiO  Increase — 
Growth  or  the  Livestock  IntkrI':st  in  thk  State— Railroads— Education — 
Commerce—Population — Cities,  Counties  and  Towns— Increase  siNck  1870 — 
Counties— Churchbs—The  Future  of  Colorado 633 

CHAPTER    V. 

DAKOTA. 

Boundaries,  Area  and  Topography  of  Dakota— First  Settlements— Organization 
— Rivers- Lakes — Dakota  Divided  into  Four  Sections:  Northern,  Central, 
Southkastfen  and  Black  Hills— Characteristics  of  each — The  Badlands — 
f^qtsiLS  there— Governq^  Uqward's  Description  or  these  Sections— His 


tW^s|.fe»*'!te***^'*fcii^^ 


■'ftu^T^r^;:iA 


coi^TKfira. 

ADDRKM— Hm    RKroRT  TO  TIIR  illlCRRTARV  i>r  TMR    InTKR|i)R~T|IR   SvRVRVoR 

0*NntAi.'»  HrroRf  NnnniKRN  Dakota— Tiir.  DrwRirTHtN  or  it  «v  Hom. 
Javikh  H.  I'tiwrR     Tiir  Kinir  fuNiiprRAHi  r  An  >xii-Ti  T<»  Crk.TivATR  thr  Krn 

HiVKH    i.AMit    IN    Dakota      WllKAf    Cin.rURK    llirHK    ANti    ITN    HUlTRM — '>TIIRR 

rRiipd-Tiir.  T'>WN'«  or  NcmTiimN  Dakota— Tmk  <  i.imatr  akh  RAiNrAt  i— Th> 

FAflllTIM    roR    THR    TRANHfORTAtloN     Of    CroH  —  RrVimO     TMR     MiMOI'RI  — 

r'liMii  rt  CARirroN  «okkinS  DKhcmnioN  in  riir  Chk  aho  Trihi>nr~-Thk  ('or- 
RRxi-oNiirNT  or  THK  <"hi('*«io  Joornai— (HiirR  Tmtimonv— l!iniiop  PrcK, 
MRimH.  Krri)  anh  I'm— Crntrai.  Dakota— Thr  An-tJUNT  or  thr  Chuaoo 
AND  NoRTHwr-tTr.RN  Ramway  Cdmmmhion  —  S4iiprHRA»Tr.RN  Dakota  — Rrv, 
Fdwark  Ki  1  o'h  IrrrrR — Hon,  W   If    II    llr.Ain  r'n  DrscmrrioN— llii  Compr- 

Tr.Nl'V    AN    A    NVITVI.-.H   -Prnil  lARITin    OK    TMR    Tol«OimAI'MV    or    SoilTHirA<tTKRN 

Dakota— MrrronoKKiv  or  Sot'TiiRAiTrRN  Dakota— Tiir.  Hlack  IIii  iJt— Mr. 
ZiMRi  I,.  Whitr'ii  Drwription  or  this  Rr^iioN—c  i.imatr  ank  M rtroromhiy  or 

THR  lll.ArK  Mil  in— (>o|.l>  MININII  THRRR— FollR  (lAXlRN  or  MiNrJt— ('Mr.AI>NRK« 
or  MiNINii  ANK  Mil  I  INi!  — AlTITin)R«  IN  THK  Hl.Ai  K  llll.l  H  —  l'oPtH.ATION  OT 
TOWNH  — FARMINfi.    CHAZINO    ANI>    MaR  KrT  tIARIIKNINi!    IN    TMR    Hl.A<  K     llll.lJ— 

SoriAi  I  irr  and  Moraiji  thrrr— Raii  roaim  in  Dakota — Indian  Trihrh  ano 
Rrrrrvatioss— ropi'i  ATioN  or  THR  Trrritorv  and  it»  Charactrr-— Churchu 
ANu  RRUOioim  TtACHiHCJi— Tiir  Futurr  op  Dakota 711 


CHAPTER    VI. 
IDAHO   TERRITORY. 

TOFOOR\PIIY— HolNDARirs— I.KMITH    AND    HRKADTM  — AREA— I.ATITirnP.   AND    T-ONOI- 

TUDE— DisTRinnTioN  OK  Area--Araiii.k  I.anim— (;ra/.ino  Lands— Timhrr  Land* 
— MiNiNc.  I.and>i— Dr.<*KRr  l.ANDH—TopfxiRAi'iiY— Mountains— Vaii.pys—I.akrr 
— UivfRH  -Almost  Wiioii.v  Drained  iiy  Akki  vents  or  the  Coidmbia— Climate 
— Mrtkorokhiv  ok  Hoist  City— f;Eoi.<K;Y  and  Mineralimjv- The  pRRcimm 
Metals— C101.I)  in  iMrALPAniE  Powder  on  the  .Snake  and  Salmon  Kiverh — In 
THE  Hear  River  Region— f)N  and  Near  Wood  River-  In  the  Salmon  or  Saw- 
tooth   RANiiK  AND  AI.ONO  THE  WESTERN   Sl.OPF.  or  THE  BiTTER  RooT  MolWTAINS 

—Silver  on  Fast  Fork  or  Salmon  River  and  ai.ono  Wood  River— Copper 
AT  Several  Points— Other  Mrtals  and  Minerals- Mineral  SpRiNia— Natu- 
ral Wonders— StLPuvR  Lake  and  Drp<isits— Salt  Sprincs— Ice  Cave— Soil 

AND  Vk(;ETABLK    I'RODIMTIONS— FORP.ST  TREES- Zofll.fKlV— MiNRS  AND   MlNINO — 

Produition  ok  <;oi.i)  and  Silver  since  i86a— Pre-sent  Falling  orr — Great 
Mineral  Wealth— Stock  RAir.iNo — Siieep-Farmin<: — Indians — Only  4,175  in 
the  Territory— The  Culture  ok  Araiile  Lands— Oiistacles  to  the  PRfK;RK8S 
or  Growth  of  Idaho— The  Lack  of  Railroads  and  of  Waoon-roads — Thi 
Lack  op  Capital— Mormon  Influence  the  GRBATiiiT  csstaclk  op  all 


77» 


CHAPTER     VII. 

THE  IJTDIAJf  TERRITORY. 

Minute  Details  concfrninc  the  Indian  Territory  not  Necf.ssary  at  the  present 

TIME   in   mis  WORK— WliV?— A  FEW  GENERAL  I'OINTS  IN  VIEW  OP  THE  ULTIMATE 
Possimi.lTV    OF    A    CIIANCF,    WHICH    MAY     PERMIT     iMMKiRATloN — TOPOGRAPHY— 

Length  and  Hreadth  -Latitude  and  Lon(;iti'1)E — Area — Boundarif-s — Divis- 
ion INTO  Indian  Rfskrvations  or  Nations— Arf.as  of  most  of  these — Tracts 

NOT  YET  allotted,  AND    INDIAN    BaNDS  NOT  PERMANENTLY  LOCATED — NuMDER  OP 

Indians  in  the  Territory  in  1878  — Present  Number— Tub  Five  leadinq 


Uu'it 


lrMMWoU..t*it;>»*iar  M 


-.  -»«.»•«»•*?- '^r--^.*' 


COArMATS. 


Sutviirot- 
T  «v  Hon. 
R  THK  R«D 

Miw'iriti  — 
— Tmb  <'»»•• 

WW.    <'llHA'"> 

.Mil   foMFR- 

|tTII»AHTr.«N 
III!  w— M«. 
Konm/KJV  or 

— fllKAI-NW* 
rtll.ATH)W  o» 
MK    lllI.IJ— 

Tkirih  and 

t-^HURCHU 


7«« 


'.   AND    T/»Hrtl" 

riMnm  Lanihi 

U.r.Y«— l.AKM 
ha— Cl.lMAT* 
HK,  PHEClfH'* 
N  RlVrRS— IM 

MON  OR  Saw- 

)T  MoirNTAINt 
vr.R— CoPPF.H 

Irincm— Natu- 
Cavk— Soit 

NO   MININO— 
OKP— GRBAT 

lY  4.«75  »* 
hr  Pii<K;RWi» 
i.iioAD»— The 

ALL 


77» 


Trirm,  riiRRoKm,  riiirKAHAw^,  r'iiorrAw»,  CaKMa  and  .Skminoi.m— Tiitia 
rRiMiRRa*  IN  Civii.i/ArioN -Tmk  lAi'irAiJiiii'  riiRia  KB»rk(.riv»,  Naiion* — TiiKia 
Fa«m    I'Rotitrri  IN  i<l79    Tmiir  I.ivr  .vrtnK— Vai.uaiiun  ut  K».ai.  and  VtM- 

«oNAI.    F.ttArr.    -SniiNiU,  «  tll'Ri  HI  1,    ll».M.Vil|.KNr    l.><lin  lloNt      NiVSal'APKR*— 

IVmt  Orricir*— TiiR  Smai.i.rr  Trirk*  and  Kaniw  lkm  C'ivtLllRi»— Surpacr  mt 

TIIR  CollNTRV-  MolNTAINH,  RiVKRt,  I.AK».»— Cl.lMArK-MKI  M>RiiI.4M.V  Of  KoR  » 
(ilRMIN  AND  SiI.I.—CkoI  iHiV  AND  M|NI.RAI.<MIV— Soil.  AND  \  >  i.».l  A  I  li  iN  rilRl.iirS 
—  RaILROAIM-TiIK  ('m,\RA(  r».R  o»    tllk,  r<iiri.AlloN-   UkV.  TlMiilli\    lllLL'tAC- 

roi'NT  OK  riiR  TrRRiioRV    TiiK  Indian  Titi.K  lo  iiii.  Tlrriiorv     lliiniRVor 

TIIR  KrMONAI.  or  IIIK  I'IVKTRIIIM  AND  oTIIt.R  INDIAN*- -Kk.  I'tHi  ll.\iK  IIV  MlMK 
or  TIIKIR  I.^NIM  HV  rilK  (iovi  HNMRNT— K>M>Rr»  To  DRI\k.  Mil  M  IKuM  I  III*  T>.H- 
RITORY— T'lR  ()rri.<N)K  PiiR  rilR  FUTURK— I'oMRMION  Ur  rilKIR  l.ANDi  IN  8kv> 
RRALTY  TIILIR  ONLY  llorR— INDIAN  ANNtHTY  Kl'NtM Jff 

CHArTK  R     VIII. 

70  WW. 

Tut  SiTirATioN  or  Iowa— Mr.ANiN(i  or  Tin  Namk— Migration  or  tub  rAU-iioncuRii 

TIIITIIKR  IN  1^)00— CoNTKMI'ORANroUHl.Y  fl.AIMKD  MY  TIIR  KRRNCII  ON  Anol  NT  Of 
KaTIIKR    IlKNNKriN'H  Disi  DVI  RY  — W  \R«   OK  TIIR  I'AIMIOO  CIIKRH,  OR  IdWAS,  WITH 

riiR  Siorx  — Kkrniii  Traiiini!  I'l^rs  hn  riu  Rivkr— Sai  i  or  iiik  rHuvi\iK  or 
l.oiri<tiANA  TO  TIIR  Spanish  in  1763— RrTRiKK.ssioN  to  Kramk  in  i8<k)  -Smk  to 

TIIR   UnITPD  StATRJI   IN    iSoj  — SkTTI  I MKNT  Of    Jt'l.lAN    l»l)llllf;l'l'.-     llIK  WaRS  or 

TIIR  lowAi  AND  Sioux— A  Nrw  F.nkmy— Tiir  Saci  and  Foxr.*  Attack  tiiim,  and 

T)RIVr  TIIK.M  ACROIW  TIIR  MlHSOl'RI,  AflOUT  lHa8— CiRr^AT  Rrddition  in  .\l  wmicri 
o|-    TIIK    loWAH— WlllTK    SkITII-MKNT    CoMMKNcKD     IN     |8  JJ- -DkATII    <)F     lllAt.K 

Hawk— TiiK  Fvknis  in  Civii.  History  ok  Iowa  to  its  Oroanizath'n  as  a  Statr 
IN  1846 — Tor(M;RAPiiv  and  Kxtknt  ok  I«iwa— Its*  Si'Rka'k— Rivkrh— Lakm— 
Prairik  and  Timhkr  Lands— Hi.a<k  Walnut  Siiipprd  to  Knuiand— (Ihh.ooy 
and  MiNKRAi.o<iv— Tiik  Driki,  I.ok.ss  and  Alluvium— f'Rr.TAiK.ors  R(m  ks  -Coal 
Mr.AsuREs— TiiR  Ciiaractkr  ok  Iowa  Coal— Comparison  with  F.i'Ropi  an  and 
otiibr  Coau— No  Gold  or  Sii.vkr  in  tiir  Statr— Lkad,  Iron,  Coppkr  and 
Zinc— I.iMK~nuiLDiN()  Stonr— Gyi>sum  Clays- Soil— Mink.ral  I'aint-  Spring 
AND  Wkli.watkr— Natural  Curiositiks— Climatk,  Gknkral  Rk.makks     I'ro- 

KKMOR  PaRVIN'sTaHLKS— TllR  SlONAL  SERVICR  STATISTICS  OK  TIIK  RlVKR  ClIIK.S — 

Zc)OL(KiY— Soil  and  Agricultural  Productions — Iowa  an  Aiiricultural  Statr 
—Statistics  ok  its  Crops — Sprinu  and  Wintk.r  Wiikat— Snx  k  raisinc— Uairy 
Farmino— Population  ok  Iowa  at  Dikkkrknt  Pkriods— Railroads  and  Sfeam- 
iioat  Lines— The  State  Easy  ok  Acci.;s»i— Puiilic  Lands— Railroad  Lands — 
Statr  Lanu«— Partially  Improved  Farmr- Manukai  turkj* — Iowa  as  a  Home 
FOR  Immiorants— Education— riiuRriiM—FuTURB  Prospects  or  the  State —  814 


THE  PRESENT 

liiE  Ultimate 

loPOORAPHY— 

^RIK*— Divis- 
E— Tracts 
-Number  of 
;  LRADINO 


CHAPTER    IX. 

KAJiSAS. 

Kansas  Geooraphically  the  Crntrai.  State— Its  Boundarikj— Latitude,  Longi- 
TUDE,  Length,  Breadth  and  Area- -its  Surface,  Declination  and  Elevation 
at  Various  Points— Rivers-IAkes-Hills— No  Mountains  in  the  State — 
Geology  and  Minerau)(;y— The  Geological  Formations— The  Quaiew  iary, 
Tertiary,  Cretaceous  and  Carhonifkrous  and  Ix)wer  Cariionikerous  Systemi 
Represented — Fossils— Grkjit  Variety  of  these— Economic  Geology— Coal— 


-■--^^r-.:t*mA-awe.?saBri*!iJ5^^^^'4*'i''-' 


,1' 

t 


tAiT—T.Mn  Ann  7iiif--0vmf»i— Wi'iipiNfi  SritMf,  rrr.,  rrr— r.Ai  oi  ntttNiwn 

WHM-S«»M.    ANn    VwiBTATIrtW  —  NAflVIl    Tl»M     TiltM    IhANTrn    iiMrir*    Tin 

tiMMtii  fill  ri'ir  A<'t<i~lN(:RM«R  or  RAiwrAii.  PtoDui  rh  nv  nRirAKiNx  ifp  riiR 
Hi>ii  K\Mir«<ir  or  THU-fliiWRR*  3^iiAiiK,v~.MAtiiRAi.  C'liRiiMtirint  ANt>  fiiR- 
*i\Mf.H\--V\\¥  MrMtlMRNf  H<nm  TllR  IH/iriT  RmK— TUf  KixR  ("itv~Tmr 
riril>"%rtiri>  RimK—THK  ►•Willi  MiMIK  AllATM— TMR  KrilrNir»,  lt»|Hl  Cl.lMATI 
AND  M»  rriiRMl  miv  —  MRtlTDRiil  fNlli'At  *TATIItlM—  RAIHrAI,!.—  A«l«ICVI,TWtAt 
FR<)i»iirr*»N<i    Tari.m  or  pRi>i)irrini«  or  l%^^,  ll7i,  1H79    Crain*- Sptrut 

TRort  -~0r<  MARIM    AND    VlHRVARIMI  —  AflAi  I'lTtfRr,  —  I.IVR  Mr«x  K  —  I'RH  Rl    c»r 

Nbcrmarv  Mrrihandiir  — HiiARiiiNit— Vaiiiation*  or  RrAi.  anh  I'KRtuNAt,  E»- 
TATR— .S<  iiooi.  HTATurii;*— No  MiNr»  or  Mininu  RXtKrr  Coai,  I.mii  and  Zinc— 

MANUrACniRRt— RAII.ROAIW  -I.ANIM  roR  ImMKIRANT*  — fort!!  ATlOl«--lNI)fANVi> 
(ktURCRS  rRUM  Willi  H  I'oflil.ATIoN  M  I)KRIVKl>~  OxiNTIK*,  C'iri>.»  ANt)  ToWNt'^ 
ARRA  and  I'tll'I'l  ArioN  or  roHNTIH  IN  l(l7()~Sc  lliMil*  AND  KlHKATION— 
ClIURCIIKH-      ;AN»At  A    lliHMR   ROR    IktMldRANPI— liintiRAfMM  Al.    NotK  R  or   ilON. 

ALrRRD  Gray 154 

CHAPTKR    X. 
LOUlSUJfA, 

IXN/IIIIANA    NOT    WHOM  V  WITHIN    "  OUR  WRvrRRN    KMriRR"  -IT»  I/)rATION— 1T«   EX" 

TRNT  AND  Area— Irn  Siir»ai:r  and  TohMiRAriiv— Kiverk,  Lakm  and  nAvout— 
Uroi.ikiv  and  MiNKRAUKiv— Iron,  Halt,  Sulphur— Otiikr  Minrrals— Sou.  and 

VroRTATION  — |-'oRRi«T  TRRRIt— ZoAliMiV— TlIK  JAOI'AR  OR  AMRRKAN  I.KOPARI),  oA 

Tkirr,  Ai.i.I(iator»  and  Crocodilri— Climate— Malarial  Fever*  in  thi 
Delta— Thb  Uplanim  IIralthv  rut  Hot- Metrorolouy  ur  New  Orlkani  and 
Shreveport—Ackkuitcral  rRODurrioNx— Cotton,  Sugar,  Rice  and  Corn- 
ThrSoil  Fehtilk,  hut  the  Fa^mino  P<m)r— Livestock— Manupacturino  and 
MiNiNo  Induhtrik-h— Commerce— Kxi-oRTs  and  Importr  op  1880— The  hrrat 
Facilities  enjoved  rv  the  State  roR  Furkkin  and  Coaitwue  Commbrck— 

RAILROAIM— FiNANCEM— roi'ULATIoN—IIlSTORV    AS    nPARINa    ON     PoHULATIOM— 

Mixed  Races  laroely  Trevalent— The  State  not  (jreatlv  increaheo  'v 

RECENT  ImMIORAIION  — rARISHE*   OR  CoUNTir-l— PRINCIPAL  ToWN»— EDUCATION— 

Churches— Nut  ih'Kciallv  attractive  to  Immiurantr  at  Present II7 

CHAPTER    XI. 

MIJrXESOTA. 

Minnesota  the  Centrs  or  North  America— Its  Situation,  Boundaries,  Dimkn- 
sioNs  AND  Area  — SuRPACK  or  the  Country— Thr  Thrbr  Slopes  — Rivers, 
Lakes,  etc.— The  Lake  Statp. — Sevkn  Thousand  Lakiu — Geoloov  and  Min- 
ERALimv— Some  Gold  and  Silver,  more  Ipon  and  Copper— Minnesota  an 

A(iRICULTURAL  StATE— SoIL   AND  VEGETATION— RiCH    SoIL — FoRESTS— THE    BlO 

Woods  —  The  Prairie  L.'wds— Trebplantinu  in  Minnesota— Fruits — 
ZuOlouy— Climate- Its  Salubrity- Advance  op  the  Annual  Temperature  as 
the  Country  is  SrrrLr.D— PEivLiARiTir-n  op  thr  Climate— Mrteorolooy — 
Navicarle  Rivers  and  Railways— More  than  3,000  Miles  op  Railroad  in  THt 
State— I'RojKCTED  Railways- Land  Grants— Agricultural  Products — The 
Crops  or  1878,  1879  and  1880— Sppcial  Crops— Genrral  Lr  Due's  Efports  to 
Introduce  '.he  Amher  Cane— Statistics  or  Crops — CiRAziNo  Lands — Live- 
stock—Statistics or  Livi  Stock— Dairy  Farming — Statistics  or  Butter  and 


oKIUi-K/l'i*   "    i*tS^m^=im  .^■■^ 


CONTMNTM, 


^   I'Nur*   Till 

ARINO  Vf  Till 

rim  ANn  fiii* 
K  riTV— Tin 

t\A  ClIMATR 
^()KICTI.TVIAL 
AINt-JtPtriAt 
{  —  PlIK  M  f>r 
Prroinai.  R«* 
All  AND  Zinc— 
IN-  Indiak*— 
ANfi  Town*— 

KlUHATKiN-- 
ITH  B  or    lloK. 


IS4 


,TI«lN— lT»  Ex- 
AND  DAVOU*— 
lAW— Soil.  AND 

N  I.RDrAaii,  iiR 

KVKtt     IN    Tim 

y  ()HI,KANt  AND 
R  AND  COKN— 
rA(-ri)lllN(>  AND 

O— TlIK  <:»tAT 
CoMMKIIC»— 
roMJUATIOK— 
INCftEAHKO    'V 

Educatioh— 


M7 


MRIU,  DiMBN* 

UPU  — KlVBM, 

KiV   AND  MiN- 

Minnesota  an 
iuT»— The  Bia 
TA  —  Fruits — 

EMI'KRATURE  AS 
F.TEOROLO0Y — 
JI.ROAD  IN  Tttt 
RODITCTR— TH» 
C'»  EFrORTS  TO 

Lands— Live- 

)t  BUTTBA  AMD 


rHB>*R-MANIIPArrii«R»— f.UMIIRt  AND  I'liM'i.llU  l.tADINil  AKTICLM— IMMRNII 

(^l/ANtlMM     or     H<i|M      l'Rii|iil>t.l*'    l^rilRR      MANUrAi  ltiR»*        VAt.UAII<>N     AND 

\^»Aiiii     I'lin  lAiiiiN -.suiutii*  or    iNi  r».a«r   in    liiiRrv   V».ar«    Naiium 
AUiiR«~r>iH  Indian  1'iirui.AriuN— i:iMjt.AriuN— hciiooi,  KtNi^— I'iiiuc  N>  iumiu 
— UmviMiTiR*,  Normal  M(H<Mtu,  arc— CouNtiM  and  CiriR»— VAlUAriitM— 
hiruLATiiiN  or  ciriKii  and  Town*  a r  UirrMtNr  I'rriou*— KRUuittb*  Drnomi- 

HAtlUN»— liMtUtV— CuMILMlUN , ,.  fOQ 

CHAPTKR    X(I. 

MiaaouRi. 

Mkwwri'i  Situation -Houndarirs  and  Extent  or  Latitude  and  Lonhitmie— Facr 

or  TIIR  CollNrRV  — MollNTAINK  AND  llll.l H -VaI  I  kVH^KlVER*  AND  LaKRI— 
OKOI.IKIY  and  MlNERAIlKIV  —  EliiNilMK  MlNERAI^  I  rAD  /iM— Ci  IM'»  R  IroN 
~r'oAI.  — IIaRVTA— CARINRT  MINRRAU  — IIHILDINO  MaTERIAIJ — MiNRRAI.  HrRINIM 
— /o.'.liH.v  -ClIMATR— MfcTROROLOOV— Soil    AND    VR<lRTATlnN— AoRirifl.TUIlAL 

PnoDiH-rn— Tari.eji  <ir  Crum,  1II7H  and  1H79— Notrii  on  tiir  Trom -Live  Stock 
— Tari.rx,  1879,  iHKo — AnArrATiiiN  >>r  Mihiouri  ror  (>ra/in<i  and  Dairy  Farm- 

INd— MANt'EArniRE)! — MiNINO  rRJ.DIUTS  RaII  ROAIm  — I'oiHIATION  — NoTEJI  ON 
Pori'l.ATI'iN — ColtNTIEH  AND  ('iTIfli  —  TaIILE  OK  ClTIEJ*  — Si.  LoUM— KANiA*   CITV 

— Landk  roR  lMMiiiRANr»— Immkiration  in  tiir  I'AitT— Why  it  hah  iaroely 
rA»itKii  iiv  MiHKoi  Ri— The  State  now  a  Dmirarir  one  roR  iMMXiRANTi— Kiiu- 

CATIONAI.  AllVANTAOE:i— I'UMI  U:  St'll<M)|,l«  — NoRMAL  S«l|iHi|,»— UNIV>.RHrriR»— 
CoU.fX\t*  AND  I'ROEEIIltloNAL  SrH(Mll.i«— SPEl'IAL  InhTITUTION*- KeLKIMU/iI  DK- 
NOMINATIUNI  AND  CMURCHEI — lIllTURICAL  DATA ^ 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

MOjrrAJ{A. 

Situation  —  lk>UNDARiRfl>>-  Extent  —  MotiNTAiNs- Timrir— Lakes— Rivers— Riol- 

OOY  aND  MlNKBAIAHiV— (iOLII  IN  KXTENSIVK  I'l.ArERH  AND  I.ODEil  — SlI.VRR- 
CoPrER  -LEAD — Iron- OrHRR  Miner au — Soii.ANDVKiiETATioN — ArahieLands 
— CJEAZiNu  Lanim— Timber  Lands — Mininq  Landsi— Dkmkrt  I.andh— /oOi.rKiv — 
Climat*.  Hlizzards— The  "Chino«ik"  Wind -METKoRouMiv  tir  Fort  Kkocih 
— FoBT  Hknton— Helena— Virginia  City— MiNiNii—KNoRMoDH  Yiki.d  or  the 
Placers— (Joi.D  Ix)Iies— Silver  Lours— The  Stemfie  Distrk  t— Last  f:iiANCR 
Gulch,  now  Helena — I'Hii.LtpsmiRo—WKKKS— Butte— I'r.iDi.iARniEt  of  tiir 
Butte  Minks — fVrHER  Minrs— Trapfer  Histrict— Minino  thus  far  almost  Ex- 
clusively in  Western  Montana— Prohahilities  or  Mines  in  Southken  and 
Southeastern  Montana— Aoricultural  Productions— Testimony  or  Z.  L. 
WMirB- or  Robert    E.  Rtba<iobn— or  Thomson    V.   McElrath— Fnormoub 

CR6PB,    or     EXCRLLRNT     QUALITY— STOCK-RaISINO—ShEEpFarMINO—BRKF.DINO 

Horses  and  Mules — Gov.  Forts'  Exferience — Manupactt-res- ohjf.cts  or 
Interest— The  MAt)is<iN  River— The  Upper  Yhi.lowstone  Vai.lf.y— The 
Struoc.lk  of  the  Watkrs  to  Force  a  Passace  Tiirouoii-Otiifr  WnNiiCRs— 
Railroads— Hf-st  Roctf.s  for  Immigrants  at  Present- Indian  Rf.servations 
and  their  Population— Population  or  Montana- Countifji  and  Assessment — 
Principal  Towns  of  Montan  \— Pricf-s  of  Articles  or  General  Use— Avkraok 
Waom— Education— Riuoiovt  Dbhomination*— Conclusion 955 


*iitJ>fiA  ■■■**,..  .^     'ii' 


14  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

JfEBRASKA. 

Ar.iiA  AND  Extent— Boundaries — Comparativk  Arka — Its  Riverine  Boundaries — 
Surface  of  the  Country— Sense  in  which  it  is  a  I'rairik,— Its  (Iraduau  Ele- 
vation TO  the  Base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains— Thk  Nebraska  "Bad  Lands" 
— The  Kivkks  uk  Neiiraska — The  Missouri  and  Niobrara — The  North  and 
Sou  H  Plattk  and  their  Affluknts— The  Loui-  and  its  Forks — 1  he  KEruuu- 
CAN  River— General  Direction  of  these  Rivers— Geolouy  and  Mineralogy 
— The  Lof^s  or  Drift — Alluvial  Deposits — The  Great  Pre-historic  I.akf. — 
Tertiary  Formation — Carboniferous  Strata— Thk  Coal  Measures — Lioniie 
IN  THE  Tertiary— Not  much  Economic  Value  to  the  Coals  of  Nebraska— 
The  Pi-^^vt  Beds  of  the  State— Soil  and  Vegetation — Fertility  of  the  Loess 
— Tref^  of  the  State— Zoology— Climate  and  Meteorology-Table— Agri- 
cultural Productions — Crops  of  1877,  1878  and  1879— Wild  and  Cultivated 
Fruits— Mr.  E.  A.  Curley  on  the  Wild  Fruits— Grazing— The  Livestock  op 
THE  State  —  Manufacturing  Industry  —  Railroads — Population  —  Rapid 
Growth  of  the  State— Indians— Financial  Condi  1  ion-Education— Lands 
for  Immigrants— Government,  School,  University  and  Railroad  Lands — 
Advice  to  Immigrants — Prices — Counties,  Cities  and  Towns — Religious  De- 
nominations— Historical  Data — Nebraska  as  a  Home  for  Immigrants 1004 


■'■■    I 


CHAPTER    XV. 

J^EVADA. 

Its  Boundaries,  Extent  and  Area— Its  Topograph".'  and  Surface — Mountains, 
Lakf.s  and  Rivers — Its  Climate  and  Meteorology — Geology  and  Mineralogy 
— Minerals— Gold  and  Silver— Other  Metals  and  Minerals — Permanency 
OF  ITS  Mines— Their  Great  Depth— Mining  Industry — The  Counties  Con- 

TATNING    MiNF.S   CONSIDERED  IN  DETAIL — ThE   PRODUCT  OF  THE  PRECIOUS  MeTALS 

IN  Nevada  sin^..  i;ieir  First  Discovery  there— The  Sutro  Tunnel — Its  Pur- 
pose AND  Object — Its  First  Success  lf=s  than  was  expected— Its  probable 
Future  Triumph— ZoflLocY-AGRicuLTURAL  Productions — Adaptation  of  con- 
siderable Sections  to  Grazing — Extent  of  Arable,  Grazing,  Timbered  and 
Mineral  Lands— Tables  of  Agricultural  PRorucrs  and  Li ve-Stock— Manu- 
facturing Industry— Railroads — Valuation — Population — Indian  Reserva- 
tions-Counties AND  Cities — Religious  Drnomin.«tions — Historical  Data — 
Conclusion 1033 

'.I  .    .  .         CHAPTER     XVI.,  i        1  ,;   ,, 

'  "  '        J^TEW  MEXICO.      '■''■'-,"  " "   '• 

Topography— Boundaries  (eni.a"ged  by  the  Gadsden  Treaty)— Extent  and  Area 
— Mountains — Rivers  and  Lakes — Cumate — Variety  in  Temperature — Mr. 
Z.  L.  White  on  the  Summer  Climate  op  the  Territory— New  Mexico  as  a 
Hfjilth  Resort —Meteorology  and  Rainfall  of  various  Points  in  the  Ter- 
ritory— Geouxjy  and  Mineralogy — Mineral  Wealth  of  the  Territory — 
Gold  and  Silver — Other  Metals  and  Minerals — Turquoise — Hot  Springs — 
Coal — Bituminous,  Lignite  and  True  Anthracite — Coal  found  in  New 
Mexico  of  the  Best  Quality  and  in  Inexhaustible  Quantities — Arable 
Lands — Their  Quantity  and  Quality — Native  Agriculture — Grazing  Lands 
— New  Mexico  best  Adaptbd  to  Sheep-Farming — Number  of  Sheep — Crops  at 


'•iwjtii^r'v.  4W**iti>(^«t«*iU»?»*.Mawrf  j^^Jti'Wffi'  evsM-f  ^V  :-^i,vv\tiiM  • 


^ei*^Ci}:*i*t^*y:'^ 


^atMatfUL  '*:' VMKUWU^;' 


CONTE//TS. 


»$ 


NR  noirSDARIES — 

rs  (Gradual  Ei.e- 
«A  "Had  Lands" 
-The  North  and 
;s — The  KKruuLi- 
AND  Mini;ralogy 

•HISTORIC  I.AKB — 
eASURE'i — LlGNIlE 

s  OF  Nkiiraska— 
,iTY  OF  THE  Loess 
y— Taiile — Agri- 
AND  Cultivated 
HE  Livestock  of 
'ULAtion — Rapid 
DucATioN— Lands 
aii.road  Lands — 
s — Religious  De- 

MMIGRANTS IOO4 


ACE — Mountains, 
AND  Mineralogy 
|kLS — Permanency 
Counties  Con- 
P;<Ecious  Metals 
'unnel — Its  Pur- 

D — Its   PROBABLE 

►aptation  of  con- 

,  Timbered  and 

.te-Stock— Manu- 

NDIAN    ReSERVA- 

sTORicAL  Data — 


■  1033 


XTENT  AND  AREA 

uPERATirRE — Mr. 
Ew  Mexico  as  a 

NTS  IN  THE  TeR- 

HE  Territory — 
—Hot  Springs — 
FOUND  IN  New 
NTiTiEs — Arable 
-Grazing  Lands 
Sheep— Crops  at 


1879 — Mining  Industry — Governor  Wallace  on  the  Mining  Districts — The 
Gold  and  Silver  Production — Objects  oi-  Interkst — The  CaNons  and  Tkr- 
RiiiLE  Dark  Valleys  and  Caves  ok  the  rERRnoRV-TiiK  Sevi-.n  Cities  ok 
Ciiioi.A— Kvii)F.N(  rs  OK  Volcanic  Actidn — IU:riei)  C'n ik.s— Alto  and  its  Riins 
— The  Indian  Skeleton  Overwhelmed  by  Vouanic  Asiiiis— Tin:  Vast  C  rater 
— Rock  Cities— The  Pieblo  Potik.rv— How  it  was  and  is  Made— The  Zini 
niANKETs— Manufacturings — Railroads— Great  Dkvei.oimknt  ok  Raii,wa.« — 
Piii'ULATioN — Table — Chief-Jumu  e  Prince  on  tiii:Tiikki;  Civili/ations  Foini. 
There— The  Indian  Tribes— The  Pi  kblos — The  Apaches— The  Navajoes — 
CouNTiM  AND  Principal  Towns — Education— Religion  and  Morals— Histori- 
cal Data— Conclusion 1056 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

OBEGOJV. 

Boundarif-s,  Area  and  eArnt— Face  of  the  Country — Mountains,  Rivers,  Lakf:s 
— TheValleysofOregon— The  Willamette  Valley— Umpqua  Valley— Rogue 
River  Valley — The  Numerous  Valleys  of  Eastern  Oregon — The  Elevated 
Plains  of  Middle  and  Central  Oregon— Mr.  Tolman's  Description  of  East- 
ern Oregon — Soil  and  VE(;ErATioN— Fertility  ok  the  Soil — The  Great 
Wheat  Vali.eysof  Eastern  Oregon— Forest  Growths — Great  Size  of  Forest 
Trees— Water  Supply— Climate  and  Rainfall  ok  difkurent  Sections- 
Meteorological  Table  of  Portland,  Rosi  iurg,  Umatilla,  Astoria  and  Cor- 
vALLis— Geology  and  Mineral  Wealth— Fossii.s — CJold  and  Silver — Lead 
AND  Copper — Iron  and  Coal — Excellence  of  the  c:oAL—ZoaLOGY— Oregon 
FisHFjj— Agricultural  and  Pastoral  Products— Table  of  Crops  and  Live- 
stock— Fisheries^The  Salmon  Trade— Timber  and  Lumber  Produciion  and 
Exports — Wheat  and  Flour  Exports — Wool— Total  Exports — Manufac- 
TURF,s — Labor — V/ages — Prick  of  Land  and  Facilitiks  for  Obtaining  it — 
Railroads  and  River  Navigation- Financf^s — Educational  Facilities — 
Higher  and  Special  Education — Population— Table — Characteristics  of  the 
Population — Indian  Reservations  and  Tribal  Indians— Counties  and  Princi- 
pal Cities  and  Towns— Religious  Denominations— Historical  Data— The 
Titlb  of  the  United  States  to  Oregon 1091 

.  CHAPTER    XVIII. 

Situation  and  Boundaries  of  Texas— Its  Area  and  Extent— Vastness  of  its 
Area — Comparisons  with  other  States  and  Countries— Face  of  the  Country 
— Mountains  in  the  Northwest — Isolated  Summits  and  Ridges  Elsewhere — 
Elevations  of  Various  Points — Rivers,  Bays  and  Estuaries  in  their  Order 
from  East  to  West — Texas  Rivers  not  Navigable— Geographical  Divisions 
OF  the  Statk  and  their  Characteristics — Geology  and  Mineralogy— Min- 
erals—Forests  AND  Vegetation — Zo6logy — Climate — Meteorological  Table 
giving  the  Temperature,  Rainfall,  etc.,  at  Eight  Points  in  the  State — 
Mining  and  Manufacturing  Industries — Agricultural  Productions— Tables 
of  Agricultural  Products  and  Live-Stock — Not  all  the  Arable  Lands  of 
Texas  of  the  First  Quality — The  Live-Stock  of  the  State  Commands  Lower 
Prices  than  that  of  States  and  Territories  farther  North— Why  ?— Rail- 


t'&^S^^**''''^^'^'*-''^'"**'*'**^**'^'^^  -.•.tSWV*!] 


CONTEl^TS. 

tOADS  AND  NAVlOAntE  WaTIRS— POPULATION— TAIILK  OF  ToPl'I^TIOM— STATISTIC* 

— Nativities  of  tiir  Population— From  Whf.nck  tiik  Emi(;ration— Countim 
ANu  TiiKiR  Finances  and  Valuation — Principal  Citify  and  Towns— Education 
— PuHi.ic  SciiooLi— Contradictory  Statistics — Lack  of  Intkrest  in  them— 
Universities,  Colleors  and  Professional  Sciroou— Institutions  for  Blind 
AND  Deaf  Mutes— Lands  for  Immigrants— Relioious  Denominations— His- 
torical Data— Early  Settlements  in  Texas — Its  Revolt  and  Independence 
OP  Mexico — The  Republic— Annexation  to  United  States— pRocRESa—SRCia- 
•ION  >-KEcuNSTRUcnoN — Presbnt  Constitution — Conclusion 1 1 30 


if  I  ' 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

VIAE  TERRITORY. 

Utah  a  Peculiar  Territory— Its  Location,  Boundaries,  Area  and  Extent- 
Forests  and  Veoeiation— Altitude  or  its  Mountains  and  Valleys- ZoflLocv 
— Gkology—Mineralogy— Topography  and  Genkral  Ebatures- The  Great 
Salt  Lake  Basin— Cache,  San  Pete  and  Sevier  Valleys— The  Colorado 
Basin,  East  of  the  Wahsatch  Mountains— Climate— Meteorolck;y  of  Salt 
Lake  City  and  Camp  Douglas— Notes  on  the  Temperature,  Rainfall, 
rrc,  of  other  parts  of  the  Territory — Advantages  of  Utah  as  a  Sani- 
tary Resort— Diseased  for  which  its  Climate  is  Beneficial— Opinion  op 
Eminent  Army  Surgeons  on  the  Subject— Soil  and  Agriculture— Irrigation 

VKRY  CENERALLY  REQUIRED — IMMENSE   CROPS  WHERE  IT  IS  PRACTISED — NON-IRRI- 

gable  Lands  sometimes  Productive  with  Deep  Plowing — Timber-  Yield  of 
Cersal  and  other  Products— Fruit-Culture — Stock-Farming— Sheep-Farm- 
ing— Evils  of  Migratory  Herds — Gov.  Emery's  Complaints  of  California 
Flocks— Minf^  and  Mining  Products — Wide  Distribution  of  Gold,  Silver, 
Lead,  Copper,  Iron,  Coal,  Sulphur,  Soda,  Salt  and  Borax— The  Mines  op 
THE  Precious  Metals  in  the  Salt  Lake  Basin  very  Rich  and  easily  ac- 
cessible—Railroads— Objects  of  Interest— The  "Temple  of  Music"  on  thk 
Colorado— Temples  on  the  Rio  Virgen— The  American  Fork  CaRon— It  is 

CALLED  THE  "  VOSEMITE  "  OF  UTAH— THE  GrEAT  SALT  LaKE  MINERAL  AND  HOT 

Springs — Finances— Population-Table— The  Population  of  Utah  peculiar- 
Its  Early  Settlement  by  the  Mormons — Motives  which  led  to  their  MiotA- 

TION— MORMONISM  A  RELIGIOUS  OLIGARCHY— ItS   DESPOTIC   RULE— ITS  CRIMES — 

Polygamy  its  CornerStone— Its  Defiance  of  the  Government — Its  Propa- 
oANDisM— Religious  DRN6»tiMATiONS — Education— Moral  and  Social  Con- 
dition—Counties AND  Principal  Towns— Historical  Data 1 154 


: 


1  ii 


t; 


«■ 


CHAPTER    XX. 

WASEIJfQTOJf  TERRITORY. 

Situation  of  Washington  Territory— Boundaries— Thb  Boundary  Line  at  th« 
Northwest  and  North— Its  Area— Length  and  Breadth- Comparative  Size 
—Topography  and  Divisions— Western  WASHiwctoN— The  Puget  Sound 
Basin — What  Puget  Sound  Includes— The  Be»uty,  Value  and  Importance  op 
THIS  Great  Inland  Sea— The  Lowlands  and  the  Mountain  Slopes  of  West- 
ern Washington — Rivers  and  Harbors  of  Western  Washington— E/sterm 
Washington— Its  Riveej- Its  Lakes— The  Gheat  Plains  of  the  Columbia- 
River  Valleys — Geology —  Mineralogy— ZoSlogy— Climate — Meteorology 
or  Western  Washington— Governor  Ferry's  Remarks  on  the  Mildness  o^ 


M«^«^w.^n-nj;rafreiiH^^H^'Wn«i.Yn£ni31fe^«>^WWI3«l^ 


CO//TENTS. 


is— Statistic* 

ION— COUNTIM 

IS— Education 

LST   IN  THEM — 

Ns  FOR  Blind 

NATIONS— Ills- 
iNUlCreNltENCS 
XIRKSa— SECKI- 


.1120 


^ND  Extent— 

LEYS— ZodLOGY 

i— The  Great 
'he  Colorado 
jLtK;Y  or  Salt 
RE,   Rainfall, 

AH    AS   A  SANI- 

L— Opinion  or 
IE— Irrigation 
iEO — Non-irri- 
BEK-  Yield  of 
—Sheep-Farm- 
OF  California 
Gold,  Silver, 
The  Mines  op 

LNU    easily  AC- 

VIusic  "  on  the 

CaRon— It  is 

eral  and  hot 

ah  PECULIAR — 
THEIR  MiGtA* 

Its  Crimes- 
it— Its  Propa- 
Social  Con- 


."54 


Link  at  trs 
fPARATivB  Size 
PuGET  Sound 
[mportancb  of 
OPES  of  West- 

;T0N—E/ STERN 
E  COLUMraA — 

Meteorology 
Mildness  6^ 


THE  CmMATE,  ANn  THE  REASONS  FOR  IT— THE  Cl.IMATE  OF  RASTERN  WASiriNCTON 

—The  Chinook  Wind — Soil,  Vegetation  and  AcRirui.TURAL  Troductions — 
The  Alluvial  Farming  Lands— Tadlk  Lands— For f.st  Growths  -Agricultu- 
ral PRODutTs— Timber  and  Lumber  —Soil  and  Prodi'ctidns  of  Eastern 
WA.iHiNcroN- The  Yakima  County— Remarkably  Fat  Cattlf.— From  Whence 
tiif.y  comk— The  Wonderful  Fertility  of  the  Son. — The  Mountain  Slopes 
and  Moi'NTain  Tops  as  Rich  as  the  Valleys— The  Immense  Yield  of  Wheat 
— Thir  tyfive  to  Fifty  Dusiiels  to  the  Ai-re— Exports— Population-Table — 
Indian  Tribfj5  and  their  Reservations— Partial  Civilization  of  the  Indians 
— TiiKiR  Industry— Education— Counties  and  Principal  Towns — Table  of 
Population  and  Valuation  of  Countifj}— Chief  Towns—Religious  Denomina- 
tions and  Public  Morau — Historical  Data — The  American  Title  to  Wash- 
ington AND  Oregon— The  Arbitration  in  regard  to  the  Islands  in  the  Gulf 
OF  Georgia— The  Early  Sf.tti.krs— Indian  War  in  1855— Conclusion  —Wash- 
ington  Territory  Desirable  for  Immigrants — The  Best  Routes  thither — 
The  Early  Complbtion  op  the  Northern  Pacific  PROBABLf 1 189 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

WrOMIJVO   TERRITORY. 

Situation  —  Boundaries  —  Length  and  Breadth  —  Form — Area— Topography- 
Mountains— Ele\'ation  OF  Various  Points— Rivers,  Lakes,  etc. — RemarkablK 
Character  of  its  Drainage — Its  Waters  Discharged  into  the  Pacific  by  th« 
Columbia  River,  into  the  Gulf  ok  California  by  the  Colorado,  into  the 
Salt  Lake  Basin  by  the  Bear  River,  into  the  Upper  Missouri  by  the  Madi- 
son and  Gallatin,  into  the  Middle  Missouri  by  the  Yellowstone  and  Bio 
Cheyenne,  into  the  Lower  Missouri  by  the  Niobrara  and  Platte,  and  into 
the  cjulf  of  mexico  by  all  these— geology  and  mineralogy— coal — petro- 
LEUM—GOLD  AND  Silver — Other  Metals — Mining  of  Precious  Metals  not 
much  Developed— Marble  and  other  Mineral  Products— Forests,  Soil  and 
Vegetation — ZoflLOfJY — Climate — Meteorology  of  Cheyenne — Agricultural 
Productions  and  Stock  Raising — Manufactures  and  Mining — Mining  Pro- 
ducts — Railways,  Existinc;  and  Projected — Population  and  its  Distribution 
— Education — Religious  Denominations — Counties— Area— Population  in 
1880,  and  Valuation  in  1877 — Principal  Towns — Objects  of  Interest — Thb 
Yellowstone  National  Park  made  a  Separate  Chapter — Historical  Notes 
— Early  Spanish  Occupation  of  Wyoming — Discovery  of  Arastras  and  Span- 
ish Buildings— Father  DE  Suet — Captain  Bridger — His  Occupation  runnino 
BACK  to  a  time  "When  Laramie  Peak  hadn't  begun  to  Grow  "-Organization 
of  the  Territory — Indian  Conflicts — The  Custer  Massacre — Advantages 
uF  Wyoming  for  certain  Classes  of  Immigrants— Prospects  in  the  Near 
FirruRX 1213 

CHAPTER     XXII. 

THE  TELLOWSTOJfE  J^ATlOJfAL  PARK. 

Situation — Boundaries  and  Area — Its  Recent  Discovery  and  Exploration— Thii 
Act  of  Congress  setting  it  apart  as  a  National  Park — ^The  Park  drained 
into  the  Pacific  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico — Its  Volcanic  Character — Not  o* 
MUCH  Value  as  am  Agricultural  Region — Inaccessible  except  from  thb 


ii^^k0^'i^^^iS:^rl«!^iiilU^i^it^^f-^.'U  Ai'f'j^.^.iiiiM-i ^ 


:i''?*?->^'i4»*&A  «*«v.'r 


.■;6«Siii*r'30-. 


■-;;*'i^;'.  ■^.•- 


sS 


CONTENTS. 


'.  <i 


North  and  Wkst— Kastkrn  I'aht  not  iui.i.y  rxri.oRFri — No  Minbrai.  VVrai.th 
YKT  lJisi:i>vKKi  II  i-xctrr  in  tiik  NuRrm.AsT  Corner— Tiis  AiTRnAdi   ro  thk 

I'ARK  Al'  Tin.  Nliklll  -Ti:K  CaRhn  ok  TIIK  NKI.l.nW.slnM.,  i'IiinMiI-.  IIIK  I'ARK  — 
(.'INNAIIAK    M'll'NTAIN-"  TlIK    Dl'.VIl.'s  SlIDK  "— -IvM  It  ASCK  T<)  Till,  TaKK  -RAriP 

Revikw  <ji-  thk  OiijKi-rs  to  he  Visitkd— Skiuu  hrk  Mountain— CaRon  ok  CIar- 
uiner's  River— Mammoth  Hot  SrRiN(is — Towkr  Crkkk  anu  Falls— Thk 
Columns  and  Tovvkrs  r)K  Tower  Crkf.k  CaRon— Mount  Washburn — Thk 
Grand  TaRon  ok  thk  Yk.llowstone— Yellowstone  Lakk— The  I.ai;i.s  ok  thk 
Southern  I'our,  Heari",  Lewis  and  Shoshone  -The  Cross  Ci  t  whkh  avoids 
THicsE— The  Ui'I'er  and  Lowi.r  (jEvskr  IUsins  ok  the  Fire  Hole  i>r  Ukpkr 
Madison  River— The  (iK.vskr  Hasins  ok  (Jihhon's  Fork- The  Wondirs  ok 
Beaver  Lake  AND  THE  Oiisidian  i  i.iiis— Return  to  Mammoth  Hot  Si'Rings — 
Time  in  which  the  Trip  can  he  made— The  Wonders  in  Detail— Mammoth 
Hot  Si'Rincs — Mr.  Strahorn's  Description — The  Route  to  Tower  Creek 
Falls  and  CaNon — Hon.  N,  P.  Langkoro  and  I.ii.utenant  Doane's  EuLotsy 
OK  them — The  Ascent  to  Mount  Washdurn — Rkv.  Dr.  Hovt's  I^loquent  Pic- 
ture ok  the  View  from  its  Summit— The  Descent  from  Mount  VVashhurn — 
The  Old  AND  the  New  Trail— The  CJrand  CaSon  ok  the  Yellowstone— Its 
Bed  Inac(  essihie  at  Mosr  Points- The  Upper  and  Lower  Falls  oi- the  Yel- 
LowsroNE— The  Laitei-  at  the  Head  ok  the  Grand  CaRon— Dr.  Hoyt's 
Eloquent  Dkscriptidn  ok  the  F'ali.s  and  the  CaJJon- The  Trail  ro  Yellow- 
stone Lake— The  Lake  Itself — Its  Shape  Compared  to  the  Human  Hand — 
Prqkessor  Raymond's  Criticism  of  the  Comparison — The  Elevation  ok  the 
Lake — Prokessor  Hayden's  Statement  only  Correct  ik  applied  to  Lakiik 
LAKK.S — Heicht    of    Colorado  Lakes  —  The    Yellowstone    River    F'lows 

THROUGH     I  ME  LaKE — ThE  LAKE    NOT    ITS    SOURCE — AFKLUENTS    OK  THE   LAKE — 

Mineral  AND  Hot  Springs  on  its  Banks— Its  Waters  generally  very  Pure 
AND  Sweet — The  Trout  Infested  with  Worms — Bfjiuty  of  the  Lake— Mar- 
shall's Df-scription— .Strahorn's  Poetical  Picture— Prokessor  Raymond's 
Eulogy — Rev.  Dr.  Hoyt's  Pen  Pcirtraiture  or  it — Moving  F'orward — Thk 
Upper  and  Lower  Geyser  Basins— Explanations  in  regard  to  Geysers— 
Those  ok  Iceland  the  only  others  of  Note  in  the  World— Character  of 
THE  Geyser  Eruption — Old  and  Recent  Geysers — The  Upper  Geyser  Basin- 
Rev.  Edwin  Stanley's  "  Parade  of  the  Geysers  "—The  Geysers  not  all  in 
Action  at  once— Lieutenant  Barlow  on  the  Fan  and  Well  Geysers— The 
Grotto  — Mr.  Norton's  Dk.scription  —  Lieutenant  Doane  on  the  Grand 
Geyser— Professor  Raymond  on  the  Lower  Geyser  Basin— The  Laugs  or 
Extinct  Geysers— Gkyserdom  not  Paradise.— Dr.  Hoyt's  Description  of  the 
Desolation— The  Geysers  and  Hot  Springs  ok  Gibbon's  Fork— Beaver  Lake 
— The  Obsidian  Cliffs— Mountains  of  Glass— Review  of  the  whole— Accessi- 
bility OF  the  Park— Irs  Future  Attractions— Its  Quiet  and  Beautiful 
Valley    and  Glade»— Distances  within  the  Park 1227 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

ALASKA. 

Relation  of  Alaska  to  Our  Western  Empire— Another  Kamschatk a— Absurdity 

OF  the  Stories   told  of  its   Present  or   Prospective  Productiveness Its 

Furs,  Fisheries  and  Timber  somewhat  Valuable— Peculiar  Form  of  thb 
Territory— The  Bull's   Head  with   two  Long   Horns— Its  Three   Divi- 


^^tMOTxm^-ntmfXt^^'H^it'AvstSV 


^t»'Afti?*i'i>*-6^*«K'«f'' 


CONTENTS. 


iNitRAi.  Wraith 
I'Rmaiii   ro  T»iK 

Dl.  IIIK    I'ARK  — 
E  I'AKK— kAfin 

■CaRon  ok  Car- 
ID   Kai.us— Thk 

'ASll'irUN — 'I'llF. 
I.AKllS  OK  THK 
r  WMU  II  AVOIDS 
loLl;  nK  Ul'HKR 
K    WoNDIRS     OK 

Hot  Si'Hings — 
mi.~Mammoth 
Tower  Crkkk 
OANK's  Euloi:y 
liLOQUENT  Pic- 
T  VVasiihurn — 
LowsTo.NE — Its 
i.s  oi-  the  Vel- 
< — Dr.  IIoyt's 
II.  ro  Yei.i.ow- 
lUMAN  Hand — 

/ATION  OF  THB 
.lED  TO    LAKliK 

River  Flows 
F  the  Lake — 
i.y  very  i'ure 
'.  Lake— Mar- 
ie Raymond's 
ORWARD — Thb 
TO  Geysers- 
Character  OF 
EYSER  Basin— 
:s  NOT  all  m 
jEysers — The 
I  THE  Grand 
'he  Laucs  OR 
iption  of  the 
Beaver  Lake 

OLE — ACCESSI- 

iD  Beautiful 


.1237 


k — Absurdity 
rrvENESs — Its 
'"orm  OF  the 
Three  Divi- 


sions, Sitka,  Yi;kon  anh  the  Islands— Area— Popi'i.ation— Topoorapiiv— 
Mountains— Rivers— The  Limits  and  Area  ok  ea(Ii  Division— OEoi.rKiY— Vol- 
canoes and  Glaciers— Minerai.ouy— Coal— Metals— Minerals— (Joi.d  and 
Silver— Recent  Discdverikj!- ZoOlooy- The  Divisions  in  Detail— Tim;  Sit- 
k\n  Division— Its  Fur  Trade,  Fisheries  and  Timiikr  -Its  Aoricui.ti'ral  Pro- 
ductions conkinkd  TO  A  FEW  VeoETAHLKS- 2.  TlIK  YlKoN  DISTRICT  OK  IirrLB 
Value,  exceit  for  its  Fur  Trade,  Whale  and  other  Fisherifji  on  the  Coast 
— 3.  The  Island  District— Some  Arahl.:  Land  on  the  Larcfr  Islands,  and 

A  POSSIIIII.ITV   OK    Fi  TL'RK  DaIRVI  ARMS   THERE,  THOUC.H  AT  TOO  GREAT  CoST   KOR 

AiucH  Profit— The  Caitiire  of  the  Fur  Seal  on  the  Priuvioff  Islands  the 
pRiNciFAi,  Industry,  hioucjh  Fisheries  may  Increase— Detailed  Akount  of 
THE  Fisheries— The  Population,  Nationalities  and  Character— The  Natives 
— KoLosiiiAN  TRiiiFJi— Kenaian  Trihes— The  Aleuts— The  Eskimo— Prin- 
cipal Towns  and  Villaces— Meteorolo(;y  of  Fort  St.  Michael's  and  Una- 

LASIIKA— OllJECTS  OF  INTERtai  TO  THE  TOURIST— HISTORICAL  NoTF-S- CaN   IT   BE 

Commended  to  Immigrants  ? 1266 


PART  IV. 


OUR 


-THE   LANDS   OUTSIDE   OF   " 
WESTERN    EMPIRE." 

CHAPTER    I. 


THE  J^OBTHWESTERJf  PROVIJ^CES  OF  THE  DOMimOJT  OF 

CANADA. 

I.  British  Coi.uMniA—BouNnARiF.s— Area— Islands— Soil  of  Islands  and  Coast- 
Soil  and  Surface  of  the  Interior-Mountains— Rivers— Ceolociy  and  Min- 
eralocy— Coal— Gold,  Silver,  itc.—Fisiierif.s—Timher—Fur-Traiie— Popu- 
lation—Indians— Chief  Towns— II.  The  Northwfjt  Territories- Fxtent 
—Recent  Division  — Lakes— Rivers  — Mountains— Soil— Climate  Warmer 
than  Manitoha- Wild  Animals  and  Game  Plenty — Rivers  and  Lakes 
Stocked  with  Fish— Population— Indians— Religion— III.  Kkkvvatin— The 
New  Territory— Not  much  known  of  it— IV.  Manitoba- Its  Territory  too 
Small  — No  Good  Reason  for  this— Its  Boundaries  — Its  Rivers  —  The 
Province  Nearly  a  Dead  Level— Climate— Rainfall— Meteoroi.ocy  of 
Fort  Garry— Agriculture— Conflicting  Accounts— Report  of  an  "  English 
Farmer  "—Reply  of  "  a  Canadian  "--Climate  very  Severe  in  Winter— Mr. 
Vernon  Smith's  Description  of  the  Rivers  and  Lakes  and  their  Future 
UsEFULNF_ss  —  Earl  Dufferin's  Description  — Mr.  Vernon  Smith  on  the 
Crops— Later  Statistics  not  Available — Transportation— The  Canadian 
Pacific— Its  Present  Condition  and  Prospects— Religion,  Education,  etc.— 
Principal  Towns— Historical  Notes— The  Red  River  Settlement— Pembina 
— Assiniboia— Riel's  Revolution— The  Rapid  Growth  of  the  Province  since 
IT  became  a  Part  of  the  Dominion 1282 


rse;..^i''in4ig*j*ii,-ijiii.;at.;«i7«Cfitjs^^^^^^ 


CHAPTER    II. 

HOMES  FOR  IMMIGRAJfTS  OJf  THE  ATLANTIC  SLOPE. 

Why  manv  Immioiianth  t)0  not  like  to  oo  to  the  Wkst-Vip.ws  or  many  ok 
CUB  OWN  People  ON  the  Subject-Are  there  not  IIomk.,  for  thme  on  the 
Atlantic  Slope  ?-AnvANTA(5E.s  ok  the  East-Wisconsin  and  wIiciiioan- 
Ohio.  Indiana  and  Illinois -Tennessee- Maine.  New  Hampshire  and 
Vermont— Massachusetts  and  Connecticut-Northern  New  York— Ion.i 
I«land-Advanta«rs  ok  New  System  ok  Ensilage  here  and  in  New  Irkskv-. 
New  Jerskv-The  Southern  Counties-West  Viroinia-North  Carolina- 
East  Tennessee— Northern  Georgia— Florida— Conclusion...  .  ijoj 


!  ';  I  i 


*'^'r^3m!ssmsii£'S!iaa«m-i-*i3imsssasm'!SfsaieM  £.<.:<«i#»>;«a$a&«iwiii,'a.rX'iSR'' 


/ 


J^TIC  SLOPE. 

IRWS  or  MANY  OK 
JR  TJIF.SK  ON  TMK 
*N1)     iVIlCIIKiAN — 

Mampsiiihic  and 
KW    York — Lono 

N    Nkw  jRRiiKY — ' 

)iiTH  Carolina— 
* >30J 


/ 


'':-:i0$-^^^^M-»^^^^'-3i^f^^:%^JiK^.^^ 


f'r^rtvtiiteu.v&^ii^-^i'^-.jrr-  -" ."  .-.V^'ii;% ,,i 


ft/ 

i 


[| 


1^' 


^  III 


'^  :a 


Bas-jJX»»»-:-jtiFi,va<r'T?ar..»wa«t,'itT'-c*;^(a^i,;i« 


OUR  WESTERN  EMPIRE; 

OR, 

The  New  West  Beyond  the  Mississippi. 


PART  I. 

OUR  W^ESTERN  EMPIRE. 


CHAPTER   I. 

What  it  CoMPRSHRNns— Thf  West  beyond  thk  Mississippi— Its  Aria  and 
Extent — Comparison  with  other  Empires — Climate — Mountains — 
Natural  Phenomena— Soil — The  Alkaline,  Volcanic  and  "  Dad  Lands  " 
— Predominance  or  Arable  and  Pasture  Lands — Nutritious  Grasses  in 
the  Grazing  Lands. 

"Our  Western  Empire"  is  of  greater  extent  than  any  other 
Empire  of  Christendom  except  Russia  and  Brazil,  and  in 
population,  enterprise,  and  advantages  for  future  growth  is  the 
peer  of  any ;  but  it  has  no  monarch,  hereditary  or  elective,  to 
rule  its  wide  domain.  It  forms  a  large  part — more  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  Great  Republic  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and 
over  all  its  vast  extent,  an  intelligent  and  industrious,  moral  and 
capable  people  rule  themselves.  Their  chief  magistrates,  their 
governors  and  executive  officers,  are  men  of  the  people,  selected 
by  the  people,  for  short  terms  of  service,  and  replaced  by  others, 
when  those  terms  expire.        r     ,. 

What,  then,  do  we  understand  "Our  Western  Empire"  to 
comprehend  ?  All  of  that  portion  of  the  United  States  lying 
west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  including  the  new  Territory  of  Alaska. 
Its  northern  boundaries  are  the  Arctic  Ocean  and  Behring's 
Sea  and  Straits  west  of  the  140th  meridian ;  and  east  of  that, 
British  America;  its  western  limit  the  Pacific  Ocean;  its  southern, 
Mexico  and  the  Mexican  Gulf;  its  eastern,  the  Mississippi  river 
*  (33) 


'j^^(^ 


;  ^>%i!^■i'*^^Wi|w*a«*..#«i.A^J,WAs■V^*si^to-v^4;*v^■■!^^^^  1 


■■^•i','^-i^'   .  ;-^' 


.■a,, . 


34 


OUlf   H'gsrMAjy  JtMf/MM. 


i  ■ 


from  Its  moiith  to  the  Can.nla  line,  and  the  wrnt  Hnr  of  British 
Anwrica,  al)ovc  the  fifty  fourth  parallel.  It  has  an  an-a  of 
8,671,884  stjuarr  miles,  of  which  577,390  or  alwiit  onr-filili, 
belongs  to  Alaska.  It  extends  over  42"  of  latitude,  and  in  itn 
farthest  western  boundary,  "  by  Ounalaska't  lonely  shore/'  over 
103'  of  longitude. 

Leaving  Alaska  out  of  the  question,  as  a  mere  dependency, 
the  remainder  of  "Our  Western  Empire"  comprises  24°  of  latitude 
and  36°  of  longitude,  having  a  brcailth  of  nearly  2,000  miles 
from  east  to  west,  and  a  length  from  north  to  south  of  i,7rx^ 
miles,  with  an  area  of  2,094,494  square  miles.  The  whole  ot 
Europe  except  Russia,  incluilin;^'  the  great  Clerman  ICmpire,  tin- 
Austrollungurian  Empire,  the  Republic  of  I'rance,  the  United 
Kin<^dom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  the  Kingiloms  of  Turkey, 
Ita'/,  Spain,  Portugal,  Sweden,  Norway  and  Denmark,  and  the 
minor  States  and  principalities,  have  in  all  only  an  area  of 
1,678,791  square  miles,  about  four-fifths  of  "Our  Western 
Empire  "  exclusive  of  Alaska,  or  including  it,  less  than  three-fifths. 
Its  population  is  of  course  much  less  than  that  of  the  larger 
European  States,  though  somewhat  greater  than  that  of  the 
Brazilian  Empire,  and  increasing  at  a  rate  never  equalled  in  the 
world's  history. 

No  empire  in  the  world  has  a  greater  diversity  of  climate ; 
from  the  more  ihan  six  months*  winter  of  the  northern  border, 
and  the  mountainous  regions,  on  some  of  which  rest  eternal  snows, 
to  the  tropical  heats  of  Arizona  and  Southern  Texas,  there  is  the 
greatestpossiblediversityof  moistureanddrought,of  heatand  cold, 
of  moderate,  equable  and  health-giving  temperature,  and  of  rapid 
change,  and  fickle,  inconstant  skies.  Like  other  large  empires,  it 
has  great  diversities  of  surface.  Three  ranges  of  lofty  mountains 
traverse  it  from  north  to  south  with  their  numerous  oudying 
spurs,  their  broad  plateaux  and  table-lands  rising  to  a  height  of 
6,000  to  9,000  feet,  their  mesas  or  isolated  flat-topped  mountain 
summits,  their  deep  and  terrible  caRons,  and  their  long  valleys, 
sometimes  narrow  and  precipitous,  sometimes  broad  seas  of  ver- 
dure and  flowers.  These  are :  the  Rocky  Mountains,  appropri- 
ately named  "  the  backbone  of  the  Continent,"  and  occupying  a 


THR   WBHT  nHYOSD    TIIK  MiSXIS-Vm, 


)S 


;  line  of  Ilritish 
IS   an   ari*a  ol 
ilioiit  onrfilil). 
tuile,  and  in  itn 
:Iy  shore,"  ove  r 

re  dependency, 
s  34°  oflatiuidt' 
riy  a.ocx)  miUs 
south  of  1,700 
Th<"  whole  of 
lan  I'lmpirc!,  th»' 
nee,  the  United 
oms  of  Turkey, 
imark,  and  the 
)ly  an  area  of 
"Our  Western 
;han  three-fifths. 
t  of  the  larger 
<in  that  of  the 
equalled  in  the 

sity  of  climate ; 

orthern  border, 

t  eternal  snows, 

cas,  there  is  the 

}f  heatand  cold, 

ire,  and  of  rapid 

irge  empires,  it 

ofty  mountains 

erous  outlying 

to  a  height  of 

jped  mountain 

long  valleys, 

•ad  seas  of  ver- 

tains,  appropri- 

id  occupying  a 


position  about  midway  between  the  MinsiHsippi  river  anil  the 
I'ac  ific  Ocean ;  west  of  thrte,  and  ()arallel  with  then*,  thfr  Si«rra 
Nev.id.i,  or  Snowy  Range,  whos*;  peaks  tower  up  into  hcightH 
corresponding  with  those  of  the  <\ips;  and  still  farther  west,  and 
looking  out  upon  the  Pacific,  the  Coast  Ranger,  generally  of  lower 
altitude,  but  containing  sonte  lofty  summits,  whose  snow-dad 
tops  are  the  landmarks  of  the  coast.  Between  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains and  the  Sierra  Nevaila,  is  the  great  Utah  or  Salt  Lakt: 
Basin,  a  vast  depressed  tract,  none  of  whose  str<'ams  (low  out- 
ward, and  some  of  whos(!  lakes  are  salt  and  bitter.  It  has  also 
its  volcanic  regions,  and  areas  of  erosion,  where  I  ).une  Nature  has 
played  most  fantastic  tricks,  now  naring  lofty  statu<s,  monu- 
ments, castles,  cathedrals,  gateways,  now  scooping  out  vast  series 
of  basins  of  mineral  watc^rs  j-ither  hot  or  cold,  such  as  put  all 
artificial  baths  to  shame;  anon  sending  at  intervals  its  geyser- 
fountains  two  luindr«.d  and  fi ft)' feet  into  the  air;  or  filling  the 
quaking  antl  trembling  earth  with  jc  ts  of  hot  slciam,  reeking  with 
sulphurous  odors.  At  some  points,  after  a  fearful  desn-nt  into 
some  apparently  dark  and  gloomy  ravine  or  caflon,  all  the  hills 
or  mountains  around  one  seem  to  have  put  on  their  holiday 
attire ;  one  has  donned  for  its  bridal  veil  a  beautiful  and  semi- 
transparent  waterfall,  whose  height  is  so  great  that  the  water 
seems  pulverized  into  glittering  dust  ere  it  reaches  the  valley ; 
anoth(r,  with  a  greater  supply  of  water,  forms  four  or  five  gigantic 
cascades,  each  higher  than  Niagara,  in  its  downward  career; 
while  still  another,  in  a  rift  between  the  mountain  sununits,  forms 
a  stream  of  moderate  size  in  a  perpendicular  fall,  a  diousand  feet 
or  more,  sheer  down  into  the  valley.  Broad  lakes,  some  of  them 
salt  and  some  fresh,  with  many  outlets  or  with  none,  arc  found 
on  mountain  tops  or  in  the  centre  of  wide  valleys;  while,  as  we 
have  said,  one  vast  basin  has  its  own  system  of  lakes  and  rivers 
which  find  no  way  of  reaching  die  sea. 

Like  other  empires,  not  all  the  land  has  a  rich  and  fertile  soil. 
There  are  mountains,  where  the  rocks  are  cold,  bleak,  bare  and 
precipitous ;  there  are  caftons  and  ravines,  whose  nearly  perpen- 
dicular walls,  from  3,000  to  6,000  feet  in  height,  only  let  in  the 
sunlight  at  midday,  and  their  clayey  and  rocky  sides,  of  parti- 


..-^jlSl.SiijriS.'^.t.S 


ifc3Jr-VW.T^,V,^lifa..,^ljU    ■»■ 


-  i:>.r*t^.vt.v. 


I  0 


i 


|5  ovM  wesrjtJtAT  KMr/jtg. 

color«'«I  hu«s,  nfford  no  hoM  for  wm!,  vine,  nhriil)  or  tree.  Tlurc 
am  plains,  ptatraiix  and  M4'S(ts  covered  with  alkaline  powiirr,  and 
having  as  tluir  only  v«*j;<'tation  tin*  ^ray,  lichrn  hiird  saj^r  hnish; 
plains  on  which  tlu'  j;rntl«r  rain  and  soft  falling  dt:w  Meldon)  or  n«'vrr 
descends — yrt  thesr  monotonous  an«l  apparently  liarrcn  plains, 
under  the  intUiencr  of  irrij^^ation,  yield  most  ainmdant  crops,  and 
even  the  d«spiseil  sa^c-brush  furnishes  a  ilclicious  pasturage  for 
cattle.  Therr  arr  also  considrrahh'  tracts  whrrr,  in  ff)rm«'r  times, 
the  eroding'  intluentes  of  moutuain  streams  have  cut  the  derp 
ntrata  of  day  into  th«:  most  fantastic  forms — lands  so  utterly 
barren,  th.-'t  no  toil  couhl  extrat  t  from  them  the  least  vestij^e  of 
a  cr  )p — th(.'  "  Mad  Lands"  of  the  Canadian  trappers;  and  there 
are  also  some  stretches  of  voKanic  lands,  for  one  of  which  the 
foul  and  mrpliitic  vapors,  and  the  earthquake  shocks,  have 
prompt<:il  the  expressive  nam<!  of  Death  Valley. 

Hut  while  these  extraordinary  displays  of  the  power  of  natural 
forces  render  this  Great  West  a  true  Wonderland,  they  really 
comprise  but  a  small  (proportion  of  its  surface,  and  no  region  of 
equal  extent  has  a  larger  proportion  of  available  and  productive 
lands.  The  quantity  of  arable  soil  is  immense.  The  wheat 
fields  of  Iowa,  Minnesota,  Northern  and  Southeastern  Dakota. 
Kansas  ami  Nebraska,  th<!  lands  inted  to  the  growth  of  Indian 
corn  in  these  .States  and  'I\;rritories,  and  in  Missouri,  Arkansas 
and  the  Indian  Territory,  and  in  portions  of  Colorado  and  New 
Mexico,  the  cotton  lands  of  Texas,  Arkansas  and  New  Mexico, 
and,  on  the  Pacific  slope,  the  wheat  and  barley  fields  and  the 
vineyards  r.nd  orchards  of  California,  the  wheat  and  corn  fields 
of  Oregon  and  Washington,  are  beyond  all  comparison  for  ex- 
cellence, on  this  continent  or  any  other.  ' 

In  the  way  if  grazing  lands,  no  other  country  can  compare 
with  tl'  ;ni.  !  here  are  not  only  the  cattle  upon  a  thousand  hills 
or  plains,  but  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  cattle  on  each 
vast  plain  or  mountain  slope.  The  States  and  Territories  of 
Texas,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  Colorado,  Wyoming,  Utah,  North- 
western Dakota,  Montana,  Idaho,  Oregon,  Washington  and  Cali- 
fornia, can  furnish,  within  a  few  years,  all  the  beef  and  mutton 
needed  to  feed  the  rest  of  the  world.     The  grasses  here  are 


or  tree.  Thrre 
ur  jK)Wil«T,  anil 
led  Hu^c-bruHh: 
irliloin  or  mrvrr 
{  barren  plains, 
Jant  crops,  aiul 
H  pasturage  lur 
in  forinrr  tinwH. 

2   cut    the    c|f<|i 

Lnds  nu  iittt-rly 
l«'asl  vrstij4<'  ot" 
kth;  and  ilwrc 
tc  of  which  the 
:  thockii,  have 

>owcr  of  natural 
land,  they  really 
nd  no  rejjion  of 
:  and  productive 
ic.     The   wheat 

astern  Dakota, 
rowth  of  Indian 
isouri,  Arkansas 
orado  and  New 

d  New  Mexico, 
fields  and  the 

and  corn  fields 

iparison  for  ex- 

ry  can  compare 
a  thousand  hills 
of  cattle  on  each 
I  Territories  of 
ig,  Utah.  Norih- 
ington  and  Cali- 
»eef  and  mutton 
rasses  here  are 


THB  a  Hit  AT  AMMHICAN  DMSKUT;   WMKHK  AT  ITt  jy 

more  nutritiouH  ami  iattc-niny,  and  ^'ivc  to  the  HchI)  of  the  cattle 
a  more  gamey  tlivor  than  ilu)«ie  of  any  other  known  loiintry;  and 
even  thoM*  tandit  wiii*  h  were  at  firHt  rcckonrd  am  poriionn  of  the 
Cirral  American  I  ^rsrrl,  tamls  ^iven  over  to  alkalin*;  thpositH 
and  Ha(;e  brush,  and  on  which  there  was  but  very  little  rainfall, 
now  prove  admirably  adapted  to  pasturage,  ami,  cither  with  or 
without  irrigation,  most  lioimtcotiH  in  their  pnxhu  tiott  of  grain 
and  root  crops.  And  in  this  connection  we  may  well  raise  the 
question  which  wc  next  discuss. 


CHAITI-.R   II. 

Tmi:  ( '.UK AT  American  Dt^rnT  ;  WuruK  is  it? — Tur  IIuNnRrrnii  MrRiniAir 
— ••  Ei.i  I'ruKiNs'n"  S«ai»k— Thk  Fa(ts  in  Rr.Ptv — ('olunki.  ( llKr:v»:T  Hkiu- 

ADIEN-(iRNr.KAI.)  IIa/EN  ON  THR  NoKTMKHN  I'A(  UK' — CoVKHNoK  IIoWAKD'R 
ANSiWCK,    AND    OTHRH    FaCTH  — DaKOI  A  — WvOMINCJ    ANI>    IIS  AtikU  IJLTURK— 

MoHTANA— U.  R.  AND  Mk.  Z.  I..  VVihtkon  ITS  CIkowi — TiiK  HMALi.  Modicum 
or  Tkuth  in  these  "  Dksert  "  Stories — The  repdktm*  "Diskki" 
iir.voNn  riir.  RcH.Kirs — The  Utah  anh  Nevada  DKsmr— 'I^hiimonv  or 
3urvevors(;enerai.— The  Tkxan  Desert  anu  ARiitoNA— The  Crcat 
American  Desert  a  Myth. 

Thirty  or  forty  years  ago  all  our  maps  had  a  wide  space,  and 
some  of  them  cwo  or  three  wide  spaces,  inscribed,  "Great  Amer- 
ican Desert."  Nearly  the  whole  of  the  present  States  of  Kansas, 
Nebraska  and  Colorado,  and  Western  Minnesota ;  the  Territories 
of  Wyoming,  Dakota,  Montana,  and  Idaho,  Western  Texas, 
and  after  wc  had  conquered  "  a  piece  "  from  Mexico,  Arizona, 
most  of  New  Mexico,  Utah  and  Nevada,  were  included  in  this 
comprehensive  designation.  By  and  by  silver,  and  some  gold, 
were  found  in  Nevada,  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  Pike's  Peak, 
in  what  is  now  Colorado ;  but  though  the  existence  of  the  pre- 
cious metals  there  could  not  be  denied,  yet  the  terrors  of  the 
desert  to  be  passed  through  (terrors  of  whose  reality  the  wagon- 
trail  marked  at  almost  every  step  by  skeletons  of  catdc,  and  too 
often,  alas  I  by  the  bones  of  emigrants,  gave  most  ghastly  proof) 
were  such  that  only  the  most  stout-hearted  could  brave  them. 

After  some  years  the  tide  of  emigration,  which  at  first  had 


'r^^a«.4.«']k.^>tJ»IHi»AlllJ>^  -.V«<.f  .1^ 


l\' 


'i 


jg  Ol/X    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

been  confined  to  the  eastern  counties  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska, 
and  had  not  reached  the  western  counties  of  Iowa,  and  still  less 
those  of  Minnesota,  began  to  rise  and  overflow  the  adjacent 
counties  and  districts.  The  Union  Pacific,  the  Northern  Pacific, 
the  Kansas  Pacific,  and  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  F6 
Railways  had  plunged  into  this  desert,  and  being  all  land  grant 
roads,  had  made  the  discovery  that  these  lands  were  not  really  a 
desert,  but  were  capable  of  yielding  excellent  crops,  and  of  fur- 
nishing superior  pasturage  to  cattle  and  sheep.  The  line  of 
settlement  has  advanced  with  each  year  till  now  it  has  reached 
the  loist  meridian  west  from  Greenwich,  in  Kansas,  Nebraska 
and  Dakota,  and  overleaping  all  barriers  has  extended  to  the 
foothills  and  peaks  of  the  Rocky  Mounta'ns  in  Colorado, 
Wyoming  and  Montana,  and  with  moderate  irrigation  has  pro- 
duced from  these  supposed  desert-lands  the  most  astonishing 
crops,  and  has  furnished,  as  we  have  already  said,  pasturage  so 
rich  and  abundant,  to  hundreds  of  thousands  of  cattle  and  sheep, 
that  their  flesh  is  more  highly  prized  than  any  other  in  the 
market. 

"Vet  there  have  not  been  wanting  those  who  from  one  motive 
or  another,  have  sought  to  depreciate  these  lands,  and  have 
declared,  in  the  face  of  the  .liOst  conclusive  evidence,  that  the 
whole  region  west  of  the  looth  meridian  was  a  barren  desert, 
incapable  of  producing  crops  or  furnishing  pasturage  sufficient 
for  the  subsistence  of  men  or  animals,  and  that  it  would  remain 
so  until  God  changed  the  physical  laws  which  govern  the  distri- 
bution of  clouds,  and  rain,  levelled  the  mountains,  and  made  the 
climate  like  that  of  the  East.  It  is  very  easy  to  theorize  on  these 
matters,  and  to  demonstrate  that  because,  according  to  certain 
premises,  a  certain  result  should  follow,  therefore  it  will  inevitably 
follow ;  but  he  is  not  a  wise  man  who  neglects  to  test  the  truth 
of  his  theories  by  facts. 

The  two  regions,  which,  within  the  past  decade,  have  been  per- 
sistently denour  ^ed  by  these  pseudo-scientific  theorists  as  portions 
of  the  Great  American  Desert,  rainless,  treeless,  barren  and 
incapable  of  ever  being  inhabited,  are  the  regions  lying  near  the 
lOOth  meridian  west  from  Greenwich  and  westward  indefinitely, 


I 


rt 


■•■^vis«SSVr!('^f!SSS!e'3^-)3SS!i^mmS''T^Si'- 


^w:i^isem»&mminmM.- 


■S'Ti 


THE   GREAT  AMERICAN  DESERT:    WHERE   IS  ITt 


and  Nebraska, 
a,  and  still  less 
w  the  adjacent 
orthern  Pacific, 
and  Santa  F6 

all  land  grant 

ere  not  really  a 

jps,  and  of  fur- 

The  line  of 

it  has  reached 
nsas,  Nebraska 
xtended  to  the 
3  in  Colorado, 
gallon  has  pro- 
ost  astonishing 
id,  pasturage  so 
attle  and  sheep, 
y  other  in   the 

om  one  motive 
inds,  and  have 
idence,  that  the 

barren  desert, 
urage  sufficient 
it  would  remain 
►vern  the  distri- 

and  made  the 
leorize  on  these 
ding  to  certain 
it  will  inevitably 
o  test  the  truth 

have  been  per- 
rists  as  portions 
ss,  barren  and 
lying  near  the 
ard  indefinitely, 


39 


though  some  of  these  pessimists  admitted  that  there  might  be 
some  fertile  valleys  among  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  and  second, 
the  region  from  about  the  107th  meridian  westward  to  the  114th. 
The  first  tract  includes  Western  Texas,  at  least  two-thirds  of  the 
Indian  Territory,  the  western  tliird  of  Kansas,  almost  half  of 
Nebraska,  Eastern  New  Mexico,  more  than  half  of  Colorado, 
n  ;arly  all  of  Wyoming,  more  than  half  of  Dakota,  and  the 
whole  of  Montana.  In  regard  to  Kansas,  Nebraska,  and  Colo- 
rado, as  late  as  the  winter  or  early  spring  of  1879,  Mr.  Landon, 
a  popular  lecturer,  better  known  to  the  public  under  his  itom  de 
plume  of  Eli  Perkins,  published  in  the  Cincinnati  Enquirer,  and 
soon  after  in  the  New  York  Sun^  the  following  article : 

LET  EMIGRANTS  WESTWARD  LOOK  OUT! 

An  awful  trap  is  being  set  for  credulous  emigrants.  Thousands  of  these 
emigrants  are  settling  west  of  the  rain  belt,  and  they  don't  know  it.  They  are 
going  out  too  far  on  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  F£,  the  Kansas  Pacific, 
the  Union  Pacific,  and  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroads. 

'*  Where  is  the  drought  line?  "  asks  the  reader. 

"  Draw  a  line  from  Austin,  Texas,  to  Bismarck,  Minnesota,  on  the  Northern 
Pacific,  an  J  all  west  of  that  line  is  the  drought  country.  Five  years  out  of  eight, 
crops  will  entirely  fai!  west  of  this  line.  Last  year  was  an  exception  to  the  rule, 
and  this  is  why  so  many  emigrants  are  venturing  too  far  West  this  year.  The 
land-sharks  are  deceiving  them,  and  are  pushing  a  vast  army  of  emigrants  into 
a  famine  region." 

"  What  makes  this  region  west  of  the  looth  parallel  a  desert  region? " 

"  Because  it  rains  just  as  much  water  as  there  is  water  evaiKirated  each  year. 
If  it  rained  more  water  than  is  evaporated,  it  would  run  down  into  the  ocean, 
and  the  land  would  soon  be  covered  with  water.  Rains  run  to  the  ocean  in 
rivers,  and  the  air  evaporates  the  water  of  the  ocean  and  carries  it  inland. 
Clouds  form  rainfalls,  and  back  goes  the  water  on  to  the  earth,  then  into  the 
ocean  again.  Now,  before  the  air  from  the  Gulf  or  ocean  rearhes  Bismarck, 
or  the  middle  of  Nebraska  or  Kansas,  this  wet  air  which  started  from  the  ocean 
becomes  dry.  There  is  no  water  in  it ;  the  water  has  all  fallen  out  of  it  in 
rain,  and  it  has  run  back  to  the  sea." 

"  But  why  is  San  Antonio  subject  to  drought  when  it  is  so  close  to  the  Gulf?  " 

<'  Because  the  air  of  San  Antonio,  on  the  Staked  Plains  in  Texas,  and  in 
Arizona,  comes  up  through  Mexico.  It  is  dry  before  it  starts.  It  does  not 
come  from  the  Gulf.  Mexico  is  hot.  A  perpetual  current  of  hot,  dry  air  blows 
over  Mexico  and  fans  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  Utah  and  Colorado  with  atmos- 
phere as  dry  as  wind  from  the  Desert  of  Sahara.     This  dry-air  current,  blowing 


~i^^&'-'^**®**"^'**'*'*~'*^ 


.*£&*.  'Zvij^t^**-.- .  -^''-^^'^,)>rS;i^Li:>^)^:i^^,--ir:<- 


40 


OVK    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


1  ' 


up  from  Mexico  amd  AHeona,  strikes  the  high  mountains  in  Colorado.  Here, 
in  the  centre  of  the  continent,  within  seventy-five  miles  of  Pike's  Peak,  is  the 
source  of  the  Red,  Colorado,  Rio  Grande,  Arkansas  and  Missouri  rivers.  This 
is  the  backbone  of  North  America.  The  high,  cold  peaks  condense  any  mois- 
ture  that  there  may  be  in  the  air  coming  up  from  the  south,  and  make  it  into 
snow.  Then  this  cold,  dry  air  passes  on  up  the  centre  of  the  continent,  making 
a  perpetual  desert.  It  prevents  any  damp  air  from  coming  east  of  the  looth 
parallel.  When  we  reach  the  Northern  Pacific  and  Manitoba  another  current 
of  wind,  a  damp  current,  blows  from  the  Pacific  Ocean.  There  is  no  desert 
there,  where  the  Pacific  wind  heads  off  the  wind  from  Mexico.  Now,  I  say, 
thousands  of  innocent  emigrants  have  taken  up  farms  during  the  last  year  west 
of  the  rain  parallel.  Of  coarse  they  will  be  ruined,  and  you  will  see  them 
cx>ming  back  broken-hearted  and  discouraged."  ,         ^^ 

"  Will  it  always  be  a  desert  west  of  the  looth  parallel  ?  " 

"  Yes,  until  the  Almighty  changes  the  course  of  the  winds,  takes  down  the 
mountain-peaks,  and  stops  the  clouds  from  raining  all  their  water  out  in  the 
East  before  they  get  to  the  desert." 

Eti  Perkins, 


We  will  not  stop  here  to  notice  the  deplorable  ignorance 
manifest  in  almost  every  line  of  this  article  of  EH  Perkins, 
ignorance  which  would  cause  any  intelligent  school-boy  of  twelve 
years  old  to  blush  with  shame,  such  as  persistently  speaking  of 
meridians  of  longitude  as  parallels;  locating  Bismarck  in 
Minnesota,  mistaking  the  longitude  of  the  places  of  which  he 
speaks,  and  contradicting  himself  by  saying  in  one  sentence  that 
the  air  which  reaches  Bismarck  is  dry,  and  there  is  no  rain  in  it, 
and  in  the  next  that  "  when  we  reach  the  Northern  Pacific  and 
Manitoba,  another  current  of  wind,  a  damp  current,  blows  from 
the  Pacific  Ocean.  There  is  no  desert  there,  where  the  Pacific 
wind  heads  off  the  wind  from  Mexico.'*  Yet  Bismarck  is  u  :.hat 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  and  just  south  of  Manitoba.  I  ^^  c  ivll 
be  as  well  for  "  Eli  Perkins"  to  go  to  school  for  a  few  months  bci  jr 
he  attempts  to  write  for  the  papers.  Now  please  note  the  follow- 
ing facts.  In  Kansas,  the  rainfall  at  Fort  Wallace,  ninety  miles 
west  of  the  looth  meridian,  averaged  yearly  in  1871,  1872, 
1873,  and  1874,  13.47  inches;  '"  "875,  1876,  1877,  and  1878, 
15.05  inches;  an  average  gain  of  1.58  inches  yearly.  In  1879, 
it  was  15.30  inches  in  the  first  three-quarters  of  the  year,  and 
would  undoubtedly  reach  1 8  inches  or  more  in  the  full  year.   This 


THE   GREAT  AMERICAN  DESERT:    WHERE  IS  ITT 


41 


[Colorado.  Here, 
ike's  Peak,  is  the 
ouri  rivers.  Tliis 
>ndense  any  mois- 
and  make  it  into 
:ontinent,  making 
east  of  the  looth 
a  another  current 
'here  is  no  desert 
;ico.  Now,  I  say, 
the  last  year  west 
you  will  see  them 


s,  takes  down  the 
r  water  out  in  the 

Eli  PerkiNS. 

able  ignorance 
of  Eli  Perkins, 
3l-boy  of  twelve 
tly  speaking  of 
;    Bismarck    in 
es  of  which  he 
le  sentence  that 
is  no  rain  in  it, 
lern  Pacific  and 
rnt,  blows  from 
lere  the  Pacific 
narckis    ..  thit 
toba.    I   '■    I'M 
months  boi  jr 
note  the  folio  w- 
ce,  ninety  miles 
in    1871,  1872, 
877,  and  1878, 
arly.    In  1879, 
the  year,  and 
full  year.  This 


can  hardly  be  called  a  rainless  region.  As  to  the  crops  in  Kansas, 
this  region  west  of  the  looth  meridian  has  only  been  settled 
from  three  to  eight  years,  and  in  that  time  there  has  been  but 
one  failure  of  the  crops,  and  that  not  from  drought,  but  from 
grasshoppers.  The  average  yield  of  wheat  in  these  counties 
was  from  nineteen  to  twenty-four  bushels  to  the  acre,  and  of 
corn  forty  bushels  to  the  acre.  The  dairy  products  were  much 
beyond  the  consumption. 

Colorado  is  between  the  io2d  and  the  109th  meridians,  and  so, 
according  to  Mr.  Landon,  entirely  in  the  desert ;  yet  its  rainfall 
for  1876,  1877  ^^^  1878,  average  15.78  inches,  and  was  much 
more  than  that  in  1879,  and  in  the  lower  and  more  arable  lands 
ranged  from  nineteen  to  twenty-one  inches.  Owing  to  its  vast 
mining  wealth,  but  a  very  small  portion  of  its  surface  has  yet 
been  cultivated;  but  in  1878,  66,691  acres  yielded  1,310,000 
bushels  of  excellent  wheat,  an  average  of  19.6  bushels  to  the 
acre,  while  the  southern  counties,  which  are  the  driest,  yielded 
22.6  bushels  to  the  acre.  In  the  same  year,  there  were  raised 
75o,ocx>  bushels  of  other  cereals,  450,000  bushels  of  potatoes  and 
50,000  tons  of  hay.  The  agricultural  products  of  the  State  were 
valued  at  $3,5 1 5,000,  aside  from  its  live-stock,  which  was  nearly 
five  times  as  much.  So  far  from  being  "  ruined  and  coming  back 
broken-hearted  and  discouraged,"  the  agrkulturists  of  Kansas 
and  Colorado,  west  of  the  lOOth  meridian,  in  1879  broke  up 
twice  as  much  ground  as  the  previous  year  and  planted  it  in  full 
faith  of  more  abundant  crops  than  the  previous  year,  and  were 
not  disappointed.    ,0  ;   »  .    . 

"  Eli  Perkins  "  seems  to  be  a  little  in  doubt  whether  the  Great 
American  Desert  reaches  as  far  north  as  the  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
road. He  thinks  there  may  be  some  Pacific  moisture  there,  though 
how  it  manages  to  come  over  the  Rocky  Mountains,  with-  it  having 
all  its  moisture  squeezed  or  frozen  out  of  it,  he  does  not 
explain.  But  another  of  these  scientific  theorists  entertains  no 
doubts  that  the  whole  course  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad, 
from  Minnesota  westward  through  Dakota  and  Montana,  and 
probably  Idaho,  and  for  fifty  miles  each  side  of  that  railway,  is  a 
perfectly  barren  desert  and  must  ever  remain  so.    He  denounces 


f.^^4^S^»*»*^ 


,»rtMb«rt^«♦*Wl^A'i*#■|^rtiH*/fc■J»^'^^'-'^'i^^  >«*■.=..-■-•■  ,;t4tV.v*,.- 


.   ;? 


j^2  C>d/i?    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

(or  did  in  1874)  the  projectors  and  managers  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railway,  as  a  company  of  swindlers,  who  were  under- 
taking to  palm  off  these  wortlilcss  lands  on  unsuspecting 
emigrants.  A  thousand  acres  of  these  lands  would  not,  he 
thinks,  yield  a  support  for  a  single  family.  This  voluble 
denouncer  of  a  great  public  enterprise  was  Colonel  W.  B.  Hazen, 
U.S.A.,  Brevet  Brigadier-Generil,  stationed  for  three  years  at  Fort 
Buford,  in  Northwestern  Dakota,  and  his  only  knowledge  of  the 
lands  of  this  region,  which  he  proclaimed  to  be  a  portion  of  the 
Great  American  Desert,  was  derived  from  three  or  four  journeys 
up  and  down  the  Missouri  river,  in  a  steamboat.  Colonel  Hazen 
has  undoubtedly  hoard  of  the  "  Bad  Lands  of  Dakota,"  and 
might  possibly  have  seen  a  portion  of  them,  as  they  are  near  the 
Missouri,  at  one  part  of  its  course,  but  he  was  not  warranted  in 
concluding  that  the  whole  of  these  great  territories  was  of  the 
same  description.  "  The  Bad  Lands,"  lands  where  the  mountain 
streams  have  eaten  tlieir  way  through  beds  of  clay  and  have 
cut  them  into  most  fantastic  forms,  are  undoubtedly  barren,  and 
will  probably  produce  nothing  except  minerals  and  fossils ;  but 
they  are  of  very  moderate  extent.  Colonel  Wm.  H.  H.  Beadle, 
Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  in  Dakota,  and  late  Private 
Secretary  to  Governor  Howard,  a  man  who  has  explored  very 
thoroughly  all  parts  of  Dakota,  says  that  "  the  Bad  Lands  "  in 
Dakota  do  not  exceed  75,000  acres  of  barren  land  (only  aoout 
three  townships),  the  rest  being  either  arable  or  good  grazing 
lands.  Governor  Howard,  of  Dakota,  has  well  said  in  his  report 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  in  September,  1879: 

It  is  but  a  short  time  since  vast  herds  of  buffalo  roamed  undisturbed 
over  these  prairies ;  now  forms  stocked  with  cattle  and  sheep  everywhere  abound. 
It  is  not  long  since  we  were  taught  in  our  Eastern  homes  and  in  our  schools, 
and  learned  from  our  geographies  the  story  of  the  Bad  Lands,  the  "Great 
American  Desert,"  and  were  left  to  believe  that  Dakota  for  barrenness  was  only 
tequalled  by  the  Desert  of  Sahara,  and  that  its  chilling  blasts  were  equal  to  the 
cold  of  Greenland ;  but  i>ince  it  has  been  demonstrated  that  Dakota  has  a  soil 
exceedingly  rich,  has  more  arable  and  less  waste  land  in  proportion  to  its  size 
than  any  State  or  Territory  in  the  whole  Union,  and  since  millions  of 
bushels  of  g/ain  are  already  waiting  transportation  to  the  markets  of  the  world, 
capital,  proverbially  timid,  is  stretching  out  its  arms,  and,  with  hooks  of  steel, 
is  drawing  to  itself  the  carrying  trade  of  an  empire. 


THE  GREAT  AMEKICAf/  DESERT:    WHERE  IS  ITt 


43 


:he  Northern 
were  under- 
unsuspecting 
ould  not,  he 
rhis    voluble 
^.  B.  Hazen, 
years  at  Fort 
/ledge  of  the 
ortion  of  the 
four  journeys 
olonel  Hazen 
Dakota,"  and 
r  are  near  the 
warranted  in 
es  was  of  the 
the  mountain 
ay  and  have 
y  barren,  and 
i  fossils;  but 
|I.  H.  Beadle, 
d  late  Private 
:xplored  very 
id  Lands  "  in 
d  (only  about 
good  grazing 
in  his  report 

led  undisturbed 
^ywhete  abound, 
in  our  schools, 
ids,  the  "Great 
|renness  was  only 
rere  equal  to  the 
)akota  has  a  soil 
irtion  to  its  size 
kce  millions  of . 
pts  of  the  world, 
hooks  of  steel, 


In  Northeastern  Dakota  alone  in  1879  there  were  375,972 
acres  of  land  under  cultivation,  of  which  266,618  acres  were 
devoted  to  wheat,  and  yielded  5,332,360  bushels  of  the  best 
grade  of  wheat,  an  average  of  22  bushels  to  the  acre,  though 
40  bushels  were  often  produced.  Corn  yielded  75  bushels  and 
upwards  to  the  acre,  and  oats  from  60  to  75  bushels,  while  from 
3CX)  to  600  bushels  of  potatoes,  and  corresponding  amounts  of 
other  root  crops  rewarded  the  farmer's  toil.  Southeastern 
Dakota  is  equally  prolific  in  its  crops ;  and  even  in  the  Black 
Hills,  which  were  supposed  to  possess  no  agricultural  value,  and 
were  only  prized  for  their  mineral  wealth,  the  husbandman's  toil 
is  rewarded  by  the  most  abundant  returns.  Wyoming,  though 
largely  a  grazing  Territory,  has  yet  much  arable  land,  and  though 
this  bugbear  of  a  Great  American  Desert  has  in  the  past  greatly 
hindered  the  settlement  of  this  large  and  valuable  Territory, 
which  is  destined  to  be  in  the  not  distant  future  one  of  the  richest 
of  all  the  Western  States  and  Territories,  settlers  are  beginning 
to  discover  that  some  of  the  best  lands  on  the  continent  are  to 
be  found  in  its  valleys  and  along  its  mountain  slopes.  The 
crops,  on  these  apparently  barren  lands,  when  fertilized  by  one 
or  two  irrigations  annually,  or  even  without  them,  by  deep  plow- 
ing, are  almost  incredible.  Even  the  most  unpromising  of  these 
lands  are  found  by  the  stock-raisers  to  furnish  the  most  nutri- 
tious pasturage.  "  The  raising  of  cattle  on  an  extensive  scale  is 
becoming  important  and  profitable  in  Wyoming,"  says  the  Land 
Office  Report  for  1878. 

In  regard  to  Montana  we  shall  have  more  to  say  when  we 
come  to  speak  of  its  productions  and  climate  as  a  separate 
Territory.  The  following  item,  however,  is  conclusive  of  the  fact 
that  it  is  not  a  desert  agriculturally.  The  Land  Office  estimates 
the  arable  lands  of  the  Territory  at  about  6,500,000  acres,  and 
the  grazing  lands  at  nearly  three  times  that  amount. 

The  crop  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Bulletin  sends  the 
following  from  Chicago,  Nov.  27th:  "The  United  States  consul 
at  Winnepeg  has  lately  published  a  letter  in  the  St.  Paul  Pioneer 
Press  with  reference  to  the  wheat-producing  belt  of  the  '  Far 
West.'     The  article  is  full  of  interesting  facts.     He  says :  '  The 


. 


%Sf;^- 


->- .J-<^^ill(nMlUl»MsaluuiJVu(ulbI',*«v;:;««. ,.  .-^ «4>^>l'•ieA)««■'V< 


r 


\ 


•j.  '4, 


sr 


44 


fJf/iC     WESTEK.V   F.MPIRR. 


most  favored  of  all  ihc  territorial  organizations  is  Montana.*  I 
have  to-day  received  the  following  '  crop  note '  from  my  corre- 
spondent there,  which  I  send  you  intact : 

"'BozEMAN,  Gallatin  county,  Montana,  Nov.  6,  1879. 
"  'Grain  in  this  county  nearly  all  threshed.  A  largar  acreage  of  wheat  and 
oats  than  ever  before ;  yield  rather  more  than  average.  One  field  of  spring 
wheat  averaged  fifty-three  bushels  per  acre;  thirty  acres  in  Jefferson  valley 
averaged  fifty-nine  bushels.  Fifty-five  acres  winter  wheat  averaged  fifty-six 
bushels;  six  and  a  quarter  acres  of  the  same  averaged  sixty-nine  bushels.  The 
wheat  crop  of  the  county — winter  and  spring — will  average  at  least  thirty-eight 
bushels  per  acre.  Many  croi>s  are  nearly  or  quite  as  good  as  those  mentioned. 
Many  crops  of  oats  turned  out  sixty  to  one  hundred  bushels  per  acre.  In  one 
field  1,030  bushels  were  threshed  from  nine  acres.  The  oat  crop  of  the  county 
will  average  fully  fifty  bushels  per  acre.  A  very  small  area  was  sown  in  barley 
last  spring ;  will  average  about  forty-five  bushels.  Quality  of  all  kinds  of  grain 
good.  B.  R.'" 

Mr.  Zimri  L.  White,  the  accomplished,  careful  and  conscien- 
tious correspondent  of  the  New  York  Tribune,  whom  no  one 
will  accuse  of  the  least  tendency  to  overstatement,  says  of  Mon- 
tana farming,  after  spending  nearly  two  months  there  in  the 
summer  and  autumn  of  1879: 

"  The  average  yield  of  wheat  in  Montana  is  at  least  twenty- 
five  bushels  to  an  acre.  Other  writers  have  placed  It  at  from 
thirty  to  forty  bushels,  and  fifty  bushels  is  by  no  means  an  un- 
common crop ;  but  taking  the  whole  country  together,  I  doubt 
if  the  farmer  can  depend  upon  much  more  than  twenty-five. 
This  is  ten  bushels,  or  66  per  cent,  more,  than  what  is  considered 
a  good  crop  in  the  great  grain  States  of  the  Mississippi  valley. 
The  wheat  of  Montana  is  also  of  a  very  excellent  quality.  An 
analysis  of  samples  of  Montana  wheat,  made  at  the  Agricultural 
Department  in  Washington,  shows  18  per  cent,  more  nitrogeneous 
or  flesh-producing  matter  than  Minnesota  wheat,  and  that  bulk 
for  bulk  it  weighed  about  6  per  cent.  more.  I  have  before  me  a 
sample  of  spring  wheat  of  the  crop  of  1878,  raised  by  Mr.  Reeves 
in  the  Prickly  Pear  valley,  that  averages  to  weigh  sixty-four  pounds 
to  a  measured  bushel.  Some  of  the  crops  of  wheat  that  have 
been  raised  in  Montana  have  been  almost  fabulous.  Forty,  fifty, 
and  even  sixty  bushels  to  an  acre  are  not  uncommon  crops. 


Montana.*     I 
om  my  corre- 

Nov.  6,  1879. 

,ge  of  wheal  and 

:  field  of  spring 

Jefferson  valley 

iveraged  fifty-six 

ne  bushels.     The 

least  thirty-eight 

those  mentioned. 

>er  acre.     In  one 

rop  of  the  county 

as  sown  in  barley 

all  kinds  of  grain 

B.  R."' 

and  conscien- 
whom  no  one 
,  says  of  Mon- 
s  there  in  the 

t  least  twenty- 
ced  it  at  from 
means  an  un- 
rether,  I  doubt 
in  twenty-five. 

is  considered 
sissippi  valley. 

quality.  An 
\e  Agricultural 
e  nitrogeneous 
and  that  bulk 
ve  before  me  a 
by  Mr.  Reeves 
ty-four  pounds 
leat  that  have 
5.  Forty,  fifty, 
:ommpn  crops. 


r//£  GREAT  AMERICAN  DESERT.    WHERE   /S   ITf 


45 


Several  years  ago  the  State  I'air  Association  offered  a  premium 
for  the  best  acre  of  wheat  raised  that  season,  and  the  award 
was  made  to  Mr.  Raymond,  of  the  Prickly  Pear  valley,  who  had 
102  measured  busliels  on  a  single  acre.  The  committee  who 
mailc  the  award  were  prominent  citizens  of  Montana,  and  one 
iOf  them  has  told  me  that  tiie  same  year  a  farmer  in  the  Gallatin 
vallt-y  raised  an  equally  large  average  crop  on  a  forty-acre  lot, 
but  as  he  could  not  show  that  he  had  more  than  102  bushels  on 
any  single  acre,  the  coiuinittee  decided  that  he  was  not  entitled 
to  the  premium. 

"  I  have  seen  in  August  this  year  many  field"  of  wheat,  both 
standing  and  in  the  shock,  in  the  country  around  Helena,  and 
I  have  not  seen  one  that  appeared  to  have  less  than  thirty 
bushels  to  an  acre.  In  many  fields  the  shocks  of  grain  stood 
almost  as  thick  as  the  sheaves  in  the  fields  of  the  Mississippi 
valley. 

"  Oats  and  barley  grow  as  well  as  wheat.  The  average  yield 
of  oats  to  the  acre  is  considerably  greater  than  that  of  wheat, 
and  the  weight  per  bushel  is  much  above  the  standard.  Mr. 
Reeves  gave  me  a  sample  of  oats  from  his  farm  which  he  said 
would  average  to  weigh  forty-six  pounds  to  a  bushel.  General 
Brisbin  says  that  Mr.  Burton  raised  a  field  of  oats  which  aver- 
aged 1 01  bushels  to  an  acre,  and  a  field  of  barley  on  which  there 
were  1 1 3  bushels  to  an  acre. 

"The  soil  of  Montana  seems  to  be  especially  fitted  for  the  pro- 
duction of  large  crops  of  garden  vegetables.  The  best  market 
garden  I  ever  saw,  if  abundant  yield  is  a  criterion,  is  that  of  Mr. 
Dorrington  in  the  Prickly  Pear  valley.  He  sold  $2,o<X)  worth 
of  strawberries,  and  his  root  crops,  such  as  turnips,  onions,  beets, 
parsnips,  etc.,  seemed  literally  to  fill  the  ground.  He  expected 
to  take  ten  tons  of  onions  from  a  small  patch  of  ground,  and 
would  receive  five  cents  a  pound  for  them  in  Helena.  The  fol- 
lowing table  compiled  by  General  Brisbin  shows  what  the  pro- 
duct of  the  gardens  cultivated  by  troops  at  Fort  Ellis  was,  in 
1877: 


.^|K.i;J.>to»At»iiW»'*Ji»>*«WU>«!Hlil^«i;wi.« 


OUR    H'hSlhh'^   E.UrJXE. 


■  . 


1 1  n^ 


Company 

nnd 
RegiDicni. 


F,  3(1  Cavalry.... 

G,  ••  *'  .... 
H,  ••  ••  .... 
L,  ••  "  .... 
G,  7th  Infantry.. 

TotaU 


IS 


5 
6 

5 

J_ 


l,IOO 

550 
1,300 

700 
3.865 


90 

60 

•30 

50 
6 


i 


60 
60 

35 

«5o 

40 

785" 


60 

35 
40 

as 

13 
173 


50 

•5 
40 


105 


«i 


10 

30 

»s 

■ •• ••# 

30 

75 


I 


3 
3 


,J,000 

3,500' 

3.3001 

2,.}00 

«00 

13,500 


"The  value  of  the  several  articles  if  bought  at  the  fort  vvoiiKl 
have  been:  Potatoes,  $3,865;  onions,  $2,352;  turnips,  $85; 
carrots,  $206.40;  beets,  $315;  parsnips,  $225;  salsify,  $9.40; 
cabbage,  $125.  Total,  $7,182.80.  The  garden  crops  at  I'ort 
Ellis  in  other  years  have  been  fully  one-third  greater  for  thi; 
same  amount  of  ground. 

"As  a  rule  the  farms  of  Montana  have  to  be  irrigaied,  and  in 
most  of  the  valleys  there  is  an  abundance  of  water  for  this  pur- 
pose. The  cost  of  constructing  good  canals  for  the  irrigation  of 
1 60  acres  of  land  is  of  course  considerable,  but  when  once  com- 
pleted the  expense  of  keeping  them  in  order  is  very  small,  while 
the  ability  of  the  farmer  to  regulate  absolutely  the  amount  of 
moisture  which  his  crop  shall  have  more  than  compensates  for 
all  the  extra  labor  and  expense  which  irrigation  makes  neces- 
sary."      -.,::,;."";,.•.  ,'■,''  '    ..       .    .'■'■■■ 

The  facts  in  regard  to  this  region  between  the  looth  and  107th 
meridians  seem  to  be  (not  reckoning  too  closely  the  exact  line  of 
either  meridian)  that  there  are  some  tracts,  of  very  moderate 
extent  in  them,  which  are  neither  arable  nor  grazing  lands — sucli 
as  the  "  bad  lands  "  of  Dakota,  and  a  small  district  of  Nebraska 
and  Wyoming,  and  portions  of  the  Yellowstone  Park  and  its 
vicinity ;  such,  too,  as  :>ome  of  the  mountain  regions  in  Colorado, 
Wyoming  and  Montana,  where  there  are  frightful  perpendicular 
precipices,  from  1,000  to  5,000  feet  in  depth,  the  results  of  up- 
heaval, volcanic  action  or  erosion,  but  these  constitute  only  com- 
paratively small  and  isolated  tracts  of  a  belt,  350  to  400  miles  in 
width,  and  1,700  miles  in  Icn^ah.     For  the  rest,  at  least  one-fifth 


i^ww 


i, 

«£ 


10 
30 

>S 

•  •  •  «f  • 

ao 


75 


•••••• 

#••  •«• 

3 


13,500 


t  the  fort  woiilil 

;    turnips,  5^85 ; 

salsify,  $94^ ; 

1  crops  at  I'ort 

greater  for  the 

irrigaied,  and  in 

Iter  for  this  pur- 

the  irrigation  of 

when  once  coni- 

ery  small,  whih; 

the  amount  of 

ompensates  for 

n  makes  ncccs- 

jicxDthand  lojih 
the  exact  line  of 
very  moderate 
ling  lands — sucli 
lict  of  Nebraska 
le  Park  and  its 
ms  in  Colorado, 
il  perpendicular 
results  of  up- 
|titute  only  corn- 
to  400  miles  in 
It  least  one-fifth 


7///     (;A'/:.17   AMKfilCAX  0/iSAA7:    »»7/AA'A    /S  IT t  ^7 

is  arable,  either  with  or  without  irrigation,  and  yields  mormouH 
crops;  three-fifths  are  tlu;  best  grazing  lands  to  be  lounil  any- 
where, and  one-fifth  is  good  and  serviceable  tiinb<T,  much  of  it 
of  large  size.  Can  anything  better  be  said  of  any  land  the  sun 
shines  on  ?  The  proportion  of  lands  susceptible  of  improve- 
ment is  larger  than  that  of  Great  Britain  or  Germany,  and  very 
nearly  equal  to  that  of  I'rance ;  and  the  arable  lands  are  richer 
and  more  productive  wiiiioui  manures,  than  those  of  these  coun- 
tries with  them. 

lUit  what  of  the  second  region,  where  the  maps  scill  keep  up 
the  inscription,  "  Great  American  Desert }  "  Stretching  westward 
from  the  108th  meridian  in  Texas,  Arizona  and  Colorado,  the 
line  trends  still  farther  west,  as  it  proceeds  north,  and  occupies 
most  of  the  Great  Valley  between  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the 
Sierra  Nevada  or  Cascade  range,  and  includes  Western  Texas, 
the  whole  of  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  Western  Colorado  ami 
Wyoming,  all  of  Utah  and  most  of  Nevada,  Idaho,  and  ICastern 
Oregon  and  Washington  Territory.  The  most  ardent  believers 
in  a  "  Great  American  Desert "  do  not  now,  whatever  they  may 
have  done  in  the  past,  venture  to  pronounce  all  of  this  territory 
a  desert,  for  there  are  too  many  evidences  that  considerable  por- 
tions of  the  region  are  remarkably  fertile  ;  yet,  takei  as  a  whole, 
it  is  far  less  susceptible  of  immediate  cultivation  •than  the  first 
region  already  described.  It  includes  the  Great  Salt  Lake  Basin, 
with  its  peculiar  volcanic  formations,  the  great  table  lands  of 
Western  Texas,  Arizona  and  New  Mexico,  and  the  equally  ele- 
vated plateaux  of  Idaho,  Oregon  and  Washington,  and  the  deep 
and  terrible  caHons  of  the  Colorado  and  its  tributaries.  Nearly 
all  this  region  is  rich  in  minerals,  and  would  eventually  be  occu- 
pied, were  it  an  arid  desert,  throughout  its  whole  extent ;  but 
there  is  a  large  quantity  of  arable  land,  capable  with  irrigation, 
which  in  most  sections  is  practicable,  of  yielding  immense  crops; 
there  are  many  millions  of  acres  of  grazing  lands  where  all  the 
flocks  and  herds  of  the  continent  could  find  good  pasturage,  and 
there  are  extensive  forests,  some  of  them  of  stinted  growth, 
but  others  of  gigantic  pines,  cedars,  firs  and  tulip  trees.  Mingled 
with  these  are  districts  where  all  culture  is  impossible,  where 


NftJiS)*^*--''*****-^''*****'**'^'''" 


'V*w»  «^«-*'*ilf  it*  **■ '»v'« 


j^j.  k^,lMl»<u«'.V»' 


-...V.ir.,  ,^-. 


^i 


(. 


ik 


■i 


I'' 


,1  il"i. 
til* 


1 

r!; 


r-i'i 


V  .;■■ 


11 


K 


4I  Oi/if    H'RSIFJtJ^  £Mr/JfJt. 

Nature  liaii  iiuliil^^nd  in  her  wildest  freaksi,  aiul  wlu^rc  ail  ilu: 
force*  of  the  volcano,  the  earthquake,  and  the  cronive  and  de- 
structive power  *  j^'lacier,  riv;ir,  lake,  and  mountain  torrent, 
have  combined  to  make  ruins  grander  and  more  impresHivc,  than 
those  of  all  the  wars  which  have  taken  place,  since  our  planet 
was  inhabited  by  man. 

Yet  these  deHolations  are  not  suftic  icntly  extensive  in  any  one 
section  to  make  a  very  large  desert,  certainly  not  a  "  Great 
American  Desert."  One  of  the  districts  which  the  map-makers 
of  the  present  year  arc  most  persistently  designating  as  the 
"  Great  American  Desert "  is  the  western  half  of  Utah,  ami  the 
eastern  half  of  Nevada.  Yet  of  this  very  region,  a  writer  of 
undoubted  authority  says,  in  the  autumn  of  1K79: 

"The  farmers  here  have  developed  something  new  in  agricuU 
ture — new  in  this  region  at  least.  There  arc  here  and  elsewhere 
vast  tracts  of  '  desert  lands,'  or  lands  which  are  so  high  above 
tlie  stream  that  they  can  never  be  irrigated.  Several  years  ago 
wheat  was  sown  upon  small  patches  of  this  seemingly  arid  and 
valueless  soil.  A  tolerably  fair  crop  was  raiseii  without  artificial 
moisture  or  unusual  rain,  and  now  broad  areas  of  this  kind  of 
land  are  being  put  under  cultivation  annually,  producing  as  high 
as  twenty  bushels  of  wheat  per  acre.  These  arc  really  warm 
allavial  soils  Jormed  by  the  crumbling  of  mountain  ranges." 

The  pamphlet  issued  by  the  Utah  Board  of  Trade  in  1879, 
while  commending  the  general  fertility  of  the  Territory  under 
irrigation,  which  is  generally  practised,  and  in  some  sections 
without  it,  says  very  frankly,  of  the  region  lying  west  of  Great 
Salt  Lake  in  that  Territory : 

"  The  western  third  of  the  Territory  from  end  to  end  is  an 
alternation  of  mountain,  desert,  sink  and  lake,  with  few  oases  (  f 
arable  or  grazing  lands.  Great  Salt  Lake  covers  an  area  ol 
3,000  to  4,000  square  miles,  and  the  desert  west  of  it  a  stiil 
larger  area.  Rush  valley  has  mining  and  agricultural  settle- 
ments, but  much  more  pastoral  than  arable  land,  and  so  has 
Skull  valley  to  the  westward.  But  from  these  south  to  die  rim 
of  the  basin  are  only  occasional  habitable  spots,  and  they  are  due 
to  springs.  '  .  *  - 


11 


'n  I 


r//Jf  CKKAT  AMKKICAN  HKSRKT.    ttttiCKK  tS  tTf 


49 


wlicrc  all  thu 
ohIvu  and  ilc- 
iniain  torrent, 
iiprrssivc,  than 
ncc  our  planet 

,ive  in  any  one 
not  a  "  Grrat 
lie  map-makers 
^natin^  as  the 
Utah,  and  the 
on,  a  writer  of 

new  in  agricuU 
:  and  elsewhere 
so  high  above 
eral  years  ago 
ningly  arid  and 
vithout  artificial 
of  this  kind  of 
)diicing  as  high 
re  i«"ally  warm 
n  ranges." 
Trade  in   1879, 
erritory  under 
some  sections 
west  of  Great 

Id  to  end  is  an 
th  few  oases  i  f 
:rs  an  area  ol 
ist  of  it  a  still 
icultural  settle- 
id,  and  so  has 
(uth  to  die  rim 
id  they  are  due 


Concerning  the  other  States  and  Territories  im|)licAtrd  in  tltis 
cliargc  of  l)cing  desert  lands,  we  offer  the  following  as  the  latest 
and  most  credible  testimony.  J'he  Surv«yor-Gcn(*nil  of  Idaho 
says:  "There  are  immense  tracts  of  sage*brush  lands — the  so< 
called  'desert  lands' — tliat  only  await  irrigating  canals,  tu  make 
them  as  rjrodiicttvc  as  most  lands  in  the  Western  States,  yielding 
their  forty  bushels  of  wheat  per  acre,  as  our  peopk:  have  oft<tn 
demonstrated  by  actual  experiment."  The  Surveyor-General 
of  Utah  says :  "  Notwithstanding  the  opinion  of  many  wIki  deem 
our  lands  'arid,  desert,  and  wordiless,'  these  same  lands  under 
proper  tillage  produce  forty  to  fifty  Uishcls  of  wheat,  seventy  to 
eighty  bushels  of  oats  and  barley,  from  two  hundred  to  four 
hundred  bushels  of  potatoes  to  the  acre,  and  fruits  and  vegetables 
ct^ual  to  any  other  State  or  Territory  in  quantity  and  quality." 

The  Surveyor-General  of  Nevada  says :  "  In  our  sage*brush 
lands,  alfalfa,  the  cereals  and  all  vegetables,  flourish  in  profusion 
where  water  can  be  obtained,  and  the  State  is  swiftly  becoming 
one  of  the  great  stock-raising  States  of  the  Union." 

The  Surveyor-General  of  New  Mexico  says:  "There  is  a 
much  larger  portion  of  New  Mexico  adapted  to  agriculture,  than 
is  generally  supposed  by  those  who  have  seen  but  little  of  the 
seasons,  and  what  the  capabilities  of  the  soil  are.  The  valleys 
of  the  San  Juan,  Rio  Grande,  Gila,  Pecos,  Red  river,  Dry 
Cimmaron  and  others,  streams  with  their  hundreds  of  tributaries, 
afford  an  immense  area  of  arable  land,  the  real  extent  of  whkh 
is  yet  only  partially  known.  Near  the  foot  of  the  various  mountain 
ranges  there  is  sufificient  rainfall  to  render  irrigation  unnecessary 
in  nuiny  localities,  even  were  it  practicable ;  and  fine  crops  of 
com,  wheat,  oats  and  v^etables  are  raised,  while  the  mountain 
sides  and  plains,  covered  at  all  seasons  with  the  nutritious 
gramma  grass,  afford  an  admirable  range  for  stock."  miu 

Of  Northwestern  Texas,  an  able  Texan  writer,  wiho  has  spent 
years  there,  after  speaking  of  the  prevalent  notions  that  it  is  a 
dry  country  adapted  to  nothing  but  grayling,  and  perhaps  very 
poorly  for  that ;  that  it  is  too  rugged  for  culture,  even  if  the  aoil 
was  of  good  quality,  which  they  believe  is  not  the  fact,  and  that 
the  herders  are  rufifians  and  brigands,  says :  "  Nothing  could  :be 
4 


^j^^j^gjgaaBin)i»aBBnc,T»»aiK .-i^JCti*.- *j,-    -vSw,---  ■•■, ,,..,s»»*-*-» 


.11 


r 

4> 

1. 

< 

It 

\ 

i 

•y% 


i'V^ 


|0  OVM    tygXIKKX   KMriMK. 

further  from  thr  truth  than  thcnc  notions.  Whilr  it  in  true  that 
thi«  vatit  territory  which  we  are  dcscribinfr  in  mainly  a  graxin^' 
country,  it  it  alio  true  that  it  atmuniln  in  fertile  valleys,  and  rich 
locationn  of  larj^e  extent,  which  arc  av  well  watcreil  and  fctrtile  an 
any  in  the  nation.  ItR  rivcrn  are  without  exception  formed  from 
•prinj^n ;  they  are  at  clear  at  any  cryttal,  and  furnish  water 
power  that  it  almott  limidett." 

Arizona  alone  remaint  of  the  pottible  dctertt  of  thit  wentrrn 
region ;  yet  the  Surveyor-General  of  thit  Territory  tellt  ui  thiit 
tlie  valleyt  of  itt  rivcrH  aiul  ttrenms  arc  irrigable,  and  that  wh)  it 
irrigated  they  yiekl  immense  crops ;  while  the  hills  and  plains 
furnish  abundant  and  nutritiout  pasturage,  and  stock-raising  is  a 
profitable  pursuit ;  that  tlu:  Territory  furnishes  more  grain,  tlour, 
bacon,  lard,  butter,  cattle,  mulct  and  horses  than  are  needed  for 
hotnc  consumption,  and  that  considerable  quantities  of  all  arc  ex- 
ported.    I'ruitt  are;  comparatively  plenty  and  cheap. 

Still  more  conclusive  on  thit  point  is  the  testimony  of  Major- 
General  J.  C.  I'r^mont,  th< ;  present  Governor  of  Arizona.  From 
actual  investigation  and  a  comparison  of  its  present  condition 
Vfitli  what  it  was  when  he  visited  it  thirty  irs  ago,  he  dedans 
that  most  of  Arizona  is  arable,  that  i  'nfall  ranges  from 
fifteen  inchcA  to  twenty-four  inches  (this  lOo  was  written  when 
the  rainfall  Itad  b«cn  much  less  than  usual  for  five  years ;  in  a 
letter  to  the  writer  about  Christmas,  1879,  he  stated  that  they 
were  then  in  tho  midst  of  an  unprecedented  rain  storm  which 
had  lasted  for  nearly  two  weeks,  had  raised  the  rivers  to  a  great 
height  and  had  flooded  much  of  the  country),  that  the  crops 
of  wheat  «jveh  when  raised  by  the  Indians  were  very  heavy,  the 
Maricopas  sending.at  one  time  in  August,  1879,  200  tons  of  wheat 
of  the  best  quality  to  San  Francisco,  where  it  brought  $2.22  the 
hundred  pounds,  and  that  most  of  the  Indian  tribes  were 
•ubsisting  by  agriculture.  This  surely  cannot  be  a  wholly  desert 
land.  .  a  i'aciitm  jtuuiv^i   -uu  w  ^uii^fcDq,:  io}jt;,'7*j>/ii  ,1,^, 

But  while  it  is  almost  mathematically  proved  that  the  "  Great 
American  Desert "  is  a  myth,  receding  from  us  as  we  try  to 
approach  it,  it  is  not  to  jbe  denied  that  here,  as  in  other  empires, 
^there  are  some  desert  lands,  treeless,  though  not  quite  rainless; 


•i**^pf»«(Pi 


MtSKHAL  4XD   VSGRTABt.S  PKOnUCTS, 


ft 


IVIiilp  it  ifi  true  tliat 
H  mainly  a  grazing' 
ile  valltryi,  and  rich 
ttcrcd  and  frrtiln  as 
eption  formed  from 
and   furninh  wati  r 

Brta  of  this  western 
rritory  IcIIh  us  iliat 
able,  and  that  wh( n 
le  hilU  and  plains 
»d  stock -raisinf;  is  a 
s  more  grain,  notir, 
han  arc  needed  lor 
ntities  of  all  arc  ex- 
cheap. 

cstimony  of  Major- 

of  Arizona.    From 

»  present  condition 

irs  ago,  he  declan  s 

nfali  ranges  from 
>  was  written  whin 
for  five  years  ;  in  a 
le  stated  that  they 
d  rain  storm  which 
le  rivers  to  a  great 
y),  that  the  crops 
ere  very  heavy,  the 
>,  200  tons  of  wheal 

brought  $2.22  the 
ndian  tribes  were 
be  a  wholly  desert 

ed  that  the  "  Great 

n  us  as  we  try  to 

s  in  other  empires, 

not  quite  rainless; 


often  incapable  of  cultivation,  though  tliry  may  Ix:  rich  in  fotsils 
or  in  the  precious  metals ;  and  that  in  these  drnrrts  may  be 
founil  itumu  of  the  mo«t  wonderful  phenomena  on  the  globe. 


»  . 


CHAITHR  III. 


Tiir.  uHoi.g  Riir.irtK  ABouMniNo  IN  MiNMAi,  Wf  At.Tii — PtonwTtoN  OP  nof.n 
Avi»  Siivr.K,  onim   MstALH,   etc.— foRMm— Gkamm— Roor  Choi-*— 

F«UIT»— VlHICULTUfct. 

Most  of  these  States  and  Territories  abound  in  mln'.'ral 
wealth.  All  the  Tcrrilorieii  and  all  the  States  except  Minnesota. 
Nebraska  and  Kansaji  have  either  gold  or  silver  mines  or  both, 
and  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that  even  these  will  prove  to  be 
exceptions,  though  it  is  to  be  hoped  they  may;  for  agricultural 
products  furnish  a  surer  and  better  avenue  to  the  prosperity  of 
the  entire  population,  than  the  richest  mines  of  the  precious 
metals.  The  golden  grain  I  these  States  is  a  better  possession 
than  the  gold  mines  of  California  or  Colorado,  or  the  silver  of 
Nevada  or  Montana. 

Yet  we  would  not  underrate  the  vast  mineral  wealth  of  this 
Western  Empire.  It  is  possible,  though  not  at  all  certain,  that 
some  of  the  Peruvian  mines  or  those  of  Mexico  may  have  more 
extensive  deposits  of  gold  or  silver  than  are  already  opened,  or 
are  yet  to  be  discovered  in  the  Great  West;  but  the  production 
of  none  of  them  has  been  as  great,  in  so  short  a  period,  as  that 
of  our  mines,  and  we  have  just  arrived  at  a  stage  of  progress, 
when  our  production  may  be  almost  indefinitely  increased. 
During  the  first  ten  years  after  the  discovery  of  gold  and  silver 
in  California,  and  the  West,  it  is  difficult  to  estimate  with  accuracy 
the  production  of  the  precious  metals  there;  but  Professor  Rossiter 
W.  Raymond,  who  has  devoted  much  time  and  study  to  the 
problem,  names,  as  the  result  of  his  inquiries,  a  sum  total  of  gold 
and  silver  which,  by  adding  the  production  of  1878  and  1879,  gives 
an  aggregate  for  the  Great  West  for  tlie  thirty  years  ending 


.■ivabi»*^twi«-.*.'ii»iJi.i«^ua»,-  i*r».*»fci«j.« 


il 

ii  .  . 

1     i:    - 

■  H 
1 

t::ir:; 

I  1 . 

•'i  ■■;■ ' 

r '  ri 

bt 

5 1''  ^ 

i: 

It 
■    ■    ■/ 

^-|. 

ll    ! 

,1  Jri 

-'    i 

^ 

iii 


J2  06^^   tyt.STF.RX  EAfPI/lE. 

June  30,1879,  of  1(51,947,055,834,  almost  two  billions  of  the  precious 
metals.  By  a  singular  coincidence  these  are  very  nearly  the 
amount  of  the  product  of  the  ten  principal  items  of  our  agriculture 
for  the  year  1879.  That  product  was  j^  1,904,480,659.  The 
completion  of  the  Sutro  tunnel  in  Nevada,  which  will  make  deep 
mining  practicable,  in  those  hitherto  productive  lodes,  and  the 
discoveries  of  carbonate  ores  of  silver  and  chlorides  or  horn 
silver  in  Utah,  in  the  San  Juan  and  Gunnison  districts  and  else- 
where, on  the  western  slopesof  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  Colorado, 
the  new  and  extensive  deposits  of  both  gold  and  silver  in  the 
Black  Hills,  in  Utah  and  in  Montana,  and  the  increasing  annual 
production  of  bullion,  warrant  the  belief  that  we  are  just  enter- 
ing upon  a  new  era  in  the  production  of  the  precious  metals, 
which  will  far  exceed  that  of  the  combined  production  of  the 
Pacific  States  and  Australia,  twenty-five  years  ago. 

But  our  mineral  productions  in  our  Western  Empire  are  by 
no  means  confined  to  gold  and  silver.  Quicksilver^  which  is  an 
absolute  necessity  for  gold  mining  the  world  over,  is  more 
abundant  in  California,  Nevada  and  Arizona  than  anywhere  else 
in  the  world,  and  though,  in  the  past,  tedious  litigation  has  pre- 
vented the  mines  from  yielding  their  full  product,  yet  not  only 
has  the  large  demand  for  our  own  mines  been  supplied,  but  we 
have  exported  millions  of  flasks  to  other  countries.  Nickel, 
platinum,  nnd  in  vast  quantities,  copper,  lead,  iron  and  zinc,  are 
among  the  products  of  this  young  empire ;  and  coal  of  all  quali- 
ties is  scattered  in  localities  where  it  is  most  needed.       ■<■'''' 

Portions  of  this  Western  Empire  are  lacking  in  forest  growths. 
The  vast  prairips  and  plains  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  had 
been  so  often  burned  over  by  the  Indians,  either  carelessly  or 
to  promote  the  growth  of  the  grasses,  on  which  the  buffalo,  their 
principal  game,  fed,  that  though  in  times  long  ago  they  were 
covered  with  heavy  forests,  they  seemed  to  have  lost  their  ability 
to  sustain  any  large  amount  of  timber.  Only  near  the  banks  of 
streams  was  there  any  considerable  growth  of  trees,  and  these, 

'[  in  some  sections,  only  the  comparatir  ely  worthless  cbttonwood. 
But  this  deficiency  will  soon  pass  aWay.    Encouragfcd  by  tihe 

■■'Timber  culture  act  of  Congress,  and  by  the  desirte  to  prodoce 


3ns  of  the  precious 
5  very  nearly  the 
of  our  agriculture 
>4,48o,659.  The 
:h  will  make  deep 
/e  lodes,  and  the 
chlorides  or  horn 
districts  and  else- 
itains  in  Colorado, 
and  silver  in  the 
increasing  annual 
ve  are  just  enter- 
precious  metals, 
production  of  the 
jgo. 

rn  Empire  are  by 
\silver,  which  is  an 
id  over,  is  more 
lan  anywhere  else 
litigation  has  pre- 
duct,  yet  not  only 
J  supplied,  but  we 
Duntries.  Nickel, 
iron  and  zinc,  are 
i  coal  of  all  quali- 
eded. 

in  forest  growths. 
y  Mountains  had 
ther  carelessly  or 
the  buffalo,  their 
y  ago  they  were 
B  lost  their  ability 
lear  the  banks  of 
trees,  and  these, 
less  cdttonwood. 
cou  raged  by  the 
esifte  td  produce 


MINERAL  AND    VEGETABLE   PRODUCTS.  j|^ 

trees  instead  of  sending  great  distances  for  lumber,  millions  of 
trees  have  been  planted,  largely  of  the  rapidly  growing  kinds,  as 
the  ailantus,  'ocust,  Osage  orange,  etc.;  and  even  on  the  alkaline 
plains  they  are  g'-ovving  and  thriving,  and  have  already  increased 
to  a  sensible  extent  the  amount  of  the  scanty  rainfall.  But  only 
a  portion  of  the  region  lying  between  the  Mississippi  and  the 
Rocky  Mountains  can  be  called  treeless.  In  Minnesota,  Dakota, 
Montana,  Missouri,  Arkansas,  parts  of  Texas  and  the  Indian 
Territory,  there  are  vast  tracts  of  heavy  timber,  and  the  lumber 
exported  from  .some  of  these  States  forms  a  verj'  ronsideraUe 
portion  of  their  productive  wealth.  West  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains there  is  generally  no  lack  of  forests,  especially  on  the 
mountain  slopes .;  Utah,  New  Mexico  and  Arizona  are,  however, 
but  sparingly  supplied  with  timber,  and  much  of  the  land  suffers 
from  drought  except  where  irrigation  is  possible.  On  the  Pacific 
slope,  portions  of  California  and  Nevada,  all  of  Western  Oregon 
and  Washington  ?  i  e  remarkable  for  the  gigantic  height  and  bulk 
of  their  forest  trees.  The  Redwoods  and  Sequoias,  whicl.  range 
from  300  tjo  475  feet  in  height,  are  not  the  only  giants  of  these 
forests ;  several  species  of  pine  and  fir  and  some  of  the  cedars 
tower  from  250  to  350  feet  in  height  on  the  lower  hills  of  the 
Coast  range,  in  California,  Oregon  and  Washington.  In  Eastern 
Washifvgton  and  Oregon  there  are  extensive,  elevated  plains, 
without  much  timber,  which  are  very  cold  in  winter  and  intensely 
hot  in  summer.  In  Wyoming  and  Colorado  the  mountains  are 
generj^Uy  clothed  with  forests,  up  to  a  point  somewhat  below 
the  STiOW  line;  but  the  plains,  plateaux  and  foothills  are  very 
often  devoid  of  trees,  except  along  the  water-courses,  or  where 
th^y  have  been  planted  by  man. 

Over  much  qf  this  vast  territory,  nearly  all  of  it  beyond  the 
Roqky  Mountains,  and  the  alkaline  plains  east  of  that  range, 
there  i?  little  or  nothing  which  can  be  called  sod;  the  long,! 
dry  swrnmesTs  would  destroy  it  if  it  existed.  But  the  buffalo 
an4  gramma  grasses,  more  nutritious  than  our  cultivated  grasses, 
arq  adapted  to  the  summer  drought,  and  furnish  all  the  year 
round  a  most  delicious  pasturage  for  cattle.  The  bunch  grass, 
(^a4  tb,^  white  sage-brush   (after  frost)»  are  eagerly  croppeq. 


■  's^lSSSSSiSS^iiSISilUsiisX'^tUixiiiiffr'lSi'Si.'Ai,!^ ;-5«ST;",fa a^^ww .^v"sii)!i.t»j.ii».^.il-.i<iij.. jji". »iaj j  -..^^a^r^ 


'I'll  ( 


'  ..^ 


•^  c  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

Wherever,  as  in  California,  Nevada,  and  portions  of  New 
Mexi'  ),  the  cultivation  of  grasses  for  feeding  cattle  has  been 
found  desirable,  the  Alfalfa  grass,  a  species  of  South  American 
lucerne,  which  yields  two  or  three  enormous  crops  a  year,  and 
is  admirably  adapted  to  this  climate,  furnishes  at  small  expense 
a  succulent  and  nutritious  food  for  cattle  and  sheep.  There 
are  also  other  forage  grasses,  most  of  them  native  to  the  coast, 
which  amply  supply  the  absence  of  our  sod-making  grasses  in 
the  Ariantic  States. 

In  the  season  of  melting  snows,  and  moderate  rains,  these 
desolate  and  dreary  plr.Ins  are  resplendent  with  flowers  of  every 
hue,  and  many  of  them  redolent  of  the  sweetest  perfumes. 

The  root  crops  of  this  entire  region  are  remarkable  alike 
for  their  abundance,  the  great  size  they  attain,  and  their  ex- 
cellent quality.  In  the  deep,  rich,  and  easily  penetrated  soil  of 
all  these  States  and  Territories  root  crops  seem  to  run  riot, 
and  grow  without  stint.  The  common  potato,  the  sweet  potato 
and  the  yam,  yield  from  400  to  600  bushels  to  the  acre,  and 
are,  perhaps,  the  most  profitable  crops  which  can  be  raised. 
Turnips,  both  yellow  and  white,  carrots,  beets,  etc.,  yield  fabulous 
quantities  of  such  gigantic  size  that  they  are  hardly  recognizable. 
The  whole  melon  tribe,  including  the  pumpkin,  squash,  and 
cucumber,  as  well  as  the  watermelon,  muskmelon,  cantelope, 
and  citron-melon  exhibit  their  greatest  fertility  and  most  abun- 
dant productiveness  in  the  most  arid  and  desert-looking  of  these 
lands.  Arizona,  Southern  California,  the  southern  part  of  New 
Mexico,  and  Western  Texas,  are  peculiarly  adapted  to  these 
creeping  vines  and  their  cooling  fruits. 

This  Great  West  is  destined  to  be  the  garden  of  the  worid, 
in  its  cultivation  and  conservation  of  rdible  fruits  and  their 
products.  Its  great  variety  of  climates  and  temperatures,  and 
the  elevation  of  its  arable  lands,  even  in  semi-tropical  regions, 
permits,  and  will  continue  to  permit  and  demand,  the  produc- 
tion of  the  greatest  variety  of  choice  fruits  to  be  found  in  any 
one  region  on  the  earth's  surface.  In  the  northern  portion,  the 
apples,  pears,  quinces,  plums,  cherries,  and  small  fruits  of  Min- 
nesota,   Dakota,    Montana,   Idaho,   Washington,   Oregon    and 


tWHSjglfte." 


MINERAL    AND    VEGETABLE    PRODUCTS. 


ss 


tions  of  New 
attle  has  been 
outh  American 
>ps  a  year,  and 
small  expense 
sheep.  There 
ve  to  the  coast, 
cing  grasses  in 

ite  rains,  these 
lowers  of  every 
perfumes. 
:markable  alike 
I,  and  their  ex- 
:netrated  soil  of 
em  to  run  riot, 
:he  sweet  potato 
0  the  acre,  and 
can  be  raised. 
:.,  yield  fabulous 
lly  recognizable. 
:in,  squash,  and 
lelon,  cantelope, 
and  most  abun- 
looking  of  these 
rn  part  of  New 
dapted  to  these 

en  of  the  worlcl, 
fruits  and  their 
imperatures,  and 
•tropical  regions, 
md,  the  produc- 
)e  found  in  any 
lern  portion,  the 
11  fruits  of  Min- 
n,   Oregon    and 


Northern  California  are  unsurpassed  either  in  size  or  flavor  by 
those  of  any  other  part  of  the  world.  It  has  boen  asserted  that 
the  larger  fruits  of  California,  as  well  as  its  vegetables,  though 
of  great  size,  lack  the  succiilcncy  and  fine  flavor  of  those  raised 
in  the  Eastern  States,  but  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  that 
this  is  true.  Fruits  carried  to  great  distances  from  their  native 
soil,  and  kept  for  months  or  years,  do  lose  something  of  their 
flavor,  as  is  well  known ;  but  eaten  where  they  are  grown,  they 
are  unsurpassed  in  excellence.  The  belt  below  this,  consisting 
of  the  States  of  Iowa,  Missouri,  Southern  Dakota,  Kansas  and 
Nebraska,  Wyoming,  Northern  Colorado,  Utah,  Nevada  and 
Central  California,  adds  to  this  list  the  peach,  the  apricot,  and, 
above  all,  the  grape.  Already  California  is  more  largely  en- 
gaged in  the  culture  of  the  vine  than  any  other  country  in  the 
world.  Every  known  species  and  variety  which  possesses  merit 
is  grown  there,  and  though  her  great  vineyards  are  so  young, 
she  is  only  second  to  France  in  the  amount  of  her  wine  produc- 
tion. Nowhere  can  finer  "  raisins  of  the  sun  "  be  produced  than 
there.  Her  peaches  are  excellent,  but  not  so  much  attention 
has  been  given  to  their  culture,  as  in  other  regions. 

The  whole  belt  of  States  and  Territories  we  have  named  are 
capable  of  a  like  development  in  viniculture  with  California. 
Their  grapes  may  have  a  slightly  different  flavor,  and  the  wineS 
produced  from  them  may  be  as  distinguishable,  by  the  cultivated 
taste  of  the  connoisseur,  as  those  of  Tokay  aind  Xeres  dr 
Rheims ;  but  they  will  be  in  as  great  demand  as  the  wines  of 
the  Californian  vintage. 

Farther  south,  in  Arkansas,  the  Indian  Tei-ritory,  Texas, 
Arizona,  Southern  New  Mexico,  Southern  Utah  and  Nevada, 
and  Southern  California,  sub-tropical  fruits  abound — the  orange, 
lemon,  lime,  fig,  olive,  pomegranate,  banana,  guava,  Madeira  nut, 
pecan,  and  the  finest  and  most  luscious  varieties  of  the  peach, 
are  rome  of  the  treasures  which  Dame  Nature  lays  up  for  her 
children  in  the  sunny  South.  There  are  also  many  native  fruits 
and  nuts,  less  widely  known,  but  not  less  delicious  or  grateful  to 
the  taste,  than  those  we  have  named,  to  be  found  in  the  forests 
of  the  Great  West 


^ . ,  ^.,-;j,if^4"ilBi»»frSai«»eMaUSiJWA«*s*ws4^^^ 


..  If' 

1  ir'lr  I 


5» 


OUK    WESTERN'  EMPIRE. 


\  ) 


,/ 


'»  1"       ,;  ,    ■ 


1  . 


CHAPTER  IV. 


WrtD  Animals  awo  Gamb— Bkasts  or  Prev — Grizzly  and  other  Bears — 
Mr.  MuRfHv's  Grizzly  Bear  Story— The  Cougar,  Puma,  or  Panther— 
Th«  Jaguar  and  other  FELiD>t;— Lynxes- The  Marten  and  Weasel  Tribe 
— The  Gray  Wolf— The  Coyote- Amphibia— The  Whale  Tribe— Birds 
OF  Prey— Perchers  and  Song  Birds — Pigeons  and  Grouse — Waders  aWD 
Swimmers — Reptiles— Fishes — Mollusks    and    Crustaceans— Domestic 

AlflMALSi'  i    i J^...  . 

Many  of  the  wild  animals  of  our  Western  Empire  are  peculiar 
to  that  region.  The  Bison  or  American  buffalo,  whose  range 
extended  originally  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Appala- 
chians, has  for  these  many  years  past  been  only  found  west  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  as  settlement  and  civilization  advanced  west- 
ward he  has  been  driven  back  to  the  plains  and  foothills  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  a  tract  of  not  more  than  three  hundred  miles 
in  width,  and  perhaps  twelve  hundred  in  length  from  north  to 
south,  and  even  this  was  encroached  upon  every  year  by  the  new 
towns  springing  up  all  along  the  line.  Since  the  advent  of 
n  ilroads,  crossing  these  plains,  the  number  of  bison  has  rapidly 
diminished.  Many  thousands  were  shot  from  the  cars  for  fun, 
and  left  to  die  oa  the  plains ;  hunters  destroyed  tens  of  thousands 
for  mere  sport.  More  than  as  many  more  were  slaughtered  for 
the  hams  and  tongues,  and  the  Indians  killed  from  one  to  two 
millions  annually  for  the  flesh,  and  the  robes  or  skins.  It  is  es- 
timated that  within  the  past  ten  years,  not  less  than  twenty  mil- 
lions of  these  noble  animals  have  been  slain,  and  that  hardly 
more  than  300,000  remain.  The  bison  is  not  found  west  of  the 
liocky   Mountains."*    The   moose,  though  plentiful    in   British 

■  '    ■         '    '  I '■ 

*  Colonel  ftichard  J.  Dodge,  United  States  Army,  a  famous  hunter,  speaks  of  another  species, 
9r«t  hast  a mll^imtrked  variety  of  tK»  buffalo,  known  to  htintcrs  as  the  ipountain  or  wo6d 
biUfolo,,or  "ibe  bison."  It  has  shorter  but  stouter  legs  than  the  common  buffalo,  is  very  shy, 
and  by  no  means  plentiful  even  in  its  chosen  haunts,  and  inhabits  only  the  deepest,  darkest 
dtiilM  and  caftbnk,  or  the  craggy  and  almost  prccipitons  tides  of  mountains,  from  which  it  will 
Mt  depart,  wliUe4ik  «0Agcn«r  prefer*  the  ptaina.  Except  in  one  instance,  no  sportsman  has 
bagged  more  than  one,  but  its  existence  is  well  vouched  for,  though,  so  far  as  we  are  aware,  it 
has  never  been  described  by  any  other  writer. 


WD  OTHER   DkARS — 

rMA,  OR  Pahther— 
I  AND  Weasel  Tribe 
HALE  Tribe — Birds 
3USE — Waders  aWD 
rACEANS — Domestic 


1. 


■>i(\-^.  !>i 


pire  are  peculiar 
,lo,  whose  range 
i  to  the  Appala- 
ly  found  west  of 
I  advanced  west- 
1  foothills  of  the 
:e  hundred  miles 
h  from  north  to 
■  year  by  the  new 
:  the  advent  of 
lison  has  rapidly 
Jie  cars  for  fun, 
ens  of  thousands 
slaughtered  for 
rom  one  to  two 
skins.     It  is  es- 
tl)an  twenty  mil- 
and  that  hardly 
)und  west  of  the 
itiful    in   British 

peaks  of  another  tpcciet, 
thB  niounUin  or  wo6d 
mon  buffalo,  is  very  shy, 
only  the  deepest,  darkest 
itains,  from  which  it  will 
tance,  no  sportsman  h«s 
o  far  OS  we  are  aware,  it 


/  ( *,  *  ^'; 


■''"W^W!    %H:'     ■«,, 


'■:.,^- 


"••liWw^- ' 


^ ^%r 


1 

.  'If  \' 

ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  GOAT,    ELK,    RED  DEER,   BLACK    BEAR,   FOX,  MOOSE,   WOLF,   PANTHER,  C.RIZZLY 
BEAR,  COYOTE,    PRAIRIE   DOG,  WILD  CAT,    BUFFALO,  WILD   HORSE. 


y: 


,  ii»>,^^^i4^V(i^pM((t*o;*ri!IU^  *»*-*'  -  O!  ,VA^:.:-  A. 


>.*:^V  vi'-..  -;:■;.■■- \,j'.  .v>^. 


1i  ' 


n; 


frill 


m^^^mmmm^ 


.W' ,: 


.ft 


ZOOLOGY  OF  ou/i  tr/csrxxjv  emi'ike. 


$r 


Columbia  and  Alaska,  is  only  found  in  tlic  region  in  the  northern 
part  of  Washington  Territory,  in  Northern  Idaho,  and  Montana. 
The  Elk,  the  next  largest  of  the  game  animals  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  has  nearly  the  same  range  as  the  Buflalo» 
though  it  usually  seeks  the  vicinity  of  the  river  valleys.  It  is  less 
abundant  than  the  bison,  but  has  only  partially  escaped  the  indis* 
criminate  slaughter  to  which  those  unfortunate  animals  have  been| 
subjected.  They  are  often  found  in  large  numbers  (three  or  four 
thousand  it  is  said)  in  the  great  parks  of  Colorado,  and  in  Mon- 


tana. 


Mm 


There  are  three  species  of  deer,  the  black-tailed,  white-tailed, 
and  mule  deer;  and  at  least  one  species  of  antelope,  a  graceful, 
beautiful  creature.  West  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  there  is  a 
representative  of  the  Ibex  family  in  the  Bighorn  or  mountain 
sheep,  and  one  of  the  goat  family — the  wild  Rocky  Mountain 
goat,  whichi  may,  perhaps,  be  allied  to  the  goat  antelopes  of  the 
Himalaya  Mountains.  Of  smaller  four-footed  game  and  rodents, 
there  ai'e  six  or  eight  species  of  hare  and  rabbits,  one  bearing 
the  name  of  the  Jackass  rabbit,  from  the  enormous  length  of  its 
ears;  the  beaver,  musk  rat  and  mammoth  mole;  squirrels  of 
ten  species,  five  of  gophers  or  prairie  dogs,  the  yellow-haired 
porcupine,  four  species  of  kangaroo  mice,  the  usual  variety  of 
moles,  rats,  mice  and  dormice. 

Of  beasts  of  prey  there  are  a  considerable  number,  and  some 
of  them  formidable  in  size  and  strength.  There  are  probably 
two  species,  and  possibly  three,  of  bears  east  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains :  the  black,  the  cinnamon,  and  a  smaller  brown  one, 
known  as  the  Mexican  bear.*  The  bear  is  omnivorous  In  his 
diet;  ants,  grubs,  mice,  moles,  squirrels,  rabbits,  eggs,  berries, 
grapes  and  fruit,  all  seem  alike  to  him,  but  if  he  has  a  special 
vanity,  it  is  for  honey.  He  does  not  attack  man  unless  in  ex- 
treme hunger,  or  in  protecting  the  cubs ;  but  if  attacked  makes 
a  very  stubborn  fight,  especially  at  close  quarters.  His  claws 
are  very  sharp  and  strong.  Beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains  the 
formidable  and  somewhat  ferocious  grizzly  bear,  the  largest 
American  plantigrade,  except  possibly  the  Arctic  or  white  bear, 

*  Some  practical  zodlogists  contend  that  these  are  not  different  species  but  simply  varieties. 


I 


*si 


-^■mss^ 


pc,8'.y=,rpr«»r^7n^iygro«^iy  "^  "  ;3  :sri'^:S^^SifPr'i 


-^.1 


y; 


■; 


;     ' 


58  Ol/Jt    IVKSTE/tJV  KM P IRK. 

is  added  to  the  number.  The  black,  brown,  and  cinnamon  bears 
usually  avoid  a  conflict  with  man  unless  attacked,  when  they 
fight  fiercely.  It  is  said  that  among  the  miners  of  Western 
Colorado,  a  class  of  men  not  1? eking  in  courage  or  pluck,  when 
some  new-comer,  ambitious  to  show  his  prowess,  proposes  to  go 
out  and  hunt  the  bears,  which  are  very  numerous  there,  the 
shrewd  old  miner,  who  is  well  versed  in  bear  nature,  will  reply: 
"  Guess  not ;  I  haven't  lost  any  bear."  The  grizzly  bear,  espe- 
cially if  hungry,  is  not  wont  to  wait  for  a  provocation  to  a  fight, 
and  he  possesses  so  thick  a  hide  and  so  much  vitality,  that  it  is 
very  difficult  to  disable  or  kill  him  by  even  two  or  three  well- 
aimed  shots.  When  wounded  his  rage  is  fearful,  and  his  long 
and  strong  claws  enable  him  to  .nake  very  short  work  of  an 
antagonist  who  comes  within  reach  of  them.* 

The  cougar,  puma  or  panther,  sometimes  called  the  American 
lion.  Is  another  very  formidable  animal ;  somewhat  smaller  than 
the  African  lion  or  the  Bengal  tiger,  it  Sas  as  much  ferocity  and 
almost  as  much  strength  as  either.     It  is,  however,  cowardly  like 

*  Mr.  J.  M.  Murphy,  in  his  "  Sporting  Adventures  in  the  Far  Weal,"  devotes  on*  chapter  to 
the  grizzly  ticar,  and  relates  some  very  humorous  stories  of  experiences  in  hunting  it.  Formid- 
able and  ferocious  at  it  is,  the  gristly  it  terrified  by  the  human  voice,  when  loud  yelli  and  criet 
are  uttered,  and  will  run  away  at  once.  Mr.  Murphy  says  that  a  certain  judge  of  San  Francisco, 
who,  while  a  good  hunter  and  a  capital  humorist,  was  of  somewhat  intemperate  habits,  had  en- 
gaged with  a  few  friepdt  to  go  out  for  »  week's  shooting  among  the  grouse  and  quail,  and  was 
asked  to  be  ready  to  join  the  party  at  a  very  early  hour  in  the  morning,  to  that  a  camping  place 
could  be  reached  in  the  afternoon.  The  night  before  starting  he  attended  a  ball  and  became  to 
much  intoxicated  that  on  his  way  home  he  fell  down  several  time*  in  the  mire,  much  to  the 
detriment  of  his  evening  dreu  and  opera  hat.  Just  after  reaching  home  the  carriage  came  to 
take  bim  to  the  rendezvous,  and  he  insisted  on  going  in  the  plight  he  was  in.  After  tome  re 
monstrance  he  wat  taken  at  he  wa«,  and  the  party  travelled  to  the  mount>ini  about  forty  miles 
distant,  pitched  camp  and,  building  a  fire,  prepared  for  supper.  A  Spaniard  approached  them 
and  taid  that  there  was  a  grizzly  a  few  rods  ofT  in  the  bushes.  The  judge,  who  was  dozing  near 
the  fire,  roused  up  at  once  and  said  that  he  would  go  and  bring  it  into  the  cabp.  His  com- 
panions laughed  at  him  and  chaffed  him,  but  his  temper  waa  roused,  and  seizing  an  empty  shot- 
gun, he  said  he  would  prove  his  atiertion,  and  strode  off  into  the  shrubbery.  In  about  twenty 
minute*  there  wat  a  great  commotion  in  the  bushes,  and  all  the  party  seized  their  guns  and  pre- 
pared for  some  unknown  danger.  In  another  minute  the  buthet  parted  and  out  came  the  judge 
without  a  hat,  and  running  with  tuch  tpeed  at  to  caute  hi*  hair  and  coat-tailt  to  ttand  out  at 
right  anglei  to  hit  body.  A*  he  approached,  he  ahouted  at  the  top  of  hit  voice :  "  Gear  the 
track ;  here  we  come,  ikt  bear  and  mt,  confound  our  toult."  They  did  clear  the  track,  and  the 
judge  rushed  through  the  fire  and  did  not  stop  till  he  had  run  a  good  half  mile  to  the  rear. 
Hit  companion*  stopped  the  bear  and  cased  it  to  retreat  by  a  few  yell*  and  thot*,  but  the  fool- 
hardy judge  was  the  butt  of  many  a  Joke  on  his  race  with  the  bear. 


% 


"OTEJjr^ 


'«■«-. 


._.  ri:<M^£SM£:£- 


...I 


inamnn  bears 
J,  when  they 

of  Western 
•  pluck,  when 
roposes  to  go 
us  there,  the 
re,  will  reply : 
ly  bear,  espc- 
ion  to  a  fight, 
ality,  that  it  is 
or  three  wcll- 

and  his  long 
t  work  of  an 

the  Amerlcatt 

:  smaller  than 

:h  ferocity  and 

cowardly  like 

vote*  one  chnpter  to 
hunting  U.     Formid- 
I  loud  yellt  and  cries 
Ige  of  San  Francisco, 
lerate  habiU,  had  en- 
e  and  quail,  and  was 
that  a  camping  place 
k  ball  and  became  to 
he  mire,  much  to  the 
the  carriage  came  to 
s  in.    After  tone  re- 
tins  about  forty  miles 
ird  approached  them 
who  was  doting  near 
the  cabp.     His  com- 
eizing  an  empty  shot- 
In  about  twenty 
d  their  guns  and  pre- 
d  out  came  the  judge 
-tails  to  stand  out  at 
is  voice :  "  Clear  the 
lar  the  track,  and  the 
half  mile  to  (he  rear, 
id  shoU,  but  the  fool< 


^ 


f1 


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I 


I 


I 


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ttj 


wm 


m 


M 


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ZOOLOGY  OF   OUR    WESTS  UN   it  Mr  IMS. 


59 


all  its  tribe,  and  arUlom  or  never  attacks  man  rxcrpt  when  very 
hunj^ry  or  In  clefcna:  of  its  young.  When  att.ickrtl  it  is  a  for- 
itiidublu  animal,  its  strong  daws  and  great  inusculnr  power 
givinjj  it  great  advantage.  It  is,  whrn  full-grown,  alK)ut  four 
fret  eight  inches  in  length,  cxJusivc  of  its  tail,  ami  weighs  150 
or  160  pounds.  It  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  forests,  and  rardy 
gors  any  great  distance  from  them.  The  jaguar  or  American 
tiger  is  also  found  in  Texas,  Arizona,  New  Mexico  and  Southern 
California.  It  is  a  larger  and  perhaps  fiercer  animal  than  the 
cougar,  hut  is  nowhere  abundant  and  is  not  found  at  all  north 
of  the  thirty-ninth  parallel.  A  smaller,  but  equally  fierce  and 
perhaps  equally  cowardly  member  of  the  feline  family,  is  the 
catamount,  ocelot,  or  tiger-cat,*  wliile  the  wild  cat,  with  its  short 
blunt  tail,  and  the  lynx,  of  which  there  are  three  spccit-s — the 
Canada  lynx,  the  bay  lynx  or  red  cat,  and  the  banded  lynx — com- 
plete the  wild  felines  of  the  region.  Of  the  marten  tribe  and  iti 
congeners  there  arc  many  genera  and  species.  The  marten 
proper  or  .American  sable,  the  fitch  marten,  stone  marten,  wol- 
verine or  fisher,  two  species  of  skunk,  the  mink,  the  yellow- 
cheeked  weasel,  the  otter  and  sea  otter,  the  badger,  raccoon ; 
five  species  of  fox,  the  rarcoon  fox  or  mountain  cat.  Next  in 
order  come  the  wolves.  The  American  large  gray,  dusky  or 
black  wolf  (all  these  distinctions  of  color  being  found  in  the 
same  species)  is  a  far  less  ferocious  animal  than  his  European 
congener ;  he  is  cowardly,  and  when  attacked  by  dogs  or  men 
always  tries  to  hnd  safety  in  flight.  There  are  not  more  than 
one  or  two  instances  known  where  these,  wolves  have  attacked 
a  man,  and  then  it  was  only  when  they  were  frantic  with  hunger, 
when  a  large  pack  of  them  were  together,  and  when  the  man 
was  carrying  some  game.  They  are  great  thieves,  and  will 
carry  off  lambs  or  sheep,  pigs,  calves  or  young  colts,  and  when 
hunger  has  m;'  '  them  desperate,  they  will  hunt  antelopes,  deer 
and  even  the  buffalo.  Their  bite  is  very  sharp,  and  they  always 
endeavor  to  hamstring  their  prey,  if  it  is  a  large  animal.  They 
are  so  destructive  to  sheep  and  young  catde  that  great  numbers 

*  Thin  HAme  it  alto  gwtn  by  some  to  the  Canada  lynx,  but  improperly,  as  all  the  lynxet 
diHer  in  sti  iicture  from  the  true  cats. 


— "r-isS*:- 


4 


if-     ^ii 


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I. 


If    ! 


!i 


111 


1              '') 
.1 

^4 

i 

• , ' 

of  tlicm  arc  ktlloil  by  poiHon,  UHually  l>yr  Klrychniiic.  Then;  art! 
a  da^H  of  men  in  the  WcMt  known  a»  "Wulfcnt"  \\hu  nuke  a 
ft()C(.i.tl  huHincH»  of  kiUinjf  wuIvch,  uiiJ  hcUing  their  ixUh,  ^hith 
aru  valnuhh*.  Tiun  in  a  profttablt;  buHincMs,  but  tht)kc  viho 
engage  in  it  unJc-r^o  j^rrat  privations  and  lianUhipii,  antl  ihcy 
vttry  often  spend  their  hard  woti  ^,\'n\^  in  niihcrablc  ihbauLhir). 

The  coyote  or  larking  wolf  in  an  intermediate  link  between 
the  {;ray  wotf  and  the  fox,  and  tuaintainsi  al)out  the  same  poiii- 
tion  in  thiii  country  which  the  hyenas  do  in  the  Mant.  lie  is  a 
thief,  and  a  mean,  cowardly,  vile-iinielling  tltief,  but  he  subHervvs 
one  UHeful  purpose — he  is  an  indefatigable  scavenger,  though  a 
very  dirty  and  cruel  one.  1  In  will  dig  up  the  lK>dies  of  the  dead 
and  feast  upon  them,  and  every  animal  that  is  wounded  or  sick 
falls  a  prey  to  him.  If  nothing  better  can  bo  found  he  will  prey 
upon  chickens,  rati,  mice,  moles,  or  any  odier  of  the  small 
rodents.  A  pack  of  coyotes  have  bten  known  to  attack  a 
wounded  buck  and  sirii)  every  bone  clean  in  ten  minutes.  They 
are  often  covered  with  sores  from  feasting  on  dead  bodies. 
Colonel  Do<lgc  insists  that  the  prairie  wolf  iu  not  the  genuine 
coyote,  and  that  the  coyote  is  a  meaner  animal  found  only  in  Texas. 

liie  cetacea  of  the  Pacific  coast  include  the  right  and  Califor- 
nia gray  whale,  the  hump-back  and  fin-back,  two  beaked  whales, 
the  sperm  wluile,  black  fisli,  walrus,  and  three  species  of  porpoise. 
The  amphibia  are  the  sea  elephant,  tl)ree  or  four  sea  lions,  two 
species  each  of  seal  and  sea  otter.  frn» //  >      i  vt 

The  birds  of  this  /ast  territory  number  more  than  500  fipeciet 
already  described,  *;;d  many  more  discovered  but  not  yet  fully 
described.  There  are  twenty-five  species  of  climbers,  nearly 
two-thirds  of  them  wood-peckers ;  more  than  forty  species  of 
birds  of  prey,  including  six  of  the  eagle  family,  twenty  hawks, 
buzzard  hawks  and  falcons  ;  twelve  or  thirteen  species  of  owls ; 
the  king  of  the  vultures,  as  large  as  the  condor  and  the 
lammergeier ;  and  the  turkey-vulture  or  turkey-buzzard,  so 
common  in  die  South. 

Of  the  perchers,  fly-catchers,  and  grain-pluckers,  most  of  them 
song  birds,  there  are  nearly  200  species ;  in  the  first  group  are 
included  crows,  ravens,  magpies,  jays,  jackdaws  and  king-fishers ; 


riicnr  aru 
A  ho  iiuUc  a 

|>(.ltH,  ^^IulI) 

ihuhu  VI  ho 
p»,  ikiul  ihcy 
dcbauclu  ry. 
ink  bclwccn 
:  sanu?  |io»t- 
ihl.  lit:  isi  a 
he  aubHcrvcii 
{cr,  thuuj,;!)  a 
%  of  tlu'  deuJ 
iruIcU  or  sick 
1  he  will  \)rt:y 
uf  the  binall 

lo  attack  a 
iiutcs.  They 
dead  bodies. 
:  the  genuine 
mly  in  Texas. 

and  Califor- 
laked  whales, 

of  porpoise. 
lea  lions,  two 

\  500  Hpeciet 
not  yet  fully 
^bcrs,  nearly 
ty  species  of 
vcnty  Iiawks, 
cies  of  owls ; 
lor  and  the 
■bu22ard,  wo 

nost  of  them 
t  group  are 
king-fishers ; 


EAOI.IC,  VULTVRB,   HAWK,    PHEASANT,    PFARMIOAN,  CAI.IKllRNIA    l>AKrKllH;K. 
FLAMINUO,  CRANK,    IHIS,  ItWAN,   UUUtiK,  DUCKS. 


I'RAIRIK   HKN,  TUKKKV, 


i  '3       ! 


>  4 


(I  I  ( 


'  I  'I''' ' 


:^i;i* 


7   ' 


ZOOLOGY   OF   OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE.  (Ji 

in  tlie  second  and  third  groups,  fly-catchers,  several  spf'ci(  s  of 
humming-birds,  swallows,  wax-wings,  shrikes,  tanagor-,  r  liins 
and  thrushes,  wrens,  chickadees,  grosbeaks,  finches,  limiL'ts, 
orioles,  larlcs  and  sparrows. 

The  pigeon  family  have  five  or  six  representatives,  including 
the  California  and  the  band-tailed  pigeon,  the  ring,  the  turtle  and 
the  ground  doves.  There  are  probably  two  species  of  phoas.int. 
The  grouse  family  are  numerous,  and  include  blue  grouso,  ruffi'cl 
grouse,  the  sage  hen,  which  feeds  upon  the  sage-brush  of  the 
alkaline  lands  and  whose  flesh  though  tender  is  very  bitter;  the 
prairie  hen,  at  least  five  species  of  quail,  two  of  partridges,  and 
three  or  four  species  of  ptarmigan.  There  are  more  than  sixty 
species  of  waders,  including  cranes,  herons,  bitterns,  ibises,  flam- 
ingoes, plover,  kill-deer,  avocets,  English  snipe,  jack-snipe,  sand- 
pipers, curlews,  rails,  rice-birds,  etc.,  etc.  The  swimmers  are  still 
more  numerous,  over  one  hundred  species  having  been  described, 
including  many  species  of  geese,  which  frequent  the  lakes  and 
broader  streams,  brants,  teal  of  at  least  a  dozen  species,  as  many 
of  ducks,  the  canvas-back  being  found  in  great  numbers  in  his 
best  estate,  scooters,  coots,  sheldrakes,  mergansers,  pelicans,  cor' 
motants,  alb&trosses,  fulmars,  petrels,  gulls,  terns,  loons,  dippers, 
auks,  sed-pigeons,  and  murres.     •  '      • 

The  reptiles  of  the  Pacific  coast,  and  its  rivers  and  lakes,  differ 
from  those  of  the  States  and  Territories  whose  waters  drain  into 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  In  the  former  there  are  no  true  sauriads 
(alligators  or  crocodiles),  except  in  the  Colorado  and  its 
affluents ;  In  the  latter  the  alligator  and  probably  the  crocodile  arc 
found  in  great  numbers  below  the  thirty-fifth  parallel.  The 
Pacific  States  and  Territories  have  five  species  of  rattlesnake, 
and  no  other  venomous  snake  unless  possibly  a  viper ;  while  the 
latter  have  as  many  species  of  th*  ratdesnake,  and  at  least  three 
other  venomous  snakes,  and  pv  jsibly  more.  There  are  about 
tllirty  (species  of  harmless  snakes,  five  of  tortoises,  seven  or 
«ght  land  turtles,  termpins,  etc. ;  about  forty  species  of  lizards, 
and  nearly  fifty  irogs,  toads,  horned  toads,  salamanders,  pro- 

teuses,  etc.,  etc.  ■    J.^rfnr  J.  '.'in.!:;.!    J-jy    J  wfl  ,(*;'-.  I    .T'.).:;     rjV-[ 

There  are  more  than  five  hundred  species  offish,  most  of  them 


f^JJif  ,>*»li^'-^-"""'  ->■-'■--'■■■»«'• 


Hi 


6a 


OUX    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


'  I 


Pl' 


Ml 


''V. 


'••    :      X 


edible  in  the  waters  of  the  Pacific  and  the  Gulf,  and  in  the  thou- 
sands of  fresh  and  salt  lakes,  and  the  numerous  rivers  of  this 
vast  region.  Among  these  are  ten  species  of  the  SalmonidcC, 
native  to  the  Pacific  coast,  besides  several  others  now  naturalized ; 
the  taking,  packing  and  canning  of  the  salmon  forms  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  rapidly  increasing  industries  of  Oregon  and 
Washington  Territory ;  the  rivers  and  lakes  swarm  with  trout. 
Seven  or  eight  species  of  the  cod  family,  about  twenty  species  of 
eels,  ten  of  mackerel,  and  two  of  the  bonita  or  Spanish  mackerel, 
numerous  species  of  the  perch  family  and  its  congeners,  the 
blue-fish,  eight  or  nine  species  of  bass,  the  lake  white-fish  (intro- 
duced) ;  three  species  of  tautog;  one,  the  red-fish,  a  most  delicious 
table  fish ;  about  twenty  species  of  flat-fish  and  flounders ;  twelve 
species  of  shad,  herring,  anchovies,  etc. ;  nearly  thirty  of  the  carp 
tribe,  weak-fish,  balloon-fish ;  and  over  forty  of  the  cartilaginous 
fishes,  sharks,  rays,  sun-fish,  sturgeons,  etc.,  etc.  There  are 
seventy-five  species  of  mollusks,  including  a  great  variety  of 
clams,  quahaugs,  oysters,  mussels,  scollops,  and  fresh-water 
unionidae,  whelks,  limpets,  sea-snails,  cuttle-fish,  polypi,  octopi, 
squids,  nautili,  etc. 

Of  crustaceans,  there  are  about  twenty  species,  including  lob- 
sters, crabs,  hard  and  soft  shell,  king  crabs,  star-fish,  fresh-water 
lobsters,  shrimps,  prawns,  crawfish,  etc.    1  ■•  !-  m  •^■■Ahcwr  • «,  r 

No  country  in  the  world  has  a  larger  proportion  of  excellent 
pasturage  land.  While  much  of  this  is  as  yet  unoccupied  by 
herdsmen,  the  amount  of  live-stock  is  increasing  at  an  exceed- 
ingly rapid  rate.  The  estimates  of  the  Agricultural  Department 
at  Washington,  which,  on  live-stock,  especially  in  the  West,  are 
generally  considerably  below  the  truth,  gave,  in  December,  1878, 
3,807,500  horses,  more  than  one-third  of  all  in  the  United  States; 
630,300  mules,  about  the  same  proportion  of  the  whole ;  3,650,- 
000  milch  cows,  about  one-third  of  the  whole  number  in  the 
Union;  11,588,000  other  cattle,  or  more  than  one-half  of  the 
whole ;  1 9,000,000  sheep,  or  one-half  of  the  whole ;  ind  1 2,000,- 
000  swine,  or  alniost  twO-fifths  of  the  whole.  The  number  in 
December,  1879,  not  yet  reported,  must  be  at  least  twenty,  per 
cent,  in  advance  of  these  figures.  nun  '^•^r  •rr*-  fi ! 


>,  'i 


;      < 


•mi: 


INCREASE   OF  POPULATION. 


63 


nd  in  the  thou- 
i  rivers  of  this 
he  Salmonidae, 
ow  naturalized ; 
>rms  one  of  the 
of  Oregon  and 
arm  with  trout, 
renty  species  of 
tanish  mackerel, 
congeners,  the 
vhite-fish  (intro- 
a  most  dehcious 
ounders ;  twelve 
hirty  of  the  carp 
the  cartilaginous 
etc.     There  are 
Treat  variety  of 
and   fresh-water 
1,  polypi,  octopi, 

!s,  including  lob- 
-fish,  fresh-water 

tion  of  excellent 
unoccupied  by 

g  at  an  exceed- 

ural  Department 

in  the  West,  are 
December,  1878, 

le  United  States; 

le  whole;  3,650,- 
number  in  the 
on6-half  of  the 

ale;  ind  12,000,- 
The  number  in 
least  twenty  per 

■-.ft  '<'*>'  ':''!';i>  I 


CHAPTER   V. 

Population — The  Increase  mnce  1870 — Table  Showing  the  Estimated 
Increase  in  each  State  and  Territory — Notes  in  regard  to  each  State 
and  Territory. 

This  whole  region  is  new  to  settlement,  except  the  States  of 
Missouri  and  Arkansas;  the  former  was  admitted  into  the  Union 
in  March,  1821,  and  the  latter  June  15th,  1836.  Nine  of  the 
other  States  or  Territories  have  been  organized  with  their 
present  boundaries  over  thirty-five  years,  and  several  of  the 
States  and  all  the  Territories  are  less  than  thirty  years  old. 
According  to  the  census  of  1870,  there  were  in  the  whole  region 
west  of  the  Mississippi  6,877,069  inhabitants,  besides  nearly 
300,000  tribal  or  wild  Indians.  The  growth  of  population  since 
that  time  h:-3  been  almost  incredibly  rapid.  In  order  to  show 
how  rapid  has  been  the  growth  of  this  region  we  present  here- 
with the  results  of  the  census  taken  in  June,  1880— the  official 
figures  where  it  was  possible  to  obtain  them,  and  the  approxi- 
mations in  round  numbers,  where  it  was  not.  We  have  added 
to  these  the  number  of  Indians  on  reservations,  in  every  State  or 
Territory  where  there  were  large  reservations,  taking  our  figures 
from  the  latest  report  of  the  Indian  Office  in  1879.  It  will  be 
se^i  that  the  present  population  aggregates  11,421,274,  an  in- 
crease of  4,5.  ^.,205,  or  about  67.5  per  cent.,  within  the  last  ten 
years.  The  great  States  regard  an  increase  of  ten  or  eleven  per 
cf  nt.  in  the  population  in  ten  years  as  a  remarkably  rapid  growth, 
an  '  only  one  or  two  of  them  attain  that;  but  here  has  been  an 
inci  ase  of  more  than  six  times  their  best  growth  in  the  same 
time ;  while  fully  three-fourths  of  this  advance  has  been  achieved 
during  the  last  four  or  five  years.  ...r  ■:'• '.  . 
■  -■:■  The  following  table  shows  the  extraordinary  growth  of  some 
of  these  States  and  Territories;  and  we  ex;plain  below  the  causes 
which  have  induced  this  exceptional  growth. 


'■l<:;z^J^^'^ 


OVK    WESTERN  EMPISR. 


State 

State 

«r 

Piipulftlion 

Population 

or 

Population 

Population 

Territory, 
Arkansa»     . 

1H70. 
484,471 

1880. 
802,564 

Territory. 

1870. 

1880. 
».597.509 

Texas  (^) 

818,579 

California  . 

560,247 

864,686 

Arizona  (//) 

9.658 

40,441 

Colorado  (a) 

39.864 

194,649 

Dakota  (1) 

14,181 

135. '80 

Iowa  (^)     . 

i,i94,oao 

1,624,463 

Idaho     .     . 

14,999 

32,611 

KanRas  {c) 

3641 S99 

995.966 

MonUna(y  ) 

ao,59S 

39.157 

Min'sota  (</) 

439.706 

780,807 

Indian  Ter. 

69,000 

75,000 
118,430 

MiHsonri     . 

i.7«>.»95 

3,168,804 

NewMex.(* 

91,874 

Nebraska  {e) 

122,293 

4Sa.43a 

Utah  (/) 

86,786 

M3.907 

Nevada  .    . 

42,491 

62,265 

Washington 

'3.955 

75.' 20 

Oregon  (/) 

90.9»3 

J  74. 767 

Wyortiing 

9,118 

20,788 

Louisiana 

7«M«5 

940,863 

Totals     . 

6,877.069 

11,339.809 

'lliii 


tjtf)  Colorado  ow«  its  rapid  growth  in  the  Iwt  decade  to  its  superb  climate, 
to  its  gr«at  advantages  as  a  herding  region,  and  above  all  to  the  extraordinary 
discoveries  of  rich  eras  of  silver  fcnd  gold  on  both  the  eastern  and  western  slopes 
of  the  Rocky  Muuntainst  in  the  San  Juan  disrtrict,  in  Leadville  and  vicinity,  at 
SilVerton,  Ouray,  Gunnison,  and  many  other  points  of  Western  Colorado. 

(3)  Iowa  is  essentially  a  prairie  State,  with  a  rich  and  fertile  soil,  and  being 
gridironed  by  railroads,  most  of  them  having  land-grants,  and  its  advantages 
ditigetttly  made  known,  it  has  made  large  additions  to  its  population. 

(r)  Kansas  owes  its  almost  mitaculous  growth  to  its  favorable  location,  to  its 
excellent  farming  lands,  and  especially  to  the  great  enterprise  and  energy,  with 
which  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  F£  Railroad  hxs  opened  to  settlement 
and  to  markets,  the  whole  upper  Arkansas  valley,  one  of  the  finest  farming  and 
graring  regions  on  the  contineht.         'i^*  .r^dnujf;   CiUKii   u 

id)  MinneMta  owes  muth  of  its  growth  to  its  fine  climate,  its  rich  whebt 
lands,  especially  those"  of  (he  valley  of  the  'Rsd  river  of  the  North,  and  to  the 
great  enterprise  of  both  her  fanners  and  manufacturers,  by  which  her  wheat  and 
flour  have  become  known  all  over  the  world,  as  the  finest  produced  anywhere. 

{e)  Nebraska  has  made  a  great  sulvance  within  ten  yiars,  almost  quadrupling 
her  population,  mainly  through  her  exceHent  situation!,  her  fine,  arable  lands, 
amd  the  great  eflbrts  made  by  the  Union  Pacific  and  other  land  endowed  roads, 
•  to  make  her  advantages  Imow^.  .^j'^  ,gt^j  «f.-apii-;iin.;w.j  j^iii  fu  .40s»i». 

(/)  Oregon  has  been  largely  built  up  byennigration  callecl  thither  by  her 
extensive  salmon  fisheries,  her  immense  lumber  business,  the  great  fertility  and 
productiveness  of  her  soil,  and  her  rich  and  Valuable  mines,  tier  facilities  for 
water  communication  haviebeen  of  great  adviltitage  in  bringing  her  products  to 
market ;  but  as  yet  railways  have  not  aided  largely  in  developing  her  territory. 

(j[)  Texto  has  received  laicge  additions!  to  its  population  from  several  cttises : 
its  fine  cotton  and  sugar  lands  have  attracted  vefy '  many  settlers  from  tl^e 
Atlantic  and  Gulf  States  Of  the  South,  as  well  as  from  the  Mississippi  valley,  who 
hoped  to  better  their  cohdition  by  the  change ;  her  vast  ranges  for  cattle,  and 


¥M 


wen  EASE    OF   POI'UI. AVION. 


65 


on 

579 
658 
181 

999 

595 

000 

874 
786 

955 
,118 

,069 


Population     1 
1880. 

1.597.509 
40,44> 

13s. '80 
32,611 

39.«57 

75,000 

118,430 

1431907 

75.  "o 

20,788 

,  11,339.809 


ts  superb  climate, 
the  extraordinary 
ind  western  slopes 
le  and  vicinity,  at 
rn  Colorado, 
le  soil,  and  being 
nd  its  advantages 
mlation. 

ble  location,  to  its 
;  and  energy,  with 
:ned  to  settlement 
finest  farming  and 

rte,  its  rich  whebt 
[orth,  and  to  the 

lich  her  wheat  and 

duced  anywhere. 

Imost  quadrupling 
me,  arable  lands, 
endowed  roads, 

|ed  thither  by  her 
[great  fertility  and 

Her  facilities  for 
>g  her  products  to 

ing  her  territory. 
>m  several  c^tises : 

settlers  from  tbe 
[issippi  valley,  who 

jes  for  cattle,  and 


the  double  demand  for  cattle  for  tlie  ranges  of  the  New  Northwest,  and  for 
beef  for  the  English  and  French  markets,  have  drawn  great  numbers  of  ranch- 
men, licrdmcn,  cattle-buyers,  etc.,  to  the  State.  There  has  been  also  a  large 
immigration  of  English  farmers  and  laborers,  and  of  the  best  class  of  Germans 
to  the  State ;  and  the  extension  of  several  of  the  railroad  lines  has  induced  a 
considerable  influx  of  people  from  Missouri,  Illinois,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 

(//)  Arizona  has  not  grown  so  rapidly  as  some  of  the  other  Territories,  for, 
until  re  ently,  she  hxs  had  difficulties  with  the  Indian  tribes,  and  her  arid  soil, 
most  of  which  can  only  be  cultivated  successfully  by  irrigation,  was  still  arid 
for  w^t  of  the  means  to  build  irrigating  canals,  or  bore  artesian  wells ;  her 
mines,  which  were  and  are  exceedingly  rich,  were  almost  inaccessible  for  want 
of  railroad  and  wagon  road  facilities.  These  difficulties  are  now  in  course  of 
removal,  the  Southern  Pacific  having  reached  Tucson,  the  former  capital,  and 
the  Territory  is  respontling  most  heartily  to  the  new  impulse  it  has  received 
within  the  past  two  years.  The  Indians,  under  the  efficient  management  of 
Governor  Fremont,  are  friendly  and  peaceful,  and  heavy  and  continued  rains 
have  changed  the  face  of  nature.  Its  mines  are  richer,  and  its  lands  more  fertile 
than  they  have  been  thought  to  be. 

(/■)  Dakota  has  made  the  most  extraordinary  growth  of  any  State  or  Territory 
in  the  entire  West,  and  this  has  been  due  to  several  causes,  operating  in  different 
sections,  at  neirly  the  same  time.  Southeastern  Dakota  has  been  the  portion 
of  the  Territory  best  known,  and  its  fertile  lands  have  attracted  emigrants  from 
Europe,  as  well  as  from  the  Eastern  States.  The  Mennonites  established  a  large 
colony  here,  and  the  Catholics  are  now  purchasing  lands  for  the  same  purpose. 
This  section  lying  north  and  east  of  the  Missouri  river,  apd  in  the  lower  valley 
of  the  Dakota  or  James  ri  ver,  is  very  accessible,  both  by  the  Missouri  and  Dakota 
rivers,  and  by  three  railroad  lines  which  penetrate  this  rpgion.  Northeastern 
Dakota  owes  its  rapid  growth  almost  entirely  to  two  railways,  and  the  enter- 
prise with  which  they  have  advertised  their  lands ;  the  No^hern  Pacific,  which 
in  the  face  of  the  greatest  difficulties  has  opened  a  line  nearly  across  the  Terri- 
tory, above  the  46th  parallel,  and  has  brought  into  market  some  of  the  finest 
and  most  productive  lands  in  the  Northwest;  and  the  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis 
and  Manitoba  road,  and  its  branches,  which  have  opened  to  settlement  the 
whole  valley  of  the  Red  river  of  the  North,  which  sent  to  market  in  1878, 
5,600,000  bushels  of  the  finest  spring  wheat.  The  Black  Hills  Region,  in 
Southwestern  Dakota,  was  first  brought  into  notice  by  the  discovery  there  of  im- 
mense deposits  of  gold  and  silver.  Much  of  the  region  around  is  barren,  but 
the  mines  are  exceedingly  rich,  and  the  populatioi)  is  rapidly  increasing. 

(_/■)  Montana  has  as  yet  no  railroads,  except  the  extension  of  the  Utah 
Northern,  but  soon  will  have ;  the  Northern  Pacific  crossing  the  Territory 
about  midway,  and  the  Utah  and  Northern  penetrating  it  from  the  south,  even- 
tually to  meet  the  Northern  Pacific.  The  latter  road  has  recently  reached 
Helena,  the  capital.  The  Missouri  river  is  navigable  for  most  of  its  course  in 
the  Territory^  as  is  the  Yellowstone,  though  partially  obstructed  by  rapids. 
5 


iSi-jfei*"' 


1  :' 


0^  OUR    WESTERN   EMPIRE. 

But  Montana  has  many  fertile  and  very  rich  valleys,  excellent  pasture  lan(l<i, 
and  tome  of  the  bent  gold  and  silver  mines  in  the  whole  Northwest.  Its  popu- 
lation will  greatly  increase  in  the  next  decade. 

(/)  Utah  hoa  grown  rapidly  in  spite  of  great  obstacles,  and  mainly  by  emi- 
gration of  two  kinds :  of  Mormoiw  from  Europe,  and  of  "  Gentiles,"  /.  e.,  Non- 
Mormons,  from  the  Eastern  States,  drawn  thither  by  its  exceedingly  rich  mines. 
The  ores  of  the  Territory  in  all  directions  seem  to  yield  greater  quantities  of 
gold  and  silver  than  almost  any  others  which  have  been  opened ;  and  with 
greater  facilities  of  access  they  must  at  no  distant  date  pour  a  volume  of  gold 
And  silver  into  the  markets  of  the  world  which  will  make  great  changes  in  tltc 
prices  of  other  commodities. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

The  Nationalities  and  Races  Represented — The  Indians — Different 
Tribes,  and  their  Characteristics — The  Mo<^uis  of  Arizona — Note 
concerning  them — africans  and  colored  persons  generally — chinese 
AND  Japanese — Hispano-Americans — Europeans  of  different  Nation- 
alities— British,  British  American,  German,  Scandinavian,  French, 
Italian,  Spanish,  etc. — Americans  born  in  the  States. 

Including  the  Indians  in  the  Indian  Territory,  the  Pueblos  in 
New  Mexico  and  Arizona,  and  the  Indians  employed  on  ranches 
in  California,  Nevada,  Oregon  and  Washington,  and  the  tribal 
Indians  on  the  plains  and  elsewhere,  there  are  probably  not  less 
than  300,000  Indians  of  all  races  in  the  Great  West. 

These  Indians  are  of  many  tribes,  and  their  languages,  habits 
and  modes  of  life  differ  materially.  A  comparatively  small 
number  evidently  belong  to  two  of  the  races  which  preceded 
the  North  American  Indian  on  this  continent.  The  Pueblos  of 
New  Mexico,  who  are  also  found  in  small  numbers  in  Arizona, 
have  their  name  from  their  practice  of  living  in  towns  or  villages, 
pueblo  being  the  Mexican  name  for  a  town  or  village.  They 
live  in  adobe  houses,  cultivate  the  soil,  and  though  in  secret 
idolaters,  are  outwardly  obedfent  to  the  priests,  and  devout 
Catholics.  They  areaquiet,  patient,  good-tempered  race,  evidently 
Aztec,  and  having  no  other  af^nity  with  the  American  Indians 
than  their  color  and  hair.     There  are  several  villages  in  Arizona, 


I ,    i 


nt  pasture  lanils, 
hwest.     Its  poim- 

d  mainly  by  cmi- 
itiles/'i. /.,N<m- 
iingly  rich  mines. 
:atcr  quantities  of 
»pcned;  and  with 
a  volume  of  gold 
lat  changes  ^in  the 


IDIANS— Different 
»F  Arizona— Note 
NERALLY— Chinese 

JIFFERENT    NaTION- 

oiNAViAN,    French, 


r,  the  Pueblos  in 
oyed  on  ranches 
1,  and  the  tribal 
>robably  not  less 

^est. 

anguages,  habits 
laratively   small 

[which  preceded 
The  Pueblos  of 
ibers  in  Arizona, 
iwns  or  villages, 
village.     They 
lough  «n  secret 
|sts,  and  devout 
:d  race,  evidently 
merican  Indians 
lages  in  Arizona, 


THE  RACES  AND  NATIONS  OF  THE   GREAT  WEST.  67 

New  Mexico  and  Colorado,  of  the  cliff-dwellers,  or  Moqiiis,  a 
still  earlier  race,  of  which  they  seem  to  be  the  only  survivors. 
Their  dwellings  are  hewn  in  the  perpendicular  roi  ks  of  some 
misa  or  butte,  or  crown  its  height,  and  are  only  accessible  by 
ladders  or  rude  rock  stairways.  Their  cattle  and  sheep  occupy 
usually  only  the  top  of  the  mesa,  and  here  were  constructed  also 
large  reservoirs  for  water,  which  they  use  for  themselves  and 
their  cattle.  They  are  engaged  in  manufactures  as  well  as  in 
agriculture,  and  their  blankets,  their  cordage,  their  bread  manu- 
factured in  thin  sheets  from  the  blue  corn  which  they  cultivate, 
their  ornaments,  etc.,  are  very  curious.  They  are  as  much 
advanced  in  civilization  as  the  Peruvians  of  South  America,  and 
possibly  belong  to  the  same  race.*  • 

In  the  Indian  Territory,  the  tribes  removed  thither  from 
Georgia,  Alabama  and  Mississippi,  in  i  S32  and  1 833,  the  Cherokees, 
Choctaws,  Creeks,  Chickasaws  and  Seminoles,  have  farms  and 
good  dwellings,  and  show  no  disposition  to  lead  a  nomadic  life. 
Of  the  other  fifteen  or  sixteen  tribes  or  fractions  of  tribes,  now 
occupying  portions  of  the  Territory,  some  are  becoming  ac- 
customed to  the  herdsman's  life  and  seem  contented ;  others  do 


*  Very  few  of  our  explorers  or  tourists  have  visited  these  singulnr  and  inlerestirif;  people  in 
their  rocky  fastnesses.  Among  the  few  are  Prof.  J.  S.  Newl)erry,  now  of  the  Columbia  College 
School  of  Mines,  and  an  eminent  scientist.  Colonel  J.  W.  Powell,  the  pioneer  explorer  of  the 
Rio  Colorado,  and  Ueneral  J.  C.  Frimont.  They  are  certainly  a  much  more  intelligent  and 
highly  civilized  people  than  any  of  the  Indian  tribes  now  existing  on  this  continent,  and  in  all 
probability  are  the  remnants  of  a  race  which  preceded  the  Aztecs,  the  inhabitants  of  Mexico 
when  that  country  was  first  discovered.  Their  cliff  dwellings  exhibit  remarkable  architectural 
skill,  and  their  religious  ceremonies,  of  which  Colonel  Powell  has  given  a  most  interesting 
account  in  Scribner's  Monthly ,  while  very  singular,  indicate  their  origin  from  one  of  the  primitive 
races  of  Northwestern  Asia.  They  are  generally  regarded  as  Are-worshippers,  but  like  the 
Parsees,  their  worship  seems  to  have  been  symbolical,  and  to  have  regarded  fire  and  the  sun,  the 
great  source  of  fire,  as  only  the  symbols  of  the  creating  and  vivifying  power  which  pervades  all 
nature.  Their  manufactures  were  rude,  but  the  products  were  of  great  excellence.  We  have 
ourselves  seen  a  blanket,  which  Prof.  Newberry  obtained  from  them,  woven  from  the  wool  or 
curly  hair  of  their  sheep  or  goats,  and  into  which  when  suspended  by  its  four  corners,  three 
pailsful  of  water  were  emptied,  and  after  nearly  a  half-hour  the  under  surface  was  nut  moist  In 
the  slightest  degree.  Their  ornaments  of  gold,  silver  and  copper  displayed  a  high  degree  of 
artistic  skill.  Their  bread,  made  from  the  maize  of  different  colors,  red,  blue,  yellow,  white,  ctr., 
which  they  cultivate,  pounded  into  roeal  in  a  mortar  and  made  into  a  thin  paste,  when  linked  was 
no  thicker  than  writing  paper,  each  sheet  being  about  fourteen  by  eighteen  inches,  and  folded  sn 
that  the  pile  of  edible  sheets  resembled  a  ream  of  blue  or  colored  paper.  In  these  villages  four  or  fi\  e 
languages  are  spoken,  none  of  them  bearing  any  known  relation  totbo.te  of  the  otiier  Indians. 


.■,^S"^-' 


'kU9^^^- 


•*i  !i 


tt 


OUR    H'/iSriCftX    l-.MriKK. 


\\A 


f  'li 


not  take  kintlly  to  even  p.irtial  civilization,  and  arc  restless  and 
uneasy.  This  is  particularly  true  of  th<;  Comanrhes,  the  few 
Apaches  who  arc  in  the  Territory,  and  some  of  the  later  comers, 
as  the  Cheyennes,  Arapahoes  and  Poncas.  The  nomadic  Indians, 
though  of  many  tribes  and  languages,  yet  belong  for  the  most 
part  to  four  or  five  groui)s.  The  largest,  most  numerous,  and 
most  warlike  of  these  are  the  Dakotas  or  Sioux,  and  the 
Shoshones,  Snake  Indians  or  Utes.  In  the  former  group  are 
mcluded  not  only  the  Unkapapas,  Tetons,  Crows,  etc.,  but  the 
Winnebagoes,  Assiniboins,  Omahas,  Poncas,  loways,  Otoes, 
Mandans  and  Minitaris.  Their  hunting  grounds  extended  from 
the  Canadian  line  through  Western  Minnesota,  Dakota,  Montana, 
Western  Iowa,  Nebraska,  and  Kansas,  and  part  of  Wyoming, 
into  Northern  Colorado.  Some  tribes  of  this  group  have  been 
almost  constandy  hostile  to  the  whites,  and  have  more  than  once 
perpetrated  terrible  massacres.  The  horrible  scenes  in  Minne- 
sota in  1862-3  were  the  work  of  the  Crows,  one  of  the  tribes 
of  this  group.  The  butchery  of  Custer's  gallant  force  was  also 
perpetrated  by  bands  of  this  group.  Sitting  Bull  is  the  chief 
of  one  of  the  Sioux  tribes.  They  have  been  very  often  at  war 
with  the  Utes. 

The  Shoshones,  or  Snake  Indians,  very  possibly  outnumb'^r 
the  Sioux.  They  include  not  only  the  Shoshones  proper,  in 
Oregon  and  Washington  Territories,  but  the  Bannacks,  Wihinasht, 
Comanches,  Kizht  and  Netela,  the  Modocs,  and  the  various 
tribes  of  Utes,  the  Pah  Utes,  Pi-ut(!s,  White  River  Utes, 
Uintahs,  Uncompahgre  Utes,  etc.  Ouray  is  a  chief  of  the 
Uncompahgre  Utes,  and  Douglas  of  the  White  River  Utes. 
These  tribes  are  found  in  Oregon,  Washington,  Idaho,  Western 
Montana,  California,  Nevada,  Utah,  Wyoming,  Colorado,  and 
some  of  them  in  Northern  Texas.  Among  the  smaller  groups 
are  the  Sahaptin  or  Nez  Perces,  under  which  name  are  included 
also  the  Walla  Wallas,  Yakimas,  Pelouse  and  Klikitats  of 
Washington  and  Oregon ;  the  Selish  or  Flat-heads,  under  which 
name  are  included  the  Pend  d'Oreilles,  the  Coeur  d'Alenes, 
Spokanes,  Piskous,  Nesk'wally,  Chehallish,  Cowlitz  and  Killa- 
mooks  or  Tillamooks  of  Idaho,  Oregon  and  Washington ;  the 


"I^im^^^IiiT. 


W 


ire  restless  and 
inche!S,  the  f<:w 
jc:  later  comers, 
omadic  Indians, 
jr  for  the  most 

numerous,  and 
sioux,  and  the 
•nu;r  group  are 
IS,  etc.,  but  the 
loways,  Otoes, 
i  extended  from 
akota,  Montana, 
rt  of  Wyoming, 
rroup  have  bt^en 

more  than  once 
cencs  in  Minne- 
nc  of  the  tribes 
u  force  was  also 
iull  is  the  chief 
pry  often  at  war 

sibly  outnumber 
ones  proper,  in 
acks,  Wihinasht, 
nd  the  various 
ite  River  Utes, 
chief  of  the 
lite  River  Utes. 

Idaho,  Western 
Colorado,  and 
e  smaller  groups 
ime  are  included 
nd  Klikitats  of 
ads,  under  which 

Coeur  d'Alenes, 
)wlitz  and  Killa- 
ATashlngton ;  the 


yy/A  A/«tas  and  nations  vt  tiia  oatAr  »«'/.•/:  ^ 

Yumas  include  the  Cuco-Maricupus,  Cuchans,  Muhaves, 
iiiialapais  and  Yava|>ais,  and  the  Diegueiius  uf /\ri/ona;  the 
I'linas  include  the  i'unu  Apaches,  ihe  Loyute  Apaches,  and 
ulher  Apache  tribes,  us  well  as  tlic  I'inias  proper  uf  i\rtzuna  and 
New  Mexico. 

The  number  of"  colored  persons  of  African  descent "  is  not  far 
from  70u,ooo,  there  having  been  a  considerable  exodus  of 
negroes  from  Mississippi,  Tennessee  and  other  Southern  States 
east  of  the  Mississippi  into  Texas,  Arkansas,  Kansas,  and 
Nebraska  since  tl.'j  census  of  1870,  and  especially  in  1878,  1879 
and  1880. 

The  number  of  Chinese  and  Japanese  now  in  all  these  States 
and  Terriiories does  not  exceed  100,000  and  perhaps  not  75,000. 
It  is  more  difficult  to  determine  the  number  of  persons  of 
Ilispano-American  parentage,  whether  of  the  whole  or  half- 
blood,  since,  in  Texas,  California,  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  Nevada 
and  perhaps  also  in  Colorado,  a  considerable  number  were  of 
such  parentage,  yet  born  in  those  States  and  Territories,  before 
they  came  into  possession  of  the  United  States.  As  nearly  as 
we  can  estimate,  these  I  lispano-Americans,  whether  born  in  our 
new  States  and  Territories  or  in  Mexico,  must  number  somewhat 
more  than  100,000.  Of  about  equal  number  are  the  emigrants 
born  in  British  America,  who  are  mostly  Canadian  French,  and 
in  the  Northwest,  a  considerable  percentage  of  the  trappers  and 
hunters  often  of  mixed  blood,  from  the  Northwest  and  Hudson's 
Bay  Companies. 

The  immigrants  from  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  who  num- 
bered, in  1870,  in  this  region  346,364,  must  now  exceed  a  mil- 
lion, for  Utah  has  received  thence  large  numbers  of  Mormon 
converts;  while  Texas,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Dakota,  Minnesota, 
and  Iowa  have  had  large  accessions  of  British  farmers,  artisans 
and  laborers,  and  Colorado,  Arizona,  Nevada,  California,  Mon- 
tana, Oregon,  Wyoming,  and  the  Black  Hills  region,  have  been 
fargely  aided  in  the  development  of  their  great  mining  interests, 
not  merely  by  British  capital,  but  by  British  labor. 

In  the  last  decade,  also,  the  German  popu'lation  of  this  region 
his  increased  from  310,645  in  1870  to  nearly  or  quite  a  million 


'    '+ 


I": 


\  I  t 


u 


in  1880,  for  in  f;irm  work,  in  mcthanital  anil  in  miniiijj  purnuits, 
the  German  han  nrver  failed  to  ktc'i)  pace  with  llur  toilers  of 
other  racch.  Cicrman  capital,  too,  has  been  libci.tlly  invcsteU  in 
the  iMHt  mines. 

In  1S70,  the  Scandinavians  in  this  region  numljered  iat,578: 
but  they  were  only  the  vanj^iiard  of  a  fjiore  abundant  immigration, 
which  has  made  tlic  Norse  tongue  familiar  as  l'!nj;lisii,  tlirou^ii 
out  Mmnesota,  inuch  of  Iowa,  l)ak(>i.i,  Nebraska,  Kansa!«,  and 
portions  of  Wyoming;  and  Montana.  Tlu  re  arc  certainly  4oo,<xx), 
and  perhaps  more,  Scandinavians  and  chiUiri^n  of  S(  >ndinavian 
parents  in  the  Northwest.  For  the  rest,  there  are  35,cxx>  or 
more  Mcnnonites  ami  other  Russian  Protestants  from  Rusuia, 
10,000  or  I  2,ooc)  Italians,  half  that  number  of  Hungarians,  over 
20,000  Bohemians  (C/ochs),  nearly  as  many  Austnans  (Ger- 
mans), 35,000  or  40,(X)0  French,  25,000  Swiss,  lo.ixooi  12,000 
Hollanders,  5,000  Bt'lj^ians,  about  the  same  number  of  Portu- 
ijuese,  1,000  Spaniards,  about  ihc  same  number  of  West  Indians, 
and  nearly  as  many  from  the  islands  of  the  Pacific,  and  from 
Western  South  .\m     ca. 

Asia  and  Africa  and  Australia  contribute  their  several  quotas, 
small  ones,  it  is  true,  to  make  up  the  mixed  multitud  \  from  ail 
lands,  who  have  floclscd  hiihrr  within  ilie  past  thirty  years. 

Probably  somewhat  more  than  one-half  of  tiie  whole  number 
were  born  in  the  United  States,  and  of  white  American  parent- 
age. Except  in  the  older  States  of  this  Western  Empire,  Mis- 
souri, Arkansas,  Texas,  Iowa,  and  California,  and  in  a  smaller 
degree,  Minnesota,  Kansas,  and  Oregon  ;  very  few  of  these  citi- 
zens who  have  attained  adult  ■a<^c,  are  native  to  this  region,  and 
*  to  the  manor  born."  Every  State  of  the  Union  has  contributed 
its  quota,  the  majority  in  the  Northern  and  Central  States  and 
Territories  having  come  from  New  England  and  the  Northern 
States,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Ohiok  Michigan, 
Indiana,  ininois  and  Wisconsin ;  while  the  emignnts  to  Texas, 
Arkansas,  the  Indian  Territory,  Arizona,  New  Mexfco,  Southern 
Colorado,  and  Utah,  and  Southern  California,  are  very  largely 
from  the  Southern  and  Southwestern  States,  though  SoutJiern 
Illinois  has  contributed  a  considerable  share  of  the  recent  emi- 
grants to  Texas. 


SOCIAL    CtiAMACrgXiSIK'S   Of    TMM    /'fiO/'/.A. 


;• 


liny;  pursuits, 
lu;  toilers  of 
y  itwcst»!il  in 

rill  la'.syS: 
I  immigration. 
;lisi.,  lliroujjii 
,  KannaH,  ami 
;ainly  400,0011, 

StiUilinavian 
»rc  25.000  or 

from  RiisBia. 
ntjarians,  over 
ustnans  (G<*r- 
,(xx)  01  12,000 
iU«r  of  Portu- 

West  Indians, 
cific,  and  from 

veral  quotas, 
(1  ■,  from  uil 
[ty  years, 
whole  number 
erii:xn  parent- 
Empire,  Mis- 
\  in  a  smaller 
^v  of  these  citi- 
lis  region,  and 
as  contributed 
ral  States  and 
the  Northern 
ihiok  Michigan, 
nts  to  Texas, 
ixiico.  Southern 
▼ery  largely 
lugh  Soutliern 
e  recent  emi- 


CHAPTKR    VII. 

('MARA(.TRm«Tia»  AND  PK*  IJUARITIM  or  IHR  FWt'  '.riON*  -ffUMOROUt  A»rKCT^ 

()»■  THK  Ui.KNniNi;  or  DirrKKKNT  Nationh  -'riiF,  Nbw  Diai.bct — SutiMr.NH 
or  IT— Tfir  PRoptN^iTY  i<i  HiiMi»)"nis  Kxacoik  ^TI0N— InciijIwth,  Man. 
Nms  ani»  II  iins  or  Ranih Owneks  and  Ranlmwkn  ('ou»Nim  or  Dir- 
rrMKNr  Naiionalitim  ani»  Kkiu.iums — Mksnuniirs — Stonuists — Mon- 
uuNN— Catholic  kHKiHAiiuN— Assuciationh  or  CAnrAusrs  run  Mining, 

IIkhIMNO,     WuUL'UHOWINU,     ok      FaHM1N(.     f'UHK>SICb— OtiUH     Muols     qp 

Skitlkmknt. 

No  such  experiment  In  the  blinding  of  the  diffcn^nt  races  of 
men  into  one  homogeneous  nation,  has  ever  b»'f*n  attempted,  on 
a  St  alt?  so  grand  and  extensive,  as  tliat  lutvv  in  progress  in  our 
Western  lOmpire.  Will  it- prove  a  success?  Here  we  Hnd  the 
New  linglander,  intelligent  and  often  scholarly,  but  almo»*l 
always  shrewd,  sharp,  and  enterprising,  cheek  by  jowl  with  the 
lall,  lank,  bilious-looking  Southern,  less  enterprising,  perhaps,  yet 
eipially  sharp  in  his  way,  with  a  dogged  energy,  and  often  .m 
irritable  temper.  The  quick,  nervous,  impulsive,  but  capable 
New  Yorker  has  for  a  partner  a  dreamy  and  apparently  stolid 
German,  who  is,  nevertheless,  fully  awake  to  business  matters. 
The  quiet  but  acquisitive  Pennsylvani,  n  is  linked  with  a  wild, 
blundering,  impulsive,  and  jovial  Irishman.  Sprigs  of  British 
aristocracy  and  British  snobs  are  found  in  all  callings,  from  the 
highest  to  the  lowest,  and  the  mercurial  Frenchman,  the  proud 
and  haughty  Spaniard,  the  dark-browed  Italian,  and  the  versa- 
tile Russian,  are  all  found  occupying,  in  apparent  harmony,  the 
same  sod-house  or  dug-out.  The  Israelite  is  everywher'\  and  at 
all  times  ready  to  turn  an  honest  penny,  lar  from  dealing 
always  in  old  clothes  "  shust  as  goot  as  new,"  he  is  a  banker, 
a  mine  owner,  s  capitalist,  or  a  landed  proprietor.  In  the 
mining  regions,  especially,  this  commingling  of  different  nation- 
aHties  lias  led  almost  to  a  new  nationality,  certainly  to  a  new  dia- 
lect, at  first  almost  unintelligible  to  the  new-comer,  but  very 
speedily  acquired  by  a  few  weeks'  residence.  Every  man  has  his 
title,  generally  aprUed  with  eonskler^ble  shrewdness  and  appropri- 


I  '1^ 


I  i  u 


h   t- 


ILt 


;• 


OUM  H'Msr/'  Jty  Kwr/MH. 


atcnrsH,  but,  except  in  rarr  instAncrn,  retained  a»  lony  an  he  rc« 
main*  in  the  re^'ion.  Very  few  rank  an  Uiw  ah  "Caplain"  or 
"  Major,"  ihou^'h  lh«'  latter  han  Home  currency  ;  but  "Colonel"  or 
"C()inino<lore"  an;  the  mcnt  ii«mal  titles,  while  in  a  few  inntancen, 
where  neither  the  military  nor  n.i\  ,«l  apprliation  neems  appropriate, 
A  man  in  recogni/cil  ai  "Jt'tig''"  (J"»li,")  "J«)hn  Phuiux"  (the 
late  Lieutenant  (i.  II.  Derby)  gives  a  laiij^habh:  illuHtratloti  of  this 
practice,  almost  thirty  yearn  a^<\  in  Califurnia,  where  In:  relates, 
that  goin{(  on  boanl  ship,  for  luc  lonj;  return  voyage  roimil  the 
Horn,  anil  Inking  very  much  depresseil  from  the  fart  that  he  hail  no 
friends  to  accompany  him  to  the  ship,  and  wish  him  "bon  voyoji^t," 
as  all  the  rent  seemed  to  have,  he  at  last,  just  as  the  hliip  was 
moving  off,  lifted  his  hat  in  desperation  and  called  cut  to  some 
make-believe  friend  in  the  crowd  on  shore,  "  Good-bye,  Colonel." 
In  an  instant,  he  said,  hundreds  of  hats  were  in  the  air,  and  the 
shout  rang  out  in  reply  from  hunlreds  of  throats:  "(lootl-bye, 
Colonel."  But  the  slang  expressions  of  this  mining  dialect  are 
too  numerous  to  be  recorded.  New-comers  are  "Tender-feet;" 
a  dead  man  has  "  passed  in  his  checks ; "  one  who  has  been 
killed  in  a  brawl  or  street-fight  "died  with  his  boots  on."  A 
man  who  is  both  liberal  and  just,  "pans  out  well ;"  one  who  has 
excited  the  displeasure  of  his  "pards"  (associates  or  fellow- 
workers)  is  "off  color."  If  a  man  shows  pluck  or  grit  under 
adverse  circumstances  he  "  has  got  sand."  Karth  or  gravel 
containing  considerable  free  gold  is  subjected  to  the  "  panning" 
process,  with  good  results.  A  vein  of  gold  or  silver,  yielding 
largely  at  first  but  gradually  becoming  smaller  as  the  rocky 
walls  come  closer  together,  is  said  to  "  peter  out,"  and  a  man  of 
large  pretensions,  but  of  gradually  diminishing  performance,  has 
the  same  epithet  applied  to  him.  A  ravine  is  a  "gulch;"  a  pool 
of  water  at  the  bottom  of  a  mine,  a    bumph." 

Bad  whiskey  is  "  tarantula  juice  ;  "  prospectors  who  are  igno 
rant  of  their  business  and  disposed  to  grumble  are  "^ntbcr- 
p^bbers ; "  and  when  they  make  a  precarious  livelihood  frorn 
what  game  they  can  kill  with  old  squirrel  rifles,  they  are  said  to 
"live  on  snaps,"  the  snaps  of  the  rifles  which  did  not  bring  down 
any  game.     A  new-comer  speaks  of  the  large-heartedness  of 


lonj;  as  he  rr- 

"Captain"  or 
t  "Colon*  l"  or 
I  few  iMHianccfi. 
11H  appropriate, 

l»hanix"  (the 
istratioti  of  this 
icrc  lit:  nlalcs, 
iA\^rt  roiiMil  llu- 
t  that  he  had  no 
n  "don  r'<y'<ijC/," 
»  the  ship  was 
:d  out  tu  Hutnc 
1-bye,  Colonel." 
he  air,  and  the 
ts  :  "  ( 'it)()d  bye, 
iiinj^  tiialect  are 
"  Tender-feet;" 
!  who  has   been 

boots  on."  A 
'*  one  who  has 
ates  or  fellow- 

or  i^rit  under 
arth  or  gravel 

the  "  panning" 

silver,  yielding 
as  the  rocky 

'  and  a  man  of 
erfonnance,  has 

gulch;"  a  pool 

who  are  igno 
e  are  '' gmbcr- 
ivclihood  frotn 
hey  are  said  to 
not  bring  down 
icartedness  of 


XOCtAt.    CUAMAClKKISrtC.n   OA    TItK    l'i\Ort.K.  •• 

some  of  the  nunrrii  he  ban  met,  and  the  reply  i«:  "Ye»,  there'*  a 
^ood  many  of  thcni  big  heartc;il  frllern  in  this  (i>nniry.  You  »ee 
llirtn  Hfnall  >oulfd  cusHen  lakis  too  muth  iirij^ation  to  brinj^  'etn 
out.  TWcy've  just  got  to  git  up  and  git."  The  won!  "  irrigate," 
\vhi( h  iM  \.)\\%  cxprcsnion  has  manifest  reference  to  the  re^ultH  of 
irrigaiiion  in  producing  iinnn-ns*'  crops ort  the  ariti  laiuls,  has  also 
another  hi^nifuaiion  in  th«;  \V«'st.  "  Strang«'r,"  said  a  rough 
Inokiiig  miner  to  a  clerical  looking  gentleman,  in  otw  of  tin;  Con 
(ord  coaches,  "do  you  irrigate?"  producing  at  the;  sarin?  time  a 
hotilc.  "  If  you  mean  to  ask  wlutlxr  I  drink,  sir,  I  do  not,"  was 
the  dignified  reply.  "  Stranger,  have  you  any  objection  to  our 
irrigating  ? "  was  the  next  (juestion.  "  No,  sir,"  was  the;  reply. 
.\fter  the  irrigation  had  been  complctcil,  the  miner,  who  after- 
ward turned  out  to  Ix'  a  large  mine-owner,  propoundeil  a  second 
(|uestion.  "Stranger,  do  you  fumigate?"  "If  you  nu-an  to  ask 
do  I  smoke,  sir,  I  do  not."  "  Well,  stranger,  tlo  you  object  to 
our  fumigating?"  "No,  sir;  certainly  not,"  was  the  prompt 
reply.  It  shoidd  be  add<il  to  this  story  that  at  their  journey's 
end,  when  the  clergyman,  a  day  or  two  later,  call<;d  for  his  hotel 
bill,  he  was  told  that  it  had  been  paid  by  the  miner,  who  had 
thus  manifested  his  respect  for  his  manly  refusal  to  indulge  in 
drinking  or  smoking. 

This  mining  and  herding  dialect  seems  to  be  a  conglomerate 
in  which  many  Spanish  and  Mexican  words  are  mingled  with 
Indian  terms,  Chinese  "pigeon-talk,"  Chinook,  Kasiern  and 
.Southern  Americanisms,  and  perhaps  mining  terms  and  phrases 
from  Oeat  Britain  and  the  continent.  It  is  astonishing  that  a 
dialect,  so  utterly  void  of  rules  or  system,  can  be  acquired  so 
rapidly.  In  one-tenth  the  time  required  for  the  acquisition  of 
any  regular  well-organized  language,  any  one  will  acquire  this 
outrageous  dialect  and  become  thoroughly  proficient  in  it. 

The  herdsmen  and  shepherds,  and  in  many  cases  their  em 
ployers  also,  are  as  rough  as  the  miners  in  thein  language  and 
dress.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  find  among  these  rough,  unkempt 
and  mud-bespattered  men,  graduates  from  our  Eastern  universi- 
ties and  colleges,  men  who  have  enjoyed  all  the  amenities  of  the 
most  refined  society,  but  who,  discarding  all  conventionalities, 


Ht"- 


■  \  i 


) 


''•'M  :  ''Iff 


,•  ■ 


2^  OUR    WESTERN   EMPtR-B. 

have  chosen  to  live  thus  roughly  and  uncouthly.  In  some  in- 
stances sons  of  English  neers,  themselves  graduates  from  Oxford 
or  Cambridge,  have  followed  the  same  course.  A  correspondent 
of  the  New  York  Tribune  relates  that  he  found  in  Leadville,  in 
a  building,  half  tent  and  half  shanty,  occupied  by  a  miner  and 
his  family,  a  Stein  way  grand  piano,  perfecdy  in  tune,  a  choice 
and  well-selected  library,  and  both  in  charge  of  a  lady  as  refined 
and  accomplished  as  could  be  met  with  in  the  best  circles  in  our 
great  cities,  and  these  luxuries  of  civilization  had  been  brought 
thither  when  the  freight  by  ox  or  mule-team  from  the  nearest 
railroad  station,  then  eighty  or  a  hundred  miles  away,  was  fifty 
cents  a  pound. 

Among  all  classes  the  American  fondness  for  humorous  exag- 
geration crops  out.  A  miner  will  tell  a  stranger,  with  a  per- 
fectly serious  face,  that  a  mine  of  very  small  promise  has  "millions 
in  it,"  and  perhaps  in  the  next  breath,  examining  a  choice  speci- 
men of  ore,  he  will  throw  it  from  him  contemptuously,  declaring 
that  it  won't  yield  more  than  i  lo  per  cent,  of  pure  silver.  He 
will  describe  to  another,  widi  a  face  beaming  with  pity,  "  how 
discouraged  the  miners  were,  because  they  had  to  dig  through 
four  feet  cf  solid  silver  before  they  could  get  at  the  gold; "  or 
when  the  large  yield  of  silver  is  spoken  of,  he  wi'!  say :  "  Pshawl 
that  is  of  no  account;  there  is  a  man  down  in  Iowa  that  has  in- 
vented a  process  for  making  silver  for  fifty  dollars  a  ton  ;  so  that 
is  no  good."  This  same  tendency  to  exaggeration  is  sometimes 
acquired  by  our  English  cousins  after  a  shoi  t  residence  here. 
"Haven't  you  any  larger  happles  than  those  here?"  inquired  a 
cockney  tourist  of  a  market  w^man  in  Washington  market.  New 
York,  pointing  to  a  huge  watermelon.  "  Can't  you  do  hany  better 
than  that?"  "  Happies !"  retorted  the  market  woman,  herself 
of  English  birth.  "  Hanybody  would  know  you  was  Hinglish. 
Them  hain't  hopples ;  them's  huckleberries ! " 

The  farmers^ieire  not  a»  rough  or  rudie  in  their  mode  of  Kfe  as 
the  herdsmen,  shepherds  or  miners ;  though  at  first,  on  the  fron- 
tier, the  luxuries!  of  society,  -whether  in  habitation,  equipment, 
dress,  or  table  fare,  are  neglected,  and  only  tibe  necessaries  of 
life  are  sought.  „  *  •  ^  >    ' 


^- 


..;i|||.i.lii,-l4t^i|.ll  .i|ilJ,l|P|.i,<J]»,i,tl-»^J.;;^^^  I.a.^j^^^ 


In  some  in- 
*  from  Oxford 
:orresponJent 
I  Leadville,  in 
y  a  miner  and 
tune,  a  choice 
ady  as  refined 
t  circles  in  our 
i  been  brouglit 
rni  the  nearest 
iway,  was  fifty 

umorous  exag- 
er,  with  a  per- 
je  has  "millions 
a  choice  speci- 
ausly,  declaring 
ne  silver.     He 
with  pity,  "  how 
to  dig  through 
the  gold ;  "  or 
\.\  say :  "  Pshaw! 
iwa  that  has  in- 
|s  a  ton  ;  so  that 
n  is  sometimes 
esidence  here, 
e?"  inquired  a 
in  market.  New 
do  hany  better 
Iwoman,  herself 
was  Hiaglish. 

I  mode  of  Kfc  as 
|rst,  on  the  fron- 
m,  equipment, 
necessaries  of 


COLONIES  AND  LARGE  ESTATES.  « 

Yet  it  is  the  testimony  of  ladies  of  the  highest  character  who 
have  penetrated  into  these  mining  hamlets,  or  the  sheep  or  cattle 
ranches,  that  nowhere  in  the  wide  world  have  they  been  treated 
with  more  courtesy,  deference  and  respect,  than  among  these 
apparently  rough  men.  Miss  Isabella  L.  Bird,  an  English  lady 
of  high  social  position  and  adventurous  spirit,  whose  "A  Lady's 
Life  in  the  Rocky  Mountains "  is  a  most  charming  record  of 
actual  adventures  in  Colorado,  found  that  even  a  noted  outlaw 
and  brigand,  known  as  "  Rocky  Mountain  Jim,"  manifested  in 
his  conduct  toward  women,  the  intelligence,  chivalry  and  refine- 
ment of  a  gentleman. 

In  almost  all  the  St.tjs  and  Territories  of  this  western  region 
there  are  numerous  colonies,  where  a  body  of  settlers,  botind 
together  by  the  ties  of  common  race  or  nationality,  community 
of  religious  faith,  the  desire  of  prosecuting  a  common  avocation 
or  pursuit,  or,  in  some  instances,  from  mere  neighborhood,  or 
general  similarity  of  views,  or  from  being  natives  of  the  same 
State  at  the  East,  have  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  common,  and 
founded  a  colony,  or  settHng  on  adjacent  lands  by  mutual  agree- 
ment, have  become  helpful  to  each  other,  and  thus  enjoyed  the 
advantages  of  a  colony  without  the  difficulties  incidental  to  a 
colonial  organization.  Many  of  these  colonies  h^ve  proved  very 
successful,  a  few  as  conspicuously  unsuccessful.  Four  or  five 
adopted  at  first  the  principle  of  a  community  of  lands,  and  per- 
haps of  goods,  but  all  or  nearly  all  have  subsequently  abandoned 
it.  In  the  regions  where  irrigation  is  required,  some  of  the 
colonies  made  their  canals  and  ditches  the  property  of  the  whole 
colony,  and  each  individual  who  used  the  water  paid  a  water- 
rate  ;  others  had  them  constructed  by  a  company,  and  those  who 
used  the  water  paid  toll.  Of  the  colonies  on  a  secular,  and 
partly,  perhaps,  on  a  political  basis,  the  most  successful  have 
been  the  colony  of  Greeley,  in  Colorado,  founded  by  the  lamented 
Meeker,  and  its  almost  as  prosperous  neighbors,  Longmont  and 
Evans.  In  Minnesota  there  have  been  many  Scandinavian 
colonies  founded,  Swedish,  Norwegian,  and  Danish,  and  these 
often  so  near  each  other  as  to  make  considerable  tracts  Scan- 
dinavian in  character,  and  for  a  time  jfi  speech.     These  colonies 


i.,.!^*^*-" 


m 


OUR    WESTERN   EMPIRE. 


'-^'. 


n-  '•  '^ 


\ 


I  \\ 


have  gradually  extended  into  Northeastern  Dakota.  The  Norse 
element  is  an  excellent  one  in  our  country,  for  the  Scandinavians 
are  a  hardy,  frugal,  industrious,  and  thrifty  people.  In  Iowa, 
Southern  Minnesota  and  Southeastern  Dakota,  as  well  as  in 
Nebraska,  there  are  many  German  colonies,  generally  of  an  ex- 
cellent character.  In  Southeastern  and  Northeastern  Dakota, 
as  well  as  in  Manitoba,  and  still  more  in  Kansas,  the  Mennonites, 
a  religious  denomination  already  known  in  the  Atlantic  States, 
Russian  by  birth,  but  of  German  origin,  have  setded  in  large 
colonies,  and  form  a  valuable  addition  to  our  farming  popula- 
tion.* In  Dakota,  and  perhaps  also  in  Kansas,  they  have  been 
accompanied  by  other  religionists  of  somewhat  similar  views, 
but  of  Sclavonic  or  Russian  origin.  These  call  themselves  s'.nply 
"Chnbtians,"but  are  known  to  the  Russian  government  as  either 
Molokani  or  Stundisti.  Tl.ese  have  settled  on  lands  adjacent  to 
the  Mennonites  In  some  of  these  States  and  Territories  there 
fjre  also  colonies  of  Bohemians  (Czechs),  of  Moravians,  and  we 
believe  also  of  Tyrolese  and  Swiss,  In  Southeastern  Dakota, 
Nebraska  and  Kansas  th  re  are  also  many  colonies  of  English 
and  Scotch,  mostly  farmers,  though  some  are  artisans.  Kansas 
has  one,  and  perhaps  more  than  one,  French  colony,  where  silk 
culture  and  the  manufacture  of  silk  has  been  carried  on,  though, 
while  awaiting  th'.  growth  of  the  mulberry,  and  sufficient  work  ifor 
their  filature,  they  have  turned  the  silk  mill  into  a  cheese  factory. 
There  are  also  French  and  Hungarian  colonists  engaged  in  vini- 
culture in  California.  A  considerable  colony  of  Japanese  came 
to  California  3ome  years  since  to  engage  in  the  culture  of  tea, 
and  perhaps  some  other  Japanese  products,  but  we  have  no  recent 
intelligence  of  their  success. 

In  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  Nevada  and  Utah  there 


: 


*Mr.  H.  J  Van  Dyke,  Jr.,  writing  of  these  Mennonites  in  their  Manitoba  settlement,  say . 
that  an  innkeeper  at  Winnipeg  stoutly  insisted  that  they  were  "  no  good."  On  being  asked  his 
reason  for  such  a  declaration,  he  still  persisted  that  they  were  of  no  account.  "Are  they  not 
industrious  ?  "  "  Ve-es."  "Are  they  not  thrifty  ?  "  "  Ve-es."  "  Don't  they  pay  for  what  they 
buy  promptly  ?  "  "Ye-es.  But  I'll  tell  you,  when  they  come  here,  if  any  of  them  want  tn 
drink,  every  man  pays  for  his  own  liquor.  They  never  treat  the  crowd.  I  don't  think  they  are 
of  much  account."  The  innkeeper's  reason  would  seem  to  be  decidedly  creditable  to  the 
Mennonites. 


COLON/ES  AND  LARC.R  KSTATF.S. 


11 


a.     The  Norsr 
Scandinavians 
iplc.     In  Iowa, 
as  well  as  in 
rally  of  an  ex- 
astern  Dakota, 
he  Mennonites, 
\tlantic  States, 
;ettled  in  large 
irming  popula- 
they  have  been 
similar  views, 
imselves  s'mply 
nment  as  either 
nds  adjacent  to 
'erritories  there 
ravians,  and  we 
astern   Dakota, 
)nies  of  English 
tisans.     Kansas 
lony,  where  silk 
-ied  on,  though, 
fficient  work  for 
cheese  factory, 
ngaged  in  vini- 
Japanese  came 
culture  of  tea, 
have  no  recent 

md  Utah  there 


initoha  settlement,  sa\ . 
On  being  asked  his 
count.  "Are  they  not 
they  pay  for  what  they 
any  of  them  want  to 
I  don't  think  they  arc 
ledly  creditable  to  the 


are  many  associations  for  mining  purposes,  composed  entirely 
of  English  or  Scotch  capitalists,  employing  almost  exclusively 
British  miners,  gind  having  their  principal  offices  in  London,  In 
Colorado,  Wyoming,  Montana,  and  Ttixas,  there  are  also  British 
associations  engaged  in  the  stock  business.  In  Utah,  where 
almost  three-fourths  of  the  population  are  Mormons,  and  most 
of  them  believe  in  polygamy,  v/hile  several  thousands  of  them 
actually  practice  it,  the  Mormon  immigration  is  almost  wholly 
from  Great  Britain,  though  a  small  number  come  from  the  Scan- 
dinavian countries.  As  most  of  these  immigrants  are  practical 
polygamists,  our  Government  has  recently  sought  to  restrain 
the  influx  of  such  open  violators  of  our  laws.  In  New  Mexico 
the  greater  part  of  the  inhabitants,  certainly  nine-tenths,  includ- 
ing both  the  original  inhabitants  aiul  the  immigrants,  are  nom- 
inally or  really  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  The 
policy  of  our  Government  is,  and  has  always  been,  opposed  X.i> 
the  entire  control  of  a  State  or  Territory  by  one  sect  or  denom 
ination  alone,  inasmuch  as  perfect  freedom  of  conscience,  excep'i 
where  it  violates  the  rights  of  others,  is  the  cardinal  principle  of 
our  national  Constitution.  Where  one  sect  is  largely  dominant 
in  a  State  or  Territory,  the  rights  of  the  minority  are  almost 
invariably  invaded.  In  Utah  this  predominance  involves  also 
the  practice  of  polygamy,  which  is  an  added  violation  of  our 
national  laws ;  and  in  New  Mexico  the  school  moneys  derived 
from  the  sale  of  school  lands  have  been  misdirected  by  the  Jesuits 
and  other  religious  orders,  who  have  the  entire  control  of  educa- 
tion there,  not  only  to  the  payment  of  teachers  of  theology  in 
Roman  Catholic  seminaries,  hwx.  to  the  payment  of  the  board  of 
students  of  theology. 

So  far  as  colonies  of  Roman  Catholics  are  concerned,  they  are 
perfectly  right  and  proper,  and  very  considerable  settlements 
have  been  organized  under  the  auspices  of  bishops  and  arch- 
bishops, in  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Texas  and  Oregon,  and  perhaps 
in  some  other  States  and  Territories.  No  objection  is  made  to 
the  organization  of  Mormon  colonies,  provided  they  obey  the 
laws ;  and,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  Mormons  have  planted  large 
colonies  in  Idaho,  and  smaller  ones  in  Colorado  and  Arizona 


}  ,i 


1 '  ::i  I 


■:'    .ifl 


^  OVJt    WF.STKf^N  EMJVJtS. 

In  a  few  instances  colonies-of  American  Protestant  denomination»j 
have  settled  in  a  single  township,  and  have  done  well.  1  here 
are  Episcopal,  Presbyterian,  Methodist  and  possibly  Baptist 
colonies  of  this  sort.  Generniiy,  however,  our  American  colonists 
prefer  a  diversity  of  religious  beliefs  in  their  seulements. 

Recendy,  two  methods  of  setdement  and  improvement  of 
lands  have  been  adopted.  They  are  both  of  doubtful  expediency, 
so  far  as  the  future  of  the  States  and  Territories  is  concerned, 
though  of  great  present  profit  and  success  in  the  development 
of  new  regions.  The  first  method  has  been  largely  practised  in 
California,  and  is  coming  into  vogue  in  the  newer  States  and 
Territories.  A  capitalist,  usually,  though  not  always,  a  practical 
farmer,  stock-raiser  or  mining  operator,  or  sometimes  an  association 
of  capitalists,  acting  by  their  superintendent  or  general  manager, 
purchases  a  large  tract  of  land,  often  many  thousands  of  acres, 
adapted  to  his  purpose,  whether  of  raising  grain,  wine-making, 
stock  or  wool-growing,  or  mining,  erects  the  necessary  buildings, 
and  procures  the  best  and  latest  machinery  for  his  purpose,  and 
hires  his  laborers,  who  may  be  the  poorer  classes  of  foreigners, 
Mexicans,  Indians,  or  Chinese,  and  works  his  estate  exclusively, 
or  almost  exclusively,  with  such  labor,  his  machinery  or  steam- 
driven  agricultural  implements  supplying  the  place  of  very  large 
numbers  of  laborers.  If  he  is  a  farmer,  and  in  the  smooth 
prairie  lands,  he  breaks  up  the  soil  with  his  gangs  of  steam- 
plows,  or  an  army  of  plowing  machines  each  drawn  by  four 
horses  or  mules ;  sows  his  wheat  or  other  grains  with  steam  or 
four-horse  drills ;  irrigates  his  lands,  if  irrigation  is  necessary,  by 
water  raised  from  an  artesian  well,  by  steam  or  wind-power;  reaps, 
gathers  and  binds  or  more  expeditiously  still,  clips  off  the  heads 
of  the  grain  and  deposits  them  in  an  accompanying  wagon  by 
bushels,  whence  they  an:  transferrer  by  a  chute  to  the  threshing- 
machine,  which  threshes,  winnows,  separatestand  sacks  the  grain 
with  litde  human  intervendon.  When  the  market  is  at  its 
highest  point,  he  sends  to  it  his  hundred  thousand  or  two 
hundred  thousand  bushels  of  wheat,  his  oats,  barley,  and  corn  in 
nearly  equal  amounts,  and  employing  che£ip  labor,  his  net  profits 
nn  a  single   year's   crops   may  be  reckoned  by  the  hundred 


,:|;      :]} 


-i^-= 


THE  EVIL    OF  LARGE  LANDED  ESTATES. 


79 


denominationw 
I  well.      Ihure 
jssibly    Baptist 
ericfan  colonists 
etnenfs. 
iprovement  of 
iful  expediency, 
:s  is  concerned, 
le  development 
ely  practised  in 
wer  States  and 
rays,  a  practical 
:s  an  association 
:neral  manager, 
isands  of  acres, 
1,  wine-making, 
ssary  buildings, 
lis  purpose,  and 
s  of  foreigners, 
ate  exclusively, 
nery  or  steam- 
;e  of  very  large 
in  the  smooth 
;angs  of  steam- 
drawn  by  four 
with  steam  or 
s  necessary,  by 
d-power;  reaps, 
•s  off  the  heads 
lying  wagon  by 
the  threshing- 
sacks  the  grain 
jrket  is  al  its 
)usand  or  two 
ey,  and  corn  in 
his  net  profits 
the  hundred 


thousand  dollars,  though  his  cultivation  may  be  less  thorough, 
and  the  yield  per  acre  smaller,  than  on  smaller  and  more  carefully 
tilled  farms.  All  this  is  very  well  for  the  capitalist,  and  equally 
well  for  the  exporter  of  grain ;  but  it  is  not  so  well  for  the  State 
or  Territory,  nor  for  its  permanent  and  successful  development. 
These  large  estates  prevent  the  formation  of  villages  and  towns, 
and  the  establishment  ofprimary  and  grammar  schools;  encourage 
absenteeism,  and  tend  to  the  establishment  of  a  privileged  and 
oligarchical  class;  and  in  the  not  distant  future,  when  the  public 
lands  and  the  railroad  lands  are  all  sold,  will  bring  about  a  con- 
dition of  things  such  as  now  exists  in  Great  Britain,  and  sooner 
than  there,  because  the  cultivation  is  more  superficial  and  the 
land,  skinned  for  present  crops,  will  soon  lose  its  fertility.  It 
is  a  significant  fact  in  this  connection,  that  on  the  great  "Dalrymple 
farm*"  in  Northern  Dakota,  with  its  more  than  30,000  acres  in 
grain,  the  yield  per  acre  is  much  less  than  that  of  adjacent  small 
farms,  and  that  the  yield  per  acre  diminishes  with  each  successive 
crop,  though  the  land  is  the  best  in  the  Red  River  valley. 

The  great  cattle  and  sheep  ranches  are  in  some  respects  still 
more  objectionable,  inasmuch  as  the  herdsman's  life  has  a  strong 
tendency  towards  a  condition  of  semi-civilization.  The  owner 
of  these  immense  flocks  and  herds  may  be,  indeed,  like  the 
Oriental  patriarchs,  a  man  of  culture  and  refinement,  a  poet  or 
historian,  a  king  among  men,  and  may  surround  his  children 
with  all  the  luxuries  of  civilization ;  but  his  herdsmen  or  shep- 
herds, without  opportunities  of  education,  and  far  from  civilizing 
influences,  will,  in  the  course  of  time,  become  mere  boors  and 
hinds.  In  the  wasteful  methods  of  stock-raising  in  these  regions, 
it  is  estimated  that  it  requires  fifty  acres  of  the  mountain 
pasturage  to  feed  a  single  steer,  and  where  the  herd  amounts,  as 
it  not  unfrequently  does,  to  4,000  or  5,000  head,  it  may  require  a 
whole  county  to  furnish  them  with  sufficient  pasture.  This 
isolated  life  inevitably  leads  to  results,  directly  opposed  to  the 
whole  genius  of  our  institutions.  .  In  the  sale  of  the  public  lands, 
the  policy  of  the  government  has  been,  to  have  the  holdings 
small,  and  the  setders  within  such  neighborhood  to  each  other, 
that  schools,  churches,  and  villages,  could  be  maintained;  this 


*. 


.JSWtr-W^ 


8o 


OUR    WESTERN   EMPIRE, 


'"i 


^rM 


'  m 


has  been,  to  some  extent,  also  tin  poliry  of  the  land-grant  rail- 
roads, though  those  holding  large  gi..,irs  have  too  often  departed 
from  it;  but  the  pressure  to  sell  large  quantities  of  grazinj^ 
lands,  and  in  some  instances  farming  lands  also,  has  been  so 
great,  that  the  government  officers  and  the  railroad  officials  have 
too  often  yielded  to  it.  In  Texas,  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  Nevada, 
and  California,  the  old  Spanish  and  Mexican  land-laws  have 
prevailed,  under  which  a  square  league  of  land  was  about  the 
small'*st  parcel  put  upon  the  market,  and  from  six  to  thirty  leagues 
not  an  uncommon  purchase.  California  is  already  suffering  from 
these  immense  estates. 

Anotlier  plan  now  prevailing  to  some  extent,  especially  among 
the  English  middle  classes,  people  of  fixed  incomes  which 
terminate  with  their  lives,  is  perhaps  less  objectionable  though 
tending  in  the  same  direction.  These  people,  younger  sons  of 
the  nobility  or  gentry,  retired  army  or  navy  officers,  dertjymeii 
or  their  families,  civil  servants,  etc.,  come  to  the  western  countr;,' 
and  purclij".e  one  or  two  quarter  sections  or  more,  have  them 
broken  up,  and  perhaps  a  log-house  or  sod-house  built,  and  let 
them,  the  first  year  foi  half  the  crop,  and  in  the  years  that  follow 
for  $1.2$  to  $1.50  per  acre.  If  their  means  are  sufficient,  they 
repeat  this  process,  every  year,  till  they  have  2,500  or  3,000 
acres  leased  in  this  way,  and  this  gives  them  a  comfortable 
annual  income.  This  is  less  objectionable  than  the  purchase  of 
large  tracts,  because  these  quarter  sections  need  not  be  con- 
tiguous, and  there  will  thus  be  an  opportunity  for  sufficiently 
close  setdement  to  permit  the  establishment  r»f  good  schools  and 
villages ;  and  these  land-holders  may  ell  their  improved  farms, 
at  prices  which  will  permit  them  to  make  still  larger  investments ; 
but  there  is  a  strong  tendency,  in  the  process,  toward  the  for- 
mation of  a  landed  aristocracy. 


SOILS,   GEOLOGY  AND  MINERALOGY, 


8i 


land-grant  rail- 
often  departed 
ies  of  jjra^in^ 
),  has  been  so 
id  officials  have 
lexico,  Nevada, 
land-laws  have 
was  about  the 
o  thirty  lca}i;ues 
/  suffering  from 

specially  among 
incomes   which 
tionable  though 
ounger  so'ns  of 
cers,  cleri>ymcn 
^vestern  countr;,' 
lore,  have  theni 
se  built,  and  let 
ears  that  follow 
:  sufficient,  they 
2,500  or  3,000 
a  comfortable 
he  purchase  of 
d   not  be  con- 
for  sufficiently 
od  schools  and 
mproved  farms, 
r  investments ; 
;oward  the  for- 


i..,!,i 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Varikty  ok  Soils  and  Surface — Geocraphy  and  Geocnosy — Soils — Geology 
— Characteristics  ok  the  Rocky  Mountains — Volcanic  Remains  ok  the 
Yellowstone  Country — The  Geysers — The  Vicinity  ok  Salt  Lake — 
Pkokessor  Geikie's  Summary  of  the  Gkolooy  of  the  Central  Region — 
Mineralogy. 

The  variety  of  soils  in  this  vast  region  is  almost  infinite,  and 
in  this  chapter  we  can  only  glance  at  the  principal  causes  which 
lead  to  such  diversity.  There  are  nearly  2,000  miles  of  coast, 
washed  by  the  ocean  and  gulf  on  the  Pacific  and  in  Texas,  upon 
all  of  which  has  been  cast  by  the  waves,  sand  and  alluvium  to  a 
greater  or  less  breadth,  for  thousands  of  years.  The  very  heavy 
rains  on  the  west  coast  and  the  western  slope  of  the  Coast 
range,  aided  during  the  glacial  epoch  by  the  movements  of  the 
huge  glaciers,  the  largest  by  far  which  ever  existed  on  our  earth, 
disintegrated  the  rocks,  and  washed  down  upon  the  foot-hills 
their  constituents,  varying  according  to  the  nature  of  the  rocks, 
and  varying  also  in  the  fineness  of  their  comminution,  in  propor- 
tion as  they  were  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time  ground  by  the  slow 
but  irresistible  modon  of  the  glaciers.  The  same  causes  pro- 
duced similar  effects,  in  the  early  periods,  on  both  the  eastern  and 
western  slopes  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
The  great  but  now  elevated  valley  between  those  two  mountain 
chain  ,  as  well  as  the  greater  part  of  the  plains  east  of  the 
/Jocky  Mountains,  were  for  ages  the  bed  of  immense  lakes  or 
inland  seas,  while  the  southern  portion  of  California  and  Nevada 
connecting  with  the  Pacific,  through  the  Tejon  pass,  which  was 
then  another  strait  of  Gibraltar,  formed  an  American  Mediterra- 
nean, where  there  is  now  only  a  desert.  The  upheaval  of  the 
bottoms  of  all  these  salt  or  fresh  lakes,  led  to  their  drainage,  by 
the  Colorado  and  its  affluents,  the  Rio  Grande,  the  Arkansas,  the 
Yellowstone,  the  Missouri  and  the  Snake  rivers.  Most  of  these 
rivers,  and  pre-eminently  the  Colorado  and  its  tributaries,  cut 
their  way  through  the  soft  and  disintegrating  rocks  which  formed 

6 


r 


l«H|»»«  jijuii 


.,-i 


< 


p 


lijiltik. 


llH  OUn    WKSJKKN   EMPIRE. 

their  bctls,  to  such  a  depth  as  to  make  their  channels  tleep 
caflons,  somctinv.'s  from  3,000  to  6,000  feet  below  the  surface  cf 
the  plateau,  through  which  they  had  their  course.  The  i)la- 
teaux  were  thus  robbed  of  all  their  rainfall,  and  in  the  course  of 
time,  became  dry  and  largely  uninhabitable,  and  what  was  ona; 
a  populous  region,  with  its  large  and  strong  cities,  was  changed 
into  an  arid  and  desert  land. 

In  some  portions  of  these  elevated  plains  thus  drained  of  thenr 
moisture,  the  surface  of  tlie  earth  is  covered,  especially  during  a 
long,  dry  season,  with  alkaline  salts,  sulphate  of  soda  and  potassa, 
sulphate  of  magnesia,  common  salt,  and  occasionally  biborate  of 
soda,  the  borax  of  commerce.  On  these  lands,  in  their  natural 
condition,  there  grows  only  the  despised  sage-brush.  In  the 
rare  instances  where  springs  are  found,  the  water  is  apt  to  be 
brackish. 

Yet  these  alkaline  lands,  when  broken  up  by  deep  plowing 
and  well  irrigated,  yield  most  astonishing  crops,  and  continue 
to  do  so  year  after  year,  while,  by  cultivation,  the  rainfall  is  in- 
creased, and  the  barren  land  becomes  as  the  garden  of  Eden. 

Where  irrigation  is  impossible,  and  the  amount  of  alkali  is  ex- 
cessive, these  lands  are  yet  of  some  value  for  grazing,  and  the 
white  sage-brush,  once  regarded  as  the  most  worthless  of  all 
shrubs,  is  found  fo  yield  a  nutritious  pasturage  forcatde,  after  the 
frost  has  touched  it. 

Farther  south,  on  what  is  known  as  the  Llano  Estacado  or 
"  staked  plain  "  of  Northwestern  Texas  and  New  Mexico,  that  re- 
markable product  of  a  dry  country,  the  mezquite  tree,  is  found  in 
abundance,  and  its  large  and  long  roots  (nine-tenths  of  its  woody 
fibre  being  Ijelow  the  surface),  its  trunk,  its  leaves,  its  bark,  and 
its  gum  are  all  valuable.  Where  these  lands  are  broken  up  and 
plowed  deeply,  the  roots  of  the  mezquite  aid  \n  bringing  up  the 
moisture  from  below,  and  the  rainfall  increases  from  year  to  year. 
Eventually  all  these  alkaline  lands,  or  nearly  all,  will  be  brought 
under  cultivation,  and  will  prove,  either  with  or  without  inlc/ation, 
some  of  the  most  productive  and  valuable  lands  of  the  West. 

The  soil  of  "the  plains,"  under  which  general  term  is  included 
the  territory  lying  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  especially  west 


^^^isi»^~- 


channels  dcrp 
V  the  surfaci;  cf 
rse.  The  pla- 
in the  course  of 

what  was  ona* 
es,  was  changtnl 

drained  of  th(;ir 
)erially  diirinj^  a 
xla  and  potassa, 
lally  biborate  of 
in  their  natural 
-brush.  In  the 
ter  is  apt  to  be 

y  deep  plowing 
js,  and  continue 
the  rainfall  is  in- 
den  of  Eden. 
»t  of  alkali  is  ex- 
grazing,  and  the 
worthless  of  all 
catde,  after  the 

ano  Estacado  or 
Mexico,  that  re- 
tree,  is  found  in 
ths  of  its  woody 
es,  its  bark,  and 
broken  up  and 
bringing  up  the 
orii  year  to  year, 
will  be  brought 
thout  irrigation, 
of  the  West, 
term  is  included 
especially  west 


SOILS,   GEOLOGY  ASD  MINERALOGY.  gj 

of  the  Missouri  river,  and  extending  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  is, 
wid»  some  exceptions,  very  rich  and  permanently  productive. 
'I'he  region  lying  lx!tween  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers  is 
not  properly  a  plain  or  plateau,  for  there  are  considerable 
ranges  of  mountains  though  of  no  great  elevation.  In  some 
parts  of  it,  as  in  Minnesota,  Iowa,  and  lustern  Dakota,  the 
prairies  or  gradually  rising  plateaux  predominate. 

Hut  the  "  plains  "  proper  include  Southern  Dakota,  below  the 
Black  I  nils,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Eastern  Colorado,  Wyoming 
Territory,  and  most  of  Texas.  There  are  some  "  IJad  Lands," 
though  only  a  few  small  tracts  in  diis  region ;  but  the  greater  part  of 
it  is  an  alluvium  of  extraordinary  depth,  ranging  from  five  to  one 
hundred  and  fifty,  and  in  some  cases  two  hundred  feet.  I'or 
ages  this  region  was  the  bed  of  vast  fresh  water  lakes,  and  re- 
ceived from  the  streams  rushing  down  from  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
vast  quantities  of  loess,  the  debris  of  the  decomposed  rocks. 
Gradually  it  was  upheaved,  and  the  bed  of  the  lakes  became 
marshes,  their  waters  being  drained  off  through  the  Missouri  and 
its  affluents,  the  Platte,  the  Arkansas  and  Red  rivers,  and  the 
Rio  Grande.  The  process  of  slow  upheaval  still  continuing, 
these  marshes,  which  had  been  continually  enriched  by  the  silt 
from  the  overflow  of  the  rivers,  and  by  the  decay  of  vegetation 
for  thousands  of  years,  became  dry  land,  and  land  of  unexam- 
pled fertility.  The  fires  kindled  in  their  grass  and  forests  by 
roaming  Indian  tribes,  prevented  the  growth  of  forest  trees, 
over  large  tracts  of  this  region,  and  so  diminished  the  rainfall ; 
while  the  countless  herds  of  buffalo  'n  their  headlong  tramps 
southward,  beat  the  soil  down  into  a  rolid  and  impenetrable 
crust,  which  permitted  the  rainfall  to  run  off  without  soaking  the 
earth.  Without  breaking  up  this  solid  crust,  successful  cultiva- 
tion was  impossible.  With  it,  the  crops  were  so  bountiful  as  to 
astonish  the  most  sanguine. 

Texas,  having  a  more  varied  surface,  has  also  a  greater  variety 
of  soils  than  any  other  of  the  States  or  Territories,  with  the  pos- 
sible exception  of  California.  The  coast  soil  is  a  sandy,  grayish 
loam,  well  adapted  to  cotton  and  rice,  and,  where  darker  and 
richer,  the  best  sugar  land  in  the  United  States.     The   river 


V    '  ■ 


Or/r    Wli.STEfH^   FMr/KS. 


bottom  lands  are  hUick,  rich  and  stiiky  at  times,  and  f  >rm  the 
best  cotton  land  in  the  Stntv.  Somf  times  small  tra  ts  lack  eith«T 
th«  phospiatcs,  or  sulphates,  or  loth;  and  crops  will  not  j; row 
on  them.  These  are  known  as  "poison  soils."  A  dark,  ^ray 
soil,  in  the  timbrr  lands,  is  foimd  excellent  for  all  kinds  of  »ruitH 
this  is  sometimes  calh'd  thr  mulatto  soil.  The  deep  red  soils, 
containing  some  oxides  of  iron,  are  also  well  adapted  to  fruit,  and 
to  (jrains  generally.  The  chocolate  soils  of  Western  Texas  are, 
perhaps,  the  fm<'st  in  the  State,  prodiicinj^  cotton,  corn  and  semi- 
tropical  fruits.  The  sanily  and  dryer  soils  of  the  north,  even  on 
thf;  lands  adjacent  to  the  Staked  Plains,  yield,  with  deep  plowinjj, 
very  larjje  crops  of  wheal.  Wheat  is  also  a  good  crop  on  the 
red  soil. 

There  are,  of  course,  barren  soils  in  these  States  and  Terri- 
tories, though  many  of  those  which  are  so  regarded  need  only 
irrigation  and  deep  plowing  to  make  them  abundantly  productive. 

The  derails  of  the  geological  structure  of  this  vast  region,  if 
th.ey  were  attainable,  would  fill  many  volumes,  for  we  have  every 
form  of  cosmic  and  jjeologic  action  represented  here  which  has 
taken  place  in  any  part  of  our  globe — among  which  we  may  name 
the  tertiary  and  alluvial  and  diluvial  deposits  which  have  been 
made  on  its  2,000  miles  and  more  of  coast  line  during  their  alter- 
nate elevations  and  depressions;  the  upheaval  of  the  lofty  moun- 
tain rid  ;es  from  the  broad  and  level  plains;  the  effects  of  former 
extensive  volcanic  action,  and  its  remaining,  though  compara- 
tively enfeebled,  activity  at  various  [Njints.  Then,  too,  there  are 
the  great  phenomena  of  glacial  action,  on  a  scale  much  vaster 
than  that  of  any  existing  glaciers ;  the  huge  horse-shoe-shaped 
moraines,  in  some  cases  filling  up  valleys,  in  others  producing 
large  lakes  ;  the  erosions  f)roduced  from  the  ice  streams  of  these 
glaciers,  and  from  the  mountain  floods,  and  the  broken  barriers 
of  some  great  lakes ;  the  depressions  produced  by  earthquake 
convulsions,  and  the  exposure  of  horizontal  strata  of  great  thick- 
ness of  the  Cretaceous  and  Carboniferous  formations,  where  the 
sharp  plough  of  the  glacier  had  cut  its  way,  or  the  force  of  the 
mountain  torrents,  of  great  volume,  had  worn  tlaeir  deep  caHons 
through  them.  ,  .    ; 


CECLCCY  AND   MlNRRALCoY. 


9,  and  f  )i'm  the 
ra'  is  lack  either 
;)8  will  not  ^jrow 
'  A  dark,  griiy 
I  kinds  of  iruits 
deep  red  soils, 
pled  to  fruit,  ami 
stern  Texas  aro, 
I,  corn  and  sttni- 
c  north,  even  on 
th  deep  plowing, 
ood  crop  on  the 

tates  and  Terri- 

iirded  need  only 

antly  productive. 

is  vast  rcy;ion,  if 

)r  wo  have  every 

here  which  has 

ch  we  may  name 

vhich  have  been 

uring  their  alter- 

f  the  lofty  moun- 

effects  of  former 

lough  compara- 

n,  too,  there  are 

ale  much  vaster 

)rse-shoe-shaped 

thers  producing 

streams  of  these 

broken  barriers 

1  by  earthquake 

a  of  great  thick- 

Ltions,  ^here  the 

the  force  of  the 

cir  deep  cailons 


The  gran<l  ouilinos  of  its  geologic  structure*  which  we  have 
thus  formulated  show  conclusively  that,  if  the  soienco  of  geology 
h.i  1  had  its  birth  in  thin  great  fmpire  of  tlu  West  instead  of  the 
comp.  atively  limits  il  formations  of  \V<  ?(<rn  Kuropc,  wc  should 
liavc  had  a  systrni,  wliith  would  have  (juired  f(!\v<'r  a<ldiiions 
and  accommoilations,  to  fit  it  to  n-prcicnt  tJK*  geologic  .il  strurtun; 
of  all  the  conlinentu,  and  many  of  the  (jucstions,  which  v.ww 
nt  V  vex  th(.  souls  of  scientists,  v  >uld  h«kvc  received  their  fuial 
solution. 

Considerable  portions  of  this  vast  region  have  never  been 
explored  geologically,  exct'iJt  by  a  cry  superficial  reconnoissance 
;it  distant  points;  among  these  are  Texas  uud  most  of  California, 
W.t  -iiington  Territory  an<l  nnu  h  of  Utah,  N<  vada,  Ari/o»ui  and 
New  Mexico.  The  first  three  seem  to  have  geologi<al  features 
peculiar  to  themselves,  to  which  wc  may  allude  more  fully  when 
speaking  of  them  individually.  The  gcoli  gical  sf  ucture  of  thft 
more  central  States  and  'Tcrritorios,  and  the  t  ii-cts  of  glacial 
action  upon  them,  are  very  ailmirahly  summari/tJ  jn  a  recent 
lecture  of  Professor  Archibald  Geikie,  the  eminent  Scottish 
geologist,  who  visited  then  in  1S79,  portions  of  which  we  quote: 

"He  had,"  he  said,  "three  objects  in  the  expedition — (i)  To 
study  the  effects  of  atmospheric  agencies  and  of  erosion  gen- 
erally upon  the  surface  of  the  land;  and  there  was  no  region 
where  those  lessons  could  be  Icarne  1  with  more  powerful  im- 
pressiveness  than  in  those  great  plateaux  and  table-lands.  (2) 
To  study  the  relation  which  the  structure  of  the  ocks  under- 
neath boro  to  the  form  o(  the  surface.  In  this  country  and  in 
Europe  generally  one  was  continually  brought  face  to  face  with 
evidence  of  dislocations,  profusion  of  igneous  rocks,  faults  and 
so  on,  which  gready  complicated  the  geological  structure,  and 
made  it  sometimes  by  no  means  easy  to  tell  how  far  the  pres- 
ent irregularities  01  the  surface  were  due  to  unequal  waste 
of  surface,  and  how  far  to  the  direct  effects  of  underground 
causes.  'The  western  regions  of  America  which  retained  to  this 
day  for  thousands  of  square  miles  the  horizontality  which  they 
had  originally,  presented  wonderful  facilities  for  the  discussion 
of  this  subject.     (3)  To  watch  with  his  own  eyes  some  of  the 


Ji\ 


lam  phaHfs  of  volranir  action,  Mc  had  hem  familiar  with  thcw 
»•*  (lisplayrd  in  Ilaly  an<l  'u  thr  I.ipari  Isl«'s ;  hut  hr  was  anxiom 
to  nrc  Momt:  of  thoHC  rnarvtlioiis  cvidt-nccH  of  the  ^'radiial  wraririj; 
and  iltrcay  of  a  vast  voUanii;  an-a  which  were  so  well  itcen  in  the 
famouN  region  of  the  Yrjlowstone." 

Thr  Professor  went  on  to  i;ive  a  brief  account  of  hii  journry, 
mentioninjj  that  in  crossing;  the  prairies  toward  the  Rocky 
Mountainn  he  noted,  in  the  few  sections  that  occiirri:iI,  lofl,  jjray 
clays  and  marls,  evifh'iitly  cntarcoiis.  and  sometinv.s  tertiary 
rockn.  Getting  down  at  some  of  the  stations,  and  looking  at 
the  ant  hills  and  burrows  of  the  prairie-do^,  he  found  ihat  the 
surface  of  the  prairie  was  veneered  with  a  thin  coating  of  pink- 
ish, fmc-jjrained  sand,  sometimes  approaching  to  gravel,  its 
color  Ix^ing  due  to  the  presence  of  a  great  many  small  pieces  of 
fresh  felspar.  It  was  clear  that  this  mineral,  as  well  as  the  cpiarlz 
and  fragments  of  topaz  which  he  saw,  did  not  belong  to  the 
strata  in  which  they  lay.  In  going  west  the  grains  of  sand  l)egan 
to  get  coarser,  and  assume  the  form  of  distinct  pebbles,  till, 
when  he  reached  the  mountains,  these  became  huge  blocks  and 
boulders,  evidently  derived  from  the  hills  in  their  neighborhood. 
After  submitting  that  the  phrase  "  Rocky  Mountains"  was  a  very 
uttfortunate  one,  as  applied  to  the  great  number  of  independent 
ridges  comparable  to  waves,  that  covered  this  part  of  America, 
the  Professor  said  that  he  halted  for  a  little  while  on  the  Hanks 
of  the  first  great  mountain  ranges — those  that  formed  the 
colossal  bulwarks  of  Colorado.  As  seen  from  the  prairies,  they 
form  a  very  picturesque  line  of  peaks.  They  had  been  pushed 
as  a  great  wedge  through  the  rocks  forming  the  prairies,  and 
had  carried  those  rocks  up  with  them.  Crystalline  masses 
formed  the  central  core  and  crest  of  the  range,  and  this  feature 
was  combined  with  some  very  Interesting  facts  connected  with 
the  surface  erosion  of  the  district.  He  found  then  where  all  the 
pink  felspar  and  gravel  had  come  from  ;  it  had  been  borne  down 
from  this  region,  where  great  masses  of  pink  granite,  gray  gneiss 
and  other  crystalline  rocks  formed  the  core  of  the  mountains. 
He  found  that  the  mountains  themselves  had  been  covered  with 
glaciers,  which  had  gone  out  Into  the  plains  and  shed  their  huge 


uJti,      {t. 


1 


miliar  with  thcs«» 

:  hf  wan  anxioim 

^'radiial  wrarin^j 

welt  ticcn  in  the 


It  of  hin  journey, 
mrtl  the  Rocky 
nirrcil,  -ioft,  jjray 
nt:iim..s  tertiary 
,  and  loKikinj;  at 
found  I  hat  the 
coating  of  pink- 
S(  to  gravel,  ita 
f  small  picccH  of 
veil  as  the  tjuartz 
X  belong  to  the 
ns  of  sand  In^gan 
inct  pebbles,  till, 
luige  blocks  and 
ir  neighborhood, 
ains  "  was  a  very 

of  independent 
•art  of  America, 
lile  on  the  flanks 
hat  formed  the 
he  prairies,  they 
lad  been  pushed 
he  prairies,  and 
yrstallinc  masses 
and  this  feature 

connected  with 
en  where  all  the 
•een  borne  down 
nite,  gray  gneiss 
r  the  mountains, 
ren  covered  with 

shed  their  huge 


1 


- 


«*Su 


■■«*<<ppi»wiiiM. m\  ,. 


.^ 


I 


Vj 


^> 


^^^ 


li^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0     i^l^  ^ 


l.i 


IB 


140 


1^  III  U.  IJA 


6" 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M580 

(716)872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIKJVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductlons  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


l»»4(lwwiBWFr'M»ft!WIU*ll!llIitf|li«('|li|ili  if- 


GEOLOGY  AND   MINERALOGY.  %j 

horseslioe-shaped  moraines,  where  now  everything  was  parched 
aiul  barren.  Having  crossed  the  watershed  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  he  struck  westward  into  the  Uintah,  one  of  the  few 
ranges  in  that  region  that  had  an  east  and  west  direction.  The 
centra!  portion  of  this  range  consisted,  not  of  crystaUine  rocks 
wedged  through  the  older  rocks,  but  of  carboniferous  rocks  that 
had  been  upraised  as  a  great  flat  dome,  and  had  been  above 
water  for  a  very  long  time.  This  carboniferous  centre  was  par- 
ticularly interesting  from  the  fact  of  its  presenting  the  strata 
perfectly  horizontal.  They  could  be  seen,  terrace  alter  terrace, 
for  miles,  and  it  could  be  noted  whether  or  not  they  had  been 
cut  through,  by  faults,  to  what  extent  they  had  been  twisted,  and 
to  what  extent  eroded  by  atmospheric  influences.  Getting  on 
tho  tops  of  these  great  mountains,  he  could  see  that  the  strata 
were  almost  entirely  horizontal  for  miles,  and  that  the  valleys 
had  been  trenched  out  of  them,  not  by  means  of  faults  at  all,  but 
actually  by  erosion  of  the  surface.  He  found  also  that  the 
numerous  lakes  were  true  remains  of  erosion,  that  they  had  not 
been  formed  by  any  subterranean  movements,  but  actually 
gouged  out  by  the  ice  that  once  covered  those  mountains. 
Striking  into  one  of  the  valleys,  he  found  beautiful  horseshoe 
moraines.  These  had  gone  across  the  valley  and  formed  a  suc- 
cession of  lakes ;  while  the  beavers  had  made  a  great  many  more 
lakes  in  places  not  reached  by  the  moraines.  In  most  of  those 
valleys  there  were  hundreds  of  acres  of  bog-land,  entirely  due  to 
the  damming  of  the  waters  by  the  beavers.  The  plains  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  Uintah  Mountains,  were  called  "  Bad  Lands," 
because  they  were  crumbling  down  under  the  action  of  the 
weathar,  and  nothing  would  ^row  upon  them.  A  skeleton  found 
in  a  hill  of  that  district  was  brought  to  Professor  Marsh,  and 
turned  out  to  be  the  bones  of  an  extinct  and  undescribed  reptile. 
From  the  Uintah  Mountains  Professor  Geikie  found  his  way 
north  into  the  YeUowstone  country,  and  examined  the  fading 
traces  of  volcanic  action.  The  volcanoes  seemed  in  that  region 
to  have  confined  themselves  very  niuch  to  the  vajleys.  The 
heights  on  either  hand  consisted  of  crystalline  rocks ;  the  bottom 
of  the  valley  had  been  literally  deluged  with  sheets  of  lava. 


. '-iitt«M^&^^SiM£<i£ki»pi^^i^i^ 


i.^iM^^'mt" 


S8 


OVR    WESTERN  EMPlRh. 


These  were  examined  with  considerable  care.  In  the  course  of 
the  examination,  huge  mounds  of  gravel  and  stones  were  mot 
with,  which,  at  the  first  glance,  were  evidently  m.oraincs.  The 
first  was  marked  by  a  huge  block  of  rock,  an  erratic  of  coarse 
granite  different  from  the  rocks  round  about.  Such  blocks  he 
found  to  increase  in  number  as  he  went  up  the  valley;  and  on 
entering  the  second  cafton,  or  gorge,  he  found  the  sides  exqui- 
sitely glaciated.  It  was  clear,  therefore,  that  not  only  was  this 
second  caflon  old ;  it  was  older  than  the  glacial  period ;  it  sup- 
plied a  channel  for  the  glacier  that  ground  its  waiy  out  from  those 
mountains.  Endeavoring  to  estimate  the  minimum  thickness  of 
the  ice,  he  traced  striae  up  to  1,000  feet,  and  they  evidently  went 
higher  than  that.  But  in  going  farther  up  the  valley,  he  found 
that  the  erratic  blocks  of  granite  and  gneiss  dropped  by  the 
glacier  as  it  melted  went  far  above  the  1,000-feet  limit;  he  got 
them  on  the  shoulder  of  one  of  the  great  hills  overlooking  the 
valley  1,600  or  1,700  feet  above  the  bottom  of  the  valley;  the 
ice,  therefore,  must  have  been  1,600  or  1,700  feet  thick.  It  thus 
appeared  that  not  only  did  those  mountains  possess  glaciers,  but 
some  of  these  were  of  such  thickness  as  to  deserve  the  name  of 
ice-sheets,  covering  the  whole  surrounding  region.  As  to  the 
volcanic  phenomena  of  the  district,  he  saw  evidence  of  a  long 
series  of  eruptions,  one  after  another,  separated  by  prolonged 
intervals,  during  which  the  river  was  at  work  cutting  out  the 
older  lavas,  the  newer  lavas  filling  up  the  hollows  eroded  by  the 
river.  In  the  grand  carion  of  the  Yellowstone,  he  saw  the  most 
marvellous  piece  of  mineral  color  anywhere  to  be  seen  in  the 
world.  It  was  cut  out  of  tufts  of  lavas,  showing  sulphur  yellow, 
green,  vermilion,  crimson,  and  orange  tints,  so  marvellous  that 
it  was  impossible  to  transfer  them  to  paper. 

Leaving  the  Yellowstone  Valley,  he  struck  southwestward 
into  the  famous  geyser  regions,  where  a  number  of  geysers  had 
been  made  known  of  late  years  more  wonderful  than  those  of 
Iceland.  He  tried  hard  here  to  get  a  pool  to  wash  in,  but  could 
find  nothing  below  212°,  and  the  only  chance  of  getting  a  bath 
was  to  get  into  some  hole  where  the  water  had  had  time  to  cool 
after  flowing  out  of  the  hot  crater.     The  whole  ground  was 


the  coursR  of 
ncs  were  mot 
oraincs.  The 
atic  of  coarse 
11  ch  blocks  he 
ralley;  and  on 
e  sides  exqui- 
only  was  this 
>eriod ;  it  siip- 
)ut  from  those 
n  thickness  of 
evidently  went 
illey,  he  found 
ropped  by  the 
:  limit ;  he  got 
verlooking  the 
he  valley ;  the 
thick.  It  thus 
ss  glaciers,  but 
e  the  name  of 
n.  As  to  the 
;nce  of  a  long 

by  prolonged 
utting  out  the 

eroded  by  the 
2  saw  the  most 
be  seen  in  the 
lulphur  yellow, 
narvelloMs  that 

southwestward 
of  geysers  had 
I  than  those  of 
sh  in,  but  could 
getting  a  bath 
ad  time  to  cool 
le  ground  was 


GEOLOGY  AND    MINERALOGY.  ,    Jq 

honeycombed  with  holes,  every  one  of  which  was  filled  with 
rurgling,  boiling  water.  Some  went  off  with  wonderful  regu- 
larity, others  were  more  capricious  ;  and  the  chief  geyser,  which 
threw  up  an  enormous  body  of  water  and  steam,  was  very  un- 
certain in  its  movements.  In  one  part  of  the  district  he  came 
upon  a  marvellous  mud  spring,  the  centre  of  it  boiling  like  a 
great  porridge-pot  full  of  white  and  very  pasty  porridge.  Steam 
rose  through  this,  and,  after  forming  great  bubbles,  burst,  the 
mud  thrown  out  forming  a  sort  of  rim  round  the  crater.  After 
describing  a  me'eting  with  Indians  on  their  way  to  a  great  coun- 
cil, the  Professor  said  his  road  after  that  lay  across  what  he 
supposed  was  one  of  the  most  wondf*rful  lava  fields  in  the  world 
— ^liundreds  and  thousands  of  square  miles  of  country — a  sort 
of  rough  plain — having  been  absolutely  deluged  with  lava.  How 
this  lava  was  poured  out  he  at  present  could  hardly  tell ;  it 
seemed  to  have  risen  through  long  fissures,  and  spread  out  so 
as  to  fill  a  vast  area.  Mere  and  there  along  the  margin  of  it 
were  distinct  volcanic  mounds,  apparendy  formed  during  later 
stages  of  its  volcanic  history. 

Coming  at  length  tc  the  Salt  Lake  territory,  one  of  the  first 
geological  features  that  struck  him  was  the  evidence  6f  the 
former  vast  expansion  of  the  Salt  Lake.  He  found  traces  of  a 
terrace  well  marked  along  the  sides  of  the  mountains,  about 
i,ooo  feet  above  the  present  level,  and  so  succeeded  in  discover- 
ing what  was  the  relation  between  the  extended  lake,  which  must 
have  been  a  great  many  times  larger  than  the  present  one,  and 
1,000  feet  deeper,  and  the  glaciers  which  at  one  time  covered  the 
Wahsatch  and  the  Yellowstone  Mountains.  Striking  into  some 
of  the  caiicns  descending  from  the  Wahsatch  into  the  Salt  Lake 
basin,  he  found  evidence  of  wonderful  glaciation.  The  rocks 
were  smoothed  and  polished  and  striated  by  the  glaciers  that 
had  come  down  from  the  heights,  and  these  glaciers  had  carried 
with  them  great  quantities  of  molraine  matter.  Huge  mounds  of 
rubbish  blocked  up  the  valleys  here  and  there,  and  these  mounds 
came  down  to  the  level  of  the  highest  terrace.  That  was  to  say, 
that,  when  the  Salt  Lake  extended  far  beyond  its  present  area, 
and  was  over  1,000  feet  deeper  than  now,  the  glaciers  from  the 


I; 


r  i 


J 
i    i 

t 

i 


"^^m^^i^mse^Mi^'^^^^^sMii^mM^&mSmmij: 


90 


OUfi    WESriiRN    EMPIRR. 


Wahsatch   Mountains  came  down  to  its  cilgc  and  shed  their 
bergs  over  its  waters.     On  his  return  journey  the  Professor  re- 
sumed the   examination  of  the  prairies.     Coming   out  of  the 
Colorado   Mountains,  he  noted,  in  connection  with  the  gravel 
formerly  observed,  great  quantities    of  a  peculiar  gray  clay. 
This  clay  was  inter-stratified  with  the  gravel,  and  here  and  there 
contained  a  small  lacustrine,  or  terrestrial  shell.     It  was,  there- 
fore, a  fresh-water  deposit,  a  deposit  swept  by  the  waters  coming 
down  from  the  mountains  over  the  prairie  ;  and  marked  an  inter- 
val in  the  period  during  which  the  gravel  and  Sand  were  being 
thrown  down.     He  traced  the  gravel  mounds  over  an  extensive 
tract,  and  he  found  the  gravel  had  been  deposited  irregularly, 
just  as  would  have  been  the  case  from  the  action  of  water 
escaping  from  the  melting  ends  of  the  ice.     A  great  current 
would  traverse  the  plain  in  one  direction ;  then  the  ice  mass 
would  send  water  in  another,  so  that  the  whole  prairie  must 
have  been  flooded  with  water  derived  from  the  melting  ends  of 
the  vast  sheets  of  ice.      It  was    those    excessive    floods  that 
brought  down  the  gravel  and  sand ;  and  during  that  time  there 
were  intervals  when  nothing  but  the  finest  mud  was  coming 
down,  just  as  was  seen  in  the  valleys  of  the  Rhine  and  Danube. 
It  seems  to  be  demonstrated  by  the  discoveries  of  the  past 
few  years  that  no  equal  portion  of  the  earth's  surface  contains 
so  large  an  amount  of  available  mineral  wealth  as  this  Western 
Empire.     In  only  three  of  the  twenty  States  and  Territories 
which   are    comprised  within    it,  viz.,    Louisiana,  Kansas,  and 
Nebraska,  has  there  been  wanting  gold  or  silver  ores,  and  it  is 
as  yet  uncertain  whether  two  of  these  may  not  yield  silver  in 
paying  quantities.     All  the  others  contain  both  metals,  usually 
in  large  quantities,  and  some  of  them  have,  in  addition,  large 
mines  of  quicksilver,  and  smaller  but  profitable  on€s  of  platinum. 
The  so-called  baser  but  really  more  useful  metals,  copper,  zinc, 
lead,  and  iron,  are  found  in  every  known  form  and  in  the  great- 
est profusion.     Lead  V^  t^e  most  usual  basis  or  mAtruc  of  tlie 
silver  mines,  either  in  the  form  of  gabna,  or  of  carl^nate,  and 
sometimes  of  carburet  etc. ;  but  copper  and  zme  j^re  not  un^ 
frequently  found  in   combination  with  both  gold   and   silven 


"iA3ASg-fiiB»^.'^-iwi>'. 


ntl  shed  their 
Professor  rc- 
ig  out  of  the 
ith  the  gravel 
iar  gray  clay, 
here  and  there 
It  was,  there- 
waters  coming 
arked  an  inter- 
ind  were  being 
^r  an  extensive 
ed  irregularly, 
ction  of  water 
L  great  current 
1  the  ice  mass 
I  prairie  must 
lelting  ends  of 
ve  floods  that 
:hat  time  there 
d  was  coming 
;  and  Danube, 
es  of  the  past 
jrface  contains 
s  this  Western 
ind  Territories 
I,  Kansas,  and 
'  ores,  and  it  is 
yield  silver  in 
metals,  usually 
addition,  large 
i€s  of  platinum. 
Is,  copper,  zinc, 
»d  in  the  great- 
matrU  of  die 
carbionate,  and 
nc  ^re  not  \m- 
Id   and   silver. 


MlNl.RALOGY.  m 

Both  copper  and  zinc  arc  also  found,  uncombincd  with  either 
gold  or  silver,  and  of  such  purity  as  to  bo  profitably  mined  in 
many  localities. 

Iron  ores  arc  found  abundantly  in  every  State  and  Territory, 
and  every  known  ore  is  found  in  some  districts,  and  frequendy 
several  different  ores,  as  the  magnetic,  the  haematite,  or  the 
specular  ores,  in  close  proximity  to  each  o.her,  and  all  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  coal  beds.  The  railroad  iron  and  steel  of 
the  future  will  be  made  from  native  ores  in  close  neighborhood 
to  the  tracks  where  it  is  needed.  But  it  is  not  alone  for  railroad 
iron  or  steel  rails,  that  these  vast  iron  deposits  can  be  utilized. 
The  iron  of  Utah,  of  California,  of  Montana,  of  Colorado,  Texas, 
Missouri  and  Arizona  is  not  surpassed  by  any  in  the  world ;  and 
when  the  time  shall  come,  if  it  ever  does,  when  the  long  conflict 
between  heavy  guns  and  armored  ships  shall  be  decided,  our 
furnaces  in  this  Western  Empire  will  furnish  the  iron  and  our 
foundries  the  iron  and  steel  plates  or  the  guns  which  are  to 
shatter  them,  of  a  quality  which  has  never  been  equalled.  For 
all  building  purposes,  and  for  suspension  bridges,  for  hardware, 
cudery,  tubing,  gas,  water,  and  sewer  pipes ;  for  stoves,  ranges, 
furnaces,  and  heaters,  and  every  other  use,  to  which  the  best 
qualities  of  iron  and  steel  are  capable  of  being  applied,  the  iron 
ores  of  the  Great  West  will  be,  found  sufficient  to  supply  the 
needs  of  a  world. 

Nickel,  now  coming  so  rapidly  into  use  for  so  many  purposes, 
is  an  incidental  product  of  many  of  the  iron  mines,  and  can  be 
largely  produced.  As  yet  we  are  impordng  all  or  nearly  all  the 
tin  we  use,  but  the  tin  deposits  in  California,  and  in  several  of 
the  other  States  and  Territories,  when  once  developed  by  capi- 
tal and  skill,  may  prove  as  profitable  a&  those  of  Cornwall  or  the 
Straits  of  Banca. 

Of  the  rarer  metals,  which  possess  but  a  limited  economical 
value,  most  are  found  as  abundandy  in  the  Great  West  as  any- 
where. Osmium  and  iridium,  two  of  the  hardest  of  known 
metals,  used  in  the  gold-pen  manufacture,  as  well  as  in  other 
cases  where  hard  and  infusiWe  points  are  required,  are  found 
only  on  the  Pacific  coast;  many  of  the  exceedingly  rare  metals 


:  \x ' 


tt#i'ssft*/Rs*te,ss^te;«S»t,:J3aav?iiS^fc*y^ 


pa 


OUR    WESTERN   EMPIRE, 


known  only  to  cncmists,  are  obtained  from  earths  or  mineral 
waters  found  hen.',  wliil(!  arsc'iic,  antimony,  bismuth,  < '  iuin, 
etc.,  etc.,  arc  found  in  connection  with  the  ores  of  other  n^euis. 

The  elementary  bases  of  the  mineral  earths  and  salts  are  more 
easily  separated  here  than  elsewhere  ;  and  the  mineral  springs 
and  volcanic  geysers  and  fountains  of  the  Yellowstone,  of  many 
places  in  California  and  Nevada,  of  Colorado,  Arizona  and 
Texas,  yield  not  only  all  the  salts  of  soda,  potassa  and  lime,  but 
their  elementary  bases  also.  Borax  (biborate  of  soda)  is  found 
as  a  crust  over  shallow  lakes  in  California  and  Nevada ;  car- 
bonate of  soda,  very  pure  in  the  so-called  alkaline  lands;  nitrates 
of  soda  and  potassa,  in  commercial  quantities,  at  various  points; 
sulphate  of  lime  (the  commercial  plaster  of  Paris)  comes  to 
light  not  only  in  its  ordinary  condition  of  gypsum,  of  great  value 
as  a  fertilizer,  but  in  its  rarer  and  more  beautiful  forms  of  sclc- 
nite,  alabaster,  etc.  Salt  is  found  in  every  shape,  from  tiie  rock- 
salt,  hewn  out  in  great  cubical  blocks,  to  the  brine  springs  of 
varying  density,  and  the  salt  basins  around  the  Great  Salt  Lake 
and  along  the  shores  and  bays  of  the  Pacific.  The  manufacture 
of  salt  on  a  large  scale  is  one  of  the  most  profitable  enterprises 
which  could  be  undertaken.  The  market  is  unlimited,  and  the 
prices  would  be  remunerative.  Most  of  the  mineral  salts  and 
acids  might  be  manufactured  also  on  the  large  scale  at  many 
points. 

Asphaltum  and  petroleum  are  found  in  large  quantities  in 
California,  Utah,  Wyoming  and  in  the  volcanic  region  around  the 
headv/aters  of  the  Yellowstone ;  and  both  are  likely  to  be  exten- 
sively utilized  in  the  near  future.  Coal  occurs  abundantly  and 
of  all  qualities  at  numerous  points  in  this  region.  Lignite  (the 
coal  formation  of  the  tertiary)  is  mined  in  Kansas,  Colorado, 
Wyoming,  and  perhaps  farther  west.  It  is  of  very  good  quality, 
and  is  used  on  the  railroad  locomotives,  in  manufactories  and 
dwellings  to  some  extent.  There  is  also  a  bituminous  coal  of 
very  good  quality,  but  not  a  coking  coal,  in  Kansas,  Wyoming 
(where  the  coal-beds  are  very  extensive),  in  Colorado,  and  in  Utah 
and  New  Mexico.  The  coal-beds  in  Utah,  New  Mexico  and 
Arizona  are  extensive,  and  of  extraordina-y  thickness.     The 


i^'^^-MK^ttfiUttASMUVaQ^  ■* 


13  or  mineral 
muth,  ( '  iuin, 
other  incials. 
salts  arc  more 
lineral  springs 
tone,  of  many 

Arizona  and 
L  and  lim(?,  but 
soda)  is  found 

Nevada ;  car- 
lands;  nitrates 
various  points; 
ris)  comes  to 
of  great  value 
forms  of  selc- 
from  the  rock- 
ne  springs  of 
reat  Salt  Lake 
le  manufacture 
ble  enterprises 
mited,  and  the 
neral  salts  and 
scale  at  many 

2  quantities  in 
ion  around  the 
ly  to  be  exten- 
ibundantly  and 
.  Lignite  (the 
isas,  Colorado, 
y  good  quality, 
lufactories  and 
minous  coal  of 
nsas,  Wyoming 
do,  and  in  Utah 
w  Mexico  and 
lickness.     The 


MINERALOGY.  », 

coal  is  of  excellent  quality,  and  some  of  it  anthracite  and  semi- 
anthracite.  There  are  extensive  coal-beds  also  on  th»:  Tacific 
coast,  and  those  of  Washington  Territory,  and  the  islands  off  the 
coast,  are  anthracite  of  the  very  best  (juality.  Coal  is  also  found, 
and  of  good  quality,  in  Texas  and  Arkansas,  but  the  reliance  for 
fuel  there  is  yet  mostly  on  wood.  Marls  and  peats  are  foimil  in 
many  of  the  States  and  Territories,  and,  like  the  gypsum,  may 
yet  come  into  demand  for  replacing  some  of  the  el- inents  of 
vegetation,  wliich  have  been  drawn  from  the  rich  soil  by  the  too 
frequent  sowing  of  the  same  crop.  At  present,  however,  the 
soil  seems  absolutely  inexhaustible,  and  with  a  proper  rotation  of 
crops  and  constant  deep  ploughing  it  probably  is  so. 

There  are  found  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  Sierrzi  Nevada, 
the  Cascade  Mountains,  the  Coast  Range,  and  the  numerous 
cross  ranges  and  lateral  spurs — such  as  the  Uintah,  the  Wah- 
satch,  the  Bitter  Root,  Wind  river.  Sweet  Water  or  Laramie 
ranges,  and  at  the  entrance  or  exit  of  the  cailons  of  the  Col- 
orado, building-stones  of  the  greatest  variety,  granite,  sienite, 
marbles  of  all  hues  and  qualities,  limestones,  slates  and  sand- 
stones of  every  shade.  Many  of  the  marbles  are  very  beautiful 
and  exquisitely  veined;  others  of  the  purest  and  most  brilliant 
white,  suitable  for  statuary  and  ornamental  purposes. 

In  the  Yellowstone  Lake  region,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Great 
Salt  Lake,  and  in  the  sides  of  the  cailons  of  the  Yellowstone, 
Snake,  Columbia,  Colorado,  and  other  large  rivers,  the  stratified 
clays  exhibit  such  an  infinity  of  shades  of  tb-:  most  brilliant 
colors  as  to  baffle  the  skill  of  the  most  accomplished  arti  ;t,  and 
throw  him  into  the  depths  of  despair  at  his  inability  to  reproduce 
them. 

What  are  known  as  the  "  Bad  Lands  '*  in  Dakota,  Nebraska, 
Wyoming,  and  Montana  abound  in  fossils,  and  recent  explora- 
tions show  that  there  are  deposited  here  in  the  successive  strata, 
eroded  by  wat.ir  and  ice,  the  material  from  which  can  be  traced 
the  history  of  families  of  animals  in  their  various  stages  of  ad' 
vance  or  degradation,  to  a  greater  extent  than  in  any  other 
explored  region  of  the  earth's  surface.  Vastly  greater  discov- 
eries undoubtedly  remain  to  be  made,  and  it  is  perhaps  safe  to 


I  J 


ii! 


•-^hMK^-iUihiiii0tse»^ieij%!»  '■'- 


Ji5i,!aaAa*J!4Sfe*^A'^4yi«*:ii(i^^  .s&:i!¥ftj*i**K*?ii  <. 


94 


OUK    H'^.SJ'fCAty  RUriRE. 


predict,  that  these  wiKl  atul  utterly  dcsol.itc  lands  will  yrt  yirld, 
to  the  scientific  explon^r,  a  complete  history  of  the  mammals  aiui 
reptiles  which  lived  on  the  earth  in  the  carboniferous  and  cre- 
taceous periods.  i 

In  that  class  of  minerals  known  as  precious  stones  there  is 
hardly  anythinjj  lackin<^  except  the  diamond,  and  it  is  certainly 
within  the  Iwunds  of  possibility  that  even  that  may  yet  l)c  found. 
What  are  known  as  California  diamonds,  though  possessing 
many  characteristics  of  the  true  gem,  are  probably  only  very 
fine  specimens  of  crystals  of  cjuartz  or  silica.  But  the  other 
valuable  gems,  as  emeralds,  probably  also  ruble  •  and  topa/es, 
precious  beryls,  chrysolite,  amethyst,  goUl-stones,  tourmaline;  , 
jades,  the  beautiful  copper  ore  known  as  malachite,  agat(*s  and 
carnelians  of  great  beauty,  jet,  etc.,  etc.,  are  sufficiently  plentiful, 
in  one  part  of  the  coimtry  or  another. 

Porcelain  clays,  ochres,  barytes,  and  other  minerals  and  earths 
of  economic  use  are  found  in  most  of  the  States  and  Terri- 
tories. Mineral  springs,  and  waters  of  every  variety  and  every 
degree  of  temperature,  from  boiling  to  freezing,  are  found 
everywhere  in  the  mountains,  and  not  a  few  in  the  plains.  Col- 
orado, Montana, Idaho,  Wyoming,  Utah,  California,  Arizona,  Texaa 
and  Arkansas  abound  in  these  healing  waters.  In  Colorado 
there  are  hundreds  of  them  already  claiming  patronage,  each 
with  some  peculiar  merit.  In  the  Yellowstone  Park  and  its 
vicinity  most  of  the  springs  are  too  hot  for  bathing ;  but  when 
partially  cooled,  possess  remarkable  hygienic  virtues. 


CHAPTER   IX. 


r  I'     I 


Climates — Varii.  .  y  of  Climate — Causes — Rainfall — Comparison  of  differ- 
ent Sections — Causes  of  deficient  Rainfall — Winds — Character  and 
Effect  of  pirreRENT  Winds — The  Hot  Winds  from  Mexico. 


i:  ii;.-: 


In  a  region  extending  1,700  miles  from  north  to  south,  and 
1,800  from  east  to  west,  there  would  be  a  considerable  range  of 
climatic  conditions,  even  if  the  whole  tract  were  nearly  a  dead 


'««»k««uiwiima«:i»mfi!<a6jiSgiMiS««'f- 


VAX/ATiOXS  C      CiJMATK. 


M 


will  yet  yicUl, 
tnaminals  atul 
tous  and  crc- 

toncs  there  is 
it  in  certainly 
/  yet  he  found. 
g\\  possessing 
ihly  only  very 
Hut  the  other 
,  and  to[)i\zcs, 
5,  tourmaline, 
itc,  abates  and 
iently  plentiful, 

;rals  and  earths 
ites  and  Terri- 
riety  and  every 
injr,  are  found 
e  plains.  Col- 
Arizona,  Texaa 
In  Colorado 
latronage,  each 
e  Park  and  its 
hing ;  but  when 
tucs. 


I . 


MPARISON  OF  DIFFER- 

s — Character  and 

EX1C0. 

th  to  south,  and 
derable  range  of 
re  nearly  a  dead 


level ;  but  when  two-thirds  or  three  fourths  of  It  is  traversed  by 
inr»'intain  chains,  many  of  whose  summits  liave  nn  eI<;vation  of 
I  ;,cxxi  to  14/XX)  fret,  and  the  average  height  of  its  plateaux  and 
valleys  ranges  from  4,000  to  8.51X)  feet;  when  on  the  more 
northern  summits,  snow  lies  throughout  the  year;  and  vhen  the 
temperature  of  at  least  the  western  half  is  modified  by  the 
hreezes  and  moisture  from  the  Pacific,  l)y  the  influences  of  the 
Pacific  gulf  stream,  and  by  the  climatic  law  that  the  Western 
coast  of  a  continent  has  always  a  milder  and  higher  temperature 
tlian  the  I-'ast  coast;  when,  also,  the  temp<'rature  of  the  South- 
west is  elevated  by  the  hot  and  dry  winds  which  come  from 
tropical  Mexico ;  and  the  cyclones  formed  in  the  Caribbean  sea 
and  the  M('xican  gulf  contribute  their  share  to  the  disturbance 
of  atmospheric  conditions,  there  would  seem  to  be  causes  enough 
to  account  for  the  extraordinary  diversities  of  climate  which 
jjrevail  in  this  Western  F-Impirc. 

T!ie  climate  on  the  northwestern  coast  in  Washington  Ter- 
ritory and  Oregon  is  temperate,  and  the  range  comparatively 
small.  The  mercury  seldom  rises  above  90°  P.,  in  many  seasons 
not  reaching  that  figure,  and  rarely  falls  below  10"  or  12*".  In 
some  seasons  the  lowest  point  reached  is  18°  or  20°.  The 
average  annual  range  is  from  70"  to  80°.  The  range  on  the 
California  coast,  at  Los  Angeles,  San  Diego,  etc.,  is  still  smaller, 
in  some  years  not  exceeding  55"  or  60°.  In  San  Francisco  the 
range  is  not  over  50"  or  53° — between  39"  and  90°  or  92°.  These 
equable  climates  are  very  favorable  to  the  health  of  invalids,  es- 
pecially to  such  as  are  suffering  from  pulmonary  diseases.  East 
of  the  Coast  range,  and  in  a  still  greater  degree,  east  of  the  Cas- 
cades or  Sierra  Nevada  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  we  find 
greater  extremes  of  cold,  and  in  some  instances  of  heat  also. 
The  plains  of  Eastern  Washington  and  Oregon  have  extreme 
heat  in  summer,  rising  sometimes  to  or  above  100°  F.,  and  cold 
equally  extreme  in  winter,  falling  to — 30"  or  even  lower  In  wincen 
making  the  annual  range  not  less  than  I30°F.  But  probably 
Pembina,  in  Dakota,  just  on  the  British  line,  49°  north  latitude, 
is  the  coldest  inhabited  place  in  all  this  Western  Empire,  and  as 
the  summer  heat  is  intense,  though  for  a  brief  period  only,  its 


n 


t>  i 


i 

i 


im^mrmmMiB^^'''' 


"^■•'"siS>43ateiw»;M*!^iB^^Siria*^vurvv»i."?^~i*"^^^^^ 


gj  OVM    WRSTRKN  iCitP/ltg. 

anniul  taw^c  \%  the  greatest.  The  tpirit  thermometer  often 
markt  — 50**  in  the:  winter,  and  in  the  winter  of  1879-80  it  i»  re- 
ported to  have  fallen  to  — 60".  As  it  attains  94**  in  the  Humnur, 
thisi  giv(!s  a  ran^^c  of  154°.  The  reiiuindc:r  of  Dakota  and  Min 
nesota  is  not  subject  to  such  extreme  changes,  though  the  valky 
of  the  Red  river  of  the  North  scenu  to  be  the  ]rateway  through 
which  the  biting  coKl  from  the  Arctic  regions  limls  its  way  Hoitth- 
ward.  'I'hc  interior  valleys  of  California  are  much  hotter  in  sutn 
mer  than  the  coast,  and  the  winter  temperature  is  Homewlui 
lower.  Their  range  is  from  76"  to  Sj".  hi  portions  of  New 
Mexico  the  climate  is  more  e([uable,  the  mercury  ranly  rising  in 
Santa  I*V'  abov.  90°,  thcugh  lor  one  or  two  days  in  December  it 
may  drop  to  zero.  Hut  the  hottest  portions  of  this  whole  region 
arc  un(iuestionably  Southern  Arizona  and  Southern  Texas. 
At  Yuma,  Maricopa  Wells,  Tucson,  I'lurnix.Wickenbergandotlur 
towns  of  Southern  Arizon.',  and  a^  Rio  Cirandc  City,  I-arcdo, 
Corsicana  and  other  towns  of  Southern  Texas  ((lalveston  <.x- 
ccptcd,  in  consecpjcnce  of  its  i)  land  dim  tc),  the  summer  heat 
during  June,  July,  August  imd  Sej)tember  reaches  1 17",  and  oc- 
casionally even  more,  and  rises  above  100°  usually  for  three- 
fourths  of  the  days  of  those  months.  Some  years  ago  a  company 
of  soldiers  were  stationed  at  a  fort  in  one  of  the  interior  valleys 
of  California.  The  weather  was  fearfully  hot,  the  mercury  at 
over  110°  in  the  shade,  and  the  men  were  grumbling  as  only 
soldiers  can  grumble  at  the  heat.  After  a  time  one  old  soldier, 
bronzed  by  the  tropical  heats,  said :  "  Boys,  stop  grumbling ;  this 
weather  is  not  to  be  compared  with  what  we  had  at  Fort  Yuma." 
"  Were  you  ever  at  Fort  Yuma  ?  "  asked  the  soldiers.  "  Yes,  I 
was  there  three  years,"  said  the  veteran.  "  Well,  how  hot  was 
it  there ?  How  high  did  the  thermometer  get  ?  "  "I  don't  know 
anything  about  your  thermometers,"  answered  the  soldier;  "  but  I 
can  tell  you  this:  when  I  had  been  there  about  tv/o  years,  two 
of  our  fellows  died,  and  they  were  pretty  hard  fellows,  too. 
Well,  the  second  night  after  they  died  they  came  back  after  tli(;ir 
blankets,  and  they  hadn't  wanted  them  once  in  all  the  while  they 
had  been  in  Yuma."  .'  ' 

In  the  region  known  as  the  plains,  which  embraces  the  greater 


'■■'«>a  «^M*iw«!iiii»f  ^as;"' 


rso^'  - 


yAnuriom  vr  a. i math. 


97 


jmclcr  often 
rg-So  it  i»  re- 
I  iho  Hummrr, 
utii  and  Min- 
j^'li  il»»!  valley 
cway  throin;h 
iu  way  Hoiiih- 
holUtr  in  Hum- 
iit  Hointtwiut 
lions  of  Ni:w 
arely  risinj;  in 
[»  December  it 
s  whole  region 
itlu:rn    Texas, 
bcry  and  other 
City,  Laredo, 
Galveston  ex- 
sum  me  r  heat 
I  117°,  and  De- 
al ly  for  threc- 
mo  a  company 
interior  valleys 
\c  mercury  at 
)bling  as  only 
3ne  old  soldier, 
jrumbling ;  this 
It  Fort  Yuma." 
diers.     "  Yes,  I 
I,  how  hot  was 
"  I  don't  know 
soldier;  "bull 
tv/o  years,  two 
d   fellows,  too. 
back  after  llu;ir 
I  the  while  they 

ices  the  greater 


p«rt  of  Minnesota,  Iowa,  VVcRlcrn  Miuouri,  Nebravkn,  Knnuui. 
SoiiiiirastrrtJ  Dakota,  I  .ntfrn  Wyoming  an<l  I'lastcrn  Colorado, 
part  of  Arkaiisas  and  i\\r.  Inilian  Territory,  and  Northern  Tcxam, 
the  climat'  is  gcmrally  warm  in  summer,  though  the  heat  is  n«t 
intcMisr.  Thr  -.pring  <»|)cn»  earlier  at  we  procrcd  Houtlmard, 
and  the  autumn  is  later.  There  arr  strong  winds  and  some- 
times (-ycloncx,  but,  except  in  Minnesota  and  Iowa,  the  kih>w  iIoch 
not  cover  thr  groimd  for  any  long  period,  and  cattle  auil  sheep 
rf(|uire  little  or  lut  siielltr  or  winter  fee  ling.  I'rudent  hcnlsmon 
and  shec^vmastcrs  make  provision  for  fifty  or  sixty  days  shelter 
of  their  herds  or  flocks,  and  for  feeding  them  during  that  time  ;  but 
in  at  U  1st  two  seasons  out  of  three,  the  food  and  shelter  arc 
not  needed,  or  for  a  few  days  only.  This  does  not  apply  to  the 
two  States  named  above,  where  the  winter  generally  lasts  lor  at 
least  four  or  Jive  months.  There  is,  moreover,  a  very  consider- 
able difference  in  the  climate  of  these  plains,  resulting  from  their 
incrtasing  elevation  as  we  proceed  westward.  Though  they  are 
called  plains  and  prairies,  they  are  really  plateaux,  rising  grad- 
ually from  the  Mississippi  or  Missouri  river  to  the  eastern  slope 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Theirelevation  on  the  eastern  border  of 
the  plateau  is  from  600  to  800  feet  above  the  sea.  At  the  western 
boundary  of  Kansas  and  NebrasK"  it  is  over  5,000  feet  above 
the  sea,  and  at  the  foothills  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  Eastern 
Colorado  between  6,000  and  7,000  feet.  Indeed,  so  gradual  is 
the  ascent,  and  so  nearly  of  the  same  height  with  thv.  ^^.oscs  in 
the  Rocky  Mountains  (tlvat  over  which  the  Union  Pacific  crosses 
being  only  about  8,700  feet  above  the  sea)  that  passengers  on 
that  road  often  inquire,  when  they  will  ocgin  to  ascend  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  after  they  have  crossed  this  pass,  or,  as  the  western 
people  say,  "  the  divide."  On  these  more  elevated  lands  the  sun 
may  be  hot  at  mid-day  in  summer,  but  the  nights,  and  evening, 
and  morning,  are  always  cool  and  refreshing.  The  annual  range 
of  ihc  thermometer  is  only  from  fifty-five  to  s'xty  degrees,  and 
catde,  and  sheep,  except,  perhaps,  once  in  eight  or  ten  years,  can 
browse  throughout  the  entire  winter  without  shelter.  The  ab- 
sence of  trees  io  the  western  portion  of  this  plateau  also  modi- 
fies this  climate  to  some  extent,  making  the  summer's  heat  more 
7 


'I! 


'^•'  ",v'^'ii^W:it^^WawatW«v.^f*^  6-^iW=$^ittei  ftJiR*i5»afl'V3;?:;HL^"43titf  ;■  •*i\.Lu-,:^^ 


..v»*i  ;u-  vft- 


[■ 


q8  our  western  empire. 

intense,  anJ  the  cold,  wintry  winds  more  searching,  and  far- 
reaching  in  their  effect.  The  changes  now  going  on,  all  alone; 
this  region,  as  the  result  of  breaking  up  the  hard  beaten  soil,  and 
planting  frees  in  great  numbers,  will  not  be  without  their  effect 
in  modifying  the  temperature;  and  by  the  interposition  of 
masses  of  timber,  breaking  the  fury  of  the  winds. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that,  apart  from  such  diseases  as  may 
be  induced  or  aggravated  by  a  rarefied  atmosphere,  this  elevated 
region  is  more  healthful  than  any  other  on  our  continent.  There 
are  enough  who  die  from  natural  or  unnatural  causes,  but  the 
dry,  pure,  invigorating  atmosphere  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  pla- 
teaux is  eminently  conducive  to  health,  especially  to  those  who 
are  suftering  from  pulmonary  diseases.  Still  to  reap  the  fuil 
benefit  of  this  climate,  the  health-seeker  must  st?iy  there.  A 
return  to  the  East  after  one,  or  two,  or  even  four  years  almost 
inevitably  brings  back  the  disease,  "    '  causes  it  to  prove  fatal. 

We  have  elsewhere  discussed  Uk  ainfall  of  most  portions  of 
this  vast  Western  Empire.  It  is  even  more  varied  in  quantity, 
in  different  districts,  than  is  the  climate  in  temperature.  The 
Northwest  coast,  in  Washington,  Oregon,  and  the  extreme  north- 
ern portion  of  California,  have,  at  some  points,  a  more  copious 
rainfall  than  any  other  portion  of  the  United  States,  tliough  nearly 
approached  by  some  points  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  In  two  or 
three  places  in  the  States  and  Territory  named,  the  annual  pre- 
cipitation ranges  from  123  to  135  inches,  and  once  or  twice  has 
exceeded  even  the  latter  figure :  ten  or  eleven  feet  of  rainfall. 
At  San  Diego  on  the  same  coast,  but  nearly  i,cxx)  miles  farther 
south,  the  rainfall  in  1876-77  was  but  3.80  inches;  and  at  Fort 
Yuma,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Colorado,  in  1877-78,  but  2.cx)  Inches. 
These  are  the  extremes.  On  the  Gulf  coast  in  Texas,  the  pre- 
cipitation is  large,  ranging  from  fifty-four  to  sixty-seven  inches.  IiT 
the  interior  the  amount  varies  with  the  longitude.  From  the  Mis- 
sissippi river  to  about  the  97th  degree  of  west  longitude  it  ranges 
from  forty-five  inches  to  twenty-eight  inches,  diminishing  as  we 
proceed  westward.  From  this  meridian  to  about  1 1 7,  it  ranges 
from  twenty-five  inches  to  twelve  inches,  or  peiijiaps  1 1.5  in  some 
seasons.      Farther  west    it   rises    to   thirty-three    inches,  and 


^.■•Ta-arM*—  ^■- 


-  <  k^:>i>- AV.-?  M  ««3Ci>  intif  Ml  ift  uatg^lfiktc 


larching,  and  far- 
)ing  on,  all  alone; 
d  beaten  soil,  and 
rithout  their  effect 
interposition  of 
nds. 

diseases  as  may 
here,  this  elevated 
continent.   There 
al  causes,  but  the 
;ky  Mountain  pla- 
:ially  to  those  who 
I  to  reap  the  full 
ist  stay  there.    A 
four  years  almost 
it  to  prove  fatal. 
'  most  portions  of 
varied  in  quantity, 
temperature.    The 
the  extreme  north- 
its,  a  more  copious 
;ates,  tliough  nearly 
coast.     In  two  or 
ed,  the  annual  pre- 
l  once  or  twice  has 
ren  feet  of  rainfall. 
i,cxx>  miles  farther 
ches;   and  at  Fort 
-78,  but  2. oo  inches, 
in  Texas,  the  pre- 
:ty-seven  inches.  lii 
ide.  From  the  Mis- 
:  longitude  it  ranges 
,  diminishing  as  we 
bout  1 1 7,  it  ranges 
ei;|iaps  1 1.5  in  some 
-three    inches,  and 


LOMI>AN.in\i.    l:.\l.\lAl.l..  QQ 

between  the  Cascades  and  the  Rocky  Mountains  attains  at  some 
points  to  forty-two  inches.  Of  course  there  are  variations  from 
north  to  south  as  well  as  from  east  to  west ;  variations  produced 
also  by  the  presence  or  absence  of  extensive  forests,  by  the  com- 
pactr  ess  of  the  soil,  owing  to  its  having  been  for  hundreds  of 
years  trodden  under  the  hoofs  of  millions  of  bisons,  or  its  porous- 
ness from  thorough  cultivation.  The  electrical  condition  of  the 
atmosphere  has  also  much  to  do  with  the  amount  of  precipitation. 
In  general  it  may  be  said  that  fully  two-thirds  of  the  arable  lands 
of  the  Great  West  have  a  sufficient  amount  of  precipitation  to 
raise  any  desired  crops,  with  deep  plowing,  and  the  other  third, 
while  requiring  moderate  and  in  some  cases  very  thorough  irri- 
gation to  produce  tne  largest  crops,  are  so  situated  as  to  be  able  at 
moderate  expense  to  obtain  all  the  water  needed  for  this  purpose, 
and  under  its  influence  yield  such  abundant  crops  as  to  pay,  in 
one  or  at  the  utmost  two  years,  the  cost  of  the  ditches.  Indeed 
the  proprietors  of  the  irrigated  lands  look  down  with  a  half-con- 
temptuous pity  upon  the  poor  farmers  who  are  dependent  upon 
the  rainfall  alone  for  their  crops.  "  Poor  fellows,"  they  say, 
"  when  they  sow  their  grain  or  plant  their  crops,  they  can  never 
tell  what  will  befall  them :  they  may  have  too  much  rain,  and 
their  crops  will  be  drowned  out,  or  rot  in  the  earth,  or  they  may 
not  have  enough,  and  their  fields  will  be  bur:ied  by  the  fiery 
breath  of  the  sun  ;  they  can  never  tell  whether  they  can  raise  a 
crop  or  not.  With  us,  now,  the  whole  matter  can  be  determined 
with  mathematical  exactness.  We  know  just  how  much  water  is 
needed  to  bring  the  land  to  its  highest  productiveness,  and  we 
give  it  just  that  much  and  no  more.  If  we  have  rains  we  irrigate 
less;  if  the  season  is  dry,  we  turn  on  more  water,  and  we  have 
a  good  crop  every  year."  As  the  vacillating  judge  said  :  "  There 
is  a  good  deal  to  be  said  on  both  sides  of  this  question." 

We  have  already  alluded  to  the  high  winds  which  prevail  over 
some  portions  of  this  vast  region ;  but  the  investigations  of  the 
Signal  Service  officers  have  in  a  great  degree  systematized  our 
knowledge  on  this  subject.  On  the  Pacific  coast,  and  as  far  east- 
ward as  the  summit  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  or  Cascade  Mountains, 
and  possibly  for  a  part  of  the  distance,  where  they  obtain  access 


( . 


!        i 


\        t      . 


A\ 


.SiU*-- 


■7i^«i&)(«i8^W«  ■' '  -  •     •  !'*Si!^adb»iaiaaBy»5ir.SiS(ie«ia^S««^^ 


m 


i>: 


lOO 


OUR    WliHTERN  BMP  IKE. 


through  transverse  valleys  to  the  western  slope  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  the  west  winds  from  the  Pacific  Ocean,  laden  with 
moisture,  sweep  across  the  mountains  and  valleys,  depositing 
much  of  their  water  as  snow  upon  the  mountains.  These  are 
cool  but  not  cold  winds.  From  Hudson's  Bay  and  the  ice-clad 
waters  of  the  north  comes  down,  especially  in  winter,  a  cold, 
piercing  wind,  through  the  broad  valley  of  the  Red  river  of  the 
North,  producing  intense  cold  and  often  snows  on  the  plains,  and 
spending  much  of  its  fury  on  the  Mississippi  valley  and  States 
farther  east.  This  is  perhaps  the  source  of  the  Texas  Northers, 
though  the  severity  of  the  cold  has  been  much  diminished  before 
it  reaches  the  Gulf  ccast.  East  winds  are  not  prevalent  in  any 
part  of  this  region,  and  when  they  do  occur  have  no  special 
character  or  significance.  A  south  wind  from  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  is  much  more  frequent,  and  is  generally  a  moist  and 
grateful  wind ;  sometimes  in  the  summer  it  may  bring  with  it 
electrical  phenomena,  and  be  the  herald  of  destructive  cyclones. 
The  southwest  wind  which  sweeps  across  Arizona,  Western 
Texas,  New  Mexico,  and  Southern  Utah,  and  Nevada,  affecting 
also  at  times  Western  Colorado  and  Wyoming,  is  from  Mexico, 
and  h«et)een  heated  in  its  passage  across  the  semi-tropical  lands 
of  Mexico  and  Central  America  till  it  blows  a  hot  blast  over 
these  lands  which  intensifies  the  summer's  heat,  though  it  may 
make  the  autumn  and  winter  milder.  As  the  country  becomes 
settled  and  cultivated,  this  hot  wind  will  lose  something  of  its 
intensity,  and  become  rather  an  agreeable  adjuvant  in  mitigating 
tiie  cold  of  the  wintry  months. 


■  )    •  ■  10. 


>'     -r^ 


.'i.riB&xn^iaaiiei:.  -'<»£«M!Ka9'iti»»»iytMs^iE>«»we!«Kwsat;^^  - 


MINING  PROCESSES  FOR   GOLD.  AND  SILVER. 


lOI 


of  the  Rocky 
:an,  laden  with 
eys,  depositing 
ns.    These  are 
,nd  the  ice-clad 
winter,  a  cold, 
Led  river  of  the 
i  the  plains,  and 
lUey  and  States 
fexas  Northers, 
minished  before 
»revalent  in  any 
tave  no  special 
11   the  Gulf  of 
lly  a  moist  and 
ly  bring  with  it 
ructive  cyclones, 
-izona.  Western 
levada.  affecting 
is  from  Mexico, 
mi-tropical  lands 
,  hot  blast  over 
:,  though  it  may 
country  becomes 
something  of  its 
aat  in  mitigating 


\    :  t: '     .  _    y. ' '  '■'' ' '  i''i,  '^ 
•-,: .      ■("kj.    ',.     'fit    »>  '•■ 


CHAPTER  X. 

The  various  Processes  of  Mining— Placer  Mining— Gold  Discovirv  iw 
California— The  Pan— Thl  Rocker— The  Uuch  anu  the  "Tom"— 
The  Sluice— Hydraulic  Mining— Hvoraui.ic  Mining  not  /esthetic- 
Lode  OR  Quartz  Mining— True  Fissure  Veins— The  "Country"  Rock 
—Chimneys,  Chimes,  or  Bonanzas— Pockets— Contact  Lodes— Gold 
combined  with  Sulphurets—Stoping— Depth  of  Mines— The  Reduction 
OF  Ptoitous  Ores— Gold  with  Oxide  of  Iron— Cost  o*-  Reduciion  of  Gold 
—Discoveries  of  Silver  Ore»— Silver  widely  diffused— Modes  of 
Reduction— The  best  Mining  Regions- Placer  Minincj:  the  bkst 
Locations— Difficulties  of  Placer  Mining— Difficulties  of  I^de  or 
Veis  Mining— The  best  Mines  bought  up  by  Capitalists— The  best 
Locations  for  Experts. 

We  confine  our  attention  for  the  present  to  mining  for  gold 
and  silver,  including,   however,  the   ores  of  lead  and  copper 
and  perhaps  iron,  with  which  they  are  found  combined  or  com- 
mingled.    Gold  mining  is  of  two  kinds,  and  each  kind  has  its 
several  processes.     These  two  kinds  are  /'/i?^^;' mining,  and  Lode 
mining.     Silver  is  always  found  only  in  lodes,  but  these  are  of 
various  forms  or  combinations.     Placers  are  deposits  of  gold 
nearly  in  a  pure  state,  which  at  some  time,  remote  or  recent,  have 
been  washed  out  of  the  veins  or  lodes  into  which  they  were 
Injected  by  some  convulsion  of  nature,  by  the  long  continued 
action  of  running  water,  and  deposited  with  gravel  or  clay  on 
the  bed  rock  of  the  stream  which  bore  them  down  its  current 
The  beds  of  most  of  the  streams  flowing  from  the  mountains, 
especially  if  they  have  cut  deep  channels  in  the  rocks  in  any 
portion  of  their  course,  were  found  to  contain  these  placers,  of 
greater  or  less  value ;  but  the  placers  which  are  found  in  the 
beds  of  aitcient  streams,  which  by  upheaval  or  change  of  course 
fcave  ceased  to  flow,  and  are  perhaps  now  many  hundred  feet 
below  the  surfiace,  are  usually  more  productive  than  those  of 
more  recent  origin.    The  placer  gold  is  free  gold  ;  that  is,  it  is 
uncbmbined  with  any  other  mineral,  and  may  exist  as  a  powder, 
as  scales,  or  as  little  pellets  or  nuggets  of  considerable  size.     In 
California,  as  everywhere  else,  it  was  the  first  gold  discovered, 
and  there,  by  accident 


t , 


i; 


-^■Yi^vr-i^*--- 


li 


1! 

*  i 


H 


■,-aKygai*a!!S*s&^4a»*J4\^»!^ 


102 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


The  Story  of  this  discovery  has  been  often  related ;  but  the 
statement  made  by  the  late  Hon.  J.  Ross  Browne  in  1867,  when 
lie  was  United  States  Mininj^r  Commissioner,  is  believed  to  be  the 
only  one  which  gives  the  facts  as  they  were.     Mr.  Browne  says: 

"It  was  on  the  19th  day  of  January,  1848,  ten  days  before  the 
treaty  of  Guadalupe-Hidalgo  was  signed,  and  three  months 
before  the  ratified  copies  were  exchanged,  that  James  W.  Marshall, 
while  engaged  in  digging  a  race  for  a  saw-mill  at  Coloma,  about 
thirty-five  miles  eastward  from  Sutter's  Fort,  found  some  pieces 
of  yellow  metal,  which  he  and  the  half-dozen  men  working 
■with  him  at  the  mill  supposed  to  be  gold.  He  felt  confident  that 
he  had  made  a  discovery  of  great  importance,  but  he  knew 
nothing  of  either  chemistry  or  gold  mining,  so  he  could  not 
prove  the  nature  of  the  metal  or  tell  how  to  obtain  it  in  paying 
quantities.  Every  morning  he  went  down  to  the  race  to  look 
for  the  bits  of  the  metal ;  but  the  other  men  at  the  mill  thought 
Marshall  was  very  wild  in  his  ideas,  and  they  continued  their 
labors  in  building  the  mill,  and  in  sowing  wheat,  and  planting 
vegetables.  The  swift  current  of  the  mill-race  washed  away  a 
considerable  body  of  earthy  matter,  leaving  the  coarse  particles 
of  gold  behind,  so  Marshall's  collection  of  specimens  continued 
to  accumulate,  and  his  associates  began  to  think  there  might  be 
something  in  his  gold  mine  after  all.  About  the  middle  of 
February,  a  Mr.  Bennett,  one  of  the  party  employed  at  the  mill, 
went  to  San  Francisco  for  the  purpose  of  learning  whether  this 
metal  was  precious,  and  there  he  was  introduced  to  Isaac 
Humphrey,  who  had  washed  for  gold  in  Georgia.  The 
experienced  miner  saw  at  a  glance  that  he  had  the  true  stuff 
before  him,  and  after  a  few  inquiries  he  was  satisfied  that  the 
diggings  must  be  rich.  He  made  immediate  preparation  to  go 
to  the  mill,  and  tried  to  persuade  some  of  his  friends  to  go  with 
him,  but  they  thought  it  would  be  only  a  waste  of  time  and 
money,  so  he  went  with  Bennett  for  his  sole  companion. 

"  He  arrived  at  Coloma  on  the  7th  of  March,  and  found  the 
work  at  the  mill  going  on  as  if  no  gold  existed  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. The  next  day  he  took  a  pan  and  spade  and  washed  some 
of  the  dirt  from  the  bottom  of  the  mill-race  in  places  where 


;fc«a6if^A?i««s^i^4«^V*£MSMii!Sfc«^^ 


COLD  DISCOVERY  IN  CALIFORNIA, 


103 


atcd ;  but  the 

in  1867,  when 

evcd  to  be  the 

Browne  says: 

ays  before  the 

three   months 

W.  Marshall, 

Coloma,  about 

d  some  pieces 

men  working 

confident  that 

but  he  knew 

he  could  not 

lin  it  in  paying 

e  race  to  look 

le  mill  thought 

ontinued  their 

;,  and  planting 

vashed  away  a 

oarse  particles 

nens  continued 

there  might  be 

the   middle  of 

yed  at  the  mill, 

ig  whether  this 

uced   to  Isaac 

leorgia.      The 

\  the  true  stuff 

tisfied  that  the 

iparation  to  go 

inds  to  go  with 

:e  of  time  and 


anion. 


'/.'•■,;  1, 


and  found  the 
\  the  neighbor- 
d  washed  some 

places  where 


Marshall  had  found  his  specimens,  and  in  a  few  hours  Humphrey 
declared  that  these  mines  were  far  richer  than  any  in  Georgia. 

"  He  now  made  a  rocker,  and  went  to  work  washing  gold 
industriously,  and  every  day  yielded  him  an  ounce  or  two  of 
metal.  The  men  at  the  mill  made  rockers  for  themselves,  and 
all  were  soon  busy  in  search  of  the  yellow  metal. 

"  Everything  else  was  abandoned  ;  the  rumor  of  the  discovery 
spread  slowly.  In  the  middle  of  March,  Pearson  B.  Reading, 
the  owner  of  a  large  ranch  at  the  head  of  the  Sacramento  valley, 
happened  to  visit  Sutter's  Fort,  and  hearing  of  the  mining  at 
Coloma,  he  went  thither  to  see  it.  He  said  that  if  similarity  of 
formation  could  be  taken  as  proof,  there  must  be  gold  mines 
near  his  ranch,  so  after  observing  the  method  of  washing,  he 
posted  off,  and  in  a  few  wi  ks  he  was  at  work  on  the  bars  of 
Clear  creek,  nearly  two  hundred  miles  northwestward  from 
Coloma.  A  few  days  after  Reading  had  left,  John  Bidwell, 
since  representative  of  the  northern  district  of  the  State  in  the 
lower  house  of  Congress,  came  to  Coloma,  and  the  result  of  his 
visit  was  that  in  less  than  a  month  he  had  a  party  of  Indians 
from  his  ranch  washing  gold  on  the  bars  of  Feather  river,  seventy- 
five  miles  northwestward  from  Coloma.  Thus  the  mines  were 
opened  at  far  distant  points." 

On  the  29th  of  May,  1848,  the  only  paper  published  in  San 
Francisco  said:  "The  whole  country,  from  San  Francisco  to 
Los  Angeles,  and  from  the  sea-shore  to  the  base  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  resounds  with  the  sordid  cry  of  gold!  gold!  gold! 
while  the  field  is  left  half  planted,  the  house  half  built,  and  every- 
thing neglected  but  the  manufacture  of  picks  and  shovels,  and 
the  means  of  transportation  to  the  spot  where  one  man  obtained 
$128  worth  of  the  real  stuff  in  one  day's  washing;  and  the 
average  for  all  concerned  is  jj520  per  diem." 

"  The  towns  and  farms  were  deserted,  or  left  to  the  care  of 
women  and  children,  while  rancheros,  wood-choppers,  mechanics, 
vaqueros,  and  soldiers  and  sailors,  who  had  deserted  or  obtained 
leave  of  absence,  devoted  all  their  energies  to  washing  the 
auriferous  gravel  of  the  Sacramento  basin.  Never  satisfied, 
however  much  they  might  be  making,  they  were  continually 


\  ! 


'^'SSSyidto2«KktiS(kftSI(3K«j*afe^^ 


v 


i      i 


104 


OUR    tVESTKR//  £A/P/A'A. 


looking  for  new  placers  which  might  yltiUl  them  twice  or  thrice 
as  much  as  they  had  made  before.  Thus  the  area  of  their  Inbors 
gradually  extended,  and  at  the  end  of  1848  miners  were  at  work 
in  every  large  stream  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada, 
from  the  Feather  to  the  Tuolumne  river,  a  distance  of  150  miles, 
and  also  at  Reading's  diggings,  in  the  northwestern  corner  of 
the  Sacramento  vallry." 

For  the  first  two  years  the  miners  who  made  these  discoveries 
depended  for  their  profits  mainly  on  the  pan  and  the  rocker. 
The  placer  miner's  pan  was  made  of  sheet-iron  or  tinned  iron, 
with  a  flat  bottom  about  a  foot  in  diameter,  and  sides  six  inches 
high,  inclining  outwards  at  an  angle  of  forty  or  fifty  degrees. 
The  gold  was  found,  as  it  usually  is,  in  a  tough  clay  which 
enveloped  gravel  and  large  pebbles  as  well  as  sand.  This  clay 
must  be  thoroughly  dissolved  or  reduced  to  the  condition  of 
fluid  mud ;  and  so  the  miner  filled  his  pan  with  it,  went  to  the 
bank  of  the  river  or  stream,  squatted  down  there,  put  his  pan 
under  water,  and  shook  it  horizontally,  so  as  to  get  the  mass 
thoroughly  soiked ;  then  picked  out  the  larger  stones  with  one 
hand  and  mashed  up  the  largest  and  toughest  lumps  of  clay,  and 
again  shook  his  pan  under  water,  and  when  all  the  dirt  seemed 
to  be  dissolved  so  that  the  gold  could  be  carried  to  the  bottom 
by  its  weight,  he  tilted  up  the  pan  a  litrie  to  let  the  thin  mud  and 
Kght  sand  run  Out,  repeating  this  process  till  all  was  washed  out 
except  the  metal  which  remained  at  the  bottom. 

After  a  time  this  process  was  found  too  slow,  and  the  rocker 
took  its  place.  This  was  constructed  somewhat  like  a  child's 
cradle,  but  the  upper  end  was  considerably  higher  than  the 
lower,  and  contained  a  large  riddle  or  colander  of  sheet-iron 
punched  with  holes  on  the  bottom ;  underneath  the  floor  of  the 
rocker  was  provided  with  cleats  or  riffles,  extending  nearly 
a«ross,  to  catch  the  gold.  The  miner  filled  his  riddle  with  pay- 
dirt  and  rocked  the  rocker  with  one  hand  while  he  poured  water 
Bpon  the  dirt  and  riddle  with  the  other.  The  water  and  the 
motion  dissolved  the  clay  and  carried  it  down  to  the  floor  of  the 
rocker,  where  the  cleats  caught  the  gold,  while  the  mud  and 
water  ran  off.  The  riddle  could  be  taken  off  to  throw  out  the 
larger  stones.    , 


wite  or  thrice 
jf  their  labors 
were  at  work 
icrra  Nevada, 
;  of  1 50  miles, 
:rn  corner  of 

sc  discoveries 

d  the  rocker. 

r  tinned  iron, 

es  six  inches 
fifty  degrees. 

h  clay  which 
nd.  This  clay 
condition  of 
it,  went  to  the 
c,  put  his  pan 

get  the  mass 
tones  with  one 
ps  of  clay,  and 
16  dirt  seemed 

to  the  bottom 
t  thin  mud  and 

^as  washed  out 

,   .. .  !   ,..:/,    -a 

ind  the  rocker 
t  like  a  child's 
jher  than  the 
r  of  sheet-iron 
le  floor  of  the 
ending  nearly 
iddle  with  pay- 
5  poured  water 
water  and  the 
ihe  floor  of  the 
the  mud  and 
throw  out  the 


>  ■  i 
■  w 


',^^■^..~u^%tJ%■  ■--'.':''■ 


TItR  KOCh'RM,    TIIR    TOA*  AND    THE  SlU/CK. 

Soon  tlio  rocker  was  abandoned  l)ccausc  it  could  not  work 
fast  enough,  and  ditches  wore  dug  and  flumes  constructed  to 
bring  the  water  from  a  sufficient  height  to  do  the  wahhing-out 
of  the  clny  and  gravel  without  so  much  manual  labor  atul  with 
more  abundant  production  ;  some  of  these  flumes  were  very 
large  and  many  miles  in  extent,  and  erected  at  an  immense  cost. 
With  the  ditches  came  in  first  the  "Tom,"  which  had  previously 
been  used  in  Georgia :  a  trough  twelve  feet  long,  eight  inches 
deep,  fifteen  inches  wide  at  the  head  and  thirty  at  tht;  foot ;  a 
riddle  of  sheet-iron,  punchecl  with  holes  half  an  inch  in  diameter, 
formtrd  the  bottom  of  the  "Tom"  at  tht  lower  eml,  so  placed 
tliat  Jill  the  water  and  the  mud  should  fall  through  the  holes  of 
the  riddle,  and  none  pass  over  the  sides  or  end.  The  water  fell 
iuiO  a  flat  box  with  cleats  on  the  bottom,  giving  passage  at  alter' 
nate  ends  to  the  mud  and  water,  while  the  gold  was  caught  on 
the  cleats  or  riffles.  A  stream  of  water  ran  constantly  through 
the  "Tom,"  into  the  head  of  which  the  pay-dirt  was  thrown  by 
several  men,  while  one  threw  out  the  stones  too  large  to  pass 
the  riddle  and  threw  back  to  the  head  the  lumps  of  day  which 
had  reached  the  foot  without  being  dissolved. 

The  "Tom"  was  succeeded  by  "the  Sluice,"  a  board-trough 
from  a  hundred  to  five  thousand  feet  long,  having  a  descent  of 
one  foot  \\\  twenty,  and  with  riffles  at  the  lower  end  to  catch  the 
gold.  Twenty  men  or  more  could  throw  in  the  pay-dirt  at  the 
upper  end,  and  the  water  in  its  long  and  rapid  course  would  tear 
the  lumps  to  pieces,  and  before  reaching  the  end  deposit  the  gold 
on  the  riffles,  from  which  it  is  taken  four  or  five  times  a  day. 
Where  the  gold  was  in  fine  powder  or  scales,  quicksilver  was 
placed  on  the  riffles  to  form  an  instantaneous  amalgam,  and  thus 
very  much  of  the  gold  was  saved.  This  sluice  was  unquestion- 
ably the  most  efficient  and  successful  of  all  the  contrivances  in 
aid  of  placer-mining;  but  there  was  now  a  new  difficulty,  or  a 
series  of  them,  to  be  overcome.  The  placers  in  the  river  and 
creek-beds  and  near  the  surface  of  gravel-beds,  were  beginning 
to  give  out ;  in  many  places,  too,  these  placer-deposits  liad  been 
traced  up  to  the  lodes  or  veins  in  the  rocks  which  had  been 
worn  down  by  the  water  of  the  stream,  and  which  had  thus  fUp' 


1' 


7'.)i',,  ■-:Ji'lh'^#■^I^H'■'1^»•¥^■■|jft»■-■^^ir■^f■'^^^^'''■'-r^'l■'*'^^-'-.^'^^^'^■"-^■''■' j-^-a— «^->.*=t...-.tr-.-?^:j-.-jrr.,.\JK;;g--';:ajaSi:  ai'UA/^  -i.  -'i'^  .«•. 


io6 


OUK    WMSrKltff   KMPfKK. 


nishcd  tho  place r-deposltii.  It  was  discovcrrtl,  also,  that  thrrc 
were,  in  many  places,  erxtcnsiv«i  ilcposits  of  ^oUl-bcaritij,'  ^'r.ivrl, 
hills  of  con:.idcrabl«!  hrijjht  and  lfn;;th,  which  had,  unloUl  a^cs 
before,  b«!en  the  beds  of  rivers,  but  hatl  been  upheaved,  and 
were  now  rich  placers,  if  they  could  be  broken  down  ami  tho 
pay-dirt  run  through  the  sluices.  To  do  this  by  hand  labor  was 
too  costly  and  wearisome.  Mw.n  now,  in  the  best  sluices  con- 
nected with  good  ditches,  the  labor  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  men 
in  a  fair  placer-deposit,  was  not  sufficient  to  supply  the  sluice 
with  pay-dirt,  and  much  of  the  costly  water  ran  to  waste. 

The  remedy  for  these  difficulties  was  found  in  "hydraulic  min- 
ing." The  sluice  was  enlarged,  and  its  upper  portion  expanded 
so  as  to  take  in  a  width  of  perhaps  a  hundred  feet  of  the  adjacent 
hill,  which  had  previously  been  found  to  contain  gold ;  water  was 
supplied  to  it  from  a  ditch  usually  with  a  considerable  head,  and 
standing  at  a  convenient  distance,  say  200  feet  or  more,  from 
the  face  of  the  hill,  a  strong  miner  directed  upon  it  a  stream  of 
water  from  a  hose-pipe  or  nozzle  having  a  diameter  of  three  to 
six  inches,  and  a  head  of  two  or  three  hundred  feet.  The  effect 
of  this  continuous  stream  of  water  coming  with  such  force  must 
be  seen  to  be  appreciated :  wherever  it  struck  it  tore  away 
earth,  gravel  and  boulders ;  if  the  pipe  was  directed  on  a  point 
some  distance  below  the  surface  of  the  hill,  the  crust  above  it 
soon  fell,  and  one.  two  or  three  hundred  cubic  yards  of  earth 
were  washed  into  the  sluice  in  a  single  day.  Bars  were  placed 
across  the  sluice  to  arrest  and  turn  off  the  larger  stones  and 
boulders,  and  four  or  five  men  could  accomplish  more  and  gain 
larger  returns  than  four  or  five  hundred  by  the  old  processes. 

This  process  of  washing  down  the  hills  has  been  continued,  and 
is  still  in  progress  in  many  portions  of  the  gold-bearing  regions 
of  the  Great  West.  Sometimes  the  clay  which  binds  together 
the  gold-bearing  gravel  and  sand  is  too  tough  and  compact  to 
be  broken  down  even  by  the  force  of  the  hydraulic  stream ;  then 
the  miner  tunnels  the  hill  at  its  base  and  introduces  an  immense 
charge  of  gunpowder,  giant-powder,  gun-cotton,  dynamite  or 
nitro-glycerine,  which,  when  exploded,  breaks  up  the  tough  clay 
and  renders  the  hitherto  difficult  task  of  the  hydraulic  pipe  easy 


*'"*'"' "**»'a'i'.w'»-T«»»^h*'«iA<:Atti*j.cji^<.':^iatfa#j*i»* 


HYDKAVLf:  MIStNO, 


107 


o,  that  thrrr 
:arin^  ^{r.ivcl, 
,  uiUoUl  a^«s 
phravccl,  and 
uwn  ami  the 
ind  labor  wan 
;  sluiccH  Con- 
or thirty  men 
ply  the  sluice 
vastc. 

lydraiilic  min- 
ion expande.l 
f  the  adjacent 
Id ;  water  was 
ble  head,  and 
»r  more,  from 
it  a  stream  of 
:r  of  three  to 
t.     The  effect 
:h  force  must 
it  tore  away 
cd  on  a  point 
rust  above  it 
ards  of  earth 
\  were  placed 
er  stones  and 
lore  and  gain 
)ld  processes. 
;ontinued,  and 
aring  regions 
inds  together 
d  compact  to 

stream ;  then 
s  an  immense 
,  dynamite  or 

he  tough  clay 
lulic  pipe  easy 


and  swift,  fiy  this  process  of  hytlraulic  mining  the  gold  produc- 
tion has  brrn  largely  maintained  at  nrarly  its  old  slantl.ini.  ami 
millions  of  dollars  worth  of  gold  bullion  have  bem  put  u|)on  the 
market.  The  onlinary  placer  mining  is  nearly  at  an  end,  except 
.It  some  of  the  newer  points.  It  is  still  conducted,  to  some  ex- 
tent, in  Arizona,  New  Mexi«.o,  in  portions  of  Wyoming,  and  in 
the  Black  Hills;  but  hydraulic  mining  is  now  practised  wherever 
the  ancient  deposits  of  gold  in  gravel  can  be  found,  and  water 
with  a  sufficient  head  can  be  obtainetl. 

Hydraulic,  or  even  sluice  mining  is  not  an  .xsthetic  pursuit; 
the  regions  where  it  is  practised  may  Ik*,  b<'for«!  the  miner's  ad- 
vent, like  the  garden  of  the  I-ord  for  beauty;  but  after  his  work 
is  comi)leted,  they  bear  no  resemblance  to  anything,  except  the 
chaos  which  greeted  the  eye  of  the  seer  at  the  dawn  of  the 
Mosaic  record  of  the  rehabilitation  of  the  earth  for  the  use  of 
man, — "without  form  and  void  " — "Tohu  c  bohu" — "the  line  of 
confusion  and  the  stones  of  emptiness."  It  is  impossible  to  con- 
ceive of  anything  more  desolate,  more  utterly  forbidding,  than  a 
region  which  has  been  subjected  to  this  hydraulic  mining  treat- 
ment; boulders  of  all  sizes*  are  scattered  over  the  surface,  and 
around  them  coarse  gravel,  incapable  of  .sustaining  vegetation ; 
the  streams  are  filled  up  with  a  fine  clay,  and  very  possibly  over- 
flow their  banks,  producing  dreary  marshes,  and  the  whole  vista 
is  one  of  extreme  desolation  and  ruin. 

We  have  already  spoken  of  the  tracing  up  of  the  gold  deposits 
of  the  placers  to  the  lodes  or  veins  from  which  they  had  been 
washed  out ;  let  us  now  turn  to  these  veins  or  lodes,  and  ascer- 
tain what  were  the  processes  by  which  the  precious  metal  was 
extracted  from  them,  or,  in  other  words,  how  lode,  or,  as  it  is 
often  called,  quartz  mining  is  conducted. 

And,  first,  of  the  vein  or  lode.  Where  this  contains  gold  (and 
it  is  of  gold  mining  we  arc  now  speaking),  it  is  almost  always 
a  vein  of  quartz,  and  usually  of  the  milky  opaque  kind,  scarcely 
showing  any  signs  of  crystallization.  It  is  often  found  in  slate, 
sometimes  in  porphyritic  rock.  The  quartz  is  sometimes  very 
hard,  sometimes  soft  and  crumbling ;  it  may  show  the  gold,  if  that 
is  in  particles  of  considerable  size,  but  where  it  Is  in  fine  grains, 


t : 


»«««♦»»» 


^'»:wi-  i;y>A>.«.»<«aftli«i<4A'IMtribl<W'J.»'it'Vilte«ri;M^v4^i^t,,,~<..  .wtVMv.^  'A.^^.aM».  «.. 


«,:'«ji»"i.'.'«4-..  'i-i " 


loi 


OVM  WKaranN  UMriMK, 


it  frrqurntty  donn  not  show  it  at  all.  The  gold  li  very  imjg. 
ubriy  clittribiiti'il  in  the  (quartz,  somr  portiunn  bcinjjj  larjjrly 
charjjril  with  ii,  while  again,  for  \ot\^  tlistancts,  the  nuart/  v«in 
is  entirely  Ixin'iii  «»f  jfoUl.  Sometiinc.4  tlie  vein  containn  roumlcd 
|>ebble!i,  or,  an  E''.a«tern  tntn  would  gay ,  cobbte-stonrx,  of  lar^e 
ttixe,  of  very  h.ird  cjiiart/,  containing  no  golil,  but  briiljiin^j  or 
l>lui;^Mng  d»e  vein.  These  are  generally  Nurrounded  by  soft, 
NometiineA  crundilin],;,  quartz,  which  usually  contains  nome  ^iM. 
They  arc  called  by  the  miners  "  boul«l«*r  veins."  Somctimci  the 
course  of  the  vein  is  blocked  by  a  mass  of  |)«rphyry  or  hard 
nlate,  which  completely  stops  the  miner's  prugrt'ss  until  it  is  cut 
throu^di,  and  it  may  extend  for  several  feet  or  yards.  This  is 
called  by  the  miners  a  "horse." 

A  true  fissure  vein  is  one  which  Is  formed  by  the  fillinj^  up  of 
a  crack  or  fissure  in  the  harder  rocks  (occasioned  by  earthiiuakc, 
upheaval,  or  in  some  other  way)  with  conglomerate,  cpMri/  and 
other  matters,  into  which  vi^ld,  either  free  or  in  combination  with 
other  metals  or  minerals,  has  been  injected  at  intervals,  in  a  lluid 
state.  The  width  of  the  vein  is  the  widdi  of  the  crack  or  fissure; 
its  length,  the  length  to  which  the  fissure  extends  within  a  mod- 
erate distance  of  the  surface;  its  depth  may  be  limited  by  the 
depth  of  the  stratum  in  which  it  occurs,  but  more  generally  ex- 
tends far  lower  than  any  mining  excavations  can  reach.  The 
fissures  and  the  veins  arc  found  at  all  conceivable  angles  or  dips. 
Rarely  they  are  found  nearly  horizontal,  but  this  though  at  first 
a  seeming  advantage,  is  hardly  a  real  one,  inasmuch  as  from 
the  nearly  level  character  of  the  land  adjacent  there  will  be  great 
difficulty  eventually  in  freeing  the  lower  levels  of  the  mine  from 
the  water  which  accumulates.  Often  the  dip  of  the  fissure  and 
the  strata  adjacent  is  at  an  angle  of  twenty,  thirty,  forty,  or  fifty 
degrees  with  the  surface;  sometimes  it  Is  even  perpendicular; 
and  where  the  angle  is  considerable  and  the  vein  or  lode  is  first 
discovered  on  a  hillside  or  near  its  summit,  a  tunnel  run  at  a 
much  lower  level,  so  as  to  strike  .he  vein,  afTords  the  best  means 
of  draining  it.  -lii.'^j*  ••  * !        '  •■  »    /»!(•/ ;.|,.;   ,<:   .  .f.Ht  >f - 

Not  only  does  the  fissure  dip  at  very  various  angles,  but  ft 
may  penetrate  tlie  harder  rocks  at  any  angle  varying  f*'om  the 


'-  ■--''^vmwi:nM3r&*i.f%XS)Jllt^^. 


TKVE  PtSSVMM   VHISS  OH  tOPKM, 


m 


%  very  Irrcg- 
ciiiy;  largely 

((iinrtz  vt;in 
lins  roiiiuird 
n«*i,  of  lar^c 

briil^ing  or 
dcil  by  soft, 
I  home  jjoUi. 
imctitn«'»  the 
jyry  or  hard 
until  it  in  cut 
rds.     This  is 

fillin^j  up  of 
y  cartluiuakc, 
e,  quart/  and 
ibination  with 
rals,  it)  a  lUiid 
,tk  or  fissure; 
kvithin  a  mod- 
mited  by  the 
generally  ex- 

reach.  The 
ngles  or  dips, 
hough  al  first 
luch   as  from 

will  be  great 
ic  mine  from 
le  fissure  and 

forty,  or  fifty 

erpendicular; 
)r  lode  is  first 

nel  run  at  a 

le  best  means 

angles,  but  It 
■-ing  f-om  the 


perptindiculAf,  so  that  the  entire  vein  may  enter  the  rocks  in  a 
slanting  dirrction.  and  the  walls  of  slate  or  ftorphyry  which  rn- 
close  thr  vein,  and  arc  tailed  in  minern'  parlance  "nnuury  rock," 
may  slope  nt  nn  angle  of  forty-five  degrees,  or  Ik*  even  nrarly 
horixont.d  in  position,  while  th.ey  have  at  tlic  hai)\e  tinu'  tlic 
downward  trend  of  the  rocky  stratum  to  which  they  belong. 

The  true  fissure  vein  may  have,  and  the  best  veins  oli»n  ilo 
have,  chimneys,  chutes,  bonanzas,  or  branch  fissures,  generally 
connecting  with  the  main  vein  or  lode  on  itn  upper  side,  at  an 
angle  of  from  thirty  to  forty-five  di'grecs,  which  »nay  be  richer 
in  goUl  than  t\\v.  main  vein.  These  ciuites  or  chiiniuys  often 
extend  downward  into  the  true  or  main  vein,  and  are  thon^dit  to 
determine  in  part  its  vatiKr.  The  mining  geologists  think  that 
they  were  deposited  much  as  soot  is  in  a  chimney,  the  gold  being 
in  a  Huid  or  gaseous  condition  at  the  time. 

Ciold  as  well  as  silver  is  sotnctimcs  found  In  considerable 
quantities  in  pockots,  or  small  cavities  in  the  rocks,  and  those, 
whi(  h  are  sometimes  of  modtrrate  extent,  may  yirdd  a  fortune  to 
one  or  two  men ;  but  these  pockets  are  seldom  connected  with 
a  true  fissure  vein,  and  when  once  jxhausted,  are  not  of  any 
value,  even  as  indications  of  the  presence  of  fissure  veins  or 
kxles  in  the  vicinity. 

It  was  supposed  previous  to  1877,  that  the  experience  of  cen- 
turies in  mining  for  gold  and  silver  had  developed  all  the  modes 
in  which  the  precious  metals  or  their  ores,  were  deposit<'d  in  the 
earth,  to  be  brought  out  for  the  use  of  man.  The  placer  mines, 
and  the  vein*  or  I'^des,  the  true  fissure  veins,  as  they  were  called, 
were  reckoned  the  only  melhods  by  which,  in  the  processes  of 
nature,  large  quantities  of  these  metals  or  ores  were  deposited. 
There  might  be,  indeed,  pockets  and  chimneys  of  nearly  pure 
metal,  which,  when  the  miner  stumbled  upon  them,  would  add 
greatly  to  his  profits  so  long  as  they  lasted  ;  but  these  were  only 
incidents  or  accidents,  not  to  be  taken  into  account  in  scientific 
mining.  It  was  reserved  for  the  opening  of  mines  of  silver  and 
gold  at  Leadville,  and  subsequently  at  other  points  in  the  San 
Juan  and  Gunnison  districts,  and  probably  also  in  Utah,  to  bring 
to  light  two  discoveries  which  are  of  the  greatest  impoi  tance  to 


,■  jiu!^^4^-,!UJk^k^m^  I  "Ut  L  ■*■»<  J  ii."il<i>if.^  J»J-  of-^..  o-*'44 


«•<*  ■  >i*u"^  '-•' 


i-: 


't 

1 


110 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIKR. 


miners  and  holders  of  mining  property.  The  first  and  most 
obvious  one  was  that  siWer,  and  to  some  extent  also  gold,  in 
combination  with  lead,  existed  in  large  quantities  and  very  ricn 
ores,  in  other  forms  than  the  argentiferous  galena  or  sulphuret, 
9na  that  sulphur  was  not  a  necessary  accompaniment  of  silver 
and  gold  ores,  whether  in  combination  with  lead,  zinc,  copper,  or 
iron.  The  carbonates  of  lead,  etc.,  have  proved  the  most  produc- 
tive of  combinations.  The  second  discovery  was  still  more 
important,  and  is  only  just  beginning  to  be  understood:  it  is, 
that  the  deposits  of  ore  need  not  be  in  fissure  veins,  or  lodes,  in 
placers,  in  pockets,  or  in  chimneys ;  but  that  there  is  another 
form,  perhaps  as  productive,  and  certainly  more  easily  worked 
—that  of  "  contact  lodes"  by  which  are  meant  deposits  of  silver 
ore,  spread  with  a  considerable  thickness  over  the  surface  of  a 
stratum  of  rock,  and  following  it  in  all  its  sinuosities  and  its  dip 
over  a  great  extent.  Unlike  the  fissure  veins,  these  are  not  o'!" 
great  depth,  though  sometimes  they  occur  in  two  or  three  layers 
with  the  strata  of  sandstone  or  limestone  between.  These  con- 
tact lodes  generally  occur  in  cavernous  limestone  or  sandstone. 

As  we  have  already  intimated,  geld  is  found  in  the  lodes, 
either  free — i.  e.,  pure  or  nearly  so,  or  combined  with  sulphurets 
of  iron,  copper,  lead  or  zinc,  in  the  form  of  pyrites.  Its  treat- 
ment after  it  comes  from  the  mine  differs  somewhat  in  the  two 
cases.  The  amount  of  gold  in  the  quartz  is  often  very  small — 
smaller  one  hundred  feet  below  the  surface  than  near  the  surface; 
but,  except  in  the  barren  portions  of  the  vein,  not  diminishing  or 
increasing  very  greatly  in  the  lowest  levels  which  have  been 
reached  (and  some  of  these  exceed  3,ocx3  feet,  or  three-fifths  of  a 
.mile).  Quartz  or  ore  which  wiU  assay  twenty- three  or  four  dol- 
lars per  ton,  and  which  yields  after  being  put  through  the  stamp 
batteries  and  the  amalgamating  process  eighteen  dollars  per  ton, 
is  regarded  as  very  good.  Not  over  one-fourth  of  the  gold  mines 
exceed  this,  and  very  many  fall  below  it,  and  are  yet  worked  at 
a  moderate  profit. 

The  mining  and  reducing  processes  are  these :  A  lode  or  vein 
having  been  traced  out  which  bears  evidence  of  being  a  true  fis- 
sure vein,  and  the  claim  (1,500  feet  in  length,  and  300  in  width, 


MINING  AND  REDUCING   PROCESSES. 


Ill 


rst  and  most 
r  also  gold,  in 
and  very  ricti 
1  or  sulphuret, 
iment  of  silver 
;inc,  copper,  or 
e  most  produc- 
vas   still   more 
ierstood:  it  is, 
ins,  or  lodes,  in 
lere  is  another 
;  easily  worked 
posits  of  silver 
he  surface  of  a 
iities  and  its  dip 
hese  are  not  o 
^  or  three  layers 
en.     These  con- 
e  or  sandstone, 
^d  in  the  lodes, 
with  sulphurets 
rites.     Its  treat- 
■what  in  the  two 
ten  very  small- 
near  the  surface; 
3t  diminishing  or 
rhich  have  been 
three-fifths  of  a 
hree  or  four  dol- 
rough  the  stamp 
.  dollars  per  ton, 
►f  the  gold  mines 
5  yet  worked  at 

:  A  lode  or  vein 
being  a  true  fis- 
nd  300  in  width, 


being  the  general  extent  of  a  single  claim)  being  duly  entered,  the 
mine-owner  begins  operations  by  sinking  a  shaft  in  the  line  of 
the  vein  to  ascertain  its  quality,  and,  when  the  shaft  is  down  fifty 
or  a  hundred  feet,  running  an  adit  or  level  along  the  course  of 
the  vein  to  ascertain  its  quality  at  that  depth ;  sometimes  a  ztn'me 
is  cut, — two  adits  at  different  levels  cutting  across  the  vein  or 
veins  at  levels  fifty  feet  apart,  and  connected  with  each  other  at 
their  further  extremity  by  a  shaft  which  does  not  rise  to  the  sur- 
face. Sometimes,  if  the  shaft  is  on  the  top  or  side  of  a  hill,  a 
tunnel  is  run  to  it  from  the  base  of  the  hill  for  the  purposes  of 
drainage,  ventilation  and  the  more  easy  transportation  of  the  ore. 
If  on  the  examination  of  the  quartz,  or  ore  taken  from  the  vein 
at  this  depth,  the  promise  of  success  is  good,  additional  capital 
is  enlisted,  and  the  shaft  is  constructed  to  a  greater  depth,  levels 
or  adits  run  at  different  levels  and  of  considerable  length,  rails 
put  down  on  the  levels,  steam-hoisting  machinery  set  up  at 
the  mouth  of  the  shaft,  pumping  machinery  put  in  to  relieve 
the  mine  of  the  accumulation  of  water  (which  is  often  very  hot — 
as  high  as  154°  F.  in  some  of  the  Nevada  mines),  and  stoping, 
either  overhand  or  underhand,  commenced,  especially  if  the  vein 
or  veins  dip  at  an  angle  of  40"*  or  50°.  Stoping  is  the  break- 
ing out  with  a  pickaxe  the  quartz  of  the  vein,  and  letting  it  fall 
on  the  level  ready  to  be  hoisted  by  the  machinery.  If  the  miner 
stands  at  his  work  and  brings  down  the  quartz  from  the  vein  at 
the  level  of  his  breast  or  above,  it  is  called  "overhand  stoping;" 
if  he  picks  it  from  about  his  feet  or  below  and  stoops,  sits  or 
crouches  at  his  work,  and  the  masses  thus  broken  out  fall  to 
the  level  below,  it  is  "  underhand  stoping." 

This  mining,  if  profitable,  may  be  extended  to  as  great  a  depth 
as  may  be  desired,  the  only  checks  upon  it  being,  the  great  ex- 
pense of  the  pumping  apparatus  at  considerable  depths,  and  the 
difficulty  of  freeing  the  mine  from  water ;  the  more  than  torrid 
temperature  in  the  deep  mines,  and  the  time  and  expense  of 
hoisting  the  ores  from  such  great  depths.  By  a  tunnel  like  the 
3utro  tunnel,  the  water  can  be  carried  off  at  moderate  expense, 
the  heat  greatly  miti^jated  by  free  ventilation,  and  the  ores 
hoisted  and  brought  to  the  surface  at  a  much  lower  cost;  but 
such  tunnels  are  exceedingly  expensive. 


i 


f 
t 


li 


t 


■'i^^\.iiii0if^^(Aisimi!Sii»^iei»m^^MiS£%:^l«S:^i^6Siligr^*^ 


113 


QUR    WMSTMK.V  EMriRE. 


The  ore  broken  out  and  hoisted  to  the  surface  is  now  ready 
for  reduction.  If  the  masses  arc  of  large  size  they  are  at  first 
put  through  the  rock-breaker,  which  reduces  them  to  the  size  of 
a  goose-egg ;  they  are  next  conducted  to  the  stamp-batteries  or 
stamp-mill,  where  tliey  are  fed  into  the  stamping-machi.ie,  a 
cylindrical  machine,  whose  walls  are  of  hardened  chilled  iron,  its 
floor  or  mortar  of  the  hardest  steel,  and  a  solid  mass  of  chilled 
iron  faced  with  hard  steel,  of  cylindrical  form,  descends  with  a 
twisting  motion  upon  the  quartz,  grinding  and  crushing  it  to 
powder — the  inner  surface  of  the  cylinder  is  coated  generally 
with  quicksilver,  and  the  powdered  quartz  mingled  with  water  in 
the  stamping-machine,  flows  out  upon  amalgamated  copper 
plates,  which  have  a  sufficient  extent  to  catch  the  larger  part  of 
the  gold  particles.  The  stamping-machine  is  cleaned  out  at 
frequent  intervals,  and  the  plates  have  their  coating  of  amalgam 
removed,  the  superfluous  quicksilver  is  squeezed  out  through 
buckskin,  and  the  remainder  expelled  by  heat,  the  sublimed 
quicksilver  being  recovered  for  future  use.  The  gold  remains  a 
spongy  mass,  but  is  melted  and  cast  in  the  form  of  an  ingot 

This  is  the  improved  process  of  to-day,  the  result  of  twenty- 
five  years  of  experiment  and  invention.  By  this  process  about 
seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  gold  is  saved,  whereas  with  the 
ruder  processes  of  the  arastra  and  the  earlier  stamp-mills,  only 
from  sixteen  to  forty  per  cent  of  the  gold  was  secured ;  and  the 
woricing  over  of  the  tailings  of  the  arastras  and  of  the  long 
Toms,  and  early  sluices,  by  Chinese  miners,  yielded  them  a  very 
profitable  harvest  of  gold.  A  new  process  has  recendy  been 
devised,  which,  bringing  galvanic  action  to  bear  upon  the  masses 
of  ore  of  the  size  of  a  goose-egg,  reduces  them  to  a  stats  of  dis- 
integration, rendering  the  stamp-mills  unnecessary  and  causing 
the  lumps  to  crumble  upon  mere  pressure,  sets  the  entire  gold  in 
the  ore  free  instantly,  and  thus  dispensing  with  much  costly  ma- 
chinery, at  the  same  time  greatly  increases  the  gold  production. 

If,  as  was  largely  the  case  in  Colorado  and  to  some  extent  in 

some  of  the  other  States  and  Territories,  the  gold  was  combined 

,:vvith  the  sulphurets,  and  came  from  the  mine  as  pyrites,  it  was, 

either  before  or  after  being  put  into  the  rock-breaker,  roasted  to 


MINIS'G  AND  REDUCING  PROCESSES. 


"3 


e  is  now  ready 
hey  are  at  first 
I  to  the  size  of 
ip-batteries  or 
ing-machi.ie,  a 
chilled  iron,  its 
nass  of  chilled 
ascends  with  a 
crushing  it  to 
ated  generally 
i  with  water  in 
mated  copper 
larger  part  of 
leaned  out  at 
ig  of  amalgam 
d  out  through 

the  sublimed 
gold  remains  a 
fan  ingot 
>ult  of  twenty- 
process  about 
ereas  with  the 
amp-mills,  only 
:ured ;  and  the 
id  of  the  long 
:d  them  a  very 

recently  been 
3on  the  masses 
a  state:  of  dia- 
ry and  causing 
!  entire  gold  in 
luch  costly  ma- 
id production, 
some  extent  in 
'.  was  combined 
pyrites,  it  was, 
tker,  roasted  to 


expel  the  sulphur,  which  prevented  amalgamation.  This  is  now 
done  at  some  mills  in  the  open  air,  at  others  in  furnaces.  When 
roasted  it  is  reduced  to  powder  under  water  in  the  stamp-mills, 
amalgamated  in  the  mortars,  passed  over  the  amalgamated  cop- 
per plates,  and  beyond  these  made  to  flow  over  rough,  thick, 
hairy,  woollen  blankets,  which  catch  a  considerable  quantity  of 
the  gold  which  is  saved  by  repeated  washings ;  the  stream  of 
water,  still  thick  with  the  powdered  quartz,  falls  into  tanks  called 
huddling  tanks,  where  it  settles,  and  from  the  lower  portion  of 
the  huddled  tailings,  a  dollar  or  two  more  of  gold  is  extracted. 
By  a  process  invented  by  T.  A.  Edison,  the  electrician,  thes.'^ 
huddled  tailings  are  made  to  yield  up  a  large  and  profitable 
residue  of  the  gold  hitherto  wasted. 

In  the  Black  Hills,  Dakota,  the  gold  is  largely  combined  or 
encrusted  with  oxide  of  iron,  and  requires  a  somewhat  different 
treatment,  to  free  it  from  the  iron,  which  prevents  the  gold  from 
amalgamating,  and  requires  the  patient  labor  of  the  Chinese  to 
extract  that  which  remains  in  the  tailings.  This  oxide  of  iron,  in 
the  placer  deposits,  coats  over  the  gold  and  gravel  and  forms  a 
dense  and  firm  cement,  sometimes  of  great  extent,  which  cannot 
be  washed  out  in  the  sluice-boxes,  but  requires  to  be  put  through 
the  stamp  batteries  like  the  quartz  from  the  lodes.  The  gold 
mines  of  the  Black  Hills  are  so  situated,  far  up  on  the  hills,  that 
the  ore  can  be  carried  directly  into  the  stamp-mills  by  chutes, 
and  hence,  though  the  gold  ores  are  of  low  grade,  averaging  not 
more  than  $io  or  jji2  per  ton,  the  cost  of  reduction  is  so  small, 
ranging  from  $i.8o  10^4.50  per  ton,  that  the  profit  on  these 
uniform  low  grade  ores  is  better  than  is  obtained  on  ores  of 
higher  grade,  which  cost  more  for  reduction. 

Where  the  ores  contain  gold  and  silver  in  combination  with 
copper,  lead,  or  zinc,  and  sulphur,  a  more  active,  expensive  and 
protracted  treatment  is  necessary ;  but  this  belongs  rather  to  sil- 
ver than  gold-mining.  Where  the  raw  amalgamation  and  wet 
crushing  process  described  above  is  all  that  is  necessary,  gold 
can  be  reduced  from  the  quartz  for  from  $3  to  $5  per  ton,  and 
thus,  unless  the  transportation  is  too  expensive,  it  is  possible  to 
reduce  low  grade  ores,  those  containing  from  $15  to  ;^2o  of  gold 


\ 


'■'%aiiijMti»i'»- 


^Mjt<«!icaw«i5<rt»^jM««*:»v/j:j:v*»fevic«j^ 


II 


.;',V.''lj»i»Ti, 


I 
I-  'i 

m 


114 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


to  the  ton,  and  maKC  a  fair  profit  on  the  business.  The  plant  or 
first  cost  of  a  stamp-mill  of  five,  ten,  or  even  twenty  sian;()s  Is 
not  now  so  great,  as  to  deter  the  owners  of  a  good  mine  from 
setting  it  up;  or  if  it  is  the  property  of  parties  who  arc  not 
miners  but  who  undcrr>tand  tlieir  business,  two  or  three  mines 
of  moderate  si2e  can  keep  it  constantly  employed.  By  this  pro* 
cess,  while  from  seventy  to  seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  gold  is 
saved,  much,  generally  all,  of  the  silver  is  lost,  and  the  whole  of 
tlie  copper,  lead  and  zinc. 

Silver  was  first  discovered,  in  any  considerable  quantity,  in  these 
States  and  Territories,  in  Nevada  in  1S57  by  the  Grosh  brothers; 
but  owing  to  its  being  largely  combined  with  gold,  and  the 
death  of  the  discoverers  soon  after,  the  discovery  was  not 
prosecuted  at  first  very  vigorously.  In  June,  1S59,  the  first 
great  discovery  of  silver  was  made  on  apart  of  what  is  now  known 
as  the  Comstock  lode,  the  grounds  of  the  Ophir  Mining  Company. 
Peter  O'Reilly  and  Patrick  McLaughlin  were  the  discoverers, 
but  as  the  land  was  claimed  by  Kirby  and  others,  they  employed 
Henry  Comstock  to  purchase  the  land.  Comstock  negotiated 
at  the  same  time  one  or  two  other  claims,  and  finally  purchased 
the:  whole  tract,  to  which  he  gave  his  name,  but  appreciated  its 
value  so  litde,  that  ho  sold  it  for  a  few  thousand  dollars,  and 
regarded  himself  as  having  made  an  e;:cellent  bargain.  From  that 
Comstock  lode  or  vein,  more  than  three  hundred  millions  of 
dollars  have  been  taken  since  that  time — a  period  of  twenty 

years.  ,.■    ,•;,   ;••  .;:■;■'^',     Ui    .1.  (    .     n'\i    A  'jI   ■;  ,' .    '    :       ',[     \r  s.!.  .1   : 

•„  Silver  is  found  In:  all,  or  nearly  all,  the  different  systems  of 
rocks  forming  the  crust  of  the  earth,  from  Azoic  to  Tertiary.  Like 
the  gold  and  gold  ores,  it  is  found  only  in  veins,  though  these  are 
apmetimes  of  "^reat  width,  the  Comstock  lode  varying  from 
twenty  to  one  Iiundred  and  fifty  feet.*  The  depth  of  these  veins, 
like  those  of  the  gold,  has  never  been  ascertained,  but  it  is  known 
in  some  cases  to  exceed  2,650  feet.  The  ores  contain  the  silver 
in  various  conditions  and  combinations.     In  Nevada,  it  is  com- 


*  Since  the  partial  fitilure-of  these  veins,  and  the  discovery  of  contact  lodes  at  Leadville,  the 
idea  is  gaining  ground  that  a  part  of  the  deposits  of  the  Comstosk,  and  es^iecially  those  veins 
«  kundred  and  fifty  feet  wide,  m^  be  contact  lodes.  .  . .  .,  ,^, 


•r'ynwr^i^Ji'i"-''  •■V:i*y'-.i'^"-i'''-i'T! 


SILVER  MINING  AND  JtF.DUCT/ON. 


"5 


The  plant  or 
nty  sian;[js  is 
k1  mine  from 

who  arc  not 
r  three  mines 
By  this  pro* 
3f  the  gold  is 
,  the  whole  of 

intity,  in  these 
•osh  brothers ; 
rold,  and  tl;e 
/ery  was  not 
S59,  the  first 
is  now  known 
ing  Company, 
i  discoverers, 
hey  employed 
ck  negotiated 
illy  purchased 
ppreciated  its 
1  dollars,  and 
n.  From  that 
d  millions  of 
od  of  twenty 

It  systems  of 
ertiary.  Like 
ugh  these  are 
irarying  from 
>f  these  veins, 
ut  it  is  known 
ain  the  silver 
ida,  it  is  com- 
ics at  Leadville,  the 
pecially  those  veius 


bincd  with  a  certain  proportion  of  gold,  and  is  found  as  a 
sulphurct  of  silver  and  icad  (argentiferous  galena),  a  sulphuret 
of  silver  and  copper  (copper  pyrites),  of  zirtc,  and  combined 
vrkh  sulphurcts  of  iron,  antimony,  tellurium  and  other  base 
metals;  as  native  or  virgin  silver  ;  as  chloride  of  silver  or  horn 
silver;  as  a  richly  ai*gcntiferous  carbonate  of  lead,  copper,  zinc 
or  iron,  and  in  yet  other  combinations,  which  can  only  be  reduced 
by  long  and  tedious  labor  and  at  great  expense. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  silver  from  the  mines  on  the  Com- 
stock  lode  can  be  reduced  by  the  dry  stamping  and  amalgamating 
process.  These  are  those  in  which  the  percentage  of  lead  is 
small  and  that  of  gold  large.  In  these  cases  the  lead  is  lost,  but 
the  reduction  costs  only  froili  four  to  five  dollars  a  ton.  Ores 
containing  more  lead,  or  copper,  zinc,  etc.,  are  variously  treatcti 
by  roasting,  smelting,  treating  with  copper,  iron,  or  *'  lead  riches," 
mixing  with  salt  to  change  the  sulphurets  inio  chlorides, 
chlorodlzing,  leaching,  melting  in  a  reverbatory  furnace,  etc. 
The  ores  of  Colorado  are  partly  sulphurets  and  partly  carbonates, 
and  in  some  of  them  there  is  a  large  amount  of  native  stiver. 
The  Utah  ores  are  very  largely  chlorides  or  chlorides  and 
sulphurets,  with  some  "horn"  or  native  silver;  some  of  the 
California  ores  of  more  recent  discovery  are  carbonates.  Those 
of  Montana  are  mosdy  sulphurets,  but  mingled  with  such  a 
variety  of  base  metals  and  in  such  a  condition  that  the  reduction 
is  effected  with  great  difficulty.  Indeed  until  the  recent 
establishment  of  the  Alta  Montana  mill  and  works  at  Wickes, 
most  of  the  ores  from  the  Montana  mines  have  been  only  con- 
centrated, and  sent  out  of  the  Territory  for  reduction.  The 
Alta  milf  concentrates,  and  employs  seven  or  eight  different 
processes  of  reduction,  all  of  them  expensive  and  requiring 
cosdy  and  complicated  machinery.  Ores  are  reduced  by  these 
processes  at  a  cost  of  from  $15.75  to  $50,  so  that  low  grade  ores 
do  not  pay  for  mining,  if  they  contain  much  of  the  base  metals. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  occupy  our  pages  with  minute  description 
of  these  various  processes,  or  the  machinery  constructed  for 
them.  They  can  only  be  worked  by  experts,  and  the  great 
competition  for  btisuiess  in  thfe  numerous  rfeduction  establish- 
ments secures  the  miner  against  exorbitant  prices. 


I 

I 


\  -' 


■"^=  ^!40W*a*Nfta=ia*««i»«!t«!lrtda«A***j»fcs«^^  *««■*.>*. , 


»■■ 


■A 


■■  iM^-:tf.'  i^'A^!ga^':^'K.\^\--      i|,. 


ii6 


OUR    WESTER tf  EMPIRE. 


It  is  difficult  to  say  which  arc  absoUitdy  the  best  mining  regions. 
Tliore  are  advantages  and  disadvantages  about  them  all,  to  the 
practical  miner  or  the  resident  mine-owner.  In  thos^  mines 
which  have  been  established  from  fifteen  to  twenty-five  years,  like 
many  of  those  in  California  and  Nevada,  the  shares  are  high 
priced,  if  the  mines  continue  to  be  valuable  ;  the  depth  of  the 
mines  is  so  great,  and  the  danger  of  the  accumulation  of  wate-r 
so  constant,  that  the  expenses  are  enormous,  and  large  as  the 
dividends  are,  the  assessments  made  on  the  shares  for  improve- 
ments nearly  equal,  and  in  some  cases  exceed  all  the  declared 
profits.  There  are,  indeed,  all  the  appliances  of  civili^ation,  and 
the  miner  or  mine-owner  is  not  subjected  to  the  hardships  and 
privations,  from  which  those  suffer  who  attempt  to  open  mines 
in  a  new  country.  Placer  mining  is  best  adapted  to  the  young 
and  enterprising  miner  who  has  little  or  no  capital.  He  needs 
at  the  outset  only  his  tin  or  iron  pan,  his  pick  and  shovel  and 
perhaps  a  little  quicksilver,  and  his  haversack  of  provisions — 
yes,  besides  these  he  needs  sufficient  knowledge  of  mining  to 
know  where  he  will  be  likely  to  find  a  place  with  a  moderately 
rapid  stream  of  water  at  hand,  and  when  found,  to  determine 
whether  it  will  pay  for  working,  or  whether  its  best  pay  streaks 
have  already  been  worked  over.  Even  if  his  gains  are  but 
moderate  at  first,  they  will  increase  under  favoring  circumstances, 
till  he  can  substitute  the  "Tom"  for  his  pan,  and  the  sluice  for 
the  "Tom,"  and  employing  help  can  increase  his  income  rapidly. 
But  placer  mining  is,  in  its  nature,  very  uncertain.  The  miner 
may  come  upon  barren  spots  where  there  is  no  pay-dirt,  and  his 
little  hoard  is  fast  becoming  exhausted ;  or,  which  is  worse,  he 
may  come  to  the  end  of  the  placer,  or,  as  in  the  Black  Hills,  may 
find  it  a  hard  lava-like  mass,  agglutinated  and  firmly  cemented 
together  by  the  oxide  of  iron,  which  he  cannot  wash  away  nor 
pulverize,  and  hence,  like  the  tramp,  he  is  obliged  to  move  on. 
Meantime  his  life  is  of  the  hardest  and  roughest,  his  dwelling  is 
either  a  dug-out  in  the  side  of  a  hill,  or  a  sod-hut,  reared  and 
roofed  by  his  own  unskilful  hands ;  his  food  is  hard,  coarse,  and 
badly  cooked,  for  lie  cooks  it  himself,  as  best  he  can ;  he  is  much 
of  the  time  in  wet  clothing,  in  his  work  of  washing  the  gold  • 


h,ff»M  *iW'.T'.«''».jf"r^1g;^^.T 


THE  AfLVEK'S  CHANCES  OF  SUCCESS, 


\\^ 


ninmg  regions. 

hem  all,  to  the 

n  thos«  mines 

five  years,  like 

larcs  are  high 

le  depth  of  the 

lation  of  water 

id  large  as  the 

;s  for  improve- 

dl  the  declared 

civilization,  and 

hardships  and 

to  open  mines 

d  to  the  young 

tal.     He  needs 

and  shovel  and 

)f  provisions — 

;  of  mining  to 

h  a  moderately 

J,  to  determine 

!st  pay  streaks 

gains  are  but 

circumstances, 

\  the  sluice  for 

ncome  rapidly. 

n.     The  miner 

ly-dirt,  and  his 

:h  is  worse,  he 

ack  Hills,  may 

*mly  cemented 

irash  away  nor 

to  move  on. 

lis  dwellinfj  is 

Lit,  reared  and 

d,  coarse,  and 

n ;  he  is  much 

ing  the  gold" 


without  society,  without  books,  \vith<nit  a  .Sabbath  or  any  reli- 
gious privileges.  After  a  longer  or  sh(jrt«'r  linic,  the  placer  gives 
out,  and  he  must  find  another.  What  he  has  savi  il  of  his  gains 
h(!  has,  but  there  is  no  right,  no  claim,  to  bt;  disposed  of;  he  can 
only  pull  up  stakes,  and  begin  again.  For  placer  mining  the 
Hlai  k  Hills,  Western  Colorado,  Montana,  and  perha[)s  some  por- 
tions of  Wyoming,  and  Idaho,  Oregon,  and  Washington  Terri- 
tory, offer  the  best  locations. 

Vox  lode  or  vein  mining  more  capital  is  needed  for  success ; 
and  a  practical  knowledge  of  mining  is  almost  indispen.sable.  It 
makes  little  diffiirence  whether  the  miner  seeks  a  gold  or  silver 
lode;  he  must  be  sure  of  these  four  things:  that  he  is  not  on 
land  already  claimed  by  anybody ;  that  any  apparent  vein  he 
may  discover  is  a  true  fissure-vein,  and  not  a  placer-deposit,  nor 
a  mere  pocket;  that  the  dip  of  the  vein  is  such  as  to  permit 
its  successful  working;  and  that  the  ores  are  of  a  sufficiently 
high  grade  to  pay  the  costs  of  reduction  and  leave  a  small  mar- 
gin of  profit.  Here  again  the  privations  in  the  mode  of  living 
come  in,  and  unless  the  miner  has  considerable  capital,  he  is  lia- 
ble to  see  his  money  and  his  hard  toil  both  go  for  little  or  noth- 
ing, and  the  great  rewards  for  which  he  hoped,  pass  into  the 
pockets  of  some  one  who  has  more  money  but  less  brains  than 
himself;  when  he  has  reached  the  end  of  his  means,  and  is 
obliged  to  sell  at  any  price  v;hich  the  avarice  of  the  buyer  will 
prompt  him  to  give. 

If  he  can  hold  out  and  hold  on,  and  enlist  sufficient  capital  to 
assist  in  the  full  development  of  his  mine,  there  is  a  fortune 
before  him,  but  in  all  the  mining  regions  there  are  not  two  dozen 
well-developed  mines,  of  which  the  original  discoverers  are  still 
proprietors.  Most  of  these  mines  have  from  1^150,000  to 
;i55,ooo,ooo  or  njore  invested,  and  even  these  gigantic  capitals  do 
not  always  yield  a  profit.  In  California,  Nevada,  Utah,  and 
even  in  the  newer  mines  of  Colorado,  Montana,  and  the  Black 
Hills,  capitalists  stand  ready  to  gobble  up  any  promising  mines, 
paying  always  the  lowest  prices  at  which  they  can  be  bought, 
but  developing  them  as  speedily  as  possible,  by  a  lavish  expen- 
diture for  machinery  and  appliances,  and  by  sinking  lower  levels 


,  t-*t*^»»4afe'^w<*.AM»;i«A!.i'-jVsum>*f«v>j*-^.a«A.*tt^^  ^.-ftvjf ,i«,-s ■:■. 


I    • 
I  \ 


!i 


Il8 


OVR    WESTERN  KMPIKR. 


in  the  mines.  In  Nevada  the  bonanza  kinpn  own  all  the  Iwst 
mines,  and  work  them  toj.jethcr  or  separately.  In  Colorado  a 
group  of  millionnaires,  or  rather,  as  "Josh  Hillings"  would  put  it. 
trn-mi!lionnair«'s,  have  obtained  control  of  all  the  richest  mines 
around  Leadville ;  in  the  Black  Hills  one  gigantic  California  firm 
own  all  the  valuable  mines  on  the  great  Belt  near  Deadwood. 
and  stand  ready  to  purchase  any  other  promising  mine.  In 
Utah  and  Montana  Fastern  capitalists  control  the  largest  mines. 

For  the  skilful  mining  engineer,  or  the  intelligent  practical 
miner,  if  he  prefers  gold  mining,  the  Black  Hills.  Colorado,  New 
Mexico  and  Arizona  offer  the  best  fields,  and  perhaps  Oregon 
and  Washington  Territory  furnish  some  good  opportunities  for 
industrious  and  .skilful  men.  For  silver  mining,  Colorado,  possi- 
bly Nevada,  Arizona,  Utah,  Montana,  New  Mexico,  and  perhaps 
Idaho.  Texas  may  yet  develop  some  good  mines  of  gold  and 
silver,  but  there  is  thus  far  nothing  specially  attractive  there. 
California  is  not  opening  many  new  mines,  and  the  old  ones 
have  little  need  of  new-comers. 

To  capitalists  desirous  of  investing  in  mining  enterprises,  we 
have  no  advice  to  offer.  They  have  generally  their  own  ideas 
about  such  investments:  if  these  ideas  are  correct,  they  will  be 
successful ;  if  not,  so  much  the  worse  for  them. 


CHAPTER   XI. 


Othkr  Mktals  awd  Mineral  Products — Quicksilvir— 'Copper — Lead  and 
Zinc— Iron— Platinum— Tin— Nickel— Iridium  and  Osmium— Tellurium 
— Antimony — ARSENIC  —  Manganese  —  Sulphur — BqRAX— Sppf — §alt— 
Coal — Wood  and  Charcoal  as  Fuel — Mineral  Springs. 

Mbrciprv  or  quicksilver  is  found  rarely  in  its  native  or 
metallic  state,  but  generally  as  cinnabar  or  sulphide  of  mercury, 
abundantly  at  many  points  in  the  Coast  Haage  of  it^  Pacific 
coast,  but  is  only  mined  and  reduced  to  any  consideradBle  exjtent 
in  California,  where  the  New  Almaden  and  the  New  Idria  mines 
will  probably  exceed  the  great  Spanisih  mines  from  which  they 


t 


m» 


OTHRR  MKTALS  AND  MINERALS. 


19 


wn  all  the  Ixsst 
In  Colorado  a 
b"  would  put  it. 
ic  richest  mines 
;  Californin  firm 
rar  DeatlwocKl, 
sing  mine.  In 
t:  largest  mines. 
Iligent  practical 
Colorado,  New 
lerhaps  Oregon 
pportunities  for 
[Colorado,  possi- 
co,  and  perhaps 
cs  of  gold  and 
attractive  there, 
d  the  old  ones 

enterprises,  we 
:heir  own  ideas 
ict,  they  will  be 


OPPER — Lead  and 
iMiuM— Tellurium 
IX— Soda— Salt— 

its  nature  or 
de  of  mercury, 

of  t^  Pacific 
idera!ble  extent 

ew  Idria  mines 
rom  which  they 


take  their  names.  Several  other  mines  in  the  vicinity  of  these 
are  in  operation,  and  wlu-nrvcr  there  is  an  incrcastnl  dctiiaiid  for 
the  metal,  will  prove  prntitahle ;  hut  now  that  the  long  litigation 
which  rlosed  the  two  principal  tnincs  for  a  number  of  years  is 
settletl,  their  production  will  greatly  increase.  The  opening  of 
so  many  new  gold  mines,  and  the  great  extent  to  which  hydrau- 
lic mining  is  now  carried,  in^iures  a  prompt  market  at  paying 
prices,  for  all  the  quicksilver  which  these  mines  can  produce,  for 
thus  far  the  rcduciion  of  gold  without  (quicksilver  has  been  found 
impossible.  There  arc  large  deposits  of  cinnabar,  apparently 
inexhaustible,  in  Washoe  and  Nye  counties,  Nevada,  in  Utah, 
and  alleged  discoveries  of  it  liave  been  made  in  Oregon  and  ia 
Arizona.  ' 

Copper. — The  ores  of  this  metal,  and  the  native  metal 
itself,  though  not  in  large  masses  as  in  the  Lake  Superior  region, 
are  found  in  nearly  every  State  and  Territory  of  the  Great  West. 
It  is  found  in  all  forms;  without  admixture  with  other  metals,  as 
malachite,  the  beautiful  green  carbonate  of  copper,  two.  red,  blue, 
gray,  yellow,  and  vitreous  carbonates  and  oxides,  as  copper-glance, 
tctrahedrite,  and  in  every  other  known  form  of  crystallization  ;  as 
copper  pyrites  in  combination  with  gold,  and  in  various  propor- 
tions, in  combination  with  silver,  both  in  the  carbonates  and 
sulphides. 

There  are  hundreds  of  copper  mines  in  California,  the  metal 
occurring  in  some  form  in  nearly  every  county  in  the  State. 
Some  of  these  have  proved  unprofitable,  owing  to  mismanage- 
ment, distance  from  market,  and  difficulty  or  impossibility  of 
their  reduction  near  home.  Recently  improved  methods  of 
smeUing  liave  been  introduced  in  California  and  other  States, 
and  it  is  no  longer  necessary  to  ship  the  ores  to  Baltimore  or  to 
Swansea,  Wales,  to  be  reduced. 

Arizona  is  very  rich  in  copper  ores,  and  they  can  be  very 
easily  worked.  They  yield  from  thirty-six  to  sixty  per  cent,  or 
more  of  pure  copper.  Some  of  them  are  already  sending  large 
quantities  of  block-tcopper  to  San  Francisco.  Nevada  has  an 
abundance  of  copper,  but  it  is  mostly  in  comibination  with  the 
silver.     The  copper  veins  of  Northern  California  extend  intp 


(  ■ 


I'. 


'~''S^^S^.i^»iM.4fmi0mkei-ij^:seiiSiitiisw 


s.-wt,v  'STj/raTJUfc^/i. 


K  » 


«-»A.'>-  ~n.-t*  t42ii'"* 


lao 


OL'k    HMSTt/lN   UMi'tHK. 


t, 


' 


Soulhwrstern  Oregon,  and  arc  evrn  rlchfrr  ihrrc  than  In  Califor- 
nia, t'oppcr  has  also  bc«:n  tliHcovcrcHl  in  Kaslcrn  <^V«i^on. 
VVashinj;ton  Territory  has  its  full  share  of  co|>[)cr,  though  its 
mines  are  as  yet  undeveloped. 

IJoth  Idaho  and  Montana  arc  rich  in  copper,  both  In  cornhii.a- 
tion  with  silver  ami  alone.  Montana  parts  her  co[)[)«'r  from  the 
silv<:r  in  some  of  her  smelting  works  and  ships  it  to  th«;  I'last. 

So  far  as  yet  discovered,  the  copper  in  Dakota,  at  the  HIack 
Hills,  is  mostly  conihinod  with  gold  and  silver,  but  deposits  of 
it,  not  thus  alloyed,  may  yet  be  discovered.  In  Minne;soia  the 
great  copper  field  is  around  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior;  the 
copper  deposits  of  the  Ontonagon  district  in  Northern  Michi- 
gan, dipping  under  the  lake,  and  reappearing  on  the  Western 
shore. 

Proceeding  southward,  Iowa  has  some  copper,  but  not  de- 
veloped. Missouri,  large  beds  of  it,  formerly  workctl  exten- 
sively, but  now  of  such  low  grade  as  not  to  be  profitably  e.xpioited; 
Nebraska  only  a  small  deposit  in  the  southeast ;  while  Kansas, 
which  abounds  in  lead  and  zinc,  has  not  yet  developed  any  cop- 
per. Wyoming  is  abundantly  supplied  with  most  of  the  ores  of 
copper.  In  Colorado,  from  1^90,000  to  ;j;i  20,000  value  of  copper, 
parted  from  silver  and  gold,  is  sent  to  market  every  year.  There 
are  also  mines  of  copper  alone.  But  New  Mexico,  while  all  her 
mines  of  gold,  silver  and  lead  are  rich,  excels  all  the  other 
States  and  Territories  of  the  West  in  the  wealth  of  her  copper 
mines,  which  are  now  In  a  fair  way  to  be  developed  on  a  large 
scale.  Arkansas  has  large  deposits  of  copper  ore  among  her 
other  mineral  wealth ;  it  is  found,  though  not  developed,  in  the 
Indian  Territory,  and  Texas  can  furnish  a  supply,  not  only 
for  all  the  copper-heads,  but  for  all  the  copper-bottoms  of  the 
world. 

Lead  is  as  widely  diffused  as  copper ;  perhaps  even  more  ex- 
tensively. Wherever  silver  is  found,  lead  is  almost  Invariably 
present,  either  as  sulphuret  (galena),  carbonate,  or  oxide.  And 
where  silver  is  absent,  or  present  only  In  Infinitesimal  proportions, 
as  In  Kansas,  Minnesota,  Iowa,  and  Missouri,  and  In  some  of  the 
mines  of  Wyoming,  Dakota  and  Montana,  the  lead  puts  In  its 


rgw-'.nnasa^  wwiww&^Urt:^.*-'^-  -'MOi. ..- 


IKAD,  tisc,  inos,  smtiL 


lai 


ti.m  in  Cilifof. 
•.tern  <^V<';;on. 
«:r,  ihoiij^U  ita 

ih  in  0)rn!)ii.a. 
>|>«T  from  thr 
()  tln!  Mast. 
.  at  tlir  Illack 
lit  deposits  of 
Vlinn<;sot;i  the 
Suix.-rior;  the 
)rih(;rn  Michi- 
the  Western 

r,  hut  not  dc- 
vorkcd  (xtrn- 
ably  exploited; 
wliilt*  Kansas, 
oj)fd  any  cop- 
of  tlie  ores  of 
ilue  of  copper, 
y  year.  There 
),  while  all  her 
all  the  other 
of  her  copper 
ed  on  a  large 
re  among  her 
rclopcd,  in  the 
ply,  not  only 
ottoms  of  the 

ven  more  ex- 
ost  invariably 
oxide.  And 
il  proportions, 
n  some  of  the 
id  puts  in  its 


npprarancr,  a»  sufVicipnt  of  itself,  without  the  more  costly  metal. 
The  (piantiii(!s  of  it  parted  from  silver  arc  enormous,  tlu:  supply 
fron»  two  districts  of  Nevada  alone  being  nearly  suffaicnt  for 
the  American  market,  and  that  of  Colorado  nt  arly  a  million  of 
dollars  annually.  The  other  great  ntining  regions  adil  tj  tiiiii 
vast  total,  and  Kansas,  Missouri,  Iowa,  and  other  Slates  ea  .t  of 
the  Mississippi,  aid  in  rolling  up  an  inmiense  aggregate.  For- 
tunately the  ilcmand  for  lead  is  great  and  constant,  not  limited 
to  the  arts  of  war  and  the  slaughter  of  game,  but  extending 
also  to  many  of  the  arts  of  peace,  being  used  in  rolls,  sheetH, 
and  piping  and  tubing,  furnishing  the  basis  uf  nearly  all  of  uur 
paints,  and  of  many  of  our  drugs. 

/Anc  is  not  cpiite  so  widely  distributed,  but  is  often  found  in 
combination  with  silver  and  lead.  It  is  also  found  by  itself,  or 
with  lead  in  the  form  of  sulphuret  (Blende),  silicate  (calamine), 
or  carix)nate  (Smithsonite).  It  is  mined  anil  reduced  (piite 
largely  in  Kansas,  and  to  some  extent  in  Missouri  and  Cali- 
fornia. 

The  resources  of  our  Western  Kmpirc,  for  thi;  production  of 
Jron  and  Stcd,  have  no  parallel  on  the  globe.  No  one  of  the 
States  and  Territories  composing  if  lacks  deposits  of  iron  ore, 
in  some  of  its  many  and  varied  forms ;  and  in  many  of  them  it 
is  found  of  such  excellent  quality,  and  in  such  immediate  prox- 
imity to  coal-beds,  and  the  necessary  fluxes,  that  the  cost  of  pro- 
duction is  reduced  to  the  lowest  minimum.  The  great  railways 
which  traverse  the  continent  can  have  their  iron  and  steel  rails 
manufactured  within  5C»  feet  of  their  tracks,  and  of  such  quality 
as  cannot  be  obtained  at  any  price  abroad.  The  mountains  of 
iron  ore  yielding  from  fifty  to  ninety  per  cent,  of  the  pure  metal, 
which  are  found  in  Missouri,  Utah,  Oregon,  California,  Wyoming, 
Texas  and  Montana,  only  needed  the  present  demand  for  iron 
and  steel  to  stimulate  their  developmen ,,  and  in  a  short  time 
there  will  be  enough  iron  and  steel,  of  the  best  quality,  produred 
in  these  States  and  Territories,  to  supply  not  only  all  the  iron 
and  steel  rails  (and  it  is  estimated  that  nearly  2,000,000  tons  of 
these  will  be  needed  the  present  year),  but  all  the  machinery  for 
mining,  milling,  manufacturing  and  agricultural  purposes,  all  th< 


.■~4«MUI>»«, 


■mu  ■•a«»'-i«»;,-u.Ati.t.*/4V»(j>i,;*..'-.t».»ivi.'.v..ti»i<  -^-^t^^n. , 


laj 


OUR    WHSIKHS  MMr*Jm, 


\' 


Iron  and  ntccl  for  utr.impr*  and  thipi,  whether  for  commrrc«  «f 
naval  purponrn,  nil  the  ittcrj  ^mkis.  all  tlx?  hriil^cH,  all  the  ImiIM. 
ingH,  all  the  haniwarc,  car  wIicpIh,  lutlrry,  and  all  of  IkhIi  iittuli 
that  it  nrc(h;d  for  any  other  piirpoHt!  under  the  »un,  not  only 
within  the  limitii  of  our  Wcutcrn  I'.inpire,  but  all  the  wotM  over. 
Duty  or  no  duty,  neither  I\n^land  nor  any  other  nation  of 
Europe  can  comjKrte  with  furna****,  wlwrc  the  ore,  rtuxfrs  and 
coal  can  l>e  thrown  directly  ituo  \\\ii  furnace  throu^'h  cluitrs, 
without  iiandlini>;,  and  the  prime  cunt  of  all  Uie  material  and 
itM  conversion  into  steel,  need  nut  exceed  from  $iu  to  if^M 
per  ton,  while  the  product  Ih  of  the  very  Ix'st  ([uality.  Hut  the 
first  cost  of  the  establishment  of  these  furnaces,  and  tlio  rolling* 
milU,  machine-shops,  foundries,  etc.,  etc.,  is  very  large,  and  re* 
quires,  and  will  re({uire,  the  investment  of  many  millions  of 
capital,  though,  once  imdcr  way,  the  returns  will  l)c  enormous, 
and  the  rapid  j^rowth  of  these  establishments  will  be  jjigantic 
Kuropeati  capitalLsts  are  already  transferring  their  furnaces 
and  workmen  to  this  country  in  larjje  numbers,  and  they  are 
wise  in  doing  so.  Witliin  the  next  five  years  there  will  be  a 
demand  for  the  services  of  every  skilled  worker  in  iron  and  stcd 
who  may  land  in  this  country,  and  at  good  wages. 

The  consumption  of  iron  and  steel,  of  our  own  production, 
and  imported  from  abroad  in  1H79,  was  4,410,000  tons,  of 
which  510,000  tons  were  imported;  wc  arc  perfccdy  safe  in 
predicting  that,  in  1889,  it  will  exceed  13,000,000  tons,  and  all 
of  it  will  be  raised  from  our  own  mines,  and  smelted  in  our  own 
furnaces.  ' 

Platinum  is  found  pure,  and  in  combination  with  gold,  iridium 
and  iridosmin  on  the  roast  of  California  and  Oregon,  and  in 
some  of  the  gold  min<  j  of  Colorado  and  Arizona  and  perhaps  else* 
where.  The  quar^''.y  is  not  large,  indeed  it  is  a  rare  metal 
everywhere,  u^c  k>  isian  mines,  which  furnish  from  4,300  to 
5,000  pounds  annually,  producing  about  four-fifths  of  the  whole 
amount  yielded  by  all  countries.  The  whole  quantity  produced 
in  the  United  Staitcs  does  not  probably  exceed  450  or  500 
pounds.  Mr.  Edison,  the  invetrtor,  in  1879  desired  tx>  use  pla* 
inum  wires  for  holding  the  carbons  for  his  divided  electric 


*t^y'  ^'wi^'*'  Min^w 


IJUM^TJW 


riATtstm,  Try.  mcKKi,  tutDWM, 


Its 


'  commrrtc  of 

,  all  tlur  IxiiM- 
)r  lK)tl)  rnctaU 
Mtin,  not  only 
»c  woiM  over. 
Iior  nation  of 
1^,  fluxes  and 
rouijh  chutes, 

material  and 
w  %\o  to  %\i 
lity.  Udt  the 
ttd  tli«  rolling* 
lar^'Ji  and  re- 
y  niilliunH  of 
l)c  enormous, 
II  be  gi(<;antic 
ihcir    furnacca 

and  they  »re 

licrc  will  be  .1 

iron  and  stcd 

rn  production, 
,000  tonH,  of 
rfectly  safe  in 
tons,  and  all 
ed  in  our  own 

1  {jl^Id,  iridium 
rcgon,  and  in 

perhaps  else- 
a  rare  metal 
rom   4,300  to 

of  the  whole 
itity  produced 
450  or  500 
d  tx)  use  pla* 
vided  electric 


lifjhtn,  nrul  addressed  incpiiries  to  all  partirs  connected  with 
|folt|-ininini;  operations  in  re^janl  to  a  postibic  or  probable  lup* 
ply  of  the  mrtai.  Mr  found  that  it  wan  much  more  widrly  dif- 
fused than  had  ^enrrally  been  sup(K)iw.*d,  but  that  it  wan  found 
in  such  Hinall  ([uantitieH  that  any  considrrabic  im  rcasrd  deniand 
would  enhance  the  price  b<;yond  the  limit  whit h  he  (ould  .ittord 
to  pay,  and  he  sub'«tituit!d  a  leHS  expensive  material  for  it.  i'la* 
tinum  is  now  worth  from  f,'jo  to  fjt^  ydx  pound. 

Tin  is  not  fouml  in  la  j^'e  (|ii.intitieN  in  any  part  of  the  United 
Statrt,  but  the  {greater  part  of  what  <loes  occur  is  in  California, 
Nevada,  Idaho,  Missouri,  Arizona  and  Texas.  It  is  also  found  in 
the  State  of  Duian^o,  in  Mexico.  It  is  morttly  found  in  its  bcu 
form  as  cassitcrite  or  oxide  of  tin,  and  is  clansed  as  mine  tin, 
Htream  tin,  and  wood  tin.  This  ore  contains  al)<)ut  seventy-eijjht 
per  cent,  of  pure  metal.  The  entire  production  of  the  world 
is  from  28,000  to  30,000  tons,  of  which  more  than  three-fifths 
comes  from  the  Fast  Indies,  from  Banca  and  the  straits  of  Ma- 
lacca. The  American  production  is  not  sufificient  to  exert 
any  appreciable  influence  on  the  market. 

Nickel,  which  is  now  becominjj;  a  metal  of  so  nuuh  economic 
value  in  the  useful  arts,  is  found  in  our  Western  lltnpire,  as  else- 
where, in  combination  witli  several  of  the  ores  of  iron.  It  forms 
bi;t  a  very  small  constituent  in  these  ores,  from  two  to  five  per 
cent.,  and  occurs  oftenrst  in  the  argillaceous  ores.  By  proper 
treatment  of  the  ores,  it  is  removed  in  the  slag,  and  is  concen- 
trated by  various  processes  till  the  matte  contains  about  thirty- 
five  per  cent,  when  it  is  dissolved  out  by  acids.  Its  use  in 
electro-plating  is  very  important  in  the  arts,  and  requires  consid- 
erable skill  in  its  successful  manipulation.  Nickel  in  a  pure  state 
is  wor^.h  about  %"}>  ^  pound. 

Iridium  and  Osmium,  or  rather  the  compound  known  as  Iridm- 
mtM,  which  contains  both  metals,  and  usually  a  small  percentage 
of  rhodium,  and  sometimes  ruthenium,  is  found  in  small  hard 
grains  and  sometimes  in  scales,  in  the  placer  deposits,  and  asso- 
ciates with  platinum.  The  alloy  is  the  hardest  of  known  metallic 
bodies,  and  is  infusible  except  under  the  oxy-hydrogen  blov/-pipe. 
The  iridosmln  is  luicd  in  its  native  condition  fpr  pointing  tlie  iiibe 


MM  AiiW?*  w»  I  mt,  <t.g»>»i»eu»«M»ju-i*wru>in^fc»*g<»v  Ar.4*wA.  ttJtr-^./.vjj 


124 


OUK    lyj-STEMAT  EMPIRE. 


of  gold  pens,  being  as  nearly  as  possible  indestructible  cither  by 
accidents,  or  by  the  chemicals  in  the  ink,  and  being  very  hard. 
Only  the  rounded  particles  arc:  suitable  for  this  purpose,  and 
these  constitute  only  from  one-fifth  to  one-tenth  of  the  whole. 
The  price  a  few  years  since  was  ;ji250  per  ounce.  From  three  to 
eight  ounces  are  obtained  at  the  Assay  offices  in  the  melting  of 
one  million  of  dollars  of  gold.  The  iridium,  when  isolated,  fur- 
nishes the  basis  of  a  black  used  in  decorating  porcelain,  which 
when  baked  in,  is  indestructible. 

Tellurium  is  found  in  combination  with  both  gold  and  silver  as 
tellurides  of  those  metals.  It  belongs  to  the  same  class  of  ele- 
mentary bodies  as  sulphur,  and  imitates  it  in  most  of  its  com- 
pounds. It  has  little  economic  value,  but  is  a  great  source  of 
annoyance  in  the  reduction  works,  in  California,  Colorado,  and 
Montana,  from  the  intensely  poisonous  and  fcetid  properties  of 
its  compounds.  It  is  found  sparingly  in  most  of  the  larger  gold 
deposits. 

Antimony,  Arsenic ^  and  Manganese,  are  found  as  sulphides,  sul- 
phates, carbonates,  oxides,  and  in  rarer  forms,  in  combination 
with  silver,  copper,  lead,  zinc,  and  iron,  sometimes  impairing,  at 
others  enhancing,  the  value  of  the  compound.  In  most  cases  the 
antimony  and  arsenic  are  expelled  in  the  smelter's  furnace.  The 
manganese  in  its  combination  with  iron  is,  to  a  certain  extent, 
beneficial. 

Sulphur,  in  the  form  of  sulphides  and  sulphates,  is  present  in 
a  large  proportion  of  the  silver,  lead,  copper,  zinc,  and  iron  ores. 
But  it  is  also  found  in  a  native  state  in  large  masses  or  deposits, 
in  those  portions  of  California  which  were  formerly  subject  to 
volcanic  eruptions,  in  Humboldt  county,  in  Nevada,  at  several 
points  in  Utah,  especially  in  Millard  county,  where  the  deposit  is 
more  than  twenty  feet  thick ;  at  Brimstone  Mountain  in  the  Yel- 
lowstone Park  region,  in  Dakota,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and 
Texas.  Sulphuric  and  muriatic  acid  are  produced  at  .some  of 
the  smelting  works  from  the  sulphurets  of  iron,  copper,  and  lead; 
while  the  sulphates  of  soda,  magnesia  and  potassa,  are  obtained 
in  a  nearly  pure  state  in  the  alkaline  lakes  of  California,  Nevada, 
Utah  and  Wyoming.    The  sulphate  of  lime  (gypsum  or  plaster 


SULPHUR,  BORAX,   SODA,  SALT. 


13) 


:tible  cither  by 
ing  very  hard, 
purpose,  and 
of  the  whole. 
From  three  to 
the  melting  of 
n  isolated,  fur- 
orcelain,  which 

A  and  silver  as 
le  class  of  ele- 
ost  of  its  com- 
reat  t.Ource  of 
Colorado,  and 
I  properties  of 
the  larger  gold 

\  sulphides,  sul- 
in  combination 
s  impairing,  at 
most  cases  the 
furnace.  The 
certain  extent, 

>,  is  present  in 

and  iron  ores. 

les  or  deposits, 

irly  subject  to 

ida,  at  several 

;  the  deposit  is 

ain  in  the  Yel- 

,  Arizona,  and 

ed  at  some  of 

)per, and  lead; 

L,  are  obtained 

brnia,  Nevada, 

urn  or  plaster 


of  Paris)  is  found  in  extensive  deposits  nearly  or  quite  pure,  in 
almost  every  State  and  Territory  of  the  region,  and  in  California, 
Colorado,  Texas,  and  perhaps  elsewhere,  it  assumes  also  its 
beautiful  forms  of  alabaster  and  selenitc.  The  sulphates  of  zinc. 
copper,  and  iron,  if  they  do  not  exist  naturally,  are  easily  formed 
by  the  reduction  of  the  sulphurets  of  those  metals. 

Borax  (chemically  the  biborate  of  soda)  is  found  at  several 
points  in  California  and  Nevada,  in  the  mud  and  the  water  of 
alkaline  lakes;  and  is  now  produced  of  great  purity,  and  in  such 
large  quantities  as  to  have  revolutionized  the  market,  and  caused 
the  price  of  the  article  at  retail  to  fall  from  fifty  or  sixty  cents 
below  twenty  cents  per  pound.  It  is  either  gathered  in  crystals, 
evaporated  f.om  the  water,  or  procured  from  the  mud,  by  wash- 
ing or  by  lixiviation.  The  supply  seems  inexhaustible,  though 
the  demand  has  greatly  increased  since  the  market  began  to  be 
supplied  from  the  Pacific  coast.  ■ 

Soda,  both  as  caustic  soda,  and  carbonate  of  soda  or  pearlasli, 
and  also  as  sulphate  of  soda  or  Glauber's  salts,  exists  naturally 
in  the  Great  Salt  Lake  and  its  vicinity ;  at  several  places  in  Cali- 
fornia and  Nevada,  and  in  the  alkaline  lands.  It  is  also  found 
in  the  Yellowstone  region  and  in  Texas.  That  found  in  Utah  is 
so  nearly  chemically  pure  as  hardly  to  need  refining. 

Salt. — This  invaluable  mineral  is  widely  diffused  over  this  vast 
region.  On  the  shores  of  the  Pacific  it  is  procured  by  solar 
evaporation  and  boiling.  All  over  California  there  are  salt 
springs,  and  in  many  places  salt  lakes,  from  which  incrustations 
of  nearly  pure  salt  can  be  gathered.  In  Nevada  it  is  found  in 
large  bodies  in  the  beds  of  desiccated  lakes,  in  the  waters  of  salt 
lakes,  and  in  mountain  deposits.  In  Utah,  the  Great  Salt  Lake 
is  a  saturated  solution  of  common  salt,  five  gallons  of  it  yielding 
one  and  three-fourths  gallons  of  crystallized  salt.  It  is  now 
manufactured  largely  from  the  waters  of  the  lake,  and  much  is 
produced  by  natural  solar  evaporation.  Rock-salt,  much  of  it 
almost  perfectly  pure,  is  mined  in  Salt  Creek  Canon  and  on  the 
Sevier  river.  The  northern  part  of  Utah  abounds  in  salt  springs, 
which  pour  their  waters  into  the  Salt  Lake.  Wyoming  has  also 
its  salt  deposits,  as  well  as  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  many  of  them 


1.1  ■• 


s,  I 


iJi';miUiUaiiMaMtmvl:»ttiiSiiX^i*ilt>tieii',..».ixli^^ 


126 


OVR'   WRSTERJ*  EMPIRE. 


in  the  form  of  brine  springs.  Arkansas,  the  Indian  Territory. 
and  Texas  liave  also  brine  springs,  salt  lakes,  and  deposits  of 
salt.  Arizona  and  New  Mexico  have  salt  dieposits  and  salt  lakes. 
The  supply  in  most  of  the  States  and  Territories  now  exceeds  the 
demand,  but  the  growing  requirements  of  the  smelting  and  re- 
duction works  for  it,  m  the  reduction  of  pyritous  ores,  and  to 
some  extent"  the  carbonates  also,  as  well  as  its  use  for  domestic 
and  packing  purposes,  insure  a  future  demand  which  will  require 
the  erection  of  additional  salt-works. 

Coal  is  found  at  many  points  in  this  vast  region,  and  of  many 
different  qualities.  There  are  four  distinct  coal-fields  between 
the  Mississippi  river  and  the  Pacific  ocean,  and  they  comprise  an 
area  of  more  than  200,000  square  miles.  The  first  of  these  coal- 
fields extends  from  Iowa,  in  which  State  it  covers  a  large  area, 
through  Missouri,  Eastern  Nebraska  and  Kansas,  Arkansas,  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  Indian  Territory,  and  East-rn  '^  as. 
This  is  called  the  Missouri  coal-field.  It  is  a  bituminous  coal, 
from  the  middle  coal  measures  of  the  carboniferous  system,  in 
many  places  of  excellent  quality,  and  belongs  to  the  class  of 
coking  coals,  being  valuable  for  heating  and  smelting  purposes. 
The  total  area  of  this  coal-field  is  somewhat  more  than  47,000 
square  miles,  or  a  little  larger  than  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  second  of  the  coal-fields  begins  in  British  America,  near  the 
Saskatchewan  river,  and  passes  southward  through  Dakota, 
Eastern  Montana,  Western  Nebraska,  and  Kansas,  and  Eastern 
Wyoming,  through  Colorado,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
Northeastern  New  Mexico,  and  Central  and  Western  Texas.  It 
is  a  lignite  coal,  belonging  to  the  cretaceous  period,  and  in  some 
parts  of  its  course  yields  a  very  fair  heating  coal,  furnishirir^ 
some  gas,  but  not  coking.  In  some  of  the  place's  where  it  is 
mined,  it  assumes  die  characteristics  of  a  cannel  coal,  though  of 
inferior  quality.  It  covers  an  area  of  about  40,000  square  miles, 
but  much  of  it  is  too  deep  for  successful  mining,  especially  as 
the  quality  of  the  coal  is  not  of  the  first  class.  \  ;!?-.  ly,  « 
,:  The  third  coal-field  is  a  very  remarkable  ohe.  Like  the 
second,  it  commences  in  British  America,  passes  through  West- 
ern Montana  and  Idaho,  through  Western  Wyoming  and  Utah 


WtWiiiiirTO  I 


^..yyrg,-^i.-r-'-'-;'! 


COJtt. 


la; 


in  Territory, 

deposits  of 

nd  salt  lakes. 

r  exceeds  the 

king  and  rc- 

ores,  and  to 

for  domestic 

li  will  require 

and  of  many 
slds  between 
'  comprise  an 
of  these  coal- 
a  large  area, 
\rkan?ns,  the 
kst-rn    '''    as. 
iminous  coal, 
us  system,  in 
the  class  of 
ng  purposes. 
I  than  47,000 
Pennsylvania, 
rica,  near  the 
lugh  Dakota, 
and  Eastern 
Mountains, 
rn  Texas.    It 
and  in  some 
al,  furnishiri'f 
te  where  it  is 
al,  though  of 
square  miles, 
especially  as 

Like  the 
irough  West- 
g  and  UtaH 


through  Western  Colorado  and  New  Mexico,  and  perhaps 
Eastern  Nevada,  through  Arizona  aiid  Northwestern  Texas,  and 
into  Mexico,  Like  the  second  coal-field,  it  is  a  lignite,  but  of 
the  tertiary  instead  of  the  cretaceous  period,  being  found  at  the 
north  only  in  the  miocene,  but  in  Texas,  principally,  in  the 
eocene  rocks.  In  Western  Colorado,  in  Utah,  and  in  New 
Mexico,  near  Santa  Fe,  volcanic  action  has  changed  it  into  an 
anthracite  coal,  that  in  New  Mexico  being  of  a  quality  nearly 
equal  to  that  of  the  Pennsylvania  mines.  The  coal-beds  of  La 
Plata  county,  Colorado,  in  the  vicinity  of  Animas  City,  have 
recently  proved  to  be  anthracite,  probably  tertiary  lignites 
changed  by. volcanic  action.  At  other  places,  as  in  parts  of 
Utah,  it  has  been  hanged  into  a  semi-bituminous  coal.  Some 
beds  of  it  coke  and  give  evidence  of  being  good  smelting  coals. 
The  fourth  coal-field  is  in  reality  two  coal-fields  which  inter- 
lock, the  one,  lignites  of  the  tertiary,  which  pass  through  Eastern 
Washington  and  Oregon,  and  in  California  appear  on  both  sides 
of  the  Coast  range ;  the  other,  coming  from  Alaska,  and  furnish- 
ing on  Vancouver  island  and  in  the  Straits  of  San  Juan  de  Fuca 
some  mines  of  excellent  bituminous  coal,  and  passing  down  the 
coast  of  Washington  and  Oregon,  growing  constantly  poorer  and 
more  charged  with  svilphur,  become,  in  California,  interlaced  with 
the  deposits  of  the  tertiary  lignite.  At  one  or  two  points,  as  at 
Monte  Diablo,  they  yield  a  fair  quality  of  bituminous  coal.  The 
last-named  branch  of  this  coal-field  is  found  only  in  the  cretaceous 
rocks,  and  as  it  approaches  former  or  recent  centres  of  volcanic 
action  changes,  as  on  Vancouver  island,  to  a  semi-bituminous 
coal,  and  in  the  Queen  Charlotte  islands,  off  the  coast  of  British 
Columbia,  to  a  true  anthracite  of  excellent  quality.  This  double 
coal-field  covers  nearly  60,000  square  miles,  and  the  preceding 
one  over  50,000.  The  San  Francisco  market  is  supplied  with 
cannel-coal  frpm  England  and  Australia;  bituminous  and  semi- 
bituminous  from  Chili  and  Vancover  island;  anthracite  from 
Pennsylvania  and  Queen  Charlotte  islands;  Cumberland  and 
other  bituminous  coals  from  Pittsburgh,  Leavenworth  and 
Wyoming,  and  Pacific  coast  lignites  from  Belllngham  Bay,  Wash- 
ington Territory,  Coos  Bay,  Oregon,  and  Monte  Diablo  in  Cali- 


i: 


f 


i 


.si«s«';»^e»U>^i«;WI«<>l«syO«L'«S«.iS«mw.i«IK'^^  :^<»:u!Siui^ttlSi»*si)Siji^iJiki,t*;f 


' 


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i 


laS 


Ol/X    WESTSKI^  EMPIRE. 


fornia.  The  Colorado  and  New  Mexican  coals  will  also  appear 
in  its  markets  as  soon  as  a  more  direct  railroad  communication  is 
established. 

In  many  portions  of  this  vast  territory,  where  fuel  for  smelting 
purposes  is  required  either  for  the  reduction  of  the  precious 
metals  and  lead  or  copper,  or  for  the  production  of  pig-iron  and 
Bessemer  steel,  the  forests  are  still  ao  dense  and  convenient  that 
wood  or  charcoal  is  cheaper  than  coal.  But  other  sections  are 
obliged  to  rely  upon  coal  and  upon  that  which  can  be  coked; 
and  in  some  of  the  States  or  Territories,  as  for  example  in  Ne- 
vada, these  coking  conls,  or  the  coke  made  from  them,  are 
brought  from  long  distances,  and  at  a  considerable  expense. 

Intimately  connected  with  coal,  geologically,  are  two  other  min» 
eral  products,  Asphaltum  and  Petroleum.  In  California  there 
are  lakes,  or  rather  marshes,  which  after  the  winter  rains  have 
a  shallow  depth  of  water  on  their  surfaces,  which  are  covered 
to  a  considerable  depth  with  asphaltum,  in  varying  degrees  oi 
hardness,  some  of  it  being  of  the  consistency  of  molasses,  and 
entangling  the  cattle,  which  are  drawn  thither  by  the  hope  of 
finding  water,  and  perish  in  the  sticky  mass ;  nearer  the  edges  it 
is  hardened,  and  becomes  the  solid  asphalt  of  commerce.  These 
lakes  or  marshes  are  found  in  San  Luis  Obispo,  Santa  Barbara, 
Tulare,  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  Some  petroleum  is  found 
with  them,  but  the  best  petroleum  oils  of  California,  and  they  are 
of  excellent  quality,  are  in  Humboldt,  Colusa,  and  Contra  Costa 
counties,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Monte  Diablo ;  but  all  the  coast 
counties  have  petroleum  springs.  Petroleum  has  also  been  dis- 
covered in  Nevada,  though  it  has  not  been  developed.  In 
Northwestern  Colorado,  on  the  White  river,  in  and  near  the  Ute 
Reservation,  there  are  extensive  springs  and  marshes  of  petro. 
leum,  asphalt,  and  mineral  tar.  There  are  also  petroleum  springs 
on  the  headwaters  of  the  Arkansas  river,  near  Denver.  The 
petroleum  region  of  Northwestern  Colorado  extends  northward 
through  Western  Wyoming,  Montana,  and  possibly  Idaho.  Re- 
cently extens've  springs  and  wells  of  petroleum  of  excellent 
quality  have  been  discovered  and  worked  about  ninety  miles 
north  of  Point  of  Rocks,  on  the  Union  Pacific  Railway,  in  Wyom- 


(jgBBWiWiiriiiW  ii  •iTi.T'ii'i'K^rJinra'iif  ifc'it"'  •  ~^<XS.T"~ 


■.■a,'.'ig!5:Bam«,'iM:" 


CEVSF.h'S  A.VD  MISEKAL   UPKIXGS. 


139 


trill  also  appear 
mmunication  is 

el  for  smelting 

if  the  precious 

af  pig-iron  and 

:onvcnieiit  that 

ler  sections  are 

can  be  coked; 

ixample  in  Ne- 

:om  them,  are 

e  expense. 

two  otner  min« 

California  there 

nter  rains  have 

ch  are  covered 

ng  degrees  ol 

molasses,  and 

)y  the  hope  of 

■er  the  edges  it 

kmerce.    These 

Santa  Barbara, 

leum  is  found 

ia,and  they  are 

Contra  Costa 

all  the  coast 

also  been  dis- 

ieveloped.    In 

1  near  the  Ute 

shes  of  petro- 

roleum  springs 

Denver.     The 

nds  northward 

y  Idaho.     Re- 

of  excellent 

ninety  miles 

vay,  in  Wyom- 


ing Territory.  The  last  report  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railway, 
presented  in  March,  1880,  says  that  the  supply  is  apparently 
inexhaustible ;  that  it  is  used  extensively  on  the  railway,  and  that 
it  will  probably  be  shipped  eastward  and  westward  in  large 
quantities,  as  soon  as  arrangements  can  be  made  for  its  trans- 
portation. Petroleum  and  beds  of  mineral  or  paraffin-wax  have 
been  discovered  in  Utah,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Spanish  Fork 
cailon.  The  mineral  wax  is  of  the  same  quality  of  that  found  in 
Galicia,  Austria.  In  Kansas  there  are  numerous  gas-wells,  some 
of  them  furnishing  a  sufficient  quantity  of  illuminating  gas  to 
light  a  city  of  30,000  inhabitants.  These  indicate  the  existence 
of  reservoirs  of  petroleum  below  the  shales  or  bituminous  rocks, 
through  which  the  wells  are  bored.  There  are  also  indications 
of  the  presence  of  petroleum  in  Missouri,  Arkansas,  and  Texas. 

Of  other  mineral  products,  not  already  noticed,  we  may  men- 
tion mica,  which  is  found  in  extensive  deposits,  though  not  yet 
in  very  large  sheets,  at  numerous  points  in  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
as  well  as  in  the  Cascade  Mountains ;  alum  (sulphate  of  alum- 
ina) found  in  great  quantity  and  nearly  pure,  in  Utah ;  kaolin  and 
other  porcelain  clays,  and  the  finest  of  glass-sand  in  all  the  States 
and  Territories  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Most  of  the  sili- 
cates are  also  found  in  combination.   '" '     -    '       '   .<'"'"•' 

But  aside  from  the  mines  of  the  precious  metals,  nothing  in'  the 
mineral  world  has  excited  so  much  interest  in  all  parts  of  this  vast 
region,  as  the  abundance  and  variety  of  its  mineral  springs  and 
geysers.  The  known  geysers,  some  of  them  the  most  remark- 
able yet  discovered  anywhere,  are  found  in  California,  in  the 
Yellowstone  Park,  and  near  the  headwaters  of  the  Yellowstone, 
the  Jefiferson,  Madison,  and  Gallatin  rivers.  This  region,  like 
that  in  California,  has  been  the  scene  of  volcanic  action.  In  our 
description  of  the  Yellowstone  National  Park,  we  shall  give  a 
detailed  account  of  these  and  other  remarkable  phenomena, 
found  in  that  true  wonder-land.  But  the  springs  thought  to  pos- 
sess medicinal  or  healing  virtues  are  myriads  in  number,  as  well 
as  in  character.  Some,  like  the  scores  of  Hot  Springs  in  Arkan- 
sas, Texas,  Colorado,  Nevada,  California,  Utah,  Montana,  and 
Wyoming,  have  no  appreciable  mineral   constituents,  but  owe 


'! 

V,'  , 


-V » 


.■i\*-M.'*..;v'i».i*a<-K!!* '     "jaa.»*;;-^'ii?i  ■  .".W«is**a:'Jifc.«"*l>ii'J*?fe>-^-^^^ 


m 


: 


\ 


130 


OUK    WeSTHKN  EMrmi:. 


their  healing  properties  either  to  their  thermal  quality  (the  heat 
ranging  from  95  to  225°  F.)  or  to  some  not  fully  understood 
ilectric  influence,  which  is  thought  to  pervade  them;  others, 
whether  cold  or  warm,  owe  their  reputed  medicinal  virtue  to  their 
impregnation  with  sulphur,  iron,  lime,  potassa,  soda,  lithia,  phos- 
phorus, or  some  and  perhaps  several  of  the  sulphates,  carbonates, 
phosphates,  nitrates,  lithiatcs,  chlorides,  bromides,  or  iodides,  or 
other  compounds  of  metals,  alkalies,  and  alkaline  earths,  and 
mineral  acids,  and  generally  the  more  nauseous  and  diabolic  the 
taste  and  smell  of  these  villanous  compounds  from  Nature's 
laboratory,  the  greater  the  healing  virtues  they  are  believed  to 
contain.  But  nowhere  in  the  wide  world  are  there  spas  of  such 
capacity,  surrounded  by  such  magnificent  scenery,  or  possessing 
such  natural  advantages,  to  amuse  and  delight  the  visitor,  and 
drive  away  ennui,  as  are  to  be  found  in  Texas,  Arkansas,  and  in 
still  greater  numbers  in  Colorado,  the  Yellowstone  region,  Utah, 
Montana,  Dakota,  Minnesota,  Nevada,  California,  New  Mexico, 
Oregon  and  Washington.  Nature  has  done  its  part  with  a  most 
bountiful  hand,  and  in  many  of  these  places  man  has  done  his 
part  to  make  the  whole  surroundings  attractive.  Already  are 
the  springs  of  the  Yellowstone  Park,  the  most  celebrated  of  those 
in  Colorado,  Utah,  Nevada,  California,  Arkansas,  and  Texas, 
widely  known  and  appreciated  in  Europe,  and  every  season 
brings  many  hundreds  Qf.  European  visitors  hither,  in  search  of 


a  new  sensation. 


-.-KfM-ri  jffofri  •-iris  iT!'>r.;   !  ,.    m.^,;  ,^'Ti-V'*y;   nvoo 


X  oiM' 


:■■:-■■ 'c  f 


,•'?. 


(1;  ,f'.r;ii*h    .' 


'f; 


"ii. ''/•,•  ;'n   !k;*i  tvo:,i-(ib    J  •?  ?•' 


•V.;'  ..,■  •.!v'!"»Y  t^M   '■)  y-  ■■',:.  '.■::   il   ^i'?    "js-hj  i.;-;    ,:f!.i::i  rifo/-:  ''<  ;'-• 

'ui  c;  ^ili'Hii'Js  f-;('ii(?-  •.'tit  tif«I     ,(irj/'>fi'>I.niv.7  ilytt  JiJjii  oi  hnu^ 
'.■-St  -^j-  .-'xlmim  tn  ^hshji'''  •'■(!;  i:ovri\7  i:tulhy,l  no  liJnbi'wHn  r-i: 

biu..t:':ih:ui-if.  ,Jtsj:J.  ,«f;:-i«,>'t|/<.  J  .jr*!jE'i'3/C  /)l;>*ru4u':>  ,?ti;xa^r,'-> 


iWWWJki|.>UI 


i,4iJiMJiJUJMliliiJ,ja.i4J|UW!tW.>^U«aiW4W^ 


iiality  (the  heat 
Lilly  understood 

them ;  others, 
,1  virtue  to  their 
da,  lithia,  phos- 
itcs,  carbonates, 
i,  or  iodides,  or 
ine  earths,  and 
.nd  diabolic  the 

from  Nature's 
are  believed  to 
re  spas  of  such 
^•,  or  possessing 
the  visitor,  and 
rkansas,  and  in 
le  region,  Utah, 
a,  New  Mexico, 
)art  with  a  most 
,n  has  done  his 
.'.  Already  are 
:;brated  of  those 
as,  and  Texas, 
i  every  season 
er,  in  search  of 

i'M'V       .:-;.;/„ 

iunn!;:/:'  )  f(|i  ti;-;! 
i:  ji>  f;'>!k|ri  >  (! 
(UK,i  .•>(.    [)  ■!•!  '  •'■ 

IJTl  J*Hlj   HI   i'OtK  ' 

1  f^ri!  »i!r>fn  .•-:": 

t?V,«i(!    .v'OifTiO  '  ,  f 


J-AHMJXa  £.IS7'  Of  Tiili.   KOCh'Y  MOUNTAINS.  ||| 


CHAPTER    XII. 

AORIC-ULTIIRF. — ARAntE    T.ANIIS   EaST  OK   THE    RoCKV  MOUNTAINS— MINNESOTA 

Farminc.  Lands  ano  Products — Dakota  Territorv  Farmin(;  Lands — 
Montana  Farms — Iowa  Farms — Missouri  Farminc;  Lands — Nkiiraska 
Farmino  Lands — Kansas  Farminc — Arkansas  Farms — The  Indian  Ter- 
ritory AS  a  Farminu  Kecwon — Texas  Farminc,  Grain,  Cotton,  etc. — 
Review  of  Farming  I^ands  East  ok  R-icky  Mountains — Much  Poor  and 
Indifferent   Farminc — Revolution    in  Farminc  Produced  uy  Acricui.- 

TURAL  MaCHINKRV — RoOT  CroPS — CoTTON — SUCJAR — FrUIT  CULTURE — TEX- 
TILE  FlISRES   AND   TODACCO — ThR    RolKY    MOUNTAIN    REGION — VVo"  DERFUL 

Results  OF  Irrigation — Beyond  the  Rockies — From  the  Sierra  Nevada 
TO  THE  Coast  Range — California — Viniculture  in  California — The  Pro- 
ducts of  Oregon  and  Washington.        ■         ■'  

No  very  close  approximation  of  the  amount  of  arable  lands  in 
our  Western  Empire  can  b^  made.  The  reports  of  the  Sur- 
veyors-General to  the  Land  Office  each  year  develop  the  fact 
that,  in  the  newer  States  and  Territories,  thousands  of  acres,  pre- 
viously deemed  incapable  of  cultivation,  have  been  conquered  by 
the  enterprising  settlers,  and  must  henceforth  be  recorded  as 
arable  lands  of  extraordinary  fertility.  We  have  alluded  to  this, 
in  our  chapter  on  the  Great  American  Qfisertj  but  it  is  a  fact  vvhid^-v.  , 
will  bear  repetition  and  illustration.  [  Nearly  the  whole  region 
lying  between  the  Mississippi  river  and  the  Rocky  Mountains 
was  regarded  fifty  years  ago  as  a  desert  land,  incapable  of  any 
considerable  cultivation,  and  given  over  to  the  buffalo,  the  pan- 
ther, and  the  prairie  wolf;  yet  in  no  part  of  the  vast  domain  of 
the  United  States,  and  certainly  in  no  other  country  under  the 
sun,  is  there  a  body  of  land  of  equal  extent,  in  which  there  are 
so  few  acres  unfit  for  cultivation,  or  so  many  which,  with  irriga-^  \ 
tion  or  without  it,  will  yield  such  bountiful  crops.j  The  land  lying 
between  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Sierra  Nevada  or  Cas- 
cade Range,  has  more  mountains,  and  more  grazing  lands ;  some 
of  it,  too,  is  incapable  of  culture,  and  is  more  valuable  for  the 
mineral  wealth  which  lies4>eneath  the  surface,  than  for  any  crops 
which  can  be  raised  from  it.     Some  of  these  lands  are  volcanic, 


) 


V 


1 


1 1 
■A  ' 

\ 


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1 

Hi 


^asJl^KA^-aisakE*:^^  iktlai^i^^.MiU^-'^ 


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ta 


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13* 


Oi/i    it:.6//'.AX   LX'r.'A'/i. 


lii 


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ami  the  lava  and  volcanic  scoria:  have  not  yot  iK'rn  long  enough 
exposed  to  the  iiillucnces  of  sun,  and  rain,  and  ghicial  action,  to 
render  tliem  fertile  as  they  will  eventually  become.  Of  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  this  region,  also,  it  may  be  said,  that  it  has 
not  yet  been  explored  with  sufficient  thoroughness,  to  settle  the 
questions  whether  it  is  best  adapted  to  cultivation  or  grazing,  or 
whether  it  is  unfit  for  cither. 

Perhaps  we  cannot  now  come  nearer  the  truth  than  to  say,  that, 
of  the  2,o28,ocxD  square  miles  comprised  between  the  Mississippi 
and  the  Pacific,  from  750,000  to  800,000  miles  may  fairly  be 
reckoned  arable.  Of  this  one-fourth,  and  possibly  a  little  more, 
may  require  more  or  less  irrigation,  for  some  years  to  come,  to 
bring  out  their  highest  productiveness ;  but  this  is  regarded  by 
the  farmers  themselves  as  an  advantage,  rather  than  a  disadvan- 
tage, since  by  means  of  it,  they  are  assured  of  large  and  excellent 
crops  every  year. 

None  of  the  States  lying  between  the  Rocky  Mountains  and 
the  Mississippi  river  have  much  waste  or  unimprovable  land. 
Missouri,  Arkansas,  and  portions  of  the  Indian  Territory,  and 
Northwestern  Texas  are  more  mountainous  than  the  others,  and 
have  some  grazing,  and  some  sterile  lands.  The  Black  Hills  in 
Dakota  (some  portions  of  which  are  capable  of  cultivation,  and 
yield  excellent  crops),  and  the  Bad  Lands  in  that  Territory 
(which,  however,  amount  to  only  75,000  acres  or  about  three 
townships)  and  Nebraska,  are  the  only  other  exceptions  to  the 
general  rule.  Minnesota,  Iowa,  most  of  Nebraska,  Kansas,  the 
greater  part  of  Eastern  Wyoming  and  Eastern  Colorado,  Dakota, 
except  as  above  noted.  Eastern  Montana,  the  larger  part  of 
Missouri,  Arkansas,  the  Indian  Territory,  and  Texas,  are  not 
surpassed  in  the  quality  or  productiveness  of  their  soil,  by  any 
portions  of  equal  extent  in  the  known  world,  Look  at  these  facts, 
and  remember  that  none  of  these  States  or  Territories  have 
one-third  and  most  of  them  not  one-tenth  of  their  arable  lands 
under  cultivation.  Minnesota,  one  of  the  newest  of  these  States, 
has  but  about  one-eleventh  of  its  area — 4,900,00x3  acres  out  of 
nearly  54,000,000 — under  cultivation;  yet  it  produced  in  1879,  on 
21769.369  acres,  35,000,000  bushels  of  spring  wheat  of  a  quality 


•n  long  enough 
hiclal  action,  to 
ic.  Of  a  con- 
aid,  that  it  has 
ss,  to  settle  tile 
I  or  grazing,  or 

lian  to  say,  that, 
the  Mississippi 
may  fairly  be 
ly  a  little  more, 
irs  to  come,  to 
is  regarded  by 
an  a  disadvan- 
e  and  excellent 

Mountains  and 
iprovable  land. 

Territory,  and 
the  others,  and 
:  Black  Hills  in 
cultivation,  and 

that  Territory 
or  about  three 
:ceptions  to  the 
ka,  Kansas,  the 
lorado,  Dakota, 
larger  part  of 
Fexas,  are  not 
leir  soil,  by  any 
•k  at  these  facts, 
erritories  have 
eir  arable  lands 
of  these  States, 
X)  acres  out  of 
ced  in  1879,  on 
:at  of  a  quality 


/AK.mxa  KAsr  cf  thr  kocky  mouma/xs.  t|| 

which  has  never  been  surpassed ;  a  crop  of  corn  of  about 
19,000,000  bushels  on  about  475,000  acres;  more  than  ai.ooo,- 
000  bushels  of  oats,  on  5io,ocx)  acres  of  land;  over  3.000,- 
000  bushels  of  the  other  cereals,  barley,  rye  and  buckwheat, 
on  110,000  acres;  over  4,icx}.cxx>  bushel*  of  potatoen,  on 
less  than  40,000  acres  of  land ;  and  i  ,800,000  tons  of  hay  on 
less-  than  950,000  acres.  A  large  part  of  these  crops  were  pro- 
duced on  lands  broken  up  for  the  first  time,  and  much  of  the 
cultivation  was  crude  and  imperfect,  yet  the  yield  per  acre 
averaged  larger  than  that  of  any  other  State,  though  not  so  largi 
as  it  should.  Many  of  these  new  farms,  when  properly  tilled, 
yielded  over  large  tracts  from  thirty-three  to  forty-five  bushels 
(sixty  pounds)  of  wheat  to  the  acre,  and  deep  plowing  and  care- 
ful seeding  by  drill,  would  have  brought  the  same  results  every- 
where in  the  wheat  lands.  Dakota  Territory,  which  in  1870  had 
less  than  1 3,000  white  inhabitants  and  now  has  over  200,000, 
though  it  only  began  to  grow  about  three  years  ago,  yielded  in 
1879  from  366,618  acres  in  its  northeastern  counties  alone, 
5.332.360  bushels  of  spring  wheat,  and  nearly  as  much  more  in 
Southeastern  Dakota.  The  average  yield  was  twenty-two  bushels 
to  the  acre,  and  might  have  been  thirty  with  the  same  labor.  Other 
crops  are  equally  productive.  The  land  is  mostly  prairie,  and  at 
least  three-fifths  of  this  production  was  from  the  first  crop  ev*  r 
harvested.  Montana  is  a  still  newer  region,  and  has  much 
mountainous  country.  It  is  roughly  computed  to  have  1 5,ooo,cxx) 
acres  of  arable  lands,  and  38,000,000  acres  of  grazing  lands ;  but 
its  arable  lands  are  the  most  fertile  the  sun  shines  upon.  Its 
30floo  acres  in  wheat  produced  an  average  of  twenty-five 
busheU  (weighing  sixty-four  pounds)  to  the  acre ;  its  yield  of 
Indian. qorn  averages  forty  bushels;  that  of  oats  and  bariey  fifty 
bushels ;  of  potatoes  200  bushels,  etc. 

Iowa,  an  older,  though  still  a  young  State,  has  about  one-third 
of  her  area  under  cultivation.  Her  land  is  rich  and  fertile,  but 
wheat  in  1878  was  a  comparative  failure  there.  Indian  corn 
the  same  year  was  a  very  successful  crop,  1 75,000.000  bushels 
being  raised  on  4,686.000  acres  of  land — an  average  of  37.4 
bushels  to  the  acre.    The  crops  of  oats,  barley,  potatoes,  and  hay 


I 


'r^ifeimii^iim^ihmi^ims^timitit^^fjSMss^mS^sr?'^^ 


'I 


ia- 


il 


tJ4 


ovit  wasraits  *A/r/Aj(. 


F1 


were  uIm)  lar^r,  and  ri^ht  itrmi  of  agricultural  crop;*  af;;^r«|>atr'(I 
a  value  of  $65,5S6,c     >. 

MisHOuri,  the  oUlcst  State  went  of  the  MiMKisnippi,  hnH  niKxit 
one-fourth  of  her  43,000,000  acre*  under  cultivativ)n.  Her  tn)|) 
of  Indian  corn  in  1878  was  93.062,000  buNhelx — an  average  yirld 
of  26.3  bushels  to  the  acre;  the  wheat  crop,  30, 1 96,000— an 
nverajjcof  only  eleven  huHhels  to  the  acre;  oats,  19,584,000^311 
average  of  30.6  bushels  to  the  acre  ;  potatoes,  5.415,000  bushels, 
avera^injj  seventy-five  bushels  to  the  acre;  tobacco,  23,033,001 
pounds,  averaging;  770  pounds  to  th<  acre;  hay,  i,630,txx)  ions, 
bvera^^ing  1.63  tons  to  the  acre.  Smaller  (|uantiticH  of  rye,  buck 
wheat,  and  barley  were  produced,  and  hemp  and  Hax  were 
raised  to  some  extent.  The  State  has  also  extensive  vineyards, 
and  large  quantities  of  grapes  and  wine  are  sent  to  market, 
The  aggregate  value  of  her  agricultural  productions  in  that  ytar 
was  about  sixty-five  millions  of  dollars. 

Nebrar.ka  has  an  area  of  48,636,800  acres,  of  which  less  than 
3,500.000  or  about  one-fourteenth  of  the  whole  are  under 
cultivation.  It  is  one  of  the  newer  States,  having  been  admitted 
into  the  Union  in  1867.  Corn  and  wheat  are  the  principal 
cereals  cultivated,  the  crop  of  the  former  ranging  from  f<;rty  to 
fifty-four  million  bushels,  an  average  yield  of  forty-two  bushels 
to  the  acre;  and  of  the  latter  from  fourteen  to  eighteen  million 
bushels,  mostly  of  spring  wheat,  an  average  of  fifteen  bushels  to 
the  acre.  Rye  and  oats  are  also  raised  in  considerable  quantities ; 
rye  yielding  an  average  of  nearly  twenty  bushels  to  the  acre,  and 
oats  about  thirty-four  bushels.  Potatoes  and  other  root  crops 
do  well,  potatoes  averaging  135  bushels  to  the  acre.  Hay 
yields  nearly  two  tons  to  the  acre.  Fruit  culture  is  a  very  large 
interest  in  the  State,  and  its  fruits  are  of  the  best  quality.  The 
entire  crops  of  1879  exceeded  $35,000,000  in  value. 

Kansas,  from  its  central  position,  its  fine  climate,  its  large 
body  rf  arable  lands,  its  railroad  facilities,  and  its  indomitable 
enterprise,  has  come  to  be  regarded  as  the  garden  spot  of  the 
Great  West.  Its  lands  are  probably  no  more  fertile  than  those 
of  some  of  the  other  States  and  Territories,  but  they  have  been 
more  extensively  advertised,  more  promptly  settled,  and  are  cul- 


I. 


■,<M,>.i.uai.iikeiMi»i*ii'Wi>j*!'j'itt'.iMe 


mH'^- 


-    { •' 


t.iKMISC  A.isr  Of  INK   HOVKY  MOL'AmiAS. 


135 


ropH  aggrrj>af»'fl 

sippl,  lian  alKxit 
;i>)n.  Her  crop 
in  averaj^t!  yield 

30,196.000— an 

19,584,000— an 
115,000  busliels. 
acco,  23,023.000 

i,6ao,(XX)  tons, 
icsof  rye,  buck 

and  Hax  were 
isive  vineyards, 
icnt  to  market, 
ons  in  that  year 

which  less  than 
ole  are  under 
r  been  admitted 
;  the  principal 
g  from  forty  to 
rty-two  bushels 
ighteen  million 
fteen  bushels  to 
able  quantities ; 
to  the  acre,  and 
;her  root  crops 
he  acre.  Hay 
is  a  very  large 
:  quality.    The 


*^     ittV^^tJ"-! 


je. 

Tiate,  Its  large 
its  indomitable 
en  spot  of  the 
tile  than  those 
bey  have  been 
:d,  and  are  cul- 


tivated with  «n  energy  and  thoroughneM,  which  cannot  fail  to 
produce  the  highest  results.  The  mining  fever  has  not  dis- 
tracted the  attention  of  her  settlers.  It  is  hardly  proLible  that 
any  con<iiderable  amount  of  gold  or  silver  ores  will  be  found 
within  itH  l)ounds,  and  though  it  has  some  lead,  zinc,  copper,  and 
considerable  coal  its  mining  interests  will  |  rol)ably,  for  all  the 
future,  be  subordinate  to  the  agricultural  development  of  the 
State. 

Of  the  51,770,240  acres  which  are  contained  within  the  hounds 
of  Kansas,  7,769,926  were  under  cuUivation  in  1879,  oi  which 
1,270.493  were  plowed  for  the  first  time  that  year.  About  one- 
fifth  of  the  cultivated  area  was  devoted  to  wheat,  and  two  fifths 
to  Indian  corn.  In  Kans.is,  both  winter  and  spring  wheat  are 
cultivated,  though  the  winter  wheat  predominates  in  the  ratio  of 
five  to  one.  In  ^878  the  wheat  crop  was  32,315,358  bushels,  or 
20.5  bushels  per  acre  for  winter  wheat,  but  in  1879,  owing  to  late 
plowing  and  sowing,  and  a  dry  winter  and  spring,  it  was  not 
quite  20,000,000  bushels.  The  corn  crop,  on  the  other  hand, 
was  89,324.971  bushels  in  187S,  and  about  i09,cxx>,ooo  bushels 
in  1879.  This  was  almost  sixty  bushels  to  the  acre.  Oats 
yielded  17,411,473  bushels  in  1878,  but  only  13,400,000  bushels 
in  1879;  rye  yielded  2,722,000  bushels  in  1878,  21.3  bushels  to 
the  acre;  barley  1,562,793  bushels  in  1878,  being  29.7  bushels 
to  the  acre ;  Irish  potatoes,  4.256,336  bushels  in  1878,  being  83.3 
bushels  to  the  acre.  In  1879  the  yield  was  smaller.  1,590,000 
tons  of  hay  and  forage  were  cut,  of  an  aggregate  value  of 
55,700,000.  Large  quantities  of  sorghum  and  broom  corn  were 
also  raised,  and  2,721,459  gallons  of  sorghum  syrup  produced. 
Flax,  hemp,  castor  beans,  sweet  potatoes,  tobacco,  cotton,  and  a 
vast  amount  of  fruit,  were  the  other  agricultural  products  of  the 
State  in  1878  and  1879.  The  total  value  of  field  and  garden 
products  in  1878  was  $52,859,857.  In  1879,  notwithstanding 
the  partial  failure  of  the  wheat  crop,  it  was  $60,129,781,  on 
account  of  the  increased  production  of  hay,  sorghum,  broom 
corn,  and  potatoes,  and  the  material  advance  of  prices.   ' '',  '  ' 

Arkansas  has  a  much  more  varied  surface  than  Kansas; 
mduntains,  valleys,  forests,  and  mines  of  silver,  lead    copper 


is 


r«S%«'j^W»1»»««3W^N»wt-i>1<«iii-l«!'ilBS)-r-i«tJS''^^^ 


'  ■;nH  ■■ 


11^  , ,       ,     or.?  nT.srcK.y  E.vriitg,    ,  .,   , 

iron  ami  coal,  ami  rjuarric*  of  novaciililc  or  oll-»tonr,  mill  ttonci, 
marble  and  lithuj^raphic-ntonc.  It  ha«  alRo  a  more  varied  climatr, 
from  the  tcmi-tropicai  temperature  of  U«  bottom  landu,  to  the 
cool  and  bracinif  air  of  itti  mountain  distri<  ts.  ItH  productions 
arc  more  varied,  cotton  lieinj^  itti  j^rcal  iitaplc,  and  corn  rominjj 
next  in  ortler;  while  the  other  ccrrals  art:  only  mtMliTaicly  cuiti 
vatcd,  and  fruits,  to  which  it  is  well  adaptcil,  figuring'  largely  in 
its  agricultural  prtxlucts.  Of  the  33,406.7^0  acres  of  land  in  the 
State,  one-half  is  still  a  forent,  while  only  about  2,500,000  acres 
are  under  cultivation,  and  perhaps  three  times  that  quantity  arc 
good  grazing  lands.  The  staple  crop  in  cotton,  of  which  nearly 
800,000  bales  were  produced  in  1878  on  1,165.850  acres,  an 
average  of  about  three-fourths  of  a  bale  to  the  acre.  The  yield 
of  Indian  corn  the  same  year  was  about  23,000,000  bushels  on 
958,000  acres,  twenty-four  bushels  and  a  fraction  to  the  acre. 
Of  wheat  in  1878  only  1,038,000  bushels  were  rs.iscd,  an  average 
of  but  six  bushels  to  the  acre.  Of  rye  and  oats  the  quantity 
grown  was  but  small,  though  of  the  latter  it  ws  1,665,420 
bushels,  a  yield  of  24.6  bushels  to  the  acre.  \\  cs  yielded 
121  bushels  to  the  aero,  but  only  8,200  acres  were  ^  ..cd  in  this 
crop.  Of  the  sweet  potato  and  perhaps  of  the  Irish  potato  also, 
the  agriculturists  of  Arkansas  insist  that  they  can  raise  two  crops 
a  year.  May  is  not  a  large  crop,  though  the  yield  is  as  good  as 
iin  must  States,  being  i  .80  tons  to  the  acre.  Fruits  of  all  kinds 
^re  abundant  and  of  excellent  quality.  A  considerable  quantity 
of  wine  is  made,  both  from  wild  grapes,  which  are  of  unusual 
excellence  in  the  State,  and  from  the  Scuppernong,  Post  Oak, 
Hcrbemont,  Norton's  Seedling,  and  other  cultivated  grapes, 
,  The  Indian  Territory,  which  joins  Arkansas  on  the  west,  con- 
tains much  valu^le  farming-land,  and  some  which  is  not  desira- 
^^^,7rhe  Cherokees,  Choctaws,  Chickasaws,  and  Creeks,  as 
well  as  somr  of  the  other  Indian  tribes  settled  here,  have  among 
them  many  good  farmers,  who  produce  large  crops  from  the 
fertile  soil.  We  cannot  obtain  statistics  of  the  agricultural  pro- 
ductions of  the  Territory,  and  as  the  United  States  government 
b  bound  by  t^e  highest  obligations  of  honor  and  justice  to  pro- 
tect these  Indians  in  their  right  to  the  soil,  and  to  prevent  law- 


MiMHMHMdAUiyi*!^ 


OMr,  mill  Ktnnrt, 
varicil  dimatr, 
xiilatulii,  to  tlu: 
Ics  prcKJuctionn 
ni\  corn  coming' 
iKMJcralcly  culii- 
urin]^'  largely  in 
•»  of  lanil  in  the 
3.5(X),cxx)  acres 
hat  (|iiantity  are 
of  which  nearly 
5.850  acres,  an 
crc.     Th<  yield 

000  hushcli  on 
on  to  the  acre. 
iscd,  an  average 
its  the  quantity 

WH  1,665,420 
*(  es  yielded 
e  ,  ..ed  in  this 
rish  potato  also, 

raise  two  crops 
Id  is  as  good  as 
lits  of  all  kinds 
lerablc  quantity 
are  of  unusual 
ong.  Post  Oak, 
led  grapes,^;,!. 
J  the  west,  con- 
:h  is  not  desira- 
ind  Creeks,  as 
re,  have  among 
crops  from  the 
gricultural  pro- 
;es  government 

1  justice  to  pro- 
to  prevent  law- 


f  1 


H.''-:  ■%  I  11:1  !>.'-■ 


'.L  ■♦i'M  • 


i 


•.j^iiiJi^ii^x^^'jssssiii'SikMsmjiui^iM'tMaisi^ 


FARMING  EAST  OF  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS. 


«37 


less  adventurers  from  settling  there,  it  is  of  no  particular  conse- 
quence that  we  should  be  able  to  give  particulars,  which  might 
only  serve  to  stimulate  the  greed  of  the  lawless.  , 

Texas  has  a  vast  territory,  i75,6cx),ooo  acres,  and  every 
variety  of  soil,  surface,  climate,  and  rainfall.  While  probably 
50,000,000  acres  of  its  land&  are  cultivable,  though  not  more 
than  three-fifths  of  this  amount  can  be  reckoned  arable  land  of 
the  first-class,  not  mor*;  than  6,000,000  ac»-es  have  yet  been  culti- 
vated, and  much  of  this  very  carelessly  and  imperfecUy.  Eastern 
Texas  is  sandy,  and  not  very  fertile ;  Central  Texas  has  a  rich 
soil,  and  for  a  width  of  200  miles  is  the  best  cotton  region  in  the 
(.united  States,  and  is  capable  of  producing  the  cotton  supply  of 
the  world.  Yet,  in  1878,  only  1,808,386  acres  were  planted  in 
cotton  and  yielded  497,310,000  pounds  of  cotton,  an  average  of 
275  pounds  to  the  acre."*  The  northern  part  of  this  central  tract 
is  excellent  corn  land,  and  from  2,246,000  acres,  the  greater  part 
of  it  in  tliis  region,  58,396,000  bushels  of  corn  were  produced  in 
1878,  twenty-six  bushels  to  the  acre.  For  wheat,  rye,  and  oats, 
only  a  very  small  porti6n  of  the  State  is  well  adapted,  the  wheat 
beltr  being  far  smaller  than  that  of  Kansas.  Only  450,000  acres 
were  sown  in  wheat,  3,000  in  rye  and  149,500  in  oats  in  1878, 
and  the  yield  was  7,200,000  bushels  of  wheat,  sixteen  bushels  to 
the  acre ;  54,000  bushels  of  rye,  eighteen  bushels  to  the  acre,  and 
5.53ii500  bushels  of  oats,  thirty-seven  bushels  to  the  acre.  Irish 
potatoes  are  not  so  prolific  or  so  good  as  the  sweet  potatoes, 
and  root-crops  generally  do  not  yield  remarkably  well.  The 
pea-nut,  ground-nut  or  goober,  is  perhaps  an ,  exception,  as  it 
is  very  prolific  in  the  sandy  soils.  Tobacco,  hemp,  ramie,  and 
flax  are  profitable  crops,  where  they  are  carefully  cultivated. 
Small  fruits  and  market-garden  vegetables  dp, well,  and  being 
marketed  <early,  aiiford  a  good  profit.  Peaches,  cherries,  and 
grapes,  are  also  of  excellent  quality,  and  some  of  the  latter  pro- 
duce wines  of  fine  flavor,  when  rightly  handled.  A  prevalent 
fault  in  their  production,  is  the  addition  of  too  much  cane-sugar, 
which  gives  an  excess  of  alcohol  and  impairs  their  bouquet 

*  The  average  Texas  bale  of  cotton  u  480  pounds ;  so  that  the  average  yield  was  only  three- 
fifthji  of  A  ba)ci 


i  \ 
\  '■ 
t   ■ 


■1,. 


if 


&si:h^tSii^^me&S^:i'kMmMiri»m.!i^A^^e^^^ 


i 


■\ 


H- 


1 


l,g  Ol/X    Wr.STERX   EMPllfE. 

Sugar  from  the  sugar-cane,  and  also  from  sorghum,  is  produced 
in  very  considerable  quantity  in  Texas,  but  the  former  is  an  un- 
certain crop.  The  latter  under  the  new  stimulus  given  to  its 
production  by  recent  discoveries,  is  likely  to  become  much  mon; 
profitable. 

Western  Texas  is  much  better  adapted  to  grazing  than  to 
farming,  and  Northwestern  Texas,  except  in  its  river  bottoms,  is 
a  comparative  desert,  though  its  mining  lands  may  attract  to  it 
some  population.  "  "•'  '.-  "-.^  ..:'<'.'  i-m  ...w  isw,.  j.  .; 
•'  This,  with  the  exception  of  Eastern  Colorado,  whose  agricul- 
tural lands  are  but  slighdy  developed  as  yet,  constitutes  a 
description  of  most  of  the  arable  lands  lying  east  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  Our  brief  review  of  them  shows  that  hardly  more 
than  one-tenth  of  these  lands  is  yet  under  cultivation;  yet  if,  in 
1878,  this  region  alone  yielded  135,000,000  bushels  of  wheat, 
and  502,000,000  bushels  of  Indian  com,  what  may  be  expected 
when  its  arable  lands  shall  all  be  subjected  to  the  plow?  '•'  '"  '■■' 
'  It  is  to  be  noticed,  also,  that  much  of  the  farming  in  this  region 
is  not,  and  under  the  circumstances  could  not  be  expected  to  be, 
of  the  best  character.  The  emigrant,  whose  scanty  means  have 
only  enabled  him  to  reach  his  western  home,  pay  the  first  fees, 
build  his  sod-housci  and  with  a  poor  and  weak  team,  or  perhaps 
by  changing  works,  break  up  the  firm  and  hard  sod,  is  very  sure 
to  be  unskilled  in  western  farming,  however  much  of  an  adept 
he  may  have  been  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  his  own  country, 
and  so  the  plowing  which  should  have  gone  to  the  depth  of  fif- 
teen or  eighteen  inches  at  least,  does  ndt  penetrate  more  than 
three  to  four,  and  both  it  and  the  planting  are  deferred  till  too 
late  in  the  autumn,  if  the  crop  is  to  be  winter  wheats  or  in  the 
spring  if  it  is  to  be  spring  wheat.  If  there  is  drought  in  winter 
or  spring,  deep  plowirig  would  have  saved  the  crop,  "while  shallow 
plowing  prevents  vigorous  growth.  The  proper  cultivation  of 
the  crop  is  prevented  also  by  the  limited  means  of  the  settler, 
and  in  harvesting  it,  he  cannot  readily  avail  liimsdf  of  the  agri- 
cultural machinery,  which  so  lightens  labor,  and  makes  large  farm- 
ing possible  and  profitable. 

The  complete  revolution  which  has  taken  place  in  the  last 


.  ■-i^^  ..,-...- -^..; 


»Bggj^^SaJB^M.1aBaaa'ii^i^^ 


FARMING  EAST  OF  THE  KOCKY  MOUNTAINS. 


139 


n,  is  produced 
mer  is  an  un- 
I  given  to  its 
le  much  men: 

izing  than  to 
er  bottoms,  is 
/  attract  to  it 

>  111     i.'iUli    .'.t    ■  ,\, 

hose  agricul- 
constitutes  a 
of  the  Rocky 
:  hardly  more 
ion ;  yet  if,  in 
leh  of  wheat, 
yr  be  expected 
)low?  ''  " 
in  this  region 
icpected  to  be, 
^  means  have 
the  first  fees, 
m,  or  perhaps 
1,  is  very  sure 
I  of  an  ddept 
own  country, 
e  depth  of  fif- 
te  more  than 
Ferred  till  too 
eati  or  in  the 
ight  in  winter 
"while  shallow 
cultivation  of 
of  the  settler, 
If  of  the  agri- 
:es  large  farm- 

:e  in  the  last 


twenty-five  or  thirty  years  in  farm  work,  is  nowhere  so  evident 
as  at  the  West.  The  plowing  on  the  best  farms  is  done  by  a 
gang-plow  drawn  by  four  horses,  or,  in  some  cases, byasteam-plow, 
and  a  steam  or  two-horse  harrow  breaks  the  clods.  If  the  crop 
is  to  be  wheat,  or  any  of  the  other  cereals,  it  is  not  sown  broadcast, 
but  drilled  in  with  a  two  or  four-horse  seeding  machine  at  such 
distances  as  to  give  the  grain  as  it  comes  up  an  opportunity  to 
tiller  or  spread  out.  Or,  as  in  some  of  the  States,  a  centrifugal 
sower  scatters  it  evenly  within  a  given  radius,  and  thus  accom- 
plishes the  same  object.  In  this  way  only  about  one-fourth  as 
much  seed  is  required,  and  a  greater  crop  is  raised.  In  Minnesota 
eighty  pounds  of  spring  wheat  is  sown  to  the  acre.  Some 
farmers  prefer  to  plant  Indian  com  first  on  the  broken  and  rotted 
sod,  and  follow  with  wheat  or  other  small  grains.  The  corn  is 
cultivated  once  or  twice  with  a  horse-hoe  or  cultivator,  and  the 
ground  is  left  clean  and  free  for  the  wheat  crop.  But  the  per- 
fection of  the  agricultural  machinery  is  seen  in  gathering  the  crop. 
The  original  reaper  has  been  improved  till  it  would  not  be 
recognized  in  its  new  form.  It  is  now  the  harvester,  and  cuts, 
gathers,  binds,  and  loads  the  grain  for  the  threshing  machine, 
which  in  turn  threshes,  winnows,  cleans,  assorts  and  in  some 
cases  sacks  the  grain.  Another  improvement  cuts  and  gathers 
into  a  close  box-wagon  all  the  loads  of  the  grain  as  they  stand, 
and  when  the  wagon  is  filled,  empties  its  entire  load  into  the 
threshing  machine.  A  single  farmer  in  Dakota,  the  present 
year,  puts  30,000  acres  in  wheat,  and  has  provided  thirty-five 
threshing  machines  and  140  harvesters  to  gather  and  prepare  for 
market  the  crop.  Wheat,  raised  in  this  way,  or  if  on  a  much 
smaller  scale,  on  lands  properly  plowed,  sowed,  cultivated  and 
harvested,  should  yield  from  thirty-three  to  forty-five  bushels  per 
acr6,  or  double  the  crop  grown  by  careless  and  slovenly  farming. 
The  crop  of  Indian  corn  on  these  new  lands  should  be  from 
sixty  to  eighty  bushels  to  the  acre,  or  more,  where  irrigation  is 
practised ;  that  of  oats  from  seventy  to  seventy-five  bushels,  and 
of  barley  forty-five  to  fifty-five  bushels.  In  Arkansas  and  Texas, 
by  early  planting^  t^vo  crops  of  wheat  or  even  Indian  corn  can 
be  raised  in  a  year;  but  very  little  of  the  farjning  there  is  of  a 


\\ 


1    t 


>;«<«.v,*i»««-i«il»«I<*s»s»»iaw^»«..-«^^ 


d^ 


140 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


high  order,  and  even  on  rich  lands  the  yield  per  acre  is  shamo- 
fully  small.  ,   , , 

Root  crops,  potatoes,  turnips,  rutabagas,  beets,  carrots,  sweet- 
potatoes,  yams,  and  the  like,  require  deep  plowing,  and  thorougli 
cultivation  in  the  first  stage  of  growth,  but  will  take  care  of  them- 
selves afterward.  The  yield,  in  light  but  fertile  loam,  is  enor- 
mous. In  Minnesota.  Dakota  and  Montana,  from  300  to  6co 
bushels  of  potatoes  of  the  best  quality  are  raised  to  the  acre,  and 
from  800  to  1,000  bushels  of  turnips  and  beets.  ,  ,/„ 

In  the  cotton  region,  on  the  best  cotton-lands  in  the  wbrld, 
where  the  minimum  of  production  should  be  two  bales  of  ginned 
cotton  or  960  pounds,  too  many  of  the  farmers  are  content  with 
a  yield  of  half  or  two-fifths  of  a  bale.     '  •  • 
p-,  This  whole  region  is  destined  to  become  famous  for  its  sugar 
production.     Sorghum  has  been  cultivated  largely  all  over  these 
States  and  Territories,  and  millions  of  gallons  of  sorghum  syrup 
made ;  but  it  is  only  within  the  last  two  years  that  it  has  been 
discovered  that  the  early  amber  sorghum,  a  variety  which  ripens 
early,  and  before  frost,  is  the  best  for  the  Northern  States  and 
Territories,  though  some  of  the  larger  kinds  will  yield  more  where 
the  seasons  arc  longer,  it  being  only  necessary  that  they  should 
not  suffer  from  frost  before  tl»e  seeds  are  ripe,  and  that  the 
ripening  is  necessary  to  its  crystallization  into  sugar.     It  has 
been  ascertained  by  experiment  that  one  ton  or  more  of  sqgar 
can  be  produced  from  an  acre,  and  that  with  ordinary  cultivation 
and  care,  three-fourths  of  a  ton  to  the  acre  is  a  certain  crop. 
The  sugar  is  pronounced  superior  to  the  I^oqisiana  or  Texas 
cane   sugar.     A   sugar  equally  good,  but    in    somewhat  less 
quantity  can  be  made  from  the  stalks  of  Indian  corn,  and  in 
both  cases  die  ripe  corn  and  the  sorghum  seed  are  saved.    The 
Egyptian   rice   corn,   which    is   now  cultivated    extensively  in 
Kansas,  and  which  yields  from  sixty  to  sevent>'-five  bushels  of 
its  rice-like  seed  to  the  acre,  belongs  to  the  sorghum  family,  and 
will  doubdess  produce  large  quantities  of  sugar.     As  the  United 
States  are  now  paying  $100,000,000  annually  for  the  sugar  we 
import,  tliis  addition  to  our  products  will  be  very  welcome. 
jg  The  sugar-cane,  as  ^rown  in  Louisiana,  Texas,  and  Florida,  is 


--^i-^^4r-"A^^-r^^T¥irfff-^-^^"*?irtfr   '  l^VftrTlih^ail4*-rri^r-fifrViT^ 


/•'KU/T  CLJ.TL/ii:   f..t:>7    O/-    Tllli.    ROCKY  .WOLAri/.VS. 


141 


rc  is  shamo* 

rrots,  swect- 
ind  thorough 
are  of  them- 
)am,  is  cnor- 
300  to  600 
the  acre,  and 

n  the  world, 
les  of  ginned 
content  with 

for  its  sugar 
i\\  over  these 
rghum  syrup 
t  it  has  been 
which  ripens 
1  States  and 
.1  more  where 

they  should 

md  that  the 

gar.     It  has 

ore  of  sugar 

y  cultivation 

certain  crop. 

na  or  Texas 

mewhat  less 

corn,  and  in 

saved.    The 

tensively  in 

c  bushels  of 

family,  and 

s  the  United 

le  sugar  we 

come. 

id  Florida,  is 


an  exotic,  and  ncvc*  comes  to  maturity  in  our  climate,  but  is 
propagated  by  cuttings.  These  become  exhausted  in  a  few 
years,  and  require  renewal  from  tropical  countries.  They  are, 
moreover,  very  sensitive  to  climatic  changes,  and  often  fail 
entirely.  The  sorghum,  on  the  contrary,  is  hardy,  ripens  early,  and 
is  almost  indifferent  to  climate,  nourishing  equally  well  in  Northern 
Dakota  and  Texas.  There  is,  throughout  most  of  this  region,  irre- 
spective of  the  grazing  lands,  a  large  demand  for  forage  grasses 
and  plants,  to  supplement  the  pasturage  for  horses,  mules,  asses, 
milch  cows  and  cattle,  kept  for  farm  use,  and  the  small  Hocks  of 
sheep  and  goats  which  the  farmer  finds  it  profitable  to  keep. 
The  buffalo,  gramma  and  blue  joint  grasses  soon  give  place,  in 
cultivated  lands,  to  clover,  timothy  and  herd's  grass  ;  but  it  has 
been  found  that  corn  sown  for  forage  purposes,  late  in  the 
season,  Alfalfa  clover,  Hungarian  grass,  Egyptian  rice  corn,  the 
millets,  and  especially  the  pearl  millet,  lately  introduced,  and  in 
the  north,  wild  rice,  furnish  more  nutritious  and  abundant  food 
for  domestic  animals  than  any  of  the  ordinary  grasses.  The 
pearl  millet  is  said  to  yield  on  rich  soil  three  crops  in  a  season, 
and  the  enormous  quantity  of  ninety  tons  of  green  or  ten  tons 
of  dry  forage  to  the  acre.  Other  grasses,  like  the  Texas  millet, 
seem  well  adapted  to  the  use  of  stock,  and  are  coming  into 
cultivation  for  this  purpose. 

This  whole  region  is  well  adapted  to  fruit  culture.  The  apple 
of  different  varieties,  and,  to  a  less  extent,  the  pear,  flourishes 
from  Minnesota  to  Arkansas;  the  peach  from  Iowa  and  Mis- 
souri to  the  Gulf;  quinces  from  Minnesota  to  Kansas,  and 
cherries  and  plums  from  Northern  Dakota  to  the  Gulf.  Of 
smaller  fruits,  grapes,  native  and  wild,  as  well  as  the  cultivated 
varieties,  are  found  everywhere,  though  the  hardy  species  alone 
flourish  at  the  North,  whether  wild  or  cultivated,  while  the  more 
robust  summer  grapes  {yi/is  asiivalis),  native  and  foreign,  take 
their  place  in  the  South.  The  strawberry  flourishes  everj'where, 
but  is  six  weeks  earlier  in  Texas  than  in  Minnesota.  The  rasp- 
berry, blackberry,  currant,  and  whordeberry,  are  better  adapted  to 
the  Northern  and  Middle  States  and  Territories  than  to  the  South; 
but  tlie  papaw  and  the  banana,  the  pomegranate,  fig*,  orange. 


.!«t*«jfe»i*ii«»B«ti*a«iite*i«asiiii(pi«»4i^^ 


142 


OUR    WESIEKN  L  At  PI  RE. 


lemon,  and  olive,  arc  found  in  the  South  alone.  In  the  way  of 
nuts,  the  North  has  the  chestnut,  hickory-nut,  black  walnut,  butter- 
nut, hazel-nut,  and  beech-nut;  while  the  South  has  the  pecan,  the 
chinquepin,  the  filbert,  the  hard-shell  almond,  and  can  have  the 
English  walnut,  and  pistachio  nut,  if  they  will  cultivate  it. 

Of  textile  fibres,  hemp  grows  in  all  latitudes  :  flax  mostly  in  the 
North,  cotton,  ramie,  jute,  tampico,  agave  fibre  and  cactus  fibres 
in  the  South,  while  the  dry,  wiry  grasses  of  the  river  bottoms  of 
the  Mississippi  and  its  western  tributaries,  now  coming  into 
demand  for  paper  stock,  are  mainly  the  product  of  the  northern 
region.  '.  '    ;     .  '  .  ■ ,    .  .  ,> 

Tobacco  grows  in  almost  all  latitudes,  but  Missouri,  Arkansas, 
and  Texas  are  the  only  States  in  which  it  is  largely  cultivated. 

Tlir:  Rocky  Mountains  consist  of  two,  and  a  part  of  the  distance, 
three  principal  ranges,  having  a  general  direction  of  north-north- 
west to  south-southeast,  and  numerous  spurs  and  out-liers  con- 
necting these  ranges  and  extending  from  them  westward.  The 
eastern  slope  has  no  spurs  extending  eastward  unless  we  except 
some  hills  of  no  great  elevation  in  Wyoming.  The  Black  Hills 
in  Dakota,  the  Osage  and  Ozark  Mountains  in  Missouri  and 
Arkansas,  belong  to  a  different  mountain  system.  While  these 
mountain  ranges  have  many  peaks  or  summits  from  13,000  to 
14,000  feet  in  height,  and  some  even  higher,  the  table-lands  from 
which  the  summits  rise  are  generally  from  5,500  to  8,500  feet  in 
height,  and  most  of  the  passes  by  which  the  ranges  are  crossed 
do  not  exceed  that  elevation.  There  are  also  many  valleys  and 
parks  between  the  ranges,  which  contain  fine  tracts  of  arable 
land;  but  the  greater  part  of  the  land  included  within  these 
ranges  is  batter  adapted  for  grazing  than  farming;  and  con- 
siderable portions  are  only  valuable  for  mining  and  the  opera- 
tions connected  with  it.  The  grazing  lands  of  Colorado,  Wyo- 
ming and  Montana  are  mainly,  though  not  entirely,  on  these 
mountain  plateaux  and  parks ;  but  the  probabilities  are,  that 
there  will  be  enough  good  farming-lands  found  in  the  valleys 
atid  parks,  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  large  mining,  herding  and 
non-producing  classes  who  are  even  now  filling  up  this  mountain 
region  with  great  rapidity.     The  wheat  and  other  grains,  Indian 


/■^I^A/ZA'C   IN  THE   A'OCAy  MOUNTAINS. 


\A\ 


In  the  way  of 

valnut,  butter. 

the  pecan,  the 
can  have  the 

ate  it. 

mostly  in  the 
cactus  fibres 

L-r  bottoms  of 
comin^f  into 
the  northern 

i  i      ,  '      '      ,  . 

Liri,  Arkansas, 

cultivated, 
f  the  distance, 
f  north-north- 
out-liers  con- 
stward.  The 
.'ss  we  except 
2  Black  Hills 
Missouri  and 

While  these 
om  1 3,000  to 
)le-lands  from 

8,500  feet  in 
s  are  crossed 
y  valleys  and 
cts  of  arable 
within  these 
g;  and  con- 
d  the  opera- 
!orado,  Wyo- 
sly,  on  these 
es  are,  that 

the  valleys 
herding  and 
liis  mountain 
rains,  Indian 


corn,  sorghum  sugar,  root  crops,  and  vegetables,  milk,  butter, 
and  cheese,  and  pork,  can  be  furnished  by  the  farmers,  as  well  as 
most  of  the  fruits,  while  the  herdsmen  can  furnish  the  beef  and 
mutton,  and  the  sportsmen,  the  game,  large  and  small ;  but  there 
will  be  little  farm  produce  from  the  mountains  to  export. 

Much  of  what  is  grown  in  the  mountains  will  rctpiire  irriga- 
tion, and  with  it  will  yield  most  bountifully.  Kvcn  the  best 
authenticated  statements  of  the  enormous  crops  produced  by 
irrigation  arc  received  with  incredulity.  Seventy,  eighty,  and  in 
some  cases  even  one  hundred  bushels  of  wheat,  not  on  one  acre 
alone,  but  on  a  tract  of  thirty  or  fifty  acres;  a  like  amount  of 
barley ;  eighty  to  a  hundred  and  ten  bushels  of  oats ;  and  from 
150  to  200  bushels  of  Indian  corn ;  400,  500,  and  600  bushels  of 
potatoes  to  the  .icre;  these  amounts,  incredible  as  they  seem,  are 
materially  below  what  is  claimed  for  these  lands,  some  of  which 
without  water  would  have  proved  utterly  barren  and  worthless. 
In  Montana  these  mountain  valleys  do  not  lack  water,  the  ruin- 
fall  being  there  sufficient  to  produce  good  crops,  and  the  whole 
region  abounding  in  streams. 

Between  the  western  slope  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  ranges 
and  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  or,  as  they  are  called 
in  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory,  the  Cascade  Mountains, 
the  character  of  the  lands  varies  as  you  go  southward  from 
British  Columbia.  In  the  eastern  part  of  Washington  Territory 
and  Oregon,  the  lands  form  generally  a  high,  treeless  plateau, 
moderately  fertile,  but,  except  in  the  river  bottoms,  generally 
better  adapted  to  grazing  than  to  cultivation.  Farther  south,  within 
the  limits  of  the  Great  Basin  which  includes  nearly  one-half  of 
Utah  and  Nevada,  the  area  of  cultivable  land  is  comparatively 
small,  though  by  means  of  irrigation  it  is  much  increased ;  con- 
siderable tracts  are  unfit  even  for  grazing  purposes,  but  these 
are  generally  good  mining-lands.  East  and  south  of  the  Gre.- 1 
Basin  are  the  sources  of  the  Grand,  Green,  San  Juan  and  Little 
Colorado,  as  well  as  other  smaller  tributaries  of  the  Rio  Colorado 
of  the  West,  and  that  great  river  itself.  These  all  How  through 
Western  Colorado,  Southeastern  Utah,  Western  New  Mexico 
and  Arizona,  in  such  deep  canons  that  they  leave  many  of  the 


J  i»^»»iwtw4l-«**fc<»iaft-i»c*teyii«^t  ^.wf¥r.  >m  iQw^  -^  -1 


»;M'Wi.v/t«.,t,4^jrt(sfce]6irjaj#<i^-q(JV*"  Cv;^>l*lifl.■.^^^v<t^^*r«•c^>'■.J^v~f.■-.-:>:rxc?/•:t3fc'^^ 


i 


144 


PiK    U'HSTEK.V  EMPItiK. 


fncsas  and  tablu-lands  of  thcne  territories  to  drought  and  sterility, 
CVccpt  where  irrigation  is  possible,  or  when, -as  in  the  autumn 
and  winter  of  1 879-1 880,  extraordinary  and  protracted  rains  de- 
luged the  country.  Yet  this  region  is  well  adapted  to  giazing, 
and  by  a  scanty  irrigation  will  yield  the  crops  and  fruits  neces- 
sary for  the  sustenance  of  its  inhabitants.  In  New  Mexico  and 
Arizona  there  are,  with  irrigation,  a  larger  amount  of  arable 
lands  than  has  hitherto  been  supposed.     "    '     <       »     '  -  .. 

Governor  Fremont  writes  that,  in  the  summer  of  1879,  a  little 
band  of  Maricopa  Indians,  near  Prcscott,  who  had  taken  to 
farming,  sent  to  San  Francisco,  over  the  Southern  California 
road,  ten  car  loads, — 200  tons,  of  wheat  of  iheir  own  raising,  which 
was  of  such  excellent  quality  that  it  brought  $2.24  the  hundred 
pounds  when  the  usual  market  price  was  only  $1.10.  The  land 
on  which  such  wheat  could  be  grown,  in  an  i^nusually  dry  sea- 
son, must  be  counted  arable.  

West  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  Cascades,  v,"»  find  a  fine 
agricultural  region.  Western  Washington,  Oregon,  and  Califor- 
nia.  This  is  the  land  of  gigantic  forest  trees,  the  sequoias,  the 
cedars,  firs,  and  loftiest  pines,  the  tulip  tree,  liquidambar  and 
other  forest  trees,  which  have  no  rivals  in  the  Northern  Hemis- 
phere. It  is  also  the  land  of  wheat  and  barley,  of  Indian  corn 
and  oats,  of  the  vine,  and  its  abundant  wine  product,  as  well  as 
raisins  of  the  best  quality;  and  in  its  southern  portion,  of  the 
orange,  lemon  and  lime,  the  olive,  the  fig,  the  pomegranate,  and 
the  Madeira  nut  or  English  walnut,  and  the  French  and  Italian 
chestnut.  The  latter  is,  in  Italy,  largely  cultivated  for  the  food- 
producing  quality  of  its  nuts. 

■•  The  wheat  crop  of  California  is  larger  than  that  of  any  other 
St^te,  ranging  from  36,000,000  to  50,000,000  bushels  annually, 
and  is  of  the  very  best  quality,  bringing,  in  European  markets, 
higher  prices  than  any  other.  It  never  rains  in  harvest-time  in 
California,  and,  on  the  large  grain  ranches,  the  giant  header  clips 
ofif  the  heads  of  the  wheat,  sweeps  them  into  the  huge  wagon- 
box  from  which  they  are  shot  into  the  threshing-machine,  which 
is  geared  on  to  the  header,  and  the  reaping  and  threshing  are 
carried  on  si'nultaneously;  while  the  grain  as  it  comes  from  the 


S'i»ajSiiMsai»wi<ai»Mi'"''°'~''' ' 


t-.lh\W/,\G   ON  THR   PACIFIC   SI.OPK. 


I4S 


t  and  sterility, 
\  the  autumn 
ctcd  rains  do- 
:d  to  giazinjj, 
fruits  necc's- 
V  Mexico  and 
jnt  of  arable 

'  1879,  a  little 
had  taken  to 
:rn  California 
raising,  which 
,  the  hundred 
;o.     The  land 

ually  dry  sea- 

i J 1  >  1  ■  I . 

>*.  find  a  fine 
,  and  Califor* 

sequoias,  the 
lidambar  and 
them  Hemis- 
f  Indian  corn 
ict,  as  well  as 
ortion,  of  the 
egranate,  and 
h  and  Italian 

for  the  food- 

;  of  any  other 
lels  annually, 
ean  markets, 
irvest-time  in 
t  header  clips 
huge  wagon- 
lachine,  which 
fhreshing  are 
mes  from  the 


threshing-machine  is  sacked  automatically,  and  the  sacks  arc 
piled  in  heaps  in  the  field,  remaining  uninjured  in  the  pure, 
dry  air,  till  they  arc  sent  to  market  or  shipped  for  luirope.  A 
large  part  of  the  crop  is  shipp<ti  in  July.  IJarley  is  also  a  very 
important  crop,  California  producing  more  than  one-third  of  the 
whole  barley  crop  of  the  United  Slates,  and  nearly  liirec  times 
as  much  as  any  other  State.  Its  product  in  1878  was  about 
I5,cxx),ooo  bushels,  an  average  of  twenty-three  bushels  to  the 
acre,  though  forty  to  sixty  bushels  is  not  an  unusual  product. 
The  production  of  oats  is  hardly  sufficient  to  supply  the  State 
demand,  being  but  4,350,000  bushels  in  1878,  though  consider- 
able dependence  is  placed  on  wild  oats,  which  are  used  largely 
for  hay.  Indian  corn  is  also  a  small  crop,  about  3,500,000  bushels 
in  1878,  or  about  thirty-five  bushels  to  the  acre.  The  Alfalfa  and 
the  various  species  of  millet,  including  the  pearl  millet  and  the 
Dhourra  or  Egyptian  rice-corn,  are  cultivated  by  the  dairymen 
for  fodder.  Beans  are  largely  grown.  The  root  crops  are  more 
remarkable  for  enormous  growth  than  for  fine  flavor.  The 
sugar-beet  yields  several  crops,  and  contains  a  high  percentage 
of  sugar.  Hops  arc  also  an  important  crop,  and  other  minor 
crops  add  to  the  aggregate  of  production.  The  fruits  of  Cali- 
fornia have  a  deservedly  high  reputation.  The  apple  must  yield 
the  palm  to  those  of  Oregon,  Washington,  or  the  States  and 
Territories  farther  East,  but  the  pear,  quince,  peach,  apricot, 
cherry,  orange,  lemon,  pomegranate,  fig,  prune,  plum,  olive,  cur- 
rant, strawberry,  blackberry,  raspberry,  banana,  plantain,  and 
pineapple  all  attain  a  high  degree  of  excellence  and  a  marvellous 


size. 


In  addition  to  the  native  grape  and  the  Mission  grape,  both 
of  which  are  very  largely  grown,  every  known  variety  of  grape 
found  in  Europe  or  America  is  cultivated  here,  and  both  in  the 
flavor  and  quality  of  the  fruit,  and  the  abundance  of  the  yield, 
they  all  gready  surpass  their  product  where  they  are  native. 
The  production  of  raisins  was  at  first  a  partial  failure,  in  conse- 
quence of  incomplete  drying,  but  having  learned  the  art  of 
drying  these  as  well  as  most  other  fruits,  the  raisins  of  the  sun, 
from  California,  in  their  recent  samples,  surpass  those  of  any 


10 


j;«ai«i*w*w«^  - 


i 


1^  Ol/Jt    H'KSTMtti^   R.Ur/RB. 

Other  part  of  the  {jlohf?.  The  tlrlml  fruits  of  the  State,  after 
failures  from  carchss  drying,  arc  now  In'^inninj;  to  iaVv.  rank 
with  the  l)cst  in  the  worUI.  The  California  wines  and  brandies 
h.'^vc  not  till  recently  attained  to  their  best  condition.  They 
we'^  too  stronjjiy  alcoholic,  fiery  and  heady,  and  were  put  upon 
thf  market  before  they  had  had  sufficient  aj{e  to  ripen  them. 
The  conditions  of  climate  and  dryness  were  not  taken  into  ac- 
count by  the  wme-growers,  and  the  Mission  grape  being  largely 
used  for  wine-making,  its  peculiar,  earthy  taste  imi)aired  the 
value  of  the  wine.  These  difficulties  have  been,  now,  in  a  great 
m'Msur<'  overcome,  and  the  present  and  future  vintages  of  Cali- 
fornia will  compare  favorably  with  the  best  w"nes  of  Furoj.e, 
with  the  additional  advantage  of  being  purer.  The  California 
brandy,  when  it  has  a  sufficient  age,  is  f)rcferred  by  connoisseurs 
to  the  best  cognac.  There  la  yet,  however,  a  considerable  im- 
portation, not  only  of  French  brandies,  but  of  the  lighter  and 
cheaper  French  wines,  especially  clarets,  which  might  be  made 
there  of  really  better  quality  than  th-  im[)orted  wines. 

Both  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory  contain,  b<:sides  their 
great  amount  of  timber  lands,  and  their  extensive  ranges  for 
grazing,  large  tracts  of  fertile,  arable  lands.  There  is  no  lack 
of  rainfall  in  the  re^non  west  of  the  Cascade  Mountains.  At 
some  points  the  skies  weep  too  constantly  for  successful  grain 
culture,  but  this  very  excess  of  moisture  gives  to  the  forests  a 
more  gigantic  growth,  and  to  the  grasses  a  larger  and  more  vig- 
orous development.  For  the  most  part,  however,  Oregon  and 
Washington  are  well  adapted  to  the  culture  of  the  cereals. 
Even  Eastern  Washington  and  Oregon,  formerly  regarded  as 
a  desert  and  rainless  region,  proves,  notwithstanding  its  whitish, 
alkaline  soil,  and  its  moderate  rainfall,  one  of  the  finest  wheat 
regions  in  the  world.  With  deep  plowing  no  irrigation  is  needed, 
and  the  wheat,  large,  full-berried,  and  of  the  very  best  quality, 
weighing  from  sixty-five  to  sixty-nine  pounds  to  the  bushel  (the 
legal  weight  is  sixty  pounds),  turns  out  from  thirty  to  sixty 
bushels  to  the  acre ;  manv  of  the  farms  averaging  from  forty 
to  fifty  bushels  for  their  entire  crop.  In  1879  the  wheat  crop 
of  Oregon  exceeded  10,000,000  bushels,  and  that  of  Washington 


fOMlJir  UKOWTHS, 


thf  State,  after 
\v\^  to  take  rank 
ncs  and  hranclies 
condition.  They 
id  were  pid  upon 
r  to  ripen  them. 
Jt  taken  into  ac- 
ape  being  largely 
itc  impaired  the 
1,  now,  in  a  grrat 
vintages  of  Cali- 
v"n€'s  of  F.iirope, 
The  Cahfornia 
1  by  connoisseurs 
,  considerable  im- 
r  the  li^'hter  and 

might  be  made 

wines. 

:aln,  besides  their 
nsive  ranges  for 
rherc  is  no  lack 

Mountains.     At 

successful  grain 

to  the  forests  a 
^er  and  more  vig- 
jver,  Oregon  and 
;  of  the  cereals, 
erly  regarded  as 
nding  its  whitish, 

the  finest  wheat 
igation  is  needed, 
ery  best  quality, 

0  the  bushel  (the 

1  thirty  to  sixty 
iging  from  forty 
>  the  wheat  crop 
It  of  Washington 


•47 


was  about  half  as  much,  winiply  t)ecauHe  there  were  not  men 
t  tiough  to  »^)w  a  larger  crop.  All  the  small  grainn,  rye,  oalH, 
barley,  and  buckwheat  are  successjfully  tuUivated  there- ;  oats 
yicliling  from  .seventy  to  eighty  busheh  lo  the  acre.  Indian  corn 
is  a  tolerably  sure  crop  in  Oregon,  but  less  so  in  Wasliini.;ion 
on  arvountof  the  cool  nights.  The  root  crops  yield  enormously, 
an  1  there  is  a  ready  market  for  them  at  gootl  prices  at  home 
among  the  lumbermen,  fiHhcrincn,  and  n>anu(aituring  population 
of  the  towns.  Flax,  though  cultivated  m.iiuly  for  the  seed,  is 
of  excellent  quality,  the  lint  b<  iiig  loiign  (iner  and  silkier  than 
elsewhere.  Of  fruits,  the  apple  and  pear  are  imsurpasiiiil,  ami 
most  of  the  small  fruits  arc  successfully  culliv  ued.  Oregon 
apples,  pears,  and  berries  conunand  a  high  price  in  the  San 
Francisco  market. 


CHAHFR    XIII 


TiMnr.R  AND  LuMrrn  — TREE-Pi.ANTiNa— -TiiK  Forkst  Gmiwrjis  fN  DirrrntKT 
Skctions— Cai.ipornia  Forksts— Hok  IK  ri.TUBK  AND  FruitCulture — 
Floriculture — Wild  Flowers— Mark kt  (Iardenino. 

As  wc  have  already  seen,  \  consiilerable  (lortion  of  this  Great 
West  is  but  scantily  supplied  with  forest  trees.  In  1871,  a 
careful  estimate  (uit  down,  in  these  twenty  States  and  Territo- 
ries, the  woodland,  as  covering  198,124,802  acres;  but  in  the 
nine  years  which  have  since  elapsed,  the  demand  for  railroad  ties 
and  structures,  for  bridges,  for  machinery,  partly  of  wooJ,  for 
mines,  for  dwellings,  and  public  buildings,  and  for  export,  has 
diminished  this  area  by  nearly  or  quite  twenty-five  per  cent. 
Minnesota,  Missouri,  Oregon,  and  Washington,  and  perhaps 
Texas,  and  Arkansas  to  a  moderate  extent,  are  the  only  States 
or  Territories  that  export  lumber.  Montana  has  good  timber- 
lands,  but  she  is  not  as  yet  producing  more  than  lumber  enough 
for  the  home  demand.  Iowa,  Nebmska,  Dakota,  Kansas,  Wy- 
oming, Colorado,  Utah,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and  Nevada,  have 
not  Limber  and  lumber  enough  fur  their  own  needs,  and  are 


I^S  OL'ft   WK$rMKy   KMr/KK. 

oWI  fr«!  tn  Import  n  larjjr  iih.ire  of  whnt  i«  ronniimrd.  Th** 
In<li.»n  'IVrritory  hnn  a  modcratr  amount,  but  the  ndjarnnt  rail 
roncU  nrr  fa«t  consuming  it.  Idaho  has  connidrrnblr  for»*ntn  on 
hi  moiiniain^,  but  much  of  It  In  not  accc«fiibl«?.  Thr  fjigantic 
forrHtH  of  California  havr  hrrr\  tu  rccklcsuly  waited,  that  nhe  now 
importn  larjjrly  of  timber,  lumlwr,  and  firr-wood.  In  thr  prairir 
Statm,  liberal  prrmiumn  havr  brrn  offrrrtl  for  trcc-planting  by 
th«»  State  atilhoritim ;  an«l  thr  National  (lovrrnmrnt,  by  thrir 
TimlMT-Cidtiirf  A<t  an«l  it«  amrndmrntH,  havr  sought  to  promote 
thr  cultivation  of  formt  trrrs.  The  railroad  companies,  >ivhich 
have  larjjB  land  ^rAtxin,  have  aUo  encouraged  tree-culture.  But 
thoug;h  these  eflTortn  have  led  to  the  plantinnr  of  some  millions  of 
trrrs,  many  of  them  die  the  first  or  second  year,  and  the  whole 
rttimbrr  pl,TUr<l,  in  six  or  seven  years,  bears  but  a  small  propor- 
tion to  the  annual  destruction  of  the  forests. 

The  forest  growths  tliffer  materially  in  different  sections.  In 
the  northeast,  Minnesota  and  Northern  Dakota,  pine  is  prccmi- 
nent,  though  there  affc  Rome  of  the  harder  woods  scattered 
thrf)iig?i  the  forests.  In  Missouri,  cottonwoods,  and  the  bois  d'an 
or  Osage  orange,  minj^le  with  the  other  hard  woods  and  pine 
ami  hemlock.  Montan.i  has  pines  and  firs,  and  some  oaks,  black 
w.ilnutf's  maples,  etc.,  etc.  Oregon  and  Washington  arc  rem.irk- 
able  In  their  western  halves  for  gigantic  firs,  and  have  also  a  fair 
sliare  of  pines,  spruces,  red  cedars,  and  sequoias.  I'rom  these 
and  tl>e  almost  Inexl  iistible  forests  of  Alaska,  and  British 
Columbia,  the  Pacific  coast  will  probably  draw  its  supplies  of 
lumber  and  timber  for  many  years  to  come.  The  forests  of 
Kastem  and  Middle  Texas,  and  Arkansas,  are  largely  composed 
of  hanl  woods ;  there  are  eight  or  ten  species  of  oak,  one  an 
evergreen,  though  not  the  genuine  live-oak  ;  chinqucpin,  hickory, 
black  walnut,  cherry  and  ash ;  and  in  Northern  Arkansas  the 
tulip  tree  or  yellow  poplar,  the  sweet,  sour,  and  black  gum, 
cypress  and  the  Osage  orange,  etc.,  etc.  In  Northwestern  Texas, 
there  are  some  forests  of  pine  and  fir.  The  mountains  of  Ari- 
zona, Colorado,  and  New  Mexico,  are  generally  covered,  nearly 
to  the  snow  line,  with  evergreen  forests  (pitch,  yellow,  and  spruce 
pine),  but  the  tftfes  are  not  usually  of  such  gigantic  size  as  are 


fot^ar  CMon'TifS 


>4y 


•  ndjarrnt  rail 
al)l«  foiTntn  on 

Th«  jjiganlic 
(1,  thnt  hHc  now 

In  th<!  prairie 
ree-planting  by 
imrnt,  by  thnir 
^ht  to  promotr 
mpanies,  which 
e-culture.  But 
irriR  milhons  of 
,  anil  the  whole 
a  small  propor* 

It  sections.  In 
pine  is  pre-cmi- 
cods  scattrretl 
d  the  6ois  d'an 
oods  and  pine 
)me  oaks,  hiai  k 
on  arc  remark- 
have  also  a  fair 
I.  I'rom  these 
a,  and  British 
its  supplies  of 
The  forests  of 
■gely  composed 
of  oak,  one  an 
|ucpin,  hickory, 
Arkansas  the 
nd  black  g^um, 
western  Texas, 
untains  of  Ari- 
covered,  nearly 
low,  and  spruce 
itic  size  as  are 


found  on  the  Pacific  coant.  Alonjj  the  •Irrami  the  Ineviiablo 
KiiiotiwootI,  U)cu»t,  buckeye,  box  elder  (wi'^'/W*^),  and  luaplc,  arc 
found  in  moderate  quantities. 

The  forr»t  i;rowih»  of  California  arc  (or  rather  were,  for, 
except  in  a  few  of  the  couniim,  thry  arc  rapidly  |>ttiij.ing  away) 
for  the  most  part  wholly  unlike  thoso  of  the  rej;ion  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  Its  largenl  iree»,  the  »e<p«ola}»,  are  of  the  reil- 
wood  or  cedar  family.  The  Si^qiwut  x'^anUa  has  attained  in  some 
instances  to  a  hei;;ht  excc<;diny;  430  feel,  and  very  few  of  llu:m 
when  their  growth  was  attained  are  under  335  fert.  The  tallest 
now  standing  is  said  to  bo  376  feet  in  height.  Their  circumfer- 
ence is  as  remarkable  as  their  height,  ranging  from  eighty  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty  feet.  The  largest  now  standing  measures 
loO  feet  in  circumference  at  its  lase.  The  Stguoia  scmptrjinns,  ot 
redwood  of  the  Coast  Range  (the  Sequoia  j^i^^'anka  is  only 
found  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevaila),  is  but  little 
smaller  than  the  Svquaia  gigatO'^.i ;  often  attaining  a  height  of 
300  feet,  and  a  circumference  of  nom  sixty  to  eighty  feet.  The 
sugar  pine  {Pinus  Lambo'tiana)  and  the  Douglas'  spruce  {Abies 
Douglasii )  boili  attain  a  height  of  250  to  300  feet,  with  a  circum- 
ference of  forty  to  forty-five  feet.  The  California  yellow  pino 
{Piims  pondcrosa)  is  often  225  feet  high.  Sabine's  or  the  nut- 
Jjine  {PiHtii  Stibiniana),  the  western  balsam-fir  {Piua  £tandii), 
and  the  white  cedar  {Libocidrus  decurrens)  all  atuiin  a  height 
of  150  feet;  and  among  the  deciduous  trees,  the  burr  oak,  and 
the  western  chinquepin,  one  of  the  chestnut  family,  reach  1 25 
feet.  Many  other  trees  unknown  at  the  east,  some  of  them 
semi-tropical,  are  100  feet  or  more  in  height.  Two  of  the  oaks 
are  evergreens. 

The  trees  planted  or  raised  from  the  seed,  under  the  Timber, 
Culture  and  other  acts,  have  been  almost  entirely  of  the  rapidly 
growing  kinds,  the  cottonwood,  the  ailantus,  the  locust,  the  Osage 
orange,  the  vine,  maple,  and  white  maple,  etc.  Few  of  these  have 
much  value  for  timber,  but  most  of  them  are  good  for  fuel,  and 
some  make  moderately  durable  railroad  ties.  There  must  be 
added,  however,  to  this  list  of  trees,  planted  by  settlers,  one 
which  is  likely  to  prove  of  great  value  in  a  sanitary  point  of  view, 


^zS^-ri-^*-^"— .iJ 


ISO 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


as  well  as  eventually  as  a  timber  tree,  the  Eucalyptus  ghbiiliis, 
a  tree  which  has  the  reputation  of  arresting  the  progress  of 
marsh  miasms,  and  of  renaering  the  regions  in  which  it  is  planted 
healthy.  Unfortunately,  this  species  is  not  hardy  above  latitude 
39°  or  40"  north,  but  some  of  the  other  species  of  Eucalyptus 
may  be  less  susceptible  to  the  cold.  One  species,  found  in  Aus- 
tralia, contests  with  the  Sequoia  gigantea  of  California,  the  title 
to  be  considered  the  largest  tr.^e  in  the  world.  It  is  said  to  be 
at  least  of  greater  circumference. 

In  the  newer  portions  of  this  vast  region,  the  farmer  has  been 
so  intent  on  bringing  the  greatest  possible  amount  of  his  grain 
or  I  Dot  crops  to  market,  that  there  has  been  comparatively  little 
opportunity  for  developing  aesthetic  taste  in  the  cultivation  of  a 
flower-garden  ;  and  yet  in  sections  where  two  years  ago  the  sod 
was  unbroken,  the  grounds  around  the  often  humble  cabin  or 
sod-housc  give  evidence  of  refinement  in  the  variety  of  flowers 
already  blooming  there.  In  Iowa,  Missouri,  Minnesota,  Nebraska, 
Kansas,  Te.xas,  California,  Oregon,  Nevada,  and  Eastern  and 
Central  Colorado  and  New  Mexico,  the  flower-gardens  are  often 
gay  with  beautiful  flowers,  of  kinds  unknown  at  the  East,  and  as 
often  redolent  with  the  sweetest  perfumes.  Many  shrubs,  which 
at  the  East  are  hardly  half-hardy,  and  cannot  in  our  climate  be 
preserved  through  the  winter,  on  the  Pacific  coast  and  in  Texas, 
become  trees  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet  in  height.  Among  these 
we  may  name  the  fuchsia  of  several  species,  with  its  beautiful 
flowers  of  crimson,  white,  scarlet,  yellow  and  blush ;  the  helio- 
trope, with  its  rich  perfume,  which  becomes  a  flourishing  tree; 
the  mignonette,  the  smilax,  here  so  delicate,  there  a  hardy 
climber;  the  magnolia  grandiflora,  the  syringa,  there  a  stately 
tree,  the  lily  family,  etc.,  etc. 

Wild  flowers  of  great  beauty  and  fragrance  abound  through- 
out all  this  region,  except  the  alkaline  or  sage-brush  lands,  the 
Llano  Estacado  and  the  dry  mesas  of  Arizona,  and  the  two  latter 
during  and  after  the  scanty  rains,  are  resplendent  with  brilliant 
blossoming  verdure,  and  during  their  dry  seasons,  the  cacti, 
though  of  uncouth  and  ungainly  forms,  produce  flowers  of  gor- 
geous hues,  and  some  of  them  of  wonderful  beauty. 


MARKF.l    GARDENING. 


I5» 


yPttis  globulus, 
te  progress  of 
ich  it  is  planted 
above  latitude 
of  Eucalyptus 
,  found  in  Aus- 
fornia,  the  title 
It  is  said  to  be 

irmer  has  been 

int  of  his  grain 

paratjvely  litde 

cultivation  of  a 

ars  ago  the  sod 

limbic  cabin  or 

riety  of  flowers 

sota,  Nebraska, 

id  Eastern  and 

,rdens  are  often 

he  East,  and  as 

y  shrubs,  which 

our  climate  be 

and  in  Texas, 

Among  these 

th  its  beautiful 

iish;  the  helio- 

ourishing  tree; 

there  a  hardy 

there  a  stately 

MDund  through- 
rush  lands,  the 
J  the  two  latter 
nt  with  brilliant 
ons,  the  cacti, 
flowers  of  gor 

ty,  /..  -*ar  <it  n-jr.'  ■ 


As  to  kitchen    and    market-gardens,  they  are    found   most 
abundantly  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  towns  and  cities.     A  large 
proportion  of  them  are  cultivated  by  Europeans,  the  Germans, 
perhaps,  beinjj  most  numerous  among   the  la-ger  market-gar- 
lencrs.     Their  products  are  of  almost  unlimited  variety:  cab- 
bage, cauliflower,  kohl-rabi,  onions,  leeks,  garlics,  early  sweet 
corn,  sweet  potatoes,  the  common  potato  of  many  varieties,  yams, 
okra,  gumbo,  asparagus,  celery,  spinage,  and  other  greens,  vege- 
table  oysters,  egg-plants,  radishes,  lettuce,  artichokes,  turnips, 
beets,  mangel-wurzel,   ruta-baga,    carrots,    parsnips,   squashes, 
pumpkins,  muskmelons,  watermelons,  citrons,  cucumbers,  gher- 
kins, peppers,  the  flavoring  plants,  thyme,  summer-savory,  sage, 
endive,  peppergrass,  water-cresses,  parsley,  orange  leaves,  bay 
leaves,  etc.,  etc.     Many  of  them  deal  also  in  the  small  fruits  in 
their  season.    To  those  who  have  been  accustomed  to  this  busi- 
ness in  Europe  or  in  the  Eastern  States,  there  is  a  fine  field  for 
enterprise  here ;  a  very  few  acres  of  the  fertile  soil  are  sufficient, 
and  for  some  years  at  least,  and  in  most  cases  for  one  or  two 
generations,  no  manure  beyond  that  made  upon  the  place  will 
be  needed,  only  deep  and  thorough  tillage,  to  produce  such 
vegetables  as  cannot  be  produced  elsewhere.     In  the  vicinity  of 
any  of  the  rapidly  growing  towns  of  the  mining  region,  there  is 
no  danger  of  a  glut  in  the  market  for  these  products,  and  if  the 
market-gardener  can  manage  to  keep  two  or  three  milch  cows 
of  thfe  best  grade,  his  milk  and  butter  will  prove  additionally 
profitable.     In  this  connection,  too,  the  rearing  of  fowls,  whose 
feeding  and  care  is  inexpensive,  in  connection  with  the  market- 
garden  business,  is  a  source  of  large  profit.        ;    ['       :  •       ' 


r.     I, 


r  ■■'  f  ■•.^ 


'  .,  '. 


-.•'''   '>•  ':'.•■/■  --^  ■ 


y 


'  i  I, ,.  ■ 


/v  > 


1  M'J'KIKl'i  ■ifi***. 


.--^-.  tTiiim  »?«■.-  •'i-^ 


7  ■■CH«Wi\  •-■«>*    ,•■♦,■*^C-^   ■<■•«' 


i 


IS2 


Ol/Jt    WEST£XN  EMPIRE. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

New  DiSCCTIONS  IN  WHICH  AGRICULTURAL  INDUSTRY  MAY  BE  DeYELOPED,  AND 
IN  WHICH  IT  IS  ALREADY  DEVELOPING — MlLLET  AND  OTHER  FoRAGE  CrOPS — 
SiLK-CULTURE — RkAKINO  THE  SiLK-WOKM — Sxi FLING  THE  CoCOONS — REEL- 
ING— The  Filature — ScHAPpfc  or  Spun-Silk — Cocoons  do  not  bear 
Transportation  well — Advantages  of  Silk-Culture  in  the  West — The 
SiLKViLLE  Experiment — Prices  or  Raw  Silk  and  of  Silk-worm  Eggs— 
Prouability  of  a  Large  Demand  for  Raw  Silk^Tbxtile  Fibres — Flax 
AND  Hbmp-^Papea  Stock  :  Esparto  Grass,  Tule,  Marsh-mallow,  etc.— 
Ramie,  Jute,  Tampico — The  Nettle — Dye  Stuffs — Cochineal — Oil- 
Producino  Plants — The  Olive — Cotton-seed  Oil — Hemp-seed  and  Lin- 
seed Oil — Oil  of  Sunflower  Seeds  and  other  Seeds — Sesamum  Indicum 
— Tar  Weed  (Madia  Sativa) — Pea-nut,  Ground-nut  or  Goober — Castor 
Bean  (Ricinus  Communis  and  Sanguinabius) — Tea  and  Coffef  Cultiva- 
tion— Fruit  and  Nut-hearing  Trees  and  Shrubs — The  Olive — Oranges 
and  Lemons — Pomegranate — Fig — Banana,  Plantain,  Pineapple,  Guava 
and  other  Tropical  Fruits — Papaw — Nut-dearing  Trees  and  Shruds— 
Introduction  of  Foreign  Nuts — English  Walnut — Italian  Chestnut- 
Almond — Other  Fruit-bearing  Shrubs — Japanese  Persimmon,  Carob, 
Jujube,  Mezquite,  etc. — Trees  and  Shrubs  containing  Tannin — The 
Sumacs — The  Wattles — The  SpiRiCAS  or  Hardhacks. 

We  have  already  spoken  of  the  cultivation  of  the  Minnesota 
early  amber-cane,  or  sorghum,  and  of  the  great  impulse  which 
has  been  given  to  its  culture  within  two  years  past  by  the  dis- 
cover}' that  it  contains  its  largest  proportion  of  sugar,  and  almost 
its  only  crystallizable  sugar,  when  it  is  ripe;  and  have  shown 
that  not  only  can  the  seed  be  saved  by  waiting  till  this  time,  but 
that  the  yield  of  sugar  is  so  large,  and  is  produced  by  such  sim- 
ple processes,  that  it  is  the  most  profitable  crop  a  farmer  can  raise, 
and  will  materially  diminish,  if  it  does  not  entirely  abolish,  the 
necessity  of  our  importing  immense  quantities  of  sugar  from  the 
West  Indies,  Demerara,  Brazil  and  the  Sandwich  Islands.  Our 
importation  of  sugars  now  costs  us  $100,000,000  annually.  We 
may  be,  within  ten  years,  and  possibly  within  five,  exporters  in- 
stead of  importers  of  raw  sugars. 

It  has  been  ascertained  that  the  stalks  of  our  Indian  corn  yield, 
when  the  corn  is  ripe,  about  seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  quan- 


S^^^ilkii&iliggs^ss^J'isagiK:^       ■ 


i 


SILK-CULTURE. 


>S3 


Developed,  and 
Forage  Crops- 
Cocoons — Reel- 
1  do  not  hear 
THE  West — The 
LK-woRM  Eggs— 
.E  Fibres — Flax 
i-MALLOw,  etc. — 
Cochineal — Oil- 

JP-SEED  AND  LlN- 

iESAMuri  Indicum 
Goober — Castor 
coffef  cultiva- 
Olive — Oranges 
Mneapple,  Guava 
!ES  and  Shrubs— 
LiAN  Chestnut— 

RSIMMON,    CaROB, 

^o  Tannin— The 

the  Minnesota 
impulse  which 
ist  by  the  dis- 
bar, and  almost 
have  shown 

this  time,  but 
d  by  such  sim- 
rmer  can  raise, 

ily  abolish,  the 
jucfar  from  the 

Islands.  Our 
mnually.    We 

:,  exporters  in- 

iian  corn  yield, 
.  of  the  quan- 


tity of  sugar  produced  by  the  amber  sorghum ;  that  the  millets, 
the  Egyptian  rice  corn,  and  probably  broom  corn  also,  which  is 
largely  cultivated  in  some  portions  of  the  West,  yield  quite  as 
much  as  the  Indian  corn.  Here  is  a  great  opportunity  fo.  a  new 
and  lucrative  industry,  and  there  is  little  danger  of  overdoing  it. 

The  cultivation  of  the  millets,  and  especially  of  the  pearl  millet 
and  the  Egyptian  rice  corn,  already  introduced  into  Kansas  and 
some  of  the  other  States,  both  as  a  forage  plant  and  for  the 
production  of  sugar,  and  the  increase  in  the  crops  of  Alfalfa, 
Lucerne,  Hungarian  grass,  and  possibly  some  of  the  other  forage 
grasses,  is  well  worthy  of  attention.  We  shall  have  more  to  say 
on  this  subject  in  connection  with  stock-farming.  The  yield  of 
forage  from  some  of  them  is  enormous. 

The  rearing  of  silk-worms  is  an  industry  which,  if  righdy  man- 
aged, might  be  made  very  successful.  It  does  not  require  a 
very  large  outlay,  but  will  be  best  conducted  by  colonies,  some 
of  the  members  of  which  have  been  practically  familiar  with  the 
business  elsewhere. 

There  is  necessary,  in  starting  the  business,  a  plantation  of 
mulberry  trees,  but  this  need  not  be  large  at  first,  and  the  tree 
grows  very  rapidly.  The  white  mulberry  {Mortis  alba)  is  per- 
liaps  the  best,  though  some  prefer  the  black  {Morus  nigra)  or 
the  many-leaved  {Moms  multicaulis)*  Other  trees  afford  food 
for  silk-worms,  such  as  the  Osage  orange,  regarded  by  many  as 
equal  to  tlic  mulberry,  the  ailantus,  the  weeping-willow  {Salix 
Babylonica),  the  kilmarnock  willow,  some  of  the  osiers,  several 
species  of  oak,  and  the  garden  lettuce,  but  the  silk  is  better  from 
the  mulberry  than  from  most  of  the  others,  and  if  well  managed, 
no  more  c  pensive.  When  the  mulberry  trees  are  large  enough 
to  furnish  a  q^ood  supply  of  leaves,  the  silk-worm  eggs  should  be 
procured,  ar,  '  the  purchaser  should  avoid  any  fancy  varieties,  of 
which  there  are  many  in  the  market,  but  should  confine  himself 
to  those  kinds  which  wiU  produce  the  large,  single  crop  sulphur 
yellow,  lemon  yellow,  or  white  cocoons.     These  in  the  long  run 

■     '   I      .- .  1    -       II-. —         I  ■■ : J 1-^ ^ r— 

*  M.  Boissiere  thinks  tlie  Lpdji  or  Japanese  mulberry  (Morut  japonica)  better  tlian  ai^  other, 
ai  fourteen  and  «.  half  potind*  of  its  leaves  will  make  one  pound  of  cocoons,  while  of  Um, 
white  mulberry,  twenty  pounds  ane  requind,  an4  of  the  monttia  new  specin  fiOccn  pounds,  and 
the  rote  mulberry  seventeen  pounds. 


>.  /lOMlI^akutCt 


154 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE, 


/ 


will  pay  best.  Shelves,  or  layers  of  brush,  separated  by  proper 
supports,  should  be  provided  for  feeding  the  worms,  and  the 
feeding,  if  the  number  is  considerable,  will  keep  the  children 
pretty  busy  night  and  day  for  from  three  to  five  weeks.  When 
the  worms  are  ready  to  begin  to  spin,  the  brush  is  better  than 
shelves  or  frames.  When  the  cocoons  are  finished  a  few  of  the 
best  shaped  and  largest  must  be  reserved  for  the  production  of 
eggs,  and  the  rest  "  stifled;  "  /'.  c,  the  chrysalides  killed,  either  by 
subjecting  them  to  the  fumes  of  camphor,  or  some  of  the  other 
hydro-carbon r,  or  to  steam  heat,  or  baking  them.  It  is  not  best 
for  the  families  to  reel  the  cocoons  themselves;  if  there  is  a 
colony  of  silk-growers,  some  of  them  will  probably  be  skilful 
reelers,  and  one  filature  or  reeling  establishment  is  enough  for  a 
hundred  silk-growers.  Machines  recently  invented  make  reeling 
on  a  large  scale  easier  than  it  was,  and  if  the  silk-growers  bring 
their  cocoons  at  an  average  price  to  the  filature,  receiving  their 
pay  when  the  silk  is  reeled  and  sold,  a  moderate  capital  only  will 
be  required.  Raw  silk  is  not  so  bulky  as  to  make  its  transpor- 
tation vci/  expensive,  but  if  at  a  distance  from  market  the  silk 
may  be  doubled,  twisted,  and  thrown,  or  brought  into  the  condition 
of  tram  and  organzine,  without  any  great  addition  to  the  cost. 
The  pierced  cocoons,  or  those  through  which  the  chrysalis  has 
escaped,  as  well  as  wild  silk-worm  cocoons,  if  there  are  any, 
and  the  floss  or  outside  silk  of  the  reeled  cocoons,  may  also  be 
utilized  in  such  an  establishment,  being  boiled  for  a  long  time  in 
soap  and  water,  cut  up,  carded  and  spun  to  form  the  spun  silk, 
or  Schapp^.  Eventually  it  may  be  desirable  to  establish  a  factory 
for  the  production  of  sewing  silk,  ribbons,  handkerchiefs,  fringes 
and  trimmings,  dress  goods,  satins,  laces,  or  velvets.  The  last  are 
not  as  yet  produced  in  this  country.  Cocoons  are  too  bulky  to 
bear  long  transportation,  and  the  only  successful  silk-culture 
must  either  be,  that  in  which  one  filature  with  skilled  reelers 
works  up  the  cocoons  from  a  hundred  families  of  silk-growers, 
or  one  in  which  the  silk-worm  eggs  ai'e  produced  for  the  market 
in  large  quantities.  Tliera  is  an  active  demand  for  these  at  high 
prices,  but  even  if  the  business  was  conducted  witli  only  this 
^d  in  view,  the  pierced  cocoons  might  be  utilized  with  profit. 


i_ 


1  by  proper 
IS,  and   the 
he  children 
:ks.    When 
better  than 
I  few  of  the 
oduction  of 
;d,  cither  by 
of  the  other 
t  is  not  best 
f  there  is  a 
y  be  skilful 
inough  for  a 
lake  reeling 
owers  bring 
ceiving  their 
ital  only  will 
its  transpor- 
rket  the  silk 
;he  condition 
to  the  cost, 
hrysalis  has 
re  are  any, 
may  also  be 
long  time  in 
le  spun  silk, 
ish  a  factory 
liefs,  fringes 
The  last  are 
too  bulky  to 

silk-culture 
illed  feelers 
>ilk-growers, 
•  the  market 
;hcse  at  high 
itli  only  this 

with  profit. 


CAK  SILK-CULTURE  BE  MADE  PROFITABLEt 


IS5 


One  advantage  of  the  silk-culture  is,  that  it  occupies  but  a  few 
weeks  of  the  year,  and  most  of  the  work  can  be  performed  by 
children,  while  other  farm  or  manufacturing  work  can  be 
prosecuted  during  the  remainder  of  the  year.  M.  Boissiere  has 
established  a  cheese  factory  to  employ  his  operatives  the  remain- 
der of  the  year.  Conducted  as  we  have  indicated,  it  can  hardly 
fail  to  be  profitable  in  connection  with  the  cultivation  of  other 
crops.  The  silk-worm  disease  which  has  so  largely  reduced  the 
silk  product  of  Italy  and  France,  is  not  likely  to  be  introduced  here, 
but  the  silk-grower  should  select  localities  not  subject  to  frequent 
and  violent  storms,  or  to  severe  thunder-storms,  or  rapid  and 
extreme  changes  of  temperature  during  the  time  of  feeding,  as  the 
worm  is  then  very  sensitive,  and  easily  killed.  M.  E.  V.  Boissiere, 
the  French  silk-grower  and  manufacturer  already  mentioned,  has 
started  silk-growing  and  silk  manufacture  with  a  colony  of  French 
silk-growers  on  a  small  scale  at  Silkville,  Williamsburg  P.  O., 
Franklin  county,  Kansas,  and  after  a  struggle  of  several  years, 
has  succeeded  in  producing  raw  silk  equal  in  quality  to  the  best 
French  and  Italian,  and  his  worms,  though  originally  from  the 
eggs  from  the  moths  of  diseased  worms,  have  proved  perfectly 
healthy.  A  considerable  portion  of  the  raw  silk  produced  at 
Silkville  is  reeled  by  hand  by  the  daughters  of  the  silk-growers, 
who  had  become  experts  in  reeling  in  France. 

The  cocoons  from  French  silk-worms  are  much  larger  and 
more  easily  reeled  than  those  from  Chinese  or  Japanese  worms, 
and  M.  Crozier,  M.  Boissiere's  manager,  says  that  in  1878  the 
raw  silk  produced  there  brought  in  the  French  market  130 
francs  the  kilogram,  or  about  jjio  a  pound.  At  this  price  the 
raw  silk  affords  a  better  profit  than  the  production  of  silk-worm 
eggs  for  market,  and  is  safer,  as  the  price  of  the  eggs  varies 
so  much,  and  the  demand  for  them  is  liable  to  be  below  the  sup- 
ply. In  1877,  France  alone  paid  1,691,400  francs =$338,280  to 
this  country  for  silk-worm  eggs ;  but  a  part  of  these  proving 
worthless,  from  bad  management,  there  was  a  decided  falling 
off  in  the  demand  in  1878  and  1879.  .     ;.   c  :  ,,i;     .;, 

But  the  price  of  raw  silk  also  fluctuates  widely,  ranging  within 
the  ten  years  1868-1878,  for  the  best  Italian,  from  $7.25  to 


•III  _     .Jri' 


156  OUR    WESTEKN  EMI'/HS. 

515;  for  the  best  J.ipanese  (Maibash)  from  $3.75  to  $9.12,  and 
for  the  Chinese  (Tsatlce  III.)  from  $4.25  to  j^8  per  pound.  In 
1878  tlie  prices  were  still  lower,  averaging  at  tiie  close  of  the 
year  only  about  $2.50  per  pound,  for  all  (pialities,  European  and 
Asiatic.  It  has  since  advanced  materially.  To  command  the 
highest  price,  however,  the  raw  silk  must  be  reeled  with  the 
greatest  care  and  skill,  so  as  to  make  a  uniform  thread,  and  on 
this  account  it  can  never  be  done  successfully  by  inexperienced 
hands,  and  is  best  done  by  machines  with  skilled  reelers. 

The  great  increase  in  the  silk  manufacture  in  this  country 
will  create  a  large  and  steady  demand  for  raw  silk,  and  if  it  can 
be  produced  at  paying  prices,  by  the  methods  we  have  indicated, 
or  if  .lilk-factories  can  be  established  in  the  Western  States  and 
Territories,  which  will  combine  reeling  with  the  manufacture  of 
silk,  this  will  become  a  favorite  industry  among  the  enterprising 
farmers  of  the  Gn^at  West. 

Another  wide  field  for  enterprise  is  in  the  direction  of  the 
cultivation  of  a  greater  variety  of  textile  fibres.  Even  flax  and 
hemp,  the  most  common  of  the  textiles  after  cotton,  have  not 
had  a  fair  chance  in  the  West.  With  the  facilities  afforded  by 
our  unrivalled  machinery  for  the  breaking  of  flax  and  hemp, 
and  the  abundance  of  pure  water  for  bleaching,  Minnesota 
and  Dakota  ought  to  have  many  millions  of  acres  hi  these  two 
crops.  :; 

The  great  demand  for  paper  stock  should  cover  all  the  marsh 
lands  of  Missouri,  Nebraska  and  Kansas  with  Esparto  grass, 
tule,  marsh-mallow  or  the  cane-brake ;  while  farther  south  the 
palmetto  could  be  produced,  on  lands  now  considered  worthless, 
for  the  same  purpose.  The  vast  amount  of  wheat-straw  and 
wild  hay  of  Minnesota,  Dakota,  Nebraska  and  Kansas  might 
be  converted  into  paper  and  straw-board,  to  much  greater  profit 
than  is  gained  by  using  both  as  fiiel  for  running  threshing- 
machines  and  factories.  Tlie  new  invention,  by  which,  by  chem- 
ical saturation  and  powerful  compression,  straw-board  can  be 
made  into  an  artificial  wood  almost  as  hard  as  iron,  and  fit  for  all 
the  uses  of  the  best  ornamental  woods,  at  hardly  more  -than  a 
tithe  of  their  cost,  ought  to  be  worth  millions  of  dollars  to 
those  States,  and  to  California,  where  the  straw  is  also  burned. 


^^^'^'^^V^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^a'^^^^^^T^^^C^^^^^^^' 


T^^^^iSii^:^^^^^^^^!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 


KRW  TEXTILES. 


157 


u  $9.13,  ami 
})uund.  In 
close  of  the 
aropean  and 
}mmand  the 
ed  with  the 
cad,  and  on 
icxperienccd 
:lers. 

this  country 
and  if  it  can 
ve  indicated, 
\  States  and 
nufacture  of 
enterprising 

cction  of  the 
ven  Hax  and 
on,  have  not 
;  afforded  by 
\.  and  hemp, 
Minnesota 
in  these  two 

dl  the  marsh 

Darto  grass, 

;r  south  the 

sd  worthless, 

at-straw  and 

ansas  might 

reater  profit 

threshlng- 

ch,  by  chem- 

oard  can  be 

md  fit  for  all 

more  -than  a 

>f  dollars  to 

so  burned. 


But  the  production  of  textiles  is  not  limited  to  these  fibres. 
Ramie,  one  of  the  most  delicate  and  beautiful  of  textiles,  has 
been  raised  successfully  in  Texas  and  Arkansas.  Jute  is  even 
more  successfiilly  cultivated  throughout  the  entire  region  below 
forty-two  degrees,  and  there  is  a  steady  and  large  demand  for 
it.  The  various  fibres  known  as  Tampico,  Honduras  grass, 
Panama  grass  and  Agave  fibre,  can  all  be  raised  easily  and  prof- 
itably in  Texas,  Arkansas,  Arizona  and  New  Mexico ;  while  the 
over-abundant  cacti  of  Texas  and  Arizona  can  be  utilized  for 
the  production  of  strong  and  excellent  fibres  suited  both  for  rop« 
and  bagging  purposes  and  for  paper  stock.  A  species  of  cactus, 
which  grows  in  immense  jungles  or  "chaparml"  in  Southern 
California,  has  already  been  utilized  for  making  mattresses,  for 
which  its  beautiful  white  and  easily-curled  elastic  fibre,  fit  it 
admirably. 

The  Germans  have  achieved  a  good  degree  of  success  in  cul 
tivating  i/ie  nettle,  both  for  its  textile  fibres  and  as  a  good  and 
desirable  fodder.  They  cultivate  their  native  plant,  the  Urtica 
dioica,  but  the  Dcuhmcria  nivea,  a  Chinese  and  Indian  nettle,  from 
which  comes  the  China  ^rass,  or  Ramie,  is  said  to  be  better  where 
the  climate  is  not  too  cold.  A  Canadian  species,  Urtica  Can- 
nabina,  is  also  highly  commfcnded.  The  cultivation  is  very 
simple ;  the  nettle  will  grow  on  the  very  poorest  land  (though, 
of  course,  larger  and  better  on  that  which  is  richer);  its  fibres 
are  finer  and  better  than  hemp,  and  fully  equal  to  the  best  flax, 
and  it  will  yield  from  300  to  500  pounds  of  white,  fine  fibre  to 
the  acre,  while  it  is  more  easily  hackled  than  either  flax  or  hemp. 
It  is  worth  a  trial.  The  fodder  can  be  saved  in  cutting  it  for 
the  fibre,  and  is  much  relished  by  cattle. 

Since  the  discovery  and  large  production  of  the  aniline  colors 
from  coal  and  gas  tar,  there  has  been  a  decreasing  demand  for 
madder,  cochineal  and  other  vegetable  and  animal  dyes,  but 
there  is  yet  a  considerable  call  for  them,  if  only  for  the  extrac- 
tion 6f  their  ultimate  coloring  principles.  Yet  the  cultivation 
of  madder  is  not  more  difficult  than  that  of  most  root  crops, 
and  where  it  is  grown  on  a  large  scale  the  extraction  of  its  active 
principle,  alizarine,  will  afford  large  profit. 


•mi^'^' 


|||  OUM    WESIKhW   A.V/'/A'/-:. 

The  cochineal  is  composcil  of  the  drictl  boilI»  s  of  insects 
which  fet'il  upon  the  cactus,  and  the  most  widely  diffused  species 
of  it.  Their  entomological  name  is  Coccus  cadi,  and  beside  the 
usefulness  of  the  cactus  in  furnishing  textile  fibres,  it  can  be  util- 
ized to  any  rccpiired  extent,  in  Arizona  and  Western  Texas,  in 
rearing  this  valuable  little  insect. 

Another  new  direction  for  farming  industry  is  found  in  the 
cultivation  of  oil-producing  plants.  The  olive  will  flourish  and 
yield  fruit  in  most  of  the  region  south  of  the  38th  parallel.  It 
endures  drought  well,  and  will  mature  its  valuable  fruit,  eve  n  in 
Arizona  and  New  Mexico;  and  both  the  fruit  and  oil  will  com- 
mand a  ready  market.  It  is  already  cultivated  to  some  extent  in 
California  and  Texas,  and  its  culture  deserves  to  be  greatly 
increased. 

The  extraction  of  oil,  and  the  sale  of  the  oil-cake  from  the 
cotton-seed,  is  an  industry  which  is  already  becoming  very  exten- 
sive in  Arkansas,  Louisiana  and  Texas,  and  is  a  great  boon  to 
the  cotton-planter,  transforming,  as  it  does,  what  was  formerly  a 
nuisance  into  a  valuable  product.  But  there  are  othei  plants  and 
seeds  which  furnish  equally  valuable  oils,  and  which  may  be  cul- 
tivated with  very  litde  labor.  We  have  already  spoken  of  the 
culture  of  flax  and  hemp  under  the  head  of  textiles :  but  the 
seeds  of  each  are  very  valuable  both  in  their  natural  condition, 
and  crushed,  or  ground,  and  pressed,  yielding  the  linseed  and 
hemp  oils,  so  valuable  in  the  arts,  and  the  oil-cake,  in  demand  for 
fattening  catde,  and  increasing  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the 
milk  of  milch  cows.  Other  oil-producing  plants,  which  admit  of 
easy  cultivation  and  yield  a  liberal  return,  are  the  Sunjlowo; 
which  yields  from  275  to  300  pounds  of  oil  per  acre,  and  an  ex- 
cellent oil-cake,  and  has  a  deservedly  high  reputation  for  absorb- 
ing and  rendering  innocuous,  marsh  exhalations;  the  two  spe- 
cies of  colewort  (the  common  and  curled)  which  yield  from  650 
to  875  pounds  of  oil  to  the  acre,  and  almost  a  ton  of  seed  ;  the 
winter  and  summer  rape,  which  furnishes  also  good  fodder,  while 
the  seed  is  in  demand  aside  from  its  use  in  furnishing  oil ;  the 
Swedish  turnip-seed,  and  the  turnip  cabbage-seed,  both  yielding 
a  good  manufacturing  oil;  the  gold-of-pleasure  and  the  white 


mssr 


'•^: 


TtSJTurSs^itrT-v^rTJy^^^ 


^{^{W 


OIL  PKOnUCING  HANTS. 


'59 


cs  of  insects 
fused  species 
cl  besiilc  the 
it  can  be  util- 
crn  Texas,  in 

found  in  the 
I  llourisii  and 
I  parallel,     it 

fruit,  ev(  n  in 
1  oil  will  com- 
lome  extent  in 
to  be  g ready 

:ake  from  the 
ng  very  exten- 
great  boon  to 
yvas  formerly  a 
thei  plants  and 
:h  may  be  cul- 
spoken  of  the 
tiles:  but  the 
jural  condition, 
le  linseed  and 
in  demand  for 
quality  of  the 
hich  admit  of 
;hc  SunJlowet\ 
Ire,  and  an  ex- 
Ion  for  absorb- 
the  two  spe- 
ield  from  650 
of  seed ;  the 
fodder,  while 
jshing  oil ;  the 
both  yielding 
ind  the  white 


poppy — all  of  these  yield  from  550  to  650  pounds  of  oil  to  the 
acre.  The  Scsamum  indicum,  which  grows  well  in  the  region 
below  the  parallel  of  39",  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  oil  pro- 
ducing plants  in  the  world.  It  yields  about  forty  per  cent,  of  oil, 
and  is  an  annual  of  simple  and  easy  cultivation.  The  black- 
seeded  variety  is  the  best.  It  is  sown  thinly  in  drills.  The  oil, 
for  all  medicinal  and  pharmaceutical  purposes,  is  fully  ecpial  to 
the  best  olive-oil,  and  keeps  for  many  years  without  becoming 
rancid.  It  is  preferred  in  tlu.  Last,  for  table  purposes,  to  the  best 
olive-oil,  and  from  its  freedom  from  smell,  is  much  useil  for  ex- 
tracting the  perfume  of  fragrant  flowers.  The  expressed  cake 
is  mixed  with  honey  and  preserved  citron  as  a  conserve,  and 
without  admixture,  furnishes  a  food  for  bees.  It  is  already  cul- 
tivated to  some  extent  in  the  South. 

The  tar- weed  {Madia  sativa)  is  found  abundantly  on  the 
Pacific  Slope,  where  it  is  indigenous.  Its  seeds  contain  an  oil 
which  is  used  as  a  salad-oil,  and  for  all  purposes  to  which  olive-oil 
is  applicable.  It  is  easily  cultivated,  and  yields  from  550  to  650 
pounds  of  oil  to  the  acn;.  It  is  used  in  Europe  largely  to  mix 
with  olive-oil. 

But,  after  all,  the  most  profitable  of  the  oil-producing  plants 
for  cultivation,  is  the  groundnut,  or  pea-nut,  usually  called 
goober  in  the  Southwest.  It  will  grow  on  light  or  gravelly 
soil,  and  with  decent  cultivation  should  yield  from  forty  to  sixty 
bushels  to  the  acre,  and  has  been  known  to  yield  from  i  20  to 
125  bushels.  The  whole  plant  is  valuable.  The  vine  makes 
excellent  forage  or  fodder,  the  tubers  or  nuts  are  much  in 
demand,  when  baked  or  roasted,  by  children  and  some  adults. 
The  oil  expressed  from  them  is  of  excellent  quality,  fully  equal 
to  olive-oil,  and  for  many  purposes  superior,  as  for  illuminating 
and  lubricating  purposes.  It  does  not  readily  become  rancid, 
and  is  very  sweet  and  delicate.  The  pea-nut  is  largely  imported 
into  France,  and  the  oil  expressed  there,  and  sold  as  the  best 
olive-oil.  The  oil  is  also  produced  largely  in  the  East  India 
Islands,  and  on  the  African  coast,  whence  it  is  exported  to  be 
used  in  the  manufacture  of  the  finest  soaps.  The  nuts  are  also 
ground  up  and  mixed  with  cacao,  for  the  manufacture  of  choco- 


r«i¥W'"" 


i6o 


OUK   WRSTEIty  £Mr/RK. 


late,  an«l  In  tlic  production  of  chorobtc  for  confectionery — ihc 
cacao  is  now  generally  oinittcil. 

Tak'ng  all  its  uses  into  account,  th«!rc  is  liardly  a  more  surely 
piofilabli:  crop  than  peanuts,  especially  il  rnouj^h  «nj^ay'!  in  it  to 
warrant  th«:  erection  of  an  oil  mill.  'Uuj  priti-  of  mils  per  lni.sl\<  I 
lus  varied  in  the  past  from  sixty  cents  to  $2.2^^ ;  but  they  an  not 
likely  to  fall  hclow  $1.35  per  bushel  hen  after  The  yield  of  oil 
is  from  forty  to  forty-five  per  cent,  of  their  weight. 

The  <astor  bean  yields  a  crop  which  always  has  a  pronpt, 
thou^'h  not  a  very  high  market  value.  It  grows  readily  dnd 
rapidly,  and  the  gathering  of  the  crop  is  easily  accomplished.  It 
has  been  raised  to  a  considerable  extent  in  Kansas,  Nebraska, 
Texas,  and  perhaps  some  of  the  other  States.  The  crop  seems 
to  have  been  carelessly  cultivated  or  gathered,  for,  on  soils  like 
those  where  it  was  grown,  the  average  crop  should  be  at  least 
twenty  to  twenty-five  bushels  to  the  acre,  while  in  very  few  in- 
stances did  it  exceed  fifteen  bushels,  and  in  the  majority  it  was 
only  ten  or  eleven.  The  i'  "ce  paid  for  the  beans  was  aljouione 
dollar  a  bushel,  a  price  \s  .;h  gives  a  very  large  profit  to  the 
mills  whirh  express  the  «  11,  inasmuch  as  the  bt'ans  should  yield 
forty-s»_^ven  per  cent,  of  oil.'"  With  more  care  in  culiiv  iling  the 
crop,  and  a  sufficient  number  engaged  in  raisin;^  it  in  one  neigh- 
borhood to  sustain  a  co-operative  mill  in  the  \  icinity,  the  crop 
might  become  a  tolerably  profitable  one. 

There  are  undoubtedly  some  districts  of  considerable  extent 
in  the  Great  West,  where,  under  favorable  circumstances,  both 
tea  and  coffee  might  be  successful'y  cultivated,  the  former 
especially,  and  yet  we  hesitate  to  commend  it  as  a  desirable  in- 
dustry, for  several  reasons ;  it  requires  a  considerable  invest- 
ment, though  not  all  in  one  year;  there  are  no  returns  under  six 
or  seven  years,  and  the  tea  gardens  must  be  sufficiently  extensive 
to  warrant  the  establishment  of  a  large  factory  with  many 
employes  to  prepare  the  teas,  while  there  are  so  many  opportu- 
nities for  investing  capital,  which  will  bring  a  quick  return,  tliat 

*It  isprubalilc  t\\nt\h»  Xuimit  sin^uinan'm,  or  \he  ^icinits  minor, hoih  French  species  of  the 
eutor  bean,  would  yield  more  Im  .l.clit  to  Ihe  ncre,  and  more  uil  to  (he  buiihcl,  Ihaii  the  Jiicinut 
nmtHimUfXbe  »p«cici  moiit  generally  ctiliivattd  her*. 


TEA  ASD  COFfliM  CUlTUKB-^UBTROriCAt,   FKU/n. 


l6l 


"cclioncry — ihe 

a  more  iii  i  t:]y 
••ny;a^':  in  it  to 
luls  {K-r  bii»h(  I 
lit  tl)fy  an  not 
he  yield  uf  uil 

las  a  pronpt, 
f^  readily  dod 
omplislicd.  It 
sas,  Nebraska, 
ln"  crop  s<'oms 
r,  on  soils  liko 
ild  b''  at  Icasf. 
in  very  few  in* 
majority  it  was 
was  about  one 
:  prol'iL  to  the 
i  should  yield 
ciiliiv  iiiny;  the 
:  in  one  ncigh- 
inity,  the  c  rop 

Icrable  extent 
nstances,  both 
1,  tlu;  former 
a  desirable  in- 
er^ible  invest- 
jrns  under  six 
itly  extensive 
y  with  many 
lany  opportu- 
:k  return,  that 


French  upecirs  of  the 
lel,  Ihaii  the  /lUinut 


it  iii  ilifHcuIt  to  command  it  for  uich  an  enterprise.  I'urthcr- 
more  it  \%  uncertain  whedicr  the  leuvcs  can  \''-  cured  in  ^ueh  a 
way  an  to  enable  them  to  compete  Hucccssfully  wi  di  the  Asmiu'  sc, 
Chinese,  and  Japancii  leaii ;  and  even  it  they  were  superior  to 
them  in  flavor  and  ({uality,  whedu-i  die  public  tu,-»le.  whi  h  always 
prefers*  foreijjn  to  honut -made  productions,  would  rej^c^rd  dicra 
with  favor.  The  i»lf(;e  plantations  r^'iuire  a  ^tili  Lnj^rr  period 
of  waiting;  before  obtaininj^  the  first  crop,  Uiuiigli  d\':re  is  less 
time  and  skill  rctpiired  in  its  preparation  for  the  market,  when 
it  is  brouj^ht  to  the  bearing;  condition.  Coffise  im,  however, 
eHSentially  a  tropical  production,  and  though  there  is  a  possd^ility 
of  success  in  its  cultivation,  in  Southern  California,  Arizona,  and 
Southern  Texas,  there  is  hardly  sufficient  eertauity  to  warrant  the 
outlay  necessary  to  make  it  a  product  of  any  great  commercial 
value. 

There  remain  to  be  considered  the  fruit  and  nut-bearing  trees 
and  .shrubs  which  admit  of  profitable  cultivation.  \Vc  have 
already  spoken  of  the  olive,  valuable  alike  for  its  fruit,  its  oil  and 
its  l>eautiful  wood.  Its  cultivation  has  been  atlempte.l  on  a 
small  scale  wiUi  a  fair  measure  of  succcs.s,  in  lexas  and  Southern 
California,  and  perhaps  also  in  New  Mexico.  It  was  cultivated, 
though  with  no  great  care  and  probably  not  of  the  best  varieties,  at 
the  Jesuit  Missions,  and  though  these  tree  •  from  long  neglect 
have  grown  wild,  they  would  furnish  stocKs  for  grafting  the 
newer  varieties  upon.  It  is  probable  that  the  olive  might  be 
profitably  cultivated  in  all  the  region  south  of  the  39th  parallel, 
which  is  not  too  elevated.  It  is  worth  the  trial,  for  though  the 
numerous  substitutes  for  olive-oil  may  to  some  extent  reduce  its 
value,  yet  the  olive  has  too  many  good  qualities  ever  to  become 
an  unprofitable  tree.  The  orange  and  lemon,  whicii  have  become 
so  popular  and  profitable  in  Florida,  are  already  cultivated  to 
some  extent  in  Louisiana,  Texas  and  Southern  California,  and 
might  be,  if  they  are  not,  in  Southern  Arizona.  It  is  probable 
that  some  of  the  varieties  from  China  or  Persia,  if  not  the  several 
native  varieties,  might  be  cultivated  as  far  north  as  the  38th 
parallel,  though  most  of  them  would  be  injured  by  the  occasional 
severe  frosts  which,  at  rare  intervals,  extend  almost  to  the  Gulf 


11 


\62 


OUM  WMiTMM  RMNUB, 


cottHl  of  Tcxa*.  One  ipccicft,  the  Citrut  JiifHtnita,  or  Kum-<iiiat, 
bears  a  »matl  Imt  rxccllcnt  orunj^r,  uiul  Ih  pcrkctly  hardy.  'I  he 
lemon  U  not  nn  lianly  (im  the  orange,  but  itn  culture  \%  rvm  more 
profit. i!)lc.  The  Hhaildock,  or  lar^re  l)itur  orange,  and  the  St'villr, 
or  l)itt«"r  oranjff*  of  thr  south  of  luiropr,  an;  both  more  hanly 
than  moisit  nf  the  sweet  varioticH,  but  (heir  fruit  is  less  profitable. 
'I'he  citron,  from  the  thick  [)eel  or  rind  of  which  the  preserved 
citron  of  commerce  is  preparcil,  is  n'  i,  we  |j<:lieve,  cultivated  on 
this  continent,  and  its  culture  is  diminishing  in  I'urojx:.  When 
an  oran^ff;-grove  is  not  in  tlan^^cr  of  frost  it  b<:come»  in  time 
immensely  profitable,  but  it  yields  very  littler  (and  it  is  better 
that  it  should  not  mature  any)  fruit  till  it  is  tr-n  years  old.  I'roin 
the  tenth  to  the  twcntieih  year  it  will  yield  every  y«ar  a  j^'oud 
anil  constantly  increasinj^;  crop  of  fruit,  and  a  still  lar^f*r  one 
each  year,  from  the  twentieth  to  the  thirtieth  year.  In  an  ordinar- 
ily healthy  j^Mowth.  without  lorcinj;,  it  iloes  not  attain  its  full  matur- 
ity till  about  its  thirtieth  year.  Wt;  have  not  deemetl  it  n«:c(;ssary, 
in  the  case  of  either  the  t<a  or  llu?  orange-culture,  to  ^o  into 
details,  in  rt'j^ard  to  the  processes  (if  cultivation,  or  the  pnpa 
ration  of  the  products  for  the  market.  In  the  case  of  the  tea, 
these  are  not  well  settled,  and  in  that  of  the  orange  and  lemon, 
different  climates  and  diffc-rent  varieties  require  diverse  treatment. 
Those  who  contemplate  thdr  culturi;  will  be,  necessarily,  persons 
having  considerable  capital  at  command,  and  they  will  do  well 
to  make  a  special  study  of  the  .subject,  before  investing.  I'or 
this  purpose,  there  are  numerous  essays  and  treatises  to  be  had, 
some  of  them  K^^'^iT  ^"^^  results  of  careful,  protracted,  and 
intelligent  experience. 

'\\\.ft  pomegranate  is  already  cultivated  in  California  and  Texas, 
as  well  as  in  the  Gulf  States  east  of  the  M'  ssip[)i.  Its  delicious 
fruit  finds  a  ready  market  at  good  prices,  and  the  imperfect  fruit 
is  in  demand  for  the  manufacture  of  citric  acid.  It  is  capable  of 
successful  cultivation  in  all  the  region  south  of  the  39th  parallel, 
except  those  portions  which  are  too  elevated  or  too  dry  for  fruit- 
culture. 

The  cultivation  of  the  fig  is  not  new  in  California,  Arizona, 
Texas,  Arkansas,  or  Louisiana,  but  it  is  capable  of  great  exten- 


i\t)lGKNOtn  AND  tOKHUN  NUTS  AND  i'lfViTS, 


163 


,  or  Kum-qiiat, 
ly  hardy.  1  lir 
c  in  even  morr 
aiul  ilu"  Sevillf, 
ih  more  hanly 
IctH  profitahlr. 

thn  prrscrvcul 
:,  cultivated  on 
urop*:.  \Vh<i» 
comcA  in  time 
nd  it  is  l)(;ttcr 
ars  old.  l-'roin 
ry  y«ar  a  j^'ood 
till  larger  one 

In  .m  ordinar- 
n  its  lull  matur- 
ed it  necessary, 
ture,  to  j^o  into 
,  or  the  prcpa- 
:asc  of  the  tea, 
i};e  and  lemon, 
erse  treatment, 
ssarily,  persons 

y  will  do  well 
tivestiny^.  For 
:ises  to  be  had, 
rotracted,    and 

nia  and  Texas, 
Its  delicious 
imperfect  fruit 
t  is  capable  of 
39th  parallel, 
o  dry  for  fruii- 

ornia,  Arizona, 
)f  great  cxten- 


tlon,  and  couM  W  profitably  ^rown,  rither  for  the  frpsh  or  dritul 
fruit  in  Southw'rn  Kun^a^,  Soiulurrn  Colorado,  N«'w  Mexico,  Ari- 
ioi\A  (wherever  irrigation  in  pu><«ibte,  or  there  in  Kufficient  rain* 
fall),  and  nearly  ine  whole  of  Catilornia.  There  are  few  fruits 
which  yield  as  ^ood  a  return  from  a  small  expi-ntliturc  of  lalK)r> 
'V\\v  banana,  ijlani^m,  pine:  apple,  ^uava,  and  other  tropical  IruitM, 
flourish  in  thi-  southern  countiuit  of  Tcxah  and  Southern  Califor* 
nia,  though  they  an;  at  rare  intervaln,  even  there,  affected  by 
frost.  The  p.ipaw,  our  indij;«'noui  fruit  of  th«:  banana  faniily,  is 
hardier  an«  ripens  regularly  in  all  the  region  south  of  the  40th 
parallel.  It  is  worth  cultivating,  and  might  be  »o  im|>roved  as  to 
be  a  rival  of  the  plantain.  The  indigenous  nut  bearing  trees  and 
shrubs,  the  hickory-nut,  butternut,  black  walnut,  chestnut,  beech* 
nut,  and  ha/el-nut,  in  the  North;  the  piHon  or  edible  nut  of  one 
of  the  species  of  pine  in  lh«;  region  west  of  th<:  Roiky  Moun- 
tains, and  the  pecan  nut,  cliincpiepin,  and  filbert,  whi(  h,  though 
not  indigenous,  grows  wiM,  in  the  South,  art:  all  capable  of  rxten- 
sive  propagation,  tlu)ugh  the  chestnut  only  thrives  on  sf)ils  of  a 
[mrticular  cjualily.  The  pecan  is  one  of  the  best  of  our  indige- 
nous nuts,  and  grows  on  a  shrub  or  bush  of  moderate  height. 

The  foreign  nuts  which  are  already  partially  introduced,  and 
which  are  likely  to  prove  profitable  in  cultivation,  are  :  1.  The  I'-ng- 
lish  walnut,  sometimes  calleil  also  the  Madeira  nut,  a  fme,  stately 
tree,  which  at  twelve  years  of  growth  yields  a  large  crop  annu- 
ally of  the  very  fine  nuts  we  know  as  English  walnuts.  2.  The 
Italian  chestnut,  whose  large  nuts  yield  a  nutritious  (lour,  and 
one  which  keeps  well  for  two  years  or  more.  In  Tuscany  and 
Lucca,  there  arc  several  millions  of  these  trees,  and  the  flour 
from  the  chestnuts  furnishes  the  principal,  and  sometimes  the 
entire  farinaceous  food  of  many  thousands  of  the  inhabitants. 
This,  too,  is  a  stately  tree,  am!  [jroves  easy  of  culture  here,  while 
it  may  be  readily  grafted  upon  our  native  chestnut.  It  is  admir- 
ably adapted  to  the  western  slopes  of  our  mountains,  and  will 
thrive  luxuriously  there.  3.  The  almond,  which  being  a  con- 
gener of  the  peach,  thrives  wherever  the, peach  can  be  success- 
fully cultivated.  The  soft-shell  almond  is  not  as  hardy  as  the 
hardshell,  and  a  sharp  frost  is  fatal  to  either ;  but  in  Southern 


■f 

'I 


1 54  OU^    WESTER N  EMPIRE. 

California,  Arizona,  Southern  New  Mexico,  and  Texas,  both  can 
be,  and  are  successfully  cul.ivated.  The  pistachio  nut  is  also  on 
trial,  and  will  probably  prove  successful.  Of  other  fruit-bearing 
shrubs  and  trees,  we  may  name  the  Japanese  persimmon,  lately 
introduced,  and  said  to  be  an  excellent  fruit,  much  superior  to 
our  native  species,  which  however  has  some  good  qualities ;  the 
carob,  a  legume-bearing  tree,  whose  pods  and  beans  are  sup- 
posed to  have  been  the  husks  fed  to  the  swine,  in  the  parable  of 
the  prodigal  son ;  the  jujube,  whose  pulp  forms  the  material  for 
the  jujube  paste  of  commerce,  and  the  mezquite,  indigenous  in 
Texas,  whose  bark  and  root  yield  tannin  in  large  quantities, 
whose  pods  furnish  a  nutritious  food,  and  whose  gum  is  almost 
identical  with  gum  tragacanth. 

Of  trees  and  shrubs  containing  large  amounts  of  tannin  or 
tannic  acid,  besides  the  mezquite,  there  are  five  or  six  species  of 
the  rhus  or  sumnc ;  four  at  least  native,  and  containing  from  eight 
to  twenty-five  per  cent,  of  tannin,  and  two  foreign,  the  Venetian 
and  the  Sicilian  sumac,  which  contain  a  little  more.  These  arc 
both  cultivated  here.*  The  watde,  an  Australian  tree  of  the 
acacia  family,  of  which  there  are  two  species — the  golden  and  the 
black  wattle,  Acacia  pycnantha  and  decurrcns — is  also  z  vaUiable 
tree  for  the  tannin  its  bark  produces.  It  attains  its  full  growth 
in  ten  years,  yields  from  twenty-four  to  thirty-six  per  cent,  of 
tannin,  and  its  wood  is  valuable  for  fences,  for  tools,  and  for  fuel, 
being  nearly  or  quite  equal  to  hickory,  ^or  the  last  purpose.  It 
grows  in  dry  soils,  and  in  almost  rainless  regions,  and  would  be 
of  great  value  for  planting  on  the  plains  under  the  Timber- 
Culture  Act. 

All  the  species  of  Spircca  contain  a  large  percentage  of 
tannin.  Some  of  these,  as  the  Spinea  tomentosa.  or  common 
hardback,  and  Spircsa  alba,  or  white  hardback,  are  common 
weeds,  and  can  be  easily  raised  on  the  poorest  lands,  yielding 
three  to  five  tons  to  the  acre.     The  extract  from  this  would  be 


*  We  are  not  aAyare  that  the  bark  of  the  nilantus  has  ever  heen  tested  for  t^innin,  but  as  \\ 
belongs  to  the  sumac  family,  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  it  may  be  somewhat  rich  in  fliat 
principle.  If  it  should  piove  to  bo,  its  rapid  growth  would  make  it  nearly  as  valuable  as  the 
wattleii  of  which  mention  is  made  above.  .  > 


"ISS''!^^SeSfS!«I^3Ei«iai!53^£J-- w^S;-. . 


r^S^tel^SSiteS^^E*^'*'**" 


Texas,  both  can 
io  nut  is  also  on 
her  fruit-bearing 
ersimmon,  lately 
luch  superior  to 
d  qualities;  the 
beans  are  sup- 
1  the  parable  of 
the  material  for 
e,  indigenous  in 
arge  quantities, 
r  gum  is  almost 

Its  of  tannin  or 
)r  six  species  of 
lining  from  eight 
jn,  the  Venetian 
)re.  These  arc 
lian  tree  of  the 
:  golden  and  the 
1  also  3  valuable 
its  full  growth 
six  per  cent,  of 
ols,  and  for  fuel, 
ist  purpose.  It 
s,  and  would  be 
er  the  Timber- 
percentage  of 
9sa.  or  common 
k,  are  common 
t  lands,  yielding 
n  this  would  be 


ed  for  t(iniiin,  but  as  it 
e  somewhat  rich  in  tliat 
early  as  valuable  as  the 


TREES  AND  SJIKUBS  CONTAINING    TANNIN.  165 

superior  to  the  best  bark  extract.  The  foreign  species  are  of 
larger  growth  and  arc  much  cukivaLcd  as  ornamental  shrubs.  It 
is  doubtful  whether  they  contain  a  larger  proportion  of  tannin 
than  the  native  species. 

New  forms  of  industry  and  profitable  labor  in  connection  widi 
farming,  are  constantly  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  public, 
some  of  them  valuable,  others  valueless ;  but  those  which  have 
been  detailed  in  this  chapter  are  sufficiendy  numerous  to  satisfy 
any  ordinary  ambition ;  they  have  all  been  tested,  and  none  of 
them,  like  the  cultivation  of  the  opium  poppy,  which  has  been 
commended  by  some  writers,  are  of  a  character  which  will  in- 
jure rather  than  benefit  mvr.kind. 


>      .    CHAPTER   XV.  ; 

Stock-raising — Cattle-herding,  and  the  rearing  of  Horses  and  Mules — 
The  Grazing  Lands — The  Stock-growing  Region,  par  excellence — Win- 
ter Care  of  Stock — Numrer  of  Cattle  in  the  West  in  1879 — The 
Herdsmen  or  Cow-Boys — Stock-raising  profitabt  e  if  well  managed — 
Stock-raising  in  Texas — Climatic  Advantages — Pasturing  on  the  Great 
Ranges,  or  on  one's  own  Land — Expense  of  rearing  Cattle  in  Texas — 
The  two  Extremes  in  Stock-raising  in  Texas — Examples — Beginning  cm 
a  small  Scale — Growth  of  a  Texas  Stock-Ranche — S7  ock-raising  in 
Kansas  and  Colorado — Joint  Stock  Management  of  a  Ranche — The 
Colorado  Cattle  Company's  Estate  op  Hermosillo — Another  Colorado 
Company— Statistics — The  Estimate  of  Mr.  A.  A.  Haves,  Jr. — The 
Difference  of  Profit  between  "Store"  Cattle  and  "Fat"  Cattle — 
Mr.  Barclay's  Account — The  English  View  of  the  Matter — Stock- 
raising  IN  THE  Northern  and  Northwestern  States  and  Territories — 
Shelter  and  Food  for  Stock — Future  Advantages  for  Shipping  Choice 
Stock  from  these  States  and  Territories  to  Europe — Dairy-Farming — 
Stock-raisino  and  Dairv-Farmino  in  California — ^^Horse-Farming  ana 
Rearing — Mules — Camels.,  .','-.' 

We  have  already  spoken  of  the  vast  extent  of  grazing  lands 

found  in  this  great  Western  Empire.     What  is  the  actual  area 

^  of  these  lands  can  only  be  approximately  estimated,  since  every 

year  large  districts,  previously  supposed   to  be  only  available 

for  grazing  and  almost  worthless  even  for  that  purpose,  are 


1 66 


OUR     WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


/ 


found  to  be  susceptible  of  cultivation,  and  to  yield  immense 
crops  when  subjected  to  culture.  There  are,  furthermore,  many 
tracts  which  have  not  yet  been  surveyed  and  are  really  unex- 
plored even  by  the  Indian,  or  the  hunter  and  trapper;  in  some, 
and  perhaps  many,  of  these  there  are  beautiful  valleys,  narrow, 
yet  covered  with  a  rich  and  succulent  herbage,  which  will  fatten 
and  nourish  large  herds  of  cattle.  As  nearly  as  we  can  estimate, 
there  must  be  somewhat  more  than  a  million  of  square  miles  of 
these  grazing  lands ;  enough  to  supply  the  whole  world  with 
beef,  mutton,  leather,  and  wool. 

Most  of  the  States  and  Territories  have  considerable  tracts  of 
grazing  lands,  but  the  stock-growing  x^^\ou%,  par  excellence,  ^iXft 
Dakota,  Montana,  a  part  of  Idaho,  Eastern  Washington,  and 
Oregon,  California,  New  Mexico,  Colorado,  Wyoming,  Western 
Nebraska,  Western  Kansas,  the  L.dian  Territory,  and  Western 
Texas.  Texas  has  at  present  larger  herds  of  cattle  than  any 
other  section,  and  exports  live-stock  and  the  carcasses  of  slaugh- 
tered beef  in  refrigerator  steamers  to  Europe  in  large  quantities; 
but  the  finest  beeves  sent  to  our  I  astern  markets  and  to  Europe 
are  those  from  Colorado,  Western  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  Mon- 
tana, Dakota,  and  Wyoir.ing.  The  native  grasses  of  the  Rocky 
Mountain  parks  and  valleys  are  unrivalled  for  their  nutritive 
qualities,  and  cattle  fed  on  them  will  fatten  with  but  very  little 
grain.  When  the  immigrants  began  to  pour  into  the  Pike's  Peak 
region  in  great  numbers,  'n  1858  and  1859,  many  of  them  lost 
everything  except  their  cattle,  and  in  their  despair,  finding  these 
unable  to  draw  their  loads  any  further,  they  unyoked  them  and 
turned  them  out  into  the  parks  and  grazing  lands  of  that  region 
to  shift  for  themselves,  believing  that  they  would  not  be  able  to 
endure  the  fast  app'-oaching  winter.  The  cattle  went  off,  and 
for  several  months  nothing  was  seen  of  them.  The  settlers  at 
length  started  out  to  find  their  bones,  but  to  their  great  surprise 
found  them  not  ot.ly  alive,  but  fat  and  sleek  from  the  nutritious 
buffalo  and  gamma  grasses,  which,  though  cured  by  the  sun,  re- 
tained all  their  sweetness  and  npurishment. 

In  most  of  this  Rocky  Mountain  region  there  is  no  winter 
shelter  for  cattle,  and  they  hardly  need   any  oftener  than  one 


^^»S>S>5SIsS«^S«fcS«^Sj!cASS3^^^SS3S^^ftSSSSs^''®'"^" 


ielrl  immense 
[^rmore,  many 
t  really  unex- 
per;  in  some, 
lleys,  narrow, 
ich  will  fatten 
can  estimate, 
uare  miles  of 
le  world  with 

able  tracts  of 
excellence,  are 
shington,  and 
ling,  Western 
and  Western 
ttle  than  any 
ses  of  slaugfh- 
je  quantities; 
nd  to  Europe 
braska,  Mon- 
of  the  Rocky 
heir  nutritive 
)ut  very  little 
i  Pike's  Peak 
of  them  lost 
finding  these 
ed  them  and 
f  that  region 
ot  be  able  to 
vtxw.  off,  and 
le  settlers  at 
reat  surprise 
he  nutritious 
the  sun,  re- 

Is  no  winter 
er  than  one 


STOCK  RAISING  AND  CATTLF.IfEHD/A'G.  i^^ 

winter  in  ten.  A  few  of  the  more  prudent  stockmen  put  up 
rough,  cheap  sheds,  and  cut  with  a  mowing-machine  a  score  or 
two  tons  of  the  natural  grasses,  against  a  long  or  cold  storm ; 
but  it  is  so  seldom  that  these  precautions  are  necessary,  that 
tiieir  fellow-stockmen  laugh  at  them  for  their  carefulness.  Even 
in  Montana  and  Dakota  the  pasturage  grounds  are  so  seldom 
visited  by  severe  or  desolating  storms,  that  provision  for  them 
is  the  exception  and  not  the  rule.  In  Oregon  and  Washington 
somewhat  greater  attention  is  paid  to  the  sheltering  of  the 
stock,  but  in  California  no  effort  is  made  in  that  direction. 

The  aggregate  amount  of  catde  in  the  Great  West,  at  the  end 
of  1878,  was  estimated  by  the  Agricultural  Department  as 
3,350,400  milch  cows,  and  12,259,000  oxen  and  other  cattle. 
The  estimate  was  below  the  truth,  as  the  local  statistics  show, 
and  especially  in  Colorado  and  the  Territories.  To  this  total  of 
15,609,400  neat  cattle  were  to  be  added  over  three  million  head 
in  the  Territories  not  estimated  by  the  department.  The  aggre- 
gate numbers  at  the  close  of  1879  were  certainly  not  less  than 
19,000,000,  and  this  increase  was  probably  in  about  the  same 
ratio  in  milch  cows  and  in  oxen  and  other  cattle.  The  net  in- 
crease in  the  great  herds  is  about  forty-five  per  cent,  a  year, 
though  occasionally,  in  a  year,  of  unusually  severe  weather,  it 
may  fall  off  to  thirty-five  or  thirty-eight  per  cent.  In  Texas  and 
in  the  large  herding  districts  elsewhere,  no  attempt  is  made  to 
obtain  the  milk  for  use  or  for  the  production  of  butter  or  cheese, 
dairy-farming  being  regarded  as  an  entirely  distinct  business 
from  stock-raising,  and  having  no  connection  with  it.  This  dis- 
tinction is  carried  so  far  in  Texas,  that  the  largest  stock-growers, 
owning  from  10,000  to  50,000  head  of  cattle,  either  purchase 
their  milk,  butter  and  cheese,  or  go  without  it.  ^ 

The  cattle  are  under  the  care  of  herders  or  "  cow-boys,"  who 
see  that  they  are  driven  to  the  best  pasture,  and  where  they  can 
have  a  good  supply  of  water.  These  cow-boys  lead  a  lonely  and 
hard  life,  being  in  the  saddle  most  of  the  day,  and  lodging  in 
smail  and  comfortless  huts  at  night.  Once  a  year,  there  is  what 
is  called  a  "  round  up,"  when  the  vast  herds  of  different  owners, 
which  have  pastured  together  over  the  great  tracts  of  as  yet 


1 68 


OUR    WEHTERM  EMPIRE. 


/ 


unsurvcyed  government  lands,  arc  brought  together,  and  each 
owner  or  his  herdsmen  separate  their  own  herds,  and  brand 
the  calves  which  follow  their  niothcrr,.  This  is  a  time  of  excite- 
ment, and  where  the  herds  are  large  and  wild,  of  considerable 
danger,  as  should  one  of  the  herdsmen  be  unhorsed  in  front  of 
the  rushing  herds,  he  would  be  trampled  to  death  instantly. 
The  herdsmen  are  usually  very  expert  in  the  use  of  the  lariat  or 
lasso,  and  will  bring  a  refractory  cow  or  bullock  to  its  knees  in  a 
moment,  with  the  most  unerring  precision.  The  cattle  intended 
for  slaughter  or  shipping  are  usually  caught  in  this  way.  A 
large  proportion  of  the  Texas  and  California  herdsmen  are 
Mexicans,  but  in  Colorado,  Kansas,  Montana,  and  Wyoming  a 
majority  are  Americans,  English,  Irish,  and  Canadians.  The 
usual  wages  are  from  ;jji6  to  <^20  per  month  and  food  and 
lodging. 

Properly  managed,  the  business  of  raising  stock  is  profitable, 
hut  it  requires  considerable  capital,  or  if  that  is  wanting,  a 
tliorough  knowledge  of  the  business  and  good  executive  ability, 
to  achieve  any  marked  success.  Time  is  an  important  element 
in  the  profitable  management  of  this  as  well  as  of  farming  and 
fruit-culture.  The  man  who  begins,  even  with  a  very  moderate 
capital,  takes  good  care  of  his  stock,  improves  the  breed 
carefully,  and  watches  the  small  leaks,  which  ruin  so  many  men, 
will  find  himself  at  the  end  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  with  a  herd 
of  catde,  which  will  yield  him  an  ample  income  each  year,     i  v 

Of  course  there  are  differences  in  the  mode  of  management 
6f  herds  of  catde  in  the  different  regions  in  which  this  is  a 
prominent  industry.  In  Texas,  the  stock-raiser  has  some  great 
advantages,  and  some  disadvantages.  One  great  advantage  is 
the  climate,  which  entirely  precludes  the  n'.cessity  of  any  winter 
provision  for  his  stock ;  they  tre  better  provided  on  the  range, 
if  they  can  have  easy  access  to  water,  than  they  could  be  if  shut 
up  in  a  corral,  or  provided  with  bay,  or  even  green  forage.  He 
has  the  advantage  also  in  regard  to  his  pasturage  lands;  he  need 
Ttot,  unless  he  chooses,  pay  out  a  dollar  for  all  the  grazing  land 
he  desires  to  occupy,  especially  in  Northwestern  Texas,  or  if  he 
prefers  that  his  cattle  should  not  become  so  wildj  as  they  may 


"r?K?rr!3»«5rrrr 


S?TS35s3'3555TTSSv!^.^^^^rS3^Sr^(^IJ5SSS'" 


her,  and  each 
s,  and  brand 
imc  of  excite- 
'  considerable 
xl  in  front  of 
ath  instantly, 
f  the  lariat  or 
its  knees  in  a 
attic  intended 
this  way.  A 
lerdsmen  are 
1  Wyoming  a 
adians.  The 
md  food  and 

c  is  profitable, 
is  wanting,  a 
:cutive  ability, 
irtant  element 
f  farming  and 
^ery  moderate 
Bs  the  breed 
so  many  men, 
s,  with  a  herd 
h  year,  na 
management 
lich  this  is  a 
as  some  great 
t  advantage  is 
of  any  winter 
on  the  range, 
uld  be  if  shut 
»  forage.  He 
ands;  he  need 
;  grazing  land 
exas,  or  if  he 
I,  as  they  may 


STOCK  RMS  I f/C  m  TEXAS.  jCkJ 

become  on  the  great  range,  and  wishes  to  have  them  where  he 
can  give  some  attention  to  them,  and  prevent  them  straying 
away,  he  can  buy  one,  two,  three,  or  a  dozen  square  leagues  of 
grazing  lands,  at  a  mere  nominal  price  of  a  few  cents  per  acre, 
and  is  not  required  to  fence  it ;  in  this  case  he  must  employ  a 
herdsman  to  every  i  ,500  or  2,000  head  of  cattle,  though  he  will 
ssve  most  of  the  expense  of  rounding  up,  which  he  would  have 
if  the  herd  were  looked  after  only  once  a  year,  when  they  were 
to  be  branded.  Of  course,  the  expenses  of  rearing  catde  are 
much  less  here  than  farther  north;  the  first  cost  of  cows  with 
calves  being  only  from  ^%  to  $15,  and  of  stock  cattle  from  ;^4  to 
'^'j ;  and  Mexican  herdsmen  and  rounders  being  plenty  at  from 
^12  to  ;^i8  per  month;  but  on  the  other  hand,  Texas  cattle  are 
not  as  larjre  or  as  fat  as  those  raised  farther  north,  and  do  not 
command  as  high  a  price.  Until  1872  or  1873  there  was  little 
effort  made  to  improve  the  breeds  of  cattle  in  that  State,  but 
since  that  time,  many  Durham,  Hereford  and  Devon  bulls  have 
been  imported  into  the  State. 

In  Texas,  more  than  in  any  other  State  or  Territory,  are  found 
the  two  extremes  of  stock-raising ;  the  wealthy  patriarch  with  his 
herds  of  40,000,  50,000,  80,000,  or  even  100,000  cattle,  perhaps 
15,000  or  20,000  horses,  and  20,000  to  50,000  sheep ;  and  possi- 
bly in  the  same  county,  or  as  near  as  circumstances  will  permit, 
the  small  herdsman  with  his  eighty  or  one  hundred  cows,  two 
or  three  bulls,  and  possibly  one  or  two  hundred  sheep  ;  and  it  is 
often  the  case  that  the  man  who  now  counts  his  cattle  by  tens  or 
scores  of  thousands,  began,  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  ago,  on  a 
scale  no  larger  than  his  humble  neighbor.  Father  Nugent,  an 
English  Catholic  priest,  who  visited  Texas  and  spent  some 
months  there,  wrote  to  the  Liverpool  Times,  August  12th,  1871  : 
"  Here  is  one  of  a  hundred  examples  of  a  poor  man  becoming 
rich  without  a  copper.  Twenty-five  years  ago  an  Irishman  en- 
gaged with  a  stock-raiser.  There  was  no  money  to  be  given, 
but  he  was  to  be  boarded  and  found  in  everything,  and  in  the 
pla<:e  of  wages  he  was  to  reeeive  one  cow  and  a  calf  each  month. 
Niow  he  is  wortlh  j^i  00,000  in  cash,  and  sends  to  market  each 
year  from  fifteen  to  twenty  thousand  head  of  cattle.     Here  is  a 


1^0  O^^    iVESlEKA/  RMPinr 

sailor,  formerly  a  man  before  the  mast,  vvh  has  now  six  steam, 
ers  on  tin;  Rio  (irancle,  8o,ocx)  head  of  cattle,  25,cxdo  head  of 
horse  stock,  1 2,000  sheep,  and  1 50,000  acres  of  land,  and  last 
year  invested  1^29,000  in  the  Jackson  &  New  Orleans  Railroad." 
Thomas  O'Connor,  a  soldier  in  the  Texan  war  of  independence, 
received  his  discharge  in  1837,  when  his  only  earthly  possessions 
were  a  Spanish  pony,  saddle  and  bridle,  two  old  belt-pistols,  one 
of  them  broken  off  at  the  breech,  and  an  old  rifle-gun.  I  le  went 
into  the  business  of  raising  stoi  U  on  this  capital,  and  forty  years 
later  had  80,000  head  of  cattle,  500  saddle  and  stock  horses, 
and  26,664  acres  of  land,  with  a  river  front  of  six  leagues.  In 
1 85 1,  a  gendeman  named  Adains  started  a  ranche  (or  grazing 
farm)  twelve  miles  west  of  San  Antonio  with  only  200  head  of 
cattle.  Upon  his  death  his  sons  continued  the  business,  and  in 
1877  sold  the  ranche,  delivering  to  the  purchasers  68,000  head 
of  cattle.  In  1858  Captain  Richard  King,  who  had  been  a  cabin- 
boy  on  board  a  cc.-iiting  ves.oel,  came  to  Texas  with  a  capital  of 
pluck  and  energy,  but  with  no  money.  Selecting  a  ranche  at 
Santa  Gertrudes,  thirty-five  mih-.-  west  of  Corpus  Christi,  he 
commenced  rearing  stock  in  a  very  small  way.  In  1878,  twenty 
years  later,  he  had  60,000  acres  of  land  all  fenced,  over  50,000 
head  of  cattle,  more  than  10,000  horses  and  mules,  22,000  sheep, 
and  8,000  Angora  and  grade  goats.  He  brands  15,000  calves 
yearly,  sends  about  10,000  beeves  to  market  every  year,  and 
30,000  fleeces,  besides  a  large  number  of  horses  and  mules. 

The  beginners  on  a  small  scale  having,  we  will  say,  a  ranche 
of  i.ooo  acres,  which  will  not  cost,  on  the  pasturage  land."  of 
Texas,  more  than  |^i,ooo,  ard  with  the  cabins,  corrals,  etc.,  from 
$300  to  $500  more,  can  purchase  100  cows  with  calves  for  from 
^12  to  $14  each,  and  two  good  Hereford  or  Durham  bulls  at 
I50  each— the  entire  investment  not  exceeding  ^^3,000.  The 
milk  from  these  cows,  allowing  one-half  to  the  calves,  will  fur- 
nish milk,  butter,  and  cheese  enough  to  support  the  family  from 
the  first,  with  the  aid  of  a  small  vegetable  garden.  The  calves 
being  detained  for  six  months  in  the  corral,  and  "  roped  off," 
after  drawing  about  half  the  milk,  the  cows  will  be  gentle  an4 
come  home  at  night  regularly, — until  the  herd  becomes  too  larg^ 


^;|!V'.if-' 


saSvSft^.., 


g^V..- 


iiHB 


STOCK- K.ttS/XG   m  fC.IA/S.IS  AND   COLORADO. 


I7» 


ow  six  steam. 
,000  head  of 
antl,  and  last 
ns  Railroad." 
ndc'pcndcnce, 
y  possessions 
It-pistols,  one 
in.     He  went 
id  forty  years 
stock  horses, 
leagues.     In 
:  (or  grazing 
200  head  of 
iness,  and  in 
68,000  head 
been  a  cabin- 
1  a  capital  of 
a  ranche  at 
s  Christi,  he 
1878,  twenty 
over  50,000 
J  2,000  sheep, 
5,000  calves 
ry  year,  and 
d  mules, 
•ay,  a  ranche 
ige  land.«5  of 
lis,  etc.,  from 
ves  for  from 
lam  bulls  at 
3,000.     The 
ves,  will  fur- 
family  from 
The  calves 
"roped  off," 
;  gentle  an4 
jes  too  larg^ 


to  be  managed  easily  at  the  homestead.  The  increase  from  this 
stock,  as  has  been  demonstrated  by  repeated  experiment,  will  be 
in  twelve  years  not  less  than  14,537.  Selling  off  a  portion  from 
year  to  year,  at  a  fair  market  valuation,  and  the  remainder  at 
the  end  of  twelve  years  to  close  out  the  business,  will  show  the 
agffi"^j:,'ate  receipts  to  have  been  not  less  than  ;Jl  10 1,7 50,  aside 
from  the  value  of  the  ranche,  which  will  have  more  than  doubled 
in  that  time.  From  this  is  only  to  be  deducted  the  cost  of  an 
extra  hand  after  the  fifth  year  and  an  additional  one  each  year 
thereafter.  For  this  expense  $4,250  is  an  ample  allowance, 
leaving  $97,500  net  for  the  twelve  years'  work.  The  stock  will 
support  itself  without  the  outlay  of  a  dollar  for  hay  or  grain. 
This  shows  a  very  handsome  profit,  even  with  stock  at  low 
prices.  But,  of  course,  the  profit  of  a  great  ranche,  properly 
managed,  is  proportionately  greater. 

In  Kansas  and  Colorado  stock-ranches  or  farms  are  managed 
somewhat  differendy.  The  buffalo  and  gama,  or  gamma  grass, 
of  the  unbroken  pasturage  lands,  is  somewhat  more  nutritious 
and  fattening  than  that  of  Texas,  and  the  stocks  of  catde  are  of 
better  blood.  '  At  present  it  is  not  difficult  to  obtain  pasturage 
for  even  a  large  herd,  on  unsurveyed  government  lands,  the 
stock-raiser  entering  perhaps  three  quarter-sections  under  the 
Pre-emption,  Homestead,  and  Timber  Culture  Acts,  in  order  to 
secure  water  for  his  herd.  But  there  is  this  difficulty  in  regard 
to  these  unsurveyed  lands,  that  the  surveys  are  going  on  with 
considerable  rapidity,  the  frontier  of  arable  farming  lands  is 
pushing,  westward  at  the  rate  of  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  a  year; 
and  ere  long  the  stock-raiser  will  find  himself  pushed  by  the  tide 
of  farming  immigrants,  and  will  be  compelled  "  to  move  on." 
Congress  has  now  before  it  a  bill  to  sell  the  pasturage  lands 
suppobed  to  be  only  fit  for  pasturage,  at  a  low  rate,  in  lots  of 
four  miles  square,  or  about  8,000  acres,  reserving  its  mineral 
rights  below  the  soil.  It  will  thus  be  possible  to  obtain,  in  per- 
petuity, stock  ranges  at  a  moderate  price. 

The  purchasable  stock  in  these  States  is  of  better  grade  than 
the  Texas  cows  or  steers,  and  brings  better  prices.  Cows  are 
worth  from  $18  to  $20  per  head  at  three  years  old,  and  steers 


171 


OUR   WESTEXAr   EMPIRE. 


from  ^^,  to  jjiioat  two  years  old.  No  sensible  stock-raiser  would 
think  of  purchasing  any  but  the  best  pure  blooil  or  hijjjh  ^rade 
bulls.  There  must  also  be  some  provision  nuule  for  the  shelter, 
either  by  sheds  or  by  means  of  natural  or  planted  forests,  if  not 
for  the  feeding  of  catde  from  the  severe  storms  of  die  elevated 
grazing  lands  of  Kansas,  Colorado,  and  Wyoming ;  and  the  wise 
manager  will  provide  a  moderate  supply  of  good  hay  or  forage 
and  shelter  for  the  storms  which  sometimes  sweep  down  from 
the  north.  The  herders  or  cow-boys  are  of  a  higher  grade  than 
most  of  the  Texan  herders,  and  commanc'  usually  ;^20  a  month, 
with  food  and  shelter,  etc.,  found. 

All  this  costs  money,  but  the  Kansas  and  Colorado  catde  have 
so  high  a  reputation,  both  at  the  East  and  in  England,  that  they 
command  high  prices  and  pay  a  large  profit.  But  it  results  from 
this  condition  of  things  that  stock-raising  cannot  be  very  success- 
fully carried  on  in  these  States,  or  indeed,  in  most  of  diose  north 
of  the  thirty-seventh  parallel,  except  on  at  least  a  moderately 
large  scale.  A  man  with  little  or  no  capital,  but  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  the  business  and  the  care  of  stock,  can  make  a 
good  arrangement  for  conducting  the  business  with  a  capitalist, 
who  does  not  understand  it,  putting  his  skill  and  knowledge 
against  the  other's  capital,  and  perhaps  taking  his  salary  in  cat- 
tle. In  many  cases  these  large  ranches  are  owned  by  joint-stock 
companies,  and  the  business  is  conducted  by  a  manager,  who,  if 
honest  and  capable,  can,  in  a  few  years,  make  an  immense  for- 
tune for  his  employers,  and  a  very  satisfactory  one  for  himself. 

Let  us  give  one  example  of  stock-raising  on  a  large  scale  in 
Colorado :  the  Colorado  Cattle  Company's  estate  of  Hermosillo, 
in  Pueblo  and  Huerfano  counties,  on  the  Huerfafio  river  and  its 
tributaries.  The  estate  consists  of  91,000  acres,  with  half  a  mil- 
lion acres  more  of  mountain  land  dependent  upon  it.  Four 
thousand  acres  were  under  cultivation  by  the  former  owner. 
Colonel  Craig,  and  yielded  forty  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre ; 
fleventy-five  to  eighty  of  corn,  seventy-five  of  oats,  and  abun- 
<lance  of  vegetables;  15,000  acres  were  in  timber,  mostly  of  the 
larger  evergreens,  and  the  remainder  of  the  estate  was  dotted 
with  clumps  of  the  pinon  pine,  affording  shelter  to  the  stock. 


^wssvi?*r. 


.5*:  ,i  'V  tx"-"!  '**«»■ 


ss^a.'B 


PROFITS  OF  A   CATTl.R'R.iS'CIti:. 


m 


raiijcr  would 
r  high  grade 
•  the  shelter, 
jrcsts,  if  not 
the  elevated 
and  the  wise 
lay  or  forage 
)  down  from 
r  grade  than 
jj20  a  month, 

0  cattle  have 
nd,  that  they 

results  from 
very  success- 
f  those  nordi 

1  moderately 
lo roughly  ac- 
,  can  make  a 
1  a  capitalist, 

knowledge 
salary  in  cat- 
ly  joint-stock 
ager,  who,  if 
mmense  for- 
br  himself, 
irjjfe  scale  in 
Hermosillo, 
river  and  its 
th  lialf  a  mil- 
m  it.      Four 
rmer  owner, 
to  the  acre ; 
s,  and  abun- 
nostly  of  the 
was  dotted 
;o  the  stock. 


The  sale  was  for  ^350,000,  and  iiK  hided  lo.cxx)  steers  of  the 
best  grades,  100  Kentucky  and  Canailian  bulls,  grrat  numbers 
of  horses,  sheep,  goats,  etc.  The  company  immediately  placed 
upon  it  20,000  additional  steers  for  fatt«'ning,  and  increased 
materially  th(!  number  of  cows,  bulls  and  other  stock,  intending 
to  feed  their  cattle  with  grain,  before  sending  them  to  market, 
and  to  make  this  th(!  most  com|)k't(;  and  extensive  stock-ranche 
in  the  Union.  One  large  source  of  profit  is  found  in  purchasing 
steers  two  years  old,  of  good  breeds,  and  keeping  them  a  year 
or  more  at  a  very  small  expense,  and  s<.'lling  them  well  fattened 
for  the  markets.  A  profit  of  from  5'^  to  515  per  Head  can  be 
made  on  them,  and  the  net  profit,  as  in  the  case  of  this  company, 
would  be  more  than  <^2c>o.ooo  per  year. 

The  following  table,  copied  from  Mr.  Frank  Fo  sett's  "Colo- 
rado,"  gives  the  profits  on  the  cattle  increase  alone  for  seven 
years.  The  company  is  supposed  to  have  a  nominal  capital  of 
<Ji50o,ooo,  but  there  is  nothing  to  indicate  that  more  than  one- 
half  of  it  was  paid  up.  The  profits  were  to  be  enhanced  by  the 
purchase  of,  say,  5,000  two-year  old  steers  each  year,  and  their 
sale,  after  fattenincf,  a  year  later.  The  amount  of  land  is  not 
stated,  but  it  could  not  be  less  than  25,000  acres,  with  a 
reserve  of  uiisiirv(!ye(l  rioverninent  lands,  of  perhaps  30,000 
acres  more,  for  which  no  rent  is  paid. 

COWS. 


Tear. 


One 

Two 

Three 

Four 

Five 

Six 

Seven 

Original  Cows 
at  |i8a  head 


Li 


4,000 
4,000 
5,600 
7,200 
9.440 

!2,200 
16,096 

4,000 


l-S 

E  o  > 

5  3 


3,200 
3,200 
4,480 

5. 760 

7.55a 

9.856 

12,877 


Pi 


1,600 
1,600 

2,240 
2,880 

3.776 
4,928 

6,438 


g  1 6,000 
16,000 
22,400 
28,800 
37,760 
49,280 

at  }6  per  head 


;?28,8oo 
28,800 
40,320 
51,840 
56,640 
49,280 
38.628 

72,000 
1366,308 


«74 


J  i 


OVA    IVHStK/tN  KMr/MK. 

STEERS. 


Ym* 

1'^ 

One 

i.6oo 

Two 

1 ,600 

Three 

K(»iir 

five • 

a>a40 
3,880 
3.776 
4,9j8 
6.438 

Six 

Seven , 

1 1 6,000 
16,000 

21,  (OO 

3M,8oo 

37.760 

49.2«0 


is* 

>9,(>oo 
9,600 
13.440 
17,180 
81,656 


1 1 6,000 
16,000 
0,400 
18,800 


Add  fur  Cowi  and  Heifer  Calves  as  above 

Total  produ't  in  seven  years  of  4,000  Cows  costing  ^71,000,  includ 
in^  cost  of  Cowt , 


|4i.6oo 

41.600 
5«,j.»o 
7l,H8o 
60,416 
49,iSo 
.18,618 

364.644 
^6^oH 

^730,95  » 


The  profits  or  increase  on  the  seventh  year  alone  would  be  ^{154, 791,  or 
more  tlian  fifty  per  cent,  on  the  capital  of  f  500,000.  The  profits  on  the  cij^hth 
year  would  be  1317,444;  and  for  the  ninth,  tenth,  eleventh,  aixl  twcllth 
years  a  constantly  iu'-reasing  proportion,  viz.:  ninth  year  ^451,3^1,  tenth 
year  5519,473.  anti  »o  on. 

To  this  may  be  added  the  profit  each  year  of  buyinj^  5,000 
two-ypar  old  steers  atid  selling  the  next  year  at  $10  or  more  ad- 
vance, netting  ^IxCogo  of  clear  profit,  which  is  much  more  than 
the  annual  cost  of  runninj^  the  ranche.  The  annual  increase  of 
calves  is  calculated  at  80  per  cent,  of  tlu:  mm  her  of  cows,  allow- 
ing 20  per  cent,  (a  liberal  allowance)  for  accidents  and  losses. 
Mr.  Fossett  makes  no  estimate  of  the  cost  of  the  ranche  and 
necessary  buildings,  and  in  his  estimate  of  stock,  makes  no  esti- 
mate for  the  bulls.  Of  these,  for  the  herd  with  which  they  com- 
menced, eighty  full-blood  Herefords  or  Durhams,  costing  not 
over  4;6,ooo  (the  best  are  the  cheapest),  or,  if  Holsteins,  perhaps 
$8,000,  would  insure  cattle  which  would  bring  the  highest  prices 
in  the  market.  As  these  cattle  are  raised  for  beef,  and  not  for 
milkers,  there  would  be  ho  advantage  in  an  Ayrshire,  Alderney, 
or  Jersey  cross. 

Mr.  A.  A.  Hayes,  Jr.,  in  Harper's  Monthly,  for  November, 
1879,  gives  the  figures  for  a  ranche  of  about  the  same  number 


^.■rt«v»T»iw«3ai&3WPirar-  • 


FAT  CATfUL  n.  S7X>/t£  CAI TLK, 


m 


16,000 
16,000 

3J,40Q 

]M,8oo 


incUid 


|l4i>6oo 
41.600 
58.140 
7»,HMo 
60,416 
4'),i«o 
.lH,6a« 

364,644 
j66^oK 

^730.95' 


l«  Jt»54.79».  or 
\\s  on  the  eighth 
ith,  aixl  twcllth 
;>45'.3"i  tenth 


buyinjr  5,000 
)  or  more  ad- 
:h  more  than 
1  increase  of 
cows,  allow- 
and  losses, 
ranchc  and 
iak»:s  no  esti- 
ich  they  corn- 
costing  not 
eins,  perhaps 
lighest  prices 
and  not  for 
re,  Alderney, 

'  November, 
ame  number 


of  cows,  in  Southern  Colorado,  somruhat  more  in  tietail,  but 
unl'Ttiinatcly.  he  docs  not  carry  it  beyond  the  third  year.  Still, 
in  that  linv*  with  an  invatmcnt  of  5154,149,  of  which  ^%osxyQ  i» 
the  cost  nf  the  ranchc  (10,000  acrrs,  with  priv  'tge  of  grazing  on 
other  mountain  lands),  576,000  cost  of  stock,  and  528,149  i.ipilal, 
used  in  expenses  for  the  three  years,  he  shows  net  profiis  of 
5129,65'  (51 14/)51  profits  on  stock  an'1  5^15,000  in  apprcuation 
of  the  \d\\sii.  of  the  properly),  making  ih',*  tola!  assets  at  the  end 
o(  thrrc  years  5283.S0U.  These  profits  would  be  greatly  in 
creased  in  the  years  that  follow* d,  for  f'le  first  three  y;ars  are 
thi-  years  of  greatest  outlay,  and  in  th(  later  yrars  there  is  no 
possibili^v  of  such  K)  >ses  as  would  wk^c  out  any  considirable 
amount  of  the  increasing  profits.  Land  will,  of  c<  irse,  soon  b<" 
higher,  anil  the  free  pasturage  will  diminish  as  the  arable  lands 
are  more  clearly  defined,  an<l  the  grazing  lands  are  .  eyed 
and  put  upon  the  mark(!t ;  but  every  ranche  should  !  '  ve  a  con- 
siderable fjuantity  of  aral>Ic  lands,  as  the  ability  of  the  stock- 
raiser  to  fatten  his  beeves  for  the  market  from  his  own  grain  will 
make  a  great  difference  in  the  pric(!  1h^  can  obtain  for  them.  All 
the  great  ranches  of  Kansas,  Nebraska,  and  Colorado  will  soon 
be  within  ( asy  distance  of  the  great  trunk  railroad  lines  which 
will  take  their  beeves  on  the  hoof  to  Sr,  Louis,  Chicago,  or 
Dululh,  whence  they  can  be  shipped  for  L.   lope  direct. 

Hitherto  they  have  been  carried  by  rai^  from  these  States  as 
storr  CiitUc  (the  steers  weighing  about  1,400  pounds),  to  Illinois, 
where  they  were  fattened  and  shipped  from  Chicagf)  lo  Liver- 
pool. Th«^  Chicago  dealers  paid  about  537  ^f^r  them  in  Colorado 
and  sold  them  in  Liverpool  for  %\qo,  while  the  entire  trans- 
portation between  Coloratlo  and  Liverpool  did  not  cost  over  530. 

Hon.  J.  W.  Barclay,  M.  P.,  who  visited  Colorado  for  the  third 
time  in  the  autumn  of  1879,  and  from  whose  article  in  the  Fort- 
niglUly  Reriiew^  of  January  i,  1880,  these  figures  are  taken,  uses 
them  to  insist  that  the  British  Government  should  allow  the  im- 
portation by  English  farmers  of  store  cattle ;  from  our  position 
they  seem  to  afford  a  much  more  powerful  argument  for  the  fat- 
tening of  his  stock  by  the  Kansas  or  Colorado  stock-grower; 
as  he  might  thereby  receive  the  greater  part  of  the  163J  per 


1^6  OVM    H'gSTKKI^  MMNMR. 

head  which  now  go<'»  into  tl.-r  pocket  of  ihc  Chicaj^o  dralrr  and 
■Hipper,  Mr.  Rarclay  tlcmoriHtruics  that  wc  can  land  fattrnrd 
cattle  at  Liverpool  at  an  averaj^e  price  of  JI90  to  f,\oo,  yieliljnj; 
us  a  very  larjje  profit  and  still  ^jriatly  undrrsell  the  llrili^h 
■tock-raiser  in  Iuh  own  nmrkct.  'Ihc  tiliippin^'  of  slau|;;htcrcd 
beeves  in  rcfrij^erator  earn  and  Hteamers  with  tht!  recent  improve- 
ments in  artificial  refriyeraticvn  offers  still  greater  prolitt. 

In  the  more  northern  and  northwestern  Stales  and  Tern- 
torieH,  of  whiih  Montana  may  p«:rhap8  Ik;  tukcn  an  the  typo 
there  arc  some  slight  differences  in  the  management  of  the  biisi 
ncss,  as  well  as  in  the  pasturage  and  the  character  of  the  stock. 
In  all  these  .States  and  Territories  pasturagt:  is  free;  that  is,  the 
l^vernment  lands,  as  yet  unsurvcyed,  furnish,  and  will  for  years 
to  come,  abundant  pasturage  in  well-watered  valleys  for  much 
larger  numbers  of  cattle  than  are  likely  to  bo  raised  there. 
There  is  no  buffalo  or  gama  grass  there,  but  the  bunch  grass, 
especially  in  Montana,  is  more  nutritious  than  either,  and  the 
stock  fatten  on  it  as  well  as  they  would  on  grain.  The  Nbjntana 
beeves  have  an  excellent  reputation  for  juiciness,  tentli:rncss, 
and  (lavor ;  the  only  complaint  in  regard  to  them  is  that  they 
are  ho  fat. 

There  are  no  Texas  cattle  here:  they  are  all  of  the  American 
or  native  breed,  or  grade  animals  from  Short-horn  or  I  lereford 
*«tock.  Many  of  the  stock- raisers  keep  them  out  on  the  range 
all  winter,  and  claim  that  their  loss  is  not  more  than  one  or  two 
per  cent,  as  the  bunch  grass,  which  grows  to  the  height  of  two 
or  three  feet,  is  not  often  covered  with  snow  on  the  hillsides ; 
but  the  best  stock-m^'n  think  it  safer  to  provide  some  of  the  wild 
hay,  which  can  be  cut  and  stacked  for  %\.  to  $1.25  per  ton, 
against  possible  emergencies,  and  also  to  provide  rude  shelter 
for  their  animals  during  severe  storms.  They  have  one  cow-boy 
to  1,500  or  2,cxx)  cattle.  The  cost  of  raising  a  steer  for  the  first 
four  years  is  from  60  cents  to  %i  per  year.  A  three  or  four- 
year  old  steer  is  worth  at  the  ranche  about  $20,  at  the  larger 
towns  or  railroad  points  from  $25  to  $30.  Much  of  the  stock- 
raising  is  done  in  these  territories  by  companies,  usually  joint- 
stock  companies,  who  trust  the  management  to  a  competent  and 


'H 


»)  <l«'alcr  and 
lind  fattrnrd 
>,iou,  yirldinj^r 
II  tho  llriti^h 
•  1'  slaii^'htcrrd 
* <ru  improve- 
r«)lit'4. 

-i  and  Tfrn- 

as  the  type 

111  of  the  Inisi 

r  of  llic  stock. 

:e ;  that  is,  the 

will  for  years 

l«;ys  for  much 

raised   there. 

:  l)unch  grass, 

illuT,  and  the 

TIjc  Montana 

IS,  temlerncss, 

r\  IS  that  they 

the  American 
n  or  I  lereford 
on  the  range 
an  one  or  two 
height  of  two 
tlie  hillsides; 
me  of  the  wild 
1.25   per  ton, 
:  rude  shelter 
c  one  cow-boy 
LT  for  the  first 
three  or  foiir- 
at  the  larger 
of  the  stock- 
usually  joint- 
ompetent  and 


i|^_„  twill'"!  . 


Ill    lyl.l     III    ■■.!    1^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TbST  target  (MT-3) 


^ 


!.0 


1.) 


IttlM    125 
■tt  IM   12.2 

Sf  !;&   12.0 


IJiSi 


♦s 


»' 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NX  14580 

(716)  •72-4503 


4^  4y 


'^ 


.<if 


•V 


;V 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


1;^ 


STOC/CRAISINt!    IN  CALIFORNIA. 


177 


skilful  expert,  who  becomes,  after  a  time,  a  partner.  Thore  is  a 
fine  opening  for  good  stock-farmers  with  little  or  no  capital  to 
make  large  fortunes  in  this  business. 

When  railroads  traverse  these  territories,  as  they  soon  will, 
the  exceptionally  fine  stock  raised  here  will  command  much 
higher  prices,  and  can  be  shipped  to  England  at  considerably 
less  expense  than  from  Colorado.  Increasing  attention  is  being 
paid  in  Minnesota,  Dakota,  and  Montana  to  dairy-farming,  for 
which  that  region  possesses  fine  facilities.  Good  butter  com- 
mands a  very  high  price  all  over  tliat  region,  and  the  infusion  of 
Ayrshire,  Alderney,  or  Jersey  blood  into  the  stock  intended  for 
the  dairies  will  enable  the  dairy-farmers  to  supply  a  vast  demand 
at  largely  remunerative  prices.  Recent  improvements  in  the 
breeding  of  dairy  stock,  and  in  all  the  processes  of  butter  and 
cheese-making,  have  reduced  the  business  almost  to  one  of  the 
exact  sciences. 

Stock-raising  in  California  is  not  now  comparatively  so  exten- 
sive a  business  as  it  was  a  few  years  ago,  as  former  pasturage 
lands  have  been  taken  up  for  agricultural  purposes.  Before  the 
American  occupation  much  of  the  country  was  taken  up  in  large 
ranches,  often  of  from  50,000  to  1 50,000  acres,  and  the  Hispano- 
American  owner  had  his  vast  herds  of  Mexican  cattle,  long  and 
sharp-horned,  of  vicious  temper,  thick  hides,  and  lean,  rather ,, 
gamy  flesh,  droves  of  the  Mexican  or  mustang  horses,  and  very 
large  flocks  of  the  Mexican  sheep,  a  degenerate  breed  from  the 
original  Spanish  Merino.  Very  few  of  these  ranches  now  re-  "" 
main,  and  die  Mexican  catde  have,  for  the  most  part,  given 
place  to  Eastern  cattle  brought  in  by  the  early  settlers  and  im- 
proved by  breeding  from  the  best  pure-blooded  stock.  The 
stock  now  tLCtually  raised  in  California  is  very  little  beyond  what 
is  demanded  for  home  use,  and  although  considerable  herds  are 
exported,  the  deficiency  in  the  UaUfornian  markets  is  made  up 
by  cattle  brought  from  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory.  The 
general  quality  of  California  cattle  is  so  high  that  they  are  in 
demand  for  breeding  by  the  stock-growers  of  Colorado,  Wyom- 
ing, and  Montana,  and  command  liberal  prices  for  that  purpose. 

The  climate  of  California  is  so  mild  that  stock  requires  no 


IS 


I    > 


'1 


ur 


\ 


178  OUX    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

shelter,  but  tlie  long  dry  season  burns  up  the  herbage  so  thor- 
oughly that  tlie  best  stock-growers  find  it  necessary  to  sow  the 
Alfalfa  and  other  forage  grasses  largely  to  feed  their  stock  in  the 
dryest  months.  There  are  still  many  large  ranches,  but  the 
proprietors  are  usually  wide-awake  Americans,  and  they  do  not 
confine  themselves  to  raising  stock.  Extensive  wheat-fields, 
vineyards  or  olive-groves,  or  the  rearing  of  great  numbers  of 
horses  or  mules,  or  large  flocks  of  sheep,  also  occupy  their  atten- 
tion and  prevent  their  exclusive  interest  in  either  pursuit.  The 
herdsmen  or  cow-boys — vaqueros  is  the  more  sonorous  Spanish 
name,  and  is  most  used  in  California — are  often  Mexicans,  but 
quite  as  often  French,  German,  Swiss,  Swedes,  or  Irishmen. 
The  lasso  is  used  as  in  Texas  in  rounding  up  the  herds,  and  the 
other  features  of  the  business  do  not  differ  materially  from  those 
already  described,  except  that  greater  care  is  taken  in  improv- 
ing the  breeds  by  the  introduction  of  the  best  imported  csttle. 

Dairy  farming  is  rapidly  increasing  in  California.  The  butter 
is  generally  good,  and  some  of  it  of  the  "gilt-edged"  quality. 
It  brings  a  high  price,  ranging  generally  from  40  to  60  cents  a 
pound,  or,  which  is  substantially  the  same  thing,  from  60  cents 
to  $1.10  a  roll,  the  roll,  though  nominally  two  pounds,  always 
coming  considerably  short  of  that  weight.  The  milk  is  of  excel- 
lent quality,  though  there  are  comparatively  few  Alderneys  or 
Jersey  cows  in  the  State.  Cheese  is  not  very  largely  produced, 
reliance  for  this  product  being  had  upon  the  Eastern  cheese 
fiactories. 'd'jnn-j  m^^mIj  "fo  v/>l  /-n.V  ■  .o^ii'  i-T.  f^Ji;/:*;^  'i.ii!  .;Utr  . 
1.  The  rearing  of  horses  and  mules  is  not  a  large  branch  of  the 
stock-raising  industry  west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  except  in 
California,  Texas,  and  Arkansas,  though  it  is  increasing  in 
Kansas,  Colorado,  and  perhaps  New  Mexico.  In  Texas  the 
greater  part  of  the  horises  raised  on  the  ranches  are  either  mus- 
tangs (the  descendants  of  the  Spanish  horses  introduced  into 
Mexico  three  centuries  a^o),  very  tough  and  serviceable,  but 
vicious  and  tricky,  or  a  cross  between  these  and  our  larger 
American  horse,  somewhat  larger  than  the  mustang  and  less 
tricky,  but  not  quite  so  tough.  These  are  usually  called  bron- 
chos.   The  Indian  ponies  belong  to  this  cross.     Horses  of  better 


'■r 


RA/S/NG  /fOKSES  AND  MULES— CAMELS. 


179 


crbage  so  thor- 
sary  to  sow  the 
leir  stock  in  the 
inches,  but  the 
ind  they  do  not 
ve  wheat-fields, 
jat  numbers  of 
;upy  their  atten- 
ir  pursuit.  The 
inorous  Spanish 
n  Mexicans,  but 
js,  or  Irishmen, 
le  herds,  and  the 
rially  from  those 
aken  in  improv- 
n ported  cattle, 
nia.  The  butter 
:-edged  "  quality. 
40  to  60  cents  a 
g,  from  60  cents 
)  pounds,  always 
milk  is  of  excel- 
w  Alderneys  or 
argely  produced. 
Eastern  cheese 

•ge  branch  of  the 
river,  except  in 

is    increasing   in 
In  Texas  the 

s  are  either  mus- 
introduced  into 
serviceable,  but 
and  our  larger 

nustang  and  less 

ually  called  bron- 
Horses  of  better 


breeds  are  raised  on  smaller  farms  and  brought  into  these 
States  from  States  cast  of  the  Mississippi,  but  never^  in  large 
droves.  In  California  the  Norman  and  Percheron  horses  are 
now  being  introduced  in  large  numbers  for  draught  horses. 
The  rearing  of  horses  and  mules  is  said  to  be  very  profitable, 
and  some  of  the  large  stock-ranches  in  Kansas  and  Colorado 
are  turning  their  attention  to  it.  The  rapid  extension  of  rail- 
roads in  these  new  States  and  Territories  creates  a  vastly  in- 
creased demand  for  good  horses  for  purposes  of  draught,  for  car- 
riage use,  and  for  the  saddle.  Every  station  has  at  least  a  dozen 
settlements  tributary  to  it,  all  of  which  require  teams  to  make 
the  connection.  The  raising  of  mules  is  still  more  profitable, 
since  the  mule  is  more  surefooted,  hardier,  and  will  live  on 
poorer  fare  than  the  horse.  He  is  more  vicious  and  stubborn — 
granted,  but  that  is  partly  due  to  the  abuse  to  which  he  is  sub- 
jected. Mules  bring  on  the  average  a  price  considerably  higher 
than  horses.  In  the  mining  districts,  and  especially  in  the  new 
mining  regions,  mules  are  in  great  demand  as  pack-animals,  and 
for  drawing  the  immense  freight-wagons,  and  command  high 
prices  for  these  purposes.  The  great  stage  company.  Barlow, 
Sanderson  &  Co.,  whose  lines  run  daily  or  oftener  to  all  parts 
of  Western  Colorado  and  Northern  New  Mexico,  where  there 
are  practicable  roads,  keep  hundreds  of  horses  and  a  still  larger 
number  of  mules  in  their  stables. 

An  attempt  has  been  made  to  introduce  the  camel  into  Texas, 
and  it  has  met  with  a  moderate  degree  of  success.  The  animal 
would  seem  to  be  well  adapted  to  a  part  of  Texas,  Arizona, 
Southern  New  Mexico,  and  Southern  California,  and  if  the 
Bactrian  species  could  be  introduced  it  might  do  well  farther 
north ;  but  the  camel  is  better  suited  to  the  indolent  oriental  than 
to  our  wide-awake,  restless,  impatient  Yankees. 


t-  ' 
1       .        1    /■'• 


iX; 


HI 


m 


m'^- 


■'%)J^ 


i8o 


OUR    IVESJEK.V  eMr/A'S, 


V. 


\ 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Shekp-Farmino  and  Wool-Grom  inc. — Number  or  Sheep  and  Annual  Increase 
OK  Lambs  in  each  State  or  Territory — The  Great  Wool,  States — Improv- 
ino  the  Breed — Merinos — CoTswouns  —  Soutiidowns  —  Leicesters— 
Tastes  Differ — Perils  or  the  Flocks  from  Cold,  Starvation,  and  1  hirst 
— Winter  Shelter  and  Winter  Food  Necessary  in  Kansas  and  further 
North — Diseases  of  Sheep — Tur:  Sheep  that  Browse  and  the  Sheep  that 
Crop  their  Food— Shrubs  and  Plants  Poisonous  to  Sheep — Sheep-Farm- 
ing— The  Shepherds— The  Sheep-Farmer  in  Colorado— The  Purchase 
of  the  Sheep-Farm — Buying  the  Sheep — The  Account — Beginning  on  a 
Small  Scale  :  the  Man  with  only  |  1,000 — Crossing  the  Breed  with  the 
Big-horn — The  Angora  and  other  Goats — The  K'jcky  Mountain  Goat. 

Therf  are  none  of  the  States  or  Territories  of  the  Great  West 
which  are  not  engaged  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  in  the  rearing 
of  sheep,  either  for  their  wool  or  their  flesh,  or  both ;  but  the 
extent  of  the  business,  and  the  size  of  the  flocks,  differ  very 
greatly  in  different  sections.  The  latest  statistics  give  the 
number  of  sheep  in  this  Western  Empire  as  approximately 
ao,8io,ocxD,  somewhat  more  than  one-half  of  all  in  the  United 
States,  and  the  numbers  are  increasing,  at  a  ratio  which  will  soon 
enable  them  to  rival  Australia  in  the  supply  of  mutton  and  wool 
to  the  world. 

California  leads  the  whole  country  in  numbers  and  perhaps  in 
quality;  her  flocks  numbering  about  7,300,000,  and  averaging 
ninety  lambs  each  year  to  every  one  hundred  ewes.  Texas 
follows  with  about  4,560,000,  of  an  average  quality  somewhat 
below  those  of  California,  but  improving.  Her  sheep-growers 
claim  about  eighty  lambs  annually  to  one  hundred  ewes,  Col- 
orado is  next  with  2,000,000  sheep,  mostly  of  good  quality,  and 
modestly  estimates  her  net  increase  at  seventy-five  lambs  for 
one  hundred  ewes.  Next  follow  in  their  order  Missouri,  Oregon, 
and  New  Mexico,  with  1,450,000,  1,250,000,  and  1,000,000  re- 
spectively. Those  of  New  Mexico  are  largely  of  the  old  Mex- 
ican breed,  and  the  Navajo  Indians  have  flocks  exceeding 
500,000.  Utah  and  Iowa  are  the  only  other  States  or  Territories 
whose  flocks  approximate  half  a  million.  .    .,    »  . ,, 


B/!i:EDS—Mi:K/XO  rKF.l-E/iNF.D. 


l8l 


D  Annual  Increase 
)L  States— Improv- 
NS  —  Leicesters — 

NATION,  and  1  HIRST 
^NSAS  AND  FURTHER 

NDTHE  Sheep  THAT 
lEEP — Sheep- Farm- 
X) — The  Purchase 
r — Beginning  on  a 
HE  Breed  with  tki 
</  Mountain  Goat. 

the  Great  West 
rtt  in  the  rearing 
r  both;  but  the 
acks,  differ  very 
itistics  give  the 
s  approximately 
11  in  the  United 
0  which  will  soon 
mutton  and  wool 

s  and  perhaps  in 
),  and  averaging 
d  ewes.  Texas 
[uality  somewhat 
:r  sheep-growers 
Ired  ewes.  Col- 
rood  quality,  and 
y-five  lambs  for 
Missouri,  Oregon, 
.nd  1,000,000  re- 
of  the  old  M  ex- 
flocks  exceeding 
ites  or  Territories 


'J'hc  original  slock  on  which  all,  or  nearly  all  these  tlocks  were 
started,  were  Mexican  ewes,  from  the  original  Spanish  Merinos 
brought  over  here,  by  the  early  Spanish  settlers,  in  the  sixteenth 
century,  and  largely  raised  on  the  Missions,  which  were  so 
numerous  in  Mexico.  They  were,  in  the  beginning,  good  stock 
for  that  time;  but  in  thne  centuries  of  neglect,  they  had  degen- 
erated till  they  were  a  puny  race,  gaunt  and  small,  and  yielded 
only  from  three  to  four  pounds  of  coarse  felting  wool  annually. 
The  California  and  Texas  shepherds  readily  saw  that  there 
would  be  no  profit,  either  in  the  wool  or  mutton  of  such  sheep 
as  these,  and  though  a  selection  from  these  were  the  best  ewes 
they  could  obtain,  they  procured,  often  at  very  high  prices,  the 
best  Imported  or  Eastern  Merino,  Cotswold  or  Leicester  bucks, 
and  began  at  once  to  improve  the  breed.  Some  of  the  experi- 
ments proved  lailures.  It  was  found  that  the  cross  with  the 
Leicester  or  Southdown  was  not  desirable,  at  least  until,  by  cross 
breeding,  the  size  of  the  ewes  had  been  materially  increased. 
Moreover,  it  was  more  profitable  to  raise  sheep  for  wool  than 
for  mutton,  and  while  it  was  desirable  to  have  an  eye  to  increase 
of  si^e,  and  to  improvement  of  the  flesh  in  the  future,  the  most 
desirable  improvement  for  the  present  was  the  increase  of  size, 
and  of  wool  production,  by  breeding  with  the  largest  and  be&t 
full  Merino  bucks ;  thereby  producing  in  two  or  three  crosses,  a 
muoh  larger  and  better  fleeced  sheep.  The  Merino  wool  is  the 
•best  of  the  felting  wools,  and  by  careful  breeding,  the  sheep  can 
in  five  or  six  years  be  brought  to  yield  from  ten  to  twelve  pounds 
per  year,  and  eventually  the  bucks  and  wethers  reach  from 
seventeen  to  twenty-five  pounds  of  washed  wool. 

The  crosses  with  the  Cotswolds  bring  a  better  sheep  for 
mutton,  and  a  fleece  of  perhaps  equal  weight,  but  it  is  of  a 
di^rent  character — a  medium  long  and  fine  combing  wool, 
adapted  to  the  manufacture  of  all  kinds  of  worsted  or  hard- 
twisted  goods,  but  not  suitable  for  broadcloths,  merinos, 
cashmeres  or  any  description  of  the  softer  woollens. 

Probably  nine-tenths  of  these  vast  flocks,  or  neariy  nineteen 
millions,  approximate  more  or  less  closely  to  the  Merino  standard ; 
while  over  the  line  in  the  Dominion  ^f  Canada,  where  the  sheep 


«., 


■i.'v: 


'•i^*'**' 


iU 


OUK    IVF.STKKN   RMP/RE. 


V 


Is  raised  quite  as  much  for  the  flesh  is  for  the  fleece,  the 
CotswoMs,  Lciccsters  and  Southdowns  arc  greatly  in  excess  of 
the  Merinos. 

Kven  in  Texas,  those  pheep-masters  are  wisest,  who  provide 
some  shelter,  if  not  fodder  for  their  flocks,  in  the  severe  storms 
which  occasionally  visit  the  hill  slopes,  which  form  the  best  pastur- 
age for  sheep.  In  Southern  California,  this  is  never  done,  but  the 
greatest  suffering  to  which  the  flocks  are  subjected  comes  from 
the  failure  of  the  pasturage,  in  the  long  and  dry  summer,  and 
the  failure  also  of  water.  In  some  years  in  that  State,  entire 
flocks  have  been  almost  annihilated  by  starvation  and  thirst,  and 
when  at  last  in  desperation,  the  shepherds  attempted  to  drive  them 
to  the  fresher  and  moister  pastures  of  the  mountains,  every  foot 
of  the  way  was  strewn  with  the  festering  carcasses  of  the  poor 
animals.  By  sad  experience  the  sheep-masters  of  California 
have  learned  two  things :  first,  that  in  the  dry  season  at  least, 
the  pastures  on  the  slopes  and  foot-hills  of  the  mountains  are 
much  better  for  sheep,  than  those  on  the  plains,  or  generally  in 
the  valleys :  and  second,  that  it  is  a  wise  measure  of  economy 
to  sow  Alfalfa,  millet,  Hungarian  grass,  or  something  of 
the  sort,  to  feed  to  their  sheep  in  seasons  when  the  pasturage  is 
scanty.  \U  -Mh  ffsfe  kiAili?/*^!.  j\i  xn^AtM^hi^n  's".,  iv^  «n  tuiti^j 

In  Kansas,  Colorado,  and  all  the  States  and  Territories  farther 
north,  both  shelter  and  hay  or  grain  are  necessary,  though  not 
always  furnished.  Ir  New  Mexico  and  Arizona,  the  general 
practice  is  to  furnish  neither,  though  sometimes  the  flocks  suffer 
in  consequence.  The  greater  part  of  the  flocks  in  these  two 
Territories  is  the  Mexican  sheep,  which  is  hardier,  though  far 
less  valuable,  than  the  improved  breeds  of  the  other  States  and 
Territories.  '  n. 

Sheep  suffer  in  some  sections  from  a  variety  of  diseases,  many 
of  them  fatal,  others  greatly  depreciating  their  value.  Among 
these  are  the  scab,  the  result  of  the  attachment  of  an  insect,  the 
Acarus  scabiei,  first  to  the  wool,  and  afterward  to  the  skin  and 
flesh  of  the  sheep,  causing  severe  torture  and  a  most  intolerable 
itching  to  the  poor  animal,  causing  it  to  rub  off  its  wool  and  pro- 
duce ugly  sores  on  its  back  and  sides,  in  which  the  pestiferous 


the  fleece,  the 
ly  in  excess  of 

t,  who  provide 

severe  storms 

:he  best  pastur- 

:r  done,  but  the 

:ed  comes  from 

y  summer,  and 

at  State,  entire 

and  thirst,  and 

id  to  drive  them 

ains,  every  foot 

ses  of  the  poor 

s  of  California 

season  at  least, 

mountains  are 

or  generally  in 

ire  of  economy 

something  of 

he  pasturage  is 

rritories  farther 
ary,  though  not 
la,  the  general 
he  flocks  sufler 
cs  in  these  two 
ier,  though  far 
ther  States  and 

diseases,  many 
value.  Among 
f  an  insect,  the 

the  skin  and 
nost  intolerable 

wool  and  pro- 
the  pestiferous 


IHSKASES  OF  SI/EF.r.  |f| 

insect  riots  and  multiplies.  This  is  cured  by  dipping  the  sheep 
several  times  in  a  strong  decoction  of  tobacco,  or  in  strong  lime- 
water,  or,  better  still,  in  a  wash  to  which  the  impure  carbcMc 
acid  of  the  quality  known  as  "  sheep-dip,"  hai>  been  added. 
This  is  by  no  means  the  only  disease  caused  by  [)arasitic  insect*, 
from  which  the  sheep  suffers.  T/ic  tick  is  an  insect  whici 
works  its  way  through  the  wool  into  the  flesh  of  the  sheep,  and, 
like  the  preceding,  causes  intolerable  itching  and  loss  of  wool. 
Dipping  the  sheep  when  they  firat  manifest  the  symptoms  of  its 
presence  is  an  effectual  cure.  The  various  worms  or  maggots 
which  enter  the  body  of  the  sheep,  or  are  taken  in  with  the  food 
and  hatched  in  the  stomach,  are  a  cause  of  great  suffering  and 
mortality  to  the  poor  animal.  Among  these  are  the  grttb  in  the 
head,  the  fluke,  or  liver-rot,  tape-worm,  lung-worm,  the  white 
intestinal  worms  which  cause  "  the  pale  disease  "  in  lambs,  or  what 
is  known  as  " paper-shin"  in  the  full  grown  sheep— and  hydatids 
or  worms  in  the  bladder  and  kidneys.  Most  of  these  diseases 
are  incurable,  except  in  the  earlier  stages.  The  use  of  sulphur, 
spirits  of  turpentine,  linseed  oil,  castor  oil,  Glauber  salts,  wood 
and  cob  ashes  with  salt,  etc.,  are  recommended,  but  in  these,  as 
in  most  cases  of  diseases  of  animals,  the  treatment  is  generally 
empirical,  and  without  any  very  clear  ideas  of  the  indications  to 
be  fulfilled.  The  foot-rot  is  another  troublesome  and  often  fatal 
disease,  which  is  especially  prevalent  in  Texas.  It  is  said  to  be 
caused  by  pasturing  the  sheep  on  low,  moist  lands.  It  first  ap- 
pears as  a  purulent  sore  behind  the  hoofs,  and  if  not  treated,  not 
only  produces  great  lameness  in  the  animal,  but  causes  the  hoofs ' 
to  slough  off  and  the  sheep  to  die.  This  is  also  best  cured  by 
the  use  of  the  "  sheep-dip,"  or  impure  carbolic  acid.  The  black- 
leg is  a  more  speedily  fatal  disease,  usually  affecting  young 
lambs ;  the  legs  become  swollen,  turn  black,  and  seem  filled  with 
a  black,  decomposed  blood,  and  the  lamb  dies  within  two  or 
three  days.  It  is  said  that  bleeding  on  the  first  indications  of  the 
disease  will  cure  it.  Sheep  are  also  subject  to  pleuro- pneumo- 
nia, to  snufifles  and  snoring,  to  colics,  constipation,  diarrhoeas 
and  scouring.  They  are  generally  much  more  healthy  in  a 
tolerably  dry  atmosphere,  and  on  high  land  along  the  slopes  and 


'!■ 


1 1  ••( 


V 


;'■■' 


.,1  ii 

pti' 


S 


foot  hills  of  the  mountainK.  The  nifsas,  or  isolated  tabl*  lands 
of  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  Colorado,  and  Utah,  woiiM  afford  them 
good  pasture-grounds,  if,  by  artesian  wells,  or  reservoirs,  they 
could  be  supplied  with  the  very  moderate  quantity  of  water  they 
require.  Such  a  re^jion  was  found  in  I'aleatine,  cast  of  the  Jor- 
dan, on  the  elevated  plains  or  mesas,  where  the  King  of  Moab, 
Mesha,  and  his  predecessors,  kept  their  myriads  of  sheep, 
200,000  forming  his  annual  tribute  to  the  King  of  Israel. 

Different  breeds  or  varieties  of  sheep  feed  in  different  ways. 
The  Cotswold  and  Leicester  breeds  crop  the  grass  very  closely, 
but  do  not  browse,  or  eat  the  branches  of  trees  or  shrubs ;  the 
Merino,  on  the  contrary,  is  a  browsing  animal,  and  where  there 
are  shrubs,  plants,  or  young  trees  having  limbs  within  reach,  it 
prefers  them  to  grass.  This  necessitates  two  precautions  in 
pasturing  this  breed  ;  they  should  not  be  pastured  in  an  orchard, 
especially  of  young  trees,  as  they  will  do  great  injury,  though  on 
a  field  of  winter  wheat  during  the  winter  or  very  early  spring, 
their  presence  is  rather  beneficial  than  injuriuus,  as  they  do  not 
crop  the  roots  so  closely  as  other  sheep. 

Great  care  should  be  taken  in  their  pastures  that  no  poison- 
ous shrubs  or  vines  should  remain  within  their  reach ;  for  the 
sheep  has  not  the  keen  instinct  to  avoid  poisons  which  the  hog 
possesses.  If  poke -root  {Phytolacca  decandra),  bitter-sweet 
{Solatium  dulcamara),  deadly  nightshade  {Di^tcUis  purpurea), 
aconite,  henbane  {Nyoscyamus),  or  either  the  green  or  white 
hellebores,  the  poison  ash,  or  the  poisonous  species  of  the  Rhus 
or  sumach,  comes  in  his  way,  the  sheep,  and  particularly  the 
Merino  sheep,  will  be  sure  to  eat  them  and  die. 

Sheep-farming  is  more  monotonous  and  unexciting  than  stock- 
raising,  or  the  care  of  catde  or  horses ;  for  the  sheep  is  a  timid 
and  harmless  creature,  easily  controlled,  and  not  as  intelligent 
or  sympathetic  as  the  horse,  the  cow,  or  the  dog.  The  shep- 
herd has  a  lonely  life  in  taking  care  of  his  flocks,  and  but  for  the 
companionship  of  his  faithful  and  almost  rational  companions, 
the  collies,  or  shepherd-dogs,  his  lot  would  be  almost  intolerable. 
But,  humdrum  as  it  is,  it  is  more  immediately  profitable,  and  we 
flospect,  even  for  a  period  of  ten  or  twenty  years,  with  Hocks  of 
large  size,  more  permanently  so,  than  the  cattle  range. 


d  tabU  lands 
l<l  afford  thrm 
srrvoirs,  they 
of  water  they 
St  of  the  Jor- 
ing  of  Moab, 
fis  of  sheep, 
Israel. 

different  ways. 
8  very  closely, 
)r  shrubs ;  the 
d  where  there 
vithin  reach,  it 
>recautions  in 
in  an  orchard, 
Liry,  though  on 
y  early  spring, 
as  they  do  not 

hat  no  poison- 
reach;  for  the 
which  the  hog 
I,  bitter-sweet 
xlis  purpurea), 
reen  or  white 
es  of  the  Rhus 
>articularly  the 

Ing  than  stock- 
heep  is  a  timid 
:  as  intelligent 
ig.  The  shep- 
and  but  for  the 
al  companions, 
ost  intolerable, 
fitable,  and  we 
,  with  flocks  of 
inge. 


TtiK    YOUNH  SHMHrrARMtft  AND  HIS  FLOCK.  x%% 

Let  us  iliustrnlr  this  an^ertion  b)'  taking  an  actual  case,  in  no 
respect  cxcrptional,  in  Colorado.  Wt;  srlcct  this  State  bicause 
from  its  c<'niral  |)(>sttion  wc  find  here  all  or  nearly  all  the  aiKan- 
tagcs  and  disailvantages  attending  sheep-farming  in  any  portion 
of  "Our  Western  limpire."  Wc  tako  the  case  of  a  young  nun 
who  lias,  or  can  command  about  ;jji5,cxx),  and  who  has  rcholved 
to  put  his  money  into  a  shepp-farm  on  the  hills,  or  father 
plateaux  of  Colorado.  He  selects  as  his  location  I*!l  I'aso  county, 
on  the  eastern  hlope  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  though  he  might 
have  found  locations,  pcrhr.ps  e<iually  desirable,  in  Huerfano, 
Las  Animas  or  Puc'blo  counties,  or  perhaps  somewhat  farther 
north.  But  in  his  choice,  he  must  seek  first  for  the  great  and 
important  requisite — water. 

Having  found  a  township  containing  the  necessary  numlxtr  of 
streams  and,  if  possible,  som<;  springs,  he  next  proceeds  to  pur- 
chase or  secure  title  to  his  lamls ;  for  though  he  might,  as  the 
stock-raisers  do,  pasture  his  flock  on  the  government  lands,  yet 
there  is  an  irrepressible  conflict  in  Colorado  between  the  cattle- 
herders  and  owners,  and  the  sheep-farmers  and  their  shepherds, 
and  tl>e  sKeep-master  will  be  better  situated  if  he  owns  his  land. 
If  there  is  a  land  ofRco  near  him,  and  a  sale  takes  place,  he  can 
purchase  a  quarter  section  (160  acres)  at  the  government  price, 
^1.25  per  acre.  He  can  next  pre-empt  160  acres  more  for  $1.25 
per  acre  and  fees,  having  six  or  thirty  months  to  pay  for  it  and 
receive  his  title.  Next  he  can  claim  160  acres  more  under  the 
Homestead  Act,  paying  only  fees,  and  having  lived  on  it  for  five 
years  can  obtain  his  title,  and  lastly  he  can  claim  160  acres  more 
under  the  Timber-Culture  Act,  planting  in  the  course  of  five  years 
forty  acres  of  trees  upon  it  which  he  will  need  for  the  shelter  of 
his  flocks.  He  has  now  640  acres,  or  one  mile  square,  which 
may  cost  him,  all  told,  possibly  $500.  But  he  needs  more.  How 
is  he  to  obtain  it?  In  one  of  three  or  fipur  ways.  If,  as  is  prob- 
able, the  bill  now  before  Congress  passed  during  the  recent 
session,  he  can  purchase,  at  a  very  low  price,  a  tract  of  from 
four  to  eight  square  miles  as  pasturage  land,  subject  to  the  Ita- 
btltty  of  being  explored  below  the  surface  for  minerals,  but  with 
a  guarantee  of  all   his   surface  rights.     If  it  did  not,  he  can 


;  ij 


% 


■l^v. 


iM 


oun  H^ssTMjry  fSMr/xjt. 


buy  up  soldiers'  or  l>oiinty  laiul  scrip  at  fi  or  $y$o  per  acre, 
which  hc!  can  locate  where  he  pleases.  If  he  is  within  rIx  or 
ci^ht  niilen  of  a  lanil-^rant  railroad  (and  all  the  railroads  here- 
abouts have  land  grants),  Ik;  can  purchas':  from  thcin,  piohably 
at  fs  per  acre,  on  long  time,  the  additional  land  he  wants. 
Or  he  may  very  possibly  fmd,  as  the  man  described  by  Mr.  A. 
A.  Hayes,  Jr.,  in  Har fur's  Monthly  for  January,  iHiSo,*  did,  a 
sheep-farm  for  sale  with  its  corrals,  cabins,  etc.,  favorably  situated, 
but  which  its  owner,  tired  of  this  monotonous  life,  and  anxious  to 
go  back  to  civilization  and  Ilastern  comforts,  was  willing  to  sell 
for  j^.ooo.  It  is  ample  for  5,000  sheep,  but  in  order  to  be  secure 
he  avails  himself  of  his  privileges  already  described  and  secures 
an  additional  640  acres.  This  purchase  made,  the  young  shecp« 
farmer  has  next  to  buy  his  sheep. 

He  avails  himself  of  the  Judgment  of  an  expert,  buys  a,ooo 
selected  ewes,  "  second  cross  "  if  they  are  to  be  had,  at  $3 
per  head — jJ6,ooo;  and  60  bucks  at  an  average  of  JI30— $1,800. 
He  needs  also  a  pair  of  mules  and  a  saddlc-horso,  for  which  hc 
has  to  pay  about  $275  more,  and  finds  it  best  to  break  up  eighty 
acres  and  sv  «v  it  half  in  wheat  and  half  in  Alfalfa  or  some  other 
forage  crop.  This  costs  him,  perhaps,  $500  more.  He  has 
now  left,  of  his  $15,000,  $1,925  as  working  capital.  This 
transaction  is  completed,  we  will  say  October  i.  He  must 
employ  for  this  flock  one  herder,  a  cook,  and  for  a  time  team- 
sters, etc.  His  ewes  will  come  in  during  the  following  May, 
and  from  the  3,000  ewes,  he  will  have  living,  on  the  first  of  the 
following  October,  a  year  from  the  time  of  making  his  purchase, 
at  least  1,500  lambs  or  seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  whole 
number.  (The  Merino  ewe  very  seldom  has  twin  lambs.)  This 
is  a  very  liberal  estimate  for  losses,  blunders,  etc.  The  Texan 
sheep-masters  claim  that  they  raise  from  eighty  to  ninety  per 
cent.,  which  would  be  1,800,  and  surely  with  all  his  precautions 
he  should  do  nearly  or  quite  as  well,  but  we  prefer  to  understate 
rather  than  overstate  the  probable  results  of  the  business.  Let 
us  now  go  on  with  his  account  (supposing  him  to  be  an  accurate 

•We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  H«yei'  very  able  article  on  the  "  Shepherds  of  Colorado,"  for  moft 
of  the  details  of  this  account  of  the  expentet  and  profits  of  a  sheep-farm. 


j.5o  per  acrc\ 
within  six  or 
lilrnads  here- 
lirm,  i)r(>hably 
nd  he  wants, 
etl  by  Mr.  A. 
i88o,*  dill,  a 
rably  situated, 
nd  anxiouH  to 
willing;  to  sell 
r  tw  be  He  til  re 
d  and  secures 
young  shecp' 

rt,  buys  2,000 
e  iud,  at  $3 
$30— $i,8co. 
for  which  he 
eak  up  eighty 
3r  some  other 
ore.  He  has 
apital.  This 
I.  Me  must 
a  time  team- 
Mowing  May, 
le  first  of  the 
his  purchase, 
of  the  whole 
lambs.)  This 
The  Texan 
o  ninety  per 
is  precautions 
to  understate 
usiness.  Let 
>e  an  accurate 

Colorado,"  for  moit 


4  SMBKI*  MASTKK  .»'  PKOFITS.  \%f 

and  carciul  accountant)  for  the  next  tlirce  years.     Ills  gross 
'ncrca^e  of  values  and  receipts  for  thin  (irnt  year  will  be : 

1,500  Inn'lxi  (average  one-half  cwr«,  one-half  wcthcm),  at  %t  cath  .     |j,ooo  00 

In  June  he  ahean  hi*  wool,  anil  gets  ir')nt  t 

•,000  cwck,  5  lU.  each,  or  io,uoo  lU.,  at  11  cent*  .  %i,\Qo  00 

6obuLki,  17  lU.  each,  ur  1,000  lbs.,  at  15  tents  .     .        150  00       1,150  00 

15,150  00 

Ilcrclcr-.,  fjMnntcm,  rook,  and  provisions %^fi\%  *o 

Shearing  J. oAo  sheep,  at  6  tents laj  60 

Hay  and  grain •    •        '75  ^^ 

|a.«3i  60 
L0sstt  (all  estimatetl  lu  made  up,  in  monoy)  < 

Kwcs,  4  |>c-r(:ent.  on  |6,ooo |'40  "o 

Uutkj,  5  per  cent,  on  >i,8oo 9000      3J0  00 

DtprtdatioH : 
On  bucks,  5  percent,  on  1,800 90  00      •.'JSJ  80 

Net  profits  for  first  year  .     .     • |>)59^  40 

SICONt)  YEAR. 

I'hc  1,500  lambs  will  be  a  year  older,  and  worth  an  additional  15  |)cr 

cent,  (or  15  percent,  on  ^3,000) ^450  00 

1,500  new  lam."  will  be  worth,  as  before ►     3,000  00 

And  there  will  L    of  wool  from 

a, 000  sheep,  5  lbs.  each,  or  10,000  IIm.,  at  ai  cents .  |a,ioo  00 
1,500  lambs,  4  lbs.  each,  or  6,000  lbs.,  at  at  cents  .  i,a6o  00 
60  bucks,  17  lbs.  each,  ur  1,000  lbs.,  at  15  cents    .  150  00      3,5..^  00 

%i,^)(iO  00 
Expenses  : 

Herders,  etc ;|a,o6o  00 

She.irinR  3,560  sheep,  at  6  cents 31360 

Hay  and  grain 35°  °^ 

|a,6a3  60 
Losses ; 

On  ewes,  4  per  cent,  on  |6,ooo ^340  00 

On  bucks,  5  per  cent,  on  ^1,800    ....         90  00 

On  lambs,  7  per  cent,  on  f  3,000    ....        a  10  00     540  00 

Depreciation : 

On  ewes,  5  per  cent,  on  ^6,000 I300  00 

On  bucks,  5  per  cent,  on  1 1, 800     ....         9000      39000      3>SS.^  ^^ 

Net  profits  for  secor.d  year ^3>4o6  40 


I    ' 


..'.•it«0l(«iMaaSlU#4aft3ii»tt^UNlf:ilc«is^ 


■I     ,  1'  I' 

,<    i 


Ui' 


m- 


,38  OUR    WESTEHN  EMPIRE. 

THIRU   YEAK. 

The  secGi>d  year's  lainbs  will  be  worth  an  additional  15  per  cent.,  or, 

say  (15  per  ccin.  on  l3,ooo)     .  |4S<*  00 

There  will  be  1,500  lambs  from  original  a, 000  ewes,  and,  say,  from 

new  750  ewes  (one-half  of  1,500,  not  more  than  60  pen  cent.        it 
in  first  lambing,  or,  say,  450—10  ail,  1,950  lambs,  at  |a      .      3,900  00 
Wool  will  be : 
From    3,500    ewes,    5^    lbs.    each,    or    19,250    lbs.,   at    ai 

cents I4i04a  5° 

Fromi,95olamb8,4lbs.  each,or7,8ooU>s.,at2icent8        1,638  00 
FromCobucks,  i7lbs..each,  or  i,OQolb9.,.atiscent8  15000      5,83050 

f 10,180  JO 
Expenses :  '  1 

Herders  and  fodder i3>V7o  00 

Shearing  5,510  sheep,  at  6  cents     .     ...     .     .     .         33060 

New  corrals,  etc 300  00 

13,600  60 
Lasses : 
On  ewis,  4  per  cent,  on  |t,  30      ....      1 340  00 
On  new  sheep,  4  per  cent,  on  |4»Soo  •     •     •        *8o  00 
On  lambs,  7  percent,  on  ;J3,ooo    ....        aio  00 
On  bucks,  5  percent,  on  J5:, 800    ....  9000      73000      .i,,,;i  . 

Depreciatiom  ''' 

On  old  ewes,  10  per  cent,  on  |6,ooo  .     .     .       ^60000 
On  bucks,  20  per  cent,  on  ^1,800  ....        360  00      960  00      5,i8o  60 

Net  profits  for  third  ypar   .     .     .    »   ^,  |t4>899  90 

'-'''''■■  ■     '-■'   RECAPITULATIOK.    ■■  '-  •.■iir;'  , 

First  year's  profits ^2,596  40 

Second  year's  profits 3,406  40 

Third  year's  profits ...         4.899  90 

Total ^10,902  70       ' 

At  the  end  of  five  years  after  selling  off  the  original  2,000 
ewes,  which  are  now  more  than  replaced  by  those  of  a  better 
grade,  which  will  give  larger  lambs,  and  yield  heavier  fleeces,  and 
disposing  also  of  2,000  wethers  and  lambs,  our  young  sheep- 
master  finds  that  his  net  profits  received  within  the  five  years 
amount  to  a  little  more  than  $37,500,  and  that  he  has  still  on 
hand  3,500  ewes  and  ewe  lambs,  2,013  wethers  and  male  lambs 
^alll  over  a  year  old,  1 50  bucks   of  high  grade  and  good  size,  and 


^  ''■  I 


or. 


|4So  00 


3,900  00 


t     31 


1 10, 180  50 


o  60 


c  00 


o  00   5,i8o  60 
14,899  90 


|a,596  40 
3,406  40 
4,899  90 

^10,902  70 


^n^ 


original  3,000 
le  of  a  better 
ier  fleeces,  and 
young  sheep- 
the  five  years 
he  has  still  on 
nd  male  lambs 
good  size,  and 


SHEEP  FARMING   ON  A  SMALL   SCALE.  {g^ 

that  the  increased  value  of  his  land  and  buildings  being  added 
to  his  stock  its  present  value  is  528,767.  In  other  words  he  has 
earnings,  stock  on  hand  and  improved  land  to  show  to  the 
amount  of  ^^66,267,  for  an  original  investment  of  not  more  than 
1^13,200,  or  about  500  per  cent,  advance  in  five  years.  Extend 
the  time  to  ten  years,  and  if  he  can  obtain  land  he  will,  after 
selling  off  his  surplus  stock  to  the  amount  of  at  least  ^^25,000, 
have  a  flock  of  25,000  sheep,  450  bucks,  and  can  shear  from 
180,000  to  200,000  pounds  of  wool  annually,  and  his  possessions, 
in  land,  buildings,  and  animals  in  the  absence  of  any  extraordinary 
misfortune,  are  worth  from  jjioo.ooo  to  jjti20,cco,  and  his  net 
income  over  ^540,000  a  year. 

Of  course  it  is  possible  to  build  up  a  handsome  fortune  in  the 
course  of  ten  or  twenty  years  from  a  much  smaller  beginning 
than  this ;  there  were  instances,  when  laiul  was  lower  and  sheep- 
ranges  on  government  lands  were  more  available  than  now,  when. 
an  investment  of  $1,000  resulted  in  an  ample  fortune  in  fifteen 
Of  twenty  years.  If,  however,  the  emigrant  knows  something 
of  the  care  of  sheep,  and  has  but  a  thousand  dollars,  our  advice 
tG'  him  would  be  to  secure  land,  if  he  can,  under  the  Homestead 
and  Timber-Culture  Acts,  or  by  pre-emption,  and  hire  himself 
out  in  some  capacity  to  a  large  sheep-farmer,  either  taking  his 
pay  in  lambs  to  be  herded  with  his  employer's  flock,  or  invesdng 
a  part  of  his  money  in  them,  and  gradually  getting  ready  his 
tabin  and  corrals,  putting  out  his  trees,  and  hire,  say,  forty 
acres  of  his  knd  broken  and  seeded  to  wheat,  and  perhaps  an 
equal  quantity  to  corn,  Alfalfa  or  millet.  In  this  way  he  can,  at 
the  end  of  three  or  four  years,  have  a  range  of  his  own  with 
r.ooo  t'wes  to  stock  it  and  can  go  on  swimmingly  from  that  time. 
His  wheat  and  forage  plants,  lor  wliich  there  is  a  ready  sale,  will 
bring  him  not  only  an  ample  support,  if  he  takes  his  pay  for 
herding  in  lambs,  but  will  give  him  additional  means  for  the  pur- 
chase of  land  and  stock.  But  we  would  not  advis-^  a  young  man 
to  marry  or  to  bring  his  family  to  this  wild  primitive  life  till  he 
has  a  comfortable  cabin  and  sheep-ranche  of  his  own.  The  life 
of  the  shepherd  on  a  large  sheep-farm  is  isolated  and  lonely, 
though  not  in  most  sections  fraught  with  any  considerable  dan- 


I   i 


''I ' 

;  I  I 
I  '  , 

If    ' 

''i: 


•J? 


>  '^i 
i 


h.\ 


i 


% 


^ 


V 


i 


190 


OVK    WESTEKN'   F.MPIKE. 


ger;  but  his  family  would  find  it  monotonous  and  wearisome 
beyond  measure.  In  Texas  the  sheep-farmer  usually  resides 
with  h  s  family  in  a  village,  which  may  be  ten,  twenty-five,  or 
even  fifty  miles  from  his  farm  and  flocks.  It  is  not  necessary 
that  he  should  be  daily  in  attendance  there  if  he  has  competent 
and  faithful  shepherds. 

As  land  becomes  more  valuable  even  for  pasturage  in  this 
Great  West,  and  there  comes  a  demand  for  a  hardier  breed  of 
sheep  which  can  ascend  to  the  higher  mountain  pastures,  and 
whose  flesh  will  be  of  finer  flavor,  it  may  be  worthy  of  experi- 
ment to  try  the  crossing  of  the  wild  native  Rocky  Mountain 
sheep  or  Big-horn  with  the  largest  Merino  grades,  and  thus  pro- 
duce a  large  and  hardy  breed  which  will  combine  the  excellen- 
cies of  both.  The  Big-horn  ranges  in  weight  from  250  to  350 
pounds,  and  thrives  and  fattens  where  the  common  sheep  would 
starve.  Its  coat  or  fleece  is  a  fine  and  silky  hair  rather  than 
wool.  Its  flesh  is  tender  and  of  excellent  flavor.  Its  form  and 
motions  are  graceful.  If  these  qualities  could  be  grafted  upon 
the  Merino,  without  materially  injuring  the  value  of  its  fleece, 
though  they  might  change  its  character,  it  would  be  a  great  gain 
to  the  sheep-masters. 

The  rearing  of  the  Angora  goat  has  become  a  favorite  in- 
dustry with  many  of  the  larger  stock-farmers  of  the  West.  A 
single  stock-farm  in  Colorado  has  8,000  of  these  animals,  and 
they  are  largely  raised  in  California,  Texas,  and  to  some  extent 
in  Kansas  and  Wyoming,  Those  raised  here  are  usually  grades 
from  pure  Angora  or  Syrian  bucks  crossed  with  selected  she- 
goats  of  the  native  stock,  and  the  crossing  continued  until  the 
progeny  is  not  more  than  one-eighth  or  one-sixteenth  of  the 
common  stock.  The  mohair  or  curly  glossy  hair  from  these  is 
said  to  be  fully  equal  to  the  best  Syrian  mohair.  They  are 
hardy,  of  much  larger  size  than  the  common  goat,  will  live  and 
thrive  on  the  roughest  and  poorest  fare,  while  their  fleece  is  very 
valuable.  If  the  so-called  Rocky  Mountain  goat  {Aplocerus 
Montanui)  is  really  a  goat  and  not  a  goat-like  antelope — a  point 
not  yet  quite  settled — a  cross  of  this  and  the  Angora  goat,  which 
it  strongly  resembles,  might  be  still  better. 


OTHER  EMPLOYMENTS. 


nd  wearisome 
sually  resides 
wenty-five,  or 
not  necessary 
las  competent 


191 


The  flesh  of  the  Angora  goat  is  better  than  that  of  the  com- 
mon goat,  and  it  yields  about  four  quarts  daily  of  an  excellent 
and  rich  milk,  while  the  cost  of  its  keeping  is  only  about  one- 
twelfrli  that  of  a  cow.  In  some  scciions  this  is  an  important 
consideration. 


turage  in  this 
iier  breed  of 
pastures,  and 
thy  of  experi- 
:ky  Mountain 
and  thus  pro- 

the  excellen- 
m  250  to  350 
\  sheep  would 
r  rather  than 

Its  form  and 
grafted  upon 

of  its  fleece, 
t  a  great  gain 

a  favorite  in- 
the  West.    A 

animals,  and 
5  some  extent 
isually  grades 
selected  she- 
ued  until  the 
teenth  of  the 
from  these  is 
Ir.  They  are 
,  will  live  and 

fleece  is  very 
It  {Apiocerus 
lope — a  point 
ra  goat,  which 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

Employments  in  Cities,  Towns  and  Villages— Horticulture,  Floricul- 
ture, Arboriculture— Mercantile  Business — Banking — The  Profes- 
sions. Clergymen,  Lawyers,  Physicians,  Engineers,  Artists,  Musicians, 
AND  Teachers  of  Music,  Vocal  and  Instrumental— Teachers  and  Edu- 
tATOR«:— Artisans  of  all  Trades— Machinists,  Operatives,  and  Em- 
ployes IN  Manufacturing  Establishments — Employments  Connected 
WITH  Mining,  Reducing,  Smelting,  and  Refining  Metals— Farming, 
Herding,  and  other  Employ#.s— Day-Laborers— Facilities  foa  Manufac- 
turing—Water-Power, Steam-Power  — Woollen  Manufacture  — Cot- 
roN  Manufactures  and  Cotton  Seed— Other  Textiles— Iron  and  Iron 
Wares — Machinery— Manufactures  of  Wood,  etc. 

"  But,"  says  the  man  who  is  contemplating  a  migration  to  the 
Great  West,  and  who  has  read  the  preceding  pages  with  great 
interest,  "  in  all  this,  I  do  not  find  anything  which  exactly  hits 
my  case.  I  have  not  the  capital  necessary  for  the  purchase  or 
opening  of  a  mine  of  gold  or  silver,  of  platinum  or  copper,  of 
lead,  zinc,  or  iron ;  nor  have  I  the  education  in  metallurgy,  which 
would  qualify  me  for  that  business,  if  I  had  the  capital.  I  am 
not  familiar  with  the  timber  or  the  lumber  trade,  and  the  capital 
for  engaging  in  that  is  lacking.  I  have  no  practical  acquaintance 
with  farming,  am  no  judge  of  soils,  and  if  I  were  to  put  what 
litde  money  I  have  into  a  farm,  I  should  probably  lose  it  all,  and 
find  myself  a  penniless  stranger  in  a  strange  land.  I  have  never 
been  accustomed  to  the  care  of  large  herds  of  cattle  or  flocks  of 
sheep,  and  if  I  had,  these  callings  require  a  capital  which  is  far 
beyond  my  means.  Is  there  not  something  which  a  professional 
man,  or  an  educated  man  of  small  means,  or  of  a  limited  fixed 
income,  or  a  retired  army  officer,  engineer,  chemist,  or  govern- 


ir 


111 
1 


*  h' 


-,^«ief*iiii**4s«««*ik34"- 


ipa 


OUR    tVESTERJV  EMPIRE. 


ment  clerk,  banker's  clerk,  accountant,  tradesman,  gardener, 
flofist,  nurseryman,  carpenter,  builder,  painter,  mason,  marble 
worker,  glazier,  tinman,  jeweller,  blacksmith,  brass-founder, 
paper-maker,  factory  operative,  or  willing  and  honest  day- 
laborer  can  do?" 

Yes,  friend,  there  is  room  enough  and  work  enough  for  all 
these  classes,  and  to  whichever  of  them  you  belong,  if  you  are  in 
prime  health  and  vigor,  and  have  enterprise,  patience,  endurance, 
and  even  a  small  capital,  you  can  do  v/ell  in  your  calling. 

An  English  immigrant,  who  had  tried  a  great  variety  of  pur- 
suits without  adhering  long  to  any,  and  whom  Mr.  A.  A.  Hayes, 
Jr.,  met  on  a  sheep-farm  in  Colorado,  herding  sheep  at  $20  a 
month  and  his  keeping,  said  to  Mr.  Hayes,  with  a  grim  resolu- 
tion, "  I  tell  you  a  feller  can  just  make  money  in  this  country, 
6ut  he's  got  to  have  sand**  Sand  is  the  Colorado  vernacular 
for  jf«V,  or  dogged  resolution.  .«  .  »■ 

The  Great  West  is  no  place  for  any  man  who  is  easily  dis' 
couraged  or  disheartened,  and  who,  after  a  two  or  three  months' 
trial  of  a  business,  into  which  he  has  thrown  very  little  energy, 
becomes  home-sick,  and  concludes  that  he  had  better  return  to 
the  East  or  to  Europe.  Such  a  man  will  not  succeed  anywhere. 
.  But  to  the  man  who  has  energy  and  pluck,  who  is  not  cast 
down  because  everything  does  not  go  just  as  he  expected  it 
would :  the  man  who  has  given  pledges  to  fortune,  who  has  a 
wife  and  little  ones  dependent  upon  him,  or  who  is  looking  for- 
ward to  having  a  home  to  which  he  can  bring  one  dearer  to  him 
than  life,  or  who  has  parents  or  minor  brothers  and  sisters,  who 
must  look  to  him  for  support,  the  man  who  knows  how  to  do  at 
least  one  thing  well,  and  who  is  observant,  patient,  brave,  honest 
and  true,  there  is  no  part  of  the  world  where  he  can  do  better, 
whatever  his  calling;  than  this  great  Western  Empire. 

Such  a  man  has  been  an  assistant  to  a  market-gardener, 
florist,  or  nurseryman  at  the  East  or  in  Europe.  He  has  become 
familiar  with  the  plants,  flowers,  shrubs,  or  young  trees  to  be 
raised,  and  with  the  best  methods  of  propagating  and  cultivating 
them,  and  he  has  been  sufficiently  prudent  and  far-sighted  to 
save  1^0  or  $500  |o  start  in  his  new  home  at  the  West.    Let 


THE  FLORIST  OR  MARKSTGARDENER. 


>93 


lan,  gardener, 
nason,  marble 
brass-founder, 
1   honest  day- 

;nough  for  all 
J,  if  you  are  in 
ice,  endurance, 
calling. 

krariety  of  pur- 
.  A.  A.  Hayes, 
leep  at  $20  a 
a  grim  resolu- 
I  this  country, 
do  vernacular 

';. .'     .  - 1-'  -. 

3  is  easily  dis' 
three  months* 
'  little  energy, 
etter  return  to 
eed  anywhere, 
ho  is  not  cast 
»e  expected  it 
ne,  who  has  a 
is  looking  for« 
dearer  to  him 
d  sisters,  who 
1  how  to  do  at 
brave,  honest 
can  do  better, 
)ire.  ^n.  -^li;' 
rket-gardener, 
le  has  become 
g  trees  to  be 
ind  cultivating 
far-sighted  to 
le  West.    Let 


him  locate  his  garden,  or  nursery,  or  nvirket-garden,  as  near  as 
may  be  to  some  one  of  the  new  towns,  which  are  springing  up 
all  over  this  region.     If  I19  is  early  enough  to  toke  up  his  forty 
acres  under  the  Timber-Culture  Act,  it  will  be  just  the  thing,  for 
he  can  plant  his  ten  acres  with  trees  for  nursery  purposes,  and 
while  obtaining  his  land  for  ten  or  fifteen  dollars,  can  be  making 
a  profit  from  the  trees,  which  give  him  the  land.     But  if  there  is 
no  suitable  location  of  t^iis  kind  available,  he  can  buy  land  from 
the  government,  near  the  railroad,  for  $3.50  an  acre,  or  with  sol- 
diers' bounty  warrants,  or  from  the  railroad  company,  so  that  it 
will  not  cost  him  at  the  utmost  over  %2qo  for  the  forty  acres  he 
takes,  and  this  on  sufficient  time,  to  enable  him  to  realize  on  his 
first  crop  before  paying  for  it.     The  breaking  up  the  sod  will  be 
the  first  considerable  expense,  and  this  he  can  provide  for,  either 
by  changing  works  with  a  neighbor,  or,  which  will  be  better,  by 
hiring  out  for  a  year  to  seme  one  in  one  of  the  same  lines  of 
business  with  hiniself.     Meantime  he  can  put  in  his  first  crop, 
and,  if  he  is  wise,  he  will  make  that  a  root  crop,  potatoes,  beets, 
turnips,  ruta-bagas,  sweet  potatoes,  or  something  of  the  sort. 
From  this  crop,  even  on  twenty  acres,  he  will  realize  enough  to 
build  his  cabin,  stock  his  nursery,  flower-gar4en,  or  market- 
garden,  and  obtain  a  horse  and  wagon,  or  a  pair  of  pack-mules 
or  asses.    Smarting  ^hu^  fairly  in  his  second  year,  he  will  find,  if 
he  will  make  his  pla^e  and  wares  known,  that  there  is  a  ready 
and  good  market  for  everything  he  can  raise ;  and  so  rich  is  the 
virgin  soil,  that  for  perhaps  a  score  of  years,  no  manure,  or  at 
most  only  th^t  n\ade  on  tl^e  place  will  be  needed.     At  the  epd 
of  three  or,  at  the  most,  four  years  from  the  time  he  first  plants 
hi?  foot  in  the  West,  he  is  so  well  situa(t?d  as  to  be  able  to  sup- 
port his  family,  qr  those  dependent  on  him,  in  comfort,  and  that 
withoMt  inipajring  his  business  capital.     If  he  is  very  enterprising 
he  will  be  likely  by  this  time  tp  combine  the  three  vocations  of 
ipa,rket-gardenejF,  florist,  and  nyrs^eryman,  and  acquiring  mofe 
l^nd,  and  employing  th^  necessary  help,  he  will  soon  be  on  the 
high  road  to  fortune. 
The  intending  immigrant  has  been  perhaps  a  clerk  or  small 

pr<Xjprietpr  oC  a  ^rpcery  or  a^  dry-goo^s  sJbop,  9r  of  a^  tJrMggisj's 
13 


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OVJt    WESTER^r  EMPIRE. 


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or  apothecary  shop.  He  has  saved,  by  careful  economy,  $600 
or  $800.  He  understands  his  business  well,  knows  where,  when 
and  how  to  buy,  and  how  to  sell.     What  can  he  do?  ' 

'     This  is  the  most  difficult  class  to  provide  for,  and  yet  the  case 
is  bv  no  means  a  hopeles!«  one.     We  would  advise  that  the  im- 
migrant should  select  some  point  where  a  village  or  town  is  just 
commencing,  either  in  a  mining  or  farming  region,  and  visit  it 
before  purchasing  his  goods  ;  find  out  what  goods  will  be  wanted, 
and  what  quantities,  and  then,  having  secured  a  town-lot  before 
they  have  had  an  opportunity  to  rise  much,  and,  if  he  can  buy  to 
advantage,  a  forty-acre  lot  in  the  vicinity,  and  arranging  for  the 
erection  of  a  shop,  of  sods,  logs,  or  slabs,  only  so  that  it  is  suffi- 
ciently roomy  and  cheap,  let  him  buy  his  goods,  if  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  at  Minneapolis,  St.  Paul,  St.  Joseph,  Omaha, 
'Kansas  City,  or  Denver,  Galveston,  or  Houston ;  or  if  he  needs 
'  and  can  afford  a  larger  stock,  at  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  or  New  Or- 
leans. There  is  no  advantage  in  going  farther  East  for  the  quanti- 
""  ties  he  will  want,  and,  ere  long,  the  commercial  travellers  will  visit 
•him  and  take  his  orders,  if  he  will  allow  them  to  do  so.     At  first 
'  he  will  be  obliged  to  buy  on  credit  in  part,  but  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble he  should  pay  cash  for  his  purchases,  and  in  selling,  a  week's 
'  credit  is  better  than  a  month's.     Grocers,  shopkeepers,  and  the 
-  mercantile  class  generally,  are  sure  to  be^ ruined  if  they  buy  and 
X  sell  on  credit.     The  shopkeeper  should  make  his  prices  as  low 
'  as  possible,  and  deal  justly  and  honestly  by  his  customers,  but 
^  he  should  insist  on  cash  payments,  or,  at  the  utmost,  give  credit 
''^  only  for  from  ten  to  thirty  days.     Dping  this,  and  buying  closely, 
"  paying  cash  for  everything  as  soon  as  possible,  and  living  eco- 
nomically, the  merchant,  shopkeeper,  or  grocer,  though  he  may 
•?■  not  make  money  so  rapidly  as  those  in  some  other  callings,  can- 
^  not  fail,  whatever  the  times,  and  will  be  likely,  in  the  course  of  a 
dozen  years  or  so,  to  acquire  a  competence.     The  purchase  of 
''^  forty  or  eighty  acres  of  land  will  prove  'advantageous,  as  it  will 
•add  to  his  credit  much,  more  than  its  value,  and  when  improved 
will  add  to  his  profits  also. 

For  the  young  banker  who  is  skilled  in  finance,  and  has  a  good 
•^credit  at  the  East  for  his  honor  and  integrity,  even  though  he 


,:' 


MHMHm" 


^,  ' 


BANKEKS,    CLEKGVMKl^. 


»95 


economy,  $600 
ITS  where,  when 
o? 

id  yet  the  case 
le  that  the  iin- 
or  town  is  just 
on,  and  visit  it 
will  be  wanted, 
own-lot  before 
f  he  can  buy  to 
anging  for  the 
>  that  it  is  sufR- 
I,  if  east  of  the 
oseph,  Omaha, 

or  if  he  needs 
uis,  or  New  Or- 
t  for  the  quanti- 
vellei's  will  visit 
do  so.  At  first 
3  soon  as  possi- 
selling,  a  week's 
eepers,  and  the 
if  they  buy  and 
is  prices  as  low 

customers,  but 
lost,  give  credit 
I  buying  closely, 
and  living  eco- 
though  he  may 
ler  callings,  can- 
the  course  of  a 
he  purchase  of 
igeous,  as  it  will 
when  improved 

and  has  a  good 
even  though  he 


may  not  have  much  capital,  there  is  a  good  opening  in  almost 
every  part  of  the  West.  Coming  to  a  town  or  city  with  good 
references,  and  pU-nty  of  enterprise,  he  can,  in  the  legitimate 
course  of  his  business,  make  a  fortune  id  a  few  years,  if  he  will 
carefully  avoid  all  reckless  speculation.  Men,  and  men  in  new 
mining  and  farming  communities  especially,  are  very  credulous 
and  reckless  in  trusting  their  money  with  anybody  who  will 
promise  to  take  care  of  it  for  them ;  but  they  will  be  furious  if 
they  fihd  that  they  have  been  defrauded.  But  both  mining  and 
the  sale  of  crops  require  banking  operations,  and  if  these  are 
well  and  honestly  conducted,  the  young  banker  has  an  excellent 
opportunity  for  success. 

The  professions  are  somewhat  in  danger  of  being  crowded, 
though  "  there  is  always,"  as  Horace  Greeley  said, "  plenty  of  room 
at  the  top."  Clergymen  coming  to  settle  in  the  new  towns  or 
villliges,  if  dependent  upon  their  professions  for  a  living,  and 
having  sufficient  health  to  preach  and  act  as  pastors,  will  find  it 
necessary  in  most  cases,  at  first,  to  take  an  appointment  from 
their  denominational  missionary  boards,  and  draw  a  part  of  their 
pay  from  thence,  as  the  young  churches,  in  these  new  settlements, 
are  generally  composed  of  those  who  have  yet  their  fortunes  to 
make ;  and  though  they  may  be,  and  often  are,  liberal,  even  to 
an  extent  beyond  their  means,  they  cannot,  at  first,  erect  churches 
and  support  their  pastors  without  aid.  This  condition  of  things 
is,  however,  but  temporary,  and  the  missionary  societies  at  the 
East,  with  their  wealthy  clientage  at  home,  furnish  most  of  the 
aid  required,  till  they  are  able  to  go  alone.  In  cases  of  emigra- 
tion in  colonies,  of  which  we  shall  have  more  to  say  by  and  by, 
the  colonies  are  often  of  a  single  denomination,  and  bring  tlieir 
pastors  with  them.  This  has  usually  been  the  case  with  the 
Scandinavian,  Mennonite,  and  Roman  Catholic  colonies  from 
Europe,  and  with  many  of  those  from  the  Eastern  States.  If  a 
clergyman  of  moderate  means,  who  is  not  disposed,  on  account 
of  health  or  for  any  other  cause,  to  devote  himself  solely  to  his 
clerical  duties,  migrates  to  this  western  region,  the  way  is  open 
to  him,  of  course,  to  engage  in  farming,  wool-growing,  stock- 
raising,  mining   or  any  other  reputable  employment,  and  his 


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196 


OUn    WKHTEKS   EMPIRE. 


chances  of  success  arc  not  lessened  by  his  profession,  while  he 
may,  if  he  is  really  an  earnest  Christian  man,  do  a  great  nmount 
of  good.     iSJ   ni  •''^''■'    "'   "    "r<  '  '    '1  '-'i''    '  ■^"■"  ■■ 

i'   The  lawyers  have  a  better  chance  for  a  fortune  than  the  clergy- 
men, especially  in  the  minima  districts,  although  they  congregate 
there  in  large  numbers.     There  is  always  a  great  deal  of  litiga- 
tion in  regard  to  mining  property,  and  the  disposition  of  mining 
estates ;  and  in  addition  to  this,  crimes  against  the  person,  fights, 
shooting  affrays,  murders  and  suicides,  the  results  of  the  two 
great  vices  of  mining  towns  in  their  early  history, — gambling  and 
intemperance— are  sufficiently  rife  to  give  employment  to  very 
many  lawyers.     In  the  farming  towns  there  is  less  litigation,  but 
conveyancing   and    disputes   about   boundaries,  transportation, 
and  prices  of  crops,  and  other  matters,  give  the  legal  profession 
generally,  a  fair  share  of  business.     The  joint-stock  companies, 
which  now  carry  on  most  of  the  mining,  and  a  large  part  of  the 
farming,  stock-raising,  and   sheep-growing   ranches,  each  have 
their  counsel,  and  sometimes  more  than  oi>e.   -  <n  ri  -n:,    •  K.:n 
^r    !n  addition  to  this,  the  legal  profession  have  almost  a  monop- 
oly of  politics.     They  slide  into  political  life  as  easily  as  a  duck 
takes  to  water,  and  sooner  or  later  some  of  its  prizes — mem- 
bership of  the  State  House  of  Representatives,  State  Senate,  or 
Congress,  United    States    Senatorships,   Judgeships,    from  the 
lowest  to  the  highest.  United  States  Commissionerships,  United 
States  Marshalships,  Clerks  of  courts,  and  of  counties,  or  State 
offices — fall  to  their  lot.  ;  rn  ogKifr»ib  <(jiiu. 
.     Physicians  have  not  so  good  an  outlook  as  the  legal  profession, 
.{though  they  swarm  in  the  newer  towns  in  great  numbers,  and 
perhaps  the  most  arrant  quacks  have,  at  first,  as  good  a  chance 
as  the  best  educated  and  most  accomplished  physicians.     But 
I  time  in  this,  as  in  most  matters,  brings  about  its  revenges.     Edu- 
«  cation,  talent,  integrity,  and  skill,  will  in  the  end  triumph.     There 
tare  probably,  in  most  of  the  towns  and  villages  of  the  West, 
•timore  physicians  than  can  get  a  living  by  their  profession ;  but 
f^aome  of  them,  who  are  skilful  as  chemists  or  metallurgists,  ivill 
-become  connected  with  mining  interests;  others,  accomplished 
:'ibotanists,  anaton[ibts,  zoologists,  or  geologists,  will  turn,  aside  to 


P/IVSlClAf^S,  £XG/X££/tS,  AKT/SrS. 


1^ 


lion,  while  he 
great  n^ount 

\t\  the  clcrgy- 
ly  congregate 
deal  of  litiga- 
ion  of  mining 
person,  fights, 
ts  of  the  two 
•gambling  and 
,rment  to  very 
Ktigation,  but 
rransportation, 
gal  profession 
ck  companies, 
'ge  part  of  the 
kes,  each  have 

nost  a  monop- 
^siiy  as  a  duck 
prizes — mem- 
tate  Senate,  or 
lips,  from  the 
jrships,  United 
mties,  or  State 

igal  profession, 
:  numbers,  and 
good  a  chance 
lysicians.  But 
venges.  Edu- 
iumph.  There 
of  the  West, 
profession;  but 
itallurgists,  ivill 
s,  accomplished 
I  tuin  aside  to 


these  pursuits,  and  pcrhaj)s  fill  a  professor's  or  tcachcr':i  chiiir ; 
while  others  still  will  cn^a^c  in  farniing,  or  sheep,  ur  stock* 
raiding;  and  with  the  rapidly  increasing  population,  llicrc  will  be 
room  for  more,  if  ihty  arc  of  the  best  sort.  We  cannot,  how- 
ever, advise  physicians,  born  and  educated  in  Europe,  tu  cuine 
to  the  West,  unless  ihcy  conu^  wiih  colonics  of  their  own  toiin- 
trymen ;  as  our  diseases  and  modes  of  practice  differ  niutcrialiy 
from  theirs,  and  our  own  physicians,  like  our  own  lawyers,  would 
generally  have  the  p-eference.  /       ' 

For  engineers,  and  especially  mining  and  civil  engineers,  of 
high  character,  intelligence  and  integrity,  there  is  a  wide  Heldk 
The  immensity  of  the  mining  interest  and  its  rapid  developmenc 
will  furnish  profitable  employment  for  every  honest  and  skilful 
mining  engineer  who  will  go  there.  It  is  not  the  mines,  or 
smelting  and  reduction  works  of  gold,  silver,  quicksilver  or  lead 
alone  which  will  furnish  employment  to  them,  but  the  greaL  iron, 
copper  and  coal  interests  also  will  give  them  ample  business. 
Civil  engineers  and  surveyors  will  fmd  their  services  needed  in 
the  construction  of  railroads,  in  the  superintendence  and  design- 
ing  of  machinery,  in  the  laying  out  of  new  lands,  in  the  construe* 
tion  of  new  tunnels,  draining  and  irrigating  canals,  and  the  erec- 
tion of  great  public  works. 

The  inu  artist  is  cosmopolitan,  and  will  find  himself  as  much 
at  home^  perliaps  more,  among  the  grand  phenomena  of  nature 
id  the  West ;  its  lofty  mountains,  often  lifting  their  heads  to  the 
perpfetual  snows;  the  broad  valleys,  covered  with  verdure  and 
flowers ;  the  deep  and  frightfully  dark  cailons ;  the  unusual  forms, 
often  g^rand  and  inspiring,  sometimes  grotesque,  into  which  th« 
water  currents  and  the  glaciers  have  cut  and  moulded  the  rocks ; 
the  geysers ;  the  hot  springs  with  their  rainbow-hued  basins ; 
and  all  the  wonders  of  scenery  which  Dame  Nature  spreads 
before  his  eyes  as  profusely  as  anywhere  in  the  world,  and  he  can 
draw  from  them  an  inspiration  which  will  prompt  him  to 
lofuer  flights  of  genius  than  he  has  yet  attained.  But  the  artist 
is  mortal,  and  must  be  sustained  like  the  rest  of  the  world,  on 
nhundane  food,  and  wear  such  raiment  as  the  eixigencies  of  the 
seasops  and  of  society  demand.     Can  he  find  patrons  of  art  to 


\i 


U 


1% 


X\ 


"11  ' 

•   l-rl 

M  ■ 


ft  !-:''f*iM- 


:  t-:  ;>^ 


\, 


,gg  OVM    WBSTBItU  KMrtKK. 

these  new  lands?  Most  assuretlly  he  can,  and  the  higher  and 
purer  his  artistic  attainments,  thr  more  abundant  will  be  hin 
patronage.  The  vast  wealth  attaiiuni  by  a  large  number  of 
mining  and  other  capitalists  in  this  region,  is  freely  lavished  on 
objects  of  art,  and  they  are  not  generally  ho  ignorant  as  not  to 
know  a  good  picture  or  group  of  statuary  when  they  sec  it. 
Nowhere  is  the  true  artist  more  sure  of  hcariy  appreciation  than 

here.       .    ■   ':t'n^.    ,ii  >■   'ti.'-    .,.i..  .•..  .     .       ,.'  .*  ..'/fJ  ,»*-)*>  l,>,m  r-i'*^'>*  ^*'^  >■ 

As  to  musicians  and  teachers  of  music,  vocal  and  Instrumental, 
there  is  no  calling  in  greater  demand.     A  very  large  proportion 
of  the   emigrants  from  Europe  arc  Germans,  lovers  of  music 
from  their  birth.     Another  considerable  portion  are  Scandinavi- 
ans, equally  gifted  in  natural  fondness  for  music,  while  for  the 
others  inatrumenul  and  vocal  music  has  come  to  be  considered 
a  necessity.     Nowhere  is  the  performance  of  a  really  excellent 
brass  band  more  thoroughly  appreciated  than  in  any  of  these 
western  towns ;  the  best  opera-singers  receive  a  far  more  enthu- 
siastic reception,  in  the  towns  and  cities  of  this  western  region, 
than  awaits  them  in  the  great  cities  of  the  East.     Every  church 
and  hall  has  its  choir,  and  every  town  of  3,000  inhabitants  its 
musical  as-sociation  for  culture  in  vocal  or  instrumental  music. 
As  an  instance  of  the  fondness  of  the  western  people  for  parlor- 
music,  an  incident  related  by  a  visitor  to  Colorado  may  suffice. 
This  gentleman  went  to  Le^dville,  Colorado,  wh^  it  was  in  the 
formative  plastic   condition,  in   the  winter  or  spring  of  1878. 
There  were  very  few  even  frame  buildings  yet  erected,  and  the 
majority  of  the  citizens  were  living  in  large  tents,  happy  if  they 
could  secure  boards  enough  for  a  floor  to  keep  them  from  the 
mud.     Sod-houses  were   also    in   demand,  among    those  who 
found  the  tents  a  little  too  frail  for  the  strong  winds.     The  near- 
est accessible  railroad  station  was  130  miles  distant,  and  the 
roads  leading  to  it  were  horrible  beyond  description.    The  low- 
est price  of  trsmsporting   freight  from  the  railroad  station  to 
Leadville  was   fifty   cents  a  pound,  and  the  railroad  freights  to 
their  final  station  were  also  very  high.    There  were  yet  very 
few  women  in  the  town,  a^  the  accommodations  were  so  rough 
and  poor.     He  had  been  doing  some  business  with  a  young  man 


MVStClAUS  ASO  MVSlCTKACHRItX. 


199 


;  hi^jhcr  and 
\  will  be  hU 

number  of 
r  lavished  on 
ant  as  not  to 

they  sec  it. 
■eciation  th«n 

instrumental, 
jc  proportion 
rers  of  mu^ic 
e  Scandinavi- 
while  for  the 
be  considered 
:ally  excellent 
any  of  these 
r  more  cnthu- 
»tern  region, 
Every  church 
inhabitants  its 
mental  music. 
pie  for  parlor- 

0  may  suffice. 

1  it  \vas  in  the 
ring  of  1878. 
:cted,  and  the 
happy  if  they 
hem  from  the 
ig  those  who 
s.  The  near- 
,tant,  and  the 
on.  The  low- 
>ad  station  to 
ad  freights  to 
vere  yet  very 
vere  so  rough 

a  young  man 


who  was  working'  energetically  at  a  shaft  of  .-r  new  mine,  and 
whom  he  found  very  intelligent,  though  roughly  clad ;  and  at  the 
conclusion  of  his  busincHS,  the  young  niiner  asked  him  to  gu 
homo  a';d  dine  with  him  if  he  could  put  up  with  "canned  viltles." 
lie  accepted  the  invitation,  and  the  miner  led  the  way  through 
the  mud  to  one  of  these  tent-houses.  They  were  met  at  the 
f'.oor  by  a  very  beautiful  young  ludy,  whom  the  miner  introduced 
as  his  wife.  She  was  plamly  but  tastefully  dressed,  and  lu;r 
manners  and  conversation  showed  that  she  was  a  well-educated, 
refined  and  accomplished  woman.  As  she  arranged  the  table 
for  their  meal,  the  visitor  looked  about  the  room,  and  was  aston- 
ished to  see  on  one  side  a  Chickering  grand-piano.  "  Mow  did 
you  ever  get  that  here?"  he  asked.  "Oh,"  was  the  reply,  "it 
was  brought  piece- meal  on  the  backs  of  pack-mules,  and  we  put 
it  together  after  it  came."  "  Out  it  must  have  cost  you  an 
enormous  sum  to  transport  it  so  far?"  "Well,  yes,  a  little 
under  ;|^20O,  but  then  we  were  both  so  fond  of  music,  and  my 
wife  is  one  of  the  best  players  I  ever  heard,  and  I  was  afraid  she 
would  be  lonely  here  amid  so  many  discomforts."  The  visitor 
expressed  a  desire  to  hear  some  pieces  played,  being  hi'nself  a 
connoisseur  in  music,  and  when  his  hostess  complied  with  his  re- 
quest, without  any  apologies  or  excuses,  he  was  fain  to  confess 
that  her  husband  had  not  overrated  her  skill.  .  .^  ^ 
.,  The  railroad  has  but  just  reached  Leadville,  but  among  the 
wares  offered  for  sale  in  its  principal  thoroughfares,  pianos  and 
cabinet  organs,  as  well  as  other  mus'cal  Instruments,  hold  a  con- 
spicuous place.  In  the  farming  distruls  the  great  ambition  of 
the  farmer,  after  he  has  purchased  and  paid  for  his  harvester,  is 
to  get  a  "pianny"  for  his  daughter. 

"But,"  asks  another  anxious  immigrant,  "can  you  tell  us 
whether  the  schoolmaster,  or  the  teacher  of  any  description  has 
a  chance  there  ? "  "  Yes,  indeed  I  There  is  a  very  active  de- 
mand for  good  teachers  all  over  this  vast  region,  greater  per- 
haps in  the  northern  and  middle  tier  than  in  the  south,  but  a 
good  teacher  will  find  employment  very  readily  anywhere. 
The  immense  amount  of  school-lands  and  their  judicious  man- 
agement in  all  the  new  States  and  Territories,  insures  for  them. 


It 


i  ^1; ' 


MO 


or*  n'Ksr.rjf.v  r.i/rMX, 


V 


In  the  not  <!tntant  fiiturr,  «uch  nn  rndowmr nt  an  can  \h'.  found  In 

no  oth«r  roiintry.     Two  ucctionn  (i.afio  atrrji,  or  onc-<:ij;luccnth 

of  tlu*  whole  arra)  in  each  townnhip  are  net  apart  for  common  or 

public  schools,  and  brsldc  thr  Intorrnt  on  thrsc  fun«lH,  there  it  a 

State  ticlu)(»l  fund,  from  the  proceeds  of  fines,  civil  or  military, 

the  sale  of  estrays,  etc.,  an<l  a  district  tax  which  in  at  present 

three  or  four  times  the  amonr*'   .  •'■eive<l  from  tlie  school  fumU. 

Kansas,  which  Is  a  fair  representative  if  thesr  Stattrs  and  Terri- 

lories,  will  have,  when  its  school  lands  a."  rok\,  a  school  fund  of 

fi  3,000,000  for  Its  common  schools  alone.     It  expended  on  these 

schools.  In   1879,  about  f  1,400,000,  of  which  a  full  million  was 

paid  for  teachers*  wages ;  paying  its  male  teachers  a  monthly 

average  of  alxjut  f^^,  and  its  female  teachers  about  f  36.     This 

iticluded  town  and  country ;  the  average  wages  in  the  towns 

<vere,  of  course,  higher.     In  the  older  settled  and  more  populous 

counties  the  average  of  monthly  wages  Is,  for  the  whole  coimty, 

fVom  f43  to  $50  for  male,  and  from  $^0  to  $40  for  female 
tcAchers.  ..   ..  M.  r./.ica^'(,.  ]  - 

'  There  are  also  liberal  appropriations  of  lands,  in  all  these 
States  and  Territories,  for  the  endowment  of  a  State  University, 
a  State  Agricultural  College,  and  generally  of  Normal  Schools 
And  State  Institutions  for  the  Wind  and  Deaf  Mutes.  There  are 
also,  in  each  State  and  Territory,  many  private  and  denomina- 
tional schools,  Sortie  of  them  liberally  endowed.  These  educa- 
tional endowments  are  not  suffered  to  remain  unused.  The 
progress  of  common  school,  as  well  as  of  higher  education,  has 
been,  in  nearly  all  this  region,  rapid  beyond  any  former  prece- 
dent. No  village,  no  hamlet  even,  Is  without  its  district  school, 
and  the  settler  pays  no  tax  with  greater  alacrity,  than  that  for 
the  mainterta.ice  of  the  school.  There  are  two  or  three  excep- 
tions to  this  general  prevalence  of  a  desire  for  the  best  educa- 
tiortal  privileges.  *='^'" 

"  In  Utah  the  school  funds,  and  gfcn^rally  the  public  schools,  are 
iitiier  the  control  6f  the  Mormons,  and  the  opportunities  of 
primary  educadon  do  not  average  more  than  twelve  weeks  of 
tt^?tlOn  tb  the  pupils  in  attendance,  who  are  only  43.5  per  cent, 
of  the  dthool  population ;  and  the  higher  Schools  are  few  and 


1 


:  K) 


M9VC4  rro.vA  /.  coffPt  rwjv. 


m 


\  Ik*  founil  In 
ic-t:ij;lucrnih 
r  common  or 
lU,  there  i«  a 
I  or  military, 
iH  ftt  prrncnt 
Hchonl  funiU. 
t!s  atul  'IVrrl- 
•hool  fund  of 
iilcd  on  these 
I  million  was 
rs  a  monthly 
It  $36.    Thin 
in  the  towns 
lore  populous 
whole  county, 
^o  for  female 

1,  in  all  these 
te  University, 
>rmal  Schools 
s.     There  are 
nd  dcnomina- 
Thesc  educa- 
muscd.     The 
education,  has 
former  prece- 
listrict  school, 
than  that  for 
r  three  excep- 
le  best  cduca- 

ic  schools,  are 
portunities  of 
elve  weeks  of 

^3•$  per  «'»*• 
s  are  few  and 


not  of  hijjh  jjratle.  This  deficiency  U  partly  made  up  by  privato 
or  tlenotuinational  scIiooIh,  hut  these  arc  not  very  wi  II  su*«tatncd. 

Id  New  Mexico,  where  a  iarj^'e  proportion  of  the  inhabitanta 
arc  KiipanoAiuericanii  and  Pueblo  Indians,  and  more  than 
ninety-five  per  cent.  Rf)man  Catholics,  the  control  of  the  school 
funds  hnn  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Jesuits  and  other  monastic 
and  t«  acliifi;;  ortlcrs  of  the  Roman  Caiholio  Churih,  ami  these 
moneys  have  been  perverted  to  cxilusivc  deiU)minational 
teaching,  and  even  to  payinj^  the  board  of  tlicological  studcnia 
in  Roman  Catholic  Heminaries.  These  abuses  cannot  be  prc- 
venteil  until  there  is  a  more  entcrprihinj;  arul  larj;er  non-catholic 
population  ;  but,  until  a  change  takes  place,  the  Territory  cannot 
come  into  the  Union  as  a  .State,  since  it  has  not  a  fully  Rcpub* 
lican  form  of  government. 

In  Texas  anil  Arkansas,  there  has  been,  until  rccenfly,  Icsa 
interest  in  public  instruction  than  in  some  of  the  mor :  northern 
States ;  but  this  difference  is  fast  disappearing,  and  the  school 
syatetits  of  these  States  arc  being  rapidly  and  efficiently  organ- 
ized.* Texas  has  a  large  number  of  private  and  denominational 
schools,  many  of  them  of  a  high  grade.  On  its  admission  into 
the  Union,  having  been  previously  an  independent  Republic,  it 
did  not  cede  its  unclaimred  lands  to  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment, but  retained  them  all  in  its  own  possession.  The  State 
has,  however,  made  a  very  liberal  provision  of  lands  for  scliool 
purposes,  and  will  eventually  have  a  large  school  fund. 

For  arf/siiMS  of  all  the  usual  trades  there  is,  in  the  newer 
States  and  Territories,  ample  employment.  Carpenters  and 
builders,  masons  and  bricklayers,  and  generally  tinners,  painters, 
and  glaziers,  are  in  especial  demand,  and  at  fair  wages.  Bakers 
and  confectioners  find  employment  in  the  towns  and  cities,  and 
the  plumbers,  gas-fitters,  and  brass-founders  are  mostly  confined 
to  the  larger  cities.  Butchers  are,  of  course,  wanted  everywhere, 
and  fishermen  and  fish-dealers  find  generally  ample  employment 
ah  the  coasts,  and  in  the  rivers  and  lakes  of  the  interior,  which 
dbound  in  fish  of  hi6st  of  the  edible  kinds. 

*The  nowly  awtkened  zeal  for  public  tchool  education  in  Arkania*  it  laid  lo  b«  olmoat  |>H*> 
nomenal ,  and  indicatei  a  brilliant  future  for  a  State,  which,  in  npite  of  great  natural  advaotagei, 
has,  in  (he  post,  been  apathetic,  and  lacking  in  public  npirit  and  cnterpritt. 


h 


i>:-A, 


•m 


■  tiMtiwmimximttim'' 


302 


OUR    IVESTEXN  EMPIRE. 


Hatters  and  furriers  find  business  enough  where  furs  and  pelts 
are  so  plentiful;  the  blacksmith  finds  constart  employ,  and 
the  saw-mill  and  grist-mill  are  kept  busy,  and  profitably  so. 
Machinists  have  abundant  work  in  the  mining  districts,  and  to 
some  extent  also  in  the  farming  region,  since  the  universal  use 
of  agricultural  machinery  often  necessitates  repairs  which  are 
beyond  the  ordinary  skill  of  the  blacksmith ;  and  where  there 
are  extensive  flouring  mills,  they,  too,  require  the  skill  of  an 
expert  for  their  repairing. ^^,.^j    >.•,,.,.,  j  ..,,  ,;  ..^ 

Manufachiring  is  conducted  with  great  advantage  at  many 
points,  the  admirable  water-powers  being  so  abundant,  and  oper- 
atives from  woollen  mills,  cotton  mills  (a  limited  number),  all 
kinds  of  wood-working  factories,  millers,  sugar-boilers,  brewers, 
smelters,  furnace  men,  and  workmen  on  coats,  vests,  and  panta- 
loons, overalls,  etc.,  etc.,  will  fmd  employment  in  Minnesota, 
Nebraska,  Kansas,  California  or  Texas,  and  the  metal  workers  in 
most  of  the  mining  districts.  Farm-hands,  herdsmen,  and  shep- 
herds will  seldom  fail  of  employment,  in  the  farming  and  grazing 
regions,  if  they  are  trustworthy  and  faithful,;  even  though  they 
may  not  have  had  much  previous  experience. 

The  day-laborer,  unskilled  in  any  of  the  arts  or  trades,  is  wel- 
comed in  all  parts  of  the  West,  if  he  is  honest,  temperate,  and 
willing  to  work.  On  the  farms  there  is  plenty  of  work  for  him, 
except  in  mid-winter;  in  the  grazing  districts,  there  is  always 
need  for  extra  hands  at  fair  wages,  and  he  can,  if  he  will,  acquire, 
for  a  merely  nominal  sum,  a  piece  of  land  sufficient  for  the  needs 
of  his  family,  and  erecting  a  sod-house  at  only  the  cost  of  labor, 
can  be  comfortably  situated,  and,  in  a  few  years,  can  attain  what 
to  him  will  be  a  competence,  such  as  he  could  never  have 
acquired  in  the  East  or  in  Europe.  In  the  mining  districts,  too, 
there  is  abundant  work  for  brawny  arms  and  powerful  muscles. 
Here,  also,  he  can  have  what  land  he  need^,  almost  for  the 
asking,  and  the  chickens,  eggs,  potatoes,  and  other  vegetables  he 
can  raise,  and  the  pigs  he  will  contrive  to  keep,  will  always  com- 
mand a  high  price  at  his  own  door.  Then  there  are  railroads  to 
be  built,  canals  and  irrigating  ditches  to  be  dug,  and  sluices  to  be 
laid  and  tended.      '"»^''' ""■  ■•"'' " " '  ''■ "'"  '<  •'"  "  " "'"'  ■"■"'"'  '^*""  '■"'*  1 ; 


i;' 


FACILITIES  FOR  MANUFACTURING. 


203 


urs  and  pelts 
employ,  and 
profitably  so. 
stricts,  and  to 
universal  use 
rs  which  are 
where  there 
e  skill  of  an 

age  at  many 
int,  and  oper- 

number),  all 
ilers,  brewers, 
;s,  and  panta- 
11  Minnesota, 
tal  workers  in 
en,  and  shep- 
1  and  grazing 

though  they 

trades,  is  wel- 
^mperate,  and 
work  for  him, 
ere  is  always 
3  will,  acquire, 
for  the  needs 
cost  of  labor, 
,n  attain  what 

I  never  have 
districts,  too, 

erfal  muscles. 
Imost  for  the 
vegetables  he 

II  always  com- 
re  railroads  to 
d  sluices  to  be 


The  industrious,  well-behaved,  and  honest  day-laborer  can 
nowhere  have  a  better  chance  of  bettering  his  position  than  in 
the  Great  West.  Not  a  few  of  the  great  bonanza  capitalists 
and  mine-owners  have,  with  commendable  enterprise  and 
industry,  worked  their  way  up  from  this  very  "lass.  One  of 
these  men  said  to  a  friend,  a  few  months  ago,  "  Tom,  I  read  the 
papers  now-a-days  what  I  can,  though  I  make  rather  slow  work 
of  it,  for  you  know  my  early  eddication  was  neglected,  ill  along 
of  my  having  to  carry  a  hod  so  much  when  I  was  a  boy ;  but  I 
find  some  things  in  the  papers  that  bother  me.  I  thought  I  knew 
all  the  wild  varn.int  about  here  pretty  well,  for  I  have  shot 
enough  of  'em,  but  the  papers  are  telling  about  a  new  one,  which 
they  say  is  very  plenty,  but  I  don't  seem  ever  to  have  heerd  of 
it  before."       j'b'^ii-  vj--i.  Hcl  h-r-rr-A  rioft/;;-.-.-. /i/.-u  ;)'.fi,  •'.  n"l';  .  .  . 

"  What  do  they  call  it?"  asked  his  friend.  "A  lynix,"  was  the 
answer,  "  and  that's  what  bothers  me ;  I  don't  seem  to  remember 
no  lynixes  round  here."  "How  do  they  spell  it?"  asked  the 
other.  "  L-y-n-x— lynix,"  said  the  capitalist.  "  Why  that  spells 
lynx  :  you  certainly  know  what  lynxes  are  ?  "  **Lynx,  is  it  ?  To  be 
sure  1  do;  I've  killed  hundreds  of  'em;  but  who  ever  thought  of 
spelling  lynx  that  a  way;  I  supposed  it  was  spelt  l-i-n-k-s.  What 
a  fool  I  was,  to  be  sure."  .Jiuiq. ,•-<<]  .1  'C  l^ij'wl*-,  J.^.-.i  'u^  --Tuy  <n  -k* 

As  to  manufacturing,  it  is  believed  that  no  part  of  the  world 
offers  greater  facilities  for  it  than  this  Western  Empire.  Wher- 
ever water-power  is  desirable,  th'^re  is  nc  lack  of  the  most 
magnificent  water-falls  on  the  globe.  In  the  whole  northern  tier 
of  States  and  Territories,  Minnesota,  Dakota,  Montana,  Idaho, 
Washingtbn,  and  Oregon,  there  is  water-power,  yet  unutilized, 
sufficient  to  put  in  motion  all  the  machinery  on  the  globe.  In 
the  middle  tier — Missouri,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Wyoming,  Colo- 
rado, Utah,  Nevada,  and  California — there  is  an  abundance; 
tiiough  in  some  of  these  States,  as,  for  instance,  in  Kansas  and 

Nebraska,  the  fall  is  not  as  great ;  while  in  the  southern  tier 

Arkansas,  Louisiana,  Texas,  Indian  Territory,  Arizona,  and  New 
Mexico— the  water-power  is  sufficient,  and  more  than  Sufficient, 
for  all  practical. purposes,  present  and  prospective.    J  -^-^ 
•If  it  should  be  contended  that,  under  favorable  circumstances^ 


l'> 


r ;  t 


11; 

i,  i 


I   i 


III': 

% 


,  .!, 


■-iifrK'  ' 


■.•--•.:.^*.:> 


•\. 


.     ovK  wesrsx.v  empire.   ^  v. 

steam-power  is  more  economical  than  water-power,  though  Vre 
might  be  inclined  to  doubt  it,  where  the  water-supply  was  con- 
stant and  from  a  sufficient  head  or  height,  still  we  can  point  the 
advocates  of  steam  to  the  immense  coal-beds  already  described, 
which  traverse  nearly  or  quite  every  State  and  Territory,  and 
furnish   a   fuel  which  is  very  cheap,  abndant  and   admirably 
adapted  to  its  purpose.     Within  the  rtext  ten  years  wool  will 
become  one  of  the  largest  products  of  this  region,  iind  the  wool- 
growers  of  the  vast  grazing  districts  will  not  consent  tb  send 
their  wool  to  the  East,  and  have  it  manufactured  there,  to  be 
returned  to  them,  with  its  value  enhanced,  five  or  ten  fold,  or  d6 
in  the  finer  goods,  twenty  or  thirty  fold.    They  will  prefer  to 
huve  it  manufactured  in  their  own  vicinity,  and  thxxs  not  only  the 
cost  of  a  double  transportation  saved,  but  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  manufacturer's  profit  also.  aU.u    Uiv:k;x  {.^fUtot  ifiU  */;'' 
1  Already  the  woollen  goods  of  California  and  Oregon  have  a 
much  higher  reputation,  in  certain  lines,  than  those  produced 
eliiewhere  in  Europe  or  America;  and  comrtianding  the  finest 
and  rtiost  perfect  machinery  and  workmen  of  the  highest  skill, 
with  their  wool  at  a  lower  price  than  it  can  be  obtained  elsewhere, 
there  seems  to  b^  no  good  reason  why  any  goods  made  wholly 
or  in  part  of  wool,  should  not  be  produced  there,  in  the  greatest 
perfection,  Jind  at  the  lowest  price.    The  mohair  goods  made  in 
part  from   the  hair  and  fleece  of  the  Angora  goat,  and  In 
part  frorti  the  long  combing  wool  of  the  Cotswold  or  Leicester 
sheep,  arid,  in  the  cheaper  gradfes,  a  filling  of  cotton,  can  be  made 
equally  well  here.    The  fr.aterial  is  kll  at  hand  for  making  these 
goods  of  better  quality,  and  at  lower  price?  than  they  have  ever 
ydt  brought. 

k  In  the  southerri  tier  of  States  and  Territories,  the  manufacture 
of  cotton  ^oods  can  find  its  finest  development  By  a  process 
discovered  a  few  years  since,  the  cotton  can  be  spun  into  yams 
of  all  degrees  of  fineness,  just  as  it  comes  from  the  field, 
ungihned,  and  with  its  beautiful  and  glossy  fibres  unbroken  and 
unbruised  by  the  teeth  of  the  girt,  while  the  cotton  seed  can  be 
pressed  for  its  valuable  oil,  and  its  oiincake  sold  tio  the  fftriners 
and  stock-raisers  for  thtir  cattle,    ^fhe  cloths  made  from  this 


MANUFACTURES  OF  TEXTILES,   IROif  AND    WOOD. 


ZQ$ 


,  though  we 
)ly  was  con- 
M\  point  the 
y  described, 
jrritory,  and 
1  admirably 
irs  wool  will 
nd  the  wool- 
ent  t6  send 
there,  to  be 

:n  fold,  or  d6 

• 

ill  prefer  to 
not  only  the 
rable  portion 

cgon  have  a 

ise  produced 

ig  the  finest 

highest  skill, 

zd  elsewhere, 

made  wholly 

the  greatest 

)ods  made  in 

(oat,  and  In 

or  Leicester 

can  be  made 

naking  these 

ey  have  ever 

manufacture 
By  a  process 
n  into  yams 
)m  the  field, 
nbroken  and 
seed  can  be 
the  farmers 
de  from  this 


unginncd  cotton  will  far  surpass  in  beauty  and  durability  any 
cotton  goods  made  elsewhere ;  while  the  cost  of  manufacture 
will  be  greatly  reduced,  and  there  will  be  no  waste. 

Other  textiles,  the  growth  of  this  region — flax,  hemp,  jute, 
ramie,  agave  and  other  fibres,  the  cactus  fibre  and  the  tuUt  rush, 
bunch  grass,  straw,  etc. — can  be  manufactured  very  largely  into 
cloths  and  into  paper  pulp,  the  uses  of  which  are  every  day  in- 
creasing, till  already  eveiything,  from  the  driving-wheel  of  a 
locomotive,  to  a  petroleum  barrel,  or  a  linen  handkerchief,  a 
house,  a  wash-pail,  a  lamp,  or  a  pill-box,  is  made  from  it. 

But  it  is  not  simply  in  the  department  of  textiles  that  the 
Great  West  oJfTers  the  best  field  for  manufactures.  Iron  and 
steel  can  be  smelted  and  manufactured  more  cheaply  than  any- 
where else,  and  the  telegraph  wires  which  span  the  world,  the  rails 
which  stretch  across  the  continent,  the  steel  plates  for  our  new 
navy,  the  huge  steel  guns  which  will  constitute  its  offensive 
armament,  the  locomotive  and  stationary  engine;*,  and  the  vast  and 
complicated  machinery  used  in  tlie  reduction  or  smelting  of  gold, 
silver,  qi'icksilver,  copper,  lead,  or  zinc,  as  well  as  the  agricultural 
machines  which  now  cannot  be  manufactured  fast  enough  to 
supply  the  demand,  and  the  infinitude  of  iron  and  steel  castings, 
will  all  be  manufactured  in  this  western  land,  not  simply  on  its 
borders,  as  now,  but  in  the  very  heart  of  the  country. 
~~<  The  manufactures  of  wood  in  all  their  numberless  varieties  of 
wooden  ware,  furniture,  machinery,  carriages,  wagons,  carts  and 
drays,  doors,  sashes,  blinds,  and  even  houses  all  complete,  with 
inner  walls  of  a  compound  of  paper  and  gypsum,  are  already 
largely  produced  in  many  parts  of  this  Great  West,  and  are 
destined  to  an  infinitely  larger  production,  as  the  demand  for 
them  goes  on  increasing.  There  is  than  abundant  room  and 
employment  for  every  honest,  industrious  man  who  will  come, 
but  no  room  for  th^  idler,  sluggard^  or  drone. 


'.•v:>  :  .'n"  ij\:i 


i<('''hlOi^:' 


fj" 


i-U:,-X 


:>,i 


!,:; 


V. 


i 


i  f 


x6 


OUJt    WESTEKN  BAtPlRE. 


\\;\ir 


■.i\  .■,- 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


'\  !•■  •, 

•A' 


'"rr 


It- 


!!• 


I r :  ( ■    II 


■;';■ 


Thb  Future,  thi  Glorious  Futuri  or  this  Grand  Empire  or  the  West— 
The  Causes  which  have  led  to  its  Growth— Bishop  Berkeley's  Pre- 
diction—The "Empire"  he  saw— The   Germ  or  the  Great   Repub- 
lic—What THE  Empire  is    and  what  it  is  to  be— Its  Growth  and 
FUTURE   Capacity— The  future  Climate— The  future  Soil   and  Pro- 
ductiveness —  Influence    or    Railroads    in    Developing  this  Reoion 
—The  Gold  and  Silver  Mines  as  aidino  in  the  Development  op  the 
'  Country— The  Future  of  the  Mines  of  trk  Precious  Metals— The 
•     Western  Slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  full  or  Gold  and  Silver- 
Results   OF  Increased  Production  of  Gold  and  Silver— Eifect  of 
Increased  Production  of  other  Metals — No  Metal  but  Tin  to  be 
Imported— Mineral  Earths  and  Elements  to  be  Developed— Coal— 
V/r  Petroleum— Metallic  and  Mineral  Products  of  the  Far  West  in  1880 
^.^.  —The  Production  of  a.  d.  1900— Vegetable  Products— Wheat— Indian 
|.(^  Corn— Corn  Crop  of  1879— Sorghum— Sorghum  Sugar— Oats— Barley— 
1.  Rye— Buckwheat— Egyptian  Rice  Corn— Summing  up  or  Cereal  Products 
«"^— Root  Crops— Potatoes  — Sweet-Potatoes  — Other  Root  Crops  — 
^^.^  Orchard  Products— Textiles— Cotton— The  future  Demand  roR  Cotton 
tA  —Wool— Wool  Clip  in  a.  d.  1900— Other  Textiles— The  Hay  Crop— 
>  Dairy  Products— Tobacco— Sugar,  not  prom  Sorghum— Hops— Summary 
1|;  or  Vegetable  Products,  Exclusive  or  Cereals— Fisheries  or  THiPACiric 
AND  the  GuLr,  or  the  Lakes  and  Rivers  or  the  Inti»ior— Fish-Culturi:, 
Present   and    Prospective  —  Live-Stock    in    1880    and    ipoo-FoREST 
'^*' Products— Various  WAys    in  which  Wood  is  used  and  destroyed— 
tv  Probable  Value  or  Forest  Products  in  1900— Manufactures— Future 
f^jJor  MANurACTURES— Commerce— Internal  ANi>  Interstate  Commercb— 
,yi  General  Summary— Character  or  future  Population— Little  Danger 
:^  or  War— Indians— Probable  early  Extinction  or  iNbiAN  Tribes— The 
'^*  Colored  Race— The  Mexicans,  Chinese  and  Japanese— Probability  or 
A  large  Influx  or  CitiNESE  on  the  PAoric  Coast  in  the  near  Future- 
European    iMMIORANTSf^EMIGRANTS    FROM    THE    EASTERN  UNITED  StaIES 

—The  Character  of  its  Citizens  the  best  Guaranty  or  its  Futuw^^.  , 

•<  Westward  the  count  of  empire  Ukei  iU  way  i 
The  four  first  acts  already  paat, 
A  fifth  shall  close  the  drama  with  the  daj } 
Time's  noblest  oflspring  is  the  last" 

So  wrote  Bishop  Berkeley  more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty 
years  ago,  when  this  Great  Western  Empire,  which  we  have 


f,. 


%4s)i 


f. 


.,  I   M. 


f>f  THE  West— 
Jkrkeley's  Pre- 
Great  Repub- 
s  Growth  and 
Soil  and  Pro- 
[o  THIS  Reoion 

LOPMENT  OP  THE 

s  Metals— The 
LD  AND  Silver — 

iTER— ElFECT    or 

but  Tin  to  be 
ELOPED — Coal — 
HR  West  in  1880 
Wheat— Indian 
Dats — Barley — 
Cereal  Products 
RooY  Crops — 
lAND  FOR  Cotton 
fHE  Hay  Croi»— 
Hops — Summary 
IS  or  THE  Pacific 

— FiSH-CULTURF, 

>  1900 — Forest 
#D  destroyed — 
CTURES — Future 

TB    C0MMERCB7- 

-Little  Danger 
AN  Tribes— The 
-Probability  or 
t  near  Future- 
United  STAtES 
its  FuTOWfcff  Ij 

• «  - 


dred  and  fifty 
rhich  wc  have 


iiimiw«MHiriiiiiiirwiMiiwiiMmi»;iiiai«ti<^ 


■^M— wy  iii<  I    -I   I    lyiriiiiwf 


<»' 


,'-,■•     '** 


•4?- 
.■'■!••* 


■«MilMRMiMiii«MMaM< 


1:' 


GROWTH  AND  FVTVRR  CAPACITY. 


307 


endcaiorcd  to  describe,  was  utterly  unknown  to  the  civilized 
world,  except  from  the  reports  of  adventurous  navig-ators  who  had 
touched  upon  its  southern  or  western  shores,  or  the  journals  of 
Jesuit  missionaries,  who  had  established  themselves  in  California, 
New  Mexico,  and  Texas,  or  the  few  hunters  and  trappers  who  had 
penetrated  up  the  Missouri  or  its  tributaries.  The  empire  which 
he  then  saw  in  vision  (for  he  had  not  at  the  time  of  the  publi- 
cation of  this  poem  visited  America)  ^vas  composed  of  the 
colonies,  which  lay  between  the  Appalachian  range  and  the 
Atlantic.  A  population  of  not  more  than  i,200,cxx>  was  the 
nucleus  of  the  future  empire. 

Yet  in  this  mere  handful  of  people  scattered  along  the 
Atlantiv*  coast  from  Maine  to  Georgia,  lay  the  germ  of  the 
grandest  empire  this  world  has  ever  seen — an  empire  destined  to 
realize  in  altogether  another  sense  than  the  late  British  premier 
gave  to  it,  when  he  quoted  a  few  months  ago,  the  dictum  of  the 
great  Roman  orator, — Imperium  et  Libertas.  Here  is,  and  is  to 
be,  the  umpire  in  its  vastness  of  extent,  its  teeming  population,  its 
immensity  of  resources,  its  ripe  and  universal  culture,  and  its 
moral  power  over  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and  united  with  this 
the  liOerty  which  is  the  right  and  privilege  of  a  great  people — a 
liberty  which  is  not  license,  but  law ;  a  government^ the  people, 
for  the  piiople,  and  by  the  people.  And  of  this  great  empire,  the 
portion  largest  in  population,  most  abundant  in  resources,  and 
foremost  in  all  great  enterprises  is  to  be  the  region  lying  between 
the  Mississippi  river  and  the  Western  Sea.  To-day,  this  region 
has  more  than  eleven  millions  of  inhabitants.  In  a.  d.  iqcx)  it  will 
have  fifty  millions.  In  a.  d.  1950  who  shall  say  how  many  ?  The 
capacity  of  the  country,  in  point  of  production,  to  sustain  human 
life,  has  never  yet  been  tested ;  but  if,  when  our  arable  lands  are 
not  one-twentieth  developed,  and  our  grazing  lands  can  feed 
twenty  times  the  cattle  and  sheep  now  there,  we  are  feeding 
fifty  millions  at  home,  and  nearly  twenty-five  millions  in  Europe, 
what  can  we  not  do  when  our  reisources  are  tasked  to  their  full 
extent? 

But  where  shall  we  begin  to  speak  of  the  future  of  this  goodly 
heritage,  with  which  Cod  has  endowed  this  Nation  ?    We  lidve 


:■«!»!'*"■ 


2Q8 


0(/K    WMSTB/lff  MMPlAg. 


told  you  of  US  present  varied  but  beneficent  climate,  with  its 
western  Gulf  »tr«ain  from  the  north,  bringing  mild  and  genial 
breezes  to  the  Pacific  shore ;  of  its  torrid  heals,  coming  up  from 
Mexico,  to  bo  tempered  by  the  Arctic  cold  from  the  Valley  of  the 
Red  river  of  the  North.  Is  there  to  be  an  Improvement  in  its 
climates  ?  Wc  fully  believe  so.  The  vast  plains  beaten  almost 
%o  the  solidity  of  stone  by  the  Ivoofs  of  the  buflklo  for  many 
hundred  years,  arc  being  rapidly  broken  up  by  the  plow,  and 
warmth  and  moisture  penetrate  the  soil.  The  rainfall  is  in- 
creasing, and  these  treeless  plains  are  fast  becoming  clad  with 
groves  and  islands  of  forost  trees,  which  will  turn  whjut  was  on^c 
a  desert  into  a  fertile  field.  The  mesas  and  plateaux  beyond  the 
Rocky  Mountaijns,  dr«^ined  of  their  moisture  by  the  deep  caHons 
cut  by  the  rivers,  were  once  densely  inliabited,  and  again,  by  the 
planting  of  fores';  trees,  and  the  boring  of  drive  and  artesian 
wells,  their  capacity  for  cultivation,  and  for  susuining  a  large 
population,  drawn  thither  by  their  mineral  wealth,  will  be  fully 
restored,  and  the  region  so  long  remarkable  for  its  intense  heat 
\^  $^nimer  will  enjoy  an  equable  temperature. 

Arc  we  to  look  for  any  improvement  in  the  soil  and  its  culti- 
vation ?  There  is  every  reason  to  expect  it.  The  greater  rainfall 
will  render  those  lands  arable,  which  have  not  hitherto  been  con- 
sidered so ;  and  irrigation,  which  is  only  yet  in  its  infancy,  will 
develop  the  best  qualities  of  a  soil,  whose  fertility  is  almost 
incredible.  Deep  plowing  and  careful  seeding  should  largely 
increase  the  grain  crops,  and  the  use  of  forage  grasses  and 
cotton-seed  cake  give  opportunity  for  much  larger  herds  of 
cattle  and  sheep  on  smaller  ranches,  than  the  great  herds  now 
occupy.  All  these  changes  will  conte,  for  the  spirit  of  en- 
terprise and  improvement  is  rife  among  these  western  citizens. 
It  is  difficult  to  prediict  to  what  points  the  tide  of  inunigration 
will  flpw  most  strQQgtly  during  the  twenty  or  fifty  years  to  come. 
The  e^Ftraordinary  efforts  made  by  the  railway  companies,  which 
have  lands  to  9ell,  have  had  a  great  itvBuence  in  directing  it 
toward  certain  States  and  Territories.  The  railway  companies  of 
Minnesota,  the  Northern  Pacific  an^l  it3  feediers,  have  made  known 
tp  immigrant;  both  in  £MrQ|>e  and  the  United  States,  the  great 


''%aiM 


>-  ( 


late.  witii  its 
U  and  genial 
ling  up  from 
I  Valley  of  ihc 
cement  in  its 
jeatiMi  almu6t 
ialo  for  many 
the  plow,  and 
rainfall  is  in- 
king clad  with 
Mrhat  was  on<;c 
IX  beyond  the 
c  deep  caSlons 
1  again,  by  the 
3  and  artesian 
lining  a  Urge 
1,  will  be  fully 
Ls  intense  he^it 

1  and  its  culd- 
Lrreater  rainfall 
erto  been  cen- 
ts infancy,  will 
ility  is  almost 
should  largely 
e  grasses  and 
rger  herds  of 
eat  herds  now 
spirit  of  cn- 
estern  citizens. 
of  inimigration 
years  to  come, 
mpanies,  which 
in  directing  it 
^  companies  of 
re  made  known 
tates,  the  great 


LEAD  ISC  FACTORS  OF  IMMlCKATlOff.  g^ 

advantages  offered  by  the  climate,  soil,  and  manufiicturing  privi- 
leges of  Minnesota,  ami  especially  the  great  ferulity  and  pro« 
diictivcncss  of  the  Red  River  valley,  and  the  lands  adjacent  In 
Dakota ;  while  other  railroad  companies  in  Iowa  and  Southeast- 
em  Dakota  have  commended  the  farming  lands  of  that  section. 
The  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway,  with  its  extensive  con- 
nections, the  Wabash,  and  the  Chicago  and  Burlington,  all  of 
them  connected  with  the  Union  and  Central  Pacific  Railways, 
as  well  as  the  latter  roads  themselves,  have  rendered  great 
service  to  Iowa,  Nebraska,  and  Northern  Kansas,  and  Colorado, 
as  well  as  to  the  Territories  beyond.  So,  too,  the  Atchison, 
Topeka  and  Santa  F6  Railway  has  been  so  important  a  factor 
in  the  settleir«ent  of  Southwestern  Kansas,  and  Southern  Colo* 
rado,  that  it  is  within  the  bounds  of  truth  to  say  that  it  has  hast- 
ened their  development  by  more  than  twenty  years.  The  roads 
extending  from  Missouri,  through  Arkansas  and  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory into  Texas,  as  well  as  the  Texan  roads  themselves,  have 
added  three-fourths  of  a  million  of  souls  to  the  population  of 
that  State  within  the  past  ten  years.  On  the  Pacific  Slope  these 
agencies  have  not  been  so  actively  at  work,  but  they  are  now 
fast  developing  at  the  Northwest  in  Oregon  and  Washingtoh, 
and  at  the  Southwest  in  Southern  CaHfomia,  Arizona  and  New 
Mexico. 

The  wonderful  development  of  the  mines  in  Colorado,  Mon- 
tana, Utah,  and  the  Black  Hills,  has  contributed  largely  to  the 
influx  of  population  into  those  sections,  within  the  past  three  cr 
four  years.  There  is  every  reason  to  suppose  that  the  discov- 
eries of  the  precious  metals  in  these  States  and  Territories  are 
aS  yet  only  in  their  infancy,  and  that  they  will  go  on  for  years  to 
come  with  increasing  magnitude  each  year;  while  New  Mexico, 
Arizona,  Texas,  Idaho,  and  Nevada,  with  its  added  facilities  from 
its  Sutro  and  other  tunnels,  and  possibly  Eastern  Oregon  and 
Washington,  will  fill  up  the  measure  of  prosperity  in  this  direc- 
tion to  overflowing.  '*'^"'  w-*^f^/^  l^^  ^r%n  viriir.n  .>  /jf  -.-.vtw 

it  is  vain  to  attempt  to  predict  the  quantities  of  gold  and  silver 
which  will  be  produced  in  this  region  within  the  next  fifty  years : 
we  only  know  that  already  the  yield  of  silver  has  disturbed  the  pro- 


1  V 


14 


V 

>         V 


•10 


OUM    WMSTMMN   MMP/Kg. 


portionatr*  value  of  silver  and  gold,  which  had  exiittrd  for  tltr  In^t 
five  hundred  years,  when  fifteen  ounces  of  silver  would  pun  hasr 
an  ounce  of  gold.  Now  the  ounce  of  gold  is  worth  more  than 
fifteen  and  a  half  ounces  of  silver,  and  with  our  vastly  increaHnl 
production  it  will  soon  require  sixteen  ounces  to  purcliasc  an 
ounce  of  gold.      ^,,,,        ,A,,..i         ,  ,,    '      ,,.       ,   "     > 

The  prevalent  opinion  among  the  best  mining  geologists  Is 
that  tlie  western  and  some  of  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  ranges 
composing  the  Rocky  Mountain  chain,  and  the  spurs  running  east 
and  west  from  it,  are  charged  with  lodes  or  vt- ins  of  gold  and 
lilver-lx*aring  ores;  and  there  is  every  reason  to  bclicvf  that  the 
eastrrn,  and  perhaps  the  western  slope,  of  the  Sierra  Nevada, 
through  its  whole  extent,  is  equally  rich  in  these  ores.  They 
have  been  traced  as  far  north  as  the  line  of  British  America,  and, 
indeed,  beyond  it;  they  exist  in  Montana,  Idaho,  and  Eastern 
Oregon,  and  Washington,  in  Nevada,  Utah,  and  Wyoming,  in 
Colorado,  New  Mexico,  and  Arizona  (in  the  last  three,  perhaps, 
most  abundantly  of  all),  and  in  Western  Texas.  The  valuable 
mines  of  California  are  mostly  on  the  western  slope  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada,  though  a  few  are  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
Coast  Range,  if.  p,  ,^,,,[,,  i.  .!.  i    . 

If  this  opinion  of  the  geologists  shall  prove  to  be  correct  therfi 
is  nothing  to  prevent  the  opening  of  three  hundred  thousaml 
mines,  all  profitable,  if  well  managed,  and  a  yield  of  one  thousand 

'  millions  of  gold  and  silver  annually.  Such  a  yield  could  not  fail  to 
produce  two  results :  the  further  disturbance  of  the  ratio  between 
the  values  of  gold  and  silver,  since  the  production  of  silver  will 

,  be  far  greater  in  bulk,  and  probably  greater  even  in  value,  than 
that  of  gold ;  and  a  universal  advance  in  the  price  of  other  com- 
modities, or,  which  is  the  same  thing,  a  depreciation  of  the  pur- 
chasing power  of  gold. 

But  it  is  not  solely  in  the  so-called  precious  metals  that  the 
production  will  be  so  greatly  increased ;  lead  is  combined  with 

'  silver  in  certainly  eighty  per  cent,  of  the  ores ;  copper  and  zinc 
with  both  gold  and  silver  in  a  very  considerable  proportion,  and 
iron,  platinum,  osmium,  and  other  rare  metals  in  a  small  num- 

'.,^tf»,,:  But  all  these  metals,  or  rather  their  ores,  are  found  in 


iti 


tXCt:K.4SK   Of  MhTALLVHiitCAL   DtyHLOI'MRM', 


ill 


n\  for  the  InHt 
ouW  |)iiriha^«* 
th  more  than 
istly  incrcasnl 
>  purcluuc  an 


\  , 


r    gCOloglHtS    Is 

of  the  ran^ts 
rs  running  cast 

iH  of  K"'^  **^^ 
)«:lieve  that  the 
■iicrra  Nevada, 
le  ores.     They 
h  America,  and, 
0,  and  Eastern 
1  Wyoming,  in 
three,  perhaps. 
The  valuable 
n  slope  of  the 
rn  alopc  of  the 

be  correct  thirf^ 
ndred  thousaml 
of  one  thousand 
could  not  fail  to 
le  ratio  between 
on  of  silver  will 
;n  in  value,  than 
:e  of  other  com- 
tion  of  the  pur- 
metals  that  the 
combined  with 
copper  and  zinc 
proportion,  and 
in  a  small  num* 
;s,  are  found  in 


great  abundance  without  any  admixture  of  tt)«  precious  moialt, 
and  the  ores  of  lead,  copper,  /inc.  and  iron  are  capable  of  im- 
mense devclopmc!nt.  Another  decade  will  hcc  copper  oreM 
reduced,  and  the  copper  refmed,  in  the  immediate  neighburhucxi 
of  the  mines,  in  such  quantities  that  there  will  be  no  necessity 
of  importation  of  that  mctnl,  and  still  less  of  sending  the  ciNtccn- 
trnted  ores  to  Swansea,  or  anywhere  else,  for  reduction.  Iron 
and  steel  will  be  made  so  abundantly  and  cheaply  from  the  very 
best  ores  and  by  the  best  processes,  that,  instead  of  importing 
either  to  supply  our  greatly  increased  demand,  we  shall  export 
both  iron  and  steel  to  all  the  nations  around  ut.  Before  ihe 
dawn  of  the  twentieth  century,  tin  will  be  the  only  metal  we  shall 
liave  occasion  to  import ;  and  if,  as  seems  probable,  the  small 
veins  of  tin  already  discovered  in  California,  Nevada,  Utah,  CoU 
orado,  ami  Texas  shall  enlarge  as  they  go  deeper  into  the  earth, 
this,  too,  may  be  stricken  froir  the  lisc  of  our  imports.  Platinum, 
nickel,  aluminium,  all  destined  to  play  an  important  part  in  our 
manufactures,  in  the  near  future,  exist  here,  and  can  be  produced 
as  cheaply  as  anywhere  else  in  the  world. 

All  the  metallic  and  mineral  earths  and  elements  used  in 
medicine,  chemistry,  farming,  or  the  useful  arts,  and  all  the  salts 
of  these, either  exist  as  the  natural  productions  of  this  region,  or 
arc  capable  of  easy  transformation  into  the  compounds  adapted 
to  use. 

Of  other  mineral  products,  coal  exists  in  too  large  quantities, 
and  of  every  known  quality  and  variety,  to  make  any  lack  of  it 
possible  for  ages  to  come  ;  whether  required  for  the  production 
of  heat  ot*  steam,  for  manufacturing  or  for  smelting,  for  coking 
coal  for  the  production  of  iron  and  steel,  or  for  family  use,  an- 
thracite, semi-anthracite,  bituminous,  semi-bituminous  and  lig- 
nites, in  all  these  forms,  are  to  be  had  for  the  asking,  at  reason- 
able prices  and  at  hundreds  of  points. 

Petroleum,  whose  existence  has  long  been  known,  but  which 
has  not  been  largely  developed,  is  now  found  in  such  quantities 
in  Wyoming  and  California  as  to  have  already  become  a  large 
item  in  the  traffic,  and  will  eventually  prove  a  formidable  rival 
of  the  Eastern  oil  wells.     If,  before  the  close  of  the  century,  eleo* 


\-. 


I  '■■ 


\M'-CVU\\\  ^"i  nnf'r^t  "•  -II  -  "  ■-"-i-'-i-— '■  ^th*!^'ki  iHt^j- 


919 


OtfM    It'FsrXA'y   KMriKK. 


tricity  rlor«  not  brcomr  thr  iinlvf  nal  illuminator,  thr  oil  wrtln 
of  Wyoming  ami  California  may  br  tnxrd  to  the  utmost  to 
•tipply  the  Illuminating  and  heating  matcrip!  for  this  Western 
Kmpirc.    ' '"    nin* ''iiifi    •..■>.,.  >.!i    ,      -j ;   .  •■•      »i»,,f''- 

'  An  cminrnt  mrtatturjjiHt  nn<1  sclentUt  ha^  recently  estimatrd 
the  entire  mineral  production  of  the  region  west  of  the  Miisii* 
•ippi  for  the  year  1880  as  worth  f  1  .ooo.o&o.ooo,  and  ha«  jjivrn 
the  irem«  on  which  his  rstiinatr  is  based.  With  the  wonderful 
development  which  Is  now  takinjj  place  in  everything  appertain- 
ing; to  mineral  pro<liict«i  and  metallurgy,  it  l«  certainly  within 
bounds  to  predict  that  the  product  of  the  year  a.  d.  191)0  will 
not  be  less  than  55.ooo.o<x).ooo,  and  the  man  who  should  esti- 
mate it  at  twice  that  sum  couUI  hardly  be  regarded  as  cxcca- 
aivcly  sanguine  In  his  anticipations. 

Turning  now  to  the  vegetable  and  animal  products  of  this 
region,  what  shall  be  our  forecast  for  them  twenty  years  hence? 

Wheat,  though  not  our  largest  grain  crop,  is  the  pioneer 
among  the  grains,  being  Especially  adapted  to  new  lands,  easily 
raised,  and  readily  marketed,  usually  at  a  paying  jmce.  We 
estimate  that  the  pf>pulatit»n  of  the  United  States,  In  a.  d.  1900, 
will  be  not  far  from  one  hundred  millions,  of  whom  at  least 
90,ooo/X3o  will  reqtiire  wheat  brerad ;  and  a  barrel  of  flour,  200 
pounds  =  eight  bushels  of  wheat,  will  not  be  more  than  a  fair 
supply  for  each.  This  would  require  720,000,000  bushels  for 
home  consumption.  Our  last  year's  product  (1879)  was  in 
round  numbers  450,000,000  bushels,  of  which  fully  one-half,  or 
abou*  130,000,000  bushels,  was  grown  west  of  the  Mississippi. 
But  Ml  export  demand  is  now  from  1 50,000,000  to  200,000,000 
bush  is,  and  is  constantly  increasing.  Within  the  next  twenty 
years,  all  the  wheat  districts  of  this  Western  Empire  will  be 
traversed  so  thoroughly  by  railroads  that  the  wheat-grower  In 
Montana,  Oregon,  or  Washington  will  be  able  to  obtain  a  fair 
price  for  his  wheat,  and  to  market  It  at  once ;  the  greater  part 
of  the  arable  lands  of  the  whole  region,  and  especially  the  wheat 
lands,  will  be  under  cultivation ;  better  methods  of  plowing,  seed- 
'4ng,  and  where  necessary, Irrigating  and  fertilizing  the  soil,  will 
prevail,  and  the  lowest  average  for  the  wheat  crop  will  be  twenty 


INOI4N  €OHH  in  4,   f>.   IfSA 


Hi 


thr   oil  wrlln 
*•   Utmost  to 

ihis  Western 

•i^  .1'  • 

tly  ettimatrtl 
f  the  Miosis- 
1(1  ha*  jjivrn 
he  wonderful 
rtgf  appertain- 
rtainly  within 
u  D.  1900  will 
»  should  esti- 
ed  as  cxces- 

(ducts  of  this 
years  hence  ? 
1  the  pioneer 
ir  lands,  easily 
r  price.  Wfc 
In  A.  D.  1900, 
rhom  at  least 
of  flour,  2fX) 
re  than  a  fair 
J  bushels  for 
1879)  was  in 
ly  one-half,  or 

Mississippi, 
t)  200,000,000 
5  next  twenty 
mpire  will  be 
eat-growcr  in 
obtain  a  fair 
greater  part 
ally  the  wheat 
plowing,  seed- 

the  soil,  will 
win  be  twenty 


if  not  twcnty-fivc  IhuIkIh  to  tho  acre.  Under  these  circunv 
stances  thr  wheat  crop  of  that  year  ou^ltt  not  to  \m'.  Icmh  than 
a,cxx>tOao,uuu  iHisheln,  ami  may  r\(  red  tliut  amount.  This  would 
be  ample  for  our  own  supply  with  \,i)if\<\K),t-jtx)  tnishrlHof  wluat 
or  itH  c(|uival(:nt  in  lluur  for  export.  This  crop  nhould  certainly 
be  worth  |j;j,ooc>kOOO/MO. 

Indian  corn  itt  thr  larj^cHt  of  our  ^raiti  cropH,  yirUtin^,  in  1K79, 
ill  round  numbers,  i,545,c)ou,(kx>  Im  iliels.  It  is  not  certain  to 
mature  in  the  extreme  northern  poriiuns  of  the  Great  West,  but 
is  a  successful  crop  to  the  extreme  houthcrn  limit,  requiring  fuf 
its  perfection  a  lunger  summer  than  it  can  always  command 
near  th«'  lint:  of  British  America.  We  export  of  Indian  corn  an4 
its  various  prrparationn,  the  e(]uivalciit  of  about  i(X),ooo,ooo 
bushels,  and  our  export  of  this  is  increasing ',  though  the  foreign 
demaml  for  it  is  lesH  than  for  wheat.  Ihit  our  home  consump* 
tion  is  largo  and  varied.  It  forms  tho  principal  food  eniployed 
k>«'  fattening  cattle,  sheep,  swine,  and  poultry,  is  largely  used  (<^ 
feeding  horses,  especially  those  which  are  constandy  work'.'d< 
forms  tlie  stabile  article  of  food  of  at  least  6,000,000  of  our  peo- 
ple, is  manuAictured  into  corntnoal,  samp,  hulled  corn,  or 
hominy,  mai/ena,  corn-starch,  common  starch,  glucose,  sugaf, 
and  syrup,  fusel  oil  and  whiskey.  When  the  price  \h  low,  and 
markets  not  easily  accessible,  it  is  burned  instead  of  coal,  bcinj^ 
somewlut  cheaper  and  making  a  hotter  fire,  Its  leaves  and 
stalks,  green  or  dried,  are  used  as  a  fodder  for  cattle,  and  from 
the  juice  of  its  stalks,  cut  when  the  corn  is  just  ripe,  a  cane< 
sugar  is  made.  In  all  of  these  ways  this  grain  is  utilized,  lurge 
««;  the  crop  may  be. 

'Of  this  great  crop  which,  at  a  low  valuation,  was  worth  nearly 
$600,000,000,  a  UtUe  more  than  two-fiflh.;  or  about  650,000,000 
bu^ols  was  raised  in  the  region  west  of  the  Mississippi ;  Iowsk> 
being  second  only  to  Illinois  in  the  magnitude  of  its  corn  cropt 
and  Missourip  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Texas,  and  Minnesota  being 
the  other  States  of  largest  production.  Although  the  prcduc- 
tion  of  this  grain  west  of  the  Mississippi  is  destined  to  increase 
largely  within  the  next  twenty  years,  and  may  very  possibly 
reach  in  that  time  the  present  product  of  the  entire  United 


•nfOJitti^iHt* 


•hi*  ,...»«^ itit.je;^u:i.;i»ifc,..>MiM'>-4v*y ■  i-^^ 


;,r.-*.-^!u*i--w . 


ai4 


O^iP    IVESTEK/^  EMPIRE. 


States  or  even  a  little  more,  yet  we  do  not  anticipate  for  it  so 
rapid  an  increase  proportionally  as  in  the  wheat  crop,  for  several 
reasons.     It  cannot  be  grown  so  successfully  or  with  as  much 
certainty  as  some  other  crops  in  the  whole  of  the  region  where 
the  greatest  agricultural  activity  and   enterprise  is  displayed; 
other  crops  produced    more  easily  and  with  greater  certainty, 
will,  to  some  extent,  take  its  place.     Among  these  we  may  name 
the  pearl  and  other  millets,  and  the  Egyptian  rice  corn,  all  of 
which  yield  larger  crops  and  with  less  labor,  and  are  better  liked 
by  cattle,  and  form  a  less  heavy  food  for  horses  and  swine ;  the 
great  progress  which  is  making  in  the  cultivation  of  barley, 
three-fifths  of  the  whole  crop  being  ra'«»ed  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  its  substitution  to  some  extent  for  corn  for  horses  and 
cattle ;  and  the  wonderful  impulse  recently  given  to  the  culture 
of  sorghum,  and  especially  of  the  early  amber  sorghum,  for  the 
production  of  sugar.     All  the  sorghums,  as  well  as  the  millets, 
the  rice  corn,  and  the  broom  corn,  belong  to  the  Zea  family,  and 
the  seeds  of  the  sorghum  furnish  a  valuable  food  for  animals, 
while  its  stalk  yields  a  considerably  larger  quantity  of  saccharine 
juice  than  the  Indian  corn.     There  is,  however,  an  increasing 
demand   for  corn  for  the  manufacture  of  glucose  sugar  and 
syrup.    This  industry  has  very  recently  become  largely  devel- 
oped, immense  factories  for  its  production  having  been  estab- 
Hshed,  mostly  since   January,   1880,  in   Buffalo,  Chicago,  and 
oither  cities  and  towns  in  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Iowa.     One  in 
Chicago  has  cost  $650,000,  and  is  said  to  have  a  capacity  of 
20,000  bushels  of  corn,  equal  to  300  tons  of  sugar  per  day.    The 
net  profit  is  said  to  be  300  per  cent.    The  export  demand  for 
corn,  while  increasing,  is  not  likely  to  be  enlarged  very  rapidly, 
and  will  be  rather  in  its  products  than  in  the  corn  itself,  since  its 
eultivation  is  also  increasing  in  the  south  of  Europe.     But  with 
the  multiplication  of  the  facilities  for  speedy  and  cheap  trans- 
portation, the  price  will  be  enhanced,  and  it  will  no  longer  com- 
pete with  coal  as  fuel.     Should  the  crop  of  corn,  in  the  region 
west  of  the  Mississippi,  amount,  in  a.  d.  1900,  to  i,6db,ooo,doo 
bushels,  it  would   be  perfecdy  safe   to  estimate   its  value  at 
*I, 200,000,000.  :  ■'"'    ::''U  '  :.'   li^'M' 


\ 


jomsMMiimm 


MWIMlllirw 


'.-.".i.&M.'JM-^  ■ 


11 

f 


ate  for  it  so 
p,  for  several 
'ith  as  much 
region  where 
is  displayed ; 
ter  certainty, 
ve  may  name 
e  corn,  all  of 
»  better  liked 
d  swine;  the 
)n  of  barley, 
f  the  Missis- 
)r  horses  and 
to  the  culture 
ghum,  for  the 
as  the  millets, 
ta  family,  and 
1  for  animals, 
of  saccharine 
an  increasing 
>e  sugar  and 
largely  devel- 
r  been  estab- 
Chicago,  and 
owa.    One  in 
a  capacity  of 
)er  day.    The 
•t  demand  for 

very  rapidly, 
itself,  since  its 
pe.    But  with 

cheap  trans- 
o  longer  com- 
in  the  region 

i,6do,cxx),doo 

its  value,  at 

'Jim 


SORGHVii.  315 

We  have  alluded  to  the  great  probable  increase  in  the  culture 
of  sorghum,  and  especially  of  the  early  amber  variety,  which 
ripens  its  seed  long  before  frost  comes.  Though  the  smallest 
of  the  sorghums,  and  yielding  a  smaller  quantity  of  juice  than 
the  other,  the  early  amber  kind  is  the  one  best  adcpted  to  the 
Northern  States  and  Territories.  Careful  and  oft-repeated  ex- 
periments demonstrate  that  in  ordinarily  good  corn-land,  either 
by  manuring  and  irrigation,  or  without,  as  is  the  case  in  most  of 
the  arable  lands  of  the  Great  West,  a  crop  can  be  raised  which 
will  yield  on  an  average  a  ton  or  more  of  raw  crystallized  sugar 
to  the  acre.*  With  that  yield  it  would  be  by  far  the  most  pro- 
fitable crop  which  could  be  cultivated,  as,  in  addition  to  the 
sugar,  the  leaves  and  seed  form  a  very  valuable  food  for  cattle, 
and  even  the  bagasse  or  exhausted  stalks,  where  not  required  to 
furnish  fuel  for  the  evaporators,  have  a  value  for  paper  stock 
and  for  other  purposes.  Even  if  but  three-quarters  of  a  ton  of 
sugar  could  be  made  to  the  acre,  worth  from  $70  to  $75  per 
ton,  which  is  considerably  below  the  present  price  of  raw  sugar, 
it  would  still  be  a  very  profitable  crop,  and  one  for  which  there 
wojld  be  an  unlimited  demand.  We  are  importing  annually 
from  $80,000,000  to  $100,000,000  value  of  sugar  and  sugar  pro- 
ducts, besides  the  amount  made  in  Florida,  Louisiana  and  Texas 
from  the  sugar-cane ;  and  all  our  exertions  to  increase  the  pro- 
duction of  sugar  from  the  cane  have  proved  ineffectual,  and 
must  continue  to  do  so,  because  the  sugar-cane  cannot  grow 
here  from  the  seed,  but  is  only  propagated  by  cuttings,  and  gives 
but  imperfect  results,  with  very  frequent  failures.  The  culture 
cf  the  sugar-beet  for  sugar  has  not,  so  far,  proved  successful  on 
a  large  scale,  ani  cannot  probably  compete  with  the  sorghum. 

If,  by  the  cultivation  of  this  plant,  we  can  supply  the  present 
and  constantly  increasing  demand  for  sugar,  and  prevent  any 
necessity  ot  importation,  the  devotion  of  three  or  five  million 
acres  to  this  crop  will  be  one  of  the  best  measures  which  our 
Western  farmers  can  adopt.    The  processes  for  sugar-making 

°  '*Tbe  esperimenU  of  the  Agricultural  Department  in  1879,  which  were  nil  with  the  early 
amber  cane,  give  an  average  of  1,588  pounds  to  the  acre,  but  these  were  not  a  fair  test  of  what 
can  be  accomplished  with  other  and  larger  varieties. 


';rT 


MK  ^.'it~iA^<V'».^.  M 


ti-r.v..  .^.^ddt^XU  ^-.V*:"^-' 


216 


OUX    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


\ 


from  sorghum  are  much  simpler  and  less  expensive  than  those 
for  the  sugar-cane.  With  an  apparatus  costing  only  from  $100 
to  $150,  any  farmer  can  boil  it  clown  to  a  syrup  which  will  yield 
at  least  twelve  pounds  of  sugar  to  tlie  gallon,  and  the  syrup  can 
be  crystallized  from  this  at  any  time  within  a  year.  General  Le 
Due  advises  that  the  farmers  should  not  attempt  anything  more 
than  the  productior.  of  the  syrup,  and  that  there  should  be  one 
or  more  sugar-mills  in  each  county  where  the  sorghum  is  culti- 
vatedk  which  will  find  constant  employment  throughout  the  year 
in  crystalli^iing  the  sug^r  from  the  syrup.  It  is  not  to  be  for- 
gotten, also,  that  when  sugar  becomes  a  domesittc  product,  and 
the  price  of  the  refined  article  is  lowered,  as  it  will  be,  fh^j  con- 
sumption will  be  greatly  increased,  irrespective  of  the  increase 
of  our  population,  so  that  if  we  are  paying  $150,000,000  for 
sugar  now,  we  shall  expend  certainly  ;|'50c  >  '^,000  fpr  it  twenty 
)'ears  hence,  with  our  population  doubled,  and  their  appetite  for 
Kweets  increased. 

"the  next  great  cereal  crop  is  oais,  of  which  we  now  raise 
iibout  420,000,000  bipshels  in  the  entire  United  States,  of  which 
»)ne-third  is  grown  west  of  the  Mississippi.  The  present  vsdue 
v)f  the  entitle;  crop  is  alpout  $125,000,000.  Oats  are  so  valuable 
both  for  human  and  animal  food  that  w^  may  confidently  expect 
tl)at  the  crop,  whioh.  is ,  so  well  adapt;e4  to  the  I^Ojrthern  and 
Ce^ntral  State;^  and  Territories,  a^nd  yields  po  bountifully  there 
(seventy  to, eighty  bushels  or  more  to  the  acrq),  will  be  more 
largely  cultivated  each  year.  Our  expprts  of  this  graip>  though 
iw)^  large  (5,50Q,pap  bushels  in  1879),  c^re  increa^  .-,  while  our 
^mpQrts  «f  it  have  nearly  ceased.  ,  W^  m?iy  s^ifply  '^f;v  down  the 
oat,:Crp|>:  of  thei  Qreat  West*  in  a.,  J?u  igoot  i^t  'or  x)0,poo 
bushej^,  audits  inoiv?y  value  as  at  l^^s^  $^ 75,900,000.,, ^i  /<!  if 
^,iPf  the  other  centals,  ^he  ^oductlon  of  ^W<?y,  of  which  we 
now  raise  frpm  4piQQQ,opo  to  45,QOp,9pp  l?t^sl}^ls,  and  import 
^poo.QOQ  or  more,  is  likely  to  incrisaserT-i-not,  sp  rnuch,  |t  is  to  be 
hoped,  for  its  use  in  the  manufacture  pf  m^U  lif^PrSt  ^s.  for  its 
value  for  horses  and  cattle,  and  the  fondness  which  the  German, 
Scandirtaviikn,  and  Russian  emigrants  have  for  it  as  an  article  of 
fopd.    It  is  gripwn  and  marketed  as  eaisilV  as  oats,  ahd  on  suit- 


^^>mmtsfm«isiu.-ii 


RYE  AND  BUCKWHEAT. 


«I7 


:  than  those 
y  from  ;|^ioo 
ch  will  yield 
le  syrup  can 
General  Le 
ything  more 
lould  be  one 
hum  is  culti- 
out  the  year 
lOt  to  be  for- 
product,  and 
be,  fhc  con- 
the  increase 
3,000,000  for 
for  it  twenty 
•  appetite  for 

;^e  now  raise 

ites,  of  which 

;)resent  value 

e  so  valuable 

deotly  expect 

'Northern  and 

intifully  there 

wiU  be  more 

grain,  though 

i'^  while  our 

t;    aown  the 

5vy  ^i9po 

of  which  we 
ajid  import 
ch,  ft  i^  to  be 
PI'S,  ^8.  for  its 
the  German, 
an  article  of 
ahd  on  suit- 


able  soils  yields  almost  as  largely.  It  brings  from  seventy-five 
cents  to  a  dollar  a  bushel,  and  on  the  newer  lands  is  a  fairly 
profitable  crop.  The  product  of  barley  in  the  Great  West,  in 
A.  D.  1 900,  may  be  safely  set  down  at  200,000,000  bushels,  and 
worth  as  many  dollars. 

Rye  will  also  increase  moderately.  The  crop  for  the  whole 
country  now  ranges  from  23,000,000  to  28,000,000  bushels,  and  it 
is  worth  from  sixty  to  eighty  cents  per  bushel.  No^  quite  one- 
fourth  of  the  whole  crop  was  grown  west  of  the  Mississippi.  It 
is  not  here,  as  in  Europe,  now  largely  used  for  food,  though 
there  is  some  demand  for  it  in  the  manufacture  of  whiskey ;  it  is 
seldom  fed  to  cattle,  but  with  the   influx  of  emigrants  from 

Central  and  Southern  Europe,  it  will  be  more  largely  used  for 
iij-j  iw.  ,  !-)^trt(  ft .' ^/■.ai   P'l'iiirf'ffivi  ni  '     ./I;*'  vn  t«'fi  Kt 

It  grows  well  on  poor  soils,  and  most  of  the  soil  in  the  Great 
West  is  too  rich  for  it.  It  may  reach  50,000,000  bushels,  west  of 
the  Mississippi,  by  a.  d.  19100,  but  that  will  be  its  utmost  limit. 

Buckwheat,  the  cereal  which  is  least  grown  in  the  United 
J?l!ates,  its  largest  crop  being  only  a  little  more  than  1 3,000,000 
bushels,  is  Hardly  an  appreciable  crop,  west  of  the  Mississippi, 
3'^o,ooo  bushels  being  the  largest  crop  ever  grown  there.  It  is 
nttt  probable  that  it  will  become  a  very  important  crop  at  any 
tihie,  though  it  may  reach  4,000,060  or  5,000,000  bushels,  worth 
fifty  or  sixty  ttfents  per  bushel.  -  '^  -  -  .  Vi    1    1 

The  Egyptian  rice  corn,  ani3'  tfie  p'eiart*''itfiiltiet,  boih  cereaKs, 
belonging'  to  the  millet  fkmily,  are  likely  to  be  largely  cultivated, 
vHthin  the  n^j^t  twenty  years,  both  as  folfage  plants,  and  for  their 
^e^  or  giratns.  Tliey  yield  nearly  as  liiueh  seed  as  oats,  and 
Ac  amount  of  fodder  -^krhich  may  be  cut  from  them  is  from  forty 
to  eighty  tons  of  green' forage,  or  frdm  sc*vl^h  ***  ten  tons  of  d'ry, 
in  threei  cuttingi,  in  a  Single  season.  T^e  grain  of  the  rice  corn 
is  regarded  by  <the  Kansas  farmer  as  sup^rk>r  to  Indian  corn  for 
cattle  and  hogs,  and  many  prefer  Its  meal  to  corn  or  oat  meal 
for  human  food.  We  may  confidently  expect  that  from  tiiese 
Qerealft  or  their  congeners,  the  crop  of  a.  d.  £900,  west  of  the 
Mfississippf,  tvIIT  rtdt  be  less  than,  50^009,099  bushels  of  see4  9r. 
its  equivalent  of  forage.  ,/  *«  ta  ...<  ,i-^mvtJt'*»  ^■'« "  tKv>  .<*.<!  i>ii*  ■-^j^.^t  y§^  bn***^ 


i;<i  1 


W 


■;ss^w*j«>«*i«ss«ii«'- 


H>   kVinMtl-.  .«4< 


\.iLa.,iiii*mv!JiSMPiii.'i',i ■i^M i\-'  i' 


i 


ai8  0C//1    H^ESTEKJ^  EAtP/KE. 

Thus  much  for  the  cereals.*     We  foot  up  the  crop  of  a.  d. 
1900  as  follows:  ,      _  ■..    , ,, 

W^f*' a,ooo,6oo,ooo  bushels,          Value  $3,000,000,000 

Indian  Corn     .     .     .  1,600,000,000      '«                   ",,   .  1,300,000,000 

Sorghum  Sugar,  etc.  .  *»  500,000,000 

^**' SOv,ooo,ooo       "             .   .   **-...  175,000,000 

Barley    ,    .y^^  .     .     .  300,000,000      "                   W  300,000,000 

Ry«  •     .....  50,000,000       •'      ,,r           M   ..  40,000,000 

Buckwheat     '.     .     .  5,000,000      "          '         "  r   ,.  .           3,500,000 

Millet  and  Rice  Corn  50,000,000     with  forage,    "      .   "  50,000,000 

'„  ,■■'«'''/                 ,  '                    _— __ 

•■»-;i  ;\  <-^,'Jt.  ']■;  ;>-i;ii':...h;nRnit*/j|i  k5  w  •(■.A  hzi.:^  $4,167,500,000 

df  the  cereal  production  at  dates  still  farther  in  the  future  it 
is  not  wise  to  speak.  Circumstances  may  change ;  an  oriental 
population,  if  largely  in  the  ascendancy,  may  prefer  other  grains, 
and  cultivate  them  by  other  processes,  in  the  coming  century  ; 
or  root  crops,  or  such  edibles  as  the  bread-fruit,  the  cassava,  or 
the  pith  of  the  sago-palm,  may  be  deemed  preferable  to  those 
grains  which  we  have  been  accustomed  to  consider  the  staff  of 
life.    The  future  century  must  provide  its  own  bread;  ^,j\  44, ,. 

We  turn  next  to  the  root  crops  and  the  vegetables,  which, 
though  perhaps  neither  tubers,  nor  bulbs,  serve  to  sustain  life  in 
man  and  beast.  Potatoes  rank  first  in  the  list— our  common, 
sometimes  called  Irish  potatoes — because  they  did  not  come  from 
Ireland,— -the  Solanum  tuberosum.  Of  these  about  185,000,000 
bushels  were  grown  in  1879,  although  it  was  not  regarded  as  a 
very  favorable  year  for  this  crop.  Of  these  about  one-third,  or 
62,000,000  bushels,  were  grown  west  of  the  Mississippi.  The 
labor  of  harvesting  this  crop  is  greater  than  that  required  on 
some  others,  though  now  materially  diminished  by  the  use  of  the 
potato-digger;  but  very  few  crops  pay  as  well.    In  all  the  newer 

*  We  have  not  deemed  it  nece^uy  t9  ipeak  of  the  production  of  »»«,«f  which  there  are  a 
fcw  plantations  in  Western  Louisiana  and  Texas  j  it  is  undoubtedly  capable  of  great  develop- 
ment, and  in  the  event  of  a  large  mignition  of  Mongolians  to  thU  Western  Empire  within  the 
next  twenty  years,  may  receive  it;  but  the  experience  of  all  the  past  U  that,  in  warm 
climates,  the  culUvatioa  of  such  cereal*  a*  require  much  labor  and  exposure  of  life  and  health, 
is  not  successfully  prosecuted,  except  where  labor  is  compalsoiy.  Other  cereals  more  easily  cul- 
tivated will  be  subrtiluted  for  this.  The  wiU  rut,  a  plant  of  northern  growth,  is  ««ten<ivelf 
gathered  f«jr  forage  and  hay,  but  is  not  culttvaled,  so  far  as  we  are  aware       *iit>Ii:;V '  ?p  J  ?'< 


W'wwitwffi 


mnwwmiHi-. 


crop  of  A.  D. 

•  i>  *  if':. 

|3, 000,000,000 

1,300,000,000 

500,000,000 

'  •"   175,000,000 

300,000,000 

40,000,000 

3,500,000 

50,000,000 

14,167,500,000 


I  the  future  it 
;  an  oriental 

other  grains, 
ling  century; 
le  cassava,  or 
able  to  those 
r  the  staff  of 
id. 

tables,  which, 
sustain  life  in 
3ur  common, 
lot  come  from 
t  i85,ooo,cxx) 
egarded  as  a 

one-third,  or 
issippi.    The 

required  on 

le  use  of  the 
all.  the  newer 

which  there  are  a 
i  ct  gteat  dcvelop- 
Empire  within  the 
is  that,  in  warm 
of  life  and  heahh, 
lb  more  euiiy  ciri- 
wth,  i*  «(tensivelj 


VEGETABLE  AND  ROOT  CROPS. 


319 


lands,  and  many  of  the  old  ones,  the  yield  is  from  1 50  to  400  or 
even  500  bushels  to  the  acre,  while  the  price  at  the  nearest 
market  seldom  falls  below  thirty-three  cents  per  bushel,  and 
ranges  from  this  to  sixty  cents.  A  crop  which  will  bring  from 
$60  to  %\i^  per  acre  is  a  profitable  crop  for  the  emigrant  to 
raise,  and  as  there  is,  and  is  likely  to  be,  a  demand  for  all  that 
are  grown,  we  may  well  expect  that  there  will  be  a  great  increase 
in  the  production.  The  autumn  of  the  year  1900  will  very  pos- 
sibly give  a  crop  of  potatoes,  west  of  the  Mississippi,  of  not  less 
than  650,000,000  bushels,  worth  probably  half  that  number  of 
dollars.         '      1   '  i  .   ^ 

The  swett  potato  an^  yam,  though  largely  grown  in  California, 
Arizona,  New  Mexico,  Texas,  Arkansas,  and  Kansas,  will  never 
approach  to  these  figures,  but  may,  twenty  years  hence,  yield 
50,000,000  bushels,  and  at  a  value  of  perhaps  seventy-five  cents 
per  bushel.  Neither  of  these  tubers  are  exported  to  any  great 
extent.  In  1879,  625,000  bushels  of  the  common  potato  were 
shipped  to  other  countries,  550,000  bushels  going  to  the  West 
Indies  and  South  America.  There  is  some  prospect  of  an  in- 
crease of  this  demand  both  from  the  Pacific  and  the  Texan  ports, 
biit  the  principal  consumption  will  continue  to  be  in  the  home 
markets. 

Of  the  other  root  and  vegetable  crops,  turnips,  rutabagas, 
onions,  leeks,  mangel-wurzel,  cabbage,  kale,  cauliflower,  peas, 
beans,  pumpkins,  squashes,  melons,  okra,  spinage,  celery,  cucum- 
bers, tomatoes,  pie-plant,  egg-plants,  salsify,  green  corn,  radishes, 
lettuce,  etc.,  though  we  know  the  present  aggregate  to  be  very 
large,  and  the  prospective  one  vasriy  greater,  yet  it  is  difficult  to 
arrive  at  any  very  definite  estimates  concerning  it.  The  census 
of  1870  reported  these  products  very  imperfectly,  probably 
omitting  more  than  it  reported.  Its  aggregates  were  nearly 
j|2 7,000,000,  while  it  is  perfectly  safe  to  put  down  the  actual 
production  as  nearly  or  quite  1^50,000,000.  Since  that  time  these 
products  have  undergone  an  immense  development,  and  what- 
ever may  be  the  census  figures,  the  actual  production  cannot 
fall  short  of  $100,000,000;  indeed,  the  consumption  of  twenty- 
five  of  our  largest  cities  would  very  nearly  reach  that  sum.    We 


M 


K 

I: 

''-'1 

%^ 

!■• 

I 


Ik- 

'i ,. ' 


m 

w 

mi 

m 
m 

■  mm 


-  —u-estait!^-' ' 


■  until  rii«>^''»<» 


,iiIM»OH.^I|-  .nil'  .^T,-f-f'T-^T^-'^-«^--^'-«-'t''»*  ;%-it'-J«US>'. 


a,M> 


0</iP    WHSTKHN  HMPiMA 


think  that  a  fair  estimate  of  the  consumption  of  those  articles  by 
the  50,000,000  of  people  west  of  the  Mississippi,  in  a.  d.  1900, 
would  not  be  less  than  $150^000,000. 

The  orchard  products  and  the  small  fruit  sales,  including  tlie 
wine  and  raisins  from  the  grapes,  the  cider,  etc.,  from  apples,  and 
the  preserved,  dried,  and  canned  fruits,  are  next  to  be  considered. 
In  1870  these  products  for  the  whole  United  States,  so  far  as 
reported,  amounted  to  about  $53,000^000.  Since  tliat  time  the 
orchard,  grape,  wine,  and  small  fruit  products  have  nearly  or 
quite  quadrupled.  The  State  of  Kansas,  which  then  was  set 
down  as  hav'ng  j^  173,000  of  these  products,  reported,  in  1878, 
$6,500,000  of  orchard  products  alone,  with  less  than  half  her 
trees  in  bearing ;  California  has  made  even  greater  advance,  and 
Oregon,  Washington,  Dakota.  Nebraska,  Minnesota,  and  Iowa 
at  least  an  equal  one.  Qnc  hundred  and  sixty  million  dollars 
is  a  low  estimate  of  these  products  for  1 880,  for  the  whole  coun- 
try, and  twice  that  amount  is.  equally  low  for  the  region  west  of 
the  Mississippi  in  a.  d.  190Q. 

,  Textiles  come  next  in  order.  The  cotton  crop  of  1879-80  is 
exceptionally  large,  jthe  largest  ever  produced  in  this  country, 
and,  owii\g  to  the  lateness  and  mildnf^ss  of  (he  autumn  and  early, 
winter,  picking  was  continued  much  later  than  usual.  It  is  estif 
mated  as  equal  to  5.750.000  bales  of  480  pounds,  worth  not  less 
tlian  $330gooQ»ooo.  Nearly  onie-half  of  tbi$  great  crop  is  raised 
west  of  the  Missi^sappi*  mosdy  in  Louisiana,  Texas,  and  Ar- 
kansas,  though  the  Indian  Territory,  California,  Arizona,  Kansas, 
and  Missouri  add  sm^U  qupt^s  to  the  amount,  The  State  of 
Texas  glone  has  excellent  cotton  lands,,  as  yet  mostly  uncultivated, 
of  sufficient  extent;  to  grow  not  only  the  whole  cxo^  of  1879.  but 
the  entire  supply  of.  pottpn  needed  for  th^, consumption  of  the 
world-7-about  1 2,000,000  or  \  3,ooo,poo  bialqs.  And  as  the  cOUon 
la,n4s  east  of  the  Mississippi,  unless  their  methods,  of  cultivatron 
are  grej^tly  tmprov^  shall  be  worn  out,  and  beconie  sterile^ithe 
natural  tendency  wiil  be  to  transfer  (he  greater  part  of  |he  cotton 
prpclMctipn  to  :T<9^s[^ndArkansa§t  whore  virgin  $oil4  \vill  yieM 

larger  crQps.,,oiiu/(iu«{Ha'>  mU  J.i/>:pb(ii  ;(!Cit»;oocj,ooj|  lo  jn:;»fl&,lIjBt 
,^  ^e  cultufS;  prGQtt9i^  m  the  Soutih'  is  not  so  scientific  and  tho^, 


iTii^ir^f.. 


TEXTILES. 


iti 


se  articles  by 
in  A.  D.  1900, 

including  tlie 
31  apples,  and 
>e  considered, 
ites,  so  far  as 
tliat  time  the 
ive  nearly  or 
then  was  set 
rted,  in  1878, 
han  half  her 
advance,  and 
ita,  and  Iowa 
lillion  dollars 
!  whole  coun- 
;gion  west  of 

)f  1879-80  is 
this  country, 
mn  and  early, 
il.  it  is  esti" 
rorth  not  less 

rop  is  raised 
icas,  and  Ar- 
:ona,  Kansas, 
Fhe  State  of 
uncultivated, 

of  1879,  but 
iptioi)  of  the 
as  the  cotton 
)f  cultivation 
le  sterile^ithe 
of  ihe  cotton 
>ite  >^ULykW; 

ifijc  and  tho?- 


ough  as  it  should  be.  The  average  yield  per  acre  in  Texas  is 
only  about  375  pounds  per  acre,  when  it  should  be,  and  might 
be,  with  proper  management,  960  pounds.  Greater  efforts  for 
improvement  are  now  making  than  at  any  previous  time,  and 
these  cannot  fail  to  result  in  increased  production  per  acre. 

Twenty  years  hence  the  largest  demand  for  cotton  will  be  for 
home  consumption.  Now  less  than  one-third  of  the  crop  is 
retained  here,  and  all  the  rest  exported.  That  demand  may 
reach  10,000,000  or  1 1,000,000  bales.  If  it  does  so,  we  believe 
that  the  whole  amount  or  nearly  the  whole  will  be  grown  west 
of  the  Mississippi.  We  are  led  to  this  conclusion  from  the  fact 
that  the  tend'ency  in  all  our  manufactures  is  to  bring  the  place 
of  manufacture  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the  place  of  the  produc- 
tion of  the  mw  material.  This  is  particularly  true  where  the  raw 
material  is  bulky  and  cumbrous,  as  is  the  case  with  cotton.  For 
many  long  years  the  cotton  was  brought  with  great  labor  and 
cost  to  the  shipping  ports,  sent  thence  to  England  and  France, 
vhere  it  was  made  into  yarns,  thread,  and  fabrics,  and  these  re» 
exported  hither,  and  thus  we  were  buying  back  our  own  cotton 
and  paying  from  400  to  600  per  cent,  lor  the  privilege  of  doing 
so.  Our  manufacturers  in  New  England  sought  to  save  a  part, 
of  these  profits  to  our  own  people,  but  the  transportation  of  th« 
cotton  from  the  South  to  New  England  cost  nearly  as  much  as 
to  '^ngland,  and  though  there  was  some  gain,  yet  there  was  a 
more  excellent  way.  Already  the  change  has  begun,  and  it  wlH^ 
be  carried  forward  with  rapidity.  The  yarns,  at  least,  will  be 
made  from  the  unginned  cotton,  near  the  place  where  it  is  grown, 
and  the  seed  utilized  for  oil  and  food  for  cattle  and  horses,  while 
^  yarn  supplied  to  mills,  perhaps  in  an  adjacent  State,  is  there 
manufacttfr^d  into  cloths,  stronger,  more  lustrous,  more  beau- 
tiful, and  wearing^  longer  than  any  made  in  English,  French,  or 
Northern  mills,  and  at  a  lower  price.  Manufacturing  in  this 
way,  we  can  export  our  goods  instead  of  our  raw  material ;  since 
no  other  nation  can  compete  with  us,  either  in  the  cheapness  or 
the  intrinsic  value  of  our  cotton  goods.  China,  India,  South 
America,  Europe,  and  Northern  and  Southern  Africa,  and  Aus- 
tralasia AMlh  gladly  tkke  all  the  cotton  goods  we  can  spare,*  and 


'•(■■ 

\'.v  ■' 


m. 


.  **»W3«ie'itw«tteiLt»r/ai'j«rfsti>>»i^a^iri^ ' 


222 


OVR    WEHTRRN  liA/P/.K'i:. 


V. 


\ 


it  will  task  the  energies  of  our  manufacturers  to  supply  all  these 
and  our  home  market;  while  our  agriculturists  will  be  stimulated 
by  the  demand  to  make  two  bales  of  cotton  grow  where  now 
only  a  half  bale  is  grown. 

Wool  has  improved  as  much  in  quality  as  it  has  increased  in 
quantity  within  the  past  decade,  and  the  improvement  and  in- 
crease has  but  just  begun.  The  wool  clip  of  the  region  west  of 
the  Mississippi  in  1879  exceeded  100,000,000  pounds,  and  was 
fully  equal  in  quantity,  and  much  superior  in  quality,  to  that  of  the 
whole  United  States  in  1870.  .  ..k,?,^  ^.,1  j^.,.; 

The  rapid  multiplication  of  flocks  of  sheep  of  improved  grades, 
throughout  the  whole  region,  insures  to  that  region  within  twenty 
years,  an  annual  clip  of  not  less  than  350,000,000  pounds,  of  an 
average  value  of  not  less  than  twenty-two  cents  per  pound,  or 
an  aggregate  of  $77,000,000.  This  will  all  be  required  at  home, 
and  we  shall  cease  to  import  wool  for  our  manufacturers.  The 
hair  of  the  Angora  goat  and  the  grade  goats,  and  possibly  also 
that  of  the  camel,  will  also  be  largely  in  demand,  and  there  will 
be  a  sufficient  supply  at  remunerative  prices.  Probably  these 
textiles  will  make  up  the,junount  to  full  $100,000,000  by  the 
year  a.  d.  1900.       ■['   ?      *      » 

Raw,  or  ratlier  reeled  silk,  is  now  imported,  to  the  extent 
of  from  $7,000,000  to  $1 2,000,000  annually,  to  be  manufactured 
here.  If  common  sense,  without  excitement  or  mania  of  any 
sort,  shall  ever  take  possession  of  the  minds  of  our  people  on 
tne  subject  of  rearing  silkworms,  every  farmer  who  has  been 
five  years  on  his  place  will  be  as  sure  to  have  a  cocoonery  as  he 
will  to  have  a  barn.  The  children  and  young  women  of  the 
household  will  rear  the  worms,  gather  and  stifle  the  cocoons,  and 
the  town  or  village  filature  will  reel  them.  Then  instead  of 
sending  $1 2,000,000  abroad  for  raw  silk,  and  $25,000^000  more  for 
silk  goods,  we  shall  export  both.  Fifty  millions  of  dollars  wiH 
be  less  than  the  value  of  our  raw  silk  and  silk  products,  raised 
and  made  west  of  the  Mississippi  in  the  year  a.  d.  1900. 

Of  the  other  textiles  proper,  flax,  hemp,  ramie,  Jute,  cactus 
fibre,  etc.,  they  are  all  destined  to  have  a  considerable  develop- 
ment,  and  if  methods  of  bleaching  e^ual  to  those  provided  by 


. '  i^Mmi»miimmimmmmmmmmumtim 


mwiimnaiiiMai 


» 


THE  HAY  CKOr  AND  DAIRY  /NTEKKST. 


aaj 


upply  all  these 
1  be  stimulated 
ow  where  now 

as  increased  in 
ement  and  in- 
region  west  of 
>unds.  and  was 
\  to  that  of  the 

proved  grades, 
I  within  twenty 
pounds,  of  an 
per  pound,  or 
uired  at  home, 
icturers.  The 
d  possibly  also 
and  there  will 
Probably  these 
xx),ooo  by  the 

to  the  extent 
manufactured 
mania  of  any 
>ur  people  on 
vho  has  been 
icoonery  as  he 
women  of  the 
e  cocoons,  and 
en  instead  of 
3,0oo  more  for 
)f  dollars  wiH 
oducts,  raised 
19CO. 

(?,  juie,  cactus 
'able  develop- 
eprQvidqd  by 


nature  in  Ireland,  can  be  invented  or  discovered,  there  is  no  good 
reason  why  the  culture  of  tlax,  ramie,  jute,  hemp,  nettle  and 
cactus  fibre,  should  not  increase  to  an  enormous  extent.  Flax  is 
now  cultivated  principally  for  its  seed,  and  the  oil  obtained  from 
it.  The  present  value  of  this  for  the  United  States  is  about 
$5,000,000 ;  that  of  hemp  about  |2,ooo,ooo,  and  of  the  other 
textilies  perhaps  $150,000  in  all.  To  what  extent  these  values 
may  be  increased  within  the  next  twenty  years  it  is  impossible  to 
say.  We  imported  in  the  year  1879  nearly  $1,000,000  worth  of 
raw  flax,  and  $1,829,000  of  raw  hemp;  and  $14,600,000  worth 
of  manufactures  of  flax,  and  $107,000  worth  of  manufactured 
hemp,  $3,781,037  worth  of  raw  jute,  and  $1,776,750  worth  of 
manufactured  jute.  All  of  these  articles  and  raw  material  should 
be  produced  here,  and  perhaps  they  will  be,  within  twenty  years. 

But  we  have  not  yet  noticed  a  crop  which  ranks  third  among 
our  great  national  products,  being  surpassed  only  by  Indian  corn 
and  wheat — the  hay  crop.  In  1879  this  was  estimated  by  the 
United  States  Agricultural  Department  a/ 35,648,000  tons,  having 
a  value  of  $325,851,280.  This  crop,  in  the  nature  of  the  case, 
must  increase ;  the  great  increase  of  cattle  and  sheep  will  require 
it,  in  all  the  Northern  and  Middle  States  nd  Territories  of  the 
Great  West,'  and  the  magnitude  which  the  dairy  interest  is 
assuming,  will  add  to  the  necessity.  Under  this  general  head  of 
hay,  all  plants  cultivated  for  forage  must  be  included.  Much  of 
the  hay,  in  the  north  especially,  is  wild,  and  costs  only  the  labor 
and  expense  of  the  gathering,  but  this  will  eventually  give  way 
to  the  cultivated  grasses.  The  vailue  of  the  hay  crop  of  tlie 
Great  West  in  a.  d.  i  900  will  not  be  less  than  $700,000,000. 

Intimately  associated  with  this  crop  is  the  dairy  interest,  which 
is  now  rapidly  increasing  under  the  stimulus  of  a  large  export 
demand,  a  demand  which,  by  good  management,  may  be  almost 
indefinitely  enlarged.  The  exports  of  butter  and  cheese  in  the 
year  ending  June  30,  1879,  were  $18,000,000,  and  for  the  coming 
year  they 'will  probably  be  much  greater.  It  is  estimated  that 
1,500,000,000  pounds  of  butter  are  now  made  in  this  country,  and 
about  900,000,000  pounds  of  cheese;  1,000,000,000  gallons  of 
milk  are  sold,  and  condensed  milk  to  the  extent  of  about 


f. 


■I 

% 
if 


4iK>-'rlUiBHn^4>*4»<Uk««*^«'*'M».t'tt''*uiuK.-;^:- 


.1     "■'■--    tdTXr^ 


••4 


Ot/M   WKSTKItf/  ttMPfim. 


V 


|6,ooo,ooo.  Tlir  valiir  of  thcnc  tiairy  productH  in  the  otjgr»?fjatj' 
it  about  f  590,ooo,cxx3.  That  th«  rejjion  we«t  of  the  MisnisHlppi 
will  rcjjuirc  in  a.  n.  1900  not  icsii  than  $500,000,000  worth  of 
dairy  products  is  abnoUitcly  certain,  and  the  export  dentand  may 
reach  another  ]^  100,000,000.  Three  other  items  close  our  sum- 
mary of  vegetable  production,  present  and  prospective,  viz.: 
I.  Tobacco,  the  crop  of  which  varies  in  different  years,  but  its 
value  is  not  far  from  f2i,coQ,ooo  annually.  The  production  of 
this  in  the  Crreat  West  will  be  in  the  future  quite  large,  as  some 
of  the  land  in  admirably  adapted  for  it,  and  it  is  regarded  as  a 
profitable  and  desirable  crop.  We  doubt,  however,  if  that  region 
will  in  A.  I).  1900  much  exceed  the  whole  present  United  States 
crop  in  quantity,  though  the  quality  may  be  somewhat  better. 
It  may  be  safely  estimated  at  $35,000,000.  a.  Sugar  and  syrup 
from  the  sugar>canc,  maple  and  sugar-beet.  The  value  of  these 
products  in  1879  vas  about  $18,000,000,  and  it  does  not  seem 
to  us  likely  to  increase.  As  the  sorghum  sugar  begins  to  tak^ 
possession  of  the  market,  the  sugar  from  the  cane  Ix'ing  in  som  : 
sense  a  forced  product,  and  an  uncertain  crop,  will  fall  off.  The 
sugar  maple  is  not  a  very  abundant  forest  treo  west  of  the  Mis 
sissippi,  and  will  not  greatly  increase  its  present  production  of 
sugar ;  while  the  sugar*beet  sugar  is  so  dependent  upon  the  soil, 
and  upon  rather  complicated  processes  of  manufacture,  and  costs 
so  much  more  to  make  than  the  sorghum,  that  it  cannot  add  very 
materially  to  the  aggregate  production.  We  should  be  loth  to 
allow  more  than  $15,000,000  as  the  value  of  these  products  in 
A.  D.  1900  west  of  the  Mississippi.  Adding  to  these  the  glucose' 
product,  mostly  from  corn,  and  we  have  probably  $75,000,000. 
3.  Hops  have  been  a  very  uncertain  crop,  cultivated  only  in 
certain  localities,  and  in  many  instances  failing  even  there.  It 
has  been  more  successful  in  California  than  elsewhere  in  the 
West,  but  is  so  unreliable  that  it  is  difficult  to  estimate  its  prob- 
able prospective  value.  The  crop  of  1877  was  the  best  for 
several  years.  It  was  about  23,000,000  pounds,  and  was  valued 
at  about  $4,250,000  dollars.  That  of  1879  would  not  bring  half 
that  amount.  It  is  doubtful  if  it  will  ever  be  worth  $3,000,000 
west  of  the  MisstssippL      >ft*m  r^*fi.'>£>O0v.  tmAiHof^-tifi- .»&#»• 


■ 


:he  Mianinsippi 
,000  worth  of 
t  demand  may 
:losc  our  .sum 
spectivc,  viz.: 
years,  but  its 
production  of 
large,  as  some 
regarded  as  a 
,  If  that  region 
United  States 
lewhat  better. 
y:ar  and  syrup 
value  of  thcsi! 
3oes  not  seem 
begins  to  tak'^ 
tK'ing  in  som  : 
fall  off.     The 
St  of  the  Mis 
production  of 
upon  the  soil, 
;ure,  and  costs 
nnot  add  very 
iild  be  loth  to 
e  products  in 
le  the  glucose ' 
r  $75,ooo,cxx). 
ated  only  in 
en  there.     It 
where  in  the 
late  its  prob- 
the  best  for 
d  was  valued 
lot  bring  half 
th  $3,ooo,cxx) 


SCmUNV  OF  OTNKK  CKOPa.  ^1% 

Tlic  oil-lx-aring  plants  and  Heedn  arc  largely  those;  which  have 
other  claims  to  be  cuiisidcrcd  than  the  oil  they  pn)diice.  Yet 
they  ought  not  to  go  entirely  unnoticed.  Cottun-sced  oil  is  in 
such  demand  that  its  production  is  sure  to  increase  largely. 
Linseed  oil  is  also  in  great  demand ;  the  oil  front  colza  or  rape- 
seed,  and  the  other  vegetable  seeds  of  its  class,  tar-weed, 
sesame,  etc.,  is  always  sure  of  a  market,  and  the  pea-nut  't 
ground-nut  is  now  largely  cultivated  for  its  oil.  The  castor-oil 
plant  {Ricinus  communis  and  sanguinarius)  is  largely  cultivated  in 
several  States  for  its  oil ;  and  we  are  just  beginning  in  California, 
Texas,  Arizona,  and  some  other  States,  the  cultivation  of  the 
olive,  mainly  for  its  oil.  It  is  difficult  to  estimate  the  amount  of 
all  these  oils  which  will  be  produced  beyond  the  Mississippi 
twenty  years  hence  with  any  great  definiteness,  but  probably  of 
them  all,  $25,000,000  would  be  a  very  low  valuation. 

Let  us  sum  up  now  in  regard  to  these  farm  crops  other  than 
cereals,  and  their  yield  in  a.  d.  1900. 

The  Common,  or  Irish  Potato    .     .  650,000,000  bushels,  Value  1335,000,000 

Sweet  Potatoes        50,000,000         "           "  37,500,000 

Market-Garden  Vegetables  of  all  kinds     ......      "  150,000,000 

Orchard  Products •'  310,000,000 

Textiles— Cotton 10,500,000  bales           *'  588,000,000 

^               wool  ..•••» "  77,000,000 

.»^s  Kli       Goat's  Hair,  Alpaca,  and  Camel's  Hair  .     .     .      "  83,000,000 

Silk  and  Silk  Products «  50,000,000 

Flax,  Hemp,  Jute,  etc.    .    .    ,    .    ,    ....     "  30,000,000 

Hay  and  Forage  ■  ,yr  ,ij   j.    ^  '^f.^.,*  .♦.  ^.\,.^  »  r .f,',  •.  f* . ;  "  700,000,000 

Dairy  Products   .,   .',♦,».     f     •     .     .     •     .     .     .      "  600,000,000 

Tobacco .,...,,..      «•  35,000,000 

Sugar  and  Syrup,  not  from  Sorghum    .     .     .  'U*-  .     .      "  75,000,000 

Hops «•  3,000,000 

Oils ofVegetableProduction,Cotton-Seed,  Linseed, Olive,  etc.  "  25,000,000 

-iiU  .;.-;,     Total.    »   '.  .  V    »-  >    ♦    ,     ,    ♦-';    k    i    ,     |3,o>8,soo,ooo 

The  fisheries  of  the  Great  West  demand  our  attention  also. 
The  salmon  fisheries  of  the  Pacific  coast  and  of  the  Columbia 
river  have  already  attained  a  great  magnitude,  and  but  for  the 
artificial  replenishing  of  its  waters  with  this  right  royal  fish,  they 


I 


3 


%■■ 


I 


a^ 


OUM    WKSTRKN   KMtlRR. 


would  exhaust  the  supply  within  trn  or  fiflrrn  yrars.  In  1H78 
morr  than  1 1  n,cxx>,cxx>  worth  of  cannrti  Kaiinon  wan  nhippcU 
from  the  vicinity  of  the  Columbia  river,  and  in  1879  the  catch 
ami  khipmrntn  wrre  fifty  per  cent,  greater  than  the  prrviouH 
year.  Salmon  are  also  brought  in  large  (juantiticH  irum  our 
great  northern  Territory  of  Alaska.  !; 

Hut  this  vast  product  from  a  single  fiHh,  greater  than  all  the 
products  of  all  the  fisheries  in  the  United  .States,  in  1K70,  by 
twenty-five  per  cent.,  by  no  mcann  cxhauHts  the  resources  of  the 
fisheries  of  the  Pacific  The  seal,  sea-otter,  nca-Iion,  and  other 
fisheries  of  the  mammals  of  the  sea,  amount  to  over  1113,500,000. 
while  the  markets  of  the  Pacific  coast  swarm  with  fish  of  all 
kinds ;  and  the  whale  fishery,  concluded  Irom  Pacific  ports,  lias 
taken  the  place  of  that  from  the  former  wluling  ports  of  tlie  At- 
lantic. The  Great  Uakos  at  the  Northeast  and  the  coa!>i.  of 
Texas  and  Louisiar?  on  the  South  are  teeming  with  edible  fish. 

But  far  beyond  these,  in  its  aggregates,  within  the  next  twenty 
years,  will  be  the  fisheries  of  smaller  'ikcs  and  rivers  from  artifi- 
cial propagation.  Every  State  an*  'ritory  of  the  interior  can 
profit  by  this.  Minnesota  claims  /.vajo  lakes,  many  of  them  of 
considerable  size ;  Dakota,  Montana,  Oregon,  and  Washington 
abound  in  lakes.  California  has  many,  and  most  of  them  of 
great  purity.  Utah  has  them  both  of  fresh  and  salt  water,  and 
all  the  States  and  Terfitories  have  greater  or  less  numbers. 
Then  the  rivers,  which  have  their  sources  and  many  of  them 
their  entire  course  in  this  region :  the  Columbia  with  its  gigantic 
affluents,  the  Clarke  and  Lewis,  or  .Snake;  the  Missouri,  with  its 
scores  of  affliAents,  some  of  them  themselves  mighty  rivers  ;  the 
Pl?itte,  the  Kansas,  the  Arkansas,  the  Red  river  of  the  South,  and 
the  Red  river  of  the  North ;  the  Brazos,  the  Colorado,  and  the 
Rio  Grande  of  Texas  and  New  Mexico ;  the  great  Colorado  of 
the  West  with  its  tributaries,  the  Grand,  Green,  San  Juan  and 
Little  Colorado,  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  of  California, 
and  the  Gila  of  Arizona,  and  the  numerous  bays  and  estuaries 
iqfl  the  PacififC  ^pcjIGulf  coasts  are  al^o  teem/ng  with  the  finny 
tpbes.  All  these  Ia^.s,  rivers  and  estuaries  are  now  b^ng 
^ficked.  or  ha^ve  already  been  supplied  with  thousands  and  vc^\. 


'I'.,, '  \\ 


atmtim 


l/rMMTVCAT  /A    A,  D.  190a, 


»J7 


yrarn.  In  1H78 
^n  wuN  Hhippcd 
1879  the  calch 
in  the  prcvioiiH 
ititicH    irutn  out 

I 

Xer  than  all  the 

itPH,  in   1870,  by 

rcsourccH  of  the 

i-lion,  and  other 

over  $3,500,000, 

with  fiiih  of  nil 

'acific  ports,  las 

ports  of  ilie  At- 

id  the  coa>k.  of 

vith  edible  fish. 

the  next  twenty 

ivers  from  artifi- 

thc  interior  can 

lany  of  them  of 

nd  Washington 

ost  of  them  of 

salt  water,  and 

less  numbers. 

many  of  them 

with  its  gigantic 

issouri,  with  its 

hty  rivers ;  the 

the  South,  and 

orado,  and  the 

at  Colorado  of 

S^n  Juan  and 

n  of  California, 

s  and  estuaries 

with  the  finny 

are  no^v  bfcirvg 

isands  and  i9iL 


V 


'')':,     K: 


lioMM  of  young  fish  of  the  \H'%t  kinds;  the  Urgrr  luken  have  the 
lake  trout,  the  land  ItK'ked  Halrnon,  the  white  fish,  th^*  muMkc* 
longc-,  the  blai:k  Imnh,  tlie  grayling,  and  the  Ninaller  fry;  th«i 
Htn*amM  are  replrninhed  witit  the  brook  trout,  which,  in  Home  of 
ihvni,  att^iuM  a  huge  huv.,  while  in  the  HtrcamM  (lowing  into  the 
Msa,  the  4Jklmon  in  intriHluccd,  or  it*i  waste  Hupplicd,  the  khui.!, 
striped  \m%h,  wlute  ('ihI),  SpaniHh  muckc;rrl,  and  other  fmh  e()ua!l) 
valuable,  but  nut  ho  well  known,  are  inlroiluced  in  large  num- 
berH.  The  result  iit  likely  to  be  that  fish  will  be  pit  nliful  in  all 
partH  of  the  West,  and  at  Huch  priccH  an  to  make  them  in  de- 
mand for  the  food  of  all  clasHes.  Die  finh  product  of  the  Great 
WeKt  in  A.  u.  1900  will  not  fall  below  ;;^  1  o^>,uuu,ouo. 

We  turn  next  to  the  live  Htock  of  tliiA  vast  region.  In  1870 
thft  States!  and  Territories  west  of  tie  MiiiHisHippi  held,  accord- 
ing to  the  census  of  that  year,  live-stock  of  the  value  of  $347,- 
350,790.  In  the  summer  of  1878  the  numbers  and  value  of  the 
live-stock  of  the  .s:\tiie  region  had  increased  until  was  worUi, 
at  the  very  low  ^'rices  then  ruling,  $625,314,521,  which  was 
divided  as  follows:  IIorseN,  $204,753,432;  mules  and  asses, 
$4S>i^7'S^'<  niilch  cows,  $92,870,880;  oxen  and  other  cattle, 
$'95,237,488;  sheep,  $39,424,200;  swine,  $47,160,981.  The 
ratio  of  increase  which  had  ruled  from  1875  to  1878,  if  continued 
in  1879  and  1880  (and  it  has  gone  much  beyond  the  average  of 
those  yean'.),  would  give  for  the  value  of  live-stock,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1880,  in  these  States  and  Territories,  $706,518,831  ;  a  lit- 
tle more  than  double  the  value  of  the  live-stock  of  the  same 
region  in  1870.  We  are  warranted  in  believing  that,  owing  to 
the  extraordinary  activity  displayed  in  all  parts  of  that  region,  in 
the  rearing  of  horses,  mules,  cattle,  sheep,  and  goats,  and  the 
great  care  taken  to  improve  the  stock,  as  well  as  the  increased 
attention  paid  to  the  breeding  of  milch  cows,  the  census  of  1890 
will  show  the  value  of  live-stock  to  be  not  less  than  $1,500,000,- 
000,  and  that  of  1900  somewhat  more  than  $3,000,000,000. 
The  greater  part  of  this  increase  will  be  in  the  items  of  horses 
and  mules,  of  milch  cows,  and  of  catUe  for  draught  and  for  sale, 
and  of  sheep.  Swine  will  increase  when  the  population  shall 
increase,  btit  their  increase  will  not  be  proportionally  as  rapid  as 
that  of  5h«:ep  or  neat  cattle.  < 


\ , 


i.« 


228 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


1 


\  I: 


•■ 


\  if-' 


It  is  difficult  to  estimate  what  may  be  the  future  supply  of 
the  products  of  the  forest.  Under  this  head  are  included  all  the 
timber,  spars,  and  lumber  exported  or  consumed  in  our  own 
country,  all  railroad  ties  and  track  beams,  all  the  wood  used  for 
fuel  and  for  fencing,  clap-boards,  laths,  shingles,  telegraph 
poles,  hoop-poles,  shocks,  staves,  hogsheads,  and  barrels,  every 
description  of  wooden  war  a,  the  wooden  portion  of  agricultural 
and  other  machines,  house  furniture,  the  wood  used  for  car- 
riages, cars,  wagons,  trucks,  sleighs  a'ld  sleds,  the  consumption 
for  spools,  matches,  tooth-picks,  etc.,  etc.,  all  barks  of  trees  or 
shrubs  used  for  tanning  purposes,  the  wood  made  into  paper 
pulp,  all  the  tar,  pitch,  turpentine,  rosin,  and  wood  spirits, 
charcoal,  crude,  pot,  and  pearl  ashes,  and  wood  ashes  generally . 
The  timber  and  lumber  production  aione  was  in  1870,  in  the 
region  west  of  the  Mississippi,  of  the  value  of  nearly  $125,- 
000,000,  and  since  th^t  time  it  has  enormously  increased.  The 
extensive  forests  of  Northern  Minnesota  have  furnished  logs 
enough  for  the  immense  jaw-mills  of  Minneapolis  and  the 
upper  waters  of  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries,  to  manufac- 
ture into  timber,  lumber,  shingles,  and  staves  for  its  great  flour- 
ing mills,  and  for  a  wide  region  of  the  Northwest ;  and  Washing- 
ton and  Oregon  have  been  increasing,  to  an  almost  equal  extent, 
their  lumber  production.  The  40,000  miles  of  railway  has 
gathered  up  all  the  available  timber  within  its  reach  for  railway 
ties  and  telegraph  poles,  for  stations,  snow-sheds,  and  signal- 
posts.  The  factories,  which  are  turning  out  so  many  scores  of 
thousands  of  agricultural  machines  and  implements  every  year, 
are  eating  up  the  forest  at  a  fearful  rate ;  the  furniture  produc- 
tion, though  less  extensive  here  than  in  the  East,  yet  consumes 
year  after  year,  vast  quantities  of  the  harder  woods,  as  well  as 
much  pine  and  cedar.  The  consumption  of  the  forest  trees  for 
fuel  has  been  enormous  and  wasteful.  In  the  mining  regions, 
fjharcbal  has  been  largely  used  instead  of  mineral  coal  for  smelt- 
ing and  reduction  of  the  metals  The  production  of  small  articles 
of  wood,  such  as  spools,  matches,  tooth-picks,  nine-pins,  and  of 
paper  pulp,  from  bass  wood,  etc.,  etc.,  has  used  a  far  greater 
amount  than  is  getierally  supposed.    Fencing  the  farms  has  also 


'l:'.'\A., 


■v«;. 


ture  supply  of 
iciuded  all  the 
:d  in  our  own 
wood  used  for 
fles,  telegraph 
barrels,  every 
of  agricultural 

used  for  car 
e  consumption 
•ks  of  trees  or 
ade  into  paper 

wood  spirits, 
shes  generally . 
in  1870,  in  the 
f  nearly  $125,- 
icreased.  The 
furnished  logs 
polis  and  the 
ss,  to  manufac- 
its  great  flour- 
and  Washing- 
st  equal  extent, 
f  railway  has 
ch  for  railway 
Is,  and  signal- 
lany  scores  of 
ts  every  year, 
niture  produc- 

yet  consumes 
ds,  as  well  as 
forest  trees  for 
lining  regions, 
coal  forsmelt- 
3f  small  articles 
e-plns,  and  of 

a  far  greater 
farms  has  also 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  FOREST  330 

required  vast  quantities  of  timber,  and  the  erection  of  log- 
houses,  the  timbering  of  mines,  tunnels,  and  sliafts  wh*  h 
requires  in  some  sections  all  the  available  timber  for  many  hun- 
dred square  miles ;  the  erection  of  bridges,  and  the  making  of 
corduroy  roads,  have  added  to  the  consumption  of  the  forest 
till  its  aggregate,  in  any  year  of  the  past  ten,  must  be  enormous. 
The  use  of  the  bark  of  the  hemlocks  and  oaks  for  tanning  pur- 
poses has  not  iiitherto  been  as  great  in  the  West  as  in  the  East, 
but  it  is  increasing,  and  unless  it  can  be  supplied  by  the  watde, 
the  mezquite,  the  sumacs,  or  the  hardbacks,  it  must  prove  very 
largely  destructive  of  timber ;  and  on  the  Pacific  coast  and  in 
Louisiana  and  Texas  there  is  a  constandy  increasing  demand 
for  naval  stores,  tar,  pitch,  rosin,  and  turpentine,  which  will  ere 
long  denude  the  mountains  of  the  pine  forests. 

In  all  these  ways  the  products  of  the  forest  annually  con- 
sumed ir  the  region  west  of  the  Mississippi  cannot  have  been 
less  than  $500,000,000  at  any  fair  valuation,  and  may  have 
gready  exceeded  that  sum.  Unless  the  planting  of  trees  goes 
on  much  more  rapidly  tlian  now,  in  the  immediate  future,  and 
some  means  are  found  of  substituting  other  materials  for  wood, 
in  many  ol  the  purposes  for  which  it  is  now  used ;  as  iron  and 
glass  for  buildings;  glass,  metal,  or  stone  for  railroad  ties; 
paper  made  from  straw  and  condensed  into  a  hard  wood  for 
furniture ;  artificial  stone  or  cement  for  supports  of  mines ;  and 
coal  for  fuel  and  smeldng  purposes,  the  whole  West  wiU  be,  by 
the  year  1 900,  a  treeless  region ;  but  before  that  time  comes, 
the  coming  scarcity  of  forest  trees  will  enhance  the  price  of  all 
the  products,  and  even  if  the  consumption  should  be  no  greater 
than  now,  its  money  value  would  not  be  less  than  a  thousand 
million  dollars;  .w.;,ri?  ifix.  «  ,  ^-..-.f  .U.  +,..t  •  .  ^.,^  -..  .-v.?' 
«iriJTie  manufacturing  industry  of  this  region  did  not  make  a 
comparatively  large  showing  in  1870  with  the  Eastern  States. 
Of  the  $4,332,325,442  of  reported  manufactured  products  for 
the  preceding  year,  only  $437,232,117,  a  less  amount,  probably, 
by$6o,cxx),C)OOor$7o,ooo,oc)o  than  the  existing  condition  of  manu- 
factures there  warranted,  was  set  down  as  the  production  ol  the 
entire  Western  region,  and  of  this  amount,  nearly  one-half  was  to 


'•'  'ii**»'»ti»^iM'i^mimsiii>itm^»ii^.:s 


-^»^^*»ii€AdkS'i^ffifS»%MJ^^S^;^^^  ^ 


t 


jK.tatiiiiL-jA.i.'f  '.r,-~ 


•i 


I 


^30  f>^Jf    WF.STE/IN  EMPIRE. 

the  credit  of  Missouri  alone.  At  that  time  only  Missouri,  Califor- 
nia, Iowa,  Minnesota,  Kansas  and  Texas  had  manufactures 
exceeding  in  value  $10,000,000.  The  other  States  and  Terri- 
tories were  new,  and  had  not  yet  emerged  from  their  almost 
wholly  agricultural  condition.  Nine  years  later,  Minnesota  had 
manufacturing  industries  exceeding  $75,000,000  in  value ;  Kah- 
sas  about  $95,000,000;  Iowa  more  than  $100,000,000;  California 
more  than  $150,000,000;  Texas  about  $50,000,000 ;  and  Missouri 
over  $300,000,000.  The  newer  States  and  Territories  were 
wheeling  into  line,  and  in  1879-80  the  total  manufacturing 
interest  of  this  region  was  over  $1,000,000,000. 

In  the  near  future,  the  amount  of  manufacturing  here  will 
exceed  that  in  the  East.  The  water-power,  the  raw  material  the 
coal,  the  iron,  the  cotton,  the  wool,  flax,  hemp,  jute,  etc^  the 
wood,  copper,  lead,  zinc,  grain,  paper,  and  paper  stock,  every- 
thing indeed  which  enters  into  the  composition  of  any  kind  of 
manufactured  goods,  is  at  hand.  The  skilled  labor  is  there  also, 
and  if  the  capital  is  not  now,  it  soon  will  be.  It  is  not  a  rash  or 
liap-hazard  prediction,  which  we  make,  when  we  say  that  the 
census  of  a.  d.  1900  (the  twelfth  census)  will  show  that  the  manu- 
factures of  the  region  West  of  the  Mississippi  exceed  in  annual 

product  $5,000,000,000.  '*•  •*'^'^^^^' ■ -^^'^m--^^ ^^^mm^'^-m'^^H^m. 

;*  The  amount  of  the  commerce  of  this  Western  Empire  at 
^e  end  of  the  next  twenty  years  is  not  easily  predicted.  The 
number  of  good  seaports  on  the  Pacific  coast  is  not  as  large 
as  on  the  corresponding  extent  of  the  Atlantic,  but  a  few  of 
them  are  among  the  best  in  the  worid.  On  the  Gulf  coast, 
aside  from  New  Orleans,  which  hardly  belongs  to  our  Western 
Empire,  none  of  the  ports  are  of  ♦^he  first-class,  though  several 
are  good  for  all  but  the  largest  vessels.  There  is  alsb  A  great 
extent  of  river  and  some  lake  navigation.  The  commerce  with 
'Eastern  Asia,  with  Australasia,  with  the  Sandwich  Islands,  with 
the  Northwest  Coast,  Mexico,  Central  America,  and  ^Snt  west 
coast  of  South  America  ts  likely  to  be  greatly  increased,  and 
from  the  Gulf  ports,  Europe,  the  Mediterranean,  NorA^m 
Africa,  India,  and  the  eastern  coast  of  South  America  will  be 
'Veadily  reached.  '  "  f^^ 


::,  I 


ssoiiri,  Califor- 
manufactures 
tes  and  Terri- 
1  their  almost 
tfinnesota  had 
1  value;  Kah- 
oo;  California 
;  and  Missouri 
jrritories  were 
manufacturing 

i  ring  "here  Will 
w  material  the 
,  jute,  etCo  the 
rr  stock,  every- 
of  any  kind  of 
>r  is  there  also, 
s  not  a  rash  or 
e  say  that  the 
that  the  manu- 
ceed  in  annual 

;rn  Empire  at 
redicted.  The 
is  not  as  large 
:,  but  a  few  of 
he  Gulf  coast, 
I  our  Western 
flrough  several 
als6  4  great 
:ommerce  with 
:h  Islands,  with 
.,  and  Ae  w6st 
increaseii,  and 
lean,  Nortiiftrn 
merica  will  be 


SUMMARY  OF  ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  23 1 

^'  The  internal  and  interstate  coAimerce,  by  coast  and  river 
steamers,  and  by  the  numberless  railroads  which  gridiron  the 
whole  region,  will  aUo  attain  a  magnitude  almost  beyond  our 
conception.  On  the  ocean  nnd  coast  steamers,  the  river 
steamers,  and  the  railroad  freight  trains,  almost  the  entire  yield 
of  our  mines,  placers  and  quarries,  of  the  farms  and  forest  pro- 
ducts, and  all  the  surplusage  of  live-stock,  as  well  as  the  wool 
and  hides,  and  the  flesh  of  all  the  slaughtered  animiils,  all  the 
machinery,  dry-goods,  groceries,  hardware,  drugs,  dils,  etc.,  in- 
tended for  the  consuiT^ption  of  50,000,000  of  people,  will  be  car- 
ried. We  dare  not  attempt  to  reckon  up  the  aggregate  t>f  this 
commerce,  test  we  should  be  accused  of  oriental  extravagance 
of  statement;  but  a  summary  of  the  various  items  of  production, 
which  Nve  have  demonstrated  as  probable  twenty  years  hence, 
will  give  some  idea  of  what  the  Outgoing  commerce  of  that 
period  may  be,  and  the  incoming  commercial  receipts  will  be 

very  nearly  as  mucb  more.    ;.  , '  '  .  "^      .     ''  '•■ 

We  sum  up,  then,  as  follows :  .  .  . ;. ,     -         ' 

Mining  Products  and  Quarries  in  A.  D.  1900  .     .     .    ,*p,.<i,.    ^5,000,000,000 

Cereal  Product: 4,167,500,000 

koot  Cro{>s,  Textiles,  Maiiflcet  Garden,  Dairy  Products,  Hay, 

Ji'     Tobacco,  ieltc. 3,028^^00,000 

Fisheries    .  irwi/s;.  i  ),«  u/.-k  ,•«)<>:  '•"•'•»    -ii.i'V  i»  lyl  «o'#!ii       roo,ooo,ooo 
Live-Stotk      .     .     .     -.    '.     .1     .     .     .'     .     .     <    -i    •    r.  .,  ),ooo,odo,oo6 
Forest  Products  .     .     .     ....    .     .     ,    .     .     .    -^.^^.j^,  ,  1,000,000,900 

Manufactures.     *    •    •    '»  r*-i  •    *•»  •    •  r>  <,  •    •    •    •    .^   5,000,000,000 

oj  ,.',':•''■  Ghmd  Total  It -vi-t'  \.^  cqijrvjijrr  .'v'.i  V'''ir*r,;  ^zr, 296,600,060 

r  more  thalh  ten  times  our  present  national  debt  It  is  to  be 
remembered  tbat  this  is  only  the  valuation  of  the  products  and 
crops  of  a  single  year ;  that  it  does  not  include  either  the  value 
of  the  real  or  personal  estate  of  the  50,000,000  who  w^l  inhabit 
our  Western  Empire  at  that  time.  ,( v     \  ,    ^      ^ 

'.^.  And  what  shall  we  say  of  the  popujattoii  which,  twenty  ye^^s 
hence,  will  fill  this  vast  region  with  life  and  industrial  activity^ 
Remember,  Tt  is  l)ut  twenty  years,  but  Iittie  moi^e  th^n  half  a  gen- 
eration ;  an4  many  of  those  who  are  actively  engaged  in  business 
how  will  be  active  and  useful  then ;  but  who  that  remembers  the 


it 
I 


4'r 


ft 


)-■■ 

^  •  : 


y' 


i^sMtiimiimHi»t^>i*>^ ' 


■4<A4i.t^i»ii(»awgKjfio4<iwxpi<awfcfeg-gafvH:.tf&M-' 


'  "HT  '    ifi  Ifi'iji  /&'  itl^M 


■ill  I"  1  lYihiirf  i^.vr-"Ji  ti.  I  ■■?  J-;  jt»  .ill  W8«»f)l^.  ^*i'^'tti»»w»**»'-^<t^ 


),:_■- 


932 


OtA'     WESTERN   EMPIRE. 


year  before  the  civil  war,  and  the  changes  through  which  c.^r 
nation  has  passed  in  twenty  years,  can  fail  to  realize  that  even 
two  decades  may  separate  us  from  an  era,  which  seems  to  belong 
to  the  half-forgotten  past,  and  from  circumstances  which  have 
entirely  changed  our  condition  and  character  as  a  nation.  ' 
^ ,  There  is  very  little  reason  to  apprehend  either  a  foreign  or  a 
civil  war  within  that  time.  The  magnitude  and  comparative 
isolation  of  our  territory  prevents  our  position  from  being  one 
which  menaces  any  other  great  power;  while  our  resources  are 
ample  to  repel  any  foreign  invasion.  As  to  a  civil  war,  there  are 
now  no  sufficient  causes  to  provoke  it.  While  slavery  existed, 
it  was  a  standing  menace  against  a  free  government.  But,  now, 
there  may  be  temporary  discontent,  on  the  part  of  a  single  State, 
from  some  real  or  imaginary  hardship;  while  the  great  mass  of 
States  are  so  bound  to  each  other  by  a  multiplicity  of  ties,  finan- 
cial, commercial,  sanitary,  charitable,  literary,  and  religious,  that 
there  can  be  no  general  movement  which  would  lead  to  a  civil 
war.  Questions  like  that  of  the  disposition  of  the  Indians,  that 
of  the  prohibition  of  polygamy  among  the  Mormons,  and  that 
of  undenominational  •  public  schools,  may  excite  a  temporary 
ripple  in  the  smooth  sea  of  our  prosperity,  but  the  calm  will  soon 
return.  A  bitter  Presidential  contest  may  produce  excitement 
and  apprehension  for  a  time,  and  some  fear  of  Caesarism  on  one 
hand,  or  of  a  revolutionary  dictatorship  on  the  other ;  but  the 
nation  is  too  patriotic  to  sustain  any  attempts  at  unconstitutional 
rule.  Vexed  questions  of  the  rights  of  labor  and  capital,  or  of 
the  right  to  prohibit  the  migration  of  particular  nationalities  to 
our  soil  may  excite  temporary  strife  and  discord,  but  in  the  end 
we  shall  settle  down  upon  the  broad  principles  of  the  universal 
brbtherhood  of  man  and  the  equality  of  all  men  before  the  law. 

It  would  have  been  better  in  some  respects  if  our  male  suffrage 
had  not  been  quite  so  nearly  universal  as  it  is,  but  the  dangers 
^PP*"^^®"*^^*^  fr^P  ^^^  gourde  are  now  very  neariy  obviated. 
Lfct  11*  glance,  then,  at  tKe  races  and  nationalities  which  will 
pi^obably  mak^  up  the  50^000,000  to  be  found  west  of  the  Mis^ 
sissippi  in  A.'b.'igoo.;^'":''''''  '  'f'V'"  '■  '  r'i""-"-"'   ",  '  '        'V" 

It  may,  we  thmk,  be  talcen  as  a  settled  fact  that  by  the  com- 


MiMM(iMi(SB»aia»jiffiiiBaiiawif«i«^ 


LiV.Sa..-    ?^.^ 


PROBABLE  DWINDLING   OF  INDIAN  TKIBES. 


233 


1  which  o..r 
e  that  even 
US  to  belong 
which  have 
tion.      ,  _, 
foreign  or  a 
comparative 
n  being  one 
esources  are 
ar,  there  are 
irery  existed, 
But,  now, 
single  State, 
reat  mass  of 
)f  ties,  finan- 
eligious,  that 
:ad  to  a  civil 
Indians,  that 
tns,  and  that 
a  temporary 
aim  will  soon 
B  excitement 
irism  on  one 
ler;  but  the 
:onstitutional 
capital,  or  of 
itionalities  to 
t  in  the  end 
le  universal 
;  the  law. 
ale  suffrage 
the  dangers 
,rly  obviated. 
;s  which  will 
of  the  MiS' 

Iby  the  com- 


mencement of  the  twentieth  century,  the  Indian,  especially  in  his 
nomadic  condition,  will  have  ceased  to  be  a  disturbing  factor  in 
the  West.  The  tribes  are  diminishing  in  a  very  rapid  ratio.  In 
i860,  there  were  somewhat  more  than  5oo,cxx)  of  them  within 
the  limits  of  the  United  States.  In  1870,  the  number  had  dwin- 
dled to  383,000.  In  1878,  there  were  but  275,000,  and  the  super- 
visors of  the  census,  in  1880,  will  hardly  report  more  than  250,- 
000.  At  this  ratio  they  would  be  extinct  by  a.  d.  1900.  This 
is  hardly  probable,  but  they  will  be  so  few  as  to  be  of  very  little 
importance.  There  are  natural  laws  which  would  bring  about 
this  result  in  time,  but  it  must  be  said  that  for  nearly  the  whole 
of  the  present  century  the  policy  of  our  government  has  been  to 
hasten  it.  They  have  been  removed  from  one  district  of  country, 
and  from  one  reservation  to  another,  and  have  been  exposed  to 
the  frauds  of  unscrupulous  traders,  who  have  plied  them  with  the 
vilest  liquors,  and  have  plundered  them  of  all  their  property, 
while,  in  too  many  instances,  the  government  agent  has  stood 
by  and  permitted  the  wrongs,  without  even  protesting  against 
them.  Moreover,  the  government  has  not  observed  its  treaty 
provisions,  and  the  Indian,  learning  only  the  worst  vices  of  civil- 
ization, has  come  to  his  death,  either  by  vice,  disease,  or  murder 
inflicted  by  the  whites. 

While  we  write,  a  treaty  has  been  negotiated  which  will,  very 
soon  we  hope,  put  an  end  to  the  system  of  large  reservations 
and  give  to  the  Indians  about  480  acres  of  land  per  family  in 
severalty,  and  pay  them  an  annuity,  while  the  remainder  of  their 
reservations  is  to  be  put  upon  the  market.  Thi?  plan,  just 
adopted  on  the  great  reservation  of  the  Utes  in  Colorado,  by 
which  more  than  1 1,000,000  acres  of  their  lands  are  to  be  offered 
for  sale,  will  undoubtedly  be  followed  by  similar  action  in  regard 
to  the  great  reservations  in  Dakota,  Wyoming,  Montana,  Utah, 
Idaho,  Oregon,  Washington,  Nevada,  California,  and  perhaps 
Arizona,  and  the  Indian  Territory.  The  measure  is,  in  itself,  a 
good  one,  but  to  be  of  much  benefit  to  the  Indians  it  should  have 
been  adopted  years  ago.  The  diminution  and  final  extinction 
of  the  Indian  races  will  not  be  materially  delayed  by  it. 
^^We  may  safely  predict,  that  with  the  exception  of  the  Indian 


f;S' 


»j<«FqK-«^»»lrt«UMi^-iWiW»;^UrtAMafa«»Marf»>-><'«^^ 


-:j:.~.'.''.'i  ^M.-U>w,"^  <u:^itiiji)iu,^i^...,v'^M.' aSJk'Zf-'z-'t.  t~Aij:at-':..,^Mj.ui 


.rw,.i'Aj."'"?i"^''i.a'.'ikS.  "-■■;' -C-; 


334 


OVX    WESTBRJ^  EAtrrHE. 


Territory,  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  Utah  and  possibly  Idaho, 
Montana,  Washington  and  Dakota,  the  Indian  will,  by  a.  d.  1900, 
have  ceased  to  be  an  appreciable  element  of  the  population,  and 
even  in  these  Territories,  except  possibly  the  Indian  Territory, 
their  numbers  will  be  so  small  as  to  excite  no  alarm,  and  lead  to 
no  difficulties.  Nearly  200,000,000  acres  of  land,  some  of  it 
excellent  farming  land,  and  perhaps  more  containing  valuable 
mineral  deposits,  will  thus  be  thrown  upon  the  market. 
'  The  colored  race,  which  in  1870  numbered  in  all  the  States 
find  Territories  west  of  the  Mississippi  less  than  900,000,  or 
only  about  one-sixth  of  the  whole  number  in  the  United  States, 
has  since  that  time  increased  largely  by  immigration ;  and 
probably  at  the  census  of  the  present  year  will  show  i  ,400,000 
or  1,500,000  in  that  region.  The  natural  increase  in  this  race 
is  not  likely  to  be  large,  for  in  time  they  too  will  become  extinct, 
under  the  pressure  of  a  higher  civilization,  but  the  accessions  from 
tlie  East  will  continue  for  some  years  to  come.  It  is  doubtful, 
however,  whether  there  will  be  more  than  3,000,000  or  3,500,000 
in  the  territory  west  of  the  Mississippi  in  a.  d.  1900. 

The  Mexican  races,  whether  Hispano- American  -bf  pWrt 
Indian,  fail  to  hold  their  own  by  the  side  of  our  more  robust 
civilization.  It  is  to  be  hoped,  both  for  our  sakes  and  theirs,  that 
l^e  mania  for  £Mnexation  may  not  seize  our  people  before  that 
time,  and  Mexico  be  brought  into  the  Union,  either  peacefully  or 
by  force — for  our  sakes,  because  we  have  already  a  sufficient 
territory,  and  the  accession  of  a  weak  nation  almost  wholly 
uneducated,  and  speaking  another  language  than  ours,  would 
degrade  radier  than  improve  our  national  character;  and  for 
dieirs,  because  they  would  inevitably  be  placed  in  an  inferior 
position,  and  might  be  goaded  to  a  resistance  which  would  prove 
fotal  to  them.  But,  for  the  Mexicans  who  are  residing  in  the 
Great  West,  we  can  pi'edict  no  <:onsiderable  Accessions,  except 
from  trnmigratlon.  They  are  not  aggressive,  and  taking  an 
infei'lor's  positioift,  they  will  be  likely  to  be  kept  ¥her<:. 

7)ie  Chihese  &Ad  Jap&ftefse  are  likely  to  be  eicdcuptions  t6  the 
general  law  in  Regard  to  weaker  rices.  The  imitiigration  o^  the 
Qiineise  hitherto  has  beeri,  with  but  few  exceptions,  of  the  coolie  or 


fe^-4»S*jii&M.«pswS<fetoJ'vM^^^ 


CHINESE  AND  OT/fEJt  NATIONALITIES. 


235 


ssibly  Idaho, 
by  A.  D.  1900, 
tpulation,  and 
ian  Territory, 
1,  and  lead  to 
J,  some  of  it 
ling  valuable 
kct. 

all  the  States 
ti  900,000,  or 
Jnited  States, 
gration ;  and 
low  1,400,000 
se  in  this  race 
:come  extinct, 
xessions  from 
It  is  doubtful, 
5  or  3,500,000 
0.  '  ^  7 — 
can  of  pixtk 
more  robust 
nd  theirs,  that 
fie  before  that 
•  peacefully  or 
y  a  sufficient 
ilmost  wholly 
1  ours,  would 
cter;  and  for 
n  an  inferior 
1  MTould  prove 
Kstding  in  the 
ssions,  e^ept 
A  taking  an 

^ptibh^  td 'ihiei 
gration  o^  the 
>fthe  coolie  or 


peasant  class.  When  a  better  class  come,  bringing  their  families, 
such  a  tide  of  immigration  will  pour  in  upon  the  Pacific  coast,  as 
will  materially  change  the  situation  of  affairs  there,  though  not 
necessarily  for  the  worse.  The  better  classes  in  China  are  by  no 
means  barbarians,  but  people  of  as  much  refinement  and  delicacy 
of  manner  as  can  be  found  anywhere,  and  in  morals  vasdy  the 
superiors  of  their  persecutors  in  California. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  wherever  the  Chinese  have 
emigrated  in  considerable  numbers,  they  have  always  in  the  end 
become  the  masters  of  the  country,  however  intelligent  and 
physically  vigorous  and  powerful  the  natives  might  be.  This  has 
been  the  result  at  Singapore,  at  Saigon,  at  Bangkok,  and  in 
other  parts  of  Malaysia.  They  can,  if  they  choose,  plant 
50,000,000  of  Chinese  colonists  on  the  Pacific  coast  and  th« 
interior,  within  the  next  twenty  years ;  but  that  will  hardly  be 
their  policy.  If  they  obtain  a  foothold  they  will  become  largely 
engaged  in  commercial  transactions,  in  which  they  possess  great 
skill,  and  the  peasant  class  will  be  in  demand  for  both  skFlled 
and  unskilled  labor.  We  regard  it  as  altogether  probable  that 
the  census  of  1900  will  report  not  less  than  10,000,000  of  them 
west  of  the  Mississippi. 

Of  the  emigrants  from  Europe,  it  is  probable  that  the  nation- 
alities will  prevail  in  about  the  following  order :  Germans,  Irish, 
Scandinavians,  English,  Scotch  and  Welch,  Italians,  Russians, 
Canadian  French,  French,  Swiss,  Spanish,  Belgians  and  Hol- 
landers. There  will  also  be  a  considerable  number  of  emigrants 
from  the  West  Indies,  and  from  South  America.  But  the  larger 
proportion  of  immigrants  will  be  from  the  States  east  of  the 
Mississippi,  not  a  few  of  them  originally  European  emigrants, 
who  are  rtow  drifting  westward;  others,  the  children  of  such 
emigrants,  but  a  fair  proportion  of  the  genuine  Yankee  stock, 
drawn  thither  to  become  farmers,  mine-owners,  stock-raisers, 
sheep-mastefs,  or  manufacturers.  Very  many  of  our  best 
citizens  are  among  these  settlers  in  the  Great  West,  and  they 
will  do  gOdd  service  in  making  it  and  keeping  it  patriotic,  loyal 
and  pure. 

The  future  of  this  Western  Empire  is  to  be  what  its  citizens 


ii<iiiWBiff<iii»rii>iifiwiliiiftlwifiv. 


j-^vaa»Mt*vti0i^rtikiSiiftA'lirt*>-*iSatfi*m'tm>tn<'f»ii^CiiJ^ 


V 


1^  ,V     .•      OUR   WESTERN  EMPIKS.      y. 

sliall  make  it.  With  all  the  advantages  of  mineral  wcahh  vastly 
surpassing  that  of  OrmuzU  or  uf  Ind ;  with  a  soil  of  such  extent 
and  fcrtiUty,  diat  it  could  supply  the  world  widi  bread,  with  Hucks 
and  herds  beyond  the  dream  of  the  most  opulent  of  the 
patriarchs  of  die  East,  and  all  the  elements  of  material  prosperity 
in  such  abundance  as  to  defy  description,  if  its  citizens  are 
industrious,  enterprising,  intelligent,  moral,  law-abiding.  God- 
fearing men  and  women,  there  is  in  reserve  for  it  a  future  which 
not  all  the  dreams  of  the  poets,  or  the  rapt  vision  of  the  seers, 
can  describe  in  too  glowing  colors — a  future  which  shall  make 
the  ancient  Paradise  a  modern  reality,  and  cause  men  to  flock 
thither,  as  to  a  new  Eden. 

But  if  industry  and  enterprise  are  lacking,  if  morals  are 
debased,  and  intelligence  wanes;  if  reverence  for  law  and 
order  is  lost,  and  diere  comes  a  time  when  they  do  not  fear  God 
and  keep  His  commandments;  if  pride,  self-confidence,  and 
fullness  of  bread,  lead  to  all  the  vices  which  ruined  the  empires 
of  the  Old  World ;  all  this  material  wealth  and  prosperity,  all 
these  advantages  of  situation  and  production,  will  only  make 
its  downfall  the  more  sudden  and  terrible.  And  its  swift  de- 
struction will  call  forth  a  wail  of  anguish  from  all  the  nadons  of 
the  earth,  as  much  deeper  and  more  distressing,  as  its  position 
had  been  grander  and  more  imposing,  than  that  of  any  of  the 
older  empires.  Which  shall  it  be  ?  a  government  of  the  people, 
for  the  people,  by  the  people ;  a  government  firm  and  persistent 
for  liberty  and  law,  for  freedom,  jusUce,  and  right,  between  man 
and  his  fellow-man,  and  between  man  and  his  Creator  ?  or  a 
government  without  law,  without  justice,  without  purity,  without 
right,  and  without  order ; — an  anarchy,  where  men's  evil  pas- 
sions and  corrupt  practices,  all  the  arts  of  the  demagogue,  all 
the  schemes  of  the  hypocrite,  and  all  the  vices  of  the  debauchee 
are  allowed  to  destroy  the  nation,  without  check  or  restraint  ? 

Rome  and  Greece,  Babylon  and  Nineveh,  Corinth  and 
Ephesus,  the  most  pov/erful  empires  and  cities  of  their  times, 
owed  their  ruin  to  this  uncontrolled  spirit  of  license  and  mis- 
rule, and  in  modern  times,  we  hav*>:  seen  powerful  nations 
*)rought  to  the  verge  of  destruction  from  the  same  causes.  Let 
us  heed  the  warning  while  there  is  time. 


calth  vastly 
such  extent 
,  with  (lucks 
ent  of  the 
1  prosperity 
:itizcns  are 
iding,  God- 
uture  which 
)f  the  seers, 
1  shall  make 
nen  to  flock 

morals  are 

or  law   and 

lot  fear  God 

fidcncc,  and 

the  empires 

rosperity,  all 

only  make 

its  swift  de- 

:  nations  of 

its  position 

any  of  the 

the  people, 

id  persistent 

etween  man 

reator  ?  or  31 

ri'ty,  without 

n's  evil  pas- 

lagogue,  all 

*  debauchee 

estraint?  1, 

!orinth    and 

their  times, 

)se  and  mis- 

rful   nations 

:auses.     Let 


PART  II. 

IMMIGRATION.     , 

Who  Should  Go,  and  Why  ?     The  1  low,  When  and  Where  of 
Emigration  to  the  Vak  West. 


.        ,.,^  CHAPTER  I.        , 

Who  Should  Migrate  to  this  Western  Empire,  and  the  Reasons  Why— 
Desiradlbness  or  Accurate  Information  —  Intentional  and  Unin- 
tentional Misrepresentation— Who  should  not  come— The  Land- 
Grant  Railway  Companies,  and  the  Emujkation  Societies— Auk  Beyond 
which  Emigration  is  Undesirable  — Other  Oust acxes— Amount  or 
Capital    Necessary— This    varies  with    the    Occupation— What    are 

'   Necessary  Expenses— Why  some  Emigrants  are  Dissatisfied. 

"Are  you  thinking  of  emigrating  to  that  'Far  West*  in 
America,  about  which  we  hear  so  much  lately  ?"  asks  one  neigh- 
bor of  another  in  England,  in  the  winter  of  1 879-1 880.  "  Yes," 
is  the  reply.  "  I  am  thinking  of  it  very  seriously,  but  I  find  it 
hard  to  come  to  a  decision.  All  my  acquaintance  are  here ;  I 
feel  strongly  attached  to  the  country  and  place  in  wliich  I  was 
born  and  reared,  where  I  found  my  good  wife,  and  where  my 
little  ones  were  born.  England  is  very  dear  to  me ;  and  yet  I 
cannot  buy  an  acre,  no,  nor  a  rood  of  ground,  even  to  be 
buried  in ;  I  must  be  a  tenant  all  my  life,  and  liable  to  be  evicted 
at  the  landlord's  pleasure.  I  had,  in  past  years,  laid  up  a  little 
money,  but  it  is  fast  going,  in  these  past  three  years  of  bad 
crops,  low  prices,  and  poor  markets,  and  yet  I  am  paying  five 
pound  rent  per  acre  for  my  place.  Then  again,  my  children 
cannot  get  on  here,  and  as  I  belong  to  the  Methodists,  they  can 
have  no  chance  unless  they  go  to  the  church,  which  I  don't  like 


ib^.o-:**'-.  -.A-'Jt.v 


ajS  <"^*    IVKSTKflf/  BMPIKK. 

to  have  them  tlo.  Now,  I  am  told  that  I  tan  takr  up  a  farm  of 
1 60  acres  in  that  western  country,  under  what  they  call  the 
Homestead  Act,  for  less  money  than  I  pay  rent  for  one  rcre 
here,  and  exc(dlent  land  too,  and  that  in  live  years'  time  I  can 
have  as  j;ood  a  farm  as  this— yes,  atul  better — all  my  own,  and 
a  steady  income  of  jCsoo  or  /600  a  year,  and  good  schools 
and  churches,  all  convenient.  When  I  consiiler  all  thes<r  things 
I  think  I  must  go,  though  it  will  be  a  sore  thing  to  leave  dear 
old  Hngland.  How  I  wish  now,  that  I  had  some  Injok,  or  some- 
body that  I  knew  wouldn't  deceive  me,  to  tell  me  all  about 
the  country,  just  as  it  is,  and  enable  me  to  decide  what  1  ougl^t 
to  do." 

There  are  many  thousands  not  only  in  I'ngland,  but  in  Ireland 
and  Scotland,  Germany,  Sweden  and  Norway,  in  Austria  and 
Russia,  in  Italy  and  France,  who  are  asking  themselves  and 
others  the  question,  whether  it  is  not  best  to  emigrate  to  this  far* 
off  western  land,  and  thu."  escape  from  evils,  discomforts,  and 
oppressions  of  all  sorts,  which  have  become  well-nigh  intolerable. 
And  there  are  scores  of  thousands  more  in  our  own  country, 
who,  from  one  cause  or  another,  are  revolving  the  same  ques- 
tion in  their  own  minds,  and  are  sincerely  desirous  of  light  in 
regard  to  it.  ,     ,,  .  „  .  ,  . 

I  To  all  such  honest  inquirers,  we  propose  to  give  the  informa- 
tion which  they  seek,  and  we  beg  leave  to  assure  them  at  the 
start,  that  we  have  no  object  in  view,  except  thfeir  benefit.  We 
have  no  interest  in  any  railroad,  land  grant,  colony,  minhig,' 
farming,  stock-raising,  or  wool-growing  company  or  organiza- 
tion west  of  the  Mississippi  river;  we  do  not  own  a  square 
foot  of  land  west  of  that  river,  and  do  not  expect  to  do  so ;  but 
we  know  the  country,  its  advantages  and  disadvantages,  and  we 
propose  to  state  these  honestly  and  fairly.  We  could  obtain  the 
indorsement  of  all  the  governors,  senators,  and  represcntath^es 
of  that  entire  region,  to  the  truthfulness  and  fairness  of  our 
book,  if  it  were  needAjl ;  but  we  think  that  every  one  who  wlH' 
read  it  will  be  satisfied  for  themselves  that  it  is  an  hone^ 
and  trustworthy  book.    '        »<  *'  qj    ww  luoti 

p  Having  thus  avouched  the  honesty  of  our  purpose,  and  the 


lip  .1  farm  of 
hey  call  the 
or  onr  rcrc 
h'  time  I  can 
fTiy  own,  anil 
ood  sclu>ols 
the.s<:  thinjjs 
>  leave  dear 
ok,  or  some- 
ic  all  about 
what  I  ougt^^ 

but  in  Ireland 
»  Austria  and 
jrnsj'lves  and 
ite  to  this  far* 
lomforts,  and 
rh  intolerable, 
own  country, 
same  ques- 
ts of  light  in 

the  informa- 
them  at  the 
benefit.  We 
ony,  mintVig^ 
or  orpaniza- 
wn  a  square 
do  so ;  but 
ages,  and  we 
d  obtain  the 
DresentatfVeJj 
rness  of  our 
one  who  vnW 
s   an   honest 

pose,  an«}  the 


HOKh'OMS  OF   TMR   OLD   KMtORATWN.  %y^ 

knowledge  of  the  subject  which  we  ponarst,  wc  will  proceed  to 
annwer  the  very  Important  (|ut>»tionH,  Who  shoidd  cmi^'ratc,  and 
why  ?  The  emigration  HOcictieK,  the  railroad  compatticH,  and  the 
stcamHhi{)  agent**,  would  answer  the  question  very  promptly,  by 
saying,  "  livery  one  who  has  thcr  means  to  reach  the  WeHt 
should  go;"  and  they  would  l>e  grrady  in  the  wrong,  and  if 
they  were  believed,  woidd  do  much  wrong  to  emigrants  by  such 
an  answer. 

No !  nol  every  one  who  has  the  means  to  reach  there  should 
go;  not  even  every  one  who  has  from  $1,000  to  $io,(/to  to 
invest,  after  reaching  die  country  The  ({uestion,  "  Who  should 
go  ^"  requires  a  previous  consideration  of  many  other  questions 
before  it  can  be  rightly  answered.  There  are  always  many  hard.- 
ships  attending  emigration ;  not  so  many  now  as  there  were  in 
former  days,  when  the  ICuropcan  emigrant  took  passage  across 
the  Adantic  in  the  steerage  of  a  sailing  packet,  and  was  tossed 
on  the  waves,  widi  but  scant  fare  and  horrible  accommoci.itions, 
for  from  thirty  to  si.xty,  or  seventy-five  days,  and  lan<ling  at 
tb<*.  end  of  his  tedious  voyage,  at  New  York,  found  himself  the 
prey  of  the  landslvarks  and  confidence  men,  who  swarmed  around 
him.  He  was  very  fortunate,  if  he  succeeded  in  making  his  way 
by  barge  au  i  canal  boat  to  Bufialo,  and  thence  by  other  sailing 
vessels  to  distant  Ohio,  Indiana,  or  Illinois,  and  amid  the  forests, 
or  the  wide  treeless  plains,  shaken  by  chills  and  fever,  reared  his 
rude  log-hut.  and  set  out  resolutely  to  make  a  home  and  a  for* 
tune  for  his  family.  That  is  not  so  very  long  ago  either.  Forty 
or  fifty  years  ago,  the  emigrant  had  to  take  all  these  hardships 
into  the  account,  if  he  would  make  his  home  in  the  West.  It  is 
not  thirty-five  years,  hardly  more  than  thirty,  since  those  who 
sought  homes  beyond  the  Mississippi  were  obliged  to  go  with 
their  nuge  wagons — "prairie  schoontrs"  they  were  called— 
drawn  by  five,  eight,  or  even  twelve  yoke  of  oxen,  carrying  with 
them  their  entire  household  goods,  and  travelling  for  many 
weeks,   eight  or  ten   miles   a  day,  before  reaching  their  new 

Whdn  we  compare  the  present  fadlities  of  trivet  ind  settle- 
ment with  the  hard  lot  of  these  pioneers  of  civilization,  and  the 


340 


OUM   WKSTKItff  RMrtHK. 


•[)«C(J  and  Hafrty  with  which  our  emigrant»  reach  their  iletired 
location,  an<l  the  prriU  and  dangcrn  from  [ndians,  from  NtormH 
and  unown,  from  hun^rrr  and  thimt,  from  the  giving  out  of  thdr 
cattle,  or  thr  prairie  fire»— pcriU  which  markf<l  the  whole  trail 
from  the  MitiiisHippi  to  the  Pacific  with  the  skch'tonn  of  thfir 
cattle,  and,  not  so  rarely  at  could  have  been  wished,  with  human 
bonei  also — with  the  present  freedom  from  these  dangers  and 
miierie!!,  we  are  almost  inclined  to  declare  that  there  are  now 
no  hardships  for  emigrants  to  face.  This,  however,  would  not  be 
quite  true.  To  the  emigrant  from  Europe,  the  ten  or  twelve 
clays'  passage  in  the  steerage  '>f  these  magnificent  ocean  steam* 
ships,  though  a  vast  improvement  on  the  old  sailing  vessels,  is 
not  quite  an  "  earthly  paradise,"  as  indeed  it  could  not  well  be. 
Most  of  these  steamship  lines,  also,  are  in  some  way  connected 
with  some  one  or  more  of  the  emigration  companies,  which,  in 
turn,  have  their  arrangements  with  some  of  the  great  railway 
companies,  and  are  under  obligations  to  send  their  emigrants  to 
particular  sections  of  country,  where  their  lands  are  situated. 
Of  course,  these  emigration  companies  and  railroad  agents  extol 
their  particular  section  in  the  highest  terms,  and  cannot  say  any- 
thing too  strong  in  disparagement  of  every  other  region.  They 
have  no  intention,  probably,  of  misrepresenting  either  their  own 
lands,  or  the  lands  in  other  States  or  Territories;  but  human 
nature  mt'  be  differently  constituted  from  what  it  now  is,  if  the 
emigrant  does  not  find  that  some  things  have  been  overstated, 
and  that  the  advantages  of  other  localities  hav^  been  unduly 
depreciated. 

There  are  two  remedies  for  this  difficulty :  one,  that  the  emi- 
grant should  inform  himself  thoroughly  before  making  arrange- 
ments to  come  to  this  country,  what  will  be  the  best  location  for 
him,  taking  into  consideration  climate,  chances  of  employment, 
accessibility  to  good  markets,  prices  of  land,  condition  of  society, 
advantages  of  education,  etc,  etc.  His  sources  of  information 
must  be  free  from  all  temptation  to  misrepresentation  and  self. 
interest,  and  they  must  be  from  parties  who  are  fully  informed  of 
the  present  condition  of  affairs  there,  for  so  rapid  are  the  changes 
which  are  taking  place  in  this  Great  West,  that  statements  which 


u.3mm^*Mma^bammm!m^m»mmm»ist^ 


heir  tle«lrcd 
from  slormn 
out  of  llu:ir 
•  whole  trail 
t>n«  of  their 
with  human 
tlani;rrH  and 
ere  arc  now 
vouUl  not  be 
rn  or  twelve 
ucean  Mtcam- 
ig  vessels,  it 
not  well  be. 
ay  connected 
L's,  which,  in 
jreat  railway 
emigrants  to 
are  situated, 
agents  extol 
II  not  say  any- 
igion.     They 
icr  their  own 
but  human 
ow  is,  if  the 
n  overstated, 
been  unduly 

that  the  cml- 
:ing  arrange- 
^t  location  for 

employment, 

on  of  society, 
If  information 
lion  and  self. 
informed  of 
the  changes 

:ments  which 


ritKXKffT  HARPatlUrS  OP  RMICKATIOff, 

were*  perfectly  true  two  year*  ajjo,  are  now  very  far  from  the 
truth.  It  hail  l)ern  our  hoIc  object  in  the  preparation  of  this  work, 
to  make  it  a«t  perfect  a  guide  to  the  emigrant  an  it  could  be  made, 
one  which  should  be  in  every  rcitpect  impartial,  and  have  no 
interest  except  that  of  the  emigrant  to  nerve.  If  the  intending 
emigrant  will  study  such  a  book  faithfully,  he  will  find  no  diffi- 
culty in  determining  what  is  the  best  locality  for  him,  and  then 
can  make  his  arrangements  with  that  steamship  or  emigration 
company,  which  will  take  him  directly  to  his  desired  location  ;  but 
he  should  be  careful  to  make  no  contract,  binding  him  to  pur- 
chase land  of  any  emigration  company  till  he  has  seen  it  for  him- 
self.  II(;  can,  of  course,  procure  his  tickets  and  transportation 
at  a  considerable  reduction,  if  he  takes  his  land  from  the  emi« 
gration  company,  but  the  extra  cost  of  this  will  much  more  than 
make  up  the  difference,  if  the  land  they  allot  to  him  should  prove 
undesirable  from  any  cause. 

The  other  v.--^  of  avoiding  the  difficulty  Is  this :  the  emigrant, 
having  by  inquiry  and  study  come  to  a  conclusion  as  to  the  best 
location  for  him,  takes  passage  on  a  steamer  for  New  York  on 
New  Orleans,  and  thence  by  rail  to  the  point  where  he  desireji 
to  settle,  leaving  his  family,  if  he  has  one,  behind  him,  till  he  can 
provide  a  home  for  them.  This  will  cost  him  more  than  to  buy 
his  ticket  from  the  emigration  company,  but  if  he  wants  a  farm, 
he  can  take  up  his  land  under  the  Homestead  or  Timbcr-Cul> 
ture  Acts,  or  pre-empt  it,  and  the  cost  under  either  of  the  former 
plans  will  not  exceed  ^^25  for  160  acres,  and  under  the  latter  not 
over  $1.25  per  acre  with  thirty  months  to  pay  for  it,  while  that 
must  be  very  poor  land  which  he  can  get  from  the  emigration 
company  at  anything  less  than  $5  per  acre.  As  soon  as  he  is 
able  he  can  send  for  his  family,  and  buying  the  ticket  here  it  will 
cost  him  no  more  than  if  he  had  bought  it  of  the  emigration 
company.  Bot,  in  whatever  way  the  emigrant  secures  his  land, 
there  are  still  hardships ;  his  first  home  will  be  in  all  probability 
a  log-cabin,  an  adobe,*  or  a  sod-house.  If  he  purchases  in  the 
northern,  or  even  the  central  tier  of  States  or  Territories,  the 
deep  snows,  and  the  consequent  embargo  on  travel,  will  annoy 


16 


*  A  hooM  buili  of  lun-dried  briclu  or  of  clay  morUur. 


7,'.- 


'x.:j.\fj^:->:^:: 


".Ti^rt^^s-isiu;^: 


.  Atfrsj'i"j-raf'>i,.;: 


:^f 


OUR    WfiSTMXN  EMPIRB, 


and  distress  him,  as  being  so  different  from  all  his  past  experi- 
ence. The  climate,  too,  may,  very  possibly,  affect  his  health  at 
first ;  an  unusual  languor  and  listlessness  may  oppress  him,  the 
effect  of  his  acclimatization.  There  will  be  times  when  he  feels 
as  if  he  must  go  back  to  his  European  home ;  as  if  he  could  not 
endure  life  in  a  region  where  everything  is  so  different  from  the 
home  of  his  childliood.  But  if  he  is  brave  and  resolute  these 
feelings  will  soon  pass  away,  and  when  his  first  crop  is  harvested 
and  sold,  he  will  iook  forward  hopefully  to  a  better  future  than 
he  could  have  had  at  home. 

In  gen/eral  we  may  lay  dv>wn  these  rules  in  regard  to  immir 
gration :■■"-■•''  --••;■  ..!<•!.;<  ,•':■?■"  •-"    • 'i.'    ^•-.■'■'\'.      -U 

I.  Age.  A  man  who  has  his  fortune  to  make,  or  a  family  to 
support,  should  not  emigrate  from  Europe  to  the  West,  after 
he  hfis  passed  his  forty-fifth  year.  There  may  be  a  few  excep- 
tions to  this,  but  they  are  very  few.  After  a  man  has  reached 
his  forty-fifth  year,  he  finds  it  far  more  difficult  to  change  all  his 
habits  and  modes  of  life  and  thought,  than  when  he  was  younger. 
If  he  is  a  farmer,  stock-raiser,  or  sheep-master,  or  has  been  a 
foreman  or  manager  in  ei<;lier  of  these  callings,  he  wiU  find  that 
it  is  necessary  to  learn  all  his  business  anew,  from  the  difference 
In  soil,  climate,  and  ways  ojf  doing  business.  A  capitalist  who 
]Im»s.  money  to  invest  in  these  or  any  other  kinds  of  business,  can 
xjQme  and  make  his  investments  at  any  age,  when  he  is  able  to 
travel,  and  examine  the  property  for  himself;  but  we  are  npit 
making  a  book  for  capitalists,  but  for  workingmen.    -  <'  ••  ' -    ' 

3.  As  a  general  ru^e  an  invaJid,  or  a  person  in  feeble  health, 
will  not  find  it  advisable  to  con^e  to  the  West  to  become  a  per 
manent  resident,  unless  he  has  sufficient  property  to  insure  his 
support.  Some  do  migrate  under  these  circumstances,  espe- 
cially those  whose  lungs  are  affected,  and  in  Minnesota,  Dakota, 
Montana,  Colorado,  Southern  California.  New  Mexico,  Utah,  or 
Washington  Territory,  find  positive:  benefit;  while  Arkansas, 
Texas  and  Arizpna  have  a  good  reputation  for  rheumatic  affec- 
tions. But,  in  either  disease,  tfee  beneficial  result  is  contingent 
^pon  a  permanent  residence  there.  Toconj*  away,  even  after 
several  years,  is,  in  most  cases,  certain  to  prove  fatal ;  while  a 


WHO  SHOULD  NOT  COME. 


«43 


past  experi- 
his  health  at 
reas  him,  the 
/hen  he  feels 
he  could  not 
•ent  Trom  the 
esolute  these 
3  is  harvested 
ir  future  than 

yard  to  immir 

)r  a  family  to 
e  West,  after 
e  a  few  exccp- 
1  has  reached 
change  all  his 
5  was  younger. 
)r  has  been  a 
;  wi)l  find  that 
the  difiference 
capitalist  who 
f  Uisiness,  can 
I  he  is  able  to 
xt  we  are  not 

feeble  health, 
become  a  per- 
y  to  insure  his 
istances,  espe- 
esota,  Dakota, 
Bxico,  Utah,  or 
lile  Arkansas, 
teumaitic  affec- 
is  cpatingent 
ray,  even  after 
fatal;  while  a 


majority  of  those  who  go  to  these  States  and  Territories  for 
their  health,  after  a  brief  and  temporary  improvement,  suddenly 
become  worse  and  die  of  the  disease.  The  invalid,  if  he  will 
come,  should  not  stay  in  the  larger  towns  but  resort  to  the  hills, 
^^efe  an  open-air  life  is  possible. 

3.  No  man  should  come  who  is  averse  to  work,  or  who  ex- 
pects, by  coming,  to  lead  an  easier  life,  for  some  years  at  least, 
than  he  is  leading  at  home.  Since  the  primeval  sentencp  .i^  *he 
expulsion  from  Eden,  "In  the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  il.i  -  ^at 
bread,  until  thou  return  unto  the  ground,"  there  has  .  een  .10 
reprieve  from  toil,  of  hand,  or  brain,  and  there  will  not  be,  till  the 
lost  Eden  returns,  which  will  not  be  in  our  day.  Industry  will 
reap  a  better  reward  here  than  elsewhere,  and  the  hones :  toiler 
may  hope,  in  the  later  years  of  life,  to  enjoy  a  competence ;  but 
it  can  only  be  procured  by  hard  and  wearisome  labor, 

4.  No  man  should  come  whose  temper  is  fickle,  and  who  will 
give  way  at  the  first  rebuff  and  become  discouraged,  despondent 
and  home-sick.  The  persevering,  earnest,  and  sanguine  worker, 
who  grows  stronger  under  defeats  and  discouragements,  who 
will  not  give  up,  is  the  man  to  succeed. 

5.  No  man  can  come  with  much  hope  of  success,  unless  he 
has  a  little  capital  beyond  what  is  necessary  to  bring  him  to  the 
West.  This  is  particularly  true  of  a  man  who  has  a  family.  If 
he  brings  his  family  with  him,  which  it  is  not  always  wise  to  do 
at  first,  they  must  have  something  to  live  upoti  till  he  can  receive 
some  return  for  his  labor;  and  he  will  need  m.oney  to  purchase 
his  land,  break  it  up,  sow  it,  cultivate  it,  and  reap  the  harvest 
If  he  attempts  to  raise  stock,  or  to  keep  sheep,  still  more  capital 
will  be  wanted ;  if  he  starts  a  market-garden,  a  nursery,  or  raises 
flowers  for  profit,  he  must  still  have  some  capital  to  start  with; 
if  he  is  a  mechanic  or  r.  :radesman,  he  cannot  start  without  some 
capital.  How  much  he  must  have  will  depend  very  much  on 
what  he  proposes  to  do;  for  what  would  be  sufficient  for  a 
mechanic  or  a  market-gardener,  might  be  too  little  for  a  farmer, 
a  stock-raiser,  or  a  tradesman. 

The  safe  rule  will  be,  as  much  as  the  emigrant  can  command ; 
but  in  no  case  less  than  $500  after  the  traveling  expenses  are 


?xf;7a::.t:tjXTS!H3s&J5as;rss::»a«6!:i'E^^ 


244 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


paid;  and  for  a  farmer,  stock-raiser,  sheep-master,  miner,  or 
tradesman,  not  less  than  $1,000,  and  as  much  more  as  he  can 
honestly  command. 

If  the  man  has  a  family,  these  sums  should  be  doubled.  "  But," 
asks  the  intending  emigrant,  "  isn't  it  possible  to  go  to  the  West 
and  settle  down  with  less  money  than  this  ?  With  the  utmost 
economy  I  have  not  been  able  to  save  but  /i 00  in  ten  years, 
and  it  will  take  at  least  ^25  of  it  to  pay  the  passage  and  trans- 
portation for  myself  and  family.  Must  I  be  cut  off  from  all  hope 
of  realizing  the  object  for  which  I  have  been  saving  and  working 
so  long?" 

No,  friend ;  hope  springs  eternal  in  the  human  breast,  so  you 
need  not  give  over  hoping ;  but  as  to  the  emigrating,  you  have 
just  a  choice  of  two  alternatives :  either  to  postpone  your  emigra- 
tion for  two,  three,  or  five  years,  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  make 
up  the  amount  you  need— >a  somewhat  doubtful  expedient  in  the 
present  depressed  condition  of  the  markets  and  failure  of  the 
crops;  or,  leaving  with  your  family,  say  ;^75  of  the  £,\qo,  take 
the  rest  and  go  alone  to  the  West,  and  seeking  employment  as  a 
farm-hand,  or  herder,  or  shepherd,  or  miner,  secure  as  soon  as 
possible  a  homestead  farm  of  80  or  160  acres,  on  which  the  only 
payments  will  be  from  fourteen  to  twenty-five  dollars  {^£^2  ids.  to 
;^5) ;  gst  twenty  acres  of  it  broken  up  by  changing  works,  and 
have  it  planted  to  root  crops,  or  sown  with  wheat;  by  the 
second  year  a  sod-house  can  be  built  and  a  crop  raised,  which 
will  not  only  pay  for  further  improvements,  but  leave  ;^20  or 
£2^  to  be  sent  to  the  family  at  home.  At  the  end  of  four 
or  five  years,  with  good  management,  you  can  send  for  them, 
and  welcome  them  to  a  home,  humble  and  rude  indeed,  but 
your  own,  and  with  a  fair  prospect  of  improving  your  condi- 
tion rapidly.  We  recommend  the  latter  alternative,  because 
homestead  lands,  in  desirable  locations,  are  becoming  daily  more 
scarce,  and  in  two  or  three  years  may  not  be  obtainable  at  all. 
But  to  come  with  a  family,  with  too  small  a  sum  to  sustain  them, 
and  make  the  necessary  outlay  for  the  scanty  comforts  of  the 
pioneer,  until  you  can  receive  a  return  frpm  your  crops,  is  to 
expose  yourself  and  them  to  severe  suffering,  and,  perhaps,  to 


THE  DISSATISFIED   EMIGRANT. 


245 


r,  miner,  or 
t  as  he  can 

)ied.  "But," 
to  the  West 
the  utmost 
in  ten  years, 
e  and  trans- 
rom  all  hope 
and  working 

reast,  so  y6u 
ng,  you  have 
your  emlgra- 
able  to  make 
)edient  in  the 
failure  of  the 
e  ;^ioo,  take 
jloyment  as  a 
e  as  soon  as 
rhich  the  only 
rs(;^2  16^.  to 
ig  works,  and 
eat;   by  the 
raised,  which 
leave  £20  or 
end  of  four 
:nd  for  them, 
indeed,  but 
your  condi- 
tive,  because 
ig  daily  more 
linable  at  all. 
sustain  them, 
forts  of  the 
crops,  is  to 
1,  perhaps,  ,^P 


premature  death.     Farther  on  wc  propose  to  show  what  can  be 
done  with  ^i.ocx)  by  a  careful  and  intelligent  emigrant. 

6.  It  is  unwise  for  aged  people  to  come,  even  if  it  is  with  their 
young  and  robust  children.  The  hardsljps  of  the  pioneer  life 
fall  with  peculiar  severity  upon  the  aged;  they  miss  the  little 
comforts  and  privileges  to  which  they  have  been  for  many  years 
accustomed ;  and  the  fatigues  and  exposures  they  must  undergo 
very  often  shorten  their  days,  without  adding  to  their  happiness. 

It  is  because  these  precautions  have  not  been  heeded,  because 
so  many  emigrants  have  come  without  more  means  than  were 
just  sufficient  to  carry  them  to  their  destination,  firmly  believing 
that  they  could  pick  up  money  in  the  streets,  or  that  they  could 
obtain  employment  which  would  be  immediately  remunerative, 
that  there  are  so  many  dls-appointed  and  homesick  emigrants  in 
the  country.  Without  employment,  without  money  or  food,  sick 
from  the  long  voyage  and  journey,  from  the  change  of  climate 
and  water,  or  possibly  from  some  malarious  influences  to  which 
they  have  been  exposed,  they  are  indeed  in  a  pitiable  condition  ; 
and  though  the  kind  hand  is  almost  invariably  stretched  out  to 
help  them  (for  the  western  people  are  full  of  kindness  and 
charity)  they  often  become  so  utterly  wretched  as  to  be  unmindful 
of  the  kindnesses  they  have  received ;  and  even  when  they  have 
been  helped  to  return  to  their  old  homes,  they  will  often  denounce 
the  country  and  those  who  have  aided  them  in  the  strongest 
terms,  when  the  fault  has  only  been  with  themselves,  that  they 
came  hither  so  entirely  unprepared  for  their  new  life  on  the 
frontie. .  The  prudent,  energetic  emigrant  who  comes  expecting 
liardships,  but  prepared  to  meet  them,  who  does  not  expect  others 
to  do  for  him  what  he  can  do  for  himself,  and  who  recognizes  the 
necessity  of  providing  for  his  own  support  and  that  of  his  family 
until  he  can  receive  returns  for  his  labor,  will  encounter  soma 
hardships,  but  he  will  rejoice  in  triumphing  over  them,  and  very 
soon  will  be  in  a  position  to  help  others.  ''••'!'' *'     "  "  •  »i' •  "' 

The  emigration  societies  and  the  land-grant  railroads,  though 
they  make  such  a  fair  showing,  and  paint  in  such  glowing  colors 
the  prosperity  of  the  emigrants  who  have  come  out  under  their 
auspices,  cannot  guarantee  success  to  those  emigrants  who  have 


>.   l»'MW.»ri.^tiw».'«l*.^ 


'-"-^-'  '-rViri  ^^'''  i-^u^'  'T' ' 


V 


2^  OVX    tVESTEftN  EMPIRE. 

no  disposition  to  help  themselves.  The  railroad  companies  and 
the  emigration  societies  also  give  the  emigrant  from  six  to  eleven 
years  to  pay  for  their  land,  but  the  price  is  high,  and  the  interest 
at  from  seven  to  ten  per  cent,  adds  materially  to  the  price,  while 
the  first  payment  comes  hard  on  a  man  who  has  little  or  no 
money,  and  his  title  is  not  complete  till  he  has  paid  for  the  land, 
•while  a  default  in  payment  works  a  forfeiture  of  his  farm,  and 
the  loss  of  most  of  what  he  has  paid.  Meanwhile,  if  he  has  no 
money,  how  is  he  and  how  is  his  family,  if  he  has  one,  to  be  fed 
before  he  can  raise  a  crop,  or  earn  money  for  immediate  support? 
Neither  the  emigration  society  nor  the  railroad  company  can  or 
•will  support  him.  He  would  have  done  better  to  have  gone  to 
work  for  any  one  who  would  give  him  his  board  and  even  mod- 
erate  wages,  and  if  he  could  secure  a  farm  under  the  Homestead 
or  Timber-Culture  Act,  he  would  at  least  have  no  heavy  debt  to 
weigh  him  down,  and  no  ground  of  anxiety  about  his  own  food 
and  raiment. 

No  industrious,  willing,  able-bodied  man  need  starve  if  he 
reaches  the  West  alone,  with  but  a  dollar  in  his  pocket,  but  he 
will  not  accumulate  property  so  rapidly  as  if  he  had  a  little  to 
start  with.  John  Jacob  Astor,  the  founder  of  the  Astor  family, 
once  said,  that  the  only  difficulty  he  had  in  accumulating  his  vast 
estate  was  in  earning  the  first  thousand  dollars.  f,j  j,-q!ort  n  j 
.  We  have  purposely  presented  the  dark  side  of  the  picture  to 
emigrants,  because  they  need  to  know  the  worst  as  well  as  the 
best.  The  rosy  and  pleasant  side  is  presented  to  them  every 
day,  and  they  are  tempted  to  believe  that  there  are  no  shadows 
tfli  they  come  into  the  actual  experience  of  them,  and  then  they 
fiflid  them  so  dark  and  gloomy  that  they  are  ready  to  recoil  from 
them,  and  say,  "If  we  had  only  known,  we  would  not  have 

come."  jnufj^rfr?  Liw- ,inda -•■m,  loj  ;:fr5!>Kt  ;>7i:!;;;;t -nfr.  ;,;ii  ii^ruj 
.  But  the  emigttant  who  goes  to  the  Wept  with  small  means 
should  know  beforehand  that  there  afe  awaiting  him  and  his 
family,  if  he  has  one,  exposures  to  severe  cold  and  intense  heat ; 
hard  beds,  perhaps  of  pine  or  sprUce  boughs,  or  dried  leaves 
on  the  ground ;  scanty  food  at  times,  with  hunger  for  his  only 
sauce ;  poor  cooking,  from  the  want  of  proper  utensils ;  clothing 


THE  HARDSHIPS  OF  THE  EMIGRANT. 


247 


mpanies  and 
six  to  eleven 
i  the  interest 
I  price,  while 

liule  or  no 
for  the  land, 
lis  farm,  and 
if  he  has  no 
>ne,  to  be  fed 
iate  support? 
apany  can  or 
have  gone  to 
id  even  mod- 
le  Homestead 
lieavy  debt  to 

his  own  food 

4 

-.  .      '   .'  itt      ' 

starve  if  he 
ocket,  but  he 
had  a  little  to 
Astor  family, 
|ating  his  vast 

ie  picture  to 
IS  well  as  the 
them  every 
no  shadows 
md  then  they 
to  recoil  from 
uld  ti^K  havjB 

•     _,.        ,        f       'l-v,-,.. 

small  means 
him  and  his 
intense  heat ; 
dried  leaves 
for  his  only 
isils;  clothing 


which  he  would  have  disdained  at  his  old  home ;  a  lack  of  all 
the  conveniences  of  life ;  very  possibly  at  first  no  schools,  no 
church,  no  post-office  within  twenty  or  thirty  miles ;  a  house  of 
one  or  two  rooms  built  of  sods  or  of  logs,  with  a  floor  of  eartht 
and  upon  this  humble  hoUse,  perhaps  the  summer's  sun  beats 
fiercely,  and  the  winter's  snows  may  bury  it  out  of  sight.  But 
he  should  know  also  that  these  privations  and  discomforts  will 
be  but  temporary ;  that  in,  perhaps,  four  or  five  years,  he  will 
have  a  pleasant  home  and  farm,  with  all  the  comforts  of  life, 
and  all  his  own  ;  that  school  and  church,  and  town-hall  and  post* 
office,  with  perhaps  a  daily  mail,  will  all  have  come  by  that  time ; 
that  good  clothing  and  the  luxuries  of  choice  beds,  excellent  and 
toothsome  fslre,  and  the  music  of  organ  or  piano,  may  gratify 
his  tastes ;  and  knowing  these  things,  he  should  decide  whether 
the  privations  of  the  first  few  years  were  worth  enduring,  for  the 
sake  of  the  comforts  and  substantial  benefits  which  will  probably 
follow.  I 

There  ;s  another  view  of  this  subject  of  emigration  to  which 
attention  should  be  directed.  For  some  years  past  great  efforts 
have  been  made  to  direct  emigration  to  other  countries  than  the 
United  States ;  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  Australia,  Brazil,  Bue- 
nos Ay  res,  VeAezu^la,  Colombia,  Peru,  and  Chili,  have  sought  to 
attract  emigrants  to  their  respective  countries.  The  Dominion 
and  Australia  have  been  moderately  successful^  for  the  whole 
influence  of  the  British  Government  luis  been  exerted,  properly 
enough,  in  th^r  favor ;  but  the  emigrants  to  Canada  have  had 
much  greater  hardships  to  undergo  than  those  to  our  western 
country,  and  very  nearly  two-thirds  of  them  have  eventually 
crossed  the  border  and  located  themselves  under  the  Stars  and 
Stripes."*  The  Australian  emigrants  have  struggled  manfully 
with  the  trying  climate,  and  the  very  great  hardships  which  they 
have  had  to  encounter,  but  many  of  th^m  have  come  into  the 

n  I.      Ill  T  I''*  --'  .--.  --.. _ —  -■   '--■   ■  - 

*  Lately  there  it  much  complaint  among  the  emigrants  to  ManitbbA,  (hat  fey  reeent  Acts 
of  the  ColoAtal  L^kttufe,  thty  eaunet  mow  Ittndi  widiin  fiver  milet  of  the  proposed 
railway  to  the  Pacific  coast  fOr  leai  than  six  dollars  per  acre,  and  all  homesteading  is  cut 
off  from  that  belt,  and,  further,  that  hy  the  Act  of  July  last,  the  homestead  grant,  liowever 
distant  froita  imrkef,  M  limtted  to  eighty  actesi  wHHe  the  ^SMxtA  $lUXt%  Goy«Mnen(  liMtlM  it 
ifo'acrMt  .... 


3^j  OVR    WESTERN  EMPIRE, 

West  by  way  of  San  Francisco,  and  the  tide  of  emigration  to  the 
United  States  to-day  is  more  than  four  times  that  to  Australia. 
The  emigration  to  the  South  American  States  has  in  most  cases 
proved  a  complete  failure.  Liberal  as  were  the  offers  of  the 
governments,  the  whole  matter  was  badly  organized  and  man- 
aged, and  the  sufferings  of  the  emigrants  became  so  intolerable 
that  they  were  glad  to  escape  to  their  old  homes  with  the  loss 
of  everything,  being  indebted  in  many  cases  to  the  consuls  of 
their  respective  countries  for  a  free  passage  homewards.  The 
present  rapid  influx  of  emigrants  from  Europe  to  the  United 
States,  and  their  strenuous  objections  to  going  to  any  other 
country,  shows  conclusively  that  the  experience  of  sixty  years 
of  emigration  has  convinced  the  people  of  Europe  that  the*  will 
fare  best  here. 


»ti.. 


i'. . 


CHAPTER  II. 


The  Routes  by  which  our  Western  Empire  is  Reached — The  Northeastern 
Region — The  Central  Region— The  Southern— The  Southwestern — 
The  Pacific  States  AND  Territories.   ,.       ;,,,  ^f    ji         .,, ..  ?     •   ^ 

^^  The  immigrant  who  has  valiantly  resisted  at  Hamburg,  Bre- 
men, Rotterdam,  or  Havre,  at  Southampton,  Liverpool,  Glasgow, 
Edinburgh,  or  Cardiff,  the  blandishments  of  the  emigration  com- 
panies, and  the  glowing  representations  of  the  railway  companies, 
and  who  lands  at  Castle  Garden,  New  York,  unpledged  to  any 
company,  and  under  no  obligation  to  take  a  poor  route  when 
there  is  a  better  to  be  had,  may  well  rejoice  in  his  freedom  ;  but 
he  will  find  himself  beset  by  as  htingry  a  horde  of  runners  and 
canvassers  for  all  the  different  routes,  as  ever  drove  a  poor  man 
to  distractioni''"«^^''f'/5  isoi;:!  x^.vt.  :>fi.t  bna  ,>jJi,rmr->  iini^'irJHi  r^iv. 
'■■**'■  If  he  has  made  up  his  mind  to  what  section  of  the  West  he 
will  migrate  (and  he  should  have  done  this  before  leaving  home), 
our  advice  to  him  would  be  to  stop  over  a  day  at  Castle  Garden 
and  make  choice  of  the  route  which  will  bring  him  most  directly, 
quickly,  and  safely  to  his  desired  destination.  He  cannot  well 
do  this  from  the  flaming  posters  placarded  there ;  nor  from  the 


ROUTE  FOR  NORTHWESTERN  EMIGRANT. 


349 


ration  to  the 

0  Australia. 

1  most  cases 
jfifers  of  the 
d  and  man- 
3  intolerable 
with  the  loss 
:  consuls  of 
wards.    The 

the  United 
o  any  other 
»f  sixty  years 
that  the    will 


;  Northeastern 
outhwestern — 

imburg,  Bre- 
ool,  Glasgow, 
igration  com- 
ly  companies, 
:dged  to  any 

route  when 
reedom ;  but 

runners  and 
2  a  poor  man 

the  West  he 
aving  home), 
astle  Garden 
most  directly, 
;  cannot  well 
nor  from  the 


noisy  vociferations  of  the  nmners;  and  there  is  a  strong  possi- 
bility that  even  some  of  the  officials  may  have  been  slightly  in- 
fluenced by  interested  persons  to  give  the  preference  to  one 
route  or  another  from  motives  not  altogether  disinterested. 

Knowing  where  he  wishes  to  go,  and  knowing  also,  as  he  may, 
what  railway  lines  will  take  him  thither  most  surely,  directly,  with 
the  greatest  amount  of  comfort,  and  the  smallest  amount  of  cost. 
he  can  make  up  his  own  mind  as  to  his  route  as  well  as  anybody 
else  can  do  it  for  him,  and,  as  all  the  routes  have  their  real 
eastern  termini  at  Castle  Garden,  he  can  purchase  his  tickets 
there  and  have  no  further  trouble,  except  occasionally  looking 
out  for  his  meals  and  his  baggage,  till  he  reaches  his  destination, 
or  the  railway  terminus  nearest  to  it. 

The  journey  on  an  emigrant  train  will  be  at  the  best  a  long 
and  weary  one,  but  if  he  has  a  fellow-countryman  or  shipmate 
of  his  own  way  of  thinking,  and  bound  for  the  same  vicinity  as 
himself,  the  companionship  will  relieve  the  journey  of  some  of 
its  tedium  for  both. 

If  our  immigrant  is  a  farmer,  or  farm-hand,  and  desires  to 
establish  himself  in  Iowa,  Minnesota,  Dakota,  Northeastern 
Montana,  or  Nebraska,  he  will  probably  find  it  desirable  to  make 
Chicago  his  point  of  departure  for  the  Northwest.  Chicago  is 
distant  from  New  York  about  950  miles,  the  five  trunk  roads 
running  thither  varying  from  933  to  975  miles  in  the  length  of 
their  lines  to  it.  There  is  very  little  room  for  choice  between 
the  Hudson  River  and  New  York  Central,  the  Erie,  the  Penn- 
sylvania Central,  and  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  roads,  all  of  which 
run  trains  through  to  Chicago.  They  are  all  good  roads,  and 
give  the  immigrant  as  nearly  the  worth  of  his  money  as  they  can 
possibly  afford.  These  lines,  we  believe,  now  all  make  close 
connection  with  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  lines,  which  are 
the  connecting  lines  with  the  Northern  Pacific,  and  the  Minne- 
sota, Iowa,  and  Dakota  Railways.  By  taking  a  through  ticket, 
via  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern,  to  any  point  reached  by  this 
railway  or  its  connections,  he  will  be  insured  a  passage  with  as 
few  annoyances  as  he  will  fi[nd  on  any  route.  One  precaution 
he  should  not  fail  to  take.     The  number  and  class  of  his  railway: 


;  ijfc^iifc"*-"***^'' 


g|0  OUK    WESTERN   KMrtMB. 

ticket,  and  the  railroads  over  which  he  is  to  pass,  and  the  num< 
bers  and  Htamps  of  his  baggage  checks,  should  all  be  noted  down 
in  a  litde  memorandum,  and  he  will  do  well  occasionally  to  see 
that  all  his  baggage  is  on  board.  In  case  of  loss  of  cither  baggage 
or  ticket,  he  will  recover  damages  much  more  readily  if  he  can 
tell  on  which  of  the  afifiliated  roads  it  was  lost  and  what  were  the 
numbers.  He  should  also  have  a  printed  time-table  of  the  roads 
over  which  he  passes,  which  will  be  furnished  him  for  the  asking 
at  the  oflRce  of  the  railroad  on  which  he  is  to  travel,  in  Casde 
Garden.  It  seems  a  pity  to  be  obliged  to  caution  a  man  against  his 
fellow-man,  especially  when  he  is  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land ;  but 
it  is  necessary  to  say,  once  for  all,  not  only  to  emigrants  from 
Europe,  but  to  our  own  people  who  may  be  migrating  westward, 
that  it  is  best  to  be  shy  of  strangers,  unless  they  are  introduced 
to  you  by  those  whom  you  have  reason  to  confide  in  as  honest  and 
trustworthy,  and  even  then  it  is  not  necessary  or  wise  to  become 
too  confidential  with  them,  to  tell  them  all  your  family  history, 
to  show  your  money  to  them,  or  inform  hem  just  the  amount 
you  carry  about  you.  It  is  very  imprudent  and  foolish  to  engage 
to  any  games  of  chance  or  skill  with  strangers,  especially  in  any 
involving  the  winning  or  losing  money.  If  you  win,  your  antag- 
onist has  probably  lost  what  he  can  ill  afford  to  lose ;  if  you  lose, 
as  you  probably  will  (for  generally,  it  is  only  sharpers  who  pro- 
pose to  play  in  a  public  conveyance),  you  will  feel  the  loss  and 
have  occasion  at  the  same  time  to  lament  your  folly.  Never 
manifest  a  suspicious  disposition  in  regard  to  those  who  are  about 
you.  If  diere  is  anything  you  cannot  understand,  ask  the  con- 
ductor, courteously  and  pleasantly,  and  he  will  generally  be  cour- 
teous in  his  reply.  Do  not  make  yourself  conspicuous  by  loud 
talking,  or  a  swaggering  nlanner.  There  are  always  people  on 
the  train  who  will  weigh  a  man  at  what  he  is  really  worth,  not 
at  the  value  he  may  set^  upon  himself.  Do  not  judge  of  people 
by  their  dress  or  their  pretensions.  You  will  ofcen  find  in  the 
West,  a  millionaire  in  plain,  rough  clothing,  or  an  eminent  scholar 
in  a  dress  which  might  bt  wcrki  by  a  tramp ;  while  a  gambler, 
Uack'leg,  or  bovse-thief  may  sport  his  dkMnofida^  or  dress  ta  irre* 
pooachable  taste,  ■*r-i.'4i^ft'-«t«^t:«jt  •0Tc-  A^'«?4t»'*>tJni?  ,»<>«•  J3i*.^t.  ««f 


-"'mmm 


mamam 


cl  the  niim- 
notctl  clown 
nally  to  see 
icr  baggage 
ily  if  he  can 
lat  were  the 
of  the  roads 
r  the  asking 
:1,  in  Castle 
n  against  his 
gc  land ;  but 
grants  from 
ig  westward, 
5  introduced 
,s  honest  and 
le  to  become 
tmily  history, 
the  amount 
sh  to  engage 
pcially  in  any 
,  your  antag- 
;  if  you  lose, 
in  who  pro- 
the  loss  and 
oily.     Never 
ho  are  about 
ask  the  con- 
■ally  be  cour- 
lous  by  loud 
rs  people  on 
worth,  not 
;e  of  people 
find  in  the 
lent  scholar 
a  gambler, 
'CSS  ta  trre> 


XOUTRS  FOX    THE  PACIFIC  STATES.  g|| 

The  immigrant  who  is  attracted  to  Nt-hraska,  KansnH,  Colo- 
rado, Wyoming,  Western  or  Central  Montana,  Idaho,  Utah, 
Nevada,  or  New  Mexico,  Texas  or  Arizona  does  not  need  to 
make  Chicago  his  point  of  departure,  unless  he  chooses  to  do  so. 
His  more  direct  route  will  lie  through  St.  Louis;  and  Omaha, 
Nebraska,  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  o:  Atchi- 
son, Kansas,  will  be  his  points  of  departure.  Omaha  is  the  east- 
ern terminus  of  the  Union  Pacific  and  Central  Pacific  Railways, 
though  r  jcently  a  part  of  its  traffic  has  been  transferred  to  Kan- 
sas Cily.  St.  Joseph  is  the  terminus  of  the  St.  Joseph  and  Den- 
ver branch  of  the  Union  Pacific,  antl  is  otherwise  a  railroad  cen- 
tre of  some  importance.  Atchison  is  the  eastern  terminus  of  the 
central  branch  of  the  Union  Pacific  and  also  of  the  Atchison, 
Topeka  and  Santa  F6  Railway,  the  most  enterprising  and  <rnergetic 
railway  in  the  Western  Empire,  but  which  is  now  also  extended 
to  Kansas  City.  The  last-named  place  has  recently  become  one 
of  the  greatest  railway  centres  west  of  the  Mississippi.  It  is  the 
most  easterly  terminus  of  the  Union  Pacific,  and  commands  from 
its  position  the  travel  and  transportation  of  the  Kansas  Pacific, 
the  Denver  Pacific,  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  Fe,  the  Utah 
and  Northern  ;  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  ;  the  Houston  and 
Texas  Central ;  the  St.  Louis  and  San  Francisco,  and  the  Texas 
Pacific.  All  these  roads  but  one  are  now  controlled  by  one  man, 
or  rather  by  a  combination,  of  which  he  is  the  head.  The  immi- 
grant leaving  New  York  by  either  of  the  great  trunk  roads, 
Erie,  New  York  Central,  Pennsylvania  Central,  or  Baltimore  and 
Ohio,  will  do  better  as  matters  now  stand,  to  buy  his  through 
tickets  via  the  Wabash  Railway,  which  connects  directly  at  Kan- 
sas City  with  all  these  roads.  By  either  of  the  other  lines, 
Chicago  and  Northwestern,  or  Chicago  and  Burlington,  he  will  be 
obliged  to  change  cars  and  re-check  his  baggage  at  Kansas  City, 
Omaha,  Atchison  or  St.  Joseph.  He  may  be  required  to  do  so 
on  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  F^,  but  probably  he  will  not 
If  the  emigrant's  destination  is  to  Oregon  or  Washington,  he 
will  still  find  it  best  to  take  this  route  going  by  the  Union  and 
Central  Pacific,  and  stopping  oflf  at  Kelton  or  at  Junction,  twenty 
milea  e^t;  o£  l^cramento,  and  going  thence  by  stage  and  rail  to 


','ri    iJ". 


mi. 


•I» 


Ct'^  n^KsreiiM  kmfikb. 


I 


i\ 


Onj^on  or  VVashln^'ton,  or  continuing  on  to  San  Francisco  and 
taking;  a  stramer  thcncr  to  I'ortland.  Oregon.  Ik  the  cmijjrant's 
destination  is  to  Southern  California  or  Ari/onn,  t'tiH  route  is 
still  tlir  b^'st,  taking  the  Soutlu-rn  Pacific  Railway  at  l.athii'ji  on 
the  Central  Pacific,  an<l  going  l.\  this  railway  li*  SouthciM  Cali 
fornia,  or  to  any  point  in  An/oiia  between  \'unia  uikI  1  ui«>on. 
The  States  and  Territories  on  the  I'acific  can  also  Ixi  re.iched 
from  New  York  at  about  the  same  expense  liy  .reamers  to  San 
I'Vancisco,  r/Vi  Panama  R,4ilroad,  and  other  steamer  lines  plying 
from  San  Francisco  to  Portland,  Oregon,  to  the  Columbia  river 
and  Pugci  Sound,  and  southward  to  I.os  Angeles.  San  Diej,'©, 
and  up  the  Gulf  of  California  to  Fort  Yuma,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Rio  Colorado.  Very  soon,  probably  within  two  years  at  the 
farthest,  all  Southern  Arizona,  Western  Texas,  and  Southern 
California,  will  be  reached  by  a  much  shorter  and  more  direct 
route  through  Texas.  Those  emigrants  whose  destination  is  to 
Missouri,  So'  'astern  Kansas,  Arkansas,  Indian  Territory, 
Western  Louisiana  or  Texas,  will  make  St.  Louis  their  point  of 
departure,  and  can  go  from  then">  either  by  Mississippi  river 
steamer  to  any  points  below,  and  by  New  Orleans  steamer  to 
any  points  on  the  Texas  coast,  or  by  Missouri  river  steamer  to 
any  points  in  Missouri,  Dakota  or  Montana,  lying  on  that  river 
or  on  its  principal  navigable  affluents,  such  as  the  Dakota,  Yel- 
lowstone, Jefferson,  Gallatin,  etc.,  etc.  ' 

If  they  prefer,  however,  to  continue  their  journey  By  rail,  they 
can  go  from  St.  Louis  by  the  Cairo  and  St.  Louis,  the  St.  Louis, 
Iron  Mountain  and  Southern ;  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  or  the 
Missouri  Pacific  with  its  continuation  in  the  Missouri,  Kansas 
and  Texas,  and  some  of  its  branches,  and  the  Tvxas  Pacific.  Or 
they  may  take  the  New  Orleans  or  Galv  eston  steamers  from 
New  York  .'nd  go  direct  to  Louisiana  or  T'xas. '•""•'  \"  *    «■•' 

On  the  railroads  the  emigrant  trains  move  slowly,  oeing  under 
the  necessity  of  switching  off  frequently,  as  the  faster  trains  have 
the  right  of  way.  The  emigrant  train  from  Kansas  City  or 
Omaha  to  the  Pacific  coast,  on  the  Union  and  Central  Pacific 
Railways,  is  usually  nine  or  ten  days  on  its  journey.  The  emi- 
grant cars  are  fairly  comfortable,  about  equal  to  the  third-cl.'  s 
cars  in  Europe.    They  have  no  cushions,  are  warmed  by  flat- 


J 


RAILItOAD  fAMfiS. 


»S3 


incisro  and 
emigrant's 
liii  ruutc  is 
Lathroj)  on 
illicin  Call* 
ikI  Tucson, 
bo  reached 
ners  to  San 
lines  plying 
lunbia  river 
San  Diej^o, 
ic  mouth  of 
years  at  the 
d  Southern 
more  direct 
iiuitii^n  is  to 
Territory, 
cir  point  of 
issipi^i  river 
steamer  to 
steamer  to 
n  that  river 
)akota,  Ycl- 

)y  rail,  they 

St.  Louis, 

cific,  or  the 

uri,  Kansas 

acific.    Or 

mers  from 

^eing  under 
1  rains  have 
as  City  or 
tral  Pacific 
The  emi- 
third-cl."  s 
led  by  flat- 


topf^ed  stoves,  on  which  the  passengers  can  heat  any  food  or 
drinks  they  need  for  yoimjf  children  or  invalids  ;  have  an  .irran^c- 
meiil  by  which,  by  the  use  of  U^ards  furnished  by  »hc  company, 
bunks  can  be  iiuide  in  which,  with  tiu  aid  of  coats,  blankets  uid 
fthawlH,  the  passcn^'^fra  can  slerp  a$  well  as  in  the  steerage  of  a 
..i:amship.  The  folUnving  tahU  .  c^)rnpil(  d  with  gr«at  care,  j^mvcs 
th(^  railroad  fares  which  prevailed  in  the  autumn  of  1S79; 


Dnilnjilan 
>MMi  antl  TcrriMrlM. 


PartUml,  Qr«(Ml 

Pnn  I  >t  nil ,  Or«gt»n      .... 
i'titiUiiO,  I  InigiMt.. , .,  • . 

P<  rlUnil,  OragiMi 


Pori  lUniuM,  MonUna... 
tmt  IWnMin,  Monun*  , 
H*l'  'lA,  Monitfrm  . 

»<lina,  Miinliin*  ...... 
<i\*m,  Moniin* . 

t>«nv«r,  ('(ilormtltf 

HiMble,  i;iilur«ilu. . .     ,. . 

Coliiriido  Spring!,  (Joi. .  > 

CtHMi  Cliy,  Colomdo . . 

A UmiHiii,  Colorado 

Dal  Nunc.  Ci.lnradu  .. 

t  I.*«1vin<!,  Colorado. . . . 


tUkaaiy.ralorad*.... 
(HanlaFi,  N.w  NUaico  . 
MnilU,  N«w  Mei  11:11  .  .. 
Olo  (  alwnM,  Nrw  Maiileu 
Chi-VLi 


YLniic,  Wy..cmng. 

Kmpnria,  Kiiii<4» 

Wichiift,  IC«n«a« 

Hulchlnxm,  KinHt 

Orrat  HenH,  Kaiitan 

Kinil'y^  Kanitafi 

UfMlii*  City.  Kaiwaa 

0|dcn,  lluh 

Hall  Lake  Cliy,  Utah     .. 

Provo,  Uuh 

Yorh.Uuh 

San  Anlnnlo.  Teas* 

Ualvcalon,  TcxM 

W«co,  Taxa< 

t>cni«on,  Taaa4 

fort  Worth,  Taxa* 

Vfnii.«    Indian  Territory  . 

Fort  ^lnllh,  Arhanaat 

HoUM'iii,  Texav 

pallw,  Teaat      

Dutdwood,  Black  HIIU, 

DakoM 

DiBdwood.  BUck  HIIU, 

Dakota 

Virginia  City.  Novada.... 

Canon,  Ntvada 

Lot  An>-'*  >,  Califarnia.,, 
Ran  ^11^0,  CallfofMia..  .. 
I  ThCton,  Ariiona. 


h 

I  «>.ao 
11'. »> 

¥>y 

Of   yt 
M  V 

J1J« 

U  .-* 

JJS« 

Hit 

41.56 
47 »« 

Ji  li 

4'>.lK) 

:*/ 


,',41 


19.41 

0(1 . 1  I 

6i.Qri 

tit, 

00. 00 
jfi.go 

JJ.CM 

»9  S" 
lJ.}o 

f7.>» 

ffO.fX) 

tl.)l 

30,5.1 
•y.jo 

39S" 


U.oo 
67.00 

19.00   I 


Railrun'l  «r  Swanwr  N<Hitcm,  »jul  P„lni«  ul 
tHfutuft 


any .... 
'jin«iilU 


via  9m  Frumiaco  S  OrmoM  H,  K.  C»iMpaii 
via  IT  P.  H  M  and  Ki«c«>iy  K«li»n  A  U 
via  I/.  P    K     R.  Il  ^i;ifc«  by  Juncliun    N«(tii'»K 

•ndRiMttmri;  '•  

ly  r  i<  .Ac  IM.iil  in  Sun  Fntncl«k:rt,  and  ihcnc*  ky 

■immario  Porllaad... , 

nyUiiInn  AC«it  Padltc.and  UuhA  Nor.  R.  R. 

hy  Mi««<iiirl  Mivar 

Pv  i;.il<mA(Vn,  Pacific,  and  UMh*  Nof.  R,  R 

lly  Si.  Uhik  k  MUxiuri  H>v<'r 

L«l"'r  rain  hy  Union  PaciAc,  Uuk  A  Nonhani 

k    » 

fla   St.    I.<iiii<,    Kam««  Ciy,  and  lh«  Ali'hicon, 

Top'l>4  <kS.inia  r,k  K    K 

via  hi     Louin,  K'xtM  Cily.  .mU  iha  Aichiaon. 

Topsl^a  ft  Santa  M  R.  R 

via  til.    I.i'itiv  Kan-.i>  Ciiy,  and  ilia  Aicliinon, 

Topekaft  Hania  ft  H    H 

Tin   M.   I.oin.1,  K«n<a«  Cliy,  and  ih«  Atchhiim, 

To|Nik;i  M  SanuFa  M.  M 

via  Si.   I  ■mIk,  K»"'«"  <  liy,  and   iha  Atchl«in, 

Tupeka  AKania  Fit  H.  K 
lit,  Kan««'>  City 

Tupi4  •  IkSania  r»  K.  K 


ws 


Ijoiilt,  Kan««'>  City,  and   tl>a  Alchitun, 


Sy  Atc'l    <on.  Tupcka  k  Santa  Ft  R.  R.,orby 

llniuK  VaciAc,  Culorailul'  niral.aMl  blags... . 


by  Alcblt.M,  Topeka  k  Santa  ft  K.  R. 


Hy  Uniun  Pac  lie  R.  R 

Ily  Alchlaon,  Tupali*  ^  SanlaM  R,  R.. 


By  Union  Pacific 

By  Uniim  Paciflc  &  Uuh  Narrow  (langa  R.  R, 
,1      II  ,1  II  II  ..  II 


Hy  Si.  Louii  &  Minuuri,  Kail^  ••  k  T«iia»  K ,  R. 
Il      II  ,1  ,1  •■  II  ,* 


<»)44 


«a.'.6 

tf  .no 
4>.UU 


ao.ou 

»H«0 

ao.on 

aj.uo 

•l.ou 

34.1.1 

4i.«. 
i»  1^ 
•4.7J 
40.0^ 


It 

7.05 
4"^  •14 
4"  44 

yn 

J»  44 

3"  SI ' 


ti.ao 

l).aii 


C,oo        J7"* 
.0.1       H  00 


IHl 

♦J.»' 
>S.oa 

tJ.MI 
tS.cal 

ly.oo 
J0.0U 
li'" 

39, .V, 

47.00 

4S.OO 

Kt.tVi 


By  U.  P.,  and  Stage  from  Sydney  to  Daadwood. 

By  Northern  T...  iflc,  and  Siugc  from  Dlanarck. 

Hy  Union  and  Central  Pacific 

il       ,,  .1       ^^  ^ 

By  Union, C«nirat& Southern  Pacific ,,. 

,1      .1  II  If  If 


M.<m 
J5*» 
MM 
•<.oo 

aj.oo 

1I.00 

)a.oo 

W.go 

W.on 
47.00 
41  M 
•»« 

41  ") 

9  1.1 


93» 

9  31 

I...4" 

I  ■  «.i 

11.35 

It  J5 

tim 

|i"5 

4'.,'»< 

J- ..go 

4>.oi, 

53.00 

44  5' > 

4o:<jo 

5V-.1 

»«»«» 

31.1... 

W7.40 

t|.oo 


4t.or> 

47.r«. 

66. 00 


jj,5o 

an, 00 
ilS.oo 
17.50 
105.) 
IV.0J 

3I.OJ 
I8.UII 

J^.OO 


*  In  March,  lUo,  the  Utah  and  Northern  R.  R.  waa  compieled  to  Hclenn,  Munlina,  and  the  bnsi  to  that  ti.wi-, 
>*d  to  Fort  Banlon,  have  comMt'ienUy  been  reduced  lomewhat  on  ihi«  roiita. 
f  The  completion  of  ihe  railroad  to  {.cadvlit..-,  ALimou  and  Santa  Ti,  haa  nidiii'ad  iheae  farei  nomcwhtat. 
(The  Southern  Pacific  ii  now  completed  to  Tiii-iun,  and  farca  are  !uwcr. 


>S4 


OUM    WMSTMMS  tMNMM, 


CHAPTER  MI. 

How  TO  ontAiN  T.ANn— novKHNMKNT  I.ANtM  -Ihiirta  or  Ararli  01  Parmino 

I.ANrMH-I'l'RCHAIlR    AT    Aui   (ION    OR     l»RIVATR     KnTRV—I'RR  RlimOH— I'MR 

HoMMrKAii  8ai.k»— I.AKD  Warrant*— Thk   Iimm»m  Culturr  Acr—TRRMi 

AND  MotiR  or  FURCHAMRO'     I'lMHRR  I.ANUn — CiRAIINU  I.ANt)S:   NOW  SRiURRU. 

Having;  arrived  at  his  dcntination.  the  immigrant,  if  a  farmer,  or 
if  disposed  to  invest  in  arable  lands,  looks  atiout  him,  to  ice  liow^ 
he  can  best  secure  a  farm.  If  he  is  a  member  of  a  colony  formed 
in  Europe,  or  in  our  own  Eastern  States,  or  if  he  comes  oiU 
under  the  management  of  an  emigration  company,  he  is  spared 
that  trouble.  He  takes  what  is  allotted  to  him,  whatever  its 
quality,  and  without  any  pi  Ivilcge  of  change  ;  or  if  he  is  allowed 
a  voice  in  the  allotment,  it  must  still  be  in  the  same  tract  of  land. 
Not  all  the  immigrants,  however,  arc  disposed  to  come  into  such 
an  arrangement  as  this.  It  is  very  well  in  a  small  colony,  where 
all  the  colonists  are  friends  and  acquaintances,  and  where  the  town 
lots  and  farming  lands  are  about  equally  eligible,  to  unite  together 
in  this  way,  but  to  be  only  one  of  several  thousands  to  whom 
land  is  allotted  without  choice  of  the  party  who  is  to  cultivate  it, 
and  without  the  stimulus  of  individual  enterprise,  though  it  may 
suit  foreign  colonists,  is  not  much  to  the  taste  of  our  independent 
and  self-reliant  American  emigrants.  .  **  :       r 

We  will  suppose,  then,  that  our  immigrant,  having  decided  where 
he  desires  to  locate  his  farm,  proceeds  to  secure  it.  There  are 
many  ways  in  which  he  may  do  this ;  some  of  them  depending 
upon  the  amount  of  money  '  i  has  at  command,  others  upon  the 
locality  itself,  and  the  amoui.t  and  desirableness  of  the  govern- 
ment land  in  the  market.  If  he  has  a  sufficient  capital  and 
proposes  to  farm  his  own  land,  he  will  perhaps  find  it  advisable 
to  purchase  a  partially  improved  farm  from  some  settler  who 
desires  to  pay  off  the  debts  he  has  incurred  and  start  anew  on 
government  land  farther  west.  There  are  very  often  such  oppor- 
tunies  by  which  an  immigrant,  who  has  some  capital,  may,  for  less 
money  than  he  would  have  to  expend  on  new  and  unbroken  lands, 
procure  a  good  farm,  with  such  improvements  af  m|^^  enable  him 


ift  ,ii 


vi)- 


"'wV^ifirsfei;"!  ay:%kir 


It!  Ol   FaRMINO 
lEMmoN  — TMB 

mv  Act— TMMi 

i:  nowSbcurbd. 

if  a  farmtT,  or 
m,  to  ice  how 
colony  formed 
he  comes  out 
,  he  i«  spared 
,  whatever  its 
■  he  i«  allowed 
e  tract  of  land, 
come  into  buch 
I  colony,  where 
where  the  town 
I  unite  together 
lands  to  whom 
I  to  cultivate  it, 
lough  it  may 
ur  independent 

decided  where 
it.     There  are 
lem  depending 
thers  upon  the 
af  the  govern- 
nt  capital  and 
id  it  advisable 
le  setder  who 
start  anew  on 
en  ftuch  oppor- 
\,  may,  for  less 
nbroken  lands, 
nay  enable  him 


ifOty  TO  SMCVJtK  A  PAHy,  gM 

to  enter  upon  it  at  once.  In  all  these  cases,  however,  he  should 
carefully  examine  his  title,  and  see  that  thrre  arc  no  clouds  on  it 
If,  however,  there  is  no  such  op|K>rtunily  where  he  winhes  to 
locate,  he  will  do  wt-ll  to  purchane,  if  he  can  fmd  it,  government 
l^hd  of  the  best  quality,  cither  at  auction  or  by  private  entry, 
\yt\\\^  careful  to  select  a  farm  with  either  a  spring  or  running 
water  on  it,  and,  if  it  is  to  be  had,  one  of  the  alternate  Hcctions 
on  or  nrar  a  railway  line,  present  or  immediately  prospective. 
The  land,  if  not  near  a  railway,  will  be  held  by  the  government 
at  $1.35  per  acre  and  the  fees,  which  may  bring  the  price  up  to 
$'•33  o''  ||I-3S  pec  Bcre.  If  it  is  within  the  railroad  limit  the 
price  will  be  $2.50  per  acre,  with  the  fees,  which  may  bring  it  up 
to  |t2.6o,  In  either  case,  he  will  do  well  if  he  can  afford  it  to 
take  a  quarter-section  (160  acres)  in  this  way.  If  he  needs  more 
hereafter  he  can  probably  secure  it  at  a  less  cost. 

But  it  may  happen  that  there  ha:i  been  such  active  emigration 
to  that  neighborhood,  that  dierc  are  no  desirable  quarter-sections 
to  be  had,  amon^'  theHc  alternate  sections  along  the  railroad,  and 
that  the  remoter  lands  are,  for  some  reason,  not  desirable.  Or, 
it  may  be  that  there  is  no  railroad  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  or 
that  the  lands  have  not  been  Hurvcycd,  and  so  put  upon  the 
market.  In  the  6rst  case,  he  can  probably  buy  the  railroad  land, 
paying  a  litde  more  for  it.  usually  %%  per  acre,  but  receiving  a 
liberal  discount  for  cash  payment.  In  the  second  case,  he  may 
be  obliged  to  pre-empt  his  land,  in  which  case  he  will  have  thirty- 
three  months  to  pay  for  it,  and  a  longer  time  if  it  is  not  surveyed, 
but  meantime  does  not  receive  a  full  tide;  or  he  can  enter  it 
provisionally  under  the  Homestead  or  the  Timber- Culture  Act, 
receiving  his  full  title  in  five  or  eight  years.  Or,  he  may  find 
some  school  lands  or  other  State  lands  in  the  vicinity,  which  he 
may  be  able  to  purchase  on  fair  terms ;  or,  at  the  very  worst,  if 
there  is  no  survey,  no  railroad  near,  no  State  or  Territorial  lands 
ready  for  purchase,  nothing  but  a  mining  settlement  just  sprung 
into  existence,  which  will  afford  him  a  good  market  for  whatever 
he  can  raise,  he  can  "squat"  on  the  land,  taking  his  chance  of 
dispossession,  but  with  pay  for  his  improvements,  if  the  land 
should  prove  to  be  mining  land,  and  filing  a  pre-emption  claim 
as  soon  as  possible. 


2*6  OUR    WESTERN   EMPIRE. 

The  immigrant  who  has  but  little  money  will  take  a  sor  ewhat 
different  course.  He  will  c'j  better  to  look  out  for  a  quarter- 
section  under  the  Homestead  Act,  or  the  Timber-Culture  Act,  or 
Loth,  if  he  needs  so  much  land,  and  he  will  find  it  for  his 
advantage,  if  there  are  lands  near  a  railroad,  to  secure  those, 
taking  if  he  chooses,  only  half  the  quantity  and  thereby  saving 
something  on  entiy  fees.  His  entry  fees  for  eighty  acres  (an 
eighth  of  a  section)  will  be  about  $14,  and  if  he  takes  the  same 
quantity  under  the  Timber-Culture  Act,  it  will  cost  him  $14 
more;  but  he  obtains  his  full  title  only  at  the  end  of  five  years  of 
cultivation  (unless  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  when  the 
time  of  service  in  the  war  is  deducted),  and  under  the  Timber- 
Culture  Act,  not  till  the  end  of  eight  years,  though  the  tree-plant« 
ing  is  extended  over  the  whole  time,  a  certain  quantity  being 
planted  each  year.  If  there  is  no  opportunity  to  obtain  a 
desirable  farm  in  this  way,  the  next  best  mode  is  by  pre-emption, 
which  will  give  him  at  least  thirty-three  months,  time  for  two 
crops,  before  he  will  have  to  pay  for  his  land.  Or  failing  this, 
the  school  lands,  which  though  of  sligh;^^y  higher  price  are 
usually  sold  on  time,  in  seven  or  ten  annual  instalments,  or  he 
may  purchase  on  long  credit,  though  at  a  higher  price,  railroad 
lands  in  an  eligible  location.  In  order  .that  there  may  be  no 
possibility  of  misunderstanding  the  pmvisions  under  which 
government  lands  are  sold,  we  give  below  the  acts  and  inter- 
pretations of  them,  by  the  United  States  Land  Office,  under  which 
the  public  lands  are  .sold  or  given  to  settlers  for  farming  or 
grazing  purposes,  and  also  the  laws  in  regard  to  timber  lands 
and  mining  lands.  These  have  been  compiled  and  compared 
with  the  reports  of  the  office  with  great  care,  and  are  believed  to 
embody  every  particular  necessary  for  procuring  government 
lands  under  all  circumstances.  We  ought  to  say,  that  there  is 
very  litde  government  land  eligible  for  farming  purposes  i.i  Iowa, 
Missouri,  Eastern  Kansas,  Eastern  Nebraska,  or  California,  and 
none  in  Texas,  though  the  State  has  vast  quantities  for  sale  at 
merely  nominal  prices.  In  some  of  the  other  States  and 
Territories  grazing  and  timber  lands  are  greatly  in  excess  of 
those  adapted  to  cultivation.     In  Minnesota,  Dakota,  Montana, 


HOW  TV  SECURE  GOVRKNMSNT  LANDS. 


»57 


a  soir  ewhat 
r  a  quarter- 
Iture  Act,  or 
d  it  for  his 
:cure  those, 
ireby  saving 
Ly  acres  (an 
es  the  same 
3st  him  $14 
ive  years  of 
ir,  when  the 
the  Timber- 
te  tree-plant* 
lantity  being 
to  obtain  a 
pre-emption, 
:ime  for  two 
Ir  failing  this, 
er  price  are 
Iments,  or  ho 
>rice,  railroad 
may  be  no 
nder   which 
Its  and  intet- 
,  under  which 
Ir  farming  or 
timber  lands 
id  compared 
e  believed  to 
government 
that  there  is 
loses  \\\  Iowa, 
[alifornia,  and 
ies  for  sale  at 
States    and 
in  excess  of 
ita,  Montana, 


Wyoming,  Western  Nebraska,  Western  Kansas,  Arkansas, 
Colorado,  Oregon  and  Washington,  there  are  still  krge 
quantities  of  arable  lands,  and  a  considerable  amount  in  Utah, 
Nevada,  Idaho,  New  Mexico,  and  Arizona,  diough  in  all  these 
the  grazing  and  mineral  lands  largely  predominate* 

HOW  TO  OBTAIN  GOVERNMENT  LANDS. 
I.  Arable  Lands. — The  following  is  compiled  from  circulars 
issued  by  the  Commissioner  of  the  General  Land  Office,  and  is 

explicit  in  reference  to  tfie  manner  of  acquiring  title  to  public 
lands:       •  ■  '    , 

There  ?re  two  classes  of  public  lands — the  one  class  at  $1.25 
per  acre,  which  is  designated  as  minimum,  and  the  other  at 
$2.50  per  acre,  or  double  minimum. 

Title  may  be  acquired  by  purchase  at  public  sale,  or  by 
ordinary  "private  entry,"  and  in  virtue  of  die  pre-emption, 
homestead,  and  timl  ';r-cultuie  laws. 

■ 

By  PuftCliASE  At   PUBLIC  SALE. 

1.  This  may  be  done  whe^e  lands  are  "offered"  at  public 
auctioh  to  th6  highest  bidder.  .  ,     . 

0  '         '^'     BY  "PRIVATE   ENIRY"   OR   LOCATION.  '    . 

2.  The  lands  lilblie  tb  disposal  in  this  manner  are  those  which 
were  offered  at  public  sale,  but  were  not  then  sold,  and  which 
have  not  since  been  reserved  or  otherwise  withdrawn  from 
mar'cet  \n  ihh  class  of  offered  and  unreserved  public  lands, 
the  following  steps  may  be  taken  to  acquire  title :  .     , 


iUu.  (li  ..'1^;;^: 


'(,'.i 


i  a;  CASH    PURCHASES.      :■ 

3.  The  applicant  wiM  present  a  written 
register  for  the  district  in  which  the  land 
Thereupon  the  register  will  so  certify  to  the 
price,   and  the  applicant  must  then   pay 
purchase-money. 

The  receiver  will  then  issue  his  receipt  for  the  money  paid, 
and  when  the  proceedings  are  found  regitlar,  a  patent  qr  com- 
plete tide  will  be  issued.  ^^ -^  v-  '  •^•'•'  ..W.u;..^  ,>.  ..:».. 
17 


application  tb  the 

desired  is  situated. 

receiver,  stating  the 

the  amount  of  the 


15: 


259 


Ol/Jt    WESTERJV  EMPIRE. 


LOCATIONS   WITH    WARRANTS. 

4.  Application  must  be  made  as  in  cash  cases,  but  must  be 
accompanied  by  a  warrant  duly  assigned  as  the  consideration  for 
the  land;  yet,  where  the  tract  is  $2.50  per  acre,  the  party,  in 
addition  to  the  surrendered  warrant,  must  pay  in  cash  $1.25  per 
acre,  as  the  warrant  is  in  satisfaction  of  only  so  many  acres,  at 
j^i.25  per  acre,  or  furnish  a  warrant  of  such  denomination  as 
will,  at  the  legal  value  of  $1.25  per  acre,  cover  the  rated  price 
of  the  land. 

The  following  fees  are  chargeable  by  the  land  officers,  and  the 
several  amounts  must  be  paid.<jtt  the.  time  of  location : 

(■',,;>;    h;.':fj'   :t'1f'    ^.,'.i   -v-l  *:r,i   .'>ii'[V'M     ''  ■ri-:'  .     ,'     •'    i     ' 

For  a  40-acre  warrant,  50  cents  each  to  the  register  and  receiver — total,  ^i.oo 
For  a  60-acre  warrant,  75  cents  " 

For  an  8o-acre  warrant,  (  '.oo  " 

For  a  120-acre  warrant,  $1.50  " 

For  a  luo-acre  warrant,  |2.oo  " 


4,1 

M 

M 

i'f- 

i\ 

M 

« 

<i 

II 

II 


1.50 

a. 00 
3.00 
4.00 


AORICULTURAL  COLLEGE  SCRIP. 

5.  This  scrip  may  be  used — 

Jursf.  In  the  location  of  lands  at  ^* private  entry"  but  when  po 
used  is  only  applicable  to  lands  not  mineral,  which  may  be  sub- 
ject to  pri^'ate  entry  at  $1.25  per  acre,  restricted  to  a  "quarter- 
section"  or  it  may  be  located  on  a  pari  of  a  "  quarter-section," 
wheie  such  part  is  taken  as  in  full  for  a  quarter;  but  it  cannot 
be  applied  to  different  subdivisions  to  make  an  area  equivalent 
to  a  quarter-section.  The  manner  of  proceeding  to  acquire  title 
with  this  class  of  paper  is  the  same  as  in  cash  and  warrant  cases, 
the  fees  to  be  paid  being  the  same  as  on  warrants. 

Second.  In  payment  of  pr'.-emption  claims  in  the  same  manner 
and  under  the  same  rules  and  regulations  as  govern  the  applica- 
tion to  pre-emptions  of  military  land  warrants. 

Third.  In  payment  for  homesteads  commuted  under  section 
.2^0L  of  the  Revised  Statutes  of  the  United  States. 

PRE-EMPTIONS   ADMISSIBLE    TO    THE    EXTENT  OF   ONE    QUARTER-SEC- 
TION, OR, ONE   HUNDRED   AND   SIXTY   ACRES. 

6.  These  are  admitted  under  sections  2257  to  2288  of  the  Re- 


PRE-EMPTION   OF   LANDS. 


aS9 


but  must  be 
iideration  for 
the  party,  in 
xsh  $1.25  per 
lany  acres,  at 
omination  as 
le  rated  price 

icers,  and  the 


ftx — total,  1 1.00 

10 


.^r 


"  but  when  fo 
h  may  be  sub- 
to  a  "  quarter- 
arter-section," 
jut  it  cannot 
ea  equivalent 
acquire  title 
warrant  cases, 

same  manner 
rn  the  applica- 

under  section 


QUARTER-SEC- 

ES.    '""■■,•'■•  , 

88  of  the  Re- 


vised  Statutes  of  the  United  States,  upon  "offered"  and  "un- 
offered"  lands,  and  upon  any  of  the  unsurveyed  lands  belonging 
to  the  United  States.  The  pre-emption  privilege  is  restricted  to 
the  heads  of  families,  widows,  or  single  men  over  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  who  are  citizens  of  the  United  States,  or  who  have 
declared  their  intention  to  become  citizens,  as  required  by  the 
naturalization  laws. 

7.  The  right  of  pre-emption  for  one  quarter-section,  or  160 
acres,  at  the  price  of  $2.50  per  acre,  to  the  alternate  United  States 
or  reserved  sections  along  the  line  of  rrjlroads,  is  continued  by 
the  Revised  Statutes. 

8.  Section  2281  thereof  protects  the  rights  of  setders  along 
the  line  of  railroads,  where  settlement  existed  prior  to  with- 
drawal, and  in  such  cases  allows  the  land  to  be  taken  by  pre- 
emptors  at  $1.25  per  acre. 

'  9.  Where  the  tract  is  '* offered"  land,  the  party  must  file  his 
declaratory  statement,  as  to  the  fact  of  his  setdement,  within 
thirty  days  from  the  date  of  said  settlement,  and  within  one  year 
from  date  of  settlement  must  make  proof  of  his  actual  residence 
on,  and  cultivation  of,  the  tract. 

10.  Where  the  tract  has  been  surveyed  and  not  offered  at 
public  sale,  the  claimant  must  file  his  declaratory  statement 
within  three  months  from  date  of  settlement,  and  make  proof 
and  payment  within  thirty  months  after  the  expiration  of  the 
three  months  allowed  for  filing  his  declaratory  notice,  or  in  other 
words,  within  thirty-three  months  from  date  of  settlement. 
'  II.  Where  settlements  are  made  on  unsurveyed XzxidiS,  settlers 
are  required,  within  three  months  after  the  date  of  the  receipt  at 
the  district  land  office  of  the  improved  plat  of  the  township  em- 
bracing their  claims,  to  file  their  declaratory  statement,  and 
thceafter  to  make  proof  and  payment  for  the  tract  within  thirty 
months  from  the  expiration  of  said  three  months.  When  two  or 
more  settlers  on  unsurveyed  land  are  found  upon  survey  to  be 
residing  upon,  or  to  have  valuable  improvements  upon,  the  same 
smallest  legal  subdivision,  they  may  make  joint  entry  of  such 
tract,  and  separate  entries  of  the  residue  of  their  claims. 

12.  Should  the  settler,  in  either  of  the  aforesaid  cases,  die 


a6o 


OUR   WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


before  establishing  his  claim  within  the  period  limited  by  law,  the 
title  may  be  perfected  by  the  executor,  administrator,  or  one  of 
the  heirs,  by  making  the  requisite  proof  of  settlement  and  pay- 
ing for  the  land ;  the  legal  representatives  of  the  deceased  pre- 
emptor  being  entitled  to  make  the  entry  at  any  time  within  the 
period  to  wiiich  the  pre-emptor  would  be  cntided  if  living. 

LAWS    EXTENDING   THE    HOMESTEAD    PRIVILEGE.        .• 

13.  The  laws  extending  the  homestead  privilege,  embraced  in 
sections  2289  to  2317  of  the  Revised  Statutes,  give  to  every 
citizen,  and  to  those  who  have  declared  their  intentioti  to  become 
citizens,  the  right  to  a  homestead  on  surveyed  lands. 

14.  To  obtain  homesteads,  the  party  must  make  affidavit 
before  the  register  or  receiver  that  he  is  over  the  age  of  twenty- 
one,  or  the  head  of  a  family ;  that  he  is  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  or  has  declared  his  intention  to  become  such ;  and  that 
the  entry  is  made  for  his  exclusive  use  and  benefit,  and  for 
actual  settlement  and  cultivation.  -  ,       ru;  ; 

15.  Where  the  applicant  has  made  actual  Settlement  on  the 
land  he  desires  to  enter,  but  is  prevented,  by  good  cause,  from 
personal  attendance  at  the  district  land  (^ce,  the  affidavit  may 
be  made  before  the  clerk  of  the  court  fojf  the  cQunty  witbili 
which  the  land  is  situated.  "•  ■-  >  f.  m-  ,ri  ,f-^</.f,-.  ..  ,^.n  ,.,/•+;,, 
's\  16.  On  compliance  of  the  party  with  the  foregoing  require- 
ments, the  matter  will  then  be  entered  on  the  records  of  the  dfa- 
trict  office,  and  reported  to  the  General  Land  Office. 

1 7.  An  inceptive  right  is  vested  in  the  settler  by  9\ich  pro- 
ceedings, and  upon  faithful  observance  of  the  law  in  regard  to 
settlement  and  cultivation  the  register  will  issue  his  certificate, 
and  make  proper  returns  to  the  General  Land  Office  as  the 
basis  of  la  patent  or  complete  title  for  the  homestead.  In  making 
final  proof,  it  is  required  that  the  homestead  party  shall  appear 
ia  pci'son  at  the  district  land  office.  But  where,  from  good 
cause,  the  witnesses  of  said  party  cannot  attend  in  person  at  the 
district  office,  their  testimony  may  be  taken  before  ftny  o6^er 
authorised  by  law  to  administer  baths. 
V  18.  Wh^re  a  homestead  setder  di«s  before  the  O0niutff>m|ition 


ism 


THE  HOMESTEAD  LAty. 


261 


by  law,  the 
,  or  one  of 
It  and  pay- 
:eased  pre- 
;  within  the 
iving. 

E. 

;mbraced  in 
/e  to  every 
ti  to  become 

ke   affidavit 
c  of  twenty- 
"  the  United 
:h;  and  that 
eiit,  and  for 
■-  ;.  ,  .'.  Ttr;': 
jment  on  the 
[  cause,  from 
affidavit  may 
:ounty  within 

jing  require- 
da  of  the  dis- 
e.     'ir' >^ro7.' 
by  s\ich  pro- 
in  regard  to 
lis  certificate, 
)ffice  as  the 
In  making 
shall  appear 
from   good 
[person  at  the 
Ve  any  ofi&cer 

tdnw^mcition 


of  his  claim,  the  wido\v,  or,  in  case  of  her  death,  the  heirs  may 
continue  tlie  settlement  and  cultivation,  ami  obtain  tiiie  upon 
requisite  proof  at  the  proper  time.  If  the  widow  [)rovc3  up,  the 
tide  passes  to  her ;  if  she  dies  before  proving  up  and  the  heirs 
make  the  proof,  the  title  will  vest  in  them.  Where  both  parents 
die,  leaving  infant  heirs,  the  homestead  may  be  sold  for  cash  for 
the  benefit  of  such  heirs,  and  the  purchaser  will  receive  title  from 
the  United  States. 

19.  The  sale  of  a  homestead  claim  by  the  settler  to  another 
party  before  completion  of  title,  is  not  recognized  by  the  General 
Land  Office,  but  would  be  prima  facie  evidence  of  abandonment, 
and  might  give  cause  for  cancellation  of  the  claim.  A  party  may 
relinquish  his  claim,  but  on  his  doing  so,  the  land  reverts  to  the 
government.  Where  application  is  made  to  contest  the  validity 
of  a  homestead  entry  on  the  ground  of  abandonment,  the  officers 
will  set  apart  a  day  for  a  hearing,  giving  all  the  parties  in  interest 
due  notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  trial.  The  expenses  incident 
to  such  contest  must  be  defrayed  by  the  contestant,  who  must 
ascertain  when  notice  of  cancellation  is  received,  and  then  make 
formal  written  application  for  the  tract,  which,  after  cancellation, 
is  open  to  Hn&firsi  legal  applicant. 

20.  As  the  law  allows  but  one  homestead  privilege,  a  settler 
relinquishing  or  abandoning  his  claim  cannot  thereafter  make  a. 
second  entry ;  but  where,  a  party  having  made  one  entry,  it  is 
cancelled  as  invalid,  for  some  other  reascii,  he  is  not  thereby  de- 
barred from  entering  again.  Where  an  individual  has  made 
setdement  on  a  tract  and  filed  his  pre-emption  declaration  therefor, 
be  may  change  his  filing  into  a  homestead,  if  he  continues  in  good 
faith  to  comply  with  (he  pre-emption  laws  until  the  <:hange  ijs 
effected.  -.'-  ■'  r 

21.  If  the  homestead  settler  does  not  wish  to  remain  fve  years  ot$ 
his  irofity^he  law  permits  Mm  to  pay  for  it  with  cash  or  warrants, 
or  agruulUiral  college  scrip,  upon  making  proof  of  settlement  and 
cultivation  for  a  period  not  less  than  six  months  from  the  date  of 
entry  to  the  Hm^  of  payment.  This  proof  of  actual  settlement  and 
cultivation  must  be  the  affidavit  of  the  party,  made  before  the 
district  officers,  corroborated  by  the  tesdmony  of  two  credibly 
witnesses. 


^- 


3w8 


Ol/A    WEST/     -V   EMPIRE. 


22.  There  is  another  class  of  homesteads  designated  as  "ad- 
joining farm  homesteads."  In  these  cases  the  law  allows  an 
applicant,  oxvning  and  residing  on  an  original  farm,  to  enter  other 
land  lying  contiguous  thereto,  which  shall  not,  with  such  farm, 
exceed  in  the  aggregate  i6o  acres.  In  applying  for  an  entry  of 
this  class,  the  party  must  make  affidavit  describing  the  tract  which 
he  owns  and  upon  which  he  resides  as  his  original  farm.  In 
making  final  proof,  it  is  not  required  that  he  should  prove  actual 
residence  on  the  separate  tract  entered ;  but  it  must  appear  that 
he  has  continued  for  the  period  required  by  law  to  reside  upon 
and  cultivate  the  original  farm  tract,  and  has  bona  fide  made  use 
of  the  entered  tract  as  part  of  the  homestead. 

23.  Provisions  for  the  benefit  of  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  late 
war,  their  widows  and  minor  orphan  children:  Sections  2304, 
2305,  2306,  2307,  2308,  and  2309  of  the  Revised  Statutes,  for 
the  benefit  of  soldiers  and  sailors,  their  widows  and  minor  orphan 
children,  provide : 

First.  In  section  2-04,  that  every  soldier  and  oflFicer  of  the 
army,  and  every  seaman,  marine,  and  officer  of  the  navy,  who 
served  for  not  less  than  ninety  days  in  the  army  or  navy  of  the 
United  States  "during  the  recent  rebellion,"  and  who  was  honorably 
discharged,  and  has  remained  loyal  to  the  government,  may  enter, 
under  the  provisions  of  the  homestead  law,  1 60  acres  of  the  puUic 
lands,  •         ,v 

Second.  In  s6ctt6n  2305,  that  the  tim-  of  his  service,  or  the 
whole  term  of  his  enlistment,  if  rhe  party  was  discharged  on 
account  of  wounds  or  disability  incurred  in  the  line  of  duty,  shall 
be  deducted  from  the  period  of  five  years  during  which  the 
claimant  must  reside  upon  and  cultivate  the  entered  tract,  but 
the  party  shall,  in  every  case,  reside  upon,  improve,  and  cultivate 
his  homestead  for  a  period  of  at  least  one  year.     -     -     >- 

Third.  That  any  person  entitled  to  the  benefits  of  secttoh  2304. 
who  had,  prior  to  the  22d  of  June,  1874,  made  a  homestead  entry 
of  less  than  1 60  acres,  may  enter  an  additional  quantity  of  land 
sufficient  to  make,  with  the  previous  entry,  160  acres. 
'^f  Fourth.  That  the  widow,  if  unmarried,  or  in  case  of  her  death 
or  marriage,  then  the  minor  orphan  children,  of  a  person  who 


HOMESTEAD  LANDS  TO  SOLDIERS,  ETC. 


263 


d  as  "  ad- 
allows  an 
:nter  other 
such  farm, 
n  entry  of 
tract  which 
farm.     In 
rove  actual 
appear  that 
•eside  upon 
V  made  use 

r  0/  the  late 
:tions  2304, 
statutes,  for 
linor  orphan 

filcer  of  the 
e  navy,  who 

navy  of  the 
as  honorably 
it,  may  enter, 

of  the  public 

vice,  or  the 
[scharged  on 
if  duty,  shall 
ig  which  the 
[ed  tract,  but 
and  cultivate 

Isection  2304. 
lestead  entry 
Lntity  of  land 

I  of  her  death 
person  who 


would  be  entitled  to  the  benefits  of  section  2304,  may  enter  lands 
under  its  provisions,  with  the  additional  privilege  accorded,  that 
if  the  person  died  during  his  term  of  enlistment,  the  widow  or 
minor  children  siiall  have  the  benefit  of  the  whole  term  of  enlist- 
ment. 

Fi/^h.  That  any  person  entided  to  the  benefit  of  section  2304 
may  file  his  claim  for  a  tract  of  land  through  an  agent,  and  shall 
have  six  months  thereafter  within  which  to  make  his  entry  and 
commence  his  settlement  and  improvement  upon  the  land. 

24.  The  following  is  the  course  of  proceedings  for  parties  to 
avail  themselves  of  the  benefit  of  these  sections  of  the  Revised 
Statutes  in  making  homestead  entries :  .  .  '; 

First.  On  the  party  producing  proper  proof  of  his  right  to  do 
so,  immediate  entry  of  the  tract  desired  may  be  made  ;  but  if  the 
party  so  elect,  he  may  file  a  declaration  to  the  effect  that  he  claims  a 
specified  tract  of  land  as  his  homestead,  and  that  he  takes  it  for 
actual  settlement  and  cultivation.  Thereafter,  at  any  time  within 
six  months,  the  party  may  come  forward,  either  in  person  or  by 
agent  having  his  power  of  attorney,  make  his  entry  of  the  land, 
and  commence  his  settlement  and  improvement 

Second.  The  claims  of  widows  and  minor  orphan  children  may 
be  initiated  by  declaration  as  above.  Minor  orphan  children  can 
act  only  by  their  duly  appointed  guardians,  who  must  file  certified 
copies  of  the  powers  of  guardianship. 

Third,  Applications  for  additional  entries  must  be  for  a  quantity 
which,  with  the  original  entry,  will  not  exceed  1 60  acres.  Where 
the  party's  first  entry  has  been  consummated,  the  register  and 
receiver  will  require  him  to  make  application  and  aiilidavit  in  the 
forms  prescribed,  and  to  pay  the  same  fee  and  commissions  as  in 
cases  of  original  entry.  Then,  to  complete  the  transaction,  the 
party  will  make  payment  of  the  usual  final  commissions  on  the 
entered  tract,  for  which  the  receiver  will  issue  his  receipt.  In  case 
the  party  has  not  made  proof  on  his  original  homestead  entry 
when  he  applies  for  additional  land,  he  will  be  allowed  to  make 
the  additional  entry  on  proper  application  and  affidavit  as  above 
stated,  and  paying  the  usual  fee  and  commissions.  Thereafter, 
when  the  party  shall  make  final  proof  on  the  original  entry,  he 


ai5^  aUR    WESTERN   EMPIRE. 

will  be  required  to  pay  the  final  commisBtons  on  botli  entrien, 
when  a  final  receipt  will  be  issued  for  the  money,  and  thereupon 
a  final  certificate  issued  to  call  both  for  tlic  tract  in  the  original 
entry  and  the  additional  tract. 

25.  The  following  proof  will  be  required  of  parties  applying 
fpr  the  l)cnefits  of  these  sectionH,  in  addition  to  the  prescribed 
affidavit  of  the  applicant : 

First.  Certified  copy  of  certificate  of  discharge,  showing  when 
the  party  enlisted  and  when  he  was  discharged  ;  or,  if  this  can- 
not be  procured,  then  the  affidavits  of  two  respectable,  dis- 
interesttd  witnesses,  corroborative  of  the  allegations  contained 
in  the  pt  escribed  affidavit  on  these  points.        :* 

Second,  In  case  of  widows,  the  prescribed  evidence  of  military 
service  of  the  husband,  as  above,  with  affidavit  of  widowhood. 

Third.  In  case  of  minor  orphan  children,  in  addition  to  the 
prescribed  evidence  of  military  service  of  the  father,  proof  of 
death  or  marriage  of  the  mother.  Evidence  of  death  may  be 
the  testimony  of  two  witnesses  or  certificate  of  a  physician  duly 
attested.  Evidence  of  marriage  may  be  a  certified  copy  of 
marriage  certificate,  or  of  the  record  of  same,  or  testimony  of 
two  udtnessAs  to  the  marriage  ceremony. 


28.  w4//  lands  obtained  under  the  homestead  laws  arc  exempt 
from  liability  for  debts  contf acted  prior  to  Uie  issuing  of  patent 

29.  For  homestead  entries  or  lands  in  Kansas,  fees  are  to  be 
paid  according  to  the  following  table :     ; 'i  • .    .  ■      11      *       1 


u; 


One  hundred  aod  sixty... 

Eighty. 

Forty  V 

Eighty 

FwHy ,..»....- 


Price  per 
owe. 


1  as 

2  so 


PoMMittirm. 


Btya'vle  wbcp 
entry  i>  made. 


tA  00 
?  00 
I  00 
4  00 
3  09 


Payable  i|fti«n 

certificate 

Imuci. 


a  00 
I  00 
4  00 
3  00 


Rmh. 


P«yiible  «|lian 
entry  is  nuid^ 

f  10  09 

S  oo 

S  00 

10  00 

5  00 


Totitl  r«ea 
and  com- 

>t<«aioiM, 


f  la  00 

9  00 

7  00 

18  00 

9  00 


NoTB.— Wherf  entries  are  made  on  fi.jo  land  by  officers,  soldiers  and  sailors,  \).ndf:x  section  1304  of  the  l^e- 
vlHtl  ^t^iulev,  doilUs  Ibe  amount  of  the  above  comoils^^ious  must  of  course  be  paid— that  is,  for  160  aero  of  fa.ja 
|l  •!  the  date  of  entry,  and  fS  upon  proving  up. 


TrMBMM.CUL  TUKK  ACTS. 


a6s 


h  entries* 
hereupon 
B  original 

applying 
prescribed 

ving  when 
f  this  can- 
table,  dis- 
contained 

of  military 
lowhood. 
ition  to  the 
r,  proof  of 
th  may  be 
'sician  duly 
tA  copy  of 
istimony  of 


arc  exempt 
ig  of  patent 

»9  are  to  be 


IS. 

Tot»l  fWi 

1 



and  com- 

■ 

r«|ban 

ini««)on*. 

■ 

mi«l«. 

■ 



■ 

■ 

s  00    ^»8  oo 

■ 

ico 

9  oo 

■ 

;  oo 

7  00 

■ 

)  oo 

i8  oo 

■ 

c  oo 

9  oo 

■ 

lion  9304  of  the  l^e- 
i  for  i«o  acre*  of  |«-S» 


LAWS  TO  PROMOTE  TIMDRR   CULTURK. 

31.  The  Timber-Culture  Act  of  June  14th,  1878,  amendatory 
of  the  act  of  March  ijUi,  1874  (sections  2464  to  2468  of  the 
Revised  Statutes),  is  to  the  following  effect : 

First.  The  privilege  of  entry  under  this  act  Is  confmed  to  per- 
sons who  are  heads  of  families,  or  over  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  and  who  are  citizens  of  the  United  States,  or  have  declared 
their  intention  to  become  such. 

Second.  The  affidavit  required  for  initiating  an  entry  under 
this  act  may  be  made  before  the  register  or  receiver  of  the  dis- 
trict ofifice  for  the  land  district  embracing  the  desired  tract,  or 
before  some  officer  authorized  to  administer  oaths  in  that 
district,  who  is  required  by  law  to  use  an  official  seal. 

Third.  Not  more  than  1 60  acres  in  any  one  section  can  be 
entered  under  this  act,  and  no  person  can  make  more  than  one 
entry  thereunder. 

Fourth.  The  ratio  of  area  required  to  be  broken,  planted,  etc., 
in  all  entries  under  the  act  of  June  14,  1878,  is  one-sixteenth  of 
the  land  embraced  in  the  entry,  except  where  the  entered  tract 
is  less  than  forty  ai  res,  in  which  case  it  is  one-sixteenth  of  that 
quantity.  The  party  making  an  entry  of  a  quarter-section,  or 
160  acres,  is  required  to  break  or  plow  five  acres  covered 
thereby  during  the  first  year,  and  five  acres  in  addition  during 
the  second  year.  The  five  acres  broken  or  plowed  during  the 
first  year,  he  is  rcqifired  to  cultivate  by  raising  a  crop,  or  other- 
wise, during  the  second  year,  and  to  plant  in  timber,  seeds,  or  cut- 
tings,during  the  third  year.  Thefive  acres  broken  or  plowed  during 
the  second  year,  he  is  required  to  cultivate,  by  raising  a  crop  or 
otherwise,  during  the  third  year,  and  to  plant  in  timber,  seeds, 
or  cuttings,  during  the  fourth  year.  The  tracts  embraced  in 
entries  of  a  less  quantity  than  one-quarter  section  are  required 
to  be  broken  or  plowed,  cultivated,  and  planted  in  trees,  tree 
seeds  or  cuttings,  during  the  same  periods,  and  to  the  same 
extent,  in  proportion  to  their  total  areas,  as  are  provided  for  in 
entries  of  a  quarter-section.  Provision  is  made  in  the  act  fof 
an  extension  of  time  in  case  the  trees,  seeds  or  cuttings  planted 


366 


OUH    WESTERS    FMP/JtE. 


I 


•hould  \jc  Uciitroycd  by  grastthoppcrs,  or  by  extreme  and  unusual 
Urouj^lu. 

lu/lh.  If,  at  the  expiration  of  eijfht  years,  or  at  any  timer  wirhin 
five  years  thf^rcaftcr,  the  person  making  ilu;  entry,  or,  if  he  or 
she  be  dt  ad,  his  or  her  heirs  or  lej^^al  representatives,  sliall  prove 
by  two  credible  witnesses  the  fact  of  such  planting,  cultivation, 
etc.,  of  the  said  timber  for  not  lesh  than  the  said  period  of  eight 
years,  he,  bhe  or  they  shall  receive  a  patent  for  the  land  em- 
braced in  said  entry. 

Sixth.  If  at  any  time  after  one  year  from  the  date  of  entry, 
and  prior  to  the  isiiue  of  a  patent  theirefor,  the  claimant  shall 
fail  to  comply  with  the  nrquirements  of  this  act,  or  any  part 
thereof,  then  such  land  shall  become  liable  to  a  contest  in  the 
manner  provided  in  homestead  cases;  and  u[)on  due  proof  of 
such  faikirr?  the  entry  shall  be  cancelled,  and  the  land  become 
again  subject  to  entry  under  the  homestead  laws,  or  by  some 
other  person  under  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Seventh,  No  land  acquired  under  the  provisions  of  this  act 
shall  in  any  event  become  liable  to  the  satisfaction  of  any  debt 
or  debts  contracted  prior  to  the  issuing  of  final  certificate 
therefor. 

IJghth.  The  fees  for  entries  under  the  act  of  June  14, 1878,  are 
ten  dollars,  if  the  tract  applied  for  is  more  than  eighty  a(  res,  and 
five  dollars,  if  it  is  eighty  acres  or  less;  and  the  commission  of  reg- 
isters  and  receivers  on  all  entries  (irrespective  of  area)  are  four 
dollars  (two  dollars  to  each)  at  the  date  of  entry,  and  a  like  sum 
at  the  date  of  final  proof 

Ninth,  No  distinction  is  made,  as  to  area  or  the  amount  of 
fee  and  commissions,  between  minimum  and  double-minimum 
lands  ;  a  party  may  enter  1 60  acres  of  either  on  payment  of  the 
prescribed  fee  and  commissions. 

Tenth.  The  fifth  section  of  the  act  entitled  "An  act  in  addi- 
tion to  an  act  to  punish  crimes  against  the  United  States  and 
for  other  purposes,"  approved  March  3,  1857,  shall  extend  to 
all  oaths,  affirmations  and  affidavits  required  or  authorized  uy 
this  act. 

Eleventh.  The  parties  who  have  already  made  entries  under 


id  unusual 

iin«!  wifhin 
>r,  if  he  or 
ihall  prove 
cultivation, 
)(1  of  L'i^lu 
land  cm- 

•  of  entry, 
mant  shall 
r  any  part 
ntest  in  the 
c  proof  of 
nd  bcconif* 
or  by  some 

of  this  act 
Df  any  debt 
I   certificate 

4, 1 878,  are 
y  acres,  and 
ision  of  reg- 
ja)  are  four 
1  a  like  sum 

amount  of 
le-minimum 
ment  of  the 

ict  in  addi- 
States  and 
1  extend  to 
fhorized  uy 

itries  under 


AI'l'SAlS   UNDMR    TtUSKk-CLLTURB,  ACTS.  ff* 

the  T'mbcr- Culture  Acts  of  March  3,  1873,  and  March  13,  1874, 
of  whi'h  the  act  of  June  14.  1878,  is  aM\cndatory,  may  coinplrlc 
the  sditte  by  conipliance  witi.  the  rec)uiremcnts  of  the  latter  act; 
that  is,  they  may  do  so  by  showing;,  at  the  time  of  nuking  their 
final  proof,  that  they  have  had  under  cultivation,  as  requind  by 
the  act  of  June  14,  J '  '8,  an  amount  of  timber  sufficient  to  make 
the  number  of  acres  r<  (juircd  thereby,  being  one-fourth  the  num- 
ber required  by  the  lormer  acta. 

32.  The  following  e^nilations  are  prescribed  pursuant  to  the 
fifth  section  of  the  act    it  June  14,  1878,  vix.  : 

First,  The  register  and  receive  r  will  not  restrict  entries  under 
this  act  to  one  quarter-section  only  in  r  ach  section,  as  was  for- 
mt  rly  done  under  the  acts  to  which  this  s  amendatory,  but  may 
allow  cinries  to  be  made  of  subdivi  ions  of  diltercnt  tjuarter- 
sections ;  provided  that  each  entry  -jhall  form  a  compact  body, 
not  exceeding  1 60  acres,  and  that  not  more  than  tltat  quantity 
shall  be  entered  in  any  one  section. 

Second.  When  they  shall  have  satisfied  themselves  that  the 
land  applied  for  is  properly  subject  to  an  entry,  they  will  require 
the  party  to  make  the  prescribed  affidavit,  and  to  pay  the  fee 
and  that  part  of  the  commission  payable  at  the  date  of  entry. 

Third.  When  a  conte'^  is  instituted,  as  contemplated  in  third 
section  of  the  act  of  June  14,  1878,  the  contestant  will  be  allowed 
to  make  application  to  enter  the  land.  Should  the  contest  result 
in  the  cancellation  of  the  contested  entry,  the  contestant  may 
then  perfect  his  own,  but  no  preference  right  will  b<j  allowed 
unless  application  is  made  by  him  at  date  of  instituting  contest. 

Fourth.  In  all  cases  under  this  act  it  will  be  required  that  trees 
shall  be  cultivated  which  shall  be  of  the  class  included  in  th« 
term  "  timber,"  the  cultivation  of  shrubbery  and  fruit  trees  not 
being  sufficient 


•X, 


PRESENTATION   OF   APPEALS. 


33.  Any  party  aggrieved  by  the  rejection  of  his  claim  has  a 
right  to  appeal  from  the  decision  of  the  register  and  receiver  to 
the  Commissioner  of  the  General  Land  Office,  and  from  him 
may  still  further  appeal  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,    All 


3<» 


UasrMMJV  MMft/MJl. 


nppn4l«  to  the  CcMi4iutiiioncr  mutt  be  within  thirty  ilayt  from 
the  d.Uf  of  UniJ  uOkcr'ft  cUtcision,  and  all  appcalt  to  die  Secro- 
tary  witliia  <tixty  (Iay»  after  service  of  notice.  If  nut  ap|>calod, 
the  drcJMiun  ii  by  law  made  fmal. 

II.  TiMUKk  ANri  SioNK  Lanimi. — The  lawi  of  the  United  States 
pttrmit  the  »alr  of  lands  imfit  for  citltivation,  but  Vi.liiablt:  unly 
or  chiefly  for  the  timber  and  Htunr  they  contain,  an<J  nut  with- 
drawn from  ordinary  sale  as  miacraJ  lands;  but  tli(  purchaser 
tnuHt  l)<:  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  or  have  lc|{aliy  declared 
his  intention  to  become  a  citizen.  The  minimum  price  of  such 
lands  is  to  be  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  acre,  with  the  usual 
fccH,  and  the  purchaser  from  the  government  is  restricted  to  160 
acres  or  Icnh. 

III.  Df.sert  Lands. — By  the  following  act  of  Congress  passed 
March  3,  1877,  entitled,  "An  act  for  the  sale  of  desert  lands,  in 
certain  States  and  Territories,"  provision  was  made  for  the  sale 
of  such  lands  as  could  only  be  made  valuable  by  irrigation:      > 

Be  ii  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  Ameriea  in  Conf;[ress  assembled.  That  it  shall  be 
lawful  for  any  citizen  of  the  United  States,  or  any  person  of 
re  ([uisitc  age  "  who  may  be  entitled  to  become  a  citizen,  and  who 
has  filed  his  declaration  to  become  such,"  and  upon  payment 
of  twenty-five  cents  per  acre,  to  file  a  declaration,  under  oath, 
witli  the  register  and  the  receiver  of  the  land  district  in  which  any 
desert  land  is  situated,  that  he  intends  to  reclaim  a  tract  of 
desert  land,  not  exceeding  one  section,  by  conducting  water 
upon  th(  same  within  the  period  of  three  years  thereafter: 
Provided,  hoivever,  That  the  right  to  the  use  of  water  by  the  per- 
son ^o  conducting  the  same  on  or  to  any  tract  of  desert  land  of 
640  acres  shall  depend  upon  bona  ^d»  prior  appropriation ;  and 
such  right  shall  not  exceed  the  amount  of  water  actually 
appropriated  and  necessarily  used  for  the  purpose  of  irrigation 
and  reclamation;  and  afl  surplus  water  over  and  above  such  actual 
appropriation  and  use,  together  with  the  water  of  all  lakes,  rivers, 
and  other  sources  of  water  supply  upon  the  public  lands  arKl  not 
navigable,  shall  remam  and  be  held  free  for  the  appropriation 
and  use  of  the  public  for  irrigation,  mining,  and  manufacturing 


.<' 


lUiyt  from 

Uic  Sccro* 

oppcalcti, 

itcd  States 
iiubU:  unly 
I  not  with- 
purchuHcr 
ly  UccUrcd 
cc  of  such 
h  the  uMual 
cted  to  1 60 

rcss  passed 
rt  lands,  in 
fur  the  laltt 
^atUm:  •  .'i 
stives  of  the 
,t  it  shall  be 
'  person  of 
:n,  and  who 
3n  payment 
under  oath, 
n  which  any 

a  tract  of 
cting  water 

thereafter: 

by  the  per- 
sert  land  of 
iation ;  and 
;er  actually 
>f  irrigation 

such  actual 
akes,  rivers, 
nds  and  not 

ipropriation 
inufacturing 


.U 


lAAAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


mt2A    M15 

lu  Uii   12.2 

IS!  Kii  "^ 


140 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


^^^^^^BB^^^Ws^HW^ni^'^^^.** 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


^■v'^^^WHti 


■ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


"u^:!-'.T!K5p^;i,'? 


J   t 


f 


y 


i>SSJiXT  LANDS  ACT, 


269 


purposes  subject  to  existing  rights.  Said  declaration  shall 
describe  particularly  said  section  of  land  if  sarveyed,  and  if 
unsurveyed  shall  describe  the  same  as  nearly  as  possible  without 
a  survey.  At  any  time  within  the  period  of  three  years  after 
filing  said  declaration,  upon  making  satisfactory  proof  to  the 
register  and  receiver  of  the  reclamation  of  said  tract  of  land  in 
the  mainner  afbresaid,  and  upon  the  payment  to  the  receiver 
of  the  additional  sum  of  one  dollar  per  acre  for  a  tract  of  liand 
not  exceeding  640  acres  to  any  one  person,  a  patent  for  the 
same  shall  be  issued  to  him  1  Provided,  That  no  person  shall  be 
permitted  to  enter  more  than  one  tract  of  land  and  not  to  exceed 
640  acres,  which  shall  be  in  compact  form.       -v;  Yj-^ju  ;  '  •      v  , 

Sec.  2.  That  all  lands,  exclusive  of  timber  lands  and 
mineral  kinds,  which  will  not,  without  irrigation,  produce  some 
iftgribultur^kl  crop,  shall  be  dleemed  desert  lands  within  the 
meaning  of  this  act,  which  fact  shall  be  ascertained  by  proof  of 
two  or  move  credible  witnesses  under  oath,  whose  affidavits  shall 
be  filed  in  the  land  office  in  which  said  tract  of  land  may  be 
situated.  ,  #pii^  t^ttis-vMl  ibi»llltfo<>r*^«»llfT» 

;  Skc.  3.  That  thi$  act  shall  only  apply  to  and  take  effect  tfi 
the  Slates  of  California,  Oregon,  and  Nevada,  aind  the  Territorieis 
of  Washington,  Idaho,  Montana)  Utahj  Wyoming,  Arizona,  New 
Mexico,  and  Dakota,  and  the  determination  of  what  may  be  con- 
sidered de^iert;  land  shall  be  subject  to  tlie  decision  and 
regulation  of  the  Commissioner  of  the  General  Land  Office.    ; 

More  than  1,000,000  acres  of  these  lands  were  sold  belore 
June  30,  1 87S,  a  period  of  fifteen  months  after  the  law  took  effect. 
.  Provision  will  probably  be  made  for  the  entry  of  these  deseit 
lands  as  homestead  lands  under  the  same  provisions,  as  they 
mfiU  in  most  oases  prove  vaiuaible  as  wheat  lands  or  for  root 
crops. 

IV.  Grazing  Lands. — Up  to  1880  grazing  lands  could  onliy  be 
purchas>edt  t^ept!  lA  Texas;  Or  from  tiik:  great  landtgrant  rail- 
ways, 01^  the)  Bsune  terms  as  other  agrioultural  lands ;  and,  asia 
IQOnse^ueniQQii  i(^  the  t^nly  settled  States  and  Territories,  the 
greater  psufti  of  tiie  herds  were  pastured  on  tbe  unsold  and 
^ffl^erally I  unsurveyed    govJsrnment    landb.      As    these    were 


/* 


a^o 


OUK    WESTEJilf  EMriRE. 


v.: 


it  A 


gradually  encroached  upon  by  the  farmers,  the  stock-raisers  had 
begun  to  be  desirous  of  purchasing  their  pasturage  lands,  which 
being  usually  on  the  mountain  slopes  were  not  generally  con- 
sidered arable.  The  laws  in  regard  to  agricultural  lands  made 
this  almost  impossible ;  but  a  bill  was  introduced  into  Congress  at 
its  recent  session  (1879-1880)  which  will  probably  obviate  the 
existing  difficulty.  It  provides  for  the  sale  of  grazing  lands 
(which  are  carefully  defined)  in  quantities  of  eight  square  miles 
9^  l^s,  at  nominal  rates,  with  the  usual  fees. 


•    CHAPTER   IV  '  ^''^^^  ri:>irfw  <««n:^/J  <j^^ 
bo*    ahrt-ii^    itK-ij-riii     i-O    S7i<:iil  >/o    ,;?hfH;(     tii»    4*yJT  .1  :^^. 
MiNiNO  AND  Mineral  Lands—The  UNrrsD  States  Laws  and  Regulations 
OF  THE  Land  Office  in  regard  to  t:   .4 —State,  Territorial  and  Local 


k 


Rules  or  Laws. 


ii. 


"'  V.  Mining  and  Mineral  Lands.— The  Ortited  States  haih 
regulating  mining  lands  and  mineral  resources  have  been  very 
often  modified,  but  are  now  reduced  to  a  practical  basis ;  these 
laws,  however,  are  to  some  extent  modified  in  their  operations 
by  the  State  mining  laws,  and  the  local  regulations  in  the  mining 
districts.     They  are  at  this  time  as  follows :  :u«*.V/  »* 

\my.        •       LAWS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,   >   fxwjJu- 

RELATIVE    TO    MINING    LANDS   AND    MINERAL    RESOURCES,    RESERVED 
FROM   SALE    UNDER   THE    PRE-EMPTION   ACTS.  r 

[From  Rerited  Statntn  of  the  United  Statei,  being  a  fall  text  of  all  lawi  now  in  force  concern- 

inj  mining  right..]  !f|o^   *^  «i.«^ 

Jo<  Chapter  6. — Sec.  2318.  In  all  cases  land  valuable  for  minerals 
shall  be  reserved  from  sale  except  as  otherwise  expressly  directed 
by  law.— &tf.  5,  7'«6'4»  ^866. 

Sec.  2319.  All  valuable  mineral  deposits  in  lands  belonging  1 1 
the  United  States,  both  surveyed  and  un«urveyed,  ixt  hereby 
declared  to  be  free  and  open  to  exploration  and  (iui^clttuse,  and 
the  lands  in  which  they  are  found  to  occupation  and  purchase,  by 
citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  those  who  have  declared  their 


:  ,Cdg!,"^SJSE" 


'u'-iW^i 


MINING  AND  MINKKAL   LANDS. 


»?I 


-raisers  had 
lands,  which 
nerally  con- 
lands  made 
Congress  at 
obviate  the 
razing  lands 
quare  miles 

D  Regitlations 
UAL  AND  Local 

States  laws 

ve  been  very 

basis;  these 

;ir  operations 

in  the  mining 


n 


ES,    RESERVED 

inK  In  force  concern- 

,  .  ( 

3  for  minerals 

essly  directed 

■  .Vi 

(  belonging  t » 
d,  ire  hereby 
f^utchaise,  and 
i  purchase,  by 
declared  dieir 


intention  to  become  such,  under  regulations  prescribed  by  law, 
and  according  to  the  local  customs  or  ruhs  of  miners  in  the 
several  mining  districts,  so  far  as  the  same  are  applicable  and  not 
inconsistent  with  the  laws  of  the  United  States.— 6*<:.  i,  May 

lO,     1872.  L 

.,.„,.;. J,.        EXTENT  OP  CLAIM.  '  T    f      -      •  " 

Sec.  2320.  Mining  claims  upon  veins  or  lodes  of  quartz  or 
other  rock  in  place,  bearing  gold,  silver,  cinnabar,  lead,  tin,  copper, 
or  other  valuable  deposits  heretofore  located,  shall  be  governed 
as  to  length  along  the  vein  or  lode  by  the  customs,  regulations, 
and  laws  in  force  at  the  date  of  their  location.  A  mining  claim 
located  after  the  loth  day  of  May,  1872,  whether  located  by  one 
or  more  persons,  may  equal,  but  shall  not  exceed  1,500  feet  in 
length  along  the  vein  or  lode,  but  no  location  of  a  mining  claim  shall 
be  made  until  the  discovery  of  the  vein  or  lode  within  the  limits  of 
the  claim  located.  No  claim  shall  extend  more  than  300  feet  on  each 
side  of  the  middle  of  the  vein  at  the  surface,  nor  shall  any  claim 
be  limited  by  any  mining  regulation,  to  less  than  twenty-five  feet 
on  each  side  of  the  middle  of  the  vein  at  the  surface,  except 
where  adverse  rights  existing  on  the  10th  day  of  May,  1872, 
render  such  limitation  necessary.  The  end  lines  of  each  claim 
shall  be  parallel  to  each     her.— ^i-*:.  2,  May  10,  1872. 

RIGHTS  OF  CLAIMANTS. 

Sec.  2321.  Proof  of  citizenship  under  this  chapter  may  consist, 
in  the  case  of  an  individual,  of  his  own  affidavit;  in  the  case  of 
an  association  of  persons  unincorporated,  of  the  affidavit  of  their 
authorized  agent,  made  on  his  own  knowledge  or  upon  informa- 
tion and  belief;  and  in  the  case  of  a  corporation  organized  under 
the  laws  of  the  United  States,  or  of  any  State  or  Territory  therfcof, 
by  the  filing  of  a  certified  copy  of  their  charter  or  certificate  of 
incorporation. — Sec.  7,  May  10,  1872. 


ytuJi 


VEINS — HOW  CONTROLLED. 


Sec.  2322.  The  locators  of  all  mining  locations  heretofore  made, 
or  which  shall  hereafter  be  made,  or  any  mineral  vein,  lode,  or 
ledge,  situated  on  the  public  domain,  their  heirs,  and  assigns, 


Wt. 


•7" 


OtW    WMSTEKU  EMP/KB. 


where.no  adverae  cbim  exists,  on  the  loth  day  of  May,  iS;?,  so 
long  as  they  comply  with  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and  with 
State,  Territorial,  and  local  regulations  not  in  conflict  with  the 
laws  of  the  United  States  governing  their  possessory  title,  shall 
have  the  exclusive  right  of  possession  and  enjoyment  of  all  the 
surface  included  within  the  lines  of  their  locations,  and  of  all  veins, 
lodcti  and  kdges  riiroughoul  their  entire  depth,  the  top  or  apex  of 
which  lies  inside  of  such  surface  lines  extended  downward  verti- 
cally, although  such  veins,  lodes,  or  ledges  may  so  far  depart  from 
a  perpendicular  in  their  course  downward  as  to  extend  outside 
the  vertical  Imes  of  such  surface  locations ;  but  their  right  of 
possession  to  such  outside  parts  of  such  veins  or  ledges  shall  be 
confined  to  such  portions  thereof  as  lie  between  vertical  pbnes 
drawn  downward,  as  above  described,  through  the  end  lines  of 
their  locations,  so  continued  in  their  own  directions  that  such 
planes  will  intersect  such  exterior  parts  of  such  veins  or  ledges ; 
and  nothing  in  this  section  sliall  authorize  the  locator  or  possessor 
of  a  vein  or  lode  which  extends  in  its  downward  course  beyond 
the  vertical  lines  of  his  claim  to  enter  upon  the  surface  of  a  claim 
owned  or  possessed  l^  another. — Sec.  3,  Ma)f  10^  1872.  .^ 

'ff  TUNNKLL.NQ.  ^m^f^f>^  f^Ut^ 

Sec.  2333.  Where  a  tunnel  is  run  for  the  development  of  a  vein 
or  lode,  or  for  the  discovery  of  mineSi  the  owners  of  such  tunnel 
shall  have  the  right  of  possession  of  all  veins  or  lodes  within  3,000 
feet  from  the  face  of  such  tunnel  on  the  line  thereof  not  previously 
known  to  eocist,  discovered  in  such  tunnel,  to  the  same  extent  as 
if  discovered  from  the  surface ;  and  locations  on  the  line  of  such 
tunnel  of  veins  or  lodes  not  appearing  on  the  surface,  made  by 
other  parties  a^ter  the  commencement  of  the  tunnel,  and  while 
the  same  is  being;  prosecuted  with  reasonable  diligence,  shall  be 
invalid ;  but  failure  to  prosecute  the  work  on  the  tunnel  for  six 
months  shall  be  considered  as  an  abandonment  of  the  right  to 
ail  undiscovered  veinBion  the  Ha«  of  such  tunnel. — Sec,  4,  May 
no,  1872, 

REQUIREMENTS  OF  LOCATION  AND  LABOR. 

,  Sec.  ^324.  The;  miners  of  each  mining  disitrict  may  make  regU' 


'~'^'^^¥v¥    ■'^''*^\r^''' ' 


:j^2si;35223tic.^:  :^n  yumrJ^^fT^sm^iSmw^-^usr'is^ 


[ay,  1372,  80 
tes,  and  with 
Met  with  the 
ry  title,  shall 
nt  of  all  the 
d  of  all  veins, 
op  or  apex  of 
mward  verti- 
r  depart  from 
:tend  outside 
heir  right  of 
:dges  shall  be 
ertical  planes 
end  lines  of 
ans  that  such 
ins  or  ledges ; 
r  or  pousessor 
:ourse  beyond 
face  of  a  claim 
1872. 


)ment  of  a  vein 
of  such  tunnel 
ies  within  3,000 
'  not  previously 
same  extent  as 
the  line  of  such 
ip-face,  made  by 
nnel,  and  while 
igence,  shall  be 
e  tunnel  for  six 
t  of  the  right  to 
il-^Sec.  4,  May 

itia)E.m^^.r|ga- 


REQUIREMRNTS  OF  LOCATION  AND  LABOR. 


•r$ 


lattons  not  in  conflict  with  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  or  with 
the  laws  of  the  State  or  Territory  in  which  the  district  is  situated, 
governing  the  bcation,  manner  of  recording,  amount  of  work 
necessary  to  hold  possession  of  a  mining  claim,  subject  to  the 
following  requirements :  The  location  must  be  distinctly  marked 
on  the  ground,  so  that  its  boundaries  can  be  readily  traced.  All 
records  of  mining  claims  hereafter  made  shall  contain  the  name 
or  names  of  the  locators,  the  date  of  the  location,  and  such  a 
description  of  the  claim  or  claims  located  by  reference  to  some 
natural  object  or  permanent  monument  as  will  identify  the  claim. 
On  each  claim  located  after  the  loth  day  of  May,  1872,  and  until 
a  patent  has  been  issued  therefor,  not  less  than  $100  worth 
of  labor  shall  be  performed  or  Improvements  made  during 
each  year.  On  all  claims  located  prior  to  the  loth  day  of  May, 
1872,  $10  worth  of  labor  shall  be  performed  or  improvements 
made  by  the  loth  day  of  June,  1874,  and  each  year  there- 
after, for  each  100  feet  in  length  along  the  vein  until  a  patent  has 
been  issued  therefor ;  but  where  such  claims  are  held  in  common, 
such  expenditure  may  be  made  on  any  one  claim,  and  upon  a 
failure  to  comply  with  these  conditions,  the  claim  or  mine  upon 
which  such  failure  occurred  shall  be  open  to  relocation,  in  the 
same  manner  as  if  no  location  of  the  same  had  ever  been  made : 
Provided,  That  the  original  locators,  their  heirs,  assigns,  or  legal 
r.epresentatives,  have  not  resumed  work  upon  the  claim  after 
fsMlure  and  before  such  location.  Upon  the  failure  of  any  one  of 
several  co-owners  to  contribute  his  proportion  of  the  expenditures 
required  hereby,  the  co-owners  who  have  performed  the  labor  or 
m^de  the  improvements  may,  at  the  expiration  of  the  year,  give 
sijch  delinquent  co-owner  personal  notice  in  writing  or  notice  by 
publication  in  the  newspaper  published  nearest  the  claim,  for  at 
least  once  ^  week  for  ninety  days,  and  if,  at  the  expiration  of 
ninety  days  after  such  notice  in  writing  or  by  publication,  such 
delinquent  shall  fail  or  refuse  to  contribute  his  proportion  of  the 
expenditure  required  by  this  section,  his  interest  in  the  claim 
shall"  become  the  property  of  his  co-owners  who  have  made  the 
required  ejq)endiuires,—r^(pr.  5,  May  10,  1872.  /      ''\, 


V4 


OLA'    H'ESrEKS   EMPJKE. 
HOW  TO   SRCURE   PATENT. 


:,      \ 


Sec.  3325.  A  patent  for  any  lanu  claimed  and  located  for 
valuable  deposits  may  be  obtained  in  the  following  manner :  Any 
person,  association,  or  corporation  authorizied  to  locate  a  claim 
under  this  chapter,  having  claimed  and  located  a  piece  of  land  for 
such  purposes,  who  has  or  have  complied  with  the  terms  of  this 
chapter,  may  file,  in  the  proper  land  office,  an  application  for  a 
patent,  under  oath,  showing  such  compliance,  together  with  a  plat 
and  field  notes  of  the  claim  or  claims  in  common,  made  by  or 
under  the  direction  of  the  United  States  Surveyor-General,  show- 
ing accurately  the  boundaries  of  the  claim  or  claims,  which  shall 
be  distinctly  marked  by  monuments  on  the  ground,  and  shall  post 
a  copy  of  such  plat,  together  with  a  notice  of  such  application  for 
a  patent,  in  a  conspicuous  place  on  the  land  embraced  in  such 
plat  previous  to  the  filing  of  the  application  for  a  patent,  and  shall 
file  an  affidavit  of  at  least  two  persons,  that  such  notice  has  been 
duly  posted,  and  shall  file  a  copy  of  the  notice  in  such  land 
office,  and  shall  thereupon  be  entitled  to  a  patent  for  the  land  in 
the  manner  following :  The  Register  of  the  land  office,  upon  the 
filing  of  such  application,  plat,  field  notes,  notices,  and  affidavits, 
shall  publish  a  notice  that  such  application  has  been  made,  for 
the  period  of  sixty  days,  in  a  newspaper  to  be  by  him  designated 
as  publisihed  nearest  to  such  claim ;  and  he  shall  also  post  such 
notice  in  his  office  for  the  same  period.  The  claimant,  at  the 
time  of  filing  this  application,  or  at  any  time  thereafter,  within 
the  sixty  days  of  publication,  shall  file  with  the  Register  a  certifi- 
cate of  the  United  States  Surveyor-General  that  $500  worth  of 
labor  has  been  expended  on  improvements  made  upon  the  claim 
by  himself  or  grantors ;  that  the  plat  is  correct,  with  such  further 
description  by  such  reference  to  natural  objects  or  permanent 
monuments  as  shall  identify  the  claim,  and  furnish  an  accurate 
description,  to  be  incorporated  in  the  patent.  At  the  expiration 
of  sixty  dayd  of  publication,  the  claimant  shall  file  his  affidavit, 
showing  that,  the  plat  and  nodce  have  been  posted  in  a  con- 
spicuous place  on  the  claim  during  $uch  period  of  publication. 
If  no  adverse  claim  shall  have  been  filed  with  the  Register  and 
the  Receiver  of  the  -proper  land  office  at  the  expiration  of  the 


f/ 


hxiaaJSiXC.  '.hii^^ 


.'^'9>-,»<l3.V*  ■.'•.VSins-wr-nc- 


'fir^ 


fr 


HACEH  CLAIMS. 


27$ 


d  located  for 
manner:  Any 
locate  a  claim 
:cc  of  land  for 
:  terms  of  this 
iplication  for  a 
her  with  a  plat 
n,  made  by  or 
General,  show- 
ns,  which  shall 
and  shall  post 
application  for 
traced  in  such 
itent,  and  shall 
lotice  has  been 
:  in  such  land 
for  the  land  in 
jffice,  upon  the 
and  affidavits, 
been  made,  for 
him  designated 
also  post  such 
:laimant,  at  the 
lereafter,  within 
egister  a  certifi- 
;  $500  worth  of 
:  upon  the  claim 
fith  such  further 
t  or  permanent 
iish  an  accurate 
t  the  expiration 
ile  his  affidavit, 
>sted  in  a  con- 
1  of  publication, 
te  Register  and 
xpiration  of  the 


sixty  days  of  publication,  it  shall  be  assumed  that  the  applicant  is 
entitled  to  a  patent,  upon  the  payment  to  the  proper  officer  of 
f  5  per  acre,  and  that  no  adverse  claim  exists ;  and  thereafter  no 
objection  from  third  parties  to  the  issuance  of  a  patent  shall  be 
heard,  except  it  be  shown  that  the  applicant  has  failed  to  comply 
with  the  terms  of  this  diapter. — S€C,  6,  May  10,  1872. 


't   V 


v-'fij 


PROVISIONS    FOR    PLACER   CLAIMS. 


Sec.  2339.  Claims  usually  called  "placers,"  including  all  forms 
of  deposits,  excepting  veins  of  (juartz  or  other  rock  in  place, 
shall  be  subject  to  entry  and  patent  under  like  circumstances 
and  conditions,  and  upon  similar  proceedings  as  are  provided 
for  vein  or  lode  claims;  but  where  the  lands  have  been  previ- 
ously surveyed  by  the  United  Sta^s,  the  entry  in  its  exterior 
limits  shail  conform  to  the  legal  subdivisions  of  public  lands. — 
Sec,  \2,  JtUy  i),  \%^o.      ,.j,.  ,,^  .,,  -  ,  t^-j ...  ,.   „.^,,j. 

Sec.  2330.  Legal  subdivisions  of  forty  acres  may  be  subdivided 
into  ten-acre  tracts,  and  two  or  more  persons  or  associations  of 
persons,  having  contiguous  claims  of  any  size,  although  such 
claims  may  be  less  than  ten  acres  each,  may  make  joint  entry 
thereof,  but  no  location  of  a  placer  claim  i.iade  after  the  9th 
day  of  July,  1870,  shall  exceed  160  acres  for  any  one  person  or 
association  of  persons,  which  location  shall  conform  to  the 
United  States  surveys;  and  nothing  in  this  section  contained 
shall  defeat  or  impair  any  bona  fide  pre-emption  or  homestead 
claim  upon  agricultural  lands,  or  authorize  the  sale  of  the  im- 
provements of  any  bona  fide  settler  to  any  purchaser. — Sec.  1 2, 
7«/y9,  1870. 

Sec.  2331.  Where  placer  claims  are  upon  surveyed  lands,  and 
conform  to  legal  subdivisions,  no  further  survey  or  plat  shall  be 
required,  and  all  placer  mining  claims  located  after  the  loth  day 
of  May,  1872,  shall  conform  as  near  as  practicable  with  the 
United  States  system  of  public  land  surveys  and  the  rectangular 
subdivisions  of  such  surveys,  and  no  such  location  shall  include 
more  than  twenty  acres  for  each  individual  claimant,  but  where 
placer  claims  cannot  be  conformed  to  legal  subdivisions,  survey 
and  plat  shall  be  made  as  on  unsurveyed  lands ;  and  where  by 


•      -'.  \ 


|;(  OUR    WaSTKHIf   FW/Jflt. 

tbo  segregation  of  mineral  LamI  in  any  legal  HulHlivision  a  quan- 
tity of  agricultural  land  Ichs  than  forty  acres  rcmainR.  such  frac* 
tional  portion  of  agricultural  land  ntay  be  entered  by  any  party 
qualified  by  law,  for  homestead  or  pre-emption  purpos««. — Sm. 
IQ,  May  10,  1^72.  ,.,..      ,,, ^    , 

LIMITATIONS  AND   tlBNS.      '  ^'^  ^mtt;   •.  i|  ;i},  ^, 

Sec.  333a.  Where  such  person  or  associaition,  they  and  their 
grantors,  have  held  and  worked  their  claims  for  a  period  equal 
to  the  time  prescribed  by  the  statute  of  limitations  for  mining 
claims  of  the  State  or  Territory  where  the  same  may  be  situated, 
evidence  of  such  possession  and  working  of  the  claim  for  such 
period  shall  be  sufficient  to  establish  a  right  to  a  patent  thereto 
under  this  chapter,  in  the  absence  of  any  adverse  dahn ;  but 
nothing  in  this  chapter  shalKbe  deemed  to  impair  any  lien  which 
may  have  attached  in  any  way  whatever  to  any  minin|^  claim  or 
property  thereto  attached  prior  to  the  issuance  of  a  patent — 
Sec.  13,  7«(y  9.  »870. 

li'nil»  fi^(i<«ryU  '   PLACBR  AND  LODE  CLAIMS  JOIKTLV.    !''■»,  i    ^^HVt-,i   ...^ 

'  Sec.  2333.  Where  the  same  person,  association  or  corpora- 
tion, is  in  possession  of  a  placer  claim,  ^nd  also  a  vein  or  lode 
included  within  the  boundaries  therepf,  application  shall  be  made 
for  a  patent  for  the  placer  cl^im,  M'ith  the  statement  that  i(  in- 
cludes such  vein  or  lode ;  and  in  such  c^ise  a  patent  shall  Issue 
for  the  placer  claim,  subject  to  the  provisions  of  this  chapter,  in- 
cluding such  vein  or  lode,  upon  the  payment  of  f$  per  acre  for 
such  vein  or  lode  clafm,  and  twenty-five  feet  of  surface  on  each 
side  ^erepf.  The  remainder  of  the  plajcer  claim^  or  any  placer 
cl^im  not  embracing  any  vein  or  lode  claim,  sh^ll  be  paid  for  at 
the  rate  of  ^2.50  per  acre,  together  with  all  costs  of  proceedings ; 
and  where  ^  vein  or  lode,  such  as  is  described  in  section  2320  of 
this  act,  is  known  to  exist  within  the  boundaries  of  a  placer 
claim,  aa  application  for  a  patent  for  such  a,  placer  ctajm  which 
does  not  include  an  application  for  the  vein  or  lode  claim,  shaH 
be  construed  as  a  cbpcTu^ive  declaration  tj^at  the  cYairhant  of  the 
placer  claim  has  no  dg^t  of  possession  of  the  vein  or  lode  claim ; 


JWU^ 


^■ii\.'-i':.ttt.z.lA. 


■•'.n,\i\!m 


nas   TO  SVKl'MWMS. 


n* 


Hion  a  r\\\9,xk' 
IH,  such  frac- 
by  any  party 
'posM. — Set, 


.il        ritl.l. 


ey  and  their 
period  equal 
s  for  mining 
yr  be  situated, 
aim  for  such 
atent  thereto 
e  clahn;  but 
ny  lien  which 
iin|f  claim  or 
f  a  patent — 


..»'», 


I  or  corpora- 
i  vein  or  lode 
shall  be  made 
int  that  it  in- 
nt  shall  issue 
is  chapter,  In- 
5  per  acre  for 
irface  on  each 
or  any  placer 
be  paid  for  at 
r  proceedings ; 
action  2320  of 
s  of  a  placer 
;r  claim  which 
je  claim,  shall 
lairhant  of  the 
or  lode  claim ; 


but  w^^'re  the  ^^xlstence;  of  a  vein  or  lode  in  a  placer  claim  is  not 
known,  a  patent  for  the  placer  claim  fthnll  convey  all  valuable 
And  other  mineral  depositH  within  the  buundarie«  thereof.— >SW. 
II,  MMjf  lOk  1S70. 

'''""  nuro  5UHVEV0M.  '"        *' 

Skc.  2334.  The  Survcyor-Ciencral  of  the  United  States  may 
appoint  in  each  land  district  containing  mineral  lands  as  many 
competent  surveyors  as  shall  apply  for  appointment  to  survey 
mining  claims.  The  expenses  of  the  survey  of  vein  or  lo«^le 
claims,  and  the  survey  ami  subdivision  of  placer  claims  into 
smaller  quantities  than  160  acres,  together  with  the  cost  of  pub- 
lication of  notices,  shall  be  paid  by  the  applicants,  and  they  shaU 
be  at  liberty  to  obtain  the  same  at  the  most  reasonable  rates, 
and  they  shall  also  be  at  liberty  to  employ  any  United  States 
Deputy  Surveyor  to  make  the  survey.  The  Commissioner  of 
the  General  Land  Ofifkc  shall  also  have  power  to  establish  the 
maximum  charges  for  surveys  and  publication  of  notices  under 
this  chapter,  and  in  case  of  excessive  charges  for  publication,  he 
may  designate  any  newspaper  published  in  a  land  district  whev% 
mines  are  situated,  for  the  publication  of  mining  notices  in  such 
district,  and  6x  the  rates  to  be  charged  by  such  paper ;  and  to 
the  end  that  the  Commissioner  may  be  fully  informed  on  the 
subject,  each  applic^^nt  shall  file  with  the  Register  a  sworn  state- 
ment of  all  charges  and  fees  paid  by  such  apf^icant  for  publica- 
tion and  surveys,  together  with  all  fees  and  money  paid  the 
Register  and  Receiver  of  the  land  office,  which  statement  shall 
be  transmitted,  with  the  other  papers  in  the  case,  to  the  Com- 
missioner of  the  General  Land  Office. — Sfc.  12,  May  10,  1872^,^ 


■.*;;-a4u 


r 


PROOF  OF  CLAIMS. 


•■:u\\i,.{  .>!.,.. 


•7ii 


Sec.  2335.  All  affidavits  required  to  be  made  under  this  chap*^ 
ter  may  be  verified  before  any  officer  authorized  to  administer 
oaths  within  the  land  district  where  the  claim  may  be  situated, 
and  all  testimony  and  proofs  may  be  taken  before  any  such 
officer,  and,  when  duly  tertified  by  the  t)ffiefer  taking  the  same, 
^all  have  tJie  same  forc6  and  effect  as  if  taken  before  the  Regis- 


tcr  Alul  Rrccivrr  of  the  land  oflice.  In  casei  of  contest  %%  to 
the  mineral  or  agricultural  chararttr  of  lan<l.  tlie  tentiinony  and 
proofH  may  Ih*  taken  an  herein  provided,  on  pernonal  notice  of 
at  l(*aHt  ten  day<i  to  the  oppoHin^;  party :  or  if  mirh  party  cannot 
he  found,  then  hy  publication  of  at  loHt  onctr  a  week  for  thirty 
dayii  in  a  newnpaper,  to  b«'  designatrd  l»y  th»:  R('j;ister  of  the 
land  office  as  published  nearest  to  the  location  of  such  land  ;  and 
the  Register  shall  require  proof  that  such  notice  has  been  given. 
"-^e.  I  A,  May  lo,  1872. 

•itr-     — rh    "^•^' '••  »f'       VBiNs  caoMiNo.    ••  m* f   ^••'      ■•f-;^- 

•"Sec.  2336.  When  two  or  more  veins  intersect  or  cirfs  each 
other,  priority  of  title  ihall  govern,  and  such  prior  location  shall 
be  entitled  to  all  ore  or  mineral  contained  within  the  space  of 
intersection  ;  hut  the  subsequent  location  shall  have  the  right  of 
way  through  the  ipflce  of  intersection,  for  the  purposes  of  con- 
venient working  of  the  mine;  and,  where  two  or  more  veins 
unite,  the  oldest  or  pri«>r  location  shall  take  ihe  vein  below  the 
point  of  union,  including  all  the  ipace  of  intersection.— >&r.  14* 
May  to,  187a,  '*^*  <•  *^  ^l'^^^^illCllM  ^rytffiat/f.?n  <tnu  t>»M  .  V/sm 
nxA  m    n^ijcn  <S[^iuiif»     SITES  roa  mills.  I'lol  ,£*35afc«  4,  tf;ui->W(fi 

'^^Sec.  2,337.  Where  non-mineral  land  not  contiguous  to  the 
vein  or  lode  is  used  or  occupied  by  the  proprietor  of  such  vein 
or  tode  for  mining  or  milling  purposes,  such  non-adjacent  8ur< 
face-ground  may  be  embraced  and  included  in  an  application  for 
a  patent  for  such  vein  or  lode,  and  the  same  may  be  patented 
therewith,  subject  to  the  same  preliminary  requirements  as  to 
the  survey  and  notice  as  are  applicable  to  veins  or  lodes;  but  no 
location  hereafter  made  of  such  non-adjacent  land  shall  exceed 
five  acres,  and  payment  for  the  same  must  be  made  at  the  rate 
as  fixed  by  this  chapter  for  the  superfices  of  the  lode.  The 
owner  of  a  quartz-mill  or  reduction  works  not  owning  a  mine  in 
connection  therewith,  may  also  receive  a  patent  for  his  mill-site 
as  provided  in  this  section. — Sec.  15,  May  10,  187a. 

•fi.  DaAiMAeE,  SASBMENTS,  rrc      ««Kr^'ii«?«rA'i3fi^ 

Sec.  3338.  As  a  condition  of  sale  in  the  absence  of  necessar^ 


U^ai^  >. '.^u^  a 


:i'^i-OK-»! 


HOMJiSrMAM  ON  MtNUkAL  L4SDS, 


a79 


contest  at  to 
Htitnony  and 
al  nolicr  of 
I  tarty  cannot 
ck  for  thirty 
jinler  of  the 
cii  Innil :  and 
i  been  given. 

r  cms  each 
location  shall 
;hc  space  of 
\  the  right  of 
uses  of  con- 
•  more  veins 
in  below  the 
on. — 5!?^.  14, 

juoiis  to  tfie 
of  such  vein 
adjacent  sur- 
pplication  for 
'  be  patented 
ements  as  to 
lodes;  but  no 
shall  exceed 
de  at  the  rate 
e  lode.  The 
ling  a  mine  in 
ir  his  mtU-tite 

\  of  necessai^T 


leginlatlon  by  Coni;r^Kiii,  the  IfK-ai  I.e^iittat*ire  01  any  State  or 
'I'crrilory  ma/  provide  ri.le"*  \Kit  wurkinj^  iiiim  •»  mvolvinj;  tasc- 
ments,  tlraina^jr,  and  other  necessary  nitaiii  In  ihtir  ctniiplctc 
development,  and  tho»e  condiiionn  shall  be  fully  expre»»eU  in 
the  patent. — Sic.  5,  July  36,  1866.  1 

IM-      ■'    li,        'I    ,'t  ..    s  ■       . 

.    ,  VISTtn  WATKR   mOHTS. 

Sec.  9339.  Whenever,  by  priority  of  possession,  rights  to  the 
use  of  »'ater  for  mining,  agricultural,  manufacturing  or  other 
purposes,  have  vested  and  accrued,  and  the  same  arc  recognized 
and  acknowledged  by  the  local  customs,  laws  and  decisions  of 
courts,  the  possessors  and  owners  of  such  vested  rights  shall  be 
maintained  at^d  protected  in  the  same ;  and  the  right  of  way  for 
the  construction  of  ditches  and  canals  for  the  purposes  herein 
specified,  is  acknowledged  and  confirmed ;  but  whenevt;r  any 
person  in  the  construction  of  any  ditch  or  canal,  injures  or  dam- 
ages the  possession  of  any  settler  on  the  public  domain,  the 
party  committing  such  injury  or  damage  shall  be  liable  to  the 
party  injured  for  such  injury  or  damage. — Sec.  9,  July  26,  1866. 

Sec.  3340.  All  patents  granted,  or  pre-emption  or  homesteads 
allowed,  shall  be  subject  to  any  vested  and  accrued  water  rights, 
or  Wojhts  to  ditches  and  reservoirs  used  in  connection  with  such 
waiv..  rights,  as  may  have  been  acquired  under  o:  recognized  by 
the  preceding  section. — Sec.  17,  July  9,  1870. 

HOMESTEADS.  . 

Sec.  2341.  Wherever,  upon  the  lands  heretofore  designated 
as  mineral  lands,  which  have  been  excluded  from  survey  and 
sale,  there  have  been  homesteads  made  by  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  or  persons  who  have  declared  their  intention  to  become 
citizens,  which  homesteads  have  been  made,  improved,  and  used 
for  agricultural  purposes,  and  upon  which  there  have  been  no 
valuable  mines  of  gold,  silver,  cinnabar  or  copper  discovered, 
and  which  are  properly  agricultural  lands,  the  settlers  or  owners 
of  such  homesteads  shall  have  a  right  of  pre-emption  thereto, 
and  shall  be  entitled  to  purchase  the  same  at  the  price  of  $1.35 
per  acre,  and  in  quantity  not  to  exceed  1 60  acres,  or  they  may 


» 


W 


M 


s? 


aSo 


<Wl)  ^MsnxU  EMflKE. 


m^A 


avail  themselves  of  the  provisions  of  chapter  five  of  this  title,  re- 
lating to  homesteads. — Sec.  lo,  yn/y  26,  1866. 

(:,    ij.^,        ■.:;     .'     ^ili.i    13    AGRICULTURAL  LANDS.     .„;,    ■.HiV.  ,tU;fiH< 'JH  ,:iut 

Sec.  3343.  Upon  the  survey  of  the  lands  describe'^  in  the  pre^ 
ceding  section,  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  may  designate  and 
set  apart  such  portions  of  the  same  as  are  clearly  agricultural 
lands,  which  lands  shall  thereafter  be  subject  to  pre-emption  and 
sale  as  other  public  lands,  and  be  subject  to  all  the  laws  and 
regulations  applicable  to  the  same. — Sec,  11,  yn/y  26»  1866.  4^^] 

Sec.  5343.  The  President  is  aut!ht>fi2fed  to  establish  addltioiial 
kind  districts,  and  to  appoint  the  necessary  ofllicei-s  under  exist- 
ing laws  wherever  he  may  deem  ttie  same  nefcessafy  for  the 
public  convenience  in  executing  the  provisions  Of  this  chlapter.— 
Sec.  7,  yuiy  26,  1P66. 

Skc.  2344.  M;  ag  jcolntaitied  in  this  chapter  shall  bte  con- 
strued to  impair  in  anyway  rights  ol*  interests  in  mining  property 
acquired  under  existing  laws.— S&r.  if,  7^(y  9,  18 70;  Sec.  16, 
Af^  10,  rS'/i.  ""'"^*  ^t  f?<v  ;^*^*  A^)v;, 

•  Sec.  23!}6.  Mb  act  passed  at  Ihie  first  sessibn  6f  the  *tfi\rt^- 
<ilghth  Congress  granting  lands  to  States  or  corpoi-ations,  to  aid 
ifi  the  construcdbn  of  foads  or  fbr  other  purposes,  or  to  extend 
the  time  of  grants  made  prior  to  the  30th  day  of  January,  1865, 
shall  be  so  construed  as  to  embrace  mineral  lands,  which  in  all 
cases  are  reserved  exclusively  to  the  United  States,  unless  other- 
wise specially  prbvided  In  lihb  act  or  acts  making  the  grant— 
Sdt.  Id,  January  30,  186$.  '  rr*^^**--*^*^-'^-*  ^-^^ 

■■•.r,:.-    ■.■-'    xA  ^.'-'.i-Aiv.    .;■.;:.  (tOM.  iLA!tD&  ■'-   /^^'.-Vi  ,>,  -.^    .   a\\''<\ 

Stec.  2347.  Every  perswn  above  the  age  of  tteenty-one  years, 
Who  is  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  or  who  has  declared  his 
ifttention  to  bedomc  such,  w  any  association  of  persons  severaliy 
qualified  as  above,  shall,  trpbn  application  to  the  Register  of  the 
jMtJtJer  land  dffice,  hivte  the  fijgrht  to  tented,  by  legal  iubdiviSlbn^, 
tAy  quantity  it>f  vacant  ttba!  lands  of  the  United  States  not  btheh- 
Wfee  appropriated  or  reserved  by  competent  authority,  not  ta- 


':iiSiM^tdim:^X;:i:'^xrt:^.ti:'  ■■'aa^ 


^'^'S'-V»<ii»(^/i'.iii 


-|  ^v 


IV//0  CAJV  CLAtM  COM  LAflDS. 


it\ 


'  this  title,  re- 

*A  in  the  pre* 
lesignate  and 
y  agricultural 
-emption  atid 
the  laws  and 

l^  1866.         v-nj 

isH  i^dltronal 

5  under  exist- 
ssafy  for  the 
[lis  chiapter.— - 

shall  be  con- 
ning property 
870;  Siec.  i5, 

)f  the  thii^i; 
rations,  to  aid' 
bt*  to  extend 
January,  1865, 
i,  which  in  all 
;,  unless  other- 
r  thif  grant.— 

, , . ..     ......      -.. ..     ,  «3  ■ 

nty-one  ye&tk, 
5  declared  his 
rsons  severally 
Register  of  Hit 
i!  ^ubdiVi^bn^, 
ates  not  dth^i-- 
hority,  not  tx- 


ceeding  160  acres  to  each  individual  person,  or  320  acres  \o  such 
association,  upon  payment  to  the  Receiver  of  not  less  than  teti 
dollars  per  acre  for  such  lands,  where  the  same  shall  be  situated 
more  than  fifteen  ttrtlfes  from  any  completed  ttiUroad,  and  not 
less  than  twehty  dollars  per  acre  for  such  lands  as  shall  be'withitt 
hfteen  miles  of  such  road. — Sec.  1,  Ma*xh  3,  1873. 


...  J,v,< 


iiU  Jl 


ij«!;,    ,-.;i!rtb    /tfli:.>>Clf.  WHO   CAN   CLAIM,  i^.;,,;  a*.?". 'i^<f  ,•,•*,  1. 

Src.  2348.  Any  |)er9on  or  association  of  persons  sevettill'^ 
qualiRed  as  above  provided,  who  have  opened  and  improved,  of 
shall  hereafter  open  and  improve,  any  coal  mine  or  mines  upotl 
the  public  lands,  and  shall  be  in  actual  possession  of  the  same, 
shall  be  entitled  to  a  preference  right  of  entry,  under  the  pre- 
ceding section,  of  tJie  rtiinea  so  opened  and  improved :  Pi'ovidid, 
That  when  an  association  of  not  less  than  fojr  persons,  severally 
qualified  as  above  provided,  shall  have  expended  hot  less  than 
ji5,ooo  in  working  and  improving  any  such  mine  or  mines,  such 
association  may  ent?er  not  exceeding  640  acres,  including  sudi 
ittining  improvements.-^kStfr.  i,  Hid.  ,;  ,'  .,  . 

.>4i^'fn^'''"rvH*V-;''*''-*^  *■'«''     RBOISTERINO  CLAIMS.      i.'*i?i£''^,7    -.ift    'm\     ,  uti 

Sfec.  234$.  All  claim*,  under  the  preceding  section  must  b^ 
presented  to  «ili6  Regif.ter  of  the  proper  land  district  within  sixty 
days  after  date  of  actual  possession,  and  the  commencement  of 
improvements  on  the  land,  by  the  filing  of  a  derfaratory  state- 
ment therefor ;  but  when  the  township  plat  \i  ittrt  oh  file  at  th* 
date  oif  such  improvementis,  filing  mrust  be  ttiadt  t^ithin  isiitty 
days  from  the  receipt  of  such  plat  at  the  district  offite ;  and  ^h^t^ 
i}r.2  improvements  shall  have  been  made  prior  to  the  expiration 
of  three  months  from  the  3d  day  of  Marcji,  187^,  sixty  days  from 
the  expiration  of  such  three  months  shall  b«  allowed  for  the 
filing  of  a  declaratory  statement,  and  no  sale  under  the  provisions 
of  this  section  ?h»ll  be  allowed  until  the  expiration  of  six  months 
from  the  3d  day  of  March,  iZn-Sec^z*  i^';^,imi  »m-\p^^m^ 

ENTRIES    AUTHORIZED. 

Sec.  2350.  The  three  preceding  sections  shall  be  held  to 


tmm 


miiiiiaB! 


^^&>:^..i^i^M^i^jiid^^id^:U^^&!^»Ji^^ 


aSa 


owe    WESTERN  EMPIRE, 


authorize  only  one  entry  by  the  same  person  or  association  of 
persons ;  and  no  association  of  persons,  any  member  of  which 
shall  have  taken  the  benefit  of  such  sections,  either  as  an  indi- 
vidual or  as  a  member  of  any  other  association,  shall  enter  or 
hold  any  other  lands  under  the  provisions;  and  all  persons 
claiming  under  section  2348,  shall  be  required  to  prove  their  re- 
spective rights  and  pay  for  the  lands  filed  upon  within  one  year 
from  the  time  prescribed  for  filing  their  respective  claims ;  and 
upon  failure  to  file  the  proper  notice,  or  to  pay  for  the  land 
within  the  required  period,  the  same  shail  be  subject  to  entry  by 
any  ether  qualified  applicant. — Sec.  4,  ibid.     ,<  /,j,,,  >^*;iw».n.  h«^j,| 

I  Sec.  2351.  In  case  of  conflicting  claims  upon  coal  lands  where 
the  improvement  shall  be  commenced  after  the  3d  day  of  March^ 
1873,  priority  of  possession  and  improvement  followed  by  propei 
filing  and  continued  good  faith,  shall  determine  the  preference 
right  to  purchase.  And  also  when  improvements  have  already 
been  made  prior  to  the  3d  day  of  March,  1873,  division  of  the  land 
claimed  may  be  made  by  legal  subdivisions,  to  include  as  near  as 
may  be  the  valuable  improvements  of  the  respective  parties. 
The  Commissioner  of  the  General  Land  Office  is  authorized  to 
issue  all  needful  rules  and  regulations  for  carrying  into  effect  the^ 
provisions  of  this  and  the  four  preceding  sections. — Sec.  5,  idid. 
^^JSec.  2352.  Nothing  in  the  five  preceding  sections  shall  be 
construed  to  destroy  or  impair  any  rights  which  may  have 
attached  prior  to  the  3d  day  of  March,  1 873,  or  to  authorize  the  sale 
ofj^jidijf^uaj^lf^ Jpr  mines  of  goI^sjlY^jr  or  ^pti^K.^,^f.  6,  «M, 


.1 


k 


TME  ACT  6PW4. 

Ail  aet  ttiuiitMd  m^etMlitled  "An  act  to  promote  the  development  of  iKe  mining  retourect 
of  the  United  Sutes,"  p«ssed  May  lo^  1S74.  ^^ 

*^*Be  it  enacled  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  thi* 
United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assetnbied.  That  the  provi-' 
sions  of  the  fifth  section  of  the  act  entitled  "An  act  to  promote 
the  development  of  the  mining  resources  of  the  United  States," 
passed  May  lo,  1874,  which  requires  expenditures  of  labor  and 


Jia.^- •li«ay„^;'tir»' ;•; .  ^-fj:  v^t..>a  :■^■,.  , 


UNITED  STATES  LAND  OFFICE  RULES. 


383 


isociation  of 
>er  of  which 

as  an  indi- 
lall  enter  or 

all  persons 
ove  their  re- 
hin  one  year 

claims;  and 
for  the  land 
t  to  entry  by 

lands  where 
lay  of  March^ 
ed  by  propei 
e  preference 
lave  already 
n  of  the  land 
le  as  near  as 
:tlve  parties, 
luthorized  to 
ito  effect  the 
Sec.  5,  ibid. 
ons  shall  be 
h  may  have 
orize  the  sale 

s  milling  Kiourees 

itatives  of  the 
at  the  provi- 
t  to  promote 
[lited  States," 
of  labor  and 


improvements  on  claims  located  prior  to  the  passage  of  said 
act,  are  hereby  so  amended  that  the  time  for  the  first  annual 
expenditure  on  claims  located  prior  to  the  passage  of  said  act, 
shall  be  extended  to  the  ist  day  of  January,  1875. — Approved 
June  6,  1874. 

THE  ACT  OF  1875. 

An  act  to  lunend  iccUon  two  thousand  thrm  hundred  >nd  twmtx-four  of  tht  Reviicd  StafttM, 

,  ^  niatfng  to  the  development  of  the  mining  retource*  of  the  United  States. 

,,,  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  Stales  of  America  in  Congress  assembled,  That  section 
232/1  of  the  Revised  Statutes  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  amended 
50  that  where  a  person  or  company  has  or  may  run  a  tunnel  for 
the  purpose  of  developing  a  lode  or  lodes,  owned  by  said  person 
or  company,  the  money  so  expended  in  said  tunnel  shall  be 
taken  and  considered  as  expended  on  said  lode  or  lodes,  whether 
located  prior  to  or  since  the  passage  of  said  act ;  and  such  per- 
son or  company  shall  not  be  required  to  perform  work  on  the 
surface  of  said  lode  or  lodes  in  order  to  hold  the  same  as  re- 
(juired  by  said  zci.^Approved February  11,  1875., .^^„,,f  ^i«...m, 

*^  To  these  mining  laws  should  be  appended  the      "^  *'^*"    '  "^^** ' 

ii<daHUJit> ' -RULES  OF  THE   UNITED 'StviTis   LAI^'c&fe^'^-''^^^  ^'\ 

P  (Under  the  Act  of  Congress  of  May  lo,  187a,  and  now  in  force.) 

'•  trit  will  be  perceived  that  the  first  section  of  said  act  leaves 
die  mineral  lands  in  the  public  domain,  surveyed  and  unsurveyed, 
open  to  exploration,  occupation,  and  purchase  by  all  citizens  of 
the  United  States,  and  all  those  who  have  declared  their  intention 


^llv^... 


fV.^ 


■-■•'''t';s*» -'")■! 


to  become  such. 

j^ti        Jrr  ;.iii:.    LODB  CLAIMS  PREVIOUSLY  LOCATEBp-'t 

^t  2.  By  an  examination  of  the  several  sections  of  the  foregoing 
act  it  will  be  seen  that  the  status  of  lode  claims,  Xoc^t^d  previous 
to  the  date  thereof,  is  not  changed  with  regard  to  their  ^Ar/««/ 
along  the  lode  or  width  of  surface,  such  claims  being  restricted  and 
governed  both  as  to  their  lateral  and  linear  extent  by  the  State, 
Territorial,  or  local  laws,  customs  or  regulations  which  were  in 


■  kj-jl  -  it-^*>  'T.i- 


c-i^      #^r^*■  ^j^.i^^"  *»*.;^j*i^  'wW'jjun'";* 


r*-"*  t  «•:'■» "F  ■ 


wwiWiwiiiiwii 


TOMWftfiiiiiaimiiiitiinm 


iH 


^?^v     c^;^  tti^s^itk  ^t'/Jt-E. 


force  in  their  respective  districts  at  the  date  of  such  locations,  in 
so  far  as  the  same  did  not  conflict  with  the  limitation  fixed  by 
the  iMining  statute  of  ju1)r  26,  1866.  ''^'-''  •  ■>    •  ,..,-^.~^.^. 

*  ENLARGEMENT  OF   RIGHTS. 

t 

3.  Mining  rights  ac()uh<ed  unitfr  such  previous  locations  are, 
however,  enlarged  by  said  act  of  May  10,  1873,  in  the  fdbtriit^ 
respect,  vi2. :  The  locatol^  of  all  such  previously  taken  veins  or 
lodes,  their  hts^  and  Assigns,  so  long  as  they  connply  with  the 
laws  of  Congress^  and  with  SuCe,  Territorial,  or  local  rdguUtiotti 
mKe  In  conflict  ikmPtwHh,  goveming  niinmg  claitns,  ai'e  invested 
by  said  act  with  th^  exclusive  |>ossessory  right  of  all  the  surface 
included  within  ihe  UMes  of  their  locations,  and  of  all  veltis,  lodes, 
or  ledg*es  throughout  their  entire  depth,  the  top  or  apex  of  which 
lies  inside  of  sudi  swrfaee  lines  extending  downward  vertically, 
although  such  veins,  lodes,  or  ledges  may  so  far  depart  from  a 
perpendicular,  in  their  *eourse  downward,  as  to  extend  outside 
tbe  vertical  lines  of  6uch  loditions  at  the  surface ;  it  being  ex- 
pressly provided,  liOwtelver,  that  the  right  tjf  possession  to  sUth 
outside  parts  of  said  veins  or  ledges  shall  be  confined  to  such 
portions  thereof  as  lie  betWeteh  vertical  planes  drawn  downward 
as  aforesaid,  through  the  end  lines  of  their  locations,  so  continued 
in  their  own  direction,  that  such  planes  will  intersect  such 
exterior  p^rts  of  suc)i  veins,  lodes,  or  ledges ;  no  right  being 
^t'sLttt^d,  however,  to  the  clainiiant  of  such  outside  portion  of  ^ 
vehi  6t  ledge  to  enter  u^on  the  surface  location  of  anotbei; 
daimiiht        .  r, .  <  ,  .        i  .,ff| 

tlAliri  OF   THE    LAW. 

4.  It  is  to  be  distinctly  understood,  however,  that  the  law  limits 
the  possessory  rigiHs  to  veins,  ^odqsi  or  ledges  PiAer  than  the  one 
named  in  the  original  location,  to  pqclv  as  were  not  uJuerxly 
etaimidt  at  the  date  qjf  said  aci  p/  M(i^  10,  i^^2%  and  thUt  whentt 
sucli  other  vein  or  ledge  was  so  adversely  claimed  at  ihM  «bte, 
the  right  of  the  par^  so  adversely  claiming  is  k  bo  wa^  iifeipaired 
by  scudact.  ^^ 


ANKVAL  laMOR, 


.:l' 


5.  From  and  after  the  date  of  said  act  of  Congress,  in  order  to 


NON-COMPLIANCE    WITH  THE  LAW. 


aas 


1  locations,  in 
t.ion  fixed  by 


(    ,' 


locations  are, 
the  fdbtirirtg 
aken  veins  or 
nply  \vith  the 
&1  f^uUtioMi 
I,  ar'e  invested 
ill  the  surface 
11  veins,  lodes, 
apex  of  which 
ard  vertically, 
lepart  from  a 
xtend  outside 
;  it  being  ex- 
ission  to  sUeK 
ifined  to  such 
wn  downward 
I,  so  continued 
ntersect  such 

0  right  being 
;  portion  of  %. 
>n  of  another 

the  law  limits 

^  than  the  one 

not  adversely 

nd  thtil:  wheiv 

1  «t  thM  «bte» 
twa^Mkipftired 

'  i 

ss,  in  order  to 


hold  the  possessory  title  to  a  mining  claim  ffreviously  iotafed, 
and  for  which  a  patent  has  not  been  issued,  the  law  requires  that 
kn  dollars  shall  be  expended  annually  in  labor  or  improvements 
on  each  claim  of  one  hundred  feet  on  the  course  of  the  vein  or 
lode  until  a  patent  shall  have  been  issued  thereibr ;  but  where  a 
number  of  such  claims  are  held  in  common,  upon  th*;  same  vein 
or  lode,  the  aggregate  expenditure  that  would  be  necessary  to 
hold  all  the  claims,  at  the  rate  of  $io  per  loo  feet,  may  be  made 
upon,  any  one  claim,  a  failure  to  comply  with  this  requirement  in 
any  one  year  subjecting  the  claim  upon  which  such  failure 
Oiccurred  tp  relocation  by  other  parties,  the  same  as  if  no  pre- 
vious location  thereof  had  ever  been  made,  unless  the  claimants 
under  the  original  location  shall  have  resuaofid  work  thereon 
Alter  SMBkiittUkre,  aad  before  such  relocatioo. 


FAJLURE  TO  COMPLY  WITH   THE  LAW. 


ft)r.»':>V?!M")   7) -Iff** 


6.  Upon  the  failure  of  any  one  of  several  co-owners  of  a  vein, 
lode,  or  ledge  which  has  not  been  patented,  to  contribute  his  pro- 
portion of  tba  expenditures  necessary  to  hold  the  claim,  or  claims 
«o  held  ii^  ownership  in  common,  the  co-owners  who  have  per- 
forn^ed  thie  ^bor,  or  made  the  improvements  as  required  by  said 
act,  may,  at  the  expiration  of  the  year,  give  such  delinqueat  cq- 
owner  personal  notice  in  writing,  or  notice  by  publication  in  the 
newspaper  published  nearest  the  claim  for  at  least  once  a  week 
for  ninety  days ;  and  if  upon  the  expiration  of  ninety  days  after 
such  notice  in  writing,  or  upon  the  expiration,  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  days  after  the  fiirst  newspaper  publication  of  notice, 
the  delinquent  co-owner  shall  have  failed  to  contribute  his  piro- 
portion  to  meet  such  expenditure  or  improvements,  his  interest 
in  the  claim,  by  law,  passes  to  his  co-owners  who  haiYe  ^oode  tke 
expenditures  on  irapvovemeats  as  aforesaid^j^v*^  B^?t^^\r'to  fTt!iilT» 

'!,r-t'«lmy.a--U      '       I»IGHTS  UNDER  OLp  PATENTS.     ,«>:^»^1:.^r»>U^<rt- 

7.  Rights  under  patents  for  veins  or  lodes  Ireretofbre  granted 
under  previous  legislation  of  Congress,  are  enlarged  by  this 
act,  so  as  to  invest  the  patentee,  his  heirs  or  assigns,  with  tide 
ta  all' veins,  lodes  or  ledges  throughout  their  entire  depth,  the 


m 


-  jko^u^i^^IhR^^^^^ 


386 


OUR    WES  I L UN   EMPIRE. 


top  or  apex  of  which  lies  within  the  end  and  side  boundary  lines 
of  his  claim  on  the  surface  as  patented,  extended  downward 
vertically,  although  such  veins,  lodes  or  ledges  may  so  far  de- 
oart  from  a  perpendicular  in  their  course  downward  as  to 
extend  outside  the  vertical  side  lines  of  the  claim  at  the  surface. 
The  right  to  possession  to  such  outside  parts  of  such  veins  or 
ledges  to  be  confined  to  such  portions  thereof  as  lie  between 
vertical  planes  drawn  downward  through  the  end  lines  of  the 
claim  at  the  surface,  so  continued  in  their  own  direction  that 
such  planes  will  intersect  such  exterior  parts  of  such  veins  or 
ledges ;  it  being  expressly  provided,  however,  that  all  veins, 
lodes  or  ledges,  the  top  or  apex  of  which  lies  inside  such  sur- 
face locations,  otiur  than  the  one  named  in  the  patent,  which 
were  adversely  claimed  at  the  date  of  said  act,  are  excluded  frcm 
such  conveyance  by  patent. 

ji;i«feV».'»<fto.^»ni«*-T»'ilr.'«t-  FINAL  decision.      .         -  SfcU^jyrf'l-rnWlU  ;.*!?.•  ^ 

>'  8.  Applications  for  patents  for  mining  claims  pending  the  date 
of  the  act  of  May  loth,  1872,  may  be  prosecuted  to  final  decis- 
ion in  the  General  Land  Office ;  and  where  no  adverse  rights 
are  affected  thereby,  patents  will  be  issued  in  pursuance  of  the 
provisions  of  said  act. 

\^^f>s^i  EFFECT  OF  ACT  OF    1 872.  jr 

:  9.  From  and  after  the  date  of  said  act,  any  person  who  is  a 
citizen  of  the  United  States,  or  who  has  declared  his  intention 
to  become  a  citizen,  may  locate,  record  and  hold  a  mining  claim 
o{  fifUen  hundred  linear  feet  along  the  course  of  any  mineral 
vein  or  lode  subject  to  location ;  dr  an  association  of  persons, 
severally  qualified  as  above,  may  make  joint  location  of  such 
claim  of  fifteen  hundred  feet,  but  in  no  event  can  a  location  of  a 
vein  or  lode  made  subsequent  to  the  act  exceed  fifteen  hundred 
feet  along  the  course  thereof,  whatever  may  be  the  number  of 
persons  composing  the  association. 

EXTENT  OF    SURFACE    GROUND. 

,,  f  la  With  r^rd  to  the  extent.of  surface  ground  adjoining  a 


.-.i'life 


oundary  lines 
ed  downward 
nay  so  far  de- 
rnward   as   to 
It  the  surface, 
such  veins  or 
»  lie  between 
d  lines  of  the 
direction  that 
luch  veins  or 
that  all  veins, 
iside  such  sur- 
patent,  which 
excluded  frcm 


:nding  the  date 
to  final  decis- 
adverse  rights 
rsuance  of  the 


rson  who  is  a 
1  his  intention 
I  mining  claim 
>f  any  mineral 
on  of  persons, 
•cation  of  such 
L  location  of  a 
fteen  hundred 
he  number  of 

St:f  '  ' 

ind  adjoining  a 


KXTKNT  OF  SURFACE  GROUND.  387 

vein  or  lode,  and  claimed  for  the  convenient  working  thereof,  the 
act  provides  that  the  lateral  extent  of  locations  of  veins  or  lodes 
made  after  its  passage  shall  in  no  case  exceed  three  htindrrd  feet 
on  each  side  of  the  middle  of  th*  vein  at  the  surface,  and  that  no 
iiuch  surface  rights  shall  be  limited  by  any  mining  regulations  to 
less  than  twenty-five  feet  on  each  side  of  the  middle  of  the  vein 
at  the  surface,  except  where  adverse  rights  existing  at  the  date 
of  said  act  may  render  such  limitations  necessary,  the  end  lines 
of  such  claims  to  be  in  all  cases  parallel  to  each  other.      '1  -v  A 

I,.  ,.  .;,».,  >.iij  v!(f;  't    tV*'-  \    >  /I'   ■•'«<''l)'iMv>/   M'd  'I.  •!  'ii 

SURFACE    RIGHTS. 

1 1 .  By  the  foregoing  it  will  be  perceived  that  no  lode  claim 
located  after  the  date  of  said  act  can  exceed  a  parallelogram 
fifteen  hundred  feet  in  length  by  six  hundred  feet  in  width,  but 
whether  surface  ground  of  the  width  can  be  taken  depends 
upon  the  local  regulations  or  State  or  Territorial  laws  in  force 
in  the  several  mining  districts ;  and  that  no  such  local  regula- 
tions or  State  or  Territorial  laws  shall  limit  a  vein  or  lode  claim 
to  less  than  fifteen  hundred  feet  along  the  course  thereof,  whether 
the  location  is  made  by  one  or  more  persons,  nor  can  the  sur- 
face rights  be  limited  to  less  than  fifty  feet  in  width,  unless  ad- 
verse claims  existing  on  the  iQth  ^Y  ^CMf^y*  ^^T^%  render  sucji 
lateral  limitations  necessary,  ^i^^^'i^^^^^^  ■^m'^^r^rwm 

"^M  •<V^"^^ri  .j-'^;-^'    -'-'--r^' ,/.*{!  )f'i-.    flv^n^i•i^»w 

THEIR    OWN    LAWS.  .  '  ..   .  ,     . 

!  ^J<J«'I    r;fiM»  rfKftl»i/  -•»«/. 

^  1 2.  It  is  provided  In  said  act  that  the  miners  of^  each  district 
may  make  rules  and  regulations  not  in  conflict  with  the  laws  of 
the  United  States,  or  of  the  State  or  Territory  in  which  such  dis- 
tricts are  respectively  situated,  governing  the  location,  manner 
of  recording,  and  amount  of  work  necessary  to  hold  possession 
of  the  claim.  It  likewise  requires  that  the  location  must  be  so 
distinctly  marked  on  the  ground  that  its  boundaries  may  be 
readily  traced.  This  Is  a  very  important  matter,  and  locators 
cannot  exercise  too  much  care  in  defining  their  locations  at  the 
outset,  inasmuch  as  the  law  requires  that  all  records  of  mining 
locations  made  subsequent  to  its  passage  shall  contain  the  name 
or  names  of  locators,  the  date  of  the  location,  and  such  a  de- 


'.9 '  i> 


'■■Ql 


««HS 


a88 


OUR    WRS1ERN  MMP/RE. 


uripUtm  of  iki  (/aim  ot  (/aims  located,  by  reference  to  some 
natur«d  object  or  permanent  monument,  m  will  iUcntify  the  claim. 

Oft  ifsHr  SrtR     Mt^tVI'*  ^"     WKORDINO   CUIUS,        «  xVv  >H^Vsf,  ^>»V>  M 

of  13.  The  taid  act  declares  that  no  lode  claim  can  be  recordecl 
until  after  the  discovery  of  a  vein  or  lode  within  the  limits  of  the 
ground  claimed;  the  object  of  which  provision  is  evidently  to 
prevent  the  encumbering  of  the  district  mining  record  with  use* 
less  locitions  before  sufficient  work  has  been  done  thereon  to 
determine  whether  a  vein  or  lode  has  been  really  discovered 
or  not  '  i;,v.*RMtui»#^,^p*^«vv«     • .  .;..>-;yvv    ^hy  -i'^  '  -^ I  ) 

,nW»   t/U€H    '>M    imll   WHAT    CLAIMANT    SHOULD    DO.      1"l  firfilVU    .  N, 

^"  14.  The  claimant  should,  therefore,  pripr  to  recording  his  claim, 
unless  the  vein  c^n  be  traced  upon  the  surface,  sink  a  shaft,  or 
run  a  tunnel  or  drift  tq  a  sufficient  depth  therein  to  discover  and 
develop  a  mineral-bearing  vein,  lode  or  crevice ;  should  deter- 
mine, if  possible,  the  general  course  of  such  vein  in  either  direc- 
tion (irom  the  point  of  discovery,  by  which  direction  he  will  be 
governed  in  marking  the  boundaries  of  his  claim  on  the  surface  ; 
^nd  shpuld  give  the  course  and  distance  as  nearly  as  practicable 
from  the  discovery  sh^f^  on  t^e  claim  to  some  permanent,  well- 
known  points  or  objects,  such  for  instance,  as  stone  monument^, 
blazed  trees,  the  confluence  of  streams,  point  of  intersection  of 
well-known  gulches,  ravines  or  roads,,  prominent  buttes,  hills, 
etc.,  which  m^y  be  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  and  which  will  serve 
to  perpetuate  and  fix  the  /ocus  of  the  claim  and  render  it  sus- 
ceptible of  identification  fVom  the  description  thereof  giv^n  in 
the  record  of  locations  in  the  district. 

NA^ES  OF  ADJOINING   CLAIMS. 

15^  |n  addjtiqn  tp  the  foregoing  data,  the  claimant  should  state 
^he  names  of  adjpi.nijng  claims,  or,  if  none  adjoin,  the  relative 
posii^ions  of  the,  n^^rest  claims ;  should  drive  a  posit,  or  erect  a 
tfu)fk]tfnisnt  of  sjtpnfis  %t  e^ich  corner  of  his,  surface  ground,  9n<J 
^Ji  ^Jie  point  of  dj^sfQveryj  or  discovery  shaft»  should,  fix  a  posit, 
9j^^Q  or  ttoj^f d,,  M|!pn  which  shonld  bq  designat^pd  (he  aame  9/ 


•tfliiiteHl 


ncc  to  some 
ify  the  claim. 

be'  recordecl 
I  limits  of  the 
evidently  to 
jrcl  with  use- 
le  thereon  to 
y  discovered 
•    i  t 

ling  his  claim, 
nk  a  shaft,  or 
discover  and 
should  deter- 
i  either  direc- 
)n  he  will  be 
1  the  surface ; 
as  practicable 
manent,  well- 
e  monument^, 
[itersection  of 
:  buttes,  hills, 
lich  will  serve 
render  it  sus- 
reof  given  in 


his 


tit  should  state 
1,  the  relative 
Dst,  or  erect  a 
5  ground,  anjJ 
uld,  fix  a  posjt, 
d,  (he  aanne  q/ 


DETAILS-WmfRL  MiaffTS.         -•  ,|^ 

nic  lode,  the  name  or  names  of  the  locators,  the  number  of  feet 
dtimed,  and  in  which  direction  from  the  point  of  discovery,  it 
being  essential  that  the  location  notice  filed  for  record,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  foregoing  description,  should  state  whctlu^r  the  entire 
claim  of  fifteen  hundred  feet  is  taken  on  one  side  of  the  point 
of  discovery,  or  whether  it  is  partly  upon  one  and  partly  upon 
the  other  side  thereof,  and  in  the  latter  case,  how  many  feet  are 
claimed  upon  each  side  of  such  discovery  point,     'k'  '  ''^w-  .'* 

■>        .     r    ...»,,...       'T    ».,  ^  ...  ■    .         .      . 

i6.  Within  <t  reasonable  time,  say  twenty  days  after  the  loca- 
tion shall  have  been  marked  on  the  ground,  notice  thereof,  accu- 
rately describing  the  claim,  in  the  manner  aforesaid,  should  be 
filed  for  record  with  the  proper  recorder  of  the  district,  who  will 
thereupon  issue  the  ususd  certificate  of  location. 


!»«yi*  ,fa  MOLDINO    P0SSB8SORV    RIGHT. 


!'H 


d'.'.i 


'<!  .i;ji}f!;'t 


;  17.  In  order  to  hold  the  possessory  right  to  a  claim  of  fifteen 
Hundred  feet  of  a  vein  or  lode  located  as  aforesaid,  the  act  re- 
quires that  until  a  patent  shall  have  been  issued  therefor,  not 
less  than  one  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  labor  shall  be  performed 
or  improvements  made  thereon  during  each  year,  in  default  of 
which  the  claim  shall  be  subject  to  relocation  by  any  other  party 
having  the  necessary  qualifications,  unless  the  original  locator, 
his  heirs,  assigns,  or  legal  representatives,  have  resumed  work 
thereon,  after  such  failure  and  before  such  relocation.     •   .,  v - 


IMPORTANCE  Of  DETAILS. 


f-,t; 


'( r.-..  \  ii  I 


,f.,':,r. 


18.  The  importance  of  attending  to  these  details  in  the  man- 
ner of  location,  labor  and  expenditure,  will  be  more  readily  per- 
ceived when  it  is  understood  that  a  failure  to  give  the  subject 
proper  attention  may  invalidate  the  oktm. 

•ilHXi.|l«^T   If       TUHNEI.  RIGHTS.  v4  ^pnilK  ipf  4^«i^if 

19.  The  IburteenVh  4fection  of  the  act  provides  that  where  a ' 
tunnd  is  run  for  the  development  of  a  vein  or  lode,  or  for  the 

»9 


Hi  ^  OUJt    H'ASrMJlJV  MAfr/Jt/i. 

discovery  of  mlnen,  thr  owncm  of  such  tunnel  ithall  have  the 
.right  of  poMcntion  of  all  vcinn  or  loden  within  three  thoiisMid 
feet  from  the  face  of  such  tunnel  on  the  line  thereof,  not  previ- 
ously known  to  cxiiit,  dincovercd  in  luch  tunnel,  to  the  same 
extent  an  if  discovered  from  the  surface;  and  locations  on  the 
line  of  such  tunnel  of  veins  or  lodes  not  appearing  on  the  sur- 
face, made  by  other  parties  after  the  commencement  of  the  tun-^ 
.  nel.  and  while  the  same  is  being  prosecuted  with  reasonable 
diligence,  shall  Ih;  invalid,  but  failure  to  prosecute  the  work  on 
the  tunnel  for  six  months  shall  be  considered  as  an  abandonment 
of  the  right  to  all  undiscovered  veins  or  lodes  on  the  line  of 

said  tunnel.  ,  ,,    , 

TftLix  Uiuh"  noil 

KFTKCT  or  roURTEINTH   SECTION. 

]  30.  The  effect  of  this  section  is  simply  to  give  the  proprietors 
of  a  mining  tunnel,  run  in  good  faith,  the  possessory  right  to 
1 ,500  feet  of  any  blind  lodes  cut,  discovered  or  intersected  by  such 
tunnel,  which  were  not  previously  known  to  exist,  within  3,000  feet 
from  the  face  or  point  of  commencement  of  such  tunnel,  and  to 
prohibit  other  parties,  after  the  commencement  of  the  tunnel, 
from  prospecting  for  and  making  locations  of  lod'js  on  the  /itit 
thereof  and  within  said  distance  of  3,000  feet,  unless  such  lodes 
appear  upon  tlie  surface,  or  were  previously  known  to  exist. 

CONSTRUCTION  OF  TERMS. 

31.  The  term  "face,"  as  used  in  said  section,  is  construed  and 
held  to  mean  the  first  working  face  formed  in  the  tunnel,  and  to 
signify  the  point  at  which  the  tunnel  actually  enters  cover,  it 
being  from  this  point  that  the  3,000  feet  are  to  be  counted,  upon 
which  the  prospecting  is  prohibited  as  aforesaid. 

PROPER  NOTICE. 

33.  To  avail  themselves  of  the  benefit  of  this  provision  of  law, 
the  proprietors  of  a  mining  tunnel  will  be  required,  at  the  time 
they  enter  cover,  as  aforesaid,  to  give  proper  notice  of  their 
tunnel  location,  by  erecting  a  substantial  post,  board  or  monu- 
ment, at' the  face  or  point  of  commencement  thereof,  upon  which 
should  be  posted  a  good  and  sufficient  notice,  giving  the  names 


ntorKH  AorfCA-sncx.\  srMf/cMUjvn. 


291 


A\a\\  have  the 
hrce  thousand 
eof.  not  prcvi- 
I,  to  the  same 
cationt  on  the 
jg  on  the  Bur- 
ent  of  the  tun-, 
tth  reasonable 
e  the  work  on 
n  abandonment 
on  the  Hne  of 

r/ftil  Ui.iu-  noil 

the  proprietors 
cssory  right  to 
;rsected  by  such 
vithin  3,000  feet 
h  tunnel,  and  to 
;  of  the  tunnel, 
od'js  on  the  //w* 
niess  such  lodes 
fiQ  to  exist. 

•If) 

s  construed  and 
c  tunnel,  and  to 
enters  cover,  it 
e  counted,  upon 

MO.  fi 

jrovision  of  law, 
ired,  at  the  tnne 
notice  of  their 
board  or  monu- 
reof,  upon  which 
riving  the  names 


of  the  parties  or  company  claiming  the  tunnel  right,  the  actual 
ur  proposed  course  or  direction  uf  the  tunnel,  the  height  and 
width  thereuf.  and  the  course  and  distance  from  such  face  or 
point  of  commencement  to  Home  permanent,  well-known  object! 
ill  the  vicinity  by  which  to  fix  and  determine  the  Anus  in  manner 
heretofore  set  forth  applicable  to  locations  of  veins  or  lodes; 
and  at  the  time  of  posting  such  notice  they  shall,  in  order 
that  miners  or  prospectors  may  be  enabled  to  determine  whether 
or  not  they  are  within  tlie  lines  of  the  tunnel,  establish  the 
boundary  lines  thereof  by  stakes  or  monuments  placed  alon^ 
such  lines  at  proper  intervals,  to  the  terminus  of  3.000  feet  from 
the  face  or  point  of  commencement  of  the  tunnel,  and  the  lines  ao 
marked  will  define  and  govern  as  to  the  specific  boundaries 
within  which  prospecting  for  lodes  not  previously  known  to  exist 
is  prohibited,  while  work  on  the  tunnel  is  being  prosecuted  with 
reasonable  diligence.    '  ^^>  "^'J*''  Qf  wtit  rKAHm.tw:^ 

■tor  nf>vi!:  ni  yJitotbi     g^^oKN  statements.    •  'J«'<''  '♦''  'J'  -^^ 

23.  At  the  time  of  posting  notice  and  marking  the  lines  of  the 
tunnel,  as  aforesaid,  a  full  and  correct  copy  of  such  notice  of 
location,  defining  the  tunnel  claim,  must  be  filed  for  record  with 
the  mining  recorder  of  the  district,  to  which  nol'ce  must  be 
attached  the  sworn  statement  or  declaration  of  the  owners, 
claimants  or  projectors  of  such  tunnel,  setting  forth  the  facts  in 
the  case,  stating  the  amount  expended  by  themselves  and  their 
predecessors  in  interest  in  prosecuting  work  thereon,  the  extent 
of  the  work  performed,  and  that  it  is  dona  fide  their  intention  to 
prosecute  work  on  the  tunnel  so  located  and  described  with 
reasonable  diligence  for  the  development  of  a  vein  or  lode,  or 
for  the  discovery  of  mines,  or  both,  as  the  case  may  be. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


<,l\t.\ 


34.  This  notice  of  location  must  be  duly  recorded,  and  with 
the  said  sworn  statement  attach^^,  kc;pt  op  the  recorder's  i^l^s 
for  future  reference.  t  •,  ,  . 

25.  By  a  compliance  with  the  foregoing,  much  needless 
difficulty  will  be  avoided,  and  the  way  for  the  adjustment  of 


1  «■> 


;i' 


If' 


.V 


>»» 


OUM    WKSTKRH   KMPtHt. 


a\ 


tejjal  ri^^litH  tkvt\\\\TrA  in  virtur  of  na\t\  fourth  section  of  the  act 
will  be  madr-miieh  more  easy  tml  certain.  '»■»»'♦*'  »».»*«»'j*iV(  i 
'■  a6.  Thi^  officr  will  takr  partitular  care  that  no  Improper 
advantage  in  taken  of  thin  proviiion  of  law  by  parties  making  or 
profeHHiojj  to  make  tunnel  location*!  ontennibly  for  the  purpofie 
named  in  the  Mtatute,  but  really  for  the  purpose  of  monopo- 
lizing the  land  lying  in  front  of  the-ir  tunnrh  to  the  detriment  of 
the  mining  intereitM  and  to  the  exclusion  of  ^//rt ////<•  prospectors 
or  miners ;  hut  will  hold  nuch  tunnel  claimants  to  a  strict  com- 
|riiant-e  with  the  terms  of  the  act ;  and  as  teitsomihU  liiHgnut  or 
their  part  in  prosecuting  the  work  is  one  of  the  essential  con- 
ations of  their  implied  contract,  negligence  or  want  of  due 
diligence  will  b''  construed  as  working  a  forfeiture  of  their  right 
to  all  undiscovered  veins  on  the  line  of  auch  tunnel. 

,    ,,    „r      J  ,  .    OOViaNMENT  TITLl  TO   VEIN   OR    LODE  CLAIMS.  jUli^Kytel-i 

37.  By  the  sixth  section  of  said  act,  authority  is  given  for 
granting  title  for  mines  by  patent  from  the  government,  to  any 
person,  association  or  corporation  having  the  necessary  qualifi- 
cations as  10  citizenship,  and  holding  the  right  of  possession  to  a 
claim  in  compliance  with  law. 


U  !  7f      «  M 


•  ii»  •  ^  «  *  I 


.i.>IJ! 


J   b'^fbniu: 


Correct  suRVEVti" 

^■.    .  ."i  .  '     i.  ,^.  .  ... 

,  28.  The  claimant  is  required  in  the  first  place  to  have  a  correct 
survey  of  his  claim  made  under  authority  of  the  Surveyor- 
General  of  the  State  or  Territory  in  which  the  claim  lies ;  such 
survey  to  show  with  accuracy  the  exterior  surface  boundaries  of 
the  claim,  which  boundaries  are  required  to  be  distinctly  marked 
t>y  monuments  on  the  ground. 


ft^rit    l*»5H  f 


^I'jfijrjiitif  ytu  TTJI 


fOSTINO  copy   OF   PLAT. 


29.  The  claimant  is  then  required  to  post  a  copy  of  the  plat 
of  such  Su.vey  in  a  conspicuous  place  upon  the  claim,  together 
with  the  notice  of  his  Intention  to  apply  for  a  patent  therefor, 
which  notice  will  give  the  date  of  posting,  the  nkme  of  the 
claimatit,  the  name  of  the  claim,  n^lne  or  lode,  the  mining  district 
or  county ;  Whether  the  location  is  of  record,  and  If  so,  where 


HMi.n  soras^MiOHfs  re  thm  MKmmUk 


'01 


an  of  the  act 

no  Improper 

PS  making  or 

the  piirpow 

>  of  monopo- 
(Irtrimrnt  of 

>  pronprrtorn 
a  strict  com- 

r  diHgfn€t  or. 
t*<tnrntial  con- 
want  of  due 
of  their  right 

is  given  for 
nmcnt,  to  any 
cssary  qualifi- 
osscssion  to  a 

lavc  a  correct 
;he  Surveyor- 
lim  lies;  such 
t)oundarics  of 
tinctly  marked 

)py  of  the  plat 
claim,  together 
atent  therefor, 
;  nkme  of  the 
mining  district 
d  If  so,  where 


the  record  may  U:  found,  the  number  of  feet  claimed  along 
tlM  vein,  and  the  prcMuninl  dircvtiun  ihcrt'ul ;  llic  number  of 
feet  tUintcd  cm  the  luilc-  in  lat-h  tlin.-t.iion  fium  thn  point  of 
diM.'ovi*ry.  or  other  wrli-defini*d  pUic  uu  Uie  cUim,  the  name  oc 
namcH  of  adjoining  claimantN  on  tlic  .amc  u**  other  ludca,  or  tf 
none  adjoin,  liic  namcn  ul  the  ntuitii  claun»,  etc. 


\'t: 


U<ii  ' 


11  iirAiliK  t  I   ^  '>fl 


rilLO  NOTRS. 


30.  After  |)Osting  the  aaid  plat  and  notice  upon  the  prcmi»ei^ 
the  claimant  will  file  with  the  proper  register  and  receiver  a  copy 
of  such  plat,  and  the  firld  nuten  of  nurvcy  uf  the  claim, 
accompanied  by  the  affidavit  of  ut  V-.A'M  two  crrdiUc  wiinoMHeN 
that  such  plat  and  notice  are  ^lo.sted  conspicuously  upon  thd 
claim,  giving  the  date  and  place  of  such  posting ;  a  copy  of  tho 
notice  so  posted  to  be  atiaclicd  to  and  form  a  part  of  suiil 
affidavit.  10  inrAirf^o";  t*>\\^iA  ■»'>rli«^  Voa.  1'»  •«. "^fh  v.f  (>.]:.,(  pm 


.»'irr.»rn»/»""ir|nii 


r>,      aiOHTS  TO  THE  rRBMises. 


.! 


^.*i.l^ 


31.  Attached  to  the  field  notes  so  filed,  must  be  the  swori 
statement  of  the  claimant  that  he  has  t!ic  posses,  y  right  to  th« 
premises  therein  described,  in  virtue  of  a  compliance  by  himself 
(and  by  his  grantors,  if  he  claims  by  purchase)  with  the  rninifl|0 
rules,  regulations  and  customs  of  the  mining  district,  State  or 
Territory  in  which  the  claim  lies,  and  with  the  mining  laws  of 
Congress ;  such  sworn  statement  to  narrate  briefly,  but  as  clearly 
as  possible,  the  facts  constituting  such  compliance,  the  origin  of 
his  possession,  and  the  basis  of  his  claim  to  a  patent.      .^  ,„.,  .,^i 

r.  SUPPORT  OP   APPIDAVIT. 

32.  Tliis  affidavit  should  be  supported  by  appropriate  evidence 
from  the  mining  recorder's  office,  as  to  his  possessor}'  right  as 
follows,  \\i. :  Where  he  claims  to  be  a  locator,  a  full,  true  and 
correct  copy  of  such  location  should  be  furnished,  as  the  same' 
appears  upon  the  mining  records ;  such  copy  to  b<:  attested 
by  t|)^  seal  of  the  recorder,  or,  if  he  has  no  seal,  then  he  should 
make  oath  to  the  same  being  correct,  as  shown  by  his  records. 
Where  the  applicant  claims  as  a  locator,  in  company  with  others, 
who  have  since  conveyed  their  interests  in  the  lode  to  him,  a  copy 

■ ....     ..,.•  .1     >  v/     - 


It 


Mwme»..- 


«MM|<«*>f>>M<l<)MM« 


*94 


i..\i\}k       OUR    WESTERV  EMPIRE.        <\.VMA 


of  the  original  record  of  location  should  be  filed,  together  with 
an  abstract  of  title  from  the  proper  recorder,  under  seal  or  oath 
as  aforesaid,  tracing  the  co-locator's  poss'^ssory  rights  in  the 
dftim,  to  such  applicant  for  patent.  Where  the  applicant  claims 
dnly  as  a  purchaser  for  valuable  consideration,  a  copy  of  the 
location  record  must  be  filed,  under  seal  or  upon  oath  as  afore- 
said, with  an  abstract  of  title  certrfied  as  above,  by  the  proper 
recorder,  tracing  the  right  of  possession  by  a  continuous  chain 
of  conveyances,  from  tl<e  original  locators  to  the  applicant. 

^*H,   .t  '  DESTRUCTION   OP   RECORDS.         ftlT  VJl^N'  ThH«    )q 

R'  33.  In  the  event  of  the  mining  records  in  any  case  having 
been  destroyed  by  fire  or  otherwise  lost,  affidavit  of  the  fact 
shduld  be  made,  and  sierondary  evidence  of  possessory  title  will 
ht  received,  which  may  consist  of  the  affidavit  of  the  claimant, 
supported  by  those  of  any  other  parties  cognizant  of  the  facts 
relative  to  his  location,  occupancy,  possession,  improvements, 
«Kc. ;  and  in  such  case  of  lost  records,  any  deeds,  certificates  of 
location  or  purchase,  or  other  evidence  which  may  be  in  the 
dkimant's  possession,  and  tend  to  establish  his  claim,  should  be 


;u 


PUBLISHING   NOTICE. 


■  .,    ■■■.:.  '..f, .•...,•.    .,./    , 


34.  Upon  the  receipt  of  these  papers  the  register  will,  at  the 
expense  of  the  claimant,  publish  a  notice  of  such  application  for 
dte  period  of  sixty  days,  in  a  newspaper  published  dearest  to 
the  claim,  and  will  post  a  copy  of  such  notice  in  his  office  for  the 
same  period. . 

WHAT  NOTICE   MUST   EMBRACE. 

'  '35.  The  notice  so  published  and  posted  must  be  as  full  and 
(:bmplete  as  possible,  arid  embrace  all  the  data  given  in  the 
.hBtice  pdsted  upon  the  claim. 

''36.  Tod  much  care  cannot  be  exercised  in  the  preparation  of 
th^se  hbtices^  Inasmuch  as  upon  their  accuracy  and'tpmpleteness 
Will  depend,  in  a  great  measure,  the  regularity  and  vkiidity  of  the 
W^ole  proceeding.  u/jx^ui-o 

.,  <  ..i   .  M   .   /    ^C.  FILING  ^fellTtMCATnE. 

^Sj'.^Tne  Claimant,  cither  at  the  time  of  filing  these  papers  with 


I'l-i  mamt^k* 


SUKVE  YOR  GENERAL'S  INSTRUCTIONS.^ ' 


295 


:ogethcr  with 
>  seal  or  oath 
rights  in  the 
)ticant  claims 
copy  of  the 
)ath  as  afore 
y  the  proper 
tinuous  chain 
)plicant.      i 

Mr  '  -'  ; 
r'case  having 
it  of  the  fact 
isory  title  will 
the  claimant, 
t  of  the  facts 
nprovements, 
certificates  of 
ay  be  in  the 
lim,  should  be 

■    '       .    I     ! 

ter  will,  at  the 
ipplication  for 
ed  riearest  to 
( office  for  the 


be  as  full  and 
given  in  the 

)reparation  of 
/bptiipleteness 
viiidityo^the 


*;  I  'I : 


se  papers 


ii(rith 


the  Register  or  at  any  time  during  the  sixty  days'  publication,  is 
required  to  file  a  certificate  of  the  Surveyor-General  that  not  less 
than  $500  worth  of  labor  has  been  expended  or  improvements 
made  upon  tlie  claim  by  the  applicant  or  hiis  grantors;  that  the 
plat  filed  by  the  applicant  is  correct ;  that  the  field  notes  of  the 
survey,  as  filed,  furnish  such  an  accurate  description  of  the  claim 
as  will,  if  incorporated  into  a  patent,  serve  to  fully  identify  the 
premises;  and  that  such  reference  is  made  therein  to  natural 
objects  or  permanent  monuments  as  will  perpetu<'te  and  fix  the 
/oats  thereof.  '**?'i  'i^i  ^  ^^-f+Mje'W/iyi^P  ,7W''i! 

GENERAL  INSTRUCTIONS   FROM   SURVEYOR-GENER/O,     . , 

38.  It  will  be  the  more  convenient  way  to  have  this  certificate 
indorsed  by  the  Surveyor-General,  both  upon  the  plat  and  field 
notes  of  the  survey  filed  by  the  claimant  as  aforesaid.  ,.,»*i»!   ^,  . , 

39.  After  the  period  of  sixty  days  of  newspaper  publication 
has  expired,  the  claimant  will  file  his  afifidavit,  showing  that  the 
plat  and  notice  aforesaid  remained  conspicuously  posted  upon 
the  claim  sought  tw  be  pati^nt^d,, during  s^id  sixty  days'  publi- 
cation.  ,,,      . ,  r.  t  .  .'■ .  ..1 

40.  Upon  the  filing  of  this  afifidavit  the  Register  will,  if  no  ad- 
verse claim  was  filed  in  his  ofifice  during  the  period  of  publication, 
permit  the  claimant  to  pay  for  the  land  according  to  the  area 
given  in  the  plat  and  field  notes  of  survey  aforesaid,  at  the  rate 
of  j(5  for  each  acre  and  $5  for  each  fractional  part  of  an  acre,  the 
Receiver  issuing  the  usual  duplicate  receipt  therefor ;  after  which 
the  whole  matter  will  be  forwarded  to  the  Commissioner  of  the 
General  Land  Office,  and  a  patent  issued  thereon  if  found 
regular.         •»  ,j  ..  _ r .,  ,  ,i<i-  o 

41.  In  sending  up  the  papers  in  the  case,  the  Register  must 
not  omit  certifying  to  the  fact  that  the  notice  was  posted  in  his 
ofiRce  for  the  full  period  of  sixty  days,  such  certificate  to  state  dis- 
tinctly when  such  posting  was  done,  and  how  long  continued. 

42.  The  consecutive  series  of  numbers  of  mineral  entries  must 
be  continued,  whether  the  same  are  of  lode  or  placer  claims. 

43.  The  Surveyor-General  must  continue  to- designate  all  sur- 
veyed mineral  qlaims,  as  heretofore,  by  a  progressive  series  of 
numbers,  beginning  with  lot  No>.  37  in  each  township;  the  claim 


M& 


'    ;,i 


(*> 


mmnmirM 


"••«• 


w*«««^*H»f 


396 


jj.,v,.s     OUK    IVESTEKN  BMP/JtE. 


\ 


to  be  SO  designated  at  date  of  filing  the  plat,  field  notes,  etc.,  in 
addition  to  the  local  designation  of  the  claim ;  it  being  required 
in  all  cases  that  the  plat  and  field  notes  of  the  survey  of  a  claim 
muft,  in  addition  to  the  reference  to  permanent  objects  in  the 
n<!Hghhorhood,  describe  the  iotus  of  the  claim  with  reference  to 
the  lined  of  public  surveys,  by  a  line  connecting  a  corner  of  a 
claim  with  the  nearest  public  corner  of  the  United  States  surveys, 
unless  said  claim  be  on  unsurveyed  land'j  at  a  remote  distance 
from  such  public  corner ;  in  which  latter  case  the  reference  by 
course  and  distance  to  permanent  objects  in  the  neighborhood 
will  be  a  sufficient  designation  by  which  to  fix  the  iocus  until  the 
public  survey  shall  have  been  closed  upon  its  boundaries. 

!    '  r  AOVtflSB  CLAIMS.  ' 

44.  The  seventh  section  of  the  act  provides  for  adverse  claims ; 
fixes  the  time  within  which  they  shall  be  filed  to  have  legal  effect 
and  prescribes  the  manner  of  their  adjustment.  '^ 

45.  Said  section  requires  that  the  adverse  claim  shall  be  filed 
during  the  period  of  publication  of  notice ;  that  it  must  be  on  the 
oath  of  the  adverse  claimant ;  and  that  it  must  show  the  nature, 
the  boundaries,  and  the  extent  of  the  adverse  claim. 

46.  In  order  that  this  section  of  law  may  be  properly  carried 
into  efTect,  the  following  is  communicated  for  the  information  of 
all,  concerned:  '^ 

47.  An  adverse  n^lnlng  claim  must  be  filed  with  the  Registei^ 
of.  the  same  Idhd  omce  y^ith  whom  the  application  for  patent  was 
filed,  or,  in  his  a,bs^nce,  with  the  Receiver,  and  within  the  sixty 
ddys*  period  of  newspaper  publication  of  notice. 

48.  The  adyers^  notice  must  be  duly  sworn  to  before  an  officer 
authorized  to  administer  oaths  wiihin  the  land  district,  or  before 
the  Register^  or  Receiver;  It  wljl  fiiljy  set  Forth  dj<f  'nature  and 
extent  of  the  Inteifferertp^  or  conflict;  whether  tHc:  adverse  party 
claims  as  a  purchaser:  fdr  a  valuable  consideratioti  ot-as  a  locator ; 
if  the  former,  the  original  conveyance,  pr  a  duly  certified  copy 
thereof,  should  be  furnished;  or  if  the  transaction  was  a  mere 
verbal  one,  he  Will  narrate^  the  9ircumstances"  attending  the  pur- 
cfa^e,  the  date  thereof,  and.  tlie  amount  pai^  which  facts  should 


>fMf«N*ir«naMiw- 


"fanjl^ 


m^ 


BOUA'n.lRiES  AND  KXTEi^f  »F  C/./t/MS. 


297 


lotcs,  etc.,  in 
ing  required 
;y  of  a  claim 
bjects  in  the 
reference  to 
corner  of  a 
ates  surveys, 
note  distance 
reference  by 
leighborhood 
9CUS  until  the 
laries. 


Iverse  claims; 
e  legal  effect, 

shall  be  filed 

lUst  be  on  the 

iw  the  nature, 

n. 

)perly  carried 

iformation  of 

the  Register 
or  patent  was 
thin  the  sixty 

fore  an  officer 
rict,  or  before 
Ifc'  'nature  and 
adverse  party 
i-  as  a  locator ; 
certified  copy 
1  was  a  mere 
iding  the  pur- 
h  facts  should 


be  supported  by  the  affidavit  of  one  or  more  witnesses,  if  any 
were  present  at  the  time ;  and  if  he  claims  as  a  locator,  he  must 
61e  a  duly  certified  copy  of  the  Ic  cation  from  the  office  of  the 
proper  recorder. 

BOUNDARIES   AND   EXTENT  OP  CLAIMS. 

49.  In  order  that  the  "boundaries"  and  "extent"  of  the  clain^ 
may  be  shown,  it  will  be  incumbent  upon  the  adverse  claimant  to 
file  a  plat  showing  his  claim  and  his  relative  situation  and  position 
with  the  one  against  which  he  claims,  so  that  the  extent  of  the 
conflict  may  b(!  the  better  understood,  This  plat  must  be  made 
from  an  actual  survey  by  a  United  States  deputy  surveyor,  who 
will  officially  certify  thereon  to  its  correctness ;  and  in  addition, 
there  must  be  attached  to  such  plat  of  survey  a  certificate  or 
sworn  statement  by  the  surveyor  as  to  the  approximate  value  of 
the  labor  performed  or  improvements  made  upon  the  cl?im  of 
the  adverse  party,  and.  the  plat  must  indicate  the  position  of  any 
shaits,  tunnels,  or  other  improvements,  if  any  sqch  exist,  upon  the: 
claim  of  the  pauty  opposing  the  application,     rtsjoiv  mrti^upw-iBii 

50.  Upon  the  fpregoing  being  Bled  within  the  sixty  days  as 
aforesaid,  the  Register,  or  in  his  absence  the  Receiver,  will  give 
notice  in  writing  to  both  parties  to  the  contest  that  such  adverse 
claim  has  been  filed,  informing  them  that  the  party  who  filed  the 
adverse  claim  will  be  required  within  thirty  days  from  the  date 
4>f  such  filing  to  commence  proceedings  in  a  court  of  competent 
jurisdiction,  to  determine  the  question  of  right  of  possessioni  apd 
to  prosecute  the  same  with' reasonable  diligence  to  final  judgment, 
and  that  should  such  adverse  claimant  fail  to  do  so,  his  adverse  > 
claim  will  be  considered  waived,  and  the  application  for  the  patent' 
be  allowed  to  proceed  upon  its  merits. 

51.  When  an  adverse  claim  is  filed  as  nforesaid,  the  Register  or 
Receiver  will  indorse  upon  the  same  the  precise-data  of  filing, 
and  preserve  a  record  of  the  date  of  notifications  issued  thereon  ;• 
and  thereafter  all  proceedings  on  the  application  for  patent  will 
be  suspended,  with  the  exception  of  the  completion  of  the  publi- 
cation and  posting  of  Notices  and  i^t,  and  the  filing  of  the  neces-' 
sary  proof  ther^,  uhtil  the  controversy  ^11  hsive  been  adjudl-> 
cated  in  court,  or  the  adverse  claim  waived  or  withdrawn.      '  -  ^" 


10^ 


■ip'  '■ 


m 


ttiii«»iasiattw»itttfMitid<tt#i^ 


'i|fllF'' 


A^'         OVJt    WESTERN  EMPIRE. '  'VA^Jt^* 


52.  Tlic  proceedings  after  rendition  of  judgment  by  the  court 
in  such  case,  are  »o  clearly  defined  by  the  act  itself  as  to  render 
it  unnecessary  to  enlarge  titereon  in  this  place.  C"'^  *  wvj 


PLACBR  CLAIMS. 


^  53.  The  tenth  section  of  the  act  under  consideration  provides : 
"  That  the  act  entitled  'An  act  to  amend  an  act  granting  the  right 
of  way  to  ditch  and  canal  owners  over  the  public  lands,  and  for 
other  purposes,'  approved  July  9.  1870,  shall  be  and  remain  in 
full  force,  except  as  10  the  proceedings  to  obtain  a  patent,  which 
shall  be  similar  to  the  proctfeJing  pi-escribed  by  section  six  and 
seven  of  this  act  for  obtaining  patents  for  vein  or  lode  cLums ; 
but  where  said  placer  claims  shall  be  upon  surveyed  lands  and 
conforhf:  to  legal  sub-idivisions,  no  further  survey  or  plat  shall  be 
required,  and  all  placer  mining  claims  hereafter  located  shall  con«  u 
fprxD,  as  nearly  as  practicable,  with  the  United  States  system  of  - 
public  l^nd  surveys  and  the  rectangular  sub-divisions  of  such 
surveys,  and  no  such  locations  shall  include  more, than  twenty 
acres  for  each  individual  claimant ;  but  where  placer  claims  can- 
not be  confornied  to  legal  sub-divisions,  survey  and  plat  shall  be 
made  as  on  unsurveyed  lands,"  etc. 

54.  The  proceedings  for  obtaining  patents  for  veins  or  lodes 
having  already  been  fully  given,. it  will  not  be  necessary  to  repeat 
them  here;  it  being  thought  that  careful  attention  thereto  by 
applicants  and  the  local  ofilkers  \<fill  enable  them  to  act  under- 
Standingly  in  the  matter^  and  make  such>  slight  modifications  in  t^ 
notice,  or  otherwise,  as!  may  beiilecessary  in  view  of  thie  different 
nature,  of  the.  two  classes  df  claims ;  plater  claims  being  fixed, 
however,  at  $2.50  per  acre,  or  fractional  part  of  an  acre. 

55.  The  twelfth  and  thirteenth  sections  of  said  act  of  July. 9, 
i,fi70,  read  as  follaws  f  vi'/b/.'^ 

56. ,  Jt  wJJJ  }^  observed  that  that  ppirtion  of  the  first  proviso  to 
the  sa|d  twelfth  section,  ivhlqh  reqqires  placer  claims  upon  sur- 
v^yt^  J^fifls  tO;q<)fifQr/n  tQ  jegfiV.siib-divisipns,  isj-el^t^d  ty  the 
p^qfuenti  statute  «rith;^4$gard  to  claims  h^retpfpre  locat<:(i  but  ^t 
where  syf)>  pj^ims  are;lo(jat^fl.pjrc{viojip  to  jhesm^v^y  and.Jfl^C.W 


i»i«n»u..---  w..i«.,^. 


ii.i. 


PLACER  CLAIMS.  '^^* 


299 


y  the  court 
s  to  render 

n  provides : 
ng  the  right 
ds,  and  for 
I  remain  in 
itent,  which 
Cion  six  and 
ode  cUiims ; 
1  lands  and 
>lat  shall  be 
;d  shall  con< 
s  system  of 
}ns  of  such 
than  twenty 
claims  can- 
slat  shall  be 

ins  or  lodes 
ry  to  repeat 
thereto  by 
3  act  under- 
ations  in  t^ 
thie  different 
being  fixed, 
Lcre. 
ct  of  July  9, 


jt  proviso  to 
s  upon  sur- 
l^t^d  by  the 
tfi4  but  that 

y  an4V<P!  mm?/ 


conform  to  legal  sub-divisions,  survey,  plat,  and  entry  thereof 
may  be  made  according  to  the  boundaries  fixed  by  local  rules, 
but  where  such  claims  fio  conform  to  legal  sub-divisions,  the  entry 
may  be  effected  according  to  such  legal  sub-divisions  without  the 
necessity  of  further  survey  or  plat. 

57.  In  the  second  proviso  to  said  twelfth  section,  authority  is 
given  for  the  sub-division  of  forty-acre  legal  sub-divisions  into 
ten-acre  lots,  which  is  intended  for  the  greater  convenience  of 
miners  in  segregating  their  claims  both  from  one  another  and 
from  intervening  agricultural  lands.   ••»»i*f#«   iliiWiw' *!n^  xU  •t,'-*" 

58.  It  is  held,  therefore,  that  under  a  proper  construction  of 
the  law,  these  ten-acre  lots  in  mining  districts  should  be  con- 
sidered and  dealt  with,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  legal  sub- 
divisions, and  that  an  applicant  having  a  legal  claim  which  con- 
forms to  one  or  more  of  these  ten-acre  lots,  either  adjoLiing  or 
cornering,  may  make  entry  thereof,  after  the  usual  proceedings, 
without  further  survey  or  plai/''"'^^     '   *•"■     •'I'it '<«  wij  r^.  !»«*» 

59.  In  cases  of  this  kind,  however,  the  notice  given  of  the 
application  must  be  very  specific  and  accurate  in  description,  and 
as  the  forty-acre  tracts  may  be  subdivided  into  ten-acn*  lots, 
eithi^r  in  the  form  of  ten  by  ten  chains  or  of  parallelograms,  five 
by  twenty  chains,  so  long  as  the  lines  are  parallel  and  at  right 
angles  with  the  lines  of  public  surveys,  it  will  be  necessary  that 
th^  notice  and  application  state  specifically  what  ten-acre  lots  are 
dought  to  be  patented,  in  addition  to  other  data  required  in  the 
liotice. 

'  60:  Where  the  ten-acre  subdivision  is  in  the  form  of  a  square, 
it  may  be  described,  for  instance,  as  the  "  S.  E.  %  of  the  S.  W. 
y^  of  the  N.  W.  %**  or  if  In  the'  form  of  a  parallelogram,  as 
Aforesaid,  it  may  be  described  as  the  "  W.  ]4  of  the  W.  ]4  of  the 
&  W.  ^  Of  the  N.  W.  %  (or,  the  N.  yi  of  the  S.  ^i  of  the  N. 
E.  J^  of  the  S.  E.  %)  of  section ,  township ,  range 


■>,"  and  as  the  case  may  be ;  but,  in  addition  to  this  de- 

skiription  of  the  land,  the  notice  must  give  all  the  other  data  that 

is  r^iiired  in  a  mirieia}  amplication  by  Which  parties  may  be  put 

<W4  iriqiiiry  as  tO  the  pk^rtitses  souj^ht  to  be  patented. 

6t.  IFhe  proceedings  necessaly  f6r  'the  Hdjus^ent  of  rights 


'M\ 


I    r 


mmmmmmmmmiim 


^vitsmmmUmmf.^. 


Soo 


OUK  W£sriiN:^  emp/re. 


where  a  known  vein  or  lode  is  embraced  by  a  placer  claim,  are 
so  clearly  dcfmed  in  the  eleventh  section  of  the  act  as  *.o  render 
any  particular  instructions  upon  that  point  at  this  time  un- 
necessary. 

62.  When  an  adverse  claim  is  filed  tp  a  placer  application, 
the  proceedings  are  the  same  as  in  the  case  of  vein  or  lode 
claims  already  described.  '.*f«^w!^  %rjil!f^l>^ 

QUANTITV  OP  PLACER  GROUND  SUBJECT  TO  LOCATIOW. 

63.  By  the  twelfth  section  of  the  said  amendatory  act  of  July- 
9,  1870,  (third  proviso,)  it  is  declared  "that  no  location  of  a 
placer  claim  hereafter  made  shall  exceed  1 60  acres  for  any  on« 
person  or  association  of  persons*  whuch  location  shall  conforrn  t^. 
the  United  States  surveys,"  etc.  ;  ,.,.  41) 

64.  The  tenth  section  of  the  act  of  May  lo,  1872,  provides 
that  "  all  placer  mining  claims  hereafter  located  shall  conforn),  as 
near  as  practicable,  with  the  United  States  system  of  public  li^nd 
surveys,  and  the  rectangular  subdivisions  of  such  surveys ;  and 
no  such  locations  shall  include  more  than  twenty  acres  for  eaoj^ 
individual  claimant."  .>y, 

65.  The  fore;;oing  provisions  of  lavy  ^re  construed  to  menp, 
that  ?ifter  the  9th  day  of  July,  1870,  no  location  of  a  placer  clain]k[ 
call  be  made  to  exceed  1  (5o  acres,  whatever  may  be.  the  oumb^ 
of  Jpcators  dissociated  together,  or  whatever  the  local  regulatioi^. 
of  ^Q  district  may  allow ;  and  th^t  frpin  and  after  the  passage 
of  said  act  of  May  10,  1872,  no  location  made  by  an  individual 
can  exceed  twenty  acres,  and  no  location  made  by  an  iMssocia- 
tipp  of  individual?  can  excepd  \()f>  a?re^.  which  locs^ion  of  169, 
acres  cannot)  6^  made  by  a  less  number  than  4^  bma  fide 
locators,  but  that  whether  as  much  as  twenty  acres  can  be  located 
byan  individual,  or  160  acres  by  an  associatioii.  depends  entirely, 
uppn  the  mining  regulations  in  force  in  th^  respective  dUtncOi 
at  the  date  of  the  location  ;  it  being  held  that  such  mining  regu^ 
If^tipns  axe  in  no  way  enlarged  by  said  acts  of  Congress,  but 
iiei^ain  mts^ct  ^nd  in  fuU  force  with  regard  to  the  $i2e  of  locs^i 
tions,  in  so  f^r  »9  th^y  do  not  permit  Ippations  in  eajce^s  of  thft> 
Ijui^  fixed  l^  Cpjigfessi  bijit  th*|  where  9u<;h  regulation?; permit 


ikHewMw«ttMR<b "' 


""**^'''^^M^-^ 


.  -»..  ■-■•  "ijuiK  m^ 


MAKING  PROOF  OP  PLACER  CLAIMS. 


301 


:cr  claim,  are 
{  as  ^o  render 
his  time   un- 

r  application, 
vein  or  lode 

TION. 

ry  act  of  Jwjjn 
location  of  a 
s  for  any  on% 
ill  conforrn  tQ: 

872,  provide*} 
,11  conforn),  a% 
of  public  ls^i|i4 
surveys;  and 

icreft  )f<wr  fS((^. 

'ued  to  meap> 
a  placer  clairnf 
e.the  punib^, 
al  regulatioi^ 
r  the  passag<^; 

an  individual] 
by  an  associa* 
tcation  of  i69r 
g^jt  b<ma  fiiU 
lasi  be  locate^ 
pends  entir^ljg 
ctive  dUtnctEf 

mining  regu^^ 
Congress,  bu$ 
:  $iae  Qf  locsM'I 

e](ce^s  of  thi^ 
lationp;  permit 


kycattoni  fn  excess  of  the  maximums  fixed  by  Congress  as  afore- 
said, they  are  restricted  accordingly.  '•     .  r.  

66.  The  regulations  hereinbefore  given  is  to  the  manner  of 
making  locations  oa  the  ground,  and  placing  the  same  on  record, 
Inust  be  observed  in  the  case  of  placer  locations,  so  far  as  the 
Mme  are  applicable ;  the  law  requiring,  however,  that  where 
placer  claims  are  upon  surveyed  public  lands,  the  locations  must 
hereafter  be  made  to  conform  to  legal  subdivisions  thereof. 
'  67.  With  regard  to  the  proofs  necessary  to  establish  the  pos- 
sessory right  to  a  placer  claim,  the  said  thirteenth  section  of  the 
act  of  July  9,  1870.  pr<!yvides  that  *'  where  said  person  or  associa- 
tion, they  and  tlieir  grantors,  shall  have  held  and  worked  their 
said  claims  for  a  period  equal  to  the  time  prescribed  by  the 
statute  of  limitations  for  mining  claims  for  the  State  or  Territory 
where  the  sattie  may  be  situated,  evidence  of  such  possession 
Afid  W6rkli^  of  the  claims  for  such  period  shall  be  sufficient  to 
'tttatblish  a  l-ight  to  a  patent  thereto  under  this  act,  in  the  absence 
Off  any  adverse  claim." 

68.  This  pi^ovision  of  law  will  greatly  lesseti  the  burden  of 
jproof,  more  especially  in  the  case  of  old  claims  located  many 
years  since,  the  records  of  which  in  many  cases  have  been  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  or  lost  in  other  ways  during  the  lapse  of  time, 
but  concerning  the  possessory  right  to  which  all  controversy  or 
Htigation  had  long  been  settled.  ■■u\  . 

69.  When  an  applicant  desires  to  makte'^hibT  6f'j)di^$es*rbiy 
'Hght  in  accordance  with  this  provision  of  law,  you  will  not  re- 
<)tiire  him  to  produce  evidence  of  location,  (;opies  of  conveyance. 
"dr  abstracts  of  title,  as  in  other  cases,  but  will  require  him  to  fur- 
Wsh  a  duly  certified  copy  of  the  statute  of  limitations  for  mining 
claims  for  the  State  or  Territory,  together  with  hiis  swdrn  state- 
Tttfeht,  glVihg  a  clear  and  sueclhct  narration  of  the  facts  as  to  the 
origin  of  his  title,  and  likewise  as  t6  the  continuation  of  his  pos- 
session of  the  mining  ground  covered  by  this  application ;  the 
kfea  thttWeof  5  th6  hatut«  and  iftktent  of  the  mining  that  has  been 
ddftfc  thiWWftr^httheftfitei-Alias  been  iny opposition  to  his  pos- 
-sessiott  i«W-  lit^itSdh  with'Tegard  to  his  da*im,  and'  if  s6,  when  'the 
«8ame  ceased;  whether  siieh  cessation  was  caused  by  compromise 


xttimmnma 


ifiiifli'iMiimiMiihi 


J02 


7  V,> 


ocK  n'nsriiXiV  nMrtRg. 


or  by  jurlicial  decree ;  an«J  any  aUiliticnal  facts,  within  the  clai^^ 
ant's  knowledge,  having  a  direct  bearing  upon  his  poHHosiiion 
and  bona  fidts  which  he  may  desire  to  submit  in  sii^ipurt  of 
his  claim.  ,,t;.    •   \  »;      w   ■.,  .  i    i; 

70.  There  should  likewise  be  filed  a  certificate  under  seal  of 
tlic  court  having  jurisdiction  of  mining  cases  within  the  judicial 
district  embracing  the  claim,  that  no  suit  or  action  of  ni  char- 
acter whatever,  involving  the  right  of  possession  to  any  portion 
ol  the  claim  applied  for  is  pending,  and  tliat  there  has  been  no 
liti^'ation  before  said  court  affecting  the  title  to  said  claim  or  any 
part  thereof,  for  a  period  equal  to  the  time  fixed  by  the  statute 
of  limitations  for  mining  claims  in  the  State  or  Territory  as  afore- 
said, other  than  tl  at  which  has  been  finally  decided  in  favor  of 
the  claimant. 

71.  The  claimant  should  support  his  narrative  of  facts  relative 
to  his  possession,  occupancy,  and  ifnprovements,  by  corroboi'a- 
tive  testimony  of  any  disinterested  person  or  persons  of  credi- 
bility, who  may  be  cognizant  of  the  facts  in  the  i^ase,  and  are 
capable  of  testifying  understandingly  in  the  premises. 

72.  It  will  be  to  the  advantage  of  claimants  to  make  their 
proofs  as  full  and  complete  as  practicable.  ,  ;  ,...,,, 

DEPUTY  SURVEYORS — CHARGES — FEES  OP   REGISTERS  AND  RECEIVERS.  ETC. 

73.  The  twelfth  section  of  the  said  act  of  May  10,  1S73,  pro- 
vides for  the  appointment  of  surveyors  of  mineral  claims,  author- 
izes the  Commissioner  of  the  General  Land  Office  to  establish 
the  rates  to  be  charged  for  surveys  and  for  newspaper  publics^- 
tions,  prescribes  the  fees  allowed  to  the  local  officers  for  receiv- 
ing and  acting  upon  applications  for  mining  patents  and  fof 
adverse  claims  thereto,  etc. 

74.  The  Surveyor-General  of  the  several  districts  will,  in  pur- 
suance of  said  law,  appoint  in  each  land  district  as  many  .compe- 
tent deputies  for  the  survey  of  mining  claims  as  may  seek  such 
appointment ;  it  being  distinctly  understood  that  |ill  expenses  of 
these  notices  and  surveys,  are  to  be  boi<ne  by  the  inini^ ;  claim- 
ants, and  not  by  the  United  States ;  ,the  aystem  of  makjpg  de- 
posits for  mineral  surveys,  as  required  by  previous  instructioQlt 


r.T»aiBaa 


SnMMHMMllMiaiiliiliMhiii 


DEPUTY  SUHy a  YO/fS  ANl>   WP.IK  DUT/KS. 


lin  the  claim- 
it  poHM!H»ion 
1  ftii^i('urt  of 

inder  seal  of 

1  the  judicial 

of  ail    char- 

0  any  portion 
has  been  no 

1  claim  or  any 
[)y  the  statute 
itory  as  afore- 
d  io  favor  of 

'  facts  relative 
by  corrobora- 
K>ns  of  credi- 
case,  and  are 
les. 

p  make  th^if 

«)    V<{      *.   •/    Mir! 

RBCBivtRs,  rrc. 

IO,  1873,  prp- 
:laiins,  author- 
ce  to  establis|i 
)aper  publicac 
crs  for  receiv,- 
tents  and  for 

nth  tiji  anu&lj 
;ts  will,  in  pur* 
i  many  .compe- 
may  $eek  such 
.11  expenses  of 
ntini^  claim- 
df  making  dd- 
is  instructions* 


m^ 


being  hereby  revoked  as  regards  fuild  work,  the  claimant  having 
the  option  of  employing  any  deputy  surveyor  within  such  district 
to  do  his  work  in  the  field.  ,    i;;t;»«tiw 

75.  Witiiout  regard  to  the  pfafiitt/r  of  the  claim  arid  other 
office  tvark  in  the  Survcyor-Cicnerars  orficc,  that  officer  will  make 
an  estimate  of  the  cost  thereof,  which  .iniount  the  claimant  will 
deposit  with  any  Assistant  United  States  Treasurer,  or  desig- 
nated depositary,  in  favor  of  the  United  States  Treasurer,  to  be 
passed  to  the  credit  of  the  fund  created  by  "  individual  deposi- 
tors for  surveys  of  the  public  lands."  and  file  with  the  Surveyor- 
General  duplicate  certificates  of  such  deposit,  in  the  usual 
manner. 

76.  The  Surveyor-General  will  endeavor  to  appoint  mineral 
deputy  surveyors  as  rapidly  as  possible,  so  that  one  or  more 
may  b»^  located  in  each  mining  district,  for  the  greater  conven- 
ience of  miners.     41.10  h;i:»tit«(  I  jiiffi' 

,  77.  The  usual  oath  will  be  required  of  these  deputies  and 
their  assistants  as  to  the  correctness  of  each  survey  executed 
by  them. 

^  78.  The  law  requires  that  each  applicant  shall  file  with  the 
Register  and  Receiver  a  sworn  statement  of  all  charges  and  fees 
paid  by  him  for  publication  of  notice  and  for  survey,  together 
with  all  fees  and  moneys  paid  the  Register  and  Receiver,  which 
sworn  statement  is  required  to  be  transmitted  to  this  office,  for 
the  information  of  the  Commissioner.  1     una  1  n 

79.  Should  it  appear  that  exccisive  or  exorbitant  charges  have 
been  made  by  any  surveyor  or  any  publisher,  prompt  action  will 
be  taken  with  the  view  of  correcting  the  abuse. 

80.  The  fees  payable  to  the  Register  and  Receiver,  for  filing 
and  acting  upon  applications  for  mineral  land  patents,  made 
under  said  act  of  May  10,  1872,  are  five  dollars  to  each  officer, 
to  be  paid  by  the  applicant  for  patent  at  the  time  of  filing,  and 
the  like  sum  of  five  dollars  is  payable  to  each  officer  by  an 
adverse  claimant  at  the  time  of  filing  his  adverse  claim. 

*     81.  All  fees  or  charges  under  this  act,  or  the  acts  of  which  it 
is  amendatory,  may  be  paid  in  United  States  currency. 
82.  The  Register  and   Receiver  will,  at  the  close  of  each 


■.» 


•.•i'l 


nmm 


■MM 


|04 


i*\.  "-V    OVM    WMSTRKN  JtM^/MM.'^^"^^^     , 


month,  forward  to  thin  office  an  abstract  of  mining;  applications 
filed,  and  a  register  of  receipts,  accompanied  with  an  abstract  of 
mineral  lands  sold.  ••    "•  ••'  "'*>"  -  •  "-  ■" 

83.  The  fees  and  purchase-money  received  t)y  Rejj^sferi  and 
Receivers  must  lie  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  United  Statrn  in 
the  Receiver's  monthly  and  quarterly  account,  ohargfinj;  up  in 
the  disbursing  account  the  sums  to  which  the  Register  and 
Receiver  may  be  respectively  entitled  as  fees  and  commissions, 
with  limitations  in  regard  to  the  legal  maximum. 
«.»84.  The  thirteenth  section  of  the  said  act  of  May  10,  1872, 
provides  that  all  aAidavits  required  under  said  act,  or  the  act  of 
which  it  is  amendatory,  may  be  verified  before  awy  officer 
authorized  to  administer  oaths  within  the  land  district  where  the 
claims  may  be  situated,  in  which  case  they  will  have  the  same 
force  and  effe'  t  as  if  taken  before  the  Register  or  Receiver,  and 
that  in  cases  of  contest  as  to  the  mineral  or  agricultural  character 
of  land,  the  testimony  and  proofs  may  be  taken  before  any  such 
officer  on  personal  notice  of  at  least  ten  days  to  the  opposing 
party,  or,  if  said  party  cannot  be  found,  then,  after  publication  of 
notice  for  at  least  once  a  week  for  thirty  days,  in  a  newspaper  to 
be  designated  by  the  Register  as  published  nearest  to  the  location 
of  auck  land,  proof  of  such  notice  must  be  made  to  the  Register. 

85.  The  instruotioRs  heretofore  issued  with  regard  to  disprove 
ing  the  mineral  chamoter  of  lands,  are  accordingly  modified  so 
as  to  allow  proof  upon  Ma/  /ww/  to  be  taken  before  any  officer 
authorized  to  administer  oaths  within  the  land  district,  and  that 
where  the  residence  of  the  parties  who  claim  the  land  to  be 
mineral  is  known,  such  evidence  may  be  taken  without  publica- 
tion, ten  days  after  the  mineral  claimants  or  affiants  shall  have 
boen  personally  notified  of  the  time  and  pbce  of  such  hearing ; 
but  in  cases  where  such  affiants  or  claimants  cannot  be  iierved 
with  personal  notice,  or  where  the  land  applied  for  is  returned 
as  mineral  upon  the  township  plat,  or  where  the  same  is  now  or 
may  hereafter  be  suspended  for  non-mineral  proof,  by  order  of 
this  office,  then  the  party  who  daims  the  rig'bt  to  enter  the  land 
as  agricultural  will  be  required,  at  liis  own  ewp^nse,  to  publish  a 
notice  once  each  week  for  five  consecutive  weeks  4n  the  news- 


■JA^'*''>"iai>**^*»*^«***'"''*''''^*'^'-'*'«^»*'  "-■*■ 


^(**|.'^A*V,-i/-  ,iw,.. 


mmm 


applications 
I  abstract  of 

rfjiJifers  and 
nl  SiatcH  in 
irjjinjj  up  in 
Legistcr  and 
:ommissiont, 
*■ 
lay  lo,  187J, 
or  the  act  of 
any  officer 
ict  where  the 
ve  tlic  Mmc 
Receiver,  and 
iral  character 
ore  any  such 
the  opposing 
lublication  of 
lewspaper  to 
J  the  location 
the  Register, 
d  to  disprov- 
f  modified  so 
■e  iny  officer 
rict.  and  that 
e  land  to  be 
tout  publica- 
ts  shall  have 
mch  hearing ; 
ot  be  Served 
>r  is  returned 
me  is  now  or 
",  by  order  of 
nter  the  land 
I,  to  publish  a 
4n  the  n«w8- 


paper  of  largest  circulation  published  in  the  county  in  which  said 
land  is  MJtuntrd ;  or,  if  no  newspaper  is  published  witiiin  such 
county,  thrn  in  a  n(*WH|>aprr  published  in  an  adjoining  county, 
thn  nrwnpaprr  in  either  case  to  be  designated  by  the  Kcgister, 
which  notice  muHl  be  clear  and  specific,  embracing  the  poinia 
recpiired  in  noticen  under  instructions  from  this  olfice,  of  March 
30,  1873,  nnd  muNt  name  a  day  after  the  last  day  of  publication 
of  said  notice,  when  testimony  as  to  the  character  of  the  land 
will  be  taken,  stating  before  what  magistrate  or  other  officer 
such  hearing  will  be  liad,  and  the  place  of  such  hearing. 


fff^  I  I  i*i<'i 


MILL-BITRS. 


......I 


86.  The  fifteenth  section  of  said  act  provides,  "That  where 
non-mineral  land,  not  contiguous  to  the  vein  or  lode,  is  used  or 
occupied  by  the  proprietor  of  such  vein  or  lode  for  mining  or 
milling  purposes,  such  non-adjacent  surface-ground  may  be 
embraced  and  included  in  an  application  for  a  patent  for  such 
vein  or  lode,  and  the  same  may  be  patented  therewith,  subject 
to  the  same  preliminary  requirements  as  to  survey  and  notice  as 
arc  applicable  under  this  act  to  veins  or  lodes :  Pravidtd,  That 
no  location  hereafter  made  of  such  non-adjacent  land  shall  ex- 
ceed five  acres,  and  payment  for  the  same  must  be  made  at  the 
same  rate  as  fixed  by  this  act  for  the  super6ces  of  the  lode. 
The  owner  of  the  quartz-mill  or  reduction  works,  not  owning  a 
mine  in  connection  therewith,  may  also  receive  a  patent  for  his 
mill-site  as  provided  in  this  section. 

87.  To  avail  themselves  of  this  provision  of  law,  parties  hold- 
ing the  possessory  right  to  a  vein  or  lode,  and  to  a  piece  of  land 
not  contiguous  thereto,  for  mining  or  milling  purposes,  not  ex< 
ceeding  the  quantity  allowed  for  such  purposes  by  the  k^cal 
rules,  regulations  or  customs,  the  proprietors  of  such  vein  or 
lode  may  file  in  the  proper  land  office  their  application  for  a 
patent,  under  oath,  in  manner  already  set  forth  herein,  which 
application,  together  with  the  plat  and  field  notes,  may  include, 
embrace  and  describe,  in  addition  tQ  the  vein  or  lode,  sm:h  non- 
contiguous mill-site ;  and  after  due  proceeding  as  to  notice,  etc., 
a  patent  will  be  issued  conveying  the  same  as  one  claim.      ''vm4>, 


P**'!^ 


i 


||0  OVK   WMarHKM  MMrtMK. 

88.  In  making  the  nurvcy  in  a  case  of  thU  kind,  the  loA 
ihotiUt  tx?  tlcttcrilKHl  in  tiu*  plat  an<l  field  notm  an  "  i.ot  No.  37, 
A."  and  ihc  mill-Hiic  an  "  1. 01  No.  ^y,  H."  or  whatrvrr  may  Iw  its 
appropriate  numerical  dcni){nation  :  the  con mt*  and  dintancr  from 
-^  a  corner  of  the  mill  site  to  n  cornrr  of  ilte  lode  claim  to  t)c  in- 
variably given  in  Huch  plat  and  field  notrn,  an<l  a  copy  of  tlx* 
plat  and  notice  of  application  for  patent  miiHt  Ik*  conspiciiouiily 
poHted  upon  the  mill  site  an  well  as  u|K»n  the  vein  or  Knle  for  the 
•tatutory  period  of  sixty  dayn.  In  ms.kin^  the  entry,  no  separate 
receipt  or  certificate  need  b<!  innued  for  the  mitl-Hite,  but  tli<' 
whole  area  of  Imth  lode  and  mill  site  will  be  embrn(«*d  in  one 
entry,  the  price  beinj^  ■fjs^  for  each  acre  and  fractional  part  of  an 
acre  embraced  by  such  lode  and  mill-Hite  claim. 
i.  89.  In  cane  the  owner  r>f  a  quartz  mill  or  reduction  works  is 
not  the  owner  or  claimant  of  a  vein  or  Icxle,  tht;  law  permits  him 
to  make  application  therefor  in  the  same  manner  prescribed 
herein  for  mining  ciaimH,  and  after  due  notice  and  proceedings, 
in  the  absence  of  a  valid  adverse  filing,  to  enter  and  receive  a 
.patent  for  the  mill-site  at  said  price  per  acre. 
V  90,  In  every  case  there  must  be  satisfactory  proof  that  the 
land  claimed  as  a  mill-site  is  not  mineral  in  cliaracter.  which 
proof  may,  where  ihe  matter  is  unquestioned,  consist  of  the 
•worn  statement  of  the  claimant,  supported  by  that  of  one  or 
more  disinterested  persons  capable  from  acquaintance  with  the 
land  to  testify  understandingly. 

91.  The  law  expressly  limits  milUsite  locations  made  from  and 
after  its  passage  to  five  acres,  but  whether  so  much  as  that  can 
be  located  depends  upon  the  local  customs,  rules  or  regulations. 

93.  The  Registers  and  Receivers  will  preserve  an  unbroken 
e^ consecutive  series  of  numbers  for  all  mineral  entries. 


,J:J 


PROOF  OP  CrriZBNSIIIP  OP   MINING    CLAIMANTS. 


93.  The  proof  necessary  to  establish  the  citizenship  of  appli- 
cants for  mining  patents,  whether  under  the  present  or  past 
enactments,  it  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  seventh  srction 
of  the  act  under  consideration,  may  consist,  in  the  case  of  an  in- 
dividual claimant,  of  his  own  affidavit  of  the  fact ;  in  the  case  of 


I. 


limmMiitm 


MT4TM  AM  OTH^It  LO€AL   M/NtffC  LAWH. 


P7 


the  lotle  cloim 

\ "  Lot  No.  37. 
vcr  may  Ik?  it^ 

tliHiantf  from 
claim  to  \tc  in- 
a  copy  of  tlu' 

canH|)iciioii!»ly 
or  UkU;  for  th«' 
ry,  no  nrparat** 
ill-siU!,  but  thf 
ihracoil  in  onr 
jnal  |>art  of  an 

irtion  works  is 
i\v  pcrn)its  Itim 
ner  prrscribt'tl 
id  procc'cilinj{», 
and  receive  a 

proof  that  th<; 
uiractcr,  which 

consist  of  the 
that  of  one  or 
ntance  with  the 

made  from  and 
uch  aH  that  can 
or  re^^ulations. 
e  an  unbroken 
rics. 

■  1 

NTS. 

:nship  of  appli- 
}resent  or  past 
seventh  srction 
e  case  of  an  in- 
in  the  case  of 


■fl  MMciation  of  persons  not  incorporated,  of  thr  afTuIavit  of 
their  authorized  ai^ent,  made  on  hii  own  knowlrd|{e  or  upon  in 
formation  ami  Ixlicf  that  tix!  Nevi.ral  members  of  said  aHNociation 
arc  (iti/t'n!«:  and  in  the  case  of  at)  incorporated  company,  or){an- 
izeil  iMxlcr  the  laws  of  the  United  Staler,  or  the  lawn  of  any 
State  or  Territory  of  the  United  States,  by  the  filing;  of  a  certi- 
fied copy  of  their  charter  or  certificate  of  incorporation. 
•  94.  These  affidavits  of  citizenship  may  be  taken  before  the 
Register  or  Receiver,  or  any  other  officer  authorized  to  aihninis- 
ter  oaths  within  the  district.  <  ■  ■ 


STATK   AND   OTMKN    l.OCAI.    MININa    LAWS. 

Repcattrd  alhisions  are  made  in  these  mining;  laws  and  rules  of 
the  Uniteil  States  Government,  lo  the  State  and  other  local  Uww 
and  re(;ulationH,  as  restricting',  or  otherwine  mo<tifyin^^  the  action 
of  the  United  States  laws.  With  the  chan}.;eH  which  have  b<:en 
made  in  the  ^o\  eminent  laws  within  the  last  six  or  eight  years, 
and  the  perfection  they  have  r«a(  ImiI  throuj^h  careful  observation 
of  their  action,  tiiere  is  far  U-sh  n«(  essity  for  these  local  laws  than 
there  was,  a  few  years  a^o,  and  wc  cannot  learn  that  in  Utah. 
Montana,  or  the  lUack  Hills,  any  such  laws  or  rules  have  been 
established.  In  California,  and  in  Nevada,  almost  every  county 
or  mining  district  had  its  own  mining  laws ;  Nevada  had  also  n 
State  law,  but  California  did  not.  Oregon.  Idaho,  Colorado, 
New  Mexico,  and  Arizona,  have  their  State  or  Territorial  laws, 
the  last  named  Territory,  from  its  peculiar  situation,  having  a 
somewhat  lengthy  code.  We  give  below  these  State,  Territorial, 
and  District  laws,  so  far  as  they  are  to  be  obtained,  ar  they  are 
of  great  importance  to  the  mine-owners,  and  those  who  are 
intending  to  purchase  mining  property.ic"^  Jjeix-ivfti  m  };hv  *,  v-.i 

STATUTE   OF    NEVAPA    (ONCEUNINO    MINING    CLAIM.S. 


J: 


The  following  are  the  main  sections  of  a  statute  of  the  State 
of  Nevada  approved  February  37,  1866: 

SEcrioN  I.  Any  six  or  more  persons  who  are  males  of 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years  and  upwards,  holding  mining 
claims  in  any  mining  district,  or  who  hold  mineral  lands  not 


^1 


V' 


'I 


i 


I 


j08  .4H*Ai       OVk    WESTERN  EMPIRE.      \VV 

within  the  boundaries  of  any  established  mining  district,  may 
form  a  new  mining  district  embracing  said  claims,  at  a  meeting 
of  such  persons  to  be  called  by  posting  for  five  days  in  at  least 
five  conspicuous  places  within  the  limits  of  such  proposed  new 
district,  notices  in  writing  stating  the  place  and  time  for  holding 
such  meeting,  describing  as  near  as  may  be  the  limits  of  such 
proposed  new  d^trict,  and  signed  by  not  less  than  five  of  such 
persons.    At  said  meeting  all  males  of  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years  and  upward  holding  mining  claims,  or  any  interest  therein, 
within  said  limits,  may  vote,  and  by  a  majority  vote  determine 
whether  said  new  mining  district  shall  be  established,  and  its 
boundaries,  which  shall  be  within  the  limits  named  in  said  notices ; 
and  thereafter  the  persons  so  qualified  and  holding  mining  claims 
in  such  newly  established  district  stiall  proceed  to  select  a  name 
therefor  and  elect  a  district  recorder,  who  shall  be  qualified  as 
aforesaid.     He  shall  perform  all  the  duties  required  of  him  by 
law,  and  shall,  within  thirty  days  after  qualifying,  file  and  record 
in  his  office  a  record  of  the  proceedings  of  said  meeting.     No 
district  formed  under  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall  be  divided 
by  any  county  line.     Mining  districts  now  existing  may  be  con- 
tinued. '■* 
Sec.  22.  On  vT.d-  after  the  second  Saturday  of  July,  1866,  all 
locations  of  mining  claims  shall  be  made  in  the  following  manner : 
On  a  monument  not  less  than  three  feet  high,  firmly  established 
in  a  conspicuous  place  on  tlie  claim,  there  shall  be  placed  a 
plainly-written   notice  embracing  a  description  of  the  ground 
claimed,  the  date  of  location,  the  name  of  the  claim,  the  name 
of  the  company,  and  the  names  of  the  locators,  with  the  number 
of  feet  claimed  by  each,  and  a  copy  of  said  notice,  accompanied 
by  a  v/ritten  request  for  a  survey  of  said  claim  by  the  district 
recorder,  shall,  within  thirty  days  after  the  making  of  such  loca- 
tion, be  filed  in  the  office  of  the  district  recorder  of  the  district 
in  which  said  claim  is  located ;  and  in  case  there  be  no  legally 
ar'Miorized  district  recorder  in  and  for  the  district,  or  the  claim  be 
outside  of  the  limits  of  an  organized  mining  district,  then,  and  in 
that  cas?,  said  notice  may  be  filed  in  the  office  of  the  county 
recorder  of  the  county  in  which  said  clatm  is  located ;  and  a 


NRVADA  Hist  NO  LAWS. 


309 


district,  may 
at  a  meeting 
ys  in  at  least 
proposed  new 
le  for  holding 
limit!:  of  such 
n  five  of  such 
of  twenty-one 
terest  therein, 
ote  determine 
lished,  and  its 
n  said  notices ; 
mining  claims 
select  a  name 
be  qualified  as 
red  of  him  by 
file  and  record 
meeting.     No 
lall  be  divided 
J  may  be  con- 
July,  1866,  all 
)wing  manner : 
nly  established 
1  be  placed  a 
)f  the  ground 
aim,  the  name 
ith  the  number 
:,  accompanied 
hy  the  district 
\  of  such  loca- 
•  of  the  district 
be  no  legally 
or  the  claim  be 
ct,  then,  and  in 
of  the  county 
Qcated;  and  a 


written  request  for  a  survey  by  ilie  county  surveyor  shall  be 
served  upon  the  county  surveyor  within  a  reasonable  time  there- 
after; the  county  surveyor,  or  his  deputy,  shall  perform  all  the 
duties  required  of  a  district  recorder  by  the  provisions  of  this 
act.  He  shall  keep  a  record  of  all  his  transactions  in  such  cases, 
and  for  such  services  he  may  charge  and  receive  the  same  fees 
allowed  by  law  for  his  services  in  like  cases.  Within  thirty  days 
after  the  making  of  such  location  there  shall  be  done  on  said 
claim,  as  assessment  work,  to  hold  the  same  up  to  and  including 
the  day  preceding  the  first  Saturday  of  the  then  following^ 
August,,  excavation  involving  the  removal  of  fifty  cubic  feet  of 
earth  or  loose  material,  or  five  cubic  feet  of  solid  roc!:,  for  each 
two  hundred  feet  in  the  claim ;  and,  as  soon  as  may  be  thereafter, 
said  district  recorder  shall  survey  the  same  and  record  the  notice 
of  survey  as  provided  in  section  14  of  this  act ;  and  said  district 
recorder  shall  file  and  record  a  certificate  in  regard  to  the  assess- 
ment work,  which  shkll  be  substantially  in  the  following  form :    f 


DISTRICT* ' 


COUNTY,.  NBVAItiV»- 


lliis  is  to  certify  tnat  on  the 
■  coknpany,  surveyed  on 


DAX  OF 


MONTH  OF  YSAR. 


claim  governed  by  the 

-  date,  there  has  teen  done 

by  6r  on  behalf  of  said  company  sufficient  work  to  hold  said 

claiiti  up  to  the  first  Saturday  of  August  next. 

,  District  Recorder.  ., 

Sec.  23.  Any  person  m^^y  locate  minrng  claims  in  &vor  of 
others,  but  no  person  shall  be  entitled  to  hold  by  location  more 
tinati  tw6  hundred  feet  of  any  one  ledge,  except  by  virttie  of  discov- 
ery of  the  same,  for  which  he  shall  be  entitled  to  hold  two  hundred 
feet  iddittbn^^  In  the  case  of  locations  made  as  extensions,  the 
location  cf  two  hundred  feet  by  virtue  of  discovery  is  allowed. 
Kb  elaim  shall,  in  the  aggregate,  exceed  in  extent  t^p  thousand 
fbcjt  oil  any  one  led^e. 

Sklc;  24.  Ahy  location  made  on  a  ledge  by  authdrity  of  this 
ad:  ^iiali  be  d^eitted  (6  include  all  the:  dips,  spurs,  singles,  and 
Vftt^tlons  uf  said  ledge.  The  locators  01  any  ledge  ^hall  b^ 
diititied  to  hold  one  hundred  feet  on  each  side  of  it,  except 


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wix^^ 


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OUJt    H'ESrEJfJV  EMPIRE. 


where  they  would  by  so  doing  invade  the  territory  of  a  claim 
previously  located.  i,.*(u.A^;>f~*y 

Sec.  31.  On  the  first  Saturday  of  August,  1866,  at  which  time 
the  first  assessment  year  shall  begin,  this  act  shall  supersede  all 
district  mining  laws,  and  thereafter  said  laws  shall  be  considered 
as  repealed :  Provided,  Any  and  all  rights  heretofore  acquired 
under  and  by  virtue  of  such  distinct  mining  laws  shall  be  deter- 
m,ined  in  accordance  with  said  mining  laws  existing  at  the  time 
vjhen  said  rights  were  acquired.  During  the  period  extending 
f^om  and  including  the  ist  day  of  May,  1866,  to  and  including 
the  day  immediately  preceding  the  first  Saturday  of  the  following 
August,  no  claim  shall  become  subject  to  relocation  by  reason  of 
the  non-performance  of  assessment  work.  Locations  may  be 
made  under  this  act  at  any  time  on  and  after  the  second  Saturday 
of  July,  1 866,  at  which  time  the  district  recorders  elected  under 
this  act  shall,  if  qualified,  enter  upr  n  th  -discharge  of  their  duties, 
and  on  and  after  said  second  Sati  1  cui)  ui  July,  no  location  shall 
be  made  under  district  mining  laws. 

Sec.  32.  The  doing  of  assessment  work,  or  the  payment  of 
assessment  dues,  shall  not  be  required  in  order  to  hold,  a  cls^im 
diiring  any  assessment  year,  if  during  the  year  next  preceding 
such  assessment  year  there  has  been  done  on  said  claim,  by  or 
oh  behalf  of  the  claimants  thereof,  an  amount  of  work  costing,  at 
a  fair  valuation,  not  less  than  fifty  cents  for  each  foot  in  said 
claim ;  but  in  all  other  cases  assessment  work  shall  be  done  or 
assessment  dues  shall  be  paid  as  provided  in  this  act.  Assess- 
n^ent  dues  shall  be  paid  for  every  assessment  year  by  the  parties 
hQJdiog  th^  claim  to  the  district  recorder  eler  '^!  under  this  act, 
bpfore  the  first  Saturday  of  August,  commen-  . -^  <i;i  assessment 
ypar  for  which  they  are  paid,  except  as  othei  *ru.*  ^  rr  ided  in  this 
spctjon^ 

J  Sec.  33.^  Except  as  otherwise  provided  in  section  32,  every 
mining  claim  located  and  held  under  district  mining  laws,  on 
Witiich,  before  the  ist  day  of  May,  1 866,  there  has  been  work  done 
ifjyolving  the  excavation  of  fifty  cubic  feet  of  earth  or  loos^ 
natter,  or  five  cubic  fqet  of  solid  rock,  for  each  290  feet  in  such 
^la^m,  shall  be  subject  to  assessment  dues.     On  eyery  mining 


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RBGULATIONS  OF  VIRGtNtA  DISTRICT. 


311 


ry  of  a  claim 

It  which  time 
supersede  all 
be  considered 
fore  acquired 
liall  be  deter- 
\g  at  the  time 
od  extending 
ind  including 
the  following 
by  reason  of 
tions  may  be 
ond  Saturday 
sleeted  under 
>f  their  duties, 
location  shall 

:  payment  of 
>  hold,  a  cls^im 
ext  preceding 
1  claim,  by  or 
)rk  costing,  at 
\  foot  in  said 
ill  be  done  or 
act.  Assess- 
by  the  parties 
jnder  this  act, 
1  ^^assessment 
n  ided  in  this 

ion  32,  every 
ning  laws,  on 
ten  work  done 
larth  or  loos^: 
10  feet  in  such, 
every  mining. 


claim  located  and  held  under  district  mining  laws,  on  which  such 
work  has  not  been  done  before  the  i  st  day  of  May,  1 866,  assess- 
ment work  siiall  be  done  on  or  before  the  day  immediately  pre- 
ceding the  first  Saturday  of  August,  1866.  The  doing  of  such 
Uiisessment  work  or  the  paying  of  such  assessment  dues  shall 
enable  the  owner  of  said  claim  to  hold  the  same  for  the  next 
ensuing  assessment  year,  commencing  on  the  first  Saturday  of 
August,  1866.     i«1&»M  5^^^^^  '■tAy*A'-AmR':''f:id^P,';\j.y.:T'£ii.- 

Sec.  34.  The  assessment  work  done  within  the  thirty  days  after 
the  location  of  a  claim  under  this  act,  as  provided  in  section  22, 
shall  hold  the  same  only  up  to  the  beginning  of  the  assessment 
year  following  the  date  of  said  location,  and  for  such  next  en- 
suing assessment  year  and  for  every  year  thereafter,  except  as 
provided  in  section  32  of  this  act,  such  claim  shall  be  subject  to 
assessment  dues.  ?u0  htwf  rliljr  H/ 

Skc.  45.  The  extraction  of  gold  or  other  metals  from  alluvial  or 
diluvial  deposits,  generally  called  placer  mining,  shall  be  subject 
to  such  regulations  as  the  miners  in  the  several  mining  districts 
shall  adopt  '    ^         —   ,,.i  ,*,„.^ 

■•"■•-'■      ■'--    •■'•'     ■  ^-    •"■■■•  Aim\ 

18. — REGULATIONS  OF  THE  VIRGINIA   DISTRICT,    NEVADA.    .3  **i, 

The  following^  are  the  regulations  of  the  district  of  Virginia 
City,  Nevada,  adopted  September  14,  i859^<  n-  ijr  >/  *  ,r«  *  is    Idlf 

Article  i.  All  quartz  claims  hereafter  located  shall  be  200 
feet  on  the  lead,  including  all  its  dips  and  angles.  it 

Art.  2.  All  discoverers  of  new  quartz  veins  .shall  be  entitled  to' 
an  additional  claim  for  discovery. 

Art.  3.  All  claims  shall  be  designated  by  stakes  and  notices 
at  each  corner. 

Art.  4.  All  quartz  claims  shall  be  worked  to  the  amount  of 
jjio  or  three  days  work  per  month  to  each  claim,  and  the  owner 
can  work  to  the  amount  of  $40  as  soo  .  after  the  location  of  the 
claim  as  he  may  elect ;  which  amount  being  worked  shall  exempt 
him  from  working  on  said  claim  for  six  months  thereafter.  ^         ■> 

Art.  5.  All  quartz  claims  shall  be  known  by  a  name  and  tf^ 
sections. 

^  Art.  6.  All  claims  shall  be  properly  recorded  within  ten  days 
from  the  time  of  location. 


«>MH«n««M><ia#MIM2S»MKalHIP 


■iWitKiiiwiiaitiiiwiBttwini 


twiiKiiiwaiiaatiWiiwwaBiwitiwiiw'iimt^^  '' 


3U 


X  OUR   WESTER fi!  EMPIRS,  VrV   N'A 


Art.  7.  All  claims  recorded  in  the  Gold  Hill  record,  and  lying 
in  the  Virginia  district,  shall  be  recorded  free  of  charge  in  the 
record  of  Virginia  district,  upon  the  presentation  of  a  certificate 
from  the  recorder  of  the  Gold  Hill  district,  certifying  that  said 
claims  have  been  duly  recorded  in  said  district ;  and  said  claims 
shall  be  recorded  within  thirty  days  after  the  passage  of  this 

article. 

Art.  9.  Surface  and  hill  claims  shall  be  100  feet  square,  and 
he  designated  by  stakes  and  notices  at  each  corner. 

Art.  :o.  All  ravine  and  gulch  claims  shall  be  100  feet  in  length, 
and  in  width  extend  from  bank  to  bank,  and  be  designated  by  a 
stake  and  notice  at  each  end. 

Art.  II.  All  claims  shall  be  worked  \irithin  ten  days  after  water 
can  be  had  swflficicnt  to  work  said  claims. 

Art.  1 2.  All  ravine,  gulch,  and  surface  claims  shall  be  recorded 
within  ten  days  after  location.  ,  i^f^.v  v  .,tri  .       •»!' 

Art.  13.  All  claims  not  worked  according  to  the  laws  of  thi% 
district  shall  be  forfeited  and  subject  to  relocation.  4 

Art.  14.  There  shall  be  a  recorder  elected,  to  hold  his  office 
for  the  term  of  twelve  months,  who  shall  be  entided  to  the  sum 
of  fifty  cents  for  each  claim  located  and  recorded. 

Art.  15.  The  recorder  shall  keep  a  book  witltall  the  laws  of 
this  district  written  therein,  which  shall,  at  all  times,  be  subject  to 
the  inspection  of  the  miners  of  said  district;  aild  he  is  furdicr- 
more  required  to  post  in  two  conspicuous  places  a  copy  of  the 
laws  of  Mid  district.  ;  ..<»;,;,,(  ir/j  .... 

I9r— REOUIfATIGNS  OF   REESB   RIVER   DISTRICT,   NEVADA. 

The  following  are  the  regulations  of  the  Reese  River  District, 
Nevada: 

Section  I.  The  <£strict  shall  be  known  as  the  Reese  River 
Mining  District,  and  shall  be  bounded  as  follows,  to  wit :  On  the 
north  by  a  distance  of  ten  miles  from  the  overland  telegraph  line, 
on  the  ta&X  by  Dry  creek,  on  the  south  by  a  distance  of  ten  miles, 
from,  th<$  Qvef land  telegraph  lioe,^  and  on  the  west  by  Edward's 
creek,  where  not  conflicting  with  any  new  districts  formed  to  dat«. 

SiBC.  2.  There  shall  be  a  mining  recorder  elected  on  the  ist 


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RECUlATrOSS  OF  REESE  JH/VEK  D/STft/Cr. 


3»3 


»rd,  and  lying 
;harge  In  the 
f  a  certificate 
ing  that  said 
id  said  claims 
ssagc  of  this 

t  square,  and 

feet  in  length, 
signaled  by  a 

yrs  after  water 

11  be  recorded 

..    :•»■*? 
t  laws  of  thi% 

lold  his  office 
d  to  the  sum 

II  the  laws  of 
be  subject  to 
he  is  furtlier- 
a  copy  of  the 

"ir/v    .  ,v 

NEVADA. 

liver  District, 

Reese  River 
3  wit :  On  the 
lelegraph  line» 
e  of  ten  miles»: 

by  Edward's 
)rmed  to  date, 
ed  on  the  ist 


day  of  June  next  for  this  district,  who  shall  hold  office  for  one 
year  from  the  17th  of  July  next,  unless  sooner  removed  by  a  new 
election,  which  can  only  be  done  by  a  written  call,  signed  by  at 
least  fifty  claim-holders,  giving  notice  of  a  new  election  to  be 
held,  after  said  notice  shall  have  been  posted  and  published  for  at 
least  twenty  days  in  some  newspaper  published  in  or  nearest  this 
district ;  and  the  recorder  shall  be  a  resident  of  this  district. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  recorder  to  keep  in  a  suitable 
book  or  books  a  full  and  truthful  record  of  the  proceedings  of 
all  public  meetings ;  to  place  on  record  all  claims  brought  to  him 
for  that  purpose,  when  such  claim  shall  not  interfere  with  or  affect 
the  rights  and  interests  of  prior  locators,  recording  the  same  in 
the  order  of  their  date,  for  which  service  he  shall  receive  $1  for 
each  claim  recorded.  It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  the  recorder  to 
keep  his  books  open  at  all  times  to  the  infection  of  the  public ; 
he  shall  also  have  the  power  to  appoint  a  deputy  to  act  in  his 
.  stead,  for  whose  official  acts  he  shall  be  held  responsible.  It  shall 
also  be  the  duty  of  the  recorder  to  deliver  to  his  successor  in 
office  all  books,  records,  papers,  etc.,  belonging  to  or  pertaining 
to  his  office. 

Sec.  4.  All  examinations  of  the  record  must  be  njade  in  the 
fttU  presence  of  the  recorder  or  his  deputy.  '*'  '■  • 

Sec.  5.  Notice  of  a  claim  of  location  of  mining  ground  by  any 
individual,  or  by  a  company,  on  file  in  the  recorder's  office,  shall 
be  deemed  equivalent  to  a  record  of  the  same. 

Sec.  6.  Each  claimant  shall  be  entided  to  hold  by  location  two 
hundred  feet  on  any  lead  in  the  district,  with  all  the  dips,  spurs, 
and  angles,  offshoots,  outcrops,  depths,  widths,  variations,  and  all 
the  mineral  arid  other  valuables  therein  contained,  the  discoverer 
of  and  locator  of  a  new  lead  being  entitled  to  one  claim  extra  for 

OlSCOVery.  .f._t<j-/;p(ir.    rf*p.  fin.  iiuii.\':-\iit\fiin^i\ 

Sfic.  7.  The  locator  of  any  lead,  lode,  or  ledge  in  the  district 
shall  be  entitled  to  hold  on  each*  side  of  the  lead,  lode,  or  ledge 
located  by  him  or  them  one  hundred  feet ;  but  this  shall  not  be  ; 
cpnstfued  to  mean  any  distinct  or  parjallel  ledge  within  the  two 
hundred  feet  other  than  the  one  origtnaUy  located. 
.    Sec.  8.  All  locations  shall  be  made  by  a  written  notice  posted 


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upon  the  ground,  and  boundaries  described,  and  all  claimants* 
names  posted  on  the  notice^Kn^ii  ,:;<\fc  ,^lit^  iqtiiv»"'»"i,  *^>v>T'^*sr7r 

Sec.  9.  Work  done  on  any  tunnel,  ciit,  shaft,  or  drift,  in  good 
faith,  shall  be  considered  as  being  done  upon  the  claim  owned 
by  such  person  or  company. 

Sec.  10.  Every  claim  (whether  by  individual  or  company)  lo-* 
cated  shall  be  recorded  within  ten  days  after  the  date  of  locationi 

Sec.  1 1 .  All  miners  locating  a  mining  claim  iii  this  district  shall 
place  and  maintain  thereon  a  good  and  substantial  nionument 
or  stake,  with  a  notice  thereon  of  the  name  of  the  claim,  the 
names  of  the  locators,  date  of  location,  record,  and  extent  of  , 
claim.  It  is  hereby  requested  that  owners  in  claims  already  lo- 
cated do  comply  with  the  requirements  of  this  section. 

Sec.  1 2.  The  recorder  shall  go  upon  the  ground  with  any  and 
all  parties  desiring  to  locate  claims,  and  shall  be  entitled  to  re- 
ceive for  such  service  one  dollar  for  each  and  every  name  in  a 
location  of  two  hundred  feet  each.  Ik    <;■•  u^^n  ;        J  .  ois 

Sec.  1 3.  It  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  mining  recorder, ' 
upon  the  written  application  of  twenty-five  miners,  to  call  a  meet< 
ing  of  the  miners  of  the  district  by  giving  a  notice  of  twenty' 
days  through  some   newspaper  published  in  the   Reese  river 
district,  which  notice  shall  state  the  object  of  the  meeting  and^ 
the  place  and  time  of  holding  the  same. 

Sec.  14.  The  laws  of  this  district  passed  July  17,   1862,  are* 
hereby  repealed.  .  .y%i:u.: ,  >i\i .  uj  \  •  .tMi..i-v  >  a^ 

Sec.  15.  The&d  la>Vs  shall  take  effect  on  and  aftelr  the  4th  diy 
of  June,  1864.  1.  * 

.  20.— QUARTZ  STATUTE  OF  THE    STATE  OF  OREGON.  ,,  **t^ 

Section  i.  That  any  person,  or  company  of  persons,  estab-/ 
lishing  a  claim  on  any  quartz  lead  containing  gold,  silver,  copper,  ^ 
tin,  or  lead,  or  a  claim  on  a  vein  of  cinnabar,  for  the  purpose  of 
mining  the  same,  shall  l>e  alllowed  to  have,  hold,  and  possess  the 
land  or  vein,  with  all  its  dips,  spurs,  and  angles,  for  the  distance 
of  tiiree  hiitidred  feet  in  length,  and  seventy-five  feet  in  widtl>  on ; 
each  side  of  suc'h  lead  or  ve?n.  " 

Sec.  2.  To  establish  a  valid  claim  the  discoverer  or  person' 


•"vsmmm*,  \  tmmmfmmmKm 


itiilfj-inMniiiwMayiOTBfiymffrtm'T*''"*^^^^^  '  «timu!u>te»iimyia«mmmim»ii,-^tii>sm--mm 


■■'n 


QUARTZ  STATUTB  Of  ORBGOff. 


SIS 


II  claimants' 

rift,  in  good 
:laim  owned 


ompany)  lo- 
1  of  location, 
district  shall 
I  monument 
c  claim,  the 
d  extent  of 
\  already  lo' 
>n. 

vith  any  and 
titled  to  re- 
y  name  in  a 

#nw:  >,■■  ■ 

ng-  recorder, 
)  call  a  meet- 
;e  of  twenty' 
Reese  river 
neeting  and 

;,   1862,  are 

tliie  4th  day 

rsons,  estab- 
ilver,  copper, 
!  purpose  of 
possess  the 
the  distance 
\.  in  widtl^  on 

r  or  person 


wishing  to  establish  a  claim  shall  post  a  notice  on  the  lead  or 
vein,  with  name  or  names  attached,  which  shall  protect  the  claim 
or  claims  for  thirty  days ;  and  Ixifore  the  expiration  of  said  thirty 
days  he  or  they  shall  cause;  the  claim  or  claims  to  be  recorded 
as  hereinafter  provided,  and  describing,  as  near  as  may  be,  the 
claim  or  claims,  and  their  location ;  but  continuous  working  of 
said  claim  or  claims  shall  obviate  the  necessity  of  such  record. 
If  any  claim  shall  not  be  worked  for  twelve  consecutive  months 
it  shall  be  forfeited  and  considered  liable  to  location  by  any  per- 
son or  persons,  unless  the  owner  or  owners  be  absent  on  account 
of  sickness,  or  in  the  service  of  their  country  in  time  of  war. 

Sec.  .3.  Any  person  may  hold  one  claim  by  location,  as  here- 
inafter provided,  upon  each  lead  or  vein,  and  as  many  by  pur- 
chase as  the  local  laws  of  the  miners  in  the  district  where  such 
claims  are  located  may  allow ;  and  the  discoverer  of  any  new 
lead  or  vein,  not  previously  located  upon,  shall  be  allowed  one 
additional  claim  for  the  discovery  thereof.  Nothing  in  this  sec- 
tion shall  be  so  construed  as  to  allow  any  person  not  the  dis- 
coverer to  locate  more  than  one  claim  upon  any  one  lead  or 
vein. 

Sec.  4.  Every  person,  or  company  of  persons,  after  establish- 
ing such  claim  or  claims,  shall,  within  one  year  after  recording 
or  taking  such  claim  or  claims,  work  or  cause  to  be  worked  to 
the  amount  of  fifty  dollars  for  each  and  every  claim,  and  for 
each  successive  year  shall  do  the  same  amount  of  work,  under 
penalty  of  forfeiture  of  said  claim  or  claims :  Provided,  That  any 
incorporate  company  owning  claims  on  any  lead  or  vein  may  be 
allowed  to  work  upon  any  one  claim  the  whole  amount  required 
as  above  for  all  the  claims  they  may  own  on  such  lead  or  vein. 

Sec.  5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  county  clerk  of  any  county, 
upon  the  receipt  of  a  notice  of  a  miners'  meeting  organizing  a 
miners'  district  in  said  county,  with  a  description  of  the  boun- 
daries thereof,  to  record  the  same  in  a  book  to  be  kept  in  his 
oflfice  as  other  county  records,  to  be  called  a  "book  of  record  of 
mining  claims ;"  and,  upon  the  petition  of  parties  interested,  he 
may  appoint  a  deputy  for  such  district,  who  shall  reside  in  said 

district  or  its  vicinity,  and  shall  record  all  mining  claims  and 

:ami^b 


I 


»MiiWi»g»tia»iiMiiiiioiir»iii«iliiPi''^« 


jitf  .7    OUR    WBiTEKtf   BMr/KM.    .  ; 

water  rightH  In  the  order  in  which  they  arc  presented  for  records 
and  shall  trannmit  a  copy  of  such  record  at  the  end  of  each 
month  to  the  county  clerk,  who  shall  record  the  same  in  the 
above-mentioned  book  of  record,  for  which  he  shall  receive  one 
dollar  for  each  and  every  claim.  It  shall  further  be  the  duty  of 
said  county  clerk  to  furnish  a  copy  of  this  law  to  his  said  deputy, 
who  shall  keep  the  same  in  his  ofifice.  open  at  all  reasonable  times 
for  the  inspection  of  all  persons  interested  therein.  *^'*^'^  ^f?^*  *' 

Sec.  6.  Miners  shall  be  empowered  to  make  local  laws  in  ne« 
lation  to  the  possession  of  water  rights,  th«  post>ession  and 
working  of  placer  claims,  and  the  survey  and  sale  of  town  lota 
in  mining  camps,  subject  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States. 

Sec.  7.  That  ditches  used  ior  mining  purposes,  and  mining 
flumes  permanently  affixed  to  the  soil,  be  and  they  arc  hereby 
declared  real  estate  for  all  intents  and  purposes  whatever. 

Sec.  8.  That  all  laws  relative  to  the  sale  and  transfer  of  r^l 
estate,  and  the  application  of  the  liens  of  meclianics  and  laborers 
therein,  be  and  they  are  hereby  made  applicable  to  said  ditche*' 
and  flumes :  Provided^  That  all  interests  in  mining  claims  known 
as  placer  or  surface  diggings  may  be  granted,  sold,  and  conveyed 
by  bill  of  sale  and  delivery  of  possession  as  in  cases  of  the  safle 
of  personal  property :  Provided  further.  That  the  bills  of  sale  or^ 
conveyances  executed  on  the  sale  of  any  placer  or  surface' 
mining  claim  shall  be  recorded  within  thirty  days  after  the  date-' 
of  such  sale,  in  the  office  of  the  county  clerk  of  the  county  xtn^ 
which  such  sale  is  made,  in  a  book  to  be  kept  by  the  county] 
clerk  for  that  purpose,  to  be  called  the  record  of  conveyances) i 
of  mining  claims.  "  ^' 

Sec.  9.  Mortgages  of  interests  in  placer  or  surface  mining^ 
claims  shall  be  executed,  acknowledged,  recorded,  ahd  foreclosed 
as  mortgages  of  chattels. 

Sec.  10.  The  county  clerk  shall  be  entitled  to  a  feid  of  onis 
doltar  each  for  every  conveyance  or  mortgage  recorded  under  the 
provisions  of  this  act. 

21.— (Quartz  sTATtrre  of  idaho.  ,,, 

rlThe  following  is  the  statute  of  Idaho  in  regard  to  quarts 
claims : 


i  for  record; 

end  of  uach 

same  in  the 
receive  one 
the  duty  of 
said  deputy, 

onable  times 

I  laws  in  rte* 
;t>ession  and 
}f  town  lots 
>tates. 
and  mining 

arc  hereby 
tevcr.  «''^ 
isfer  of  r«^\ 
md  laborers 
said  ditches 
[aims  known 
nd  conveyed 
I  of  the  sale 
Qs  of  sale  or 

or  surface 
fter  the  date 
le  county  in 
f  the  county 
:onveyances 

face  mining 
d  foreclosed 

I  feid  of  one 
sd  under  the 


d  to  quart2 


QVAMTZ  STATUTE   OF  IDAHO, 


Jif 


Sic.  I.  That  any  pemon  or  persons  who  may  hereafter  dis- 
cover anyquartz  lead  or  lode  shall  be  cntitU'd  tf»  one  claim  thereon 
by  right  of  discovery,  and  one  claim  »>arh  by  location. 

SiGC.  a.  That  a  quartz  claim  shall  consist  of  tMro  hundred  feet 
In  length  along  the  lead  or  lode  by  one  hundred  feet  in  breadth, 
covering  and  including  all  dips,  spurs,  and  angles  within  the 
bounds  of  said  claim,  as  also  the  right  of  drainage,  tunnelling, 
and  such  other  privileges  as  may  be  necessary  to  the  working 
of  said  cUinv 

Sec.  3,  'fhe  locator  of  any  quartz  claim  on  any  lead  or  lode 
shall,  at  the  time  of  locating  such  claim,  place  a  substantial  stake, 
not  lesa  tha*  three  inches  in  diameter,  at  each  end  of  said  claim, 
on  which  shall  be  a  written  notice  specifying  the  name  of  the 
locator,  the  number  of  feet  claimed,  together  with  the  year,  month, 
and  day  when  the  same  was  taken.        *     ' 

Sec.  4.  All  claims  shall  be  recorded  In  the  county  recorder's 
office,  within  ten  days  from  the  time  of  posting  notice  thereon  :  * 
Pi'ovided,  That  when   the  claim   located   is   more  than   thirty 
miles  distant  from  the  county  seat  the  time  sluUl  extend  to  fifteen 
days.  .  .  *      . 

SECi  5.  Quartz  claims  recorded  in  accordance  with  the 
provision?  of  section  4  of  this  acf  shall  entitle  the  person  so 
recording  to  hold  the  same  to  the  ise  of  himself,  his  heirs  and 
assigns:  Provided,  That  within  six  months  from  and  after  the 
date  of  recording  he  shall  perform,  or  cause  to  be  performed, 
thereoa  wpdf  amounting  in  v;»Jue  tp  tlie  sum  of  one  hundred 
dollars.         ,♦,         ' 

S,EC.  6.  Any  person  or  persons  holding  quartz  claims  in 
pursuance  of  this  act  shall  renew  the  notice  required  in  section 
3.  at  lei^st  once  in  twelve  months,  unless  such  claimant  is  occupy- 
ing and  working  the  same.  nrrnn 

Sec.  7.  The  conveyances  of  quartz  claims  heretofore  made 
by  bills  of  sale  or  other  instruments  of  writing,  with  or  without 
seals,  shall  be  construed  in  accordance  with  the  local  mining 
rules,  regulations,  and  customs  of  miners  in  the  several  mining 
districts,  and  said  bills  of  sale  or  instruments  of  writing  con- 
cerning quarte  claims  without  seals  shall  h^  prima  facie  evidence 


m 


ttmrnmuMnmm 


miiiiiimnim 


:> 


jl8  /     OVK  WISTKRS  hxtriKi. 

of  Hale,  as  if  such  conv«.,  ancc  liad  been  made  by  deed  under 
seal.    '(Wj'rb  fH»'  usi  itju'r  •^'H't'Hih^  i  >Mrtii»j|^yn*tH't  ? 

Skc.  8.  Conveyances  of  quartz  claims  shall  hereafter  require 
the  same  formalities  and  sliall  be  subject  to  the  same  rules  of 
construction  as  the  transfer  and  conveyance  of  real  estate. 

Sec.  9.  The  location  and  pre-emption  of  quartz  claims  here- 
tofore made  shall  be  established  and  proved  when  there  is  a 
contest  before  the  courts,  by  the  local  niles.  customs,  and 
regulations  of  the  miners  in  each  mining  district  where  such 
claim  is  lo'^^'*d,  when  not  in  conflict  with  the  laws  of  the  United 
States  or  the  laws  of  this  Territory.  "''  '      ■•' '     ■-  ''^ 

Sec.  10.  This  act  to  take  effect  and  ^  \a  fn  fc^Pe^  frtotn  and 
after  its  approval  by  the  governor. 

Approved  February  4,  1864.  '{(fM  'i 

■a*  'i|{>  ( 
r''ts!m>rr>  i^ntu       43. — statute  of  Arizona,     b,  \H\  ,t  .vifi. 

'^  The  following  is  the  statute  of  Arizona  on  the  registry  and 
government  of  mines  uud  n.ineral  <lep'>sits,  with  the  exception 
of  the  sections  providing  the  manner  In  which  the  rights  of  miners 
shall  be  enforced  by  the  courts: 

Sec.  I.  AH  mining  rights  on  the  public  lands  of  the  United 
States,  as  well  as  rights  acquired  by  disccjvery  on  the  lands  of 
private  individuals,  are  possessory  in  their  character  only,  and 
such  possessory  rights  shall  be  limited,  regulated,  and  governed 
as  hereinafter  provided. 

Sec.  1 5.  Every  mining  claim  or  pertenencia  is  declared  to 
consist  of  a  superficial  area  of  2CX)  yards  square,  to  be 
measured  so  as  to  include  the  principal  mineral  vein  or  mineral 
deposits,  always  having  reference  to  and  following  the  dip  of  the 
vein  so  far  as  it  can  or  may  be  worked,  with  all  the  earth  and 
minerals  therein.  But  any  mining  district  organized  in  accordance 
v/ith  the  provisions  of  this  chapter  may  prescribe  the  dimensions 
of  said  mining  claim  or  pertenencia  for  such  district:  Pfovidedy 
That  in  no  case  the  dimensions  so  prescribed  shall  exceed  the 
number  of  yards  allowed  by  this  section ;  and  further  provided^ 
That  no  such  mining  district  6hall  diminish  the  extent  of  the 
territorial  claim  to  one  pertenencia,  as  defined  in  this  section. 


^ 


/\ 


(iced  under 

kftcr  require 
»mc  rule*  of 
cMtate. 
claims  here- 
n  there  i«  ft 
u atoms,  and 
where  »uch 
f  the  United 

rce  from  and 


1  *;• 


u; 


registry  and 
ihe  exception 
hts  of  miners 

f  the  United 

the  lands  of 

ter  only,  and 

ind  governed 

i  declared  to 
uare,  to  be 
in  or  mineral 
die  dip  of  the 
the  earth  and 
in  accordance 
le  dimensions 
ict:  Provided, 
ill  exceed  the 
ther  provided^ 
extent  of  the 
ds  section. 


MININO  ttUGVLATlONS  Of  AHItONA.  .||p 

Sk<:.  1 6.  Any  person  dlscovcrinj;  or  oprning  a  vrin  or  other 
mineral  dcponit  in  this  Territory,  not  actually  worked  or  legally 
ownt:d  by  other  parties  or  regiitticil  in  accordance  with  this 
chapter,  shall  by  properly  dirnoiincing  and  rrglstering  the  sami; 
Im:  eniitleil  to  claim  and  hold  a  {xiHKcsHtiry  right  to  a  tract  of  land 
to  the  extent  of  tM^o  mining  claims  or  prrtrnencias,  including  the 
taid  vein  or  mineral  deposit,  and  conforming  us  nearly  as  possible 
to  the  general  direction  thereof,  each  to  be  measured  300  yards 
long  by  300  yards  wide,  the  direction  of  die  lines  to  be  deter* 
mined  by  the  person  claiming.  >  J^\, 

Sec.  17.  If  two  or  more  persons  are  aitOciated,  and  h..v« 
formed  a  company  for  th>j  exploration  and  working  of  mines, 
and  one  or  several  shall  make  discoveries  of  mineral  deposits  in 
consequence  thereof,  said  company  so  engaged  in  exploration 
sh'ill  be  entitled  to  denounce  and  register  one  discovery  claim 
only  upon  each  lode.       f  •»rn  rtto'^refhf  ' 

Sec.  18.  It  shall  be  lawful  for  the  claimants  of  a  mine  or 
mineral  lands  to  locate  and  take  p9ssc:;f;^on  of  public  lands  for  a 
mill  site  and  other  ncc«.l.sary  works  connected  therewith,  which 
shall  not  exceed  one-quarter  »rction,  containing  a  stream  or 
other  water  suitable  for  the  purpose.  They  shall  have  a  right  to 
place  a  dam  or  other  obstructions  on  such  stream,  and  to  divert 
its  water  for  the  above  uses  and  purposes.  They  shall,  within 
the  time  and  in  the  manner  prescribed  in  this  chapter  for  the 
registration  and  denouncement  of  mines,  proceed  to  denounce 
and  register  the  same  with  the  clerk  of  the  probate  court,  and 
they  shall  be  known  as  auxiliary  lands.  And  if  within  three 
years  from  the  day  their  notice  of  claim  is  so  recorded  they  shall 
expend  in  fitting  the  .same  for  a  mill,  or  in  placing  a  mill  or 
reduction  works  thereon,  the  sum  of  j»ioo,  they  may  cause  the 
record  of  such  work  to  be  made  and  proceedings  for  confirming 
their  title  to  be  instituted  as  provided  in  section  39  of  this 
chapter,  with  like  effect,  and  receive  a  certificate  of  title  as 
thereon  provided,  conforming  as  nearly  as  they  can  to  the  require- 
ments of  that  section.  Instead  of  the  work  required  by  section 
32  of  this  chapter  they  shall  use  the  machinery  or  other  works 
erected  upon  said  land  for  mining  purposes  at  least  thirty  days 


I 


' -il^**^^^*^^^^^^^^ 


i 


ISO 


Oi'H    WKSTRKM  MMPtMB,^ 


l 


in  eftch  year.  Such  claims  Hhall  be  lubject  to  all  the  proviMJont 
of  thJM  chapter  which  are  applicable  to  mining  rights,  and  may  be 
abandonrii  and  relocated.  All  rights  to  auxiliary  lands  ac(|uire<l 
undrr  the  kiws  of  any  mining;  district  before  this  act  takes  effect 
shatl  be  valid,  and  the  owners  of  the  same,  upon  complyin);  with 
the  provisions  of  this  section,  may  take  the  like  proceedings  to 
confirm  tlieir  titles,  with  a  like  effect. 

Sec.  19.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  claimants  of  mining  claims, 
mineral  lands,  and  auxiliary  tracts,  to  at  once  define  the  extent 
and  l)uiindary  of  them  as  nearly  as  possible,  by  good  substantial 
monuments  or  other  coosptcuoua  marks,  in  the  presence  of  the 
recorder  of  the  mining  district,  or  of  some  witness  who  shall 
prove  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  recorder  that  the  same  has  been 
done,  and  to  post  up  a  public  notice  of  their  claim  at  the  oi)ening 
of  the  principal  vein,  and  to  have  them  properly  registered  and 
recorded  within  three  months  from  the  time  of  first  claiming  them 
at  the  offictt  of  til's  mining  diitrict  recorder  according  to  the 
provisions  of  this  chapter.  Such  record  shall  give  a  faithful 
description  of  the  veins,  mineral  dr  ^osits,  and  tracts  of  lands,  the 
character  and  bearing  of  the  ve'  ^r  deposits,  and  their  con- 
nection with  natural  monumentu  ..  conspicuous  objects  in  the 
vicinity. 

Sec.  20.  No  person  shall  change  his  original  monuments  or 
boundaries  of  mineral  or  other  lands,  but  if  a  subsequent 
investigation  makes  this  convenient  or  necessary,  and  it  can  be 
done  without  prejudice  to  other  parties,  then  such  change  shall 
take  place  by  the  sanction  of  the  judge  of  the  probate  court, 
provided  they  are  properly  recorded,  and  the  new  boundaries 
and  monuments  fixed  at  once  when  the  original  ones  are  re<- 
moved. 

Sec.  ai.  All  minerals,  woods,  waters,  earths,  and  vegetation 
found  within  the  boundaries  of  any  tract  of  land  registered  and 
claimed  for  mining  shall  be  exclusively  used  by  him  or  them  who 
are  legally  entitled  to  the  possession  of  the  land  wherein  or 
whereon  they  are  situated,  so  long  as  they  are  used  for  mining 
purposes  only :  Pfmndtd^  That  no  one  shall  have  the  right  to 
prevent  transient  persona,  from  using  the  waters  along  the  pub^ 


*««■ 


I 

fie  proviHions 
I,  ami  may  be 
mcl«  acc)iiire(l 
t  tukcH  effect 
mplying  with 

roceeiling»  to 

» 

lining  claims, 
ne  the  extent 
>d  Hubstantial 
esencc  of  the 
«•  who  shall 
kme  has  been 
t  the  opening 
sgistercd  and 
ilaiming  them 
rding  to  the 
ive  a  faithful 
)  of  lands,  the 
id  their  con- 
>bjects  in  the 

lonumcnts  or 

\.  subsequent 
and  it  can  be 

change  shall 
robate  court, 
¥  boundaries 

ones  arc  re>-     ', 
pvv  ■  •     „" 

id  vegetation 
rgistered  and 
or  them  who 
d  wherein  or 
d  for  mining 
the  right  to 
ong  the  pul>- 


MWING  MKCVtATtOm  Oft  AKUOSA. 


S«l 


lie  highwmys,  where  thry  were  provided  by  nruire  in  natural 
tanki,  springs,  streams,  or  othtrwisj',  nor  (rom  nuking  mith 
etpiitablc  disposition  of  the  waters  as  the  legislature  shall  pre* 
•cribc. 

Skc.  aa.  No  person  shall  have  the  right  to  impctle  or  incon- 
venience travelling  by  fencing  up  the  public  roailK,  (illiiig  ihcm 
up  with  rubbish,  or  undermining  them  so  as  to  endanger  their 
•ifety,  neither  shall  any  one  change  their  csiablishctl  direction 
without  sanction  of  the  proper  authoritici.  t       .         j 

Skc.  2 j.  Whenever  two  or  more  persons  or  parties  explore 
and  prospect  one  and  the  same  vein,  and  at  or  about  the  name 
time  but  at  different  places,  and  without  knowledge  r»f  each 
other,  then  he  or  they  who  shall  prove  first  occupancy  shall  havn 
the  right  of  first  location,  taking  the  principal  point  of  excavation 
as  the  centre  of  their  cLim  or  claims  on  each  side  along  the 
general  direction  of  such  ve»n  or  deposit.  The  other" parties 
shall  proceed  by  the  same  laws  after  the  others  have  fixed  their 
boundaries.  Should  there  be  left  vacant  ground  between  the 
different  p  lies,  then  it  shall  be  at  the  option  of  the  first  dis- 
coverers so  to  change  their  boundaries  as  shall  best  suit  them, 
and  have  tlicm  recorded  accordingly.  Any  other  parties  shall 
locate  in  the  order  of  the  time  of  their  arrival  on  the  vein  or 
mmeral  deposib(M/ ,/' ■  i  .Nti'A"  i-^if.  j^iu'.i 

.  Sec.  24.  Whenever  two  or  more  parties  shall  select  the  same 
mine  or  mineral  deposit  for  exploration,  and  the  parties  first  on 
the  ground,  knowing  the  other  parties  to  be  at  work,  shall  fail  to 
give  warning,  either  verbally  or  in  writing,  of  their  priority  claim 
on  such  vein  or  deposit,  then  that  portion  of  the  mine  situated 
between  the  main  excavations  of  the  two  parties  shall  be  equally 
divided  between  them,  irrespective  of  the  number  of  members 
each  company  may  have :  Pravided,  That  the  intervening  por- 
tions shall  not  exceed  the  quantity  of  land  allowed  by  the  pro- 
visions of  this  chapter. 

Sec.  25.  The  laws  and  proceedings  of  all  mining  districts 
established  in  this  Territory  for  the  denouncement,  registration, 
and  regulation  of  mines,  mining  claims,  mineral  lands,  and 
auxiliary  lands,  prior  to  the  day  this  act  takes  effect,  are  hereby 


.'4 
Mi 


i 


SI 


"_  *^  *  r»*  ■ 


r 


..w.'sasr^i. ,  .  isoixtmi^.^ 


523 


H^j^       OUfi    tySSJMX/V   EMPIRE.       *W 


I 


; 


i 


legalized  and  declared  to  be  as  valid  and  binding  in  all  court.s  of 
law  as  if  enacted  by  this  legislative  assembly,  to  the  extent  and 
under  the  conditions  and  restrictions  herein  contained. 

I.  All  rights,  claims,  and  titles  to  any  veins,  mineral  lands,  or 
mineral  deposits,  and  auxiliary  lands,  acquired  before  this  act 
takes  effect,  under,  by  virtue  of,  and  in  conformity  to  the  laws  of 
said  mining  districts,  are  hereby  declared  to  be  valid  and  legal, 
and  shall  be  respected  and  enforced  in  all  courts  of  this  Terri- 
tory, when  sustained  by  the  evidence  herein  provided ;  but  no 
amount  of  work  done  thereon  shall  be  construed  to  give  a  per- 
petual litle  thereto,  but  shall  give  such  title  only  and  such  rights 
and  privileges  as  arc  provided  in  section  29  of  this  chapter ;  and 
no  person  who  was  at  the  time  of  the  location  of  his  claim  an 
inhabitant  of  this  Territory  shall  forfeit  his  claim  because  he  was 
not  a  resident  also  of  the  miningr  district  in  which  his  said  claim 
was  located.  And  no  such  right,  claim,  or  title  shall  be  con- 
sidered as  aljandoned  provided  the  claimant  shall  within  six 
months  from  the  Jay  this  act  takes  effect  file  with  the  clerk  of 
the  probate  court  of  the  county  in  which  his  claim  is  situated  a 
brief  descrtption  of  the  same,  giving  the  name  of  the  district  in 
which  the  lode  is  situated,  and  of  the  lode  or  lodes,  and  the  ex- 
tent of  his  clain  Iiereon,  widi  a  declaration  that  he  intends  td 
retain  and  work  tlie  same  according  to  law,  unless  such  claim 
has  been  forfeited  and  subject  to  re-location  under  the  laws  of 
such  mining  district  before  this  act  takes  effect.  «if^ 

II.  All  records  and  all  papers  required  by  the  laws  of  said 
mining  districts  to  be  deposited  with  the  recorders  of  said  dis- 
tricts for  record  shall  be  received  as  evidence  of  their  contents 
if,  all  courts  of  this  Territory,  and  shall  not  be  rejected  for  any 
defects  in  their  form,  when  their  contents  may  be  understood, 
but  shall  be  valid  to  the  e^ttent  provided  by  said  mining  laws, 
except  as  hereinbefore  restricted :  Pnnided,  That  such  records 
and  papers  are  deposited  with  or  recorded  by  the  clerk  of  the 
probate  court  of  the  county  in  which  said  mining  district  is 
located,  and  wkhin  three  months  from  the  time  this  act  takes 
effect;  and  iE  said  records  or  papers  are  lost  or  mutilated^  o*r  if 
such  recorder  of  a  mining  district  shaU  neglect  or  refuse  to 


t.-*^f  <ftri<Wc«i*>"R^.A>fci^J»>-«>  -. 


M/iV/JVO  KAGULATIONS  OF  ARIZONA. 


jaS 


J  all  courts  of 
tie  extent  and 
[led.  -'■>'•:' 

eral  lands,  or 
efore  this  act 
to  the  laws  of 
lid  and  legal, 
of  this  Terri- 
/ided ;  but  no 
to  give  a  per- 
id  such  rights 
chapter;  and 
'  his  clarm  an 
:cause  hf  was 
his  said  claim 
shall  be  con- 
all  within  six 
I  the  clerk  of 
I  is  situated  a 
the  district  in 
s,  and  the  ex> 
le  intends  td 
3s  such  claim 
;r  th^laws  of 


'^-  '-tfii  -ij\ 


>,r\\t^ 


laws  of  said 
s  of  said  dis- 
their  contents 
ected  for  any 
£  understood, 

mining  laws, 

such  records 
!  clerk  of  the 
ng  district  is 
[hi^  act  takes 
luttlated^  Otr  if 

or  refuse  to 


deposit  the  same  as  aforesaid,  an  affidavit  of  their  contents  made 
by  any  person  interested  therein,  or  certified  or  sworn  copies 
thereof,  may  be  so  i°corded,  and  shall- have  the  like  effect.        »»lt 

III.  All  conveyances  of  mines,  mining  rights,  min  'al  and 
auxiliary  lands  made  prior  to  the  time  this  act  takes  effect  shall 
be  valid  and  binding  to  pass  the  title  of  the  grantor  thereof, 
although  defective  in  form  and  execution,  if  their  contents  can 
be  understood,  and  as  such  shall  be  received  and  regarded  in  aU 
courts  of  this  Territory:  J^oinded,  That  such  conveyances  shaH 
be  deposited  with  or  recorded  by  the  clerk  of  the  probate  court! 
of  %\\t  county  where  said  mihes  are  situated,  within  three  months 
from  the  time  this  act  takes  effect,  and  if  lost  or  mutilated,  copies 
or  affidavits  of  their  contents,  executed  as  aforesaid,  may  be 
recorded  as  provided  above. 

Sec.  26.  Every  recorder,  register,  clerk,  or  other  recording 
officer,  of  every  such  mining  district,  or  who  has  at  any  time 
acted  as  such  recording  officer,  within  three  months  after  this 
act  takes  efTect,  shall  deposit  with  the  clerk  of  the  probate  court 
of  the  county  in  which  said  district  or  p^reater  part  thereof  is- 
situatl:d,  all  records  which  he  has  so  kept,  and  all  papers 
dep(i6ited  in  his  hands  for  record,  and  papers  so  made  or 
depOisited  with  his  prcdecessots  in  said  office,  which  are  in  hi» 
hailds  as  aforesaid,  or  he  shall  so  deposit  certified  copies  of  tiie 
safhe.  And  such  records  and  other  papers  shall  be  securely* 
k^pt  by  such  clerk,  open  in  office  hours  to  public  inspecttonv 
slfid  copies  of  the  same  diuly  certified  by  him  shall  be  received  iiR' 
tU  courts  of  justice,  afid  have  the  same  effect  as  the  originals; 
And  any  such  recorder,  register,  or  other  recording  officer  of 
each  mining  district}  who  shall  neglect  or  refbs^  to  comply  withr 
the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  be  liable  in  damages  to  the 
party  injured  thereby,  and  shall  be  liable  to  be  punished  by  the 
judge  of  probate  of  the  county  in  which  skid!  niining  district,  or 
th^  greater  part  thereof,  is  situated,  for  contemj^t,  by  fine  noli 
exceieding  f  5,000  atid  imprisoned  riot  morie  thah  one  year,  and 
shall  be  inCiipable  of  holding  any  such  office  alltd  mining  claim.   ^^ 

S£<^.  ^.  Mining  districts  now  existing  may  be  continued,  or 
new  rtHning  districts  may  be  estaUished  in  tfa^  mariner  and  iak 
tho'  purposes  hereinafter  provided. 


if 


324 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE,  '\l  A? 


I.  The  recorder  of  every  mining  district  now  existing  shall  at 
the  same  time  that  he  deposits  the  records  of  said  districts  with 
the  clerk  of  the  probate  court,  as  the  last  preceding  section  re- 
quires, take  an  oath  before  the  judge  of  said  court  that  he  will 
faithfully  perform  the  duties  of  his  ofifice  until  another  recorder 
shall  be  elected  and  qualified  in  his  place,  which  oath  shall  be 
recorded  by  the  clerk  of  the  probate  court.  He  shall  record  in 
a  book  to  be  kept  by  him  for  that  purpose  all  notices  of  claims 
or  rights  to  veins,  mineral  deposits,  mineral  lands,  and  auxiliary 
lands  which  may  be  left  with  him  to  be  recorded,  and  shall  note 
on  all  papers  which  may  be  received  by  him  to  be  recorded,  the 
time  when  tLey  were  so  received  by  him,  and  they  shall  be  con- 
sidered as  recorded  from  that  time.  He  shall,  when  requested 
by  any  such  claimant,  go  Vith  him  to  his  claim  and  see  that  the 
same  is  measured  by  metes  and  bounds,  and  marked  by  substan- 
tial monuments  on  the  surface  of  the  earth,  and  shall  make  a 
record  of  the  same,  and  of  the  time  when  it  was  done,  and  cer- 
tify it  to  be  correct,  or  shall  make  a  record  and  certificate  of  the 
same  on  the  evidence  of  a  credible  witness,  who  was  present 
when  the  same  was  done,  and  is  cognizant  of  the  facts,  and 
whose  name  shall  be  entered  on  the  record.  He  shall,  when  re4 
quested  by  any  such  claimant,  go  with  him  to  his  claim!  and  ex^' 
atci^ine  any  shaft  that  may  be  sunk  by  him,  or  tunnels  that  may 
b<b  opened  to  the  same,  and  make  measurements  of  the  same, 
aod  a  record  and  certificate  as  aforesaid ;  and  he  shall  in  like 
manner  examine,  measure,  or  estimate,  and  make  and  record  a 
certificate  of  any  work  which  is  required  by  law  to  be  done  by  a 
daimant.  And  the  said  recording  officer  shall,  quarterly,  file 
with  the  clerk  of  the  probate  court  of  the  county  m  which  said 
district  is  located  a  copy  by  him  certified  of  all  records  made  by 
him  for  the  three  months  last  preceding,  which  shall  be  duly 
recorded  by  said  clerk,  and  a  copy  of  said  record  duly  certified 
by  him  shall  be  evidence  of  its  contents  in  all  courts  of  this 
Territory.  And  such  recording  officer  shkll  be  liable  to  all  the 
penalties  provided  in  the  preceding  section  if  he  shall  neglect  or 
refuse  to  perfortii  any  of  the  acts  and  dutie^  required  of  him  by 
tliis  section,  but  shall  hot  be  required  to  perform  any  suidh  .setHi 


MINING  REGULATIONS  OF  ARIZONA.  - 


325 


ting  shall  at 
listricts  vrith 
J  section  re- 
that  he  will 
ler  recorder 
tath  shall  be 
all  record  in 
es  of  claims 
ind  auxiliary 
d  shall  note 
■ecordcd,  the 
shall  be  con- 
:n  requested 
see  that  the 
1  by  substan- 
ihall  make  a 
)ne,  and  cer- 
tificate of  the 
was  present 
lie  facts,  and 
lall,  when  re- 
laini  and  ex- 
els  that  may 
of  the  same, 
shall  in  like 
and  record  a 
be  done  by  a 
[uarterly,  file 
n  which  said 
)rds  made  by 
shall  be  duly 
duly  certified 
Durts  df  this 
ble  to  all  the 
all  neglect  or 
ed  of  him  by 
any  such  .ser- 


vice  until  his  fees  for  the  same,  to  be  fixed  by  the  mining  dis- 
tricts, are  paid  him,  if  he  requests  it.  And  if  any  paper  deposited 
with  him  for  record  is  required  to  be  recorded  by  the  clerk  of 
the  probate  court,  he  shall  at  the  time  said  paper  is  so  deposited 
with  him  take  and  receive  the  fee  fixed  by  law  for  recording 
such  paper  by  said  cicik,  and  pay  the  said  clerk  said  fee  when 
he  deposits  said  paper  with  him  to  be  recorded  as  aforesaid.  All 
such  mining  districts  majt  make  laws  not  inconsistent  with  the 
lavvs  of  the  Territory,  may  elect  officers  for  the  government  of 
such  districts,  and  fix  their  compensation,  but  all  such  acts  and 
proceedings  shall  be  recorded,  and  all  records  and  papers 
thereof  filed  with  the  clerk  of  the  probate  court  as  aforesaid. 

II.  Any  number  of  persons,  not  less  than  twelve,  owning 
mining  claims  in  any  mining  district,  or  in  any  contiguous  mining 
districts,  or  who  have  discovered  and  may  wish  to  denounce  a 
mine  or  mineral  lands,  not  within  the  limits  of  any  established 
mining  district,  may  proceed  to  make  a  new  mining  district  at  a 
meeting  of  persons  holding  claims  in  such  district  so  to  be  estab- 
lished, and  of  claimants  in  any  districts  to  be  divided  or  to  be 
included  therein.  They  shall  cause  a  notice  in  writing,  and 
9ipecifying  the  limits  of  said  contemplated  district,  signed  by 
them,  tu  be  posted  in  three  conspicuous  places  in  said  district, 
and  if  any  part  of  an  established  district  is  to  be  included  therein, 
by  leaving  a  copy  of  said  notice  with  the  recorder  of  said  district 
at  least  tr  n  days  before  the  day  of  said  meeting.  At  sai4 
meeting  all  persons  holding  claims  as.  aforesaid  may  vote,  and 
may  determine  by  a  majority  vote  of  those  present  whether  said 
new  district  shall  be  established,  and  its  limits,  but  within  the 
boundaries  named  in  the  notice  for  said  meeting,  and  thereupon 
the  persons  holding  claims  in  such  newly  established  district 
shall  proceed  to  select  a  name,  and  make  laws  therefor,  and 
elect  a.  recorder,  who  shall  be  qualified  as  aforesaid,  who  shall 
perfoxm  all  the  duties  nnd  be- subject  to  all  the  liabilities  provided 
in  this  chapter  for  such  officers,  and  shall  file  with  the  clerk  of 
the  probate  court  as  aforesaid  a  record  of  the  proceedings  of  this 
and  all  subsequent  meetings  at  the  time  and  in  the  manner 
herein  provided.  bs£  ,iti.r.a;ij 


iiiff<wiliiriniiwwiHiiiiiti 


336  OUX    WRSTERtf  RMPIRB.       W^ 

Sqc.  2S.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  claimants  of  mineral  tracts 
•to  sink  at  least  one  shaft  of  thirty  feet  in  depth,  or  to  run  a 
tunnel  of  fifty  feet  in  length,  in  the  body  of  the  vein  or  in  the 
adjoining  roclc,  so  as  to  test  the  vein  from  the  surface,  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  the  character  and  capacity  of  such 
mineral  deposit,  within  the  space  of  one  year  from  the  day  of 
^rsftaking  possession  thereof,  and  they  shall  notify  the  recorder 
of  the  mining  district  that  said  shaft  or  other  work  is  completed, 
and  that  they  intend  working  the  vein  or  mineral  deposit.  And 
the  recorder  sliall  examine  said  work  in  person,  and  make  and 
recprd  a  certificate  of  the  result  of  such  examination,  which 
shall  contain  a  statement  of  the  condition  and  quality  of  the  vein 
or  mineral  deposit,  the  amount  of  labor  performed,  and  a 
general  view  of  the  results  obtained.  Said  report  shall  be 
accompanied  by  three  specimens  taken  from  different  parts  of 
4lie  work,  which  said  specimens,  with  a  copy  of  the  record  so 
made  by  him,  shall  be  filed  by  him  within  the  time  required  by 
this  act  in  the  ofiFice  of  the  clerk  of  the  probate  court.  And  said 
clerk  shall  make  a  record  of  the  same.  Such  specimens  shall 
be  numbered  and  described  by  him,  and  be  preserved  for  the 
use  of  the  mineralogical  professorship  of  the  University  of  Ari- 
lona. 

Sec.  29.  The  judge  of  the  probate  court,  at  any  time  within 
thirty  days  after  the  record  made  by  the  clerk  of  said  court,  as 
provided  in  the  ^preceding  section,  upon  complaint  in  writing 
made  to  him  by  such  daimants,  describing  fully  their  claims, 
stating  the  labor  performed  by  them,  and  the  certificate  thereof, 
and  that  the  registration  af  the  same  has  been  made  as  required 
by  law,  and  requesting  that  their  title  thereto  may  be  confirmed, 
shall  cause  a  sumfn(vi!i,  under  the  seal  of  h^  court,  to  be  issued, 
requiring  all  persons  interested  to  appear  at  a  day  named  there- 
in, and  vrfiich;  shall  not  he  less  than  sixty  days  from  the  day  the 
same  -wfs  i&suedi  and :  show  cause  why  the  title  of  suck  com- 
pkunaots  and  claimants  should  not  he  confirmed,  a  copy  of 
which  complaint  and  summons,  duly  attested  by  tlie  t^i&i^  of  the 
probate  coil rt,  shall  be  published  twice  in  the  territorial  news- 
paper, and  be  kept  posted  in  the  office  of  said  clerk  from  die 


'•'»i®'^\>3g^*8IS!S»S««iSo»(KWB^ 


rilneral  tracts 
or  to  run  a 
:\n  or  In  the 
rface,  for  th*- 
city  of  such 
n  the  day  of 

the  recorder 
is  completed, 
eposit.  And 
td  make  and 
nation,  which 
ity  of  the  vein 
rmed,  and  a 
port  shall  be 
rent  parts  of 
he  record  so 

required  by 
rt.  And  said 
ecimens  shall 
irved  for  the 
ersity  of  Ari- 

ly  time  within 
said  court,  as 
int  in  writing 
their  claims, 
ficate  thereof, 
le  as  required 
be  confirmed, 
:,  to  be  issued, 
named  there- 
n  the  day  the 
of  sudi  com- 
d,  a  copy  <i^ 
le  ck&xk  of  the 
-ritorial  news- 
lerk  from  die 


PERFECTING    TITLE    TO  MIN/NG   CLAIMS, 


327 


day  of  issuing  the  same  to  the  return  day  thereof;  and  if  no 
person  shall  appear  on  such  return  day  to  contest  the  right  of  the 
claimants  to  such  claims,  the  judge  of  probate  shall  examine  all 
the  records  filed  in  the  office  of  his  clerk  relating  to  such  claims, 
and  if  he  finds  that  the  said  claimants  have  in  all  respects  com- 
plied with  the  provisions  of  this  chapter,  he  shall  make  a  decree 
in  substance  that  the  complainants  have  complied  with  the  laws 
of  this  Territory  relating  to  the  denouncement  and  registration 
of  mines,  have  acquired  a  perfect  title  to  their  claims  (describing 
the  same)  until  the  i  st  day  of  January,  a.  d.  i  868,  and  forever 
after  unless  abandoned  by  them.  And  the  said  clerk  shall  give 
the  said  claimant  a  copy  of  such  decree,  under  the  seal  of  the 
court,  which  shall  be  conclusive  evidence  of  title  in  any  pro- 
ceedings relating  to  such  claims,  until  they  are  abandoned.  And 
unless  the  persohs  adversely  interested  and  contesting  the  title 
of  the  complainants  shall  appear  on  the  day  named  in  said  com- 
plaint, and  proceed  as  hereinafter  provided,  they  shall  be  forever 
barred  from  contesting  the  title  of  said  complainants  to  such 
claims.  And  if  the  contestants  shall  so  appear  they  shall  on 
that  day  or  some  day  to  be  fixed  by  said  judge  proceed  to  file  an 
answer,  setting  forth  their  claim  and  case,  and  the  proceedings 
shall  then  be  conducted  in  conformity  to  the  provisions  of  this 
chapter  and  the  code  of  civil  practice.  And  whenever  a  final 
decree  is  made  thereon,  determining  the  title  to  said  claim  or 
mine,  by  sakl  judge,  or  by  any  other  court  on  appeal,  the  said 
judge  shall  cause  a  record  to  be  made  in  the  office  of  his  clerk 
of  such  decree,  and  a  certified  copy  thereof  may  be  made  as 
aforesaid,  with  the  like  effect.  And  any  claimants  of  mineral 
lands  who  before  this  act  takes  effect  have  in  any  way  or  under 
any  law  acquired  a  title  to  such  mineral  lands,  after  filing  with 
the  clerk  of  the  court  their  evidence  of  title  and  description  of 
claim  as  required  by  tliis  chapter,  may  cause  an  examination  of 
the  shaft  sunk  by  them  or  other  work  done  by  them  to  be  made 
as  aforesaid,  and  talce  the  like  proceedings  for  the  confirmation 
of  their  tides,  with  the  same  effect :  Provided,  This  section  shall 
not  apply  except  when  the  complainants  are  in  possession  of 
#uch  mitte  Or  mirtihg  rights,  claiming  title  thereto.^  '•••  vi4>i^^j/| 


i 


K 

'  1 

-•I 
:  r 


[^•'*J^»**ai'fl«>^->v.    .i<;tv3.;,vi 


^•)%)ll«jW<v«BlHra£MMI 


(ManiliMfeM»%Mv«r»H«lftfMfilj|M 


tumm. 


lilMiM 


p 


Sec.  30.  By  reason  of  the  Indian  wars  and  unsettled  cbnditlon 
of  the  country,  the  time  within  which  a  shaft  is  required  to  be 
sunk,  or  other  labor  performed  on  a  claim,  shall  not  commence 
until  two  years  from  the  day  this  act  takes  effect,  and  all  the  pro> 
visions  of  this  chapter  relating  thereto  are  suspended  for  that 
time ;  but  any  claimant  may  sink  a  shaft  or  do  such  other  labor, 
and  at  any  time  after  the  record  of  their  claims  with  the  probate 
court,  and  thereupon  institute  proceedings  to  confirm  their  tides, 
and  be  entided  to  all  the  rights  and  privileges  provided  for  io  5 
this  chapter. 

Sec.  31.  No  single  person  or  company  shall  be  compelled  tOs 
sink  shafts  or  make  other  improvements  on  more  than  one  of  the 
tracts  of  land  claimed  by  him  or  them   for  the  same  vein  or 
mineral  deposit;  and  any  number  of  claimants  on  the  same  vein 
or  mineral  deposit,  who  may  unite  for  said  purpose,  shall  be 
allowed  to  concentrate  labor,  capital,  and  energy  to  any  one? 
single  point  which  to  him  or  them  shall  be  the  best  suited  to  as-  i 
certain  to  the  best  advantage  the  general  character,  quality,  ana 
capacity  of  that  particular  vein  or  mineral  deposit,  and  may  take 
the  like  proceedings  to  confirm  their  tides.  ,- 

Sec.  32.  After  the  work  required  by  section  28  of  this  chapter 
has  been  performed,  and  the  record  thereof  made  as  therein  pro- 
vided, two  years  shall  be  allowed  the  claimants  of  mineral  lands 
to  develop  the  same,  and  procure  machinery  and  provide  for 
working  the  same;  and,  during  that  time  the  same  shall  not  be 
considered  abandoned,  although  no  work  be  done  thereon  :  Pro- 
vided, T|iat  in  such  an  event,  they  shall  annually,  and  before  the  ist 
day  of  June  in  eagh  year,  file  with  the  clerk  of  the  probate  court 
an  affidavit  signed  by  them  that  they  have  not  abandoned  such 
claims,  but  jntend,  in  good  faith,  to  work  them ;  and  said  term  of. 
two  years  shall  pot  conimence;  until  the  ist  day  of  January,  a.  d, 
1863.  ,Ar»d  after  the  expiration  of  said  term  of  two  years,  it  shall 
be  ol^Iig^tory  upon  claimants  to  such  mineral  lands  to  hold  actual 
po^^otision  of  them  and  work  the  vein,  which  obligation  shaU ,  be 
qonside^ed  a^  complied  wi^h  by  doing  at  least  thirty  days'  work 
chereon  in  eafh  year;  bv^t  .if  suipb, claimants  are  prevented  from 
working  such  veii;i  by  the  hostility  pf  Indians  or  other  good  cause, 


ed  ccndition 
[iiired  to  be 
t  oommence 
1  all  the  pro- 
Jed  for  that 
other  labor, 
the  probate 
n  their  tides, 
>vided  for  in 

:ompeIled  to 
in  one  of  the 
ime  vein  or 
le  same  vein 
osc,  shall  be 
to  any  one 
suited  to  as- 
,  quality,  and 
,nd  may  take 

this  chapter 
;  therein  pro- 
line ral  lands 

provide  for 
shall  not  be 
lereon :  Pro- 
sefore  the  i  st 
)robate  court 
ndoned  such 
said  term  of 
anuary,  a.  d, 
years,  it  shall 
p  hold  actual 
tion  shaU .  b^ 
y  days*  work 
:vented  from 
r  good  cause, 


NiNlNG  OX  PRIVATE  LAS'DH. 


329 


rendering  said  working  difficult  or  dangerous,  they  may,  1  y  au- 
thority of  the  judge  of  probate  first  obtained,  be  relicvctl  from 
performing  labor  thereon  from  time  to  time,  but  for  not  niorc 
than  one  year  at  any  one  time,  during  the  continuance  of  such 
cause. 

Sec.  33.  Any  person  who  may  discover  a  mineral  vein  or  de- 
posit as  aforesaid,  which  is  not  included  within  a  mining  district, 
or  which  may  be  in  a  mining  district  in  which  there  is  no  l('j;ally 
authorized  recorder,  may  acquire  title  thereto,  and  to  auxiliary 
lands,  by  giving  notice  as  aforesaid,  and  recording  the  same  with 
the  clerk  of  the  probate  court  of  the  county  in  which  the  same 
is  situated,  and  may  take  the  same  proceedings,  with  the  like 
effect,  with  the  clerk  of  the  probate  court  that  are  required  to  be 
taken  with  the  recorder  of  a  mining  district,    '^i.-  "  y  .rui 

!  Sec.  34.  Discoverers  of  mines  on  lands  in  the  legal  ownership 
or  possession  of  others,  and  not  public  lands,  before  doin;^  ihe 
work  of  sinking  the  shaft  required  by  section  28  of  this  chapter, 
shall  pay  to  such  parties  such  compensation  for  the  use  of  the 
same  as  may  be  awarded  by  the  judge  of  probate  upon  complaint 
of  either  party,  or  shall  give  bond  to  such  parties  for  payment 
of  the  same,  and  sureties  to  be  approved  by  said  judge ;  and 
whenever  it  becomes  necessary  or  advantageous  to  construct 
tunnels  for  the  purpose  of  drainage,  ventilation,  or  the  better 
hauling  of  ores  or  other  subterraneous  products  or  mining 
materials,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  any  party  or  parues  to  construct 
such  tunnel  or  drift  through  all  private  and  public  property: 
Provided^  That  all  damages  arising  from  such  subterranean  works 
to  the  other  parties,  to  be  determined  as  provided  above,  shall 
be  paid  by  the  parties  for  whose  benefit  such  tunnelling  is  done, 
to  be  paid  before  such  work  is  commenced,  or  security  given  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  judge  of  probate  for  the  payment  of  the 
same ;  but  no  damages  shall  be  paid  on  public  lands  when  claims 
for  such  lands  shall  be  set  up  after  such  tunnel  shall  have  been 
projected  or  actually  in  process  of  construction :  Provided,  That 
the  lapse  of  time  between  projection  and  actual  work  shall  not 
excieed  ninety  days,  and  that  the  tunnelling  parties  give  timely 
notice  of  their  project  to  any  new  claimant  of  the  so  affected 
ground. 


%. 


6!ai».^-4^-^i-'A^*^^-W4W^'"-i'^&^ 


ttrntumiimmkimtm 


mUim 


"^^ "  OVR    WESTkKfr  EMPIKK.% 

Sec.  35.  Whenever  such  tunnel  as  mentioned  In  the  preceding 
•ection  shall  intersect  or  traverse  mineral  deposits,  or  run  along 
lodes  claimed  and  held  by  other  parties,  then  it  shall  be  at  the 
option  of  the  owners  of  such  other  mineral  dt|Mi»it8  either  to  pay 
one-half  of  the  expense  of  excavation  for  the  distance  that  such 
tunnel  runs  through  their  mineral  deposits,  and  secure  the  whole 
of  the  ores  excavated,  or  to  divide  the  ores  with  the  tunnelling 
parties,  the  latter  paying  all  expenses  of  excavation  :  or,  it  shall 
be  optional  with  cither  party  to  abandon  all  claim  to  the  ores 
excavated. 

Sec.  36.  If,  in  the  construction  of  such  subterranean  works, 
new  veins  or  deposits  a.re  encountered  in  ground  not  claimed  or 
owned  by  other  parties,  they  shall  become  the  property  of  th<} 
party  for  whom  such  tunnel  is  constructed,  and  shall  be  denounced 
and  registered  as  is  required  of  new  mines,  and  shall  be  governed 
by  the  same  laws  as  are  prer.cribed  in  this  chapter.  i  ,1^ » 

Sec.  37.  Any  claimant  or  claimants  not  complying  with  any  of 
the  foregoing  conditions  and  obligations,  shall  forfeit  all  right  to 
any  such  recorded  or  unrecorded  claims  to  mineral  and  auxiliary 
tracts  ;  and  it  shall  not  be  lawful  for  him  or  them  to  register  such 
claims  anew  within  a  period  of  three  years  after  such  forfeiture. 
All  such  tracts  shall  be  free  for  working  and  registry  to  any  but 
those  excepted  in  this  section. 

Sec.  38.  All  veins  and  mineral  deposits  situated  on  public 
lands,  whidi  have  not  been  worked  and  occupied  from  the 
time  of  the  acquisition  of  the  Territory  by  the  United  States  up 
to  the  time  of  the  passage  of  this  chapter,  except  as  herein  pro- 
vided, shall  be  considered  as  abandoned  and  subject  to  registry 
and  deoouncemeat.  ,  ..jua^    i  i    n-  j  I 

Sec.  39.  All  veins  and  mineral  deposits  that  have  been  or  may 
be  abandoned  hereafter  shall;  in  all  cases  and  respects,  be  gov- 
erned hy  the  laws  regulating  the  opening  and  working  of  new 
veins  and  deposits,  as  prescribed  in  this  chapter. 

Sec.  40.  Whenever  any  mine,  vein,  or  mineral  deposit  shall 
have  been  abandoned  or  forfeitetl  in  accordance  with  the  provi- 
ajona  of  this  chapter,  and  regi^ered  anew  by  other  parties,  It  shall 
l)e  obligatory  upon  such  parties  to  give  the  former  owners  warning 


awsaiWwiMWiiiii'MMWiwiiwi 


A^AffDOffKD  MltfmO  Ct.AIMS. 


}» 


\t  preceding 
ar  run  along 
all  be  at  the 
cither  to  pay 
ice  that  such 
re  the  whole 
le  tunnelling 
;  or,  it  shall 
to  the  ores 

nean  works, 
»t  claimed  or 
>perty  of  th«j 
e  denounced 
be  governed 

r  with  any  of 
t  all  right  to 
md  auxiliary 
register  such 
:h  forfeiture, 
•y  to  any  but 

!d  on  public 
ed  from  the 
cd  States  up 
3  herein  pro- 
ct  to  registry 

been  or  may 
ects,  be  gov- 
rking  of  new 

deposit  shall 
th  the  provi- 
arttes,  It  shall 
'ners  warning 


thcrcoll  fo  an  to  remove  from  the  tract,  within  the  space  of  three 
months,  anything  he  or  they  may  think  valuable  or  UHc?ful.  Such 
warning  shall  be  given  in  the  nearest  newspaper  published  in  the 
Territory,  and  by  posting  it  at  three  of  the  most  conspicuous 
places  in  the  county  where  the  mine  is  situated.  Three  months 
after  the  expiration  of  such  warning,  any  and  all  buildings, 
furnaces,  arrastras,  metals,  and  every  other  species  of  property 
which  may  still  remain  on  the  ground  of  such  mine,  vein,  or 
mineral  deposit  shall  become  the  undisputed  property  of  the  new 
claimant,  without  compensation  of  any  kind  to  any  person  what- 
ever. 

Sec.  41.  Any  person  taking  possession  of  or  entering  upon  a 
mining  claim  or  auxiliary  lands,  registered  according  to  the  pro- 
visions of  this  chapter,  and  before  it  is  abandoned,  shall  be  ousted 
dierefrom  in  a  summary  manner  by  the  order  of  the  probate 
judge,  and  the  malfeaser  shall  be  adjudged  to  pay  all  damages 
and  costs  consequent  thereon.  ..,  *;,.„,  ^»,., 

Sec.  51.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  persons  who  may  dRscovcr  and 
claim  mining  rights  or  mineral  lands,  at  the  same  time  that  they 
may  define  the  boundary  of  their  claim  or  claims  to  any  lode  or 
mine  as  required  by  the  provisions  of  this  chapter,  to  lay  off  and 
define  the  boundary  of  one  pertenencia,  as  required  by  the  pro- 
visions of  this  chapter,  adjoining  their  claim  or  claims,  which  shall 
be  the  property  of  the  Territory  of  Arizona.  And  at  |he  same 
time  that  they  present  their  notice  of  claim  or  claims  to  be  recorded 
hy  tlie  recorder  of  the  mining  district,  they  shall  also  present  to 
such  recorder  the  claim  of  said  Territory.  And,  if  said  discoverers 
Und  claimants  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  present  to  such  recorder 
the  claim  of  said  Territory  as  aforesaid,  they  shall  forever  forfeit  all 
claim  to  the  mine  or  ledge  so  discovered  by  them.  Any  record- 
ing officer  recording  the  claim  or  claims  of  such  discoverers  and 
claimants,  when  the  daim  of  said  Territory  is  not  filed  therewith 
as  aforesaid,  shall  b^  subject  tp  all  the  penalties  provided  in 
section  26  of  this  chapter.  Such  claim  shall  be  recorded  as  pro- 
vided in  this  chapter  for  like  claims,  but  no  work  shall  be  required 
to  be  done  thereon,  nor  shall  it  be  considered  to  he  abandoned 
so  long  as^it  is  the  property  of  the  Territory ;  and  if  sold,  the 


3! 

i 


MawiiMMiaitiiiii 


3J3 


0U9    WKSTKKN  KMPilfM, 


time  within  which  the  purchaser  Ahall  l)C  required  to  work  said 
claim  shall  commence  from  the  day  of  sale,  except  when  the  time 
in  suHpended  as  before  provided.  Kvery  clerk  of  the  probate 
court,  as  soon  as  he  record*  the  said  claim,  shall  send  a  copy  of 
his  record  to  the  treasurer  of  the  Territory,  and  no  fees  Hhall  br 
charged  by  any  recording  officer  in  any  matter  relating  to  naid 
claim.  And  the  Territorial  treasurer  may,  at  any  time  after  six 
n  onths  from  the  day  he  receives  such  record  as  aforesaid,  and  at 
such  time  and  place  as  in  his  opinion  will  be  most  for  the  interest 
of  the  Territory,  cause  such  claim  to  be  sold  at  auction  to  the 
highest  bidder ;  but  every  such  sale  shall  be  at  Ifrast  twice  adver- 
tised in  the  Territorial  newspaper,  and  be  held  at  his  office,  or 
the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  probate  court,  or  the  recorder  of 
the  mining  district  of  the  county  where  the  claim  is  situated. 
And  the  treasurer  is  authorized  to  make  a  deed  of  the  same  to 
the  purchaser  in  the  name  of  the  Territory ;  and  the  amount 
received  by  him  shall  be  added  by  him  to  any  fund  now  or  here- 
after provided'  for  the  protection  of  the  people  of  the  Territory 
of  Arizona  against  hostile  Indians,  and  be  expended  as  provided 
by  law.  And  after  all  such  expenses  as  are  incurred  by  the  Terri- 
torial authorities  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  or  bringing  into 
subjection  all  hostile  Indian  tribes  in  this  Territory  are  liquidated, 
then  all  remaining  or  accruing  funds,  out  of  all  or  any  sales  of 
Territorial  mining  claims,  shall  be  applied  as  a  sinking  fund  for 
school  purposes. 

Sec.  53.  The  extracti6n  of  gold  from  alluvial  and  diluvial 
deposits,  generally  termed  placer  mining,  shall  not  be  considered 
mining  proper,  and  shall  not  entitle  persons  occupied  in  it  to  the 
provisions  of  this  chapter,  nor  shall  any  previous  section  of  this 
chapter  be  so  construed  as  to  refer  to  the  extraction  of  gold  from 
the  above-mentioned  deposits.         ainW 

Sec.  53.  This  chapter  shall  be  in  force  and  take  effect  from 
and  after  the  ist  day  of  January,  a.  d.  1865. 


V'i 


.'■?•• 


MM 


mm 


work  Mid 
[»  th«^  time 
c  probate 
a  copy  of 
;•  chall  be 
ng  to  Haid 
c  after  six 
aid,  and  at 
l\c  interest 
ion  to  the 
vice  adver* 
is  office,  or 
reorder  of  • 
s  situated. 
tie  Bame  to 
he  amount 
jw  or  hcrc- 
e  Territory 
IS  provided 
^  the  Terri- 
in|(ing  into 

liquidated, 
ny  sales  of 

g  fund  for 

|nd  diluvial 

considered 

in  it  to  the 

ition  of  this 

f  gold  from 

effect  from 


M/y/A'o  lAwx  or  coioa'apo. 
MINING   LAWS  OF  COLORADO. 


Hi 


.♦ ,  ' 


.  ..  AN   ACT  roNCERNINll    MINF.S. 

IW  k  •fiAClvd  liy  the  Council  «nd  (lou^  ttf  K«|trv««nuiivff«  uf  Culorftdoi 

"''''''''  '"      BXTKNT  ur  LODK  CIAIM. 

Secfion  I.  The  length  of  any  lode  claim  hereafter  located  may 
eciuul  but  not  exceed  1,500  feet  along  the  vein. 

niMRNnioN*. 
Sec.  2.  'The  width  of  lode  claims  hereafter  located  in  Gilpin, 
Cl<*ar  Creek,  BouI^Jer  and  Summit  counties,  shall  be  seventy-five 
frtt  oil  each  side  of  the  centre  of  the  vein  or  crevitc; ;  and  in  all 
other  counties  the  width  of  the  same  shall  be  150  feet  on  each 
side  of  the  centre  of  the  vein  or  crevice :  Prorided,  That  here- 
after any  county  may,  at  any  general  election,  determine  on  a 
greater  width,  not  exceeding  300  feet  on  each  side  of  the  centre 
of  the  vein  or  lode,  by  a  majority  of  the  Icjjal  votes  cast  at  said 
election ;  and  any  county,  by  such  vote  at  such  election,  may 
determine  upon  a  less  width  than  above  specified.      .^^  .,  1.    ,j,,  t 

,    '  ■"  i-  - 

il#>  *^W?fif    '*»•■  CERTiriCATK  or    LOCATION.  '!     *(,j    ;,    !u     '>,llt,». 

Sec.  3.  The  discoverer  of  a  lode  shall,  within  three  months 
from  the  date  of  discovery,  record  his  claim  in  the  office  of  the 
recoi  ler  of  the  county  in  which  such  lode  is  situated  by  a  loca- 
tion certificate,  which  shall  contain :  i  st,  tlu;  name  of  the  lode ; 
2cl,  the  name  of  the  locator;  3d,  the  date  of  location;  4th,  the 
number  of  feet  in  length  claimed  on  each  side  of  the  centre  of 
the  discovery  shaft ;  5th,  the  general  course  of  tlie  lode  as  noar 
as  may  be.  - 1..,(.^<^:  .«•  f...<>JH*.n/«-.  t*A  WirA 

WHKM    VOID. 

Sec.  4.  Any  location  certificate  of  a  lode  claim  which  shall  not 
contain  the  name  of  the  lode,  the  name  of  the  locator,  the  date 
ol  location,  the  number  of  lineal  feet  claimed  on  each  side  of  the 
discfA'cry  shaft,  the  general  course  of  the  lode,  and  such  descrip- 
tion as  shall  identify  the  claim  with  reasonable  certainty,  shall 
be  void. 

DISCOVBRY  8HAPT. 

Sec.  5.  Before  filing  such  location  certificate  the  discoverer 


\ 


I 


.jrtffdlni'^- 


Rhall  locntr  \m  (taim  hy  firnt  linking  a  diKCOvery  fthnCt  upon  the 
lode  to  tin;  cirptli  of  at  leant  ten  feet  Trom  the  lowc»t  part  of  the 
rim  of  mu  h  shaft  at  th«  Hurface,  or  deeper,  if  nrtfssary  to  »how 
a  well  defieie«l  crevic  '.  *SfitmJ,  by  posting  a(  the  point  of  dii^- 
covcry  on  the  surface,  a  plain  »ij;n  or  n«>iKt'  toniaminjj;  the  name 
of  the  loile,  the  name  of  lite  locator,  and  the  date  of  diiu:ovcry. 
Thint,  by  marking  the  surface  boundaricM  of  the  claim. 

kTAKINO 

Sei  .  6.  Such  lurface  boundaries  shall  be  marked  by  six  aub- 
aUlttial  poHtH,  hewed  or  marked  on  the  vide  or  Hides  which  are 
in  toward  the  claim,  and  sunk  in  the  )|round,  lo  wit :  One  at 
each  corner  and  one  at  t.  ^  centre  of  each  aide  line.  Where  it 
it  practically  impojutible  on  account  of  bed-rock  or  precipitous 
ground  to  bink  such  posts,  they  may  be  placed  in  a  pile  of  stones. 

Skc.  7.  Any  open  cut,  cross  cut  or  timnel  which  shall  cut  i 
lotte  at  the  depth  of  ten  feet  below  the  surface,  shall  hold  such 
lode  the  same  as  if  a  discovery  shaft  were  sunk  thereon,  or  an 
adit  of  at  least  ten  feet  alonj^  the  lode,  from  the  point  where  the 
lode  may  be  in  any  omnner  discoyejred^' aliail  be  equivalent  to  a 

diwovery  shaft.     ,.,'J,l,'{uus, 

,     ' ,  Tim 


u. 


I 


^%tc.  8.  The  discoverer  shall  have  sixty  days  from  the  time  of 
tinco'^ring  or  disclosing  a  lode  to  sink  a  discovery  shaft  thereon. 

lu  •Jl3n*>>    •Sdl    U}  'eONSTKUCTION  or  CERTlrfCATt  '"    •    '     ■''^f* 

'''8ec.  9.  The  location  or  location  certificate  of  any  lode  claim 
shall  be  construed  to  include  all  surface  ground  within  the  ^ixr- 
face  lines  thereof  and  all  lodes  and  ledges  throughout  their 
entire  depth,  the  top  or  apex  of  which  lies  inside  of  such  lines 
extended  downward,  vertically,  with  such  parts  of  all  lodes  or 
ledges  as  continue  to  dip  beyond  the  side  lines  of  the  claim,  but 
shiin  not  include  any  portion  of  such  lodes  or  ledges  beyond  the 
end  lines  of  the  claim,  or  at  the  end  lines  Continued,  whether  byi 
dip  or  otherwise,  or  beyond  the  side  lines  in  any  other  manner 
than  by  the  dip  of  the  lode.  '  h'. 


lafi  upon  the 
It  part  of  the 
sary  tJ)  show 
point  of  Uin^ 
10);  tho  name 
uf  ilincovcry. 


iim. 


::i"  • 


i  by  BIX  Bub* 
ei  which  aru 
wit:  One  at 
e.  Where  it 
r  precipitoua 
}ile  of  stonci. 

\  shall  cut  a 
ill  hold  such 
hereon,  or  an 
int  where  the 
^utvalent  to  a 

n  the  time  of 
ihaft  thereon. 


ly  lode  claim 
ithin  the  idr- 
lughout  their 
of  such  lines 
all  lodes  or 
the  claim,  but 
:s  beyond  the 
i,  whether  by 
3ther  manner 


MU'lOCATtOfi  Of  ClAtiljL 


))S 


9rr.  to.  If  thr  top  or  afux  oi  a  |<k||.  jn  its  longitudinal  rourn* 
CXtcmU  Iwyuml  the  rxtfrior  liixs  of  thr  claim  at  any  point  on 
the  surCacc,  or  as  rxtrntU-cl  vcrti<  ally  doVtrnwanl,  niu  h  Uuir  may 
not  l>«'  followed  in  it«  longitudinal  « oursc  beyond  the  point  wIktc 
it  U  intrrncctf**!  by  ihr  exterior  linci.f'  <'*    .   ,,    •    '  »  ^», 

♦•«.!!  yum  V'dl  j,^,,,^  „^  ^,^y  ^^„  g,y^^  y^  HunrAc*  '  "  ' 

Sr.C.  II.  All  minin)i;  claimn  now  hxatr-d,  or  which  may  hcrt** 
after  !)«•  luratrd,  nhall  be  subject  to  the  right  of  way  of  any  ditch 
or  llumc  for  mining  purpoNcf,  or  any  tramway  or  pack-trail, 
whfther  now  in  u*e  or  which  may  be  hereafter  laid  out  acroMi 
any  such  location:  I*rm)uUd  aJtvays,  That  such  right  of  waynhnll 
not  be  ex«rciHed  against  any  locition  duly  nnuU*  and  recorded 
anti  not  abandoned  prior  to  the  establishment  of  the  ditch  or 
iUime.  tramway,  or  pack-trail,  without  consent  of  the  owner, 
except  by  condemnation,  as  in  cane  of  land  taken  for  pubNe 
highways-  I'arol  consent  to  the  location  of  any  such  easement, 
accompaiMcu  by  the  completion  of  the  same  over  the  ckaim,  shall 
be  sufficient  without  writings.  And  provided  furthtr.  That  such 
ditch  or  llumc  shall  be  so  constructed  that  the  water  from  mn:h 
ditch  or  flume  shall  not  injure  vested  rights  by  flooding  or 
Otherwise. 

Sic.  li.  When  the  right  to  mine  is  in  any  case  separate  from 
the  ownership  or  right  of  occupancy  to  the  surface,  the  owner  ci* 
rightful  occupant  of  die  surface  may  demand  satisfactory  security 
from  the  miner,  and  if  it  be  refused,  may  enjoin  such  miner  from 
working  until  such  security  is  given.  The  order  for  injunction 
shall  fix  the  amount  of  the  bond.  .^      >        . 

RELOCATION   or   CM»MS  «.       r<       ,.    ' 

Sec.  13.  If  at  any  time  the  locator  of  any  mining  claim  here- 
tofore or  hereafter  located,  or  his  assigns,  shall  apprehend  that 
his  original  certificate  was  defective,  erroneous,  or  that  the  re- 
quirements of  the  law  had  not  been  fcomplied  with  before  filing? 
or  sliall  be  desirous  of  changing  his  surface  boundaries ;  or  of 
taking  in  any  part  of  an  overlapping  claim  which  has  been  aban>t 
doned ;  or  in  case  the  original  certificate  was  made  prior  to  the 


V 

* 


I 


I 


'fit 


i'  % 


I 


jj(5  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRR. 

passage  of  this  law,  and  he  shall  be  desirous  of  securing  the  bene- 
fits of  this  act,  such  locator  or  his  assigns  may  file  an  addi- 
tional certificate,  subject  to  the  provisions  of  this  act:  Provided, 
That  such  relocation  does  not  interfere  with  che  existing  rights 
of  others,  at  the  time  of  such  relocation  ;  and  no  such  relocation, 
or  t!.e  record  thereof,  shall  preclude  the  claimant  or  claimants 
from  proving  any  such  title  or  tides  as  he  or  they  may  have 
held  under  previous  location.  ^nVt'm  I!/* 

,'f*)>f^  PROOF  OF    DEVELOPMENT.  '      'iJl*  ' 

IhSec.  14.  The  amount  of  work  done,  or  improvements  made 
during  each  year,  shall  be  that  prescribed  by  the  laws  of  the 
United  States.  '  /Hii''.,Mi.;'4vv,.v.     \   .  ■"  'ni*,  . 

FORM  or  ArriDAviT. 

Sec.  15.  Within  six  months  after  any  set  timfe,  or  annual 
period  herein  allowed  for  the  performance  of  labor  or  making 
improvemenis  upon  any  lode  claim,  the  person  on  whor^e  behalf 
such  outlay  was  made,  or  some  person  for  him,  shall  make  and 
recQ'  1  an  affidavit  in  substance  as  follows: 

State  or  Colorado,  ) 
County  or ) 

Before  me,;the  subscriber,  personally  appeared who,  being 

duly  sworn,  saith  that  al  least dollars' worth  of  work  01  !rn«  ^ 

provements  were  performed  or  made  upon  [here  describe  the  claim  or  part  of 

claiin']  situate  in mining  district,  county  of. State 

of  Colorado.     Such  expenditure  was  made  by  or  at  the  expense  of. 

owners  of  said  claim,  for  the  purpose  of  said  cliiim. 

[Jurat.];!  sa      ■■     (Signature.) 

•And  such  signature  shall  be  prima  facte  evidence  of  the  perv 
formance  of  such  labor.  if 

won  XING  OVER   CLD  CLAIMS.  ' 

Sec.  16.  The  relocation  of  abandoned  lode  claims  shall  be  by 
sinking  a  new  discovery  shaft  and  fixing  new  boundaries  in  the 
same  manner  as  if  it  were  the  location  of  a  new  claim ;  or  the 
relocator  may  sink  the.  original  discovery  shaft  ten  feet  deeper 
than  it  was  at  the  time  of  abandonment,  and  erect  new  or  adopt 
Ae  old  boiindariesi  'renewing  the  posts  if  removed  or  destroyed. 
In  either  c^se  a  new  locatioii-stake  shall  Ibe  erected.    In  ^i^ 


R£QPHD  FOR  QLAJM. 


337 


J  the  bene- 
e  an  addi- 
:  Provided, 
iting  rights 

I  relocation, 
r  claimants 
y  may  have 

nents  made 
laws  of  the 

,  or  annual 
r  or  niaking 
'hofie  behalf 

II  make  and 


....who,  being 
of  work  01  Jm- 
aim  or  part  of 
State 


.(Signature.) 
of  the  per* 


s  shall  be  by 
daries  in  the 
aim;  or  the 
1  feet  deeper 
lew  or  adopt 
Dr  destroyed, 
ted.    In  ^iiy* 


<lise,  whether  the  whole  or  part  of  an  abandoned  claim  is  taken, 
the  location  certificate  may  state  that  the  whole  or  any  part  uf 
the  new  location  is  located  as  abandoned  property. 


RECORD  rOR   CLAIM. 


Sec.  17.  No  location  certificate  shall  claim  more  than  one 
location,  whether  the  location  be  made  by  one  or  several  locators. 
And  if  it  pufport  to  claim  more  than  one  location,  it  shall  be 
absolutely  void,  except  as  to  the  first  location  therein  described. 
And  if  they  are  described  together,  so  that  it  cannot  be  told 
which  location  is  first  described,  the  certificate  sh^t!!  hi.  void  as 
toal'. 

Sec.  18.  All  acts  or  parts  of  acts  in  conflict  witu  <y>'<^  act  are 
bereby  repealed. 

Sec.  1 9.  This  act  shall  be  in  force  from  .and  after  June  1 5, 

«874. 
Approved  February  13,  1874. 


■■>fW 


:f 


SUPPLEMENTARY  ACT. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Council  )ind  House  of  Representatives  of  Colorado! 

JURISDICTION   OF  AUTHORITIES.  »' 

Sec  I.  In  all  actions  pending  in  any  district  court  of  this 
Territory,  wherein  the  title  or  right  of  possession  to  any  mining 
claim  shall  be  in  dispute,  the  said  court,  or  the  judge  thereof, 
may,  upon  application  of  any  of  the  parties  to  such  suit,  enter 
an  order  for  the  underground  as  well  as  the  surface  survey  of 
;$uch  part  of  the  property  in  dispute  as  may  be  necessary  to  a 
just  determination  of  the  question  involved.  Such  order  shall 
designate  some  competent  surveyor,  not  related  to  any  of  the 
parties  to  such  suit,  or  in  anywise  interested  in  the  result  of  the 
same ;  and  upon  the  application  df  the  party  adverse  to  such 
application,  the  court  may  also  appoint  some  competent  surveyor, 
to  be  selected  by  such  adverse  applicant,  whose  duty  it  shall  be 
to  attend  upon  f  :h  survey,  and  observe  the  method  of  making 
ti>e  same.;  said  s^ond  survey  to  be  at  the  cost  of  the  party 
asking  therofor.  It  ^11  also  be  lawful  in  such  order  to  specify 
the  names  of  witnesses  named  by  eith^  par^,  not  exceeding 
jhr^e  on  each  side,  to  examine  such  property,  who  shall  hece- 


r'-iis^W-  v^^iniiiiift&i^^ 


% 


338  OVJt    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

upon  be  allowed  to  enter  into  such  property  and  examine  the 
same ;  said  court,  or  the  judge  thereof,  may  also  cause  the  re- 
moval of  any  rock,  debris,  or  other  obstacle  in  any  of  the  drifts 
or  shafts  of  said  property,  when  such  removal  is  shown  to  be 
necessary  to  a  just  determination  of  the  questions  involved: 
Pfovided,  however.  That  no  such  order  shall  be  made  for  survey 
and  inspection,  except  in  open  court  or  in  chambers,  upon 
notice  of  application  for  such  order  of  at  least  six  days,  and  not 
then  except  by  agreement  of  parties  or  upon  the  afifidavit  of  two 
or  more  perspns  that  such  survey  and  inspection  is  necessary  to 
the  just  determination  of  the  suit,  which  afifidavits  shall  state  the 
facts  in  such  case,  and  wherein  the  necessity  for  survey  exists ; 
nor  shall  such  order  be  made  unless  it  appears  that  the  party 
asking  therefor  has  been  refused  the  privilege  of  survey  and  in- 
spection by  the  adverse  party.  ^    ,>  ^ 


WRITS  RESTORING  POSSESSION. 


Sec.  2.  The  said  district  courts  of  this  State,  or  any  judge 
thereof,  sitting  Ip  chancery,  shall  have,  in  addition  to  the  power 
already  possessed,  power  to  issue  writs  of  injunction  for  affirma- 
tive relief,  having  the  force  and  effect  of  a  writ  of  restitution, 
restoring  any  person  or  persons  to  the  possession  of  any  mining 
property  from  which  he  or  they  may  have  been  ousted,  by  force 
and  violence,  or  by  fraud,  or  from  which  they  are  kept  out  of 
possession  by  threats,  or  whenever  such  possession  was  taken 
from  him  or  them  by  entry  of  the  adverse  party  on  Sunday  or  a 
legal  holiday,  or  while  the  party  in  possession  was  temporarily 
absent  therefrom.  The  granting  of  such  writ  to  extend  only  to 
the  right  of  possession  under  the  facts  of  the  case  in  respect  to 
the  manner  in  which  the  possession  was  obtained^  leaving  he 
parties  to  their  legal  rights  on  all  other  questions  as  though  no 
such  writ  had  issued.  i 

PENALTIES   FOLIiOWING  UNLAWFUL  ENTRY.  r 

Sec.  3.  In  all  cases  where  two  or  more  persons  shall  associate 

.themselves  together  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  the  possession 

,.of  any  lode,  gulch  pr  placer  claim,  then  in  the  actual  possession 

of  another,  by  force  and  violence,  or  threats  of  violence,  or  by 


MMMMMH 


iMMIiil 


fOKCE   Of    VIOLENCE, 


339 


nd  examine  the 
io  cause  the  re- 
any  of  the  drifts 
is  shown  to  be 
stions  involved: 
made  for  survey 
chambers,  upon 
ix  days,  and  not 
;  affidavit  of  two 
1  is  necessary  to 
ts  shall  state  the 
»r  survey  exists ; 
}  that  the  party 
if  survey  and  in- 


e,  or  any  judge 
on  to  the  power 
ction  for  affirma- 
it  of  restitution, 
>n  of  any  mining 
ousted,  by  force 
ire  kept  out  of 
ssion  was  taken 
on  Sunday  or  a 
was  temporarily 
)  extend  only  to 
ise  in  respect  to 
nedy  leaving  the 
US  as  though  no 


IS  shall  associate 
y  the  possession 
ctual  possession 
violence,  or  by 


stealth,  and  shall  proceed  to  carry  out  such  purpose  by  making 
threats  against  the  party  or  parties  in  possession,  or  who  shall 
enter  upon  such  lode  or  mining  claim  for  the  purpose  aforesaid, 
or  who  shall  enter  upon  or  into  any  lode,  gulch,  placer  claim, 
quartz-mill  or  other  mining  property,  or  not  being  upon  such 
property,  but  within  hearing  of  the  same,  shall  make  any  threats, 
or  make  use  of  any  language,  signs  or  gestures,  calculated  to 
intimidate  any  person  or  persons  at  work  on  said  property  from 
continuing  to  work  thereon  or  therein,  or  to  intimidate  others 
from  engaging  to  work  thereon  or  therein,  every  such  person  so 
offending  shall,  on  conviction  thereof,  be  fined  in  a  sum  not  to 
exceed  $250,  and  be  imprisoned  in  the  county  jail  not  less  than 
thirty  days  nor  more  than  six  months ;  such  fine  to  be  discharged 
either  by  payment  or  by  confinement  in  said  jail  until  such  fine 
is  discharged  at  the  rate  of  $2.50  per  day.  On  trials  under  this 
section,  proof  of  a  common  purpose  of  two  or  more  persons  to 
obtain  possession  of  property,  as  aforesaid,  or  to  intimidate 
laborers  as  above  set  forth,  accompanied  or  followed  by  any  of 
the  acts  above  specified  by  any  of  them,  shall  be  sufficient  evi- 
dence to  convict  any  one  committing  such  acts,  although  the  par- 
ties may  not  be  associated  together  at  the  time  of  committing 
the  same.  '.'/os' 


FORCE   OR   VIOLENCE. 


Sec.  4.  If  any  person  or  persons  shall  associate  and  agree  to 
enter  or  attempt  to  enter  by  force  of  numbers,  and  the  terror 
such  numbers  are  calculated  to  inspn-e,  or  by  force  and  violence, 
or  by  threats  of  violence  against  any  person  or  persons  in  the 
actual  possession  of  any  lode,  gulch  or  placer  claim,  and  upon 
such  entry  or  attempted  entry,  any  person  or  persons  shall  be 
killed,  said  persons,  and  all  and  each  of  them  so  entering  or 
attempting  to  enter,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  murder  in  the  first 
degree,  and  punished  accordingly.  Upon  the  trial  of  such  cases, 
any  person  or  parties  cognizant  of  such  entry,  or  attempted  entry, 
who  shall  be  present,  aiding,  assisting,  or  in  anywise  encouraging 
such  entry,  or  attempted  entry,  shall  be  deemed  a  principal  in 
the  commission  of  said  offence. 


■•r 


,  :>■-:■■>  '^.•r/A^^i'i^ll^f^ 


340 


OVR    WESTEKrf  EMPIRE. 


Sec.  5.  This  act  shall  take  effect  end  be  in  force  from  and 

tffterits  psssagfe.  ♦''*' "■"  ''  -Alwir-Twrv w»n,!,i;jnv;^».T,nf1'»-; 

•  Approved  Ftftiruary  13,  1874.  ">"v..<l  >:  -^j  ^/to^jc  ■^vr.Uf 

'        ,  ?,     ,  THE  ACT  OF  1877.  .  .,'  ^ 

An  Act  to  provide  for  the  Drainage  of  Mine*,  and  to  regulate  the  Liabilitim  of  M inert,  Mine* 
Owners  and  Mill-Men  in  certain  ca*c*,  and  to  repeal  all  Territorial  acU  on  the  lubjact. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Astcrobly  of  the  State  of  Colorado  i 

DRAINAGE. 

1830. — Sec.  I.  Whenever  contiguous  or  adjacent  mines  upon 
the  same  or  upon  separate  lodes  have  a  common  ingress  of 
water,  or  from  subterraneous  communication  of  the  water  have 
a  common  drainage,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  owners,  lessees 
or  occupants  of  each  mine  so  related  to  provide  for  their  pro* 
portionate  share  of  the  drainage  thereof. 

TENALTY    FOg   NON  QOM PUANOK. 

1831. — Sec.  2.  Any  parties  so  related  failing  to  provide  as 
aforesaid  for  the  drainage  of  the  mines  owned  or  occupied  by 
them,  thereby  imposing  an  unjust  burden  upon  neighboring 
mines,  whether  owned  or  occupied  by  them,  shall  pay  respec- 
tively to  those  performing  the  work  of  drainage  their  proportion 
of  the  actual  and  necessary  cost  and  expense  of  doing  such 
drainage,  to  be  recovered  by  an  action  in  any  court  of  competent 
jurisdiction. 

COMMON   INTBRESTS. 

1833."— Sec.  3.  f t  shaU  be  lawful  for  all  mining  corporations 
or  comfianie^,  and  all  individuals  engaged  in  mining,  who  have 
thus  a  •Q0mm6n  interest  <in  draining  such  mines,  to  unite  for  die 
purpose  of  eflecdng  the  same,  under  such  common  name  and 
upon  such  terms  and  conditions  as  may  be  agreed  upon ;  and 
every  such  association  having  (Vied  a  certificate  of  incorporation, 
as  provided  by  law,  shall  be  deemed  a  corporation,  with  all  the 
rights,  incidents  and  liabilities  of  a  body  corporate,  so  &r  as  the 
■same  may  be  applicable. 

SUBJECT  TO  ACTION, 

1833. — Sec.  4.  Failing  to  mutually  agree,  as  indicated  in  the 
preceding  section  for  drainage  jointly,  one  or  more  of  the  said 


IMil 


I 


e  from  and 

-t'  s 

of  Minen.  Mine- 
n  the  tubiect. 


mines  upon 
I  ingress  of 
:  wacer  have 
T\ers,  lessees 
jr  their  pro- 


0  provide  as 
occupied  by 
neighboring 
pay  respec- 

;ir  proportion 
doing  such 

of  competent 


corporations 
ing,  who  have 

unite  for  the 
m  name  and 
:d  upon;  and 
incorporation, 
[1,  with  all  the 
,  so  &r  as  the 


licated  in  the 
re  of  the  said 


ACTION  TO  RECOVER— WATEH  RIGHTS. 


y^ 


parties  may  undertake  the  work  of  drainage,  after  giving  reasonr 
able  notice ;  and  should  the  remaining  parties  then  fail,  neglect 
or  refuse  to  unite  in  equitable  arrangements  for  doing  the  work, 
or  sharing  the  expense  thereof,  they  shall  be  subject  to  an  action 
therefor  as  already  specified,  to  be  enforced  in  any  court  o{  coiiir 
petent  jurisdiction.  '.v..        .»...  ^   ',>  ;' ,  ,      ,      ,^ 

'.'•  .  ',.  •        ACTION    TO    RECOVER.  '  '    ^fk>t    .i      s   >  ( . 

I  854.-~<-Sec.  5.  When  an  action  is  commenced  to  recover  the 
cost  and  expenses  for  draining  a  lode  or  mine,  it  shall  he  lawful 
fbr  the  plaintiff  to  apply  to  the  court,  if  in  session^  op  to  the 
jtidge  thereof  in  vacation,  for  an  order  to  inspect  and  examine 
the  lodes  or  mines  claimed  to  have  been  drained  by  the  plaintiff; 
or  some  one  for  him  shall  make  afRdavit  that  such  inspection  or 
examination  is  necessary  for  the  proper  preparation  of  the  case 
for  trial ;  and  the  court  or  judge  shall  grant  an  order  Asr  the 
underground  inspection  and  examination  of  the  lode  or  mines 
described  in  the  petition.  Such  order  shall  designate  the 
number  of  persons,  not  exceeding  three,  besides  the  plaintiff  or 
kis  representative,  to  examine  and  inspect  such  lode  and  mines, 
ffnd  take  the  measurement  thereof,  relating,  to  the  amount  of 
water  drained  from  the  lode  or  mine,  or  the  number  of  fathoms 
of  ground  mined  and  worked  out  of  the  lode  or  mines  claimed 
to  have  been  drained,  the  cost  of  such  examination  and  inspection 
to  be  borne  by  the  party  applying  therefor.  The  court  or  judge 
shall  have  power  to  cause  the  removal  of  any  rock,  debris,  or 
other  obstacles  in  any  lode  or  vein,  when,  such  removal  is  shown 
to  be  necessary  to  a  just  determination  of  the  question  involved: 
Protdded,  That  no  such  order  for  inspection  and  examination 
shall  be  made«  except  in  open  court  or  at  chambers,  upon  notice 
of  application  for  such  order  of  at  least  three  days,  and  not  then 
except  by  agreement  of  parties,  nor  unless  it  appears  that  the< 
plaintiff  has  been  refused  the  privilege  of  making  the  inspection 
and  examination  by  the  defendant  or  defendants,  or  his  or  their 
■agent 


VATER   RIGHTS. 


1835. — Sec.  6.  That  hereafter,  when  any  person  or  persons, 
oc  corporation,  shall  be  engaged  in  mining  01  milling,  and  in  the 


6 


in 


OVK    WKSTBR!^  EhtPIRB. 


H^k 


prosecution  of  such  business  shall  hoist  or  raise  water  from 
mines  or  natural  channels,  and  the  same  shall  flow  away  from 
the  premises  of  such  persons  or  corporations,  to  any  natural 
channel  or  gulch,  the  same  shall  be  considered  beyond  the 
control  of  the  party  so  hoisting  or  raising  the  same,  and  may  be 
taken  and  used  by  other  parties  the  same  as  that  of  natural 
water-courses. 

1836. — Sec.  7.  After  any  such  water  shall  have  been  so  raised, 
and  the  same  shall  have  flown  into  any  such  natural  channel, 
gulch  or  draw,  the  party  so  hoisting  or  raising  the  same  shall 
only  be  liable  for  injury  caused  thereby,  in  the  same  manner  a^ 
riparian  owners  along  natural  water-courses. 

EXPIJ^NATORY. 

1 837. — Sec.  8.  The  provisions  of  this  act  shall  not  be  construed 
to  apply  to  incipient  or  undeveloped  mines,  but  to  those  only 
^vhich  shall  have  been  opened,  and  shall  clearly  derive  a  benefit 
from  being  drained. 

EVIDENCE.  ' 

1838. — Sec.  9.  In  trial  of  cases  arising  under  this  act  the 
court  shall  admit  evidence  of  the  normal  stand  or  position  of 
the  water  while  at  rest  in  an  idle  mine,  also  the  observed 
{Prevalence  of  a  common  water-level  or  a  standing  water-line  in 
the  same  or  separate  lodes ;  also  the  effect,  if  any,  the  elevating 
or  depressing  the  water  by  natural  or  mechanical  means  in  any 
given  lode  has  upon  elevating  or  depressing  the  water  in  the 
same,  contiguous  or  separate  lodes  or  mines ;  also  the  effect  which 
draining  or  ceasing  to  drain  any  given  lode  or  mine  had  upon 
the  water  in  the  same,  or  contiguous  or  separate  lodes  or  mines, 
and  all  other  evidence  which  tends  to  prove  the  common  ingress 
or  subterraneous  communication  of  water  into  the  same  lode  or 
mipe,  or  contiguous  or  separate  lodes  or  mines. 

Approved  March  16,  1877. 

TAXES. 

Section  3,  Article  10,  of  the  Constitution  of  the  State  of 
Colorado,  reads  as  follows : 

"All  taxes  shall  be  uniform  upon  the  same  class  of  subjects 


ffWMWIBWlMM'iilliWWMWWMltir^ 


jfiamiwiiMCifiiwi 


water  from 
away  from 
iny  natural 
beyond  the 
aind  may  be 
:  of  natural 

;n  so  raised, 
ral  channel, 
:  same  shall 
;  manner  as 


>e  construed 
I  those  only 
ve  a  benefit 


■I  ;  ' 

this  act  the 
position  of 
le  observed 
water-line  in 
he  elevating 
leans  in  any 
vater  in  the 
1  effect  which 
)e  had  upon 
les  or  mines, 
mon  ingress 
iame  lode  or 


.ij  ji-.jt.i 


...  , 


tie  State  of 
s  of  subjects 


M.NING  LAWS  OF  NEW  MEXICO. 


343 


within  the  territorial  limits  of  the  authority  levyirtg  the  tax,  and 
shall  be  levied  and  collected  under  general  laws,  which  shall 
prescribe  such  regulations  as  shall  secure  a  just  valuation  for 
taxation  of  all  property,  real  and  personal:  Provided,  That  mines 
and  mining  claims  bearing  gold,  silver,  and  other  precious  metals, 
(except  the  net  proceeds  and  surface  improvements  thereof,) 
shall  be  exempt  from  taxation  for  the  period  of  ten  years  from 
the  date  of  the  adoption  of  this  constitution,  and  thereafter  may 
be  taxed  as  provided  by  law.  Ditches,  canals,  and  flumes  owned 
and  used  by  individuals  or  corporations  for  irrigating  lands 
owned  by  such  individuals  or  corporations,  or  the  individual 
members  thereof,  shall  not  be  separately  taxed,  so  long  as  they 
shall  be  owned  and  used  exclusively  for  such  purpose." 


MINING  LAWS  OF  NEW  MEXICO. 


'till: 


't\ 


An  Act  to  Regulate  the  Manner  of  Locating  Mining  Claimt,  and  for  Other  Purpoaet,       t 

hSec.  1. 


•f>' 


CONTENTS. 


nsp  rt/ 


>i'iiy&'>i\ 


I  'i  -IS-'. 


t 


Sec.  3. 

.  Sec.  4. 

'f  .■■  ■ 

Sec.  5. 

Sec.  6. 


ftt'**«. 


.»4., 


Location — bounds  to  be  marked ;  notice  of  name  of 
locator ;  make  record  in  three  months. 

Record  books  must  be  provided. 

Value  of  labor  on  mining  claims  defined!^ 

Locations  heretofore  made,  there  being  no  adverse 
claims,  may  file  claim  within  six  months. 

Ejectment  in  mining  claims  and  real  estate. 

Repeals  former  acts.  % 


t-nfii' 


Be  it  enacted  by  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  the  Territory  of  New  Mexico  1  '*^ 

Sec.  I.  That  any  person  or  persons   desiring  to   locate  a 
miningclaim  upon  a  vein  or  lode  of  quartz  or  other  rock  in  place— -f 
bearing  gold,  silver,  cinnabar,  lead,  tin,  copper  or  other  valuable 
deposit,  must  distinctly  mark  the  location  on  the  ground  so  that'' 
its  boundaries  may  be  readily  traced;  and  post  in  some  con- f 
spicuous  place  on   such  location,  a  notice  in  writing,  stating^, 
thereon  the  name  or  names  of  the  locator  or  locators,  his  off; 
their  intention  to  locate  the  mining  claim,  giving  a  description  i, 
thereof  by  reference  to  such  natural  object  or  permaneht  monu- •  • 


iM'iriPiu^ms&iim 


m 


Ol/Jf    WRSTBKN  MM>IHM. 


ment  as  will  identitV  the  claim ;  and  also  within  three  months 
after  posting  such  notice,  cause  to  be  recorded  a  copy  thereof  in 
the  office  of  the  recorder  of  the  county  in  which  the  notice  is 
posted ;  and  it  is  provided  that  no  other  record  of  such  notice 
shall  be  necessary. 

Sec.  3.  In  order  to  carry  out  the  intent  of  the  preceding 
section,  it  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  probate  judges  oi 
the  several  counties  of  this  Territory,  and  they  are  hereby 
required  to  provide,  at  the  expense  of  their  respective  counties, 
such  book  or  books  as  may  be  necessary  and  suitable  in  which  to 
enter  the  record  hereinbefore  provided  for.  The  fees  for  record* 
ing  such  notices  shall  be  ten  cents  for  every  one  hundred  words. 

Sec.  3.  That  in  estimating  the  worth  of  labor  required  to  be 
performed  upon  any  mining  claim,  to  hold  the  same  by  the  laws 
of  the  United  States,  in  the  regulation  of  mines,  the  value  of  a 
day's  labor  is  hereby  fixed  at  the  sum  of  four  dollars  :  Provided, 
Mmvever,  That  fn  the  sense  of  this  statute,  eight  hours  of  liabor 
actually  performed  upon  the  mining  claim  shall  constitute  a  day's 
labor. 

Sec.  4.  All  locations  heretofore  made  in  good  faith,  to  which 
there'shall  be  no  adverse  claims,  the  certificate  of  which  locations 
have  been  or  may  be  filed  for  record  and  recorded  in  the 
recorder's  office  of  the  county  where  the  location  is  made,  within 
six  months  after  the  passage  of  this  act,  are  hereby  confirmed 
and  made  valid.  But  where  there  may  appear  to  be  any  such 
adverse  claim,  the  said  location  shall  be  held  to  be  the  property 
of  the  person  having  the  superior  title  or  claim,  according  to  the 
laws  in  force  at  the  time  of  the  making  of  the  said  locations. 

Sbc.  5.  An  action  of  ejectment  will  lie  for  the  recovery  of  the 
possession  of  a  mining  claim,  as  well  as  of  any  real  estate, 
wh^re  the  party  suing  has  been  wrongfully  ousted  from  the 
possession  thereof,  and  the  possession  wrongfully  detained. 

Sec.  6.  That  "an  act  concerning  mming  claims,"  approved 
January  i8th,  1865,  and  an  act  amendatory  thereof,  approved 
January  3d,  1866;  also,  an  act  entided  an  act  to  amend  certairl 
afcts  conceming  mining  claims  in  the  Territory  of  New  Mexico^ 
approved  January   ist,   1872;   be  and  the  same  are  hereby 


''■*i'^<»^i3jpgl^j|fu!i^s*«i.J'^'v^*•^yxt*'*<4^^  '.•rsWv«j*v'.s/*j«M^^M,.  ■»./.»■  ■r,w.*,«wW».jA»« 


■mmimr^. 


STATE   AND    rKKRITOR!At.    LANDS. 


341 


ree  monthf 

y  thereof  in 

ie  notice  is 

8ucb  notice 

;  preceding; 
J  judges  of 
are    hereby 
ive  counties, 
;  in  which  to 
B  for  record- 
idred  words, 
quired  to  be 
by  the  laws 
5  vahie  of  a 
s :  Provided, 
>urs  of  labor 
titute  a  day's 

kith,  to  which 
lich  locations 
irded  in  the 
made,  within 
by  confirmed 
be  any  such 
the  property 
Drding  to  the 
jcations. 
coVery  of  the 

real  estate, 
tAd  from  the 
etained. 
s,"  approved 
of,  approved 
mend  certain 
New  Mexico^ 

are  hereby 


repealed :  ProvitM,  That  no  locations  completed  or  commenced 
under  said  acts  shall  be  invalidated,  or  in  anywise  affected,  by 
Huch  repeal. 

Sec.  7.  That  this  act  shall  take  effect  and  be  in  full  force  from 
and  after  its  passage. 

Approved  January  11,  1876.  i    ■    -  ^v  ... 


.  -  if. 


fji  :;*;/    -■  \\-%y-,,9n:Hyi  ■,<!••' 


<.r('-  ''v  ■  ■*  ''■"'■ 


•  I  i    * '     ■  ' . 


CHAPTER  V.  ' 


Stats  and  Tbrkitonial  I^ndh— Aoricultural  Collrob,  Univrrsitv,  and 
School  Imnds— The  Quantity,  Fkicrs,  and  Terms  or  Purchase— Other 
State  Lands — Lands  Granted  to  Benevolent  Institutions — Desert  and 
Swamp  Lands — The  Texas  Land  System— Railroad  Lands. 

Emigrants  to  Minnesota,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Kansas,  Arkansas, 
.Nevada,  or  California,  may  find  that  some  of  the  lands  held  by 
1  he  State  are  more  eligibly  situated,  or  for  one  reason  or  another 
more  desirable,  than  the  government  lands,  whilef  the  prices  are 
«o  moderate  as  not  to  be  beyond  their  reach,  What  are  theM 
Estate  lands?    They  are:  '  -.rlf  ,<   ?ri  W -if;w'-»H*  *j 

1 .  The  public  school  lands,  which,  in  all  the  newer  States  and 
Territories,  are  two  sections,  the  sixteenth  and  thirty-sixtib, 
1,280  acres  in  each  township,  which  has  been  surveyed  ia 
these  States  and  Territories.  These  are  often  very  valuable 
lands.  They  are  usually  sold  for  from  $4  to  $6  per  acre,  payable 
with  interest  at  seven,  eight,  or  ten  per  cent.,  in  ten  annual  instal-" 
ments.  By  selecting  those  which  have  a  stream  flowing  through 
them,  or  a  spring,  the  purchaser  may  often  become  the  owner  of 
a  very  valuable  property.  The  quantity  of  these  lands  is  from 
2,500,000  to  5,000^000  acres.  ^ 

2.  Universily  and  Agricultural  College  Lands  or  Scrip  fer 
/A^m.-^Congress  lias  granted  a  quantity  of  landb,  usually  about 
46Ax>  acres,  or  the  privilege  of  locating  that  quantity  of  land  on 
any  government  land^,  nsfuatly  in  the  State  or  Territory,  to  ead» 
ne^  State  and  Territory,  for  the  fdninding  and  maintenance  of  » 
State  or  Territorial  University.     These  lands  are  located  by 


wmmt^mmtmm^ 


State  or  Territorial  officern,  and  do  not  always  rate  quite  as  high 
as  the  school  lands,  though  thr^y  may  be  as  valuable.  Tlu-y  are 
sold  at  prctcnt,  in  nioiit  of  the  States  and  Territories,  at  trom  $3 
to  $6  per  acre.  The  Agricultural  Collrge  lauds  or  st  rip  are 
granted  only  to  the  States,  un*kr  the  law  of  1862.  ''Ii'-  j^rant  is 
of  jo.ocx)  acres  for  each  Senator  and  Rcprcs*  itativc  in  C  ongress 
when  tilt*  grant  is  madr  ;  the  -crip  issued  for  it  haviu);  the  privi- 
lege of  location  in  any  State  or  I'erritory  where  then*  ari*  govern- 
ment lands  unsold.  This  land  scrip  of  the  various  Stau  i  is  often 
in  the  market,  and  is  purchasable  at  various  rates,  from  ;^3  to  $5 
per  acre.  There  arc  also  grants,  from  Congress  of  land§  for 
the  building  of  State  prisons,  for  insane  hospitals,  institutions  for 
deaf  mutes,  blind  and  idiotic  children,  etc.  Some  of  the  States 
have  also  received  from  Congress  grants  of  swamp  and  over- 
flowed lands,  and  of  desert  lands,  whi(  h  had  been  long  in  the 
market  without  selling.  Some  of  these  lands  are  of  excellent 
quality,  and  with  slight  expense  for  drainage  or  Irri^'ution  will 
be  very  pr    'active. 

There  a  :  also  bounty  land  warrants  capable  of  location  on 
any  govf.rnment  lands,  the  scrip  for  which  w.is  granted  to  soldiers 
of  the  war  of  1812,  the  Florida  w.ir,  ^lexican  war,  or  the  late 
civil  war.  These,  which  usually  realized  to  the  original  owners 
but  about  fifty  or  sixty  cents  per  acre,  are  now  held  at  from  $3  to 
$4.50  per  acre,  but,  for  some  purposes,  are  well  worth  the  money. 

In  California,  New  Mexico,  and  Arizona  there  are  lands  yet 
held  under  Mexican  tide's,  sometimes  of  great  extent,  but  these 
are,  for  the  most  part,  pasturage  lands.  There  is  always  a  liability 
to  a  conflict  of  titles  m  relation  to  these,  and  therefore  they  are 
less  desirable  than  government  lands  in  which  the  title  is  absolute 
and  without  a  flaw  on  which  to  base  a  litigation. 
'  When  the  Republic  of  Texas  was  annexed  to  the  United  States 
and  berame  the  State  of  Texas,  her  public  lands  were  not  given 
up  to  the  United  States  Government,  as  all  the  other  public  lands 
had  been,  but  were  retained  by  the  State  for  the  purposes  of  edu- 
cation, internal  improvements,  etc.  From  the  prc^ceeds  of  these 
lands  the  State  has  built  several  railroads,  has  laid  the  foundation 
for  a  very  large  school  fund,  and  endowed  a  university,  asylums, 


finw— 


iMwanto 


TMXAS  LA.SfD&^HOW  SOIP, 


34f 


lite  as  high 
Tiny  are 
at  from  $3 
r  H«ri|)  arc 
he  )4rant  is 
[J  C  ongrcHS 
^;  ll»c  privi- 
are  y;ovcrn« 
il(  i  is  olicn 
tm  ;^a  to  $5 
f  land§  for 
titutions  for 
the   States 
»  and  over- 
lon^r  in  the 
of  excellent 
i^ution  will 

location  on 
i  to  soldier3 
or  the  late 
inal  owners 
t  from  $3  to 
the  money, 
■e  lands  yet 
It,  but  these 
ys  a  liability 
ore  they  are 
f  is  absolute 
In;  '   , 

nitcd  States 
re  not  given 
public  lands 
OSes  of  edu- 
sds  of  these 
e  foundation 
ity,  asylums, 


etc.  Thi:  hool  fund  now  amounts  to  i^y$oo,ooo,  and  when  the 
school  lands  Are  all  <iold  wilt  i)robably  approach  |lr  8,000,00a. 
The  I  »ntl  Commissioner  ^f  the  Stotc  gives  the  followjnjj  account 
of  the  thr«:e  methods  by  which  the  public  lands  arv  furnished  to 
settlers  at  prices  below  thosr  of  most  of  the  other  Slates  and 
Territories.  It  should  be  undrrstood,  however,  tliat  noL  all  of 
these  lands  an-    >r  the  best     uality:  '.1      -  (..rjili 

••  Persons  desiring  to  securr  hornet  in  Texas  can  do  so  either 
(1)  by  s<'ttlem<nt  under  thr  homestead  donation  law,  (2)  by 
locating  a  (frtificalc,  or  (3)  by  purchase  from  the  State  of 
common  school,  university  or  asylum  lands. 

"  Under  the  first  mode,  evtry  head  of  a  family  who  has  no  other 
homestead  can  accoutre  title  to  160  acres,  and  each  single  person 
of  eighteen  years  of  age  can  .fcure  eighty  acres,  by  settling  on 
the  same  and  occupying  and  improving  it  for  three  consecutive 
yean.  Application  must  be  made  to  the  surveyor  of  the  county 
in  which  the  party  desires  to  settle.  The  fees  for  surveying  and 
returning  field  notes  to  the  general  land  office  are  from  ftio  to 
$15.  After  thiee  years'  occupancy,  proof  of  which  fact  must  be 
made,  patent  will  issue  to  the  settler  or  his  vendor.  Patent 
fee,  $5.  f 

J  "Under  the  second  mode,  land  certificates  or  warrants  can  be 
located  upon  any  vaca  it  and  unappropriated  public  land.  These 
certificates  are  of  two  characters,  viz.:  'Straights'  and  '  alter- 
k>ates.'  The  *  straights  ire  those  issued  to  early  settlers  as 
headrights  or  for  service  in  the  Texas  revolution  and  to  some 
railroad  and  ditch  companies,  and  arc  1(  cated  without  any  reser- 
vation for  public  schools.  These  certificates  are  worth  from 
fifteen  cents  to  thirty-five  cents  per  acre,  according  to  quantity 
— the  largest  bringing  the  lowest  figure.  'Alternates'  are 
issued  to  railroads  and  other  works  of  internal  improvements, 
and  require  the  survey  of  double  the  amount  of  land  called  for 
by  the  certificate.  This  is  divided  in  two  equal  parts,  one-half  of 
which  patents  to  the  owner,  and  the  remainder  is  reserved  for 
common  schools.  These  certificates  can  be  bought  for  about  ten 
cents  per  acre.  '*^ 

i»  •'  The  State  does  not  sell  any  certificates,  and  they  can  only  be 


imm 


B 


^VM    WMSTEMff   BI^PfMM* 


boujfht  frDin  t)»o  person*  or  corpofation*  to  whuin  they  were 
Unund.  Untirr  cither  of  the  ttlx)vc  iMiMieit  flr»tcl«HS  lunil  must 
not  be  expected  in  the:  uiUcr  and  Hcttlvd  cvuiuicx,  but  inuat  bo 
•oii|;ht  ill  the:  went  and  northwest. 

"  By  the  third  inudr,  vi/.,  purchaiie,  choice  homeii  may  b« 
■eciircd.  Within  the  'ottlcd  and  or|^ni/t:d  counticN  of  the  Staio 
there  arc  about  13,800,000  acre*  of  cuminon  hc1ux>1  lands,  a  191* 
000  acres  of  univcr  ity,  and  407,615  acres  of  asylum  lands, 
These  are  all  (or  Halo  on  ten  years'  time;  tlw  university  aa4 
ttylum  lands  to  actual  settlers  in  tracts  of  80  to  160  acres,  at  • 
minimum  price  of  |l  1.50  per  acre ;  tiiu  common  school  lands  iit 
tracts  of  160  acres  to  three  sections,  or  1,920  acres,  at  a  mini- 
mum of  $1  per  acre.  These  lands  are  anion];  the  fmest  in  th« 
State,  and  are  to  be  found  in  almost  every  organized  county. 
Application  for  purchase-  must  be  muile  to  the  county  surveyor, 
in  whose  office  will  be  iound  a  map  and  general  description  of 
the  lands  of  his  county." 

We  come  next  to  railroad  lands.  The  great  enterprises  whkk 
were  proposed  for  opening  highways  from  the  Mississippi  to  the 
Pacific  coast,  and  for  encouraging  the  settlement  of  lands  faff 
))eyond  the  frontiers,  were  too  vast  to  be  undertaken  by  private 
o^rporations  without  government  aid  in  some  shape.  When,  in 
the  midst  of  our  civil  war,  it  became  desirable  to  initiate  a  system 
(»r  railways,  which  should  connect  the  Mississippi  valley  with  tlM 
I^acific  coast,  it  was  found  necessary  not  only  to  grant  landa 
along  the  line,  alternate  sections,  to  a  width  of  ten  miles  on 
each  side  of  the  track  ur  road-bed,  but,  as  these  lands  could  not 
be  made  readily  available,  the  government  loaned  its  credit^ 
issuing  bonds  to  the  amoint  of  154,700,000,  and  taking  bonds 
of  the  roads  in  return.  -  these  bonds  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment has  paid  interest  beyond  what  has  been  repaid,  to  the 
amount  of  more  than  $26,000,000.  Similar  aid  was  subsequently 
granted  in  the  way  o4  bonds,  though  iu  ^iViaUer  amounts,  to  the 
Kaoiias  Paci6c,  (he  Western  Pacific,  and  uie  Sioux  City  and  Pacific 
Railroads  to  the  amount  of  nearly  $10,000,000  more^and  interest 
to  the  amount  of  $4,500,000  has  been  paid  on  these  bonds  by 
tkci  government,  do  that  these  roads  )Mive  been  furnished  with 


MMtlHOAD  lANPCKAfm, 


S49 


they  were 

lanil  inuit 

Lit  inu«t  bo 

PM  may  b« 

jf  the  Suia 

^lum  land*. 
vrr»ity  attdi 
I  acres,  at  a 
>ol  land*  in 
I,  at  a  mini* 
inest  in  th« 
zeU  county, 
ty  surveyor, 
iscription  of 

prises  whkh 
Hsippi  to  the 
of  lands  fax 
n  by  private 
When,  in 
ite  a  system 
ley  with  tbe 
^rant  lands 
en  miles  on 
Is  could  not 
its  creditt 
iiking  bonds 

States  gov- 
epaid,  to  the 
subsequently 
ounts,  to  the 
y  and  Pacific 

and  interest 
bonds  by 
mished  with 


1)ond<i  and  interest  by  thr  Unitrd  Statrn  to  thr  amount  of  over 
f<)ft,ooo,ofin,  l>r!iid«M»  tht*  land-grants,  which  amounted  on  the 
Union  and  Central  I'ucific-  atul  tht-ir  branches  to  ul>')ut  9,oiK,ooo 
acrcn. 

Hut  the  grants  of  lanfl  for  aid  in  railroad  construction  w»«re, 
by  no  mcann,  confinf-d  to  thrnr  roads  which  rn  rived  bonds ; 
Other  roadn  project«'d  becntisr  of  the  succrsn  of  the  ^lr^t  trans- 
continental railway,  tnadr  their  plans  and  HtirveyH  with  termini  on 
the  Pacific  coast,  and  df*maniled  both  land  and  tmnflH,  and  rei  rived 
the  former,  Init  not  the  latter.  The  Northern  Pacific  wan  the 
largeHt  and  boldtrst  of  these  cnterprines,  and  as  denervin^'  as  any 
one  of  them.  It  propovd  to  extend  itn  l-m-  from  Diiluih,  on 
Lake  Superior,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river,  with  siveral 
branches,  its  general  cotjrsc  being  between  the  45lh  and  47lh 
parallels.  It  has  a  land-grant  of  about  6,ooo,cx3o  acres,  in 
alternate  sections,  on  both  siden  of  its  road-bed,  and  is  now 
operating  more  than  800  miles  of  itn  roail.    '"'"'"  ^^''   '  ^  t  ''''*r 

In  general,  it  may  be  said,  that  all  the  railroads  in  Minnesota, 
Dakota,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Arkansas,  Colorado, 
New  Mexico,  Utah,  Nevada,  Arizona,  California,  Oregon,  Wash- 
ington, and  Idaho  are  land-grant  railroads,  cither  as  branciuts  of 
the  great  trunk  roads,  or  by  direct  grant  under  their  own  cor- 
porate titles.  .  After  the  Unicm  and  Central  Pacific  and  the 
Northern  Pacific,  the  most  important  of  these  are  the  Chicago 
and  Northwestern  and  its  branches  and  leased  roads,  the 
Wabash  and  its  connections,  the  Burlington  and  Missouri 
River,  the  Kansas  Pacific,  the  Denver  Pacific,  the  Atchison, 
Top<flca  and  Santa  F^,  with  its  branches  and  extensions,  the 
Denver  and  Rio  Grande,  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas,  the 
St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  Southern,  the  Memphis  and  Little 
Rock,  and  the  Little  Rock  and  Fort  Smith,  the  Texas  Pacific,  the 
Southern  Pacific,  the  Western  Pacific,  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  the 
St.  Louis  and  San  Francisco,  the  Oregon  Central,  and  the  Oregon 
and  California,  the  Utah  Central,  Utah  Southern,  and  the  Utah 
and  Northern.  The  Texas  railroads  are  also  land-grant  railroads, 
but  obtain  their  lands  within  that  State  from  the  State  itself,  and 
not  from  the  National  Government.    These  roads  have,  in  all, 


350 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


not  far  from  35,000,000  acres  already  patented  to  them,  and  nearly 
as  much  more  yet  to  come  when  surveyed  and  when  their  lines 
are  completed. 

Each  road  has  its  schedule  of  prices,  its  plan  of  payment  by 
instalments,  and  its  rate  of  interest  for  its  lands.  The  prices 
for  the  lands  on  the  line  of  the  same  road  vary  according  to  their 
location,  their  distance  from  markets,  the  character  of  the  land, 
and  the  length  of  the  credit  given. 

It  is  perhaps  sufficient  to  say  in  regard  to  the  States  and  Terri- 
tories east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  except  in  Texas,  that  the 
railroads  sell  their  lands  at  prices  ranging  from  %2  or  $2.50  to 
%\.o  or  $12  per  acre,  according  to  the  location,  distance  from 
markets  and  from  neighbors,  quality  of  soil,  necessity  of  irriga- 
iion,  and  general  productiveness.  They  usually  have  schedules 
of  terms,  according  to  the  length  of  credit  given  on  the  lands ; 
thus,  at  eleven  years'  credit,  a  first  payment  of  from  ten  to  twenty- 
five  per  cent.,  with  interest  in  advance  on  the  remainder,  and 
interest  annually  in  advance  ;  the  second  payment  on  the  princi- 
pal being  on  the  third  or  fourth  year,  and  subsequendy  annual 
payments  of  principal  and  interest  until  the  whole  is  paid  up. 
Generally,  in  these  long  credits,  the  price  per  acre  is  about  ten 
per  cent,  more  than  on  shorter  credits.  A  rontract  to  give  a 
deed  is  issued  about  the  third  year,  jut  no  warranty  deed  is 
given  till  the  last  payment  has  been  made.  They  havje  also 
schedules  for  six  years,  for  three  years,  or  some  of  them  for  two, 
and  for  cash  •  in  these,  the  price  is  ten  per  cent,  lower  than  in  the 
first,  the  interest  is  not  paid  till  it  has  accrued,  and  there  are  odier 
small  discounts.  Where  cash  is  paid  in  full  at  the  time  ftf  pur- 
chase, a  discount  of  twenty -five  per  cent,  is  made  by  some  roads 
and  thirty-three  and  one-third  per  cent,  by  others.  Timber  lands 
are  held  at  a  higher  price  than  prairie  lands,  varying,  however, 
in  different  States  and  Territories..  A  purchaser  can  buy  pn 
these  terms  640  acres  in  one  piece  or  less,  as  he  pleases.  '■  He 
may  buy  more  than  this  quantity  if  he  chooses,  but  the  govern- 
ment or  even  bections  (the  railroad  lands  are  all  odd  sections) 
surround  this  on  all  sides,  so  that  his  lands  will  be' a  mile  apart, 
unless  he  can  buy  the  government  section  between,  which  he 


I/OIV  RAILROAD  LANDS  ARE  SOLD. 


35 1 


1,  and  nearly 
\  their  lines 

payment  by 
The  prices 
ding  to  their 
of  the  land, 
;}...«  »  ' 

es  and  Terrl- 
xas,  that  the 
2  or  $2.50  to 
iistance  from 
sity  of  irriga- 
ive  schedules 
>n  the  lands ; 
:en  to  twcnty- 
mainder,  and 
on  the  princi- 
uently  annual 
e  is  paid  up. 
is  about  ten 
act  to  give  a 
ranty  deed  is 
ley  have  also 
them  for  two, 
rer  than  in  fhe 
here  are  other 
e  time  flf  pur- 
>y  some  ro»ds 
Timber  lands 
ying,  however, 
r  can  buy  pn 
pleases. '   He 
t  th^  govern- 
odd  sections) 
e'  a  mile  apart, 
eep,  which  he 


may  do  if  it  is  not  taken  up  by  pre-emption,  or  purchase,  or 
bounty  land-warrants,  or  altogether.  The  government  does  not 
sell  or  pre-empt  its  lands  (except  desert  lands)  in  greater  quan- 
tities than  160  acres,  but  it  will  tai<e  bounty  land-warrants  or 
agricultural  college  scrip  for  them  at  the  rate  of  f  1.25  per  acre, 
its  price  being  for  these  lands  within  railroad  limits  $2.50  per 
acre,  so  that  a  warrant  for  160  acres  will  buy  but  80  acres  of 
these  lands,     \yi\-tt  •j)Hrl::.;.n'^/f>|iminax  >:>^J  ik>  j-'*''  s^,,:  icnnfi; 

•  _j  Most  of  the  roads,  in  their  circular  to  immigrants,  present  a 
schedule  like  the  following,  which,  though  taken  from  the  Atchi- 
son, Topeka  and  Santa  Fe  Railway,  substantially  represents  them 
all,  except  in  its  discount  for  a  full  cash  payment,  which  is  thirty- 
thre'*  and  one-third,  while  most  of  the  others  are  but  twenty- 
five  per  cent. 

-i-^..,   „      M         .;,  TERMS  OF  SALE.    •      .,  ; 

A\     .  ;^..  ,L,..;.^  .• .ELEVEN    VEARs'   CREDIT.  -,         ^^  .-        ' 

Terms  No.  i — Is  on  eleven  years'  cre(^it,,wi.tn  seven  percent, 
interest.  The  first  payment  at  date  of  purchase  is  one-tenth  of 
the  principal  and  seven  per  cent,  interest  on  the  remainder.  At 
the  end  of  the  first  and  second  year^  only  the  interest  at  seven 
per  cent,  is  paid ;  the  third  year  and  6ach  year  thereafter,  one- 
tenth  of  the  principal  is  paid  with  seven  per  cent,  annual  interest 
on  the  balance  until  the  whole  is  paid.   ■ 

EXAMPLE.  ■•■'-    %   '- 

160  acres,  at  $5  an  acre,  bought  April  i,  1879,  the  payments  would  be  as 
follows : 


Data  of  Payments, 


,M;ff«    'if, 


^if-^t- 


April  I,  1879,  (date  of  purchase) 

April  1,  1880 

April  1,  1881 

April  I,  1882  .     .     .     . 

April  I,  1883  .... 

April  I,  1884  . 

April  I,  1885 

April  1,  1886 

April  I,  1887 , 

April  I,  1888 

April  I,  1889 

April  I,  1890  .     .     ., 

Total  of  payments  at  end  of  11  years 


Principal. 


$So  00 


80  CO 
80  00 
80   00 

So  00 
80  00 
80  00 
80  00 
80  00 
80  00 


$800  00 


Interest, 


$5°  40 
50  40 
SO  40 
44  80 
39  20 
33  60 
28  00 
22  40 
16  80 

II  20 

5  60 


>352  80 


Toul. 


$13°   40 

SO  40 

50  40 

124  80 

119  30 

113  60 

108  00 

102  40 

96  80 

91  20 

8s  60 

80  00 


Ji.iSa  80 


•:  M: 


,ffisriigi0/' 


:a 


T 


J'i 
>\  < 


iSa 


Oa/{    lyiiSJJiHN    EMPIkE. 


:\:\ 


V.   >  SIX    YEARS     CREDIT.  '  • 

':  I  ..... 

l^-j»',^  "  30  per  cent,  diicount. 

Terms  No.  2 — Is  en  six  year.s'  credit,  with  seven  per  cent, 
interest.  The  first  payment  at  date  of  purchase  is  one-sixth  of 
the  principal  and  seven  per  cent,  interest  on  the  remainder. 
►  The  second  payment  at  the  end  of  the  first  year  is  only  interest. 
Afterwards  one-sixth  of  the  principal  is  paid  and  seven  per  cent, 
annual  interest  on  the  remainder  until  the  whole  is  paid.  We 
make  a  discount  from  the  appraised  price  of  twenty  per  cent., 
and  the  payments  will  come  as  per 

EXAMPLE. 

160  acres,  at  ^5  an  acre,  bought  April  i,  1879,  would  amount  to  |8oo. 
Twenty  per  cent,  off  would  reduce  it  to  ^640,  and  the  payments  would  be  as 
follows : 


Dam  of  Payment*. 


April  I,  1879,  (dftte  of  purchase)  .     . 

April  I,  1880 

April  I,  1881  ........ 

April  \,  i88a 

April  I,  1883 

April  I;  1884 

April  I,  1885 

Total  of  -.Ayments  at  end  of  6  years 


Principtl. 


^106   67 


106  67 
106  67 
106  67 

106  66 
106  .66 


^^640  00 


InleiCil. 


137  33 

37  33 
39  86 

33  39 

M  93 
7  46 


*i49  30 


Total. 


/144  CO 

37  33 
»36  S3 
129  06 

131    60 
114    18 

106  66 


178;^  30 


TWO  YEARS    CREDIT. 
30  per  cent,  discount. 

Te%  ms  No.  3 — Three  payments.  In  consideration  of  the  pur- 
chaser's paying  one-third  of  the  principal  at  time  of  purchase, 
with  ten  per  cent,  interest  on  the  remainder,  and  the  balance  in 
two  annual  payments,  we  make  a  discount  from  the  appraised 
price  of  T^iiRTY  per  cent,  and  the  paymtnts  will  come  as  per 

EXitMPLE. 

x^o  acres,  at  I5  an  acre,  bought  April  i,  1879,  would  amount  to  ^800. 
Thirty  per  cent,  off  would  reduce  it  to  1560,  and  the  payments  would  be  as 
follows:- 


Date  of  Payments. 


April  I,  1879 •     • 

April  I,  1880 

April  I,  1881 . 

Total  of  payments  at  end  or  3  years 


Principal. 


|r86  67 
r86  67 
r86  66 


^560  00 


Iiiterett. 


137  33 
18  67 


I56  00 


Total. 


^334  00 
305  34 
186  6ti 


^616  00 


;n  per  cent, 
one-sixth  of 
;  remainder. 
)nly  interest, 
'en  per  cent. 
J  paid.  We 
TY  per  cent, 


lount  to  fSoo. 
Its  would  be  as 


It. 

Toul. 

33 

^144  00 

33 

37  33 

86 

136  S3 

39 

139  06 

93 

131  60 

46 

114  18 

•   • 

106  66 

30 

^78;^  30 

ti  of  the  pur- 
of  purchase, 
e  balance  in 
he  appraised 
ne  as  per 

nount  to  ;^8oo. 
nts  would  be  as 


est. 

Total. 

33 
67 

• 

j;224  00 

205  34 

186  66 

00 

^616  00 

ATCIflSOt^,    TOPEKA  Al^D  SANTA   FE  RAILWAY  LANDS.         353 

v/<ii  ,•/.'!   .-  M»j.-.  ,'.'  '    CASH  purcha.se.      >  .•!■  " 


I  ■-7'-- 


il" 


1 


iyA  P*""  "il-  discount. 

'  Temts  No.  4. — This  is  a  sale  where  the  whole  amount  of  pur- 
chase money  is  paid  down  and  deed  given.  For  cash,  we  make 
a  discount  of  thirty  three  and  one-third  per  cent,  from  the 
appraised  price.      ujuki  Iihk  ,<«  K;!j«''jvn>*'i)fn3«j  ifUid'i^iHifl  m\  1,0 

'   ■— •■•      .-,-j    It'  <h\M\       '  q;;    :,uJ   :-^a(  ;,,[    i-„[j.>i|;^   ^.^i^ 

April  I,  1879,  160  acres,  at   ^5  per  acre     .1  .  ^^,\i    .,,.  |     ^800  00       ,,j  .^^ 
Cash  discount  of  ^3^4  per  cent,  offf^^,^  |^.^^.^;..^,,,  j^  ^       266  67        .  ' 

'  Total  amount  of  payment  .  ^  i-'  v''!/^  ^r  .  •  ; '^  -  U^  .'  .  .  .  1^5333. 
or  less  than  half  the  amount  at  eleven  years'  credit,  ht    ;,)  ■    ti  1  -.fft  ;, 

•  '  If  payments  are  all  made  in  advance  of  maturity  and  deed 
taken,  purchasers  on  long  credit  will  be  allowed  a  liberal  dis- 

count.  **>"»•    .-.fi^f.-f  ■••rn'  ■ -ti'-^iiy/'   %^      '.'I'll: 

PRICE  AND  LOCATION  OF  THE  COMPANY'S  LANDS  IN  KANSAS. 


Counllw. 


vuj«  rtiiitM  i$ni  rjiUm'' 


Wabaunsee  .     . 
Morris     .     .     . 

Marion ■>'}  ^V>f?t4,.^r:^.t  1); 

Butler      .     .    ,,„,j   ..■  :;     .'  ^.■u)\n:^  i/ '  . 
Harvey  .     .     *   ..    ...     .  ^    ...     . 

Sedgwick     .    'I^'*  '',!'   .f   ;    ;  •  .     .    .     . 

McPherson  .     ■.    ?j   .,:■  .'  ..Ji;  :*,.,.     . 
Reno  .... 

Rice  .... 

Barton 

Rush 

Pawnee 

Edwards .  '::•,,'  iQ  1 ,  J'„>  pii^x  -,1. 
Ford  .     .     .     .     .     .     .     . 

Pratt 

Hodgeman   ...... 


^: 


Acres. 


11,688.94 
27,069.13 
123,650.50 
90,422.87 
38,746.0a 
44,961.54 
42,566.41 

29.837.59 
202,038.77 

86,467.10 
196,013.43 

57.403-67 
127,858.52 
91,716.63 
95,721.10 
12,012.04 
74,099.55 


Price,  per  acre. 


%2>  50  to 
2  50  to 
50  to 
00  to 
00  to 
00  to 
00  to 
00  to 
00  to 
00  to 
00  to 
00  to 
00  to 
00  to 
00  to 
00  to 
00  to 


2 

4 
5 
5 
5 
S 
4 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
4 
2 

4 


s  50 

6  50 
9  00 
9  00 
9  00 

10  00 

10    CO 

7  5° 

8  OO 
8  00 

00 
00 

7  00 
6  00 

8  OQ 

4  00 
8  00 


7 
6 


The  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  makes  its  prices,  especially  in 
Dakota  and  Montana,  including  the  fertile  valley  of  the  Red 
river  of  the  North,  and  the  excellent  lands  of  Northern  Mon- 
tana, somewhat  lower,  ranging  from  $2.50  to  $8.50  on  credits 
of  six  years,  Or  will  take  its  own  preferred  stock  at  par  in  pay- 
ment, a  privilege  which  three  or  five  .years  ago  was  equivalent 
"3 


ESJ- 


:-x3^tL:3,mmmA:i!mi- 


354 


OUX    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


to  seventy-five  per  cent,  discount,  but  this  stock  lias  now  ap- 
preciated, though  still  quoted  at  fifty-four  to  fifty-Fix.  The  immi- 
grant on  this,  and  we  believe  on  all  the  Minnesota  and  Dakota 
railroads,  receives  also  material  reductions  of  fare  for  himself  and 
family,  and  specially  low  rai^es  of  iV^^ight  for  the  transportation 
of  his  household  goods,  live-stock,  and  farming  implements,  and 
this,  whether  he  buys  the  company's  lands  or  government  land. 
The  freights  of  grain  and  other  produce  on  this  road  going  east- 
ward are  also  very  low.  The  rates  of  interest  on  Minnesota 
and  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  lands  are  seven  per  cent. ;  on  the 
Iowa  Railroad  lands  they  are  only  six  per  cent,  but  on  the  long 
credits  the  price  of  the  lands  are  advanced  ten  per  cent. 
;  |,  In  Texas  the  prices  of  railroad  lands  are  considerably  cheaper, 
ranging  from  $2  to  $^  per  acre  on  long  time,  and  seldom  exceed- 
ing $2  when  they  are  paid  for  in  two  or  three  years.  In  the 
northwest  counties,  where  there  is  so  much  drought  that  the 
lands  are  only  suitable  for  grazing,  they  can  be  bought  at  lower 
prices  than  these,  especially  if  taken  in  large  quantities. 
I  West  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  on  the  Union  Pacific,  Central, 
Western,  and  Southern  Pacific  and  their  branches  and  connec- 
tions, prices  are  higher,  and  terms  (there  being  litrie  or  no  com- 
petition) are  more  rigorously  enforced.  The  following  extract 
from  the  latest  circular  of  these  roads  explains  itself.  Some  of 
these  lands  are  well  worth  the  price  asked  for  them ;  others  are 
nearly  worthless ;  but  as  the  buyer  is  requested  to  select  for  him- 
self, and  the  company  refuses  to  make  selections  or  take  any 
risk,  there  is  no  ground  for  complaint :  '"''%-■ 

No  Sale  Be/ore  Patent. — ^Tbe  general  rule  of  the  company  is 
to  sell  no  land  before  a  patent  has  been  issued  to  the  company. 
This  protects  the  purchaser  against  the  danger  of  getting  a  bad 
title,  and  the  company  a/];ainst  the  suspicion  of  taking  advantage 
of  the  ignoHtnt. 

!  Railroad  TUle. — The  company  holds  under  ?  patent  direct 
from  the  Federal  Government,  and  its  title  is  thus  free  from  the 
dangers  that  beset  all  titles  that  have  passed  through  a  number 
of  indivicluals.  No  suit  will  be  instituted  against  the  railroad 
title  on  account  of  minor  heirs,  undivided  interests,  defective 


m 


:*  ^ 


CENTRAL,    WESTERN  AND  SOUTHERN  PACIFIC  LANDS.  jjj 


has  now  ap- 
The  immi- 
and  Dakota 
r  himself  and 
ranspcrtation 
►lements,  and 
rnment  land, 
d  going  east- 
m  Minnesota 
cent. ;  on  the 
It  on  the  long 
•  cent. 

rably  cheaper, 
ildom  exceed- 
'ears.  In  the 
ught  that  the 
)ught  at  lower 
itities. 

acific,  Central, 
s  and  connec- 
,de  or  no  corn- 
owing  extract 
elf.  Some  of 
|m ;  others  are 
[select  for  him- 
or  take  any 

le  company  is 
the  company, 
getting  a  bad 

ling  advantage 

■ n- 

patent  direct 
free  from  the 
lugh  a  number 
It  the  railroad 
jsts,  defective 


acknowledgments,  or  those  common  flaws  to  be  found  in  a  long 
succession  of  conveyances.  Viju  -hi   \A\  -a.   l!  i    ;,   ; 

Setllentent  Before  Patent. — ^The  company  invites  settlers  to  go 
on  the  lands  before  patents  are  issued  or  the  road  is  completed ; 
and  intends,  in  such  cases,  to  sell  to  them  in  preference  to  any 
other  applicants,  and  at  prices  based  upon  the  value  of  the  land 
without  the  improvements  put  upon  it  by  the  settlers.  It  makes 
no  definite  contract  with  any  individual  upon  this  basis,  but  it 
treats  all  fairly.  It  will  not  sell  to  somebody  else,  merely  be- 
cause the  latter  offers  a  higher  price.  It  will  not  sell  to  any  one 
land  that  may  be  required  by  it  for  railroad  purposes,  such  as 
places  for  depots,  stations,  etc.,  or  for  town  sites.  Any  person 
desiring  to  settle  upon  vacant  railroad  land,  after  survey  and 
before  it  is  patented,  should  address  a  letter  to  the  Land  Agent 
of  the  company,  requesting  a  copy  of  a  blank  application  for  the 
purchase  of  land.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  one  of  these  appli- 
cations as  filled  in,  the  words  and  figures  here  enclosed  in 
brackets  occupying  spaces  which  are  blank  in  the  printed  form, 
and  which  the  applicant  should  fill  in  to  suit  his  own  case:     m 

APPLICATION.     SOUTHERN   PACIFIC  RAILROAD  COMPANY,     LAND  DEPARTMENT. 


^  ...  -rf. .  ».> 


[Bakersfield,  Nov.  ist,  1876.] 
The  undersigned  hereby  applies  to  purchase  the  [northwest  quarter]  of  sec- 
tion [6]  of  township  [30  south]  range  [25  east]  [Mount  Diablo]  base  and 
meridian,  in  [Kern]  County,  California,  containing  [160]  acres. 
Residence  [2  miles  south  of  Bakersfield].  •/  ])>  >  oV  U'sKfJAnv.n' 

Post-office  address  [Bakersfield,  Kern  County,  Cailforcia]. 


I '<:<'«/■-■« I. jtifl^  t/jtiliiif  «fiA*.;ii.i?*J"'  »},>i"  ''Vi.f^' ,  »v^," iitelH t v.| 


Jo^rf  °:uT4 


HX-  .'♦.r 


The  value  of  the  application  depends  entirely  upon  the  care 
and  correctness  with  which  the  blanks  are  filled  in.  If  the  num- 
bers are  wrong,  or  if  the  signature  cannot  be  read,  or  if  the  post- 
ofifice  address  is  not  given  with  entire  clearness,  the  applicant 
must  not  blame  anybody  but  himself  if  the  application  does  not 
benefit  him.  Every  letter  in  the  signature  should  be  so  plain 
that  there  can  be  no  mistake  about  it.  A  scratch  may  be 
intelligible  to  a  personal  friend,  who,  knowing  from  whom  to 
expect  a  letter,  and  what  to  expect  in  it,  may  understand  that 
which  would  be  illegible  to  others.     Five  minutes  of  extra  time 


■-••■.  f' 


.C\\\\.\     .-.A- 


OUR    fV/':.'!7/-A'X   RMPIRK.      '■ 


is  all  that  is  necessary  for  ettinjsf  the  application  right.  The 
address  given  should  be  tht  j  'rmanent  address,  where  the  ap- 
plicant can  be  reached  at  any  time ;  and  if,  after  giving  it,  he 
should  move,  he  should  then  send  his  new  address,  mentioning 
in  his  letter  the  township  and  range  of  the  land  for  which  he  has 
applied,  so  that  the  new  address  can  be  put  with  the  application, 
which  is  filed  according  to  the  township  and  range  in  which  it  is 
situated.  If  he  wants  several  pieces  of  land  in  the  same  town- 
ship, he  should  include  all  in  one  application  ;  if  he  wants  land  in 
different  townships,  then  there  should  be  a  different  application 
for  each  township. 

The  Land  Agent  will  send  a  receipt  for  the  application,  and  if 
then  the  applicant  will,  without  unreasonable  delay,  permanently 
occupy  and  cultivate  the  land,  he  can  expect  to  have  preference 
over  all  other  applicants ;  but  his  claim  will  not  be  entitled  to 
any  consideration  if  he  does  not  show  his  goo;!  faith  by  occupa- 
t'  -n  and  cu' tivation,  or  improvement.  The  company  will  give  a 
prtferenre  to  settlers  over  speculators. 

If  the  setder  p^oes  upon  the  land  before  survey,  he  should  de- 
scribe it  as  nearly  as  possible,  and  so  soon  as  the  survey  is  made, 
send  the  description  to  the  Land  Agent. 

An  application  for  land  confers  no  vested  right  or  privilege  on 
the  applicant.     It  is  merely  a  notice  that  he  wishes  to  buy. 

The  filing  of  an  application  does  not  carry  with  it  the  right  or 
permission  to  cut  wood  or  timber  from  the  lands  of  the  company, 
except  for  fire-wood  for  the  domestic  uses  of  the  actual  occupants 
of  the  tract  applied  for,  or  for  fencirg  and  improving  it. 

Applicants,  or  other  perbu.  -,  who  shall  be  detected  in  cuttinjj 
wood  or  timber  on  railroad  lands,  except  for  the  purposes  above 
specified,  or  in  selling  or  carrying  it  away,  will  be  prosecuted  with 
the  utmost  severity  of  the  law. 

Land  Policy  of  Company, — The  policy  of  the  company  has 
always  been,  and  is  now,  to  encourage  the  settlement  of  its  lands 
in  small  tracts,  by  persons  who  will  live  on  and  cultivate  them. 
To  this  end  settlers  are  invited  to  make  applications  to  buy  and  to 
occupy  and  put  to  use  the  vacant  lands  until  such  time  as  they 
shall  be  reac^y  for  sale.    If  the  settler  desires  to  buy,  the  company 


mmmmm»mtwmMm^mmmtmmmmmmm 


".  •) 


SOUH/hkX    J'AC/HC    RAILWAY  LAXDS, 


35f 


jrht.  The 
;re  the  ap- 
ving  it,  he 
nentioning 
lich  he  has 
ippHcation, 
which  it  is 
lame  town- 
ints  land  in 
application 

tion,  and  if 

ermanently 

preference 

entitled  to 

by  occupa- 

■  will  give  a 

!  should  de- 
vey  is  made, 

privilege  on 

buy. 
the  right  or 
le  company, 
al  occupants 

it. 

d  in  cutting 
joses  above 
secuted  with 

ompany  has 
t  of  its  lands 
tivate  them, 
o  buy  and  to 
time  as  they 
tlie  company 


gives  him  the  rirst  privilej^e  of  purchase  at  tin;  fixed  price,  which, 
in  every  case,  shall  only  be  the  value  of  the  land,  without  regard  to 
the  improvements,  it  must  be  understood  that  the  application  of 
a  speculator,  or  of  a  person  who  does  not  improve  or  occupy  the 
land,  will  not,  although  received  first,  take  precedence  or  priority 
of  that  of  the  settler  whose  application  may,  perhaps,  be  filed 
last  of  all.  The  actual  settler,  in  good  faith,  will  be  preferred 
always,  and  the  land  will  be  sold  to  him  as  against  every  other 
applicant.  The  company  also  wishes  it  to  be  known  that  a  mere 
application  to  buy  land,  unaccompanied  by  actual  improvement  or 
setdement,  confers  no  right  or  privilege  which  should  prevent  an 
actual  setder  from  taking  it»  if  vacant,  into  possession,  and  culti- 
vating and  improving  it.     f  ■  ■! 

^  When  thei*e  are  two  or  more  applicants  for  the  same  tract  of 
land,  an  adjudication  of  their  respective  claims  will  be  made  by 
the  Land  Agent,  upon  due  notice  given  to  the  parties,  and  the 
right  to  buy,  at  the  graded  price,  will  be  awarded  to  the  applicant 
who  shall  be  deemed  to  have  the  most  equitable  claim.  Should 
the  applicants,  or  either  of  them,  pay  no  attention  to  the  notice, 
or  fail  to  be  present  in  person,  or  by  representative,  at  the  time 
and  place  mentioned  in  it,  they  shall  be  considered  to  have  aban 
doned  their  applications,  and  all  right  or  claim  to  purchase;  and 
the  land  will  then,  at  the  option  of  the  railroad  company,  be  open 
for  purchase  by  any  person  to  whom  the  company  may  choose 
to  sell. 

Careful  regard  is  paid  to  the  requirements  o{  the  law  in  every 
particular,  so  as  to  protect  the  officers  of  the  company  against 
complaints  for  the  past  and  distrust  for  the  future.  The  cultiva- 
tion of  confidence  is  nectj^sgtry  for  the  company.  » iwtll;;! 

No  deed  will  be  made  ifntH  ihe  entire  price  shall  have  been 

paid.  "**       ■>^kll^-.i^    ff.'i\<,n^'X^I.     ''.iV.nW.if-.'^yS'ii      .iJU'tin-ir--; 

Payment  in  Coin. — All  sales  are  ma<fe  (or  gold  coin,  which  may 
be  paid  in  person,  or  sent  by  express,  or  by  a  banker's  check  on 
a  bank  in  San  Francisco,  The  company  does  not  deal  in  ex- 
change, or  take  any  risk  of  loss  in  transmission.  The  collection 
of  orders  upon  business  men  in  San  Francisco,  or  of  checks  upon 
city  banks  drawn   by  farmers  o.^  country  merchants,  is  often 


OUK    IVKSTEK/^  EMPfKR, 


attended  with  much  delay  and  vexation,  and  therefore  such 
orders  or  checks  will  not  be  received  ;  but  a  check  drawn  by  any 
solvent  country  bank  upon  a  San  Francisco  bank,  with  which  it 
has  funds,  is  good.  No  paper  is  made  out  until  after  payment. 
No  contract  is  made  to  accept  work  of  any  kind  as  payment.  If 
the  purchaser  is  in  the  employment  of  the  company,  he  should 
get  his  money  and  come  with  it  to  the  Land  Office.  It  is  useless 
for  him  to  bother  with  offers  to  grade,  cut  wood,  or  do  something 
in  compensation  for  land.     The  departments  have  separate  ac- 


counts. 


tfWflTf?  /'>  »*iinRt«f' "?• 


fllri  7i.nj'<'*  tr.'tiir.fii' (• 


The  company  does  not  give  free  transportation  to  persons 
who  wish  to  examine  or  buy,  or  who  have  bought  land.  Nor 
after  purchase  does  it  carry  their  building  material,  furniture  or 
cattle,  free.  In  this  as  in  other  respects,  the  land  and  transporta- 
tion departments  of  the  company  manage  their  business  on  the 
cash  basis  and  on  separate  accounts.         >  rH»r.jf;  nt  l»/h 

Prices. — The  lands  are  not  uniform  in  price,  but  are  offered  at 
various  figures  from  $2.50  upwards  per  acre;  usually  land 
covered  with  tall  timber  is  held  at  $5  per  acre,  and  that  with 
pine  at  $10.  Most  is  for  sale  at  from  jjja.so  to  55-  I^  's  im- 
possible to  give  the  prices  by  sections  or  minor  subdivisions  in 
this  pamphlet.  Special  inquiry  must  be  made  as  to  each  piece.  ' 
The  purchaser  must  pay  for  the  acknowledgment  of  the  three 
signatures  to  the  deed — the  law  now  allows  one  dollar  for  each 
signature — and  he  must  pay  for  recording,  usually  about  $2.50 
for  each  deed. 

Grading  Lands. — When  lands  are  ready  to  be  sold,  the  cotH-  ■ 
pany  sends  a  man  well  acquainted  with  the  quality  of  soil  and ' 
skilled  in  determining  the  kind  of  agricultural  product  to  which  • 
it  is  best  adapted,  as  also  in  detetrflinlng  its  true  market  value, 
to  look  at  the  various  sections  and  trarts.     After  personal  ex- 
amination, he  grades  the  land  as  being  first,  second  or  third  . 
quality  of  farming,  vineyard,  timber  or  grazing  land,  and  reports 
the  value  of  each  piece.     His  report  is  examined,  and,  if  found  » 
correct,  a  price  is  established.     The  price  is  generally  that  of  ' 
unimproved  land  of  the  same  quality  in  the  immediate  vicinity  at  * 
the  time  of  the  grading.     In  ascertaining  the  value,  any  improve- 


SOVrHERN  PACIFIC  RAIL  WA  V  LANDS. 


359 


ifore  such 
,wn  by  any 
th  which  it 
'  payment, 
yrment.  If 
,  he  should 
t  is  useless 
I  something 
eparate  ac- 

to  persons 
land.  Nor 
urniture  or 
transporta- 
iness  on  the 

re  offered  at 

isually  land 

r»d  that  with 

It  is  im- 

bdivisions  in 

each  piece. 

of  the  three 

ar  for  each 

about  $2.50 

d.  the  corri- 
yr  of  soil  and 
uct  to  which 
larket  value, 
personal  ex- 
ind  or  third 
and  reports 
nd,  if  found  • 
rally  that  of 
ite  vicinity  at* 
any  improve- 


ments that  a  settler  or  other  person  may  have  on  the  land  will 
not  be  taken  into  consideration,  neither  will  the  price  of  the  land 
be  increased  in  consequence  of  them.  Further,  there  is  but  one 
price — that  fixed  by  the  company — and  land  will  be  sold  at  that 
rate  to  those  who  in  equity  have  the  best  right  to  buy,  even  if 
others  should  offer  more  per  acre  than  the  amount  asked.  Set- 
tlers are  thus  assured  that,  in  addition  to  being  accorded  the  first 
privilege  of  purchase  at  the  graded  price,  they  will  also  be  pro- 
tected in  their  improvements.  ' -»      '        '   ' 

When  Time  Allowed. — Land  is  sold  on  contract  allowing  time 
for  payment  of  a  part  of  the  purchase  money — if  the  tract  be 
eighty  acres  or  more  and  if  it  have  no  timber.  If  it  be  less  than 
eighty  acres,  or  if  it  be  covered  with  timber,  no  sale  will  be  made 
except  upon  full  payment  of  (ash  before  the  execution  of  any 
paper.  The  rule  of  the  company  is  to  make  no  contracts  for 
sale  of  land  before  the  patent  for  it  has  been  received. 

Terms  of  Time  Sales. — All  contracts  for  the  sale  of  land  on 
time  are  made  in  uniform  manner.  The  terms  are  the  same  in 
every  case.  The  purchaser  must  pay  one-fifth  of  the  price  and 
also  interest  for  one  year  on  the  balance  before  he  can  get  a  con- 
tract ;  he  raust  then  pay  the  interest  in  advance  at  the  beginning 
of  each  subsequent  year,  till  the  fifth  year  is  up,  and  then  pay  his 
principal  XiwA  take  his  deed.  No  instalments  are  accepted,  but 
if  his  interest  is  not  delinquent  he  can  at  any  time  pay  the 
principal  and  get  his  deed.  This  system  protects  the  company 
against  complication  of  accounts,  gives  the  purchaser  an  abun- 
dance of  time  for  making  payments,  and  enables  him  to  select  his 
own  day  within  five  years  for  closing  up  the  transaction.  As 
stated,  payment  in  full  of  the  purchase  money  can  be  made  at 
any  time,  but  after  interest  has  been  paid,  no  part  of  it  will  be 
refunded.  This  is  done  in  order  to  avoid  confusion  in  keeping 
the  accounts.  The  purchaser  can  draw  interest  on  his  money  in 
a  savings  bank  till  the  end  of  the  year,  if  he  sees  fit. 

No  longer  credit  than  five  years  is  allowed  in  any  case. 

In  many  cases  in  which  purchases  have  been  made  on  credit, 
the  buyers  have  made  enough  from  the  crops  of  a  single  year  to 
pay  for  the  land.         •^{■'vih  a(fe»>t:'>!rM^>  ■:i«;^wtV|-{iiVf -fi^^nim^fA 

■■.■  -'  ■  -    . ,-  .  .       ■■  • '    .-  '■  .-K'-WA 


jl9  ovu  wtsruMy  ump/ke, 

Let  uM  Huppub'-  that  the  purchaser  takcH  160  acrcn  at  $5  per 
acrr,  under  contract  tlatcd  January  i»t,  1877.  The  total  (ike  1* 
$800.  If  he  wants  to  buy  uii  time,  he  must  pay  in  advance  onc- 
ftlih  of  the  principiil,  $160,  and  $(34  as  interest  at  10  per  cnnt.  on 
the  $640  of  the  remainder,  or  $224  in  all,  casih,  on  the  day  when 
the  contract  is  tnude.  Then  hf  must  pay  1^64  interest  on  the  i  st 
of  January,  1878,  and  as  much  more  on  the  same  days  in  1879, 
1880  and  1881  ;  and  on  tht:  int  of  January,  1882,  he  must  [)ay 
the  $640  remainder  of  the  principal,  and  tlicn  he  is  entitled  to 
his  deed.      iij.  ijf'ntnu*  nt\  IJo-t  -i  f/in.  1  ■-.\.i/.v'ri ,  -..v  \   '.*.vVM 

On  land  s^old  under  contract  the  purchaser  must  cut  no  wood 
save  for  domestic  purposes,  or  for  fencing  the  tract  bought,  until 
he  has  made  his  last  payment.  All  contracts  may  be  assigned 
by  the  purchaser. 

When  the  contract  is  made,  the  purchaser  must  from  that  date 
see  that  the  land  is  assessed  to  him,  and  must  pay  all  the  taxes 
and  assessments  of  every  kind  levied  on  the  land  for  public 
purposes.    IJ.  ^n ;  .numiJU  ';n« 'ru;  flt  rUi;ni -vis, 'jr*^ 

AiW  o/"  Deed. — The  company  gives  what  is  known  as  a 
bargain  and  sale  deed,  the  form  customary  in  California.  It 
warrants  to  the  purchaser  that  he  gets  the  entire  title  acquired 
by  the  company  from  the  Federal  government,  and  is  signed  by 
the  president  and  secretary  of  the  company  and  two  trustees. 

Select /or  Yourself. — No  officer  of  the  railroad  selects  land  for 
another  person,  nor  could  uch  selection  be  made  without  ex- 
posing the  company  to  vexatious  complaints.  Everybody  who 
intends  to  buy  should,  if  possible,  visit  and  examine  the  land, 
for  nobody  knows  so  well  what  he  wants,  or  at  least  nobody  can 
safely  assume  the  responsibility  of  deciding  for  him. 

Rent. — The  company  will  lease  its  vacant  grazing  or  agri- 
cultural lands  by  the  year,  or  for  a  term  of  years,  but  reserve.1 
the  right  of  selling  its  grazing  lands  so  leased  at  any  tjme,  or 
its  agricultural  lands  at  the  end  of  any  crop  year,  repaying  to 
the  lessee  a  share  of  the  rent  money  proportioned  exactly  to 
the  area  sold,  the  time  of  the  sale  and  the  duration  of  the  lease. 
The  lessee  must  not  cut  any  timber  except  for  fire'  od  for 
domestic  purposes.  The  conditions  are  distinctly  states'  in  the 
lease. 


''^gffiiWWP''*'''^^'^''^^^^ 


at  $*)  p<r 

lal  irice  •• 
vance  onc- 
er cetil.  on 

day  wlun 
on  the  I  Hi 
s  in   1879. 

must  pay 
cntilleti  to 

ut  no  woot! 
ought,  until 
yc  assij^netl 

)m  that  date 
ill  the  tax<'s 
[  for  public 

:nown  ais  a 
ilifornia.  It 
itlc  acquired 
is  sign<;d  by 
I  trustees.  '•' 
ects  land  for 

without  cx- 
jrybody  who 
r»e  the  land, 

nobody  can 

ing  or  agri- 
but  reserves 
any  time,  or 
,  repaying  to 
:d  exacdy  to 
of  the  lease, 
fire  od  for 
states'  In  the 


The  rent  munt  always  be  paid  in  coin,  and  in  ailvanrt*. 

Rtutroad  lutmis. — Lan«ls  )^iant<  I  by  Mexico,  lanvk  whirh  have 
bten  sold  by  the  L^nitrd  Statf*.  or  pr«-  tinpnil  ur  lakcn  by 
horiiest«'a«l.  in  accoidann-  uiih  law,  lH!(ore  the  raiirotd  tillu 
atiached,  and  lands  whicii  have  Ijceii  rcH)  rvetl  asniintrai  are  not 
"  vacant  I'ederal  landii "  as  that  term  is  used  here,  und  do  nc/i 
pass  to  the  company. 

The  lands  givi  n  to  the  Southern  Pacih-  Railroad  Company  by 
Congress,  extend  front  San  Johc,  by  way  of  Ciilroy,  HollisUT, 
San  Heniit)  Pass,  Huron,  Ciosheii  rehacha|)i  Pass,  l.os  Angi.'les 
and  San  Gorgoui.  I'.us,  lo  I'Ort  Yuma,  anil  also  from  Tehachapi 
Pass,  eastward  lu  Jit-  NirtHJles,  on  the  Coloiado  river. 

Tin:  San  I'raocisco  and  .San  jost*  Railroad  has  been  incorfjorated 
with  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  'mving  been  constructed  on 
part  of  the  route  before  the  bill  ^  .ing  the  franchise  uud  land 
to  the  latter  road  was  passed.  in.',. 

Tht*  land-j4rani  Irotn  San  Jose  to  Fort  Yuma  is  600  miles  lofl|i^ 
and  covers  all  the  unr«.'served  odd  sec  tions  within  thirty  miles  of 
the  road  on  each  sidt  It  woiud  not  take  more  ihan  twi  nty 
miles  from  the  road  if  all  had  beim  unreserved  ;  but  portions  of 
Santa  Clara,  Santa  Cru/,  Monterey,  San  Benito,  Ventura,  l.os 
Angeles  and  San  l^ernurdino  and  other  counties  were  held 
under  Mexican  gram  or  were  c»therwis«^  reserved  from  the 
company,  which  will  not  get  the  full  12,800  acres  for  each 
mile,  even  by  going  to  the  full  dt-.tance  of  thirty  miles  from  the 
roa<l. 

The  radroad  grant  on  the  section  between  San  Josei  and  Tres 
Pinos,  fifty-one  miles  long,  covers  ntrarly  all  of  Santa  Clara  and 
Santa  Cruz  counties,  parts  of  Merced,  Fresno  and  Monterey, 
and  small  portions  of  Alameda,  San  Joa({uin  and  Stanislaus. 
Most  of  these  lands,  however,  were  previously  covered  with 
Mexican  grants,  or  were  otherwise  legally  occupied,  and 
the  company  has  little  land  for  sale  in  those  counties,  and 
most  of  that  litde  is  in  the  mountains,  and  at  present  difficult  ot 
access. 

It  should  be  understood  that  the  railroad  companies,  except 
perhaps  in  Texas,  have  no  mining  I^nd8  to  sell.     These  are  all 


'.A. 


ovif  tTMxrMirAr  kMNmm. 


carefully  rencrvcil  by  the  Uniic«l  Sutrt  jj^vrrnmrnt.  and  v!  err 
land  whicli  had  been  latrntcd  to  them,  proved  to  be  inine.'^l  or 
mining  land,  before  they  had  nold  it,  the  government  claimed  it 
and  iian  ^;iven  them  other  landn  in  tht*  place  of  it. 

The  mining  lawn  and  re^^ulations,  which  w<?  have  ^ivcn  in  full 
in  a  previous  chapter,  explain  fully  the  only  mcthotlMot  procuring 
mining;  laniln  direct  from  the  j^overnment.  ("here  Ih  nothing 
to  prevent  an  immigrant  from  buying  an  inf  rest  in  a  mine,  and 
in  the  land  in  which  or  under  which  tt  i»  situate(f,  from  thoMe  who 
hold  it,  but  an  interest  in  a  mine  in  not  necessai  ly  an  interest  in 
the  land  above  it.  A  bill  now  bt^fore  CongrenH  provides  that 
land  may  be  Hold  in  tracts  containing  eight  N<|uarc  milen  or  less, 
for  grazing  purposes,  subject  to  the  condition  that  if  a  mine 
passes  underneath  It,  the  rights  of  the  miners  shall  not  be 
prejudiced  by  this  occupancy  of  the  surface.        i.ii.t, ,>i(j  i>>-i:  •<! 

We  have  alluded  in  previous  chapters  to  the  opportunities 
which  are  often  offcr(;d  to  buy  partially  improved  farms  and  cat- 
tle or  shttep  ranches.  This  opportunity  occurs  so  frequently 
that  the  immigrant  who  has  two  or  three  thousand  dollars  of 
capital  will  often  find  it  better  to  purchase  one  of  these  farms, 
tlian  to  take  up  new  land  by  any  of  the  methods  offered  in  this 
chapter.  It  is  not  at  all  to  tl)c  discredit  of  the  fertility,  climate, 
or  productiveness  of  any  of  these  States  or  Territories  that  so 
many  farms  should  be  for  sale.  The  causes  which  lead  to  it  are 
usually  these :  a  man  with  very  little  capital  has  taken  up  a  farm 
or  sheep  or  cattle  ranche,  either  by  pre-emption  or  under  the 
Homestead  or  Timber-Culture  Acts,  or  has  bought  of  the  railroad 
lan('  >,  and  being  perhaps  not  a  good  manager,  or  having  a  large 
family  and  meeting  with  misfortunes  in  his  crops,  finds  himself 
in  debt,  and  unable  to  extricate  himself  and  keep  his  farm.  Per- 
haps he  has  bought  too  much  land,  and  the  cost  of  breaking  it 
up  and  his  annual  payments  on  it  swallow  up  all  he  can  make, 
and  he  becomes  discouraged.  He  will  find  that  if  he  mortgages 
his  land,  the  interest  will  eat  up  the  whole  value  of  the  farm,  and, 
being  sold  out  under  foreclosure,  he  has  nothing  left,  and  has  to 
hire  himself  out  as  a  laborer.  If  he  can  sell  the  farm,  the  pay- 
ments yet  to  be  made  can  be  met  by  the  purchaser,  and  though 


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ri  thoHC  who 
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rovides  that 
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hall  not   be 

pportunities 
ms  and  cat- 
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r  under  the 
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inds  himself 
farm.  Per- 
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BUYING  PARTIALLY  IMPROVED  FARMS.  363 

he  receives  less  than  he  has  expended  in  money  and  labor  upon 
the  land,  yet  he  is  out  of  debt  and  can  move  on  to  the  frontier 
where,  taking  a  farm  under  the  Homestead  Act  or  Timber-Culture 
Act,  and  building  a  sod  house,  he  can  have  a  better  chance  to 
retrieve  his  fortunes.  Meanwhile,  the  immigrant  who  buys  finds 
the  land  ready  broken  for  crops,  and  perhaps  the  crops  for  the 
season  sown,  so  that  within  four  or  six  months  he  can,  if  the  sea- 
son is  favorable,  realize  from  his  crop  nearly  what  the  farm  has 

cost  him.  'i  ,:vi":';    'rJ'n    'w  ■'    '  i    'i'^-A-.:.;:  .•:f!.i^;>;!  )!;:.;(■;    ;     ':■        ■'    !'    i. 

These  farms  ran  generally  be  bought  at  a  reasonable  price, 
because  there  are  so  many  in  the  market.  They  should  not  be 
bought  at  a  high  price  for  two  reasons :  first,  that  in  most  regions 
there  is  some  uncertainty  about  the  crop  from  drought,  grass- 
hoppers, Colorado  beetles,  worms,  or  excess  of  rain  ;  and  second, 
that  the  first  crop,  especially  of  grain  or  roots  and  tubers,  is 
usually  larger  than  those  which  succeed  it.      J      ■!     '  'i''  '  '       '  ' 

By  caution  in  buying,  the  immigrant  will  generally  do  well, 
and  by  careful  and  thorough  cultivation  he  may  find  his  partially 
improved  farm  a  source  of  great  wealth.     ;  .    . 


•y.-.-^vh  tl. 


•  -I  r 


CHAPTER    VI. 


Farming  Life — The  Amount  of  Capital  Needed — Management  of  a  Farm 
AT  THE  West — The  Best  Farming  Regions — What  Crops  are  I  est — Hov/ 
Farming  can  re  made  most  Profitable. 

Having  in  previous  chapters  shown  the  immigrant  how  to 
reach  the  West,  how  ';o  select  his  land  or  location,  and  the 
various  methods  by  which  he  may  become  the  owner  and  pos- 
sessor of  a  farm  or  other  landed  estate,  we  are  now  ready  to 
assist  him  in  settling  upon  his  land  and  making  his  first  crops. 
In  the  case  of  immigrants  from  Europe  this  is  particularly  neces- 
sary ;  for  though  it  is  very  possible  that  the  immigrant  may,  in 
his  own  country,  and  under  the  circumstances  existing  there,  be 
as  good  a  farmer  as  can  be  found-,  yet  the  circumstances  here 
are  so  different  in  the  character  of  the  soil,  tlie  climate  and  sea- 


';  -1 


■I  ■! 


lii 


-^ 


3^4  ^^^'    "-Vsy/AA'iV   UMPIRE.     i\' 

sons,  the  amount  of  rain-fall,  and  the  crops  most  in  demand,  that 
he  will  find  that  he  has  much  of  his  business  to  learn  anew. 

The  first  thinjj  to  be  decided  is,  what  description  of  crops  he 
would  prefer  to  cultivate,  and  this  point  should  be  settled  before 
he  sets  out  for  the  West,  whether  his  previous  home  had  been 
in  Europe  or  in  the  Atlantic  States.  If  he  desires  to  raise  the 
small  grains,  and  perhaps  root  crops,  he  must  still  decide  whether 
he  will  grow  winter  or  spring  wheat  and  rye.  I'or  spring  wheat 
and  the  other  small  grains,  as  well  as  for  root  crops,  there  is  no 
region  so  good  as  Minnesota,  Dakota,  Montana,  and  perhaps 
Iowa  and  Southern  Dakota,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and 
Washington  and  Oregon  west  of  those  mountains.*  The  spring 
wheat  of  Montana  surpasses  that  of  any  other  part  of  the  world. 
In  an  average  season  it  weighs  sixty-nine  pounds  to  the  bushe , 
sixty  pounds  being  the  standard,  and  with  ordinary  care  in  cul- 
tivation thirty-uve  to  forty  bushels  to  the  acre,  many  entire  crops 
exceeding  this  large  yield.  Dakota  and  Minnesota  and  Oregon 
and  Washington  Territory  are  not  far  behind.  Iowa  grows 
some  winter  wheat,  though  the  spring  wheat  largely  predomi- 
nates; but,  probably  on  account  of  less  thorough  cultivation, 
neither  the  yield  nor  the  weight  are  equal  to  those  of  the  north- 
ernmost tier  of  States  and  Territories.  Th'^re  is  one  other  rea- 
son alleged  for  th^  excellence  of  the  grain  crops  of  this  northern 
region,  which  includes  the  fertile  valley  of  the  Red  river  of  the 
North ;  it  is  that  the  surface  frost  thaws  very  early  in  the  spring, 
but  that  at  the  depth  of  three  and  one-half  or  four  inches  the 
earth  is  still  frozen,  and  that  when  the  seed  is  sown  this  deeper 
frost,  thawing  gradually,  keeps  the  roots  of  the  grain  moist  and 
develops  them  more  moderately  and  surely  than  can  be  done  in 
any  other  way. 

There  is  this  further  advantage  in  regard  to  Northern  Minne- 
sota. Dakota,  and  Eastern  Montana,  that  the  crops  can  be 
quickly  and  cheaply  marketed  over  the  Northern  Pacific  and  its 

*  For  all  this  northern  region  iprhtg  wheat  is  a  very  certain  crop,  winter  wheat  an  exceed- 
ingly unceltaiu  one.  During  the  long  and  severe  frosts,  the  roots  of  the  winter  wheat  are 
frozen,  or  winter-killed,  and  in  many  instances  it  does  not  recover  its  vitality.  Some  winter 
wheat  is  sown  in  Minnesota,  Northern  Dakota,  and  more  in  Iowa,  but  it  proves  very  nearly  a 
failure,  while  the  spring  wheat  yields  from  twenty-one  (o  forty  bushels,  dr  even  more,  to  the  acre. 


nand,  that 
mew. 

f  crops  he 
:led  before 

had  been 
>  raise  the 
de  whether 
ring  wheat 
there  is  no 
id  perhaps 
niains,  and 
The  spring 
f  the  world, 
the  bushu , 
care  in  cul- 
sntirc  crops 
md  Oregon 
[owa  grows 
ly  predomi- 

cultivation, 
f  the  north- 
e  other  rea- 
his  northern 

river  of  the 
the  spring, 
inches  the 

this  deeper 
in  moist  and 
be  done  in 

hern  Minne- 
-ops  can  be 
acific  and  its 


wheat  an  exceeJ- 

winter  wheat  are 

ily.     Somu  winter 

roves  very  nearly  a 

more,  to  the  acre. 


WINTER    WHEAT,   MAIZE  AND  SOKCIlUAf.  ,55 

branches,  and  that  they  can  be  sent  to  Europe  direct,  and  will 
ordinarily  bring  largely  remunerative  prices  there.  Root  crops 
of  all  kinds  yield  enormously  over  the  whole  of  this  region.  The 
immigrant  who  wishes  to  preserve  this  abundant  productiveness 
of  his  lands,  should  do  two  or  three  things  which  very  many  of 
the  farmers  there  do  not  do ;  he  should  plow  deeply ;  the  soil  is 
from  five  to  ten  feet,  or  even  more,  in  depth,  and  will  yield  con- 
tinuous large  crops,  if  the  ground  is  plowed  to  a  depth  of  from 
eighteen  inches  to  two  and  a  half  feet,  but  this  should  be  done 
in  the  fall,  and  with  a  thorough  harrowing,  in  the  spring  the  soil 
will  be  in  fine  condition  for  a  crop.  He  should  rotate  his  crops, 
not  after  the  five  years'  plan  adopted  in  England  and  on  the 
continent,  but,  perhaps,  one  year  of  grain,  one  of  root  crops^  and 
one  of  clover,  Alfalfa,  Hungarian  grass  or  millet,  thus  allowing 
the  constituents  withdrawn  from  the  soil  to  be  replaced.  He 
should  also  keep  h.orses  and  mules  for  his  work,  oxen  and  cows, 
sheep  and  swine,  and  though  it  is  a  general  matter  of  belief  with 
the  settlers  on  these  new  lands  that  they  need  no  manuring,  he 
will  not  find  his  crops  at  all  diminished,  if  he  uses  upon  his  lands 
all  the  manure,  liquid  as  well  as  solid,  produced  by  his  animals, 
and  he  can  consume  a  part  of  his  crops  at  home,  and  turn  them 
into  products  which  will  pay  him  better  than  to  sell  them  direct. 
If  our  immigrant  prefers  to  raise  winter  wheat,  Indian  corn, 
sorghum  (though  the  early  varieties  of  the  sorghum  will  do  well 
almost  to  the  Canada  border,  while  the  latter  and  larger  varie- 
ties yield  more  bountifully  in  the  central  belt),  he  will  find 
Southern  Iowa,  Missouri,  Nebraska,  Kansas  and  Wyoming  his 
best  region  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  Northern  and 
Central  California,  some  districts  of  Nevada,  Utah  and  Western 
Colorado,  west  of  these  mountains.  Here,  too,  most  of  the  root 
crops,  and  many  special  crops,  such  ais  the  castor-oil  bean,  pearl 
millet,  Egyptian  rice  corn,  sweet  potatoes,  alfalfa,  and  Hungarian 
grass  do  well.  Especially  can  we  commend  Kansas  and  Ne- 
braska and  Eastern  Colorado  for  the  winter  wheat  and  Indian 
corn  crops,  among  the  States  and  Territories  east  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  But  we  must  caution  immigrants,  even  in  these 
States,  that  they  should  not  press  forward  beyond  the  line  of 


..i" 


;   V 


1" 


^66  OUR    tVESTEfiX  EMPIRE. 

general  advance  in  their  settlement  of  these  farming  lands. 
That  line  is  moving  westward  at  about  the  rate  of  fifteen  miles  a 
year  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  but  it  is  not  well  for  the  immi- 
grant to  go  to  the  front  at  first,  for  thesr  reasons :  As  we  go 
westward  from  the  Missouri  river  to  the  foot-hills  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  the  amount  of  rainfall  diminishes,  and  there  is  dan- 
ger of  drought,  which  would  be  fatal  to  corn,  though  the  wheat, 
ripening  earlier,  might  not  be  so  much  affected  by  it.  The  rain- 
fall is  increasing  as  the  line  of  cultivation  moves  westward, 
because  the  spring  rains  are  absorbed  where  the  hard  surface  or 
crust  has  been  broken ;  but  where  the  soil  has  been  beaten  solid 
for  hundreds  of  years  under  the  hoofs  of  millions  of  buffalo,  all 
the  rain  which  falls  either  runs  off  or  is  speedily  evaporated. 
The  deeply-plowed  lands  drink  in  the  rain,  and  the  vegetation 
which  springs  up  gathers  the  moisture  from  dew  and  showers 
and  suffers  it  to  be  more  slowly  evaporated  and  return  in  rain. 
We  know,  that  taking  one  year  with  another,  the  rainfall  which 
ten  years  ago,  on  these  unbroken  lands,  west  of  the  98th  meri- 
dian, was  only  10.5  or  1 1  inches  annually,  has  steadily  increased, 
till  in  1879  it  was  17  or  17.5  inches.  Even  with  this  amount 
some  of  the  crops  would  be  the  better  for  irrigation ;  but  with 
the  prospect  of  an  increasing  rainfall  eiach  year  the  setder  can 
bide  his  time.  Two  things  can  be  said  in  regard  to  the  danger 
from  drought  in  this  region  of  very  moderate  rainfall :  first,  that 
though  the  amount  of  rain  is  perhaps  somewhat  less  than  could 
be  desired,  it  always  falls  just  at  the  right  time  to  help  the  crops, 
and  is  not  so  violent  or  copious  as  to  uproot  oc  injure  them ; 
second,  in  the  valley  of  the  Upper  Arkansas,  where  much  of  this 
land  is  situated,  there  is  a  remarkable  provision  of  nature  to 
prevent  injury  to  plants  and  grains ;  the  river  and  its  branches, 
though  fed  in  the  spring  by  mountain  torrents,  never  overflows 
its  banks,  but  its  valley,  which  is  alluvial,  is  underlaid  at  a  depth 
of  eight  or  ten  feet  by  a  close,  solid  clay,  and  the  water  spreads 
out  and  flows  under  the  surface  of  this  loam  and  above  the  clay, 
saturating  the  loam  with  moisture.  The  soil  of  this  valley  re- 
tains its  moisture  even  when  there  is  no  rain  for  three  months 
9jr  more,  a^n4  the  qrpps  do  not  sufTer  frow  drought.    The  valley 


^^^^*;\  '-j-''-'^  ^  _;•>  ^-■^-" '  ^^.' 


™i.,j."  .l'«  ....-__:.vo:_iil_.  ^z;.-,.  .:*i^^:^.„ 


ming   lands, 
ftecn  miles  a 
ar  the  immi- 
5 :  As  we  go 
jf  the  Rocky 
there  is  dan- 
^h  the  wheat, 
t.     The  rain- 
es  westward, 
ird  surface  or 
I  beaten  solid 
of  buffalo,  all 
^  evaporated, 
lie  vegetation 
and  showers 
-eturn  in  rain, 
rainfall  which 
the  98th  meri- 
dily  increased, 
1  this  amount 
tion ;  but  with 
le  settler  can 
to  the  danger 
fall :  first,  that 
ess  than  could 
lelp  the  crops, 
injure  them; 
e  much  of  this 
of  nature  to 
\  its  branches, 
ever  overflows 
aid  at  a  depth 
water  spreads 
ibove  the  clay, 
this  valley  re- 
three  months 
It.    The  valley 


'■u 


liKV  LANDS  AND  IRRIGATION.  367 

of  the  Platte,  in  Nebraska,  is  somewhat  similarly  |)rotectcd  from 
drought.  With  the  increasing  rainfall  that  portion  of  these 
States  east  of  the  meridian  of  99°  west  from  Greenwich,  is  not 
now  in  any  great  danger  from  drought ;  while  the  lands  west  of 
that  meridian  which  are  cultivated  can  generally,  at  moderate 
expense,  be  provided  with  irrigating  canals.  In  t!astern  Colo- 
rado the  lands  are  still  more  elevated  than  in  Kansas,  ranging 
from  5,000  to  6,500  or  7,000  feet  above  the  sea.  Portions  of 
this  land  are  too  high  for  corn  crops  to  be  raised  with  certainty, 
as  the  cool  nights  and  somewhat  early  frosts  may  prevent  its 
ripening ;  but  most  of  it  will,  when  irrigated,  yield  most  astonish- 
ing crops  of  corn,  wheat,  oats,  and  potatoes. 

The  immigrant  who  does  not  come  as  a  member  of  a  colony, 
or  under  the  direction  of  an  emigration  company,  will  hardly 
find  it  advisable  to  farm  lands  requiring  irrigation  unless  he  has 
a  considerable  capital  to  invest.  The  first  cost  of  irrigating 
canals  or  ditches  is  considerable  for  a  single  individual,  and  can 
better  be  borne  by  a  colony,  where  there  are  a  considerable 
number  to  use  the  water  thus  obtained.  Still,  where  a  man  has 
sufficient  capital  to  take  up  a  square  mile  (640  acres)  of  the  so- 
called  desert  land,  which  can  now  be  purchased  by  the  payment 
of  ;jii6o  down  and  $640  more  at  the  end  of  three  years,  construct 
his  Irrigating  ditch,  which  may  cost  him  from  $1,000  to  $3,000, 
according  to  location,  stock  his  farm  and  break  up  one-half  of 
his  land,  which  will  cost  him  $2,000  more,  or  $2,500  with  his 
cabin  and  corrals,  he  can  rely  with  considerable  certainty  upon 
gathering  crops  from  this  320  acres  under  cultivation  before  the 
expiration  of  the  three  years  from  the  time  of  taking  the  land, 
of  a  net  value  of  not  less  than  $25,000  on  an  outlay  of  not  more 
than  $7,500  or  $8,000  at  the  outside,  and  he  will  have  his  land 
clear  and  his  irrigating  canals  ready  for  further  operations.  Some 
farmers  on  these  lands  have  done  much  better  than  this.*  The 
advantage  of  irrigation  is  that  the  crop  is  always  certain.     If  the 

*  In  Northern  Colorado,  California,  and  perhaps  some  of  the  other  Slates  and  Territories,  land 
and  irrignlion  companies  have  lieen  formed,  often  with  English  capital,  which  buy  large  tracts 
of  land,  construct  irrigating  canals,  sometimes  of  fifty  or  sixty  miles  in  length,  and  sell  the  land 
with  the  guaranty  of  water  for  irrigation  at  from  f  13  to  |iS  per  acre.  Many  purchaseri  have 
found  this  plan  profitable. 


,^iaJ!(&S^i!B(3i'.-. 


r 


.^v;-. 


\ 


^6g  OUR    WHSTEHN    KMI'IKE. 

rainfall  is  prratcr  than  usual,  l«:ss  irrifjalion  is  required ;  ii  it  is 
less  than  usual,  more  water  fan  be  turned  on,  and  these  lands 
which,  when  watered,  are  the  richest  and  most  fertile  in  the 
West,  respond  with  a  great  crop  every  year.  •  '■-,  'i''  "=  '  *'' 
Of  course  irrigation  does  not  entirely  preclude  the  dangers 
from  the  insect  pests,  the  Rocky  Mountain  locust  or  grasshop- 
per, and  the  Colorado  beetle  or  potato  bug ;  but  it  is  a  partial 
preventive  to  the  ravages  of  both,  and  the  farmers  of  those 
regions  have  learned  how  to  prevent  serious  evils  from  their 
depredations,  by  early  and  deeper  plowing,  ditches,  fire-pits,  and 
the  protection  of  tlie  grouse  or  prairie  hens  from  indiscriminate 

slaughter.  /^'^JkI'MJ    ciim  ,r  ,>,-.»   ,^^^..•^^r*   ..uy.f.r     i-.i    '  ■  ^^  '  '  ■',  .^t,tii 

The  enterprising  farmer  will  find  farming  greatly  facilitated, 
when  his  land  is  once  broken,  by  the  use  of  agricultural 
machinery  and  improved  methods  of  cultivation.  We  cannot 
urge  upon  him  too  strongly  the  necessity  of  deeper  plowing  than 
is  generally  practised,  and  thorough  harrowing  and  cultivation. 
For  these  purposes,  and  especially  on  prairie  lands,  he  will  find 
it  wise,  if  he  can,  to  procure  the  best  kind  of  gang-plows,  and 
those  which  will  turn  the  deepest  furrows,  the  best  harrows,  cul- 
tivators and  horse-hoes.  And  having  procured  good  agricultural 
machines,  he  must  take  good  care  of  them,  not  exposing  them  to 
the  weather  to  rust  and  crack  and  fall  to  pieces  when  not  in  use. 

If  the  farmer  keeps  as  much  stock  as  he  should,  say  for  a  farm 
of  1 60  acres  or  twice  that  quantity,  a  pair  of  stout,  strong  and 
serviceable  horses,  a  pair  of  good  mules,  one  or  two  yoke  of 
oxen  (better  two  than  one),  two  or  three  good  milch  cows  and  half 
a  dozen  pigs,  and  cultivates  ten  or  twenty  acres  in  forage  grasses, 
such  as  Alfalfa,  Hungarian  grass,  millet  or  Egyptian  rice-corn,  he 
will,  if  he  manages  well,  accumulate  manures  which  will  restore  to 
the  soil  the  elements  which  his  wheat,  barley,  oats  and  corn  have 
taken  from  it,  and  though  his  neighbors  may  laugh  at  him  for 
doing  so,  his  enormous  crops  will  show  that  he  is  wise  in  putting 
his  fertilizers  on  even  prairie  soils. 

But  to  return  to  the  new  agricultural  nrachines :  The  grains 
and  root  crops  are  sown  so  much  bette*  and  so  much  more 
rapidly  by  the  use  of  some  of  the  drills  or  seed-so>yers,  and  the 


bi^^;'>'-''-"^ 


cd;  ii  it  is 
these  lands 
rtiie  in  the 

l)t.r    l->     I  '■■■• 

he  dangers 
r  jjrasshop- 
is  a  partial 
rs  of  those 
,  from  their 
ire-pits,  and 
discriminate 

ly  facilitated, 
agricultural 
We  cannot 
plowing  than 
i  cultivation. 
^  he  will  find 
!g-plows,  and 
harrows,  cul- 
d  agricultural 
)sing  them  to 
in  not  in  use. 
ay  for  a  farm 
t,  strong  and 
two  yoke  of 
cows  and  half 
jrage  grasses, 
1  rice-corn,  he 
will  restore  to 
ind  corn  have 
'h  at  him  for 
/ise  in  putting 

The  grains 
o  much  more 
>wers,  and  the 


f   \ 


V 


1        .    ' 

■  -     V  .     ■     * 


■lifti 


■■i^■^••         \ 


AUK/CLLrLHAI.   MACHINES   NkCh&HAHY.  3^ 

farmer  who  uses  tlutm  has  ho  much  mor**  opportunity  to  diversify 
his  crops,  and  make  those  accurate  exprrinunts  in  re^Mrit  tu 
improved  seetUnj;  and  the  niliivali(*n  of  ntvv  ( rops,  as  w»  II  a--  to 
employ  profitably  his  teams  in  work  for  otiurs,  that  they  very 
soon  pay  lor  thems«lves  He  must  not,  however.  fi»r^«'t  that  his 
crops  need  careful  cultivation,  and  th.tt  vvei ds  ^row  in  the  West 
as  well  us  in  the  Kast.  Mis  Indian  corn,  his  sorghum  and  his 
root  crops,  as  well  as  most  special  crops  he  may  cidtivate,  will 
need,  certainly  two  or  thne  times  in  the  season,  cartrful  cultiva- 
tion with  the  horse  lioe.  iiis  fruit  trees  and  small  fruits  will 
yield  much  better  for  b(;in^  carefully  cared  for,  and  the  insect 
pe^ts  destroyed  before  they  have  had  time  to  destroy  the  fruit  or 
foliage  of  the  trees.  If  he  cultivates  hops,  pea-nuts,  beans,  broom- 
corn,  tobacco,  castor  beans,  sweet  potatoes,  (lax,  hemp,  jute,  or 
any  other  special  crop,  on  a  moderate  scale,  devoting  a  few  acres 
to  them,  he  will  fmd  that  all,  or  nearly  all,  of  these  crops  exhaust 
the  soil  and  require,  for  success,  the  Iree  use  of  the  manures  he 
has  been  accumulating ;  and  as  rich  soil  is  almost  invariably  a 
weedy  soil,  he  will  require  for  these  crops  a  more  earnest  and 
constant  conflict  with  weeds  than  with  most  others.  i 

Very  early,  in  this  middle  belt  of  States  and  Territories,  does 
the  harvest  commence.  The  hay  crop  is  not  so  important  here 
as  in  the  East,  and  not  so  important  as  it  will  be  a  few  years  hence. 
If  the  farmer  has  any  considerable  crop  of  the  small  grains  he 
must  of  course  use  the  harvester  in  gathering  them — his  own,  if 
he  can  possibly  afford  to  buy  one ;  if  not,  a  hired  machine. 
Threshing  machines,  with  all  the  attachments  for  winnowing, 
assorting  and  sacking  the  grain,  are  very  often  owned  by  men 
who  go  from  farm  to  farm,  and  thresh  and  sack  the  grain.  The 
eye  of  the  master  should  be  on  all  these  operations  to  avoid 
waste  and  carelessness,  and  to  sec  to  it  that  all  the  grain  is 
gathered,  threshed  and  delivered. 

In  harvesting  the  corn  and  sorghum  crops,  the  practice  is  very 
general,  now,  of  gathering  the  ears  of  corn  first  and  then  cutting 
and  stripping  the  stalks,  the  leaves  being  cured  for  fodder,  ami 
the  stalks  bound  and  sent  immediately  to  the  sugar  mill,  the 
heads  of  the  sorghum  and  rice-corn  being  cut  off  after  they  ace 

24 


II 

1 


fgO 


OCA'    HAM/AA'.V   kMIUtt. 


biinillri!  *  wiv  n  th«!  corn  or  HorKhum  ncrtlh  ar»!  \\'fX  t\yv  nml 
not  too  hard,  tUc  nulkii  yiclU  the  Urgent  quantity  ol  cryHtaiit/aUe 
■ugar. 

The  hiiskinn  an<l  shrlling  of  the  corn,  Ixuh  now  pirfarmrtl  by 
machinery,  the  tlixK'in);  «f  the  potatory,  also  <'lfrt  t«'v.l  by  A 
marhinr.  the  Rathcrin^f  of  the  other  root  crops  wwA  fruit,  make 
th«*  Carmcr'ti  life  in  thene  early  outumn  tlays  a  very  bui»y  one. 
No  Hooncr  in  the  j;round  frt-eil  from  the  crops  of  the  season  than 
the  autumnal  plowing,  especially  for  winter  jjrainH.  comimiue^. 
In  these  rcjjions  more  attention  shouUl  be  paid  to  a  rotation  of 
crop*  than  is  generally  practised.  It  may  not  be  feasilJc  or 
<ieHira!>le  to  attempt  the  fivt:  years'  rotation  which  is  recommended 
by  the  bt!st  ICnglish  farmirrs — but  root  crops  should  succeed 
grain,  and  clover  or  thr  foraj^'e  granseh  the  root  crops,  an<l  even 
on  the  best  soils,  deep  p'owing.  &  moilerate  use  of  manur«s,  or 
the  occasional  plovvinv,'  in  of  a  ^reen  crop  will  be  found  to  yield 
ample  returns  in  tlx;  cro|»s  which  follov. 

It  is  a  fact  which  shoiild  be  carefidly  considered  by  all  intelli- 
gent farmers,  that  even  on  these  new  lan<l»,  each  year  of  cultiva- 
tion of  thi'  cereals  produc.  s  a  smallcrr  yield  to  the  acre.  Montana 
and  Dakota  now  boast  their  thirty  or  thirty-tivc  bushels  of  wheat  to 
the  acre,  but  Minnesota  and  Kansas,  even  with  their  large  amount 
of  n«'W  lands,  do  not  average  cpiite  twenty-one  bushels ;  while  Iowa 
and  Missouri,  with  lands  somewhat  longer  cultivated,  cannot  report 
more  dian  from  eleven  to  fifteen  bushels ;  and  Arkansas,  with 
her  careless  culture,  produces  an  average  of  but  six  bushels. 
This  falling  off  in  the  yield  ()er  acre  of  the  wheat  crop  is  equally 
marked  In  the  States  east  of  the  Mississippi — Ohio,  Indiana,  and 
Illinois.  Michigan  is,  at  present,  an  exception,  because  her  lands 
are  newer. 

The  reason  of  this  rapidly  diminishing  yiel4^is  not  mysterious 
or  inexplicable.  The  soil  of  the  prairies  is  only  scratched  to  a 
depth  of  three  or  four  inches;  there  ia  no  rotation  of  crops; 
both  the  grain  and  the  straw  are  removed  from  the  soil ;  except, 


•The  leedi  or  head»  of  boih  ihe  lorghum  and  the  ricecora,  a»idc  from  their  value  for  sow- 
ins  t^ie  next  ieaion,  r.re  nearly  or  quite  (({ual  to  coin  M  food  for  animals,  cither  whole  ur  ground, 
■ndareeagerly  aonghl  for  by  thorn.  -"»  ii  >■»-►;'.?••  mVm    i.^^\^%k^^'   ,«>.■»  ,^*^«^.. 


»tt*in   p^-.^,^^  .^  ^^.^.^^^.^..f^'^f^i^^f^t-tf^J^^;.^^^ 


OVASriTY  OF  SRKD   TO   THf.    ACKK. 


ji'ftt  ripe  And 
>l  cryHUtlli/aUu 

f  prrformiril  by 
(•tf''t  tcil  by  • 
\\k\  iruit,  M^akc 
rcry  biiny  one. 
he  Hcaton  than 
iH,  comtntim-H. 
I  n  rotation  of 
be  ftUHilJe  or 
s  rccomnujncled 
thou  Id  Hiiccccd 
:ro|)H,  an«!  t'vtn 
of  niatuircH.  or 
:  found  tu  yivld 

d  by  all  intelli- 
ycar  of  cultiva- 
icrc.  Montana 
hcls  of  wheat  to 
ir  large  amount 
ids ;  while  Iowa 
d,  cannot  report 

Arkansas,  with 
ut  six  bushels. 

crop  is  equally 
lio,  Indiana,  and 
cause  her  lands 

not  mysterious 
scratched  to  a 

ition  of  crops; 

le  soil ;  except, 

n  their  value  for  now- 
either  vrbole  or  ^ruuiid, 


Ml 


that  in  some  Hfction;!.  the  latter  in  burnrd,  rithtr  to  g«-t  rid  of  it 
or  a*  fuil  for  the  Hti .irM  throhem  and  other  iinph  iniiitH,  and  the 
alkaJicN  ami  eartlm  thu»  t«ikcn  from  the  i^oij,  and  not  rt  turned  ta 
it  in  any  way,  impoverish  it.  lh«*  ritmch'H  arc:  dit  p  plov\i()|||^ 
rrr«toraiii)i)  to  tlie  soil  of  what  thr  crops  havi*  taken  Iroin  it, 
and  .1  rutalicm  of  crops.  1  he  gr(*at  Dalryinple  faniis  ol  nord\- 
eaHtern  Dakota,  ten  years  heme  under  the  preM-nt  moile  of  tulti* 
vation,  will  not  yield  ten  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  at  re.  There!  \% 
no  excuse  for  thus  wasting'  the  j;oodly  heritage  which  the  Almi^hty 
has  bestowed  u|)on  us. 

On  one  other  point  there  in  need  of  improvement,  vi/  ;  in  th« 
quantity  of  );r.iin  sown  to  the  acre.  Under  llu*  old  system  of 
S'jwin;^  it  broadcast,  there  was  j{reat  wasK! ;  two  bushels  or  two 
and  a  iuM  of  seed- wheat  was  re^^arded  as  the  smallest  amount 
which  should  bt:  used  in  sowing  an  acre.  The  new  methoil  of 
drilling  the  wheat  has  materially  reduced  the  cpjantity  deenieU 
necessary,  but  it  is  still  loo  large  In  Minnesota  and  Kansas 
eighty  to  eigluy-five  pounds  of  seed,  equal  to  forty  or  forty-thrcf 
quarts,  per  acre,  is  the  usual  allowance.  Yet,  there  is  no  state- 
ment conn(!cied  with  a"^riculture,  and  especially  with  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  cereals,  mo.  >.  e.ipableol  absolu'.e  mathematical  d;.mor>- 
stration  than  this,  that  the  quantity  of  seed  now  used  is  about 
five  times  larger  than  is  necessary.  The  seeil,  whether  of  wheal, 
barley,  or  oats,  should  l)e  carefully  selected,  the  finest  and  larger 
ears  being  culled,  and  those  from  secrd  which  has  shown  the  moat 
disposition  to  tiller  or  ex,)an(l,  so  as  to  produce  the  greatest 
nurnber  of  stalks  from  one  se<rd;  and  the  ground  being  thoroughly 
harrowed  and  puiveri/.ed,  the  seed  shoidd  be  drilled  in  at  the  dis* 
tancc  of  ten  inches  a|)art  each  way  (twelve  inches  apart  if  they 
can  be  sown  the  last  of  August  or  the  first  of  September)  ;  tht 
amount  of  seed  beiing  dependent  upon  the  date  of  sowing  of  tlve 
wifUT  grains.  The  earlier  the  sowing,  the  smaller  the  amount 
of  seed  required  ;  the  more  perfect  and  extensive  the  tillering,  tlie 
better  the  resistance  to  the  winter's  cold,  and  the  earlier  and 
larger  the  crop.  This  is  no  idle  theory,  but  the  result  of  twenty 
years*  careful  experiment  by  Major  F.  F.  Hallett,  of  Manor  Farm, 
Kemptown,  England,  one  of  the  most  successful  v  heat-growers 


/»y*ll*«iiWp«lMfeAJ.6,\  *«r»  4-i*iAU|i'i«fc.'l-^i** 


j72  OUR  iyLrTLk\  empire. 

of  that  country.  By  w  careful  selection,  running  through  a  long 
series  of  years,  Major  Hallett  succeeded  in  producing  and  ex- 
hibited to  tile  British  Association  from  a  single  grain  of  the  ordi- 
nary n^d  wheat,  plants  which  produced  ninety-four  stems,  each 
crowned  with  its  ear  of  wheat,  and  from  a  single  ear  of  this  wheat 
1 24  grains,  or  a  tola!  production  of  over  10,000  grains  from  one.* 
This  extraordinary  result  is  not  reached  by  any  increase  in  the 
amount  of  manures  (all  wheat  land  is  manured  in  England,  and 
the  ordinary  crop  is  about  thirty-four  bushels  to  the  acre),  or  by 
any  new  process  of  tillage,  but  by  the  careful  selection  of  the 
best  and  most  productive  seed,  now  knovvn  both^in  England  and 
this  country  as  "  Hallett's  pedigree  wheat,"  early  sowing,  and  the 
sowing  of  the  grains  at  a  distance  of  twelve  by  twelve  inches  apart. 
By  these  means  Major  Hallett,  sowinp  his  wheat  the  last  week  in 
August,  and  sowing  but  five  pints  to  acre,  was  able  to  obtain  u 
yield  of  seventy  bushels  to  the  acre,  in  extensive  wheat  fields,  foi' 
a  series  of  years.  He  states  that  for  every  week  of  delay  after 
the  middle  of  September  there  should  be  an  addition  of  from 
three  to  four  quarts  of  seed,  but  every  week's  delay  increases  the 
danger  of  winter-killing,  diminishes  the  amount  of  tillering,  and 
the  probable  quantity  of  the  crop  per  acre.  Wheat  sown  about 
the  first  of  September  comes  up  in  seven  days;  about  the 
first  of  October,  in  fourteen  days ;  the  first  of  November,  in 
twenty-one  days ;  the  first  of  December,  not  under  twenty-eight 
days.  These  figures  would  be  rather  exceeded  dian  diminished 
intheWest.  •''•i^''!  tn  ■  n  :.;r  .l.!;rM'*V" '•<  •  ''i'  '-!■  r^r-  *•;'?>'!;••[) 
v  We  recapitulate :  the  essentials  to  great  success  in  the  raising 
of  cereals  in  the  West  are  :  deep  plowing ;  the  restoration  to  the 
soil  of  the  elements  taken  from  it,  either  by  manuring,  plowing 
in  of  green  crops,  or  the  turning  up  of  a  new  stratum  of  soil; 
rotation  of  crops ;  in  the  cultivation  of  winter  grains,  a  very  careful 
selection  of  the  best  and  most  productive  seed;  early  sowing, 
not  later  than  the  first  of  September ;  and  sowing  !Ly  drill,  each 
grain  being  ten  or  twelve  inches  distant  from  each  other,  to  give 


*ThU  I'cxult  of  inci'c.ivii)^  the  production  by  tillering  was  not  confined  to  wheat,  for  Major 
Hallett  exhibited  to  the  British  Association  at  the  i^atne  meeting  a  plant  of  bailey  from  a  tingle 
grain  with  i  to  stems,  and  a  plant  of  oats  from  a  single  grain  with  87  stems.  'it 


"W 


ADVANTAGF.a  OF  A   LARGE    V/F./.D. 


S73 


:hrough  a  long 
lucing  and  ex- 
ain  of  the  ordi- 
ur  stems,  each 
ar  of  this  wheat 
ains  from  one.* 
increase  in  the 
n  England,  and 
the  acre),  or  by 
•election  of  the 
in  England  and 
sowing,  and  the 
ive  inches  apart, 
the  last  week  in 
able  to  obtain  a 
wheat  fields,  for 
k  of  delay  after 
ddition  of  from 
ay  increases  the 
of  tillering,  and 
lieat  sown  about 
ays;   about  the 
f  November,  in 
der  twenty-eight 
than  diminished 

;ss  in  the  raising 
estoration  to  the 
inuring,  plowing 
stratum  of  soil ; 
ns,  a  very  careful 
d;  early  sowing, 
ng  Ly  drill,  each 
Lch  other,  to  give 

ined  to  wheat,  for  Major 
it  of  barley  from  a  single 
tems. 


it  opportunity  to  tiller.  The*  scv-d  per  acre  thus  sown  should 
not  exceed  from  six  to  eight  quarts  to  the  acre,  and  the  yield 
should  be  more  than  double  what  it  now  is,  and  should  not 
diminish  from  year  lo  year. 

Some  western  farmers  may  say  that  it  is  of  no  use  to  increase 
the  production  of  grain,  for  the  market  is  often  glutted,  and  the 
prices  are  not  remunei alive.  The  folly  of  such  a  position  is 
easily  demonstrated,  for  in  the  first  place,  the  market  is  not 
glutted  with  the  best  quality  of  grain,  it  is  only  the  poorer  quali- 
ties which  are  salable  only  at  low  prices ;  there  may  be  a  fluctua- 
tion in  prices  in  different  years,  but  the  best  grain  is  not  raised 
at  a  loss  in  any  year.  In  the  next  place,  suppose  that  it  is  not 
desirable  to  increase  the  quantity  of  grain  raised,  is  it  not  easier 
and  every  way  better  to  raise  6,000  bushels  from  100  acres,  than 
the  same  quantity  from  300  acres.'  If  your  farm  consists  of 
320  acres,  and  you  can  raise  6,000  bushels  of  wheat  from  100 
acres,  can  you  not  put  the  other  220  acres  in  oats,  barley,  Indian 
corn,  sorghum,  or  root  crops,  and  thus  realize  triple  profits  01^ 
your  land  ?  Even  if  wheat  is  down  to  eighty-five  cents  a  bushel, 
as  it  was  two  or  three  years  ago,  doesn't  it  pay  better  to  realize 
$$\  an  acre  from  it  with  the  same  labor  than  to  realize  only  ^ij} 

Our  cereal  crops  are  so  important  to  our  national  wealth  and 
prosperity,  that  we  have  felt  justified  in  devoting  considerable 
space  to  the  consideration  of  the  methods  by  which  their  produc- 
tion per  acre  can  be  greatly  increased,  and  we  believe  that  our 
readers  will  appreciate  our  labors  in  this  direction. 

Let  us  now  turn  tc  the  immigrant  farmer  who  has  decided  to 
try  farming  in  the  milder  and  more  tropical  southern  belt  of 
States  and  Territories.  He  seeks  a  home  in  Arkansas,  Western 
Louisiana,  Texas,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  or  Southern  California. 
If  he  comes  from  Europe  he  find?  a  climate  and  crops  to  which 
he  has  hitherto  been  wholly  unaccustomed.  This  is  also  true  of 
immigrants  from  Illinois  or  the  Ohio  valley,  in  our  own  countiy ; 
but  a  large  proportion  of  the  American  immigrants  into  Arkansas, 
Texas,  etc.,  are  from  the  Southern  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States, 
where  the  climate,  crops,  etc.,  do  not  essentially  differ  from  those 
of  Texas  and  the  States  and  Territories  adjacent.    The  farmer 


^7^  OUR    WES/KKX   EArr/KE. 

who  migrates  to  this  region  can  have  a  much  wider  choice  of 
<*rops  than  the  norther i  farmer;  whether  he  can  or  will  find  his 
Ibbor  better  remunerated  remains  to  be  proved.  Arkansas, 
Texas,  and  Southern  California  are  the  three  sections  in  this 
ffcgion  in  one  of  which  the  farmer  will  be  most  likely  to  settle, 
tor  Louisiana  is  not  sufficiently  healthy  for  settlers  from  a  north- 
ern climate,  and  Arizona  and  New  Mexico,  as  well  as  Northwest 
Texas,  have  too  little  rain-fall  to  be  attractive  to  farmers  gen- 
erally. 

It  is  not  indispensable  if  an  emigrant  settles  in  Arkansas  or 
iTexas,  that  he  should  devote  himself  exclusively  to  the  culture 
Af  cotton,  or  indeed  that  he  should  grow  it  at  all.  Much  less 
fthould  he  reason  that  because  rice  and  cane-sugar  are  produced 
there  he  must  necessarily  cultivate  those  crops. 

These  States  have  lands  adapted  to  a  great  variety  of  crops,  and 
When  all  the  circumstances  are  taken  into  account,  perhaps  one 
<*op  is  as  profitable  as  another.  If  the  emigrant  selects  his 
fitfm  in  any  of  the  coast  counties,  he  will  find  the  land  some- 
what high  priced,  but  he  can  raise  sea-island  or  long  staple  cotton, 
Mhd  if  he  cultivates  his  crop  skilfully  he  ought  to  make  at  least 
A  bale  to  the  acre  of  this  valuable  product ;  or  he  can  grow  rice 
bt  sugar  cane,  though  for  the  latter  he  will  require  a  large 
efipital  for  his  sugar  works.  The  middling,  or  short  staple  cotton, 
cAti  be  grown  here,  though  not  so  profitably  as  fifty  or  sixty 
jfriiles  north,  as  the  land  is  too  valuable ;  nor  is  this  land  well 
adapted  to  whe£it,  but  all  the  subtropical  fruits  as  well  as  most 
bf  those  of  more  temperate  climates,  and  most  of  the  root  crops 
eim  be  cultivated  with  great  profit  from  the  early  date  at  which 
they  ripen.  Two  crops  of  sweet  or  Irish  potatoes  ctin  be  raised 
ih  the  k)ng  seasoft,  and  the  first  will  be  at  least  six  weeks  earlier 
t^an  iti  the  vicinity  of  St.  Louis.  Strawberries,  raspberries, 
peathes,  grapes,  plums,  as  well  as  bananas,  olives,  figs,  oranges, 
lem6rtS,  ^uavas  and  all  market  garden  vegetables  grow 
luxuriant  y,  and  are  all  from  six  to  eight  Weeks  eartier  than  in 
die  Nor  1.  The  tfade  irt  these  articles  of  produce,  betweeh  thfe 
coast  counties  of  Texas  and  St.  Louis  and  Chicago,  is  large  ahd 
cOilstantly  increasing.  ;    ,-       - 


CROPS  IN  TEXAS. 


375 


!r  choice  of 
will  find  his 
Arkansas, 
[ions  in  this 
ely  to  settle, 
rem  a  north- 
s  Northwest 
armers  gen- 

Arkansas  or 

3  the  culture 

Much  less 

ire  produced 

of  crops,  and 
perhaps  one 
t  selects  his 
5  land  some- 
staple  cotton, 
make  at  least 
:an  grow  rice 
juire  a  large 
staple  cotton, 
fifty  or  sixty 
this  land  well 
well  as  most 
he  root  crops 
date  at  which 
cftn  be  raised 
weeks  earlief' 
,  raspberries, 
figs,  oranges, 
;tabl«s   grow 
\AtX\tt  th«tn  iii 
betweeh  thfe 
),  is  hfge  add 


If  the  emigrant  prefers  a  farm  seventy  or  eighty  miles  back 
from  the  coast,  he  is  in  I'^stern  Texas  in  the  "  timber  country," 
where  he  can  'ngage  if  he  chooses  in  the  lumber  business  with 
a  good  opportunity  to  make  money;  and  the  land  here  is  fair 
for  cotton,  excellent  for  corn,  and  yields  moderate  crops  of 
wheat.  In  Central  Texas,  at  this  distance  from  the  coast  he  will 
find  the  best  cotton  lands  in  the  State,  and  if  he  will  give  his 
undivided  attention  to  his  crop  he  can  raise  two  bales  of  cotton 
to  the  acre ;  but  he  must  not  let  the  weeds  overrun  it,  nor  the 
worms  destroy  it.*  The  easy-going  planters  around  him  will 
not  set  him  a  good  example  in  these  respects.  Their  shallow 
plowing  without  manure,  their  scant  and  slovenly  cultivation,  and 
careless  picking,  yields  from  half  to  three-fifths  of  a  bale  ta 
the  acre,  and  with  an  indolence  born,  or  at  least  nurtured  by  the 
protracted  heat  of  the  long  season,  they  are  content  with  this 
result ;  and  it  is  no  more  than  fair  to  say  that  our  energetic 
immigrant,  after  a  fewyears'  experience  of  the  enervating  inlluence 
of   the  climate,  will  very  possibly  fall  into  the  same  careless 

ways.  •      ■  ^•nu-.^y  .  ;-.'■    ;,  >■ 

A  hundred  miles  or  mdre  north  from  the  Gulf  coast,  in  North- 
eastern and  Centrrxl  Texas,  is  a  good  region  for  the  cultivation 
of  the  cereals.  Indian  corn  grows  well  and  yields  fairly  every- 
where in  Texas,  except  in  the  arid  lands  in  the  northwest  of  the 
State ;  but  the  lands  of  which  we  are  now  speaking  yield  good 
crops  of  wheat,  oats,  barley  and  millet  as  well  as  corn.  Texas 
is  not,  however,  one  of  the  great  cereal-producing  States.  Her 
wheat  crop  is  not  more  than  sufficient  in  ordinary  years  for  the 
consumption  of  her  own  people.  A  moderate  amount  of  flour 
and  wheat  (2,213  barrels  of  the  former  and  4,614  bushels  of  the 
latter  in  1879)  are  exported,  but  the  importation  of  wheat  m 
more  th^in  twenty  times,  and  of  flour  about  twelve  times  as  much. 
There  is  no  good  and  sufficient  reason  why,  in  these  more 
elevated  lands,  where  the  heat  is  not  so  enervating,  the  quantity 

of  all  the  cereab  annually  produced  should  not  be  ten  or  twenty 

I  ■  ■         I  ■ "- — I 1 —  ■        — ^ 

*  A  Mr.  S.  C.  White, oi  Jasper,  Texas,  claims  to  have  discovered  and  have  practised  for  seven- 
teen years  a  method  by  which  his  grd#ing  Mtton  is  rendered  perfectly  •wirm-prMf,  and  offtrt  in 
a*  opporivmty  of  testing  his  proectt.  The  4iseoveiy,  if  it  proves  tw  be  oae,  will  be  iavalivf^y 
for  the  cotton  crop.  '  ^ 


il'  '  ! 


■I  , 


I'  I  i 


ty$  Ol'R    H'ESTEXJ^  EMPIRE. 

times  what  it  is ;  corn  is  a  crop  so  admirably  adapted  to  these 
lands,  and  the  demand  for  it  at  New  Orleans  on  the  one  side, 
and  throughout  Arizona  on  the  other,  as  well  as  the  lar^e  home 
market,  should  make  this  a  favorite  crop  with  the  immigrants. 
The  production  of  wheat,  barley  and  oats  also  might  easily  be 
increased  almost  indefinitely. 

Good  corn  land  is  also  good  land  for  sorghum,  and  boih  can 
be  planted  in  February,  and  if  two  crops  are  not  produced  from 
the  same  fields  in  a  year,  as  they  might  be,  of  the  earlier  varie- 
ties, it  is  entirely  practicable  to  have  the  sorghum  planted  at 
different  times,  so  as  to  have  the  juice  extracted  from  tlie  stalks 
and  boiled  down  into  syrup  in  those  months  when  other  labor  is 
not  driving.  Another  very  important  consideration  in  favor 
of  this  mode  of  cultivation  is  that  the  leaves  and  seeds  make  an 
excellent  fodder  for  milch  cows,  as  well  as  other  cattle,  when  the 
heat  of  summer  has  dried  the  grasses.  The  millets  yield  a  large 
amount  of  forage  and  almost  as  much  sugar  as  the  sorghum. 

Root  crops  also  yield  largely  in  this  region  of  Texas,  and  there 
is  the  great  advantage  that  the  best  qualities  of  Irish  potatoes  as 
well  as  sweet  potatoes  can  be  ripened  so  early  as  to  be  put  in 
the  Northern  markets  full  six  weeks  earlier  than  those  grown  in 
Illinois  or  Iowa,  and  so  bring  a  better  price.  It  is  claimed,  and 
we  presume  correctly,  that  of  both  kinds  of  potatoes  two  crops 
can  be  raised  on  the  same  land  every  year.  Of  other  miscel- 
laneous products  named  in  the  consideration  of  the  productions 
of  the  central  belt,  all  can  be  produced  with  equal  advantage 
here  by  proper  care  and  good  farming,  and  the  crops  will  be 
largely  remunerative.  But  Texas  lands,  especially  after  several 
years'  cropping,  and  mere  scratching  the  surface  with  a  light  plow, 
will  not  yield  large  crops  without  deep  plowing  and  thorough, 
not  lavish,  manuring.  It  may  as  well  be  said  here  as  anywhere 
that,  except  in  the  cotton  and  grain  region  of  Central  Texas,  the 
soil  though  fair  is  not  of  the  first  class,  and  will  very  soon  run 
down  without  careful  cultivation  and  a  moderate  use  of  fertil- 
izers. Fortunately,  some  of  the  best  of  these,  after  farm-yard 
manures,  plaster  of  Paris,  some  of  the  marls,  and  alkaline  earths, 
salt,  etc.,  are  easily  accessible  in  the  neighborhood  of  most  of 


*TPI^^ 


mospECTs  m  Arkansas. 


nn 


;d  to  these 
de  one  side, 
large  home 
immigrants. 
!it  easily  be 

ul  boili  can 
)dutccl  from 
arlicr  varie- 
I  planted  at 
m  the  stalks 
ther  labor  is 
on  in   favor 
;ds  make  an 
le,  when  the 
yield  a  large 
rghum.  vi  .,ci. 
fis,  and  there 
\  potatoes  as 

to  be  put  in 
3se  grown  in 
claimed,  and 
:s  two  crops 
)ther  miscel- 

productions 
il  advantage 
:rops  will  be 

after  several 
1  a  light  plow, 
nd  thorough, 

as  anywhere 
al  Texas,  the 
ery  soon  run 
use  of  fertil- 
ter  farm-yard 
kaline  earths, 
\  of  most  of 


.%<■■ 


^ 


the  farms,  while  guano,  fish  guano,  and  the  natural  and  artificial 
phosphates  can  be  purchased  at  a  moderate  price.  The  soil 
does  not  leach,  and  fertilizers  are  retained  for  a  considerable 
time,  so  that  often  the  second  crop  after  their  application  is 
better  than  the  first. 

The  other  portions  of  the  State,  as  well  as  part  of  South- 
western Texas,  are  better  adapted  to  grazing  than  to  cultivation  ; 
still,  much  of  these  could  be  cultivated  and  would  yield  large  crops 
if  they  were  irrigated ;  most  of  the  region  of  Northwestern  Texas 
is  capable  of  successful  irrigation,  either  from  the  Pecos  or  the 
Rio  Grande  or  their  affluents,  or  where  these  cannot  supply  water, 
by  artesian  wells,  ai.d  thus  irrigated,  it  would  prove  the  most  pro- 
ductive land  in  the  State.  But  irrigation  costs  money,  and,  while 
the  State  has  so  much  unimproved  land  of  moderate  fertility  for 
sale  at  such  low  prices,  it  is  not  probable  that  the  lands  which 
require  irrigation  will  be  taken  up  except  in  rare  instances. 

Arkansas  has  litde  or  no  land  adapted  to  rice  or  cane  sugar 
crops ;  but  her  cotton  lands  in  the  Mississippi,  Red,  Arkansas, 
and  White  river  bottoms,  and  her  corn  lands  on  the  higher  levels, 
are  very  productive.  Arkansas  is  awakening  from  the  lethargy 
which  has  so  long  bound  her,  and  though  she  has  as  yet  but  few 
immigrants,  industrious  and  enterprising  men  would  find  her 
lands  on  many  accounts  desirable.  Race  and  slavery  antipathies 
are  dying  out ;  the  new  school  laws  are  being  put  in  operation 
with  great  success ;  the  lands  are  rich  and  cheap,  and  markets 
generally  accessible.  The  days  of  careless  and  slovenly  tillage 
of  the  soil  are  fast  passing  away.  Twenty  thousand  enterpris- 
ing, clear-headed,  and  skilful  farmers,  intelligent  and  upright  in 
character,  could  almost  revolutionize  the  State  and  make  it  a 
region  which  would  be  as  desirable  a  home  for  immigrants  as 
any  other  of  the  Western  States.  But  the  twenty  thousand 
should  come  in  groups  of  considerable  size,  and  plant  villages 
or  settlements,  which  may  become  models  to  rouse  a  spirit  of 
emulation  on  the  part  of  those  already  there. 

The  farming  lands  of  Arizona  mostly  lie  along  the  Gila  and  its 
tributaries,  though  there  are  some  good  lands  farther  north  which 
are  irrigated.    The  Rio  Colorado  and  its  affluents,  the  Colorado 


A\ 


l>\    1 


mh^ 


\>  I 


!      V 


j^  OUK    WESTERN   EMPIRB. 

Chiquito,  Flax  river,  and  in  the  northeast  the  San  Juan,  ruit 
through  caHons  so  deep  as  to  drain  very  effectually  the  moisture 
from  the  mesas  or  table  lands.  Still,  irrigation  is  possible  on 
many  of  these  lands,  and  would  make  them  very  productive, 
while  the  occasional  protracted  storms,  might  by  cultivation,  be 
made  to  give  place  to  a  larger  and  more  equally  distributed  rain- 
fall. The  mineral  wealth  of  Arizona  will  call  a  population  thither 
sufificient  to  make  irrigation  practicable,  and  then  as  in  former 
ages,  this  region  will  show  its  thriving  farms,  its  beautiful  vil- 
lages, and  its  populous  cities.  In  the  central  part  of  the  terri- 
tory,  not  far  from  Prescott.  the  Maricopis  Indians  raise  large 
crops  of  wheat  of  such  excellence  that  it  commands  the  highest 
price  in  San  Francisco,  in  competition  with  the  best  California 
wheat. 

Southern  California  is  the  garden  of  the  State.  Vast  crops 
of  wheat  and  barley  are  grown  here,  and  the  vineyards,  olive- 
yards,  and  plantations  of  pomegranates,  almonds,  Madeira  nuts, 
etc.,  give  the  country  an  almost  tropical  appearance.  Cotton 
does  not  succeed  so  well  as  other  crops  here  on  account  of  the 
long  dry  season.  .vw.  w 

The  climate  is  delightful,  and  is  regarded  a^  particularly  benfe- 
ficial  to  those  suffering  from  pulmonary  diseases  if  they  come 
before  the  disease  has  progressed  too  far.  Although  much  of 
t^e  land  is  taken  up  in  very  extensive  ranches,  there  are  stilly 
especially  along  the  route  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railway,  many 
desirable  farming  lands,  both  of  the  government  and  the  railway 

grants.    ).;'    >07tv.r:);w.jii    •rj^JVi.'-v/  a-    ,    .Y^vyiy  ;^t['V'i^,^l'WJ..  J-'HT    +-,«'    ■»»■>>■    Vf'iT     jr' 

■,lijv  :,!;•,-;*'  h(!K  yXf-^ui  ■  ■-if'  ■»'vin<'!>j^i;i'>  ■■■>'! .  ir<VHii;v'  \'^^y(^■^  :\>:\*,  >rK'\i^A'.> 
5^''  'J|Hri;^;'f«;n!    ji'^^'l    ••ino'l    it-  -)lff.'^">'.-^>;      ?»;    'n\    'sA^wn  Hlitliw  \V''-',;,f: 

7'--    ■■■     ■    ':■-.:  :'    w&x-fA-}.  ^bfi'-j'iiti 'ivrioriiri'ty  j^kq  iirt/ rioprtijis^tH'ij- 
4'>irf^^r^  Axii*<\.\miv\\\i  *f>nJ»l,  ix.H,'>'/' '.'KJO!^  '.nrt  ^ms%  a>4H,n*iJ' !«-«:it«imJvri; 


:i.j- 


ilL 


t  Juan,  run 

lie  moisture 

possible  on 

productive, 

Itivation,  be 

ibuted  rain- 

ition  thither 

LS  in  former 

leautiful  vil- 

>f  the  terri- 

raise  large 

the  highest 

it  California 

Vast  crops 
yards,  olive- 
[adeira  nuts, 
ce.  Cotton 
count  of  the 

:ularly  bene- 
if  they  come 
igh  much  of 
sre  are  still, 
lilway,  many 
1  the  railway 

ffl['^i-ni«bS;fy '  'ft'' 
■•?»»>'  imhMiMr. 


"WtfAT  A    THOUSAND  DOLLARS  CAN  DO.'*  375 


CHAPTKR   VII. 

Western  FARMiwr.  Continued— What  Capital  is  Nfxessary  for  a  Comfort. 
Aoi.F.  Heuinnini;  on  a  New  Farm  ai  iiik  We-jt— A  Larger  Amount  Needed 

IN    SOME    SlATES    OK     rERRIIOHIES     IIIAN     IN    1)1  HERS —AdVICE     IO  THOSE  WHO 

ARR  UNAni.R  Ai'  KiRsr  ro  Uuv  AND  SiocK  A  Karm -  Inciuen I s  OF  Farm-Lif» 
— Reniing  L*nd  UNADvisAiii.E— Grkat  Farm<  oiijEcTioNADLE— The  Home. 
STEAD  and  OTHER  Exemptions  IN  THE  DM  KEREN  I  States. 

In  a  former  chapter  we  have  referred  briefly  to  the  amount  of 
capital  needed  for  successful  farming ;  but  we  cannot  too  strongly 
impress  upon  the  mind  of  the  immigrant,  the  necessity  of  a  mod- 
erate capital,  if  he  proposes  to  own  and  develop  a  farm  at  once. 

It  is  possible  for  an  immigrant  to  bring  his  family,  unless  it  is 
a  very  large  one,  and  most  of  his  children  too  young  to  work 
effectively,  to  any  of  the  newer  districts  of  Dakota,  Montana, 
Nebraska  and  perhaps  Kansas  and  Minnesota,  or  to  Washing- 
ton Territory  or  Oregon,  if  after  reaching  his  destination  he  has 
^T,ooo;  but  he  can  only  do  this  by  securing  his  land  under  the 
Homestead  or  Timber-Culture  Acts,  or  pre-empting  it,  or  buying 
oil  long  credit  of  a  railroad  company,  emigration  company  or 
^diool  lands  of  the  State,  which  are  usually  sold  payable  in  ten 
annual  instalments.  Even  then  it  will  in  all  probability  be  a  very 
severe  struggle  for  him  for  the  first  four  or  five  years,  especially 
if  there  should  be  any  bad  years,  from  a  long  and  severe  winter, 
a  very  late  spring,  drought,  grasshoppers  or  other  insect  plagues. 
In  Texas  or  Arkansas  he  may  do  better  as  the  land  is  cheaper, 
but  the  cheap  lands  are  generally  less  productive,  and  a  large 
part  of  Texas  suflfers  from  occasional  droughts. 

Tlie  following  statement  of  "what  can  be  done  with  $i,ooo  by 
an  industrious,  energetic  farmer  in  the  Arkansas  Valley  in  Kan- 
sas," is  put  forth  by  the  Land  Department  of  the  Atchison,  To- 
peka  and  Santa  F6  Railway.  It  is  nearer  the  truth  than  any 
Statement  we  have  seen  published  by  any  railroad  or  emigration 
Company,  but  it  is  rather  highly  colored,  nevertheless.  This  was 
published. in  the  autumn  of  1879.  and  there  may  be,  even  in  io 
short  a  time,  some  changes  in  the  prices.     It  should  be  siid  also 


L 


B  ' 


.i'! 


\ 


I' 
I  i 


\%\' 


\ 


\ 


3SO  Of^'f    WESTERN  EMrtRR. 

that  those  lands  art*  not  more  foUilo  than  other  lands  in  Kansas 
and  ('ls«!\vhi'rc',  and  are  occasionally  sid)ji'ct  to  droiij^ht.  I'he 
proyramnu'  as  there  hiid  down,  if  the  eniijjrant  has  hut  the  $1,000, 
requires  incessant  and  very  severe  hibor,  and  the  margin,  which 
leaves  nothing;  for  furniture,  is  mucli  too  meagre  for  the  support  of 
a  family  for  fifteen  months  or  more,  and  will  require  some  other 
sources  of  income  or  the  incurring  of  indebtedness,  liut  here  it 
the  statement :  '  •>  )      ,    •  .< 

"  First  payment  on  1 60  acres  of  railroad  land,  on  six  years'  time, 
»t  the  rate  of  $4.80  per  acre,  will  be  51  72.80 ;  house  of  two  rooms 
and  small  kitchen,  $350;  team  and  harness,  5180;  breaking* 
plough,  |i22;  harrow,  %,\o\  cow,  $30;  int<;rest  payment  on  land 
one  year  from  purchase,  *f^44.8o;  total,  $709.60 — leaving  a  bal- 
ance of  ;^39(>.40  for  seed  and  support  of  family  until  crop  can  be 
raised.  Nearly  every  family  coming  to  Kansas  to  make  a  home 
have  more  or  less  furniture,  farming  implements,  etc.,  which  they 
can  rarely  sell  to  advantage.  By  inquiring  of  our  nearest  agent, 
they  can  ascertain  the  cost  of  chartering  a  car  to  destination,  or 
rate  per  100  pounds,  and  if  the  amount  they  will  sacrifice  on  the 
sale  of  their  goods  is  greater  than  the  cost  of  transporting  it  to 
their  new  home,  they  can  readily  see  it  will  pay  to  bring  these 
things  along,  and  they  will  find  them  very  useful,  if  money  with 
which  to  lay  in  a  new  supply  is  scarce.  >  ^  «.  t  ,  ,  ,, 
.  f*The  cost  of  starting  on  a  new  farm  in  a  new  country  of  course 
depends  largely  on  the  size  of  the  family,  and  the  economy, 
energy  and  perseverance  of  the  farmer,  but  no  man  with  a  family 
should  come  to  the  Arkansas  valley  with  less  than  $1,000  to 
start  with.  For  a  man  of  limited  means,  it  is  most  advisable  to 
come  in  the  early  spring,  say  in  February  or  March.  A  week  or 
two  will  get  his  house  up,  and  his  family  settled,  and  then  he  is 
ready  for  business.  No  time  is  wasted  in  clearing  the  land  of 
stumps  and  stones ;  it  lies  all  ready  for  the  plow,  entirely  free 
from  either,  and  the  farmer  commences  at  once  turning  over  the 
sod.  In  a  few  weeks  enough  sod  will  be  broken  to  enable  him 
to  put  in  a  fair  crop  of  barley,  rye  or  broom  corn  ;  the  latter  does 
well  on  sod,  and  is  one  of  the  best  paying  crops  in  the  State^ 

gnoueh  vegetables  can  be  raised  for  family  use  the  first  year. 

>,  *        .     '     ,  w     ■        ■  ■      . 


in  Kansas 
ij^ht.  'I'hc 
tlic  $  1 ,000, 
rgin,  which 
support  of 
omc  other 

I3ut  here  is 

, '  ■ ,.{ 

years*  time, 
two  rooms 
1  brcaking- 
nt  on  land 
/ing  a  bal- 
:rop  can  be 
ikc  a  home 
which  they 
irest  agent, 
itination,  or 
•ifice  on  the 
orling  it  to 
bring  these 
money  with 
...  ii;. .■,..-.,• 
ry  of  course 
e  economy, 
nth  a  family 
1  $1,000  to 
idvisable  to 
A  week  or 
then  he  is 
the  land  of 
entirely  free 
ing  over  the 
>  enable  him 
e  latter  does 
1  the  State, 
le  first  year. 


^WHAT  A    THOUSASD   DOLLARS  CAN  DO."  38 1 

A  few  hogs  and  chickens  krpt  through  thr  summer  will,  when 
added  to  the  spring  crops  and  vegclahles,  carry  an  industrious 
and  economical  family  through  to  tlu*  followinj,'  spring.  If  ready 
cash  is  scarce  the  first  year,  work  can  g(  mrally  Ixr  ha«l  lor  a  team 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  by  this  means  a  hanlworkiug  man  can 
earn  a  little  now  and  then,  to  carry  him  along  while  making  his 
own  improvements,  until  his  first  crop  has  matured. 

"After  the  spring  crops  have  boen  put  in  the  ground,  enough 
new  ground  can  be  broken  during  the  summer,  which,  when  added 
to  that  already  in  spring  crops,  will  enable  him  to  put  in  at  least 
fifty  acres  of  fall  wheat.  He  will  not  be  able  to  buy  a  grain  drill 
of  his  own  the  first  year,  but  he  can  secure  the  use  of  one  from 
a  neighboring  farmer,  and  pay  for  its  use  by  a  day  or  twos  work 
with  his  team.  In  harvesting  his  wheat,  in  June  following,  the 
same  course  will  have  to  be  pursued  as  in  drilling,  /.  e„  by  ex- 
changing labor.  This  wheat  crop,  when  harvested  and  marketed, 
gives  him  the  ready  money  with  which  to  meet  current  expenses, 
make  necessary  additions  to  his  stock  of  implements,  improve- 
ments on  his  farm,  and  provide  enough  for  the  next  payment  on 
his  land. 

f  '  "This  makes  two  crops  raised  from  the  same  land  within  fifteen 
months  from  the  time  of  his  commencement  on  his  new  farm. 
The  quick  returns  that  can  be  secured  in  so  short  a  time,  is  what 
makes  it  possible  for  men  with  limited  means,  but  with  industri- 
ous habits,  to  secure  a  farm  and  home  of  their  own. 

"After  harvesting  his  first  crop  of  wheat,  the  farmer  begins  to 
realize  the  reward  of  his  toil.  Each  year  adds  to  the  number 
of  acres  cultivated,  and  to  the  productiveness  of  the  farm,  and 
the  occupant  is  usually  able,  by  the  third  year,  to  pay  up  on  his 
land  and  take  a  deed.  By  this  time,  by  dint  of  hard  work, 
frugality  and  some  self-denial,  he  has  made  himself  a  comfort- 
able home,  all  his  own,  and  nearly  all  paid  for  from  the  products 
of  his  farm,  which  will  in  a  few  years  become  valuable  in  conse- 
quence of  the  rapid  growth  of  the  country — yet  it  was  secured, 
and  a  start  made  on  it,  including  cost  of  house,  stock,  imple- 
ments, etc.,  with  a  capital  of  less  than  $i,ooo.  If  the  farmer  is  a 
man  of  taste,  he  will  at  the  end  of  five  years  have  his  farm  all 


1 


ii 


1% 


I 


i'i 


i 


v.p 


: 


•urn»unil'il  ami  tllvulctl  by  n  hcaiiliful  0*aj»c  orangf  hndne 
fence,  and  ;;rovcs  of  forest  trees,  fruil-bearin^j  orchards,  luiiall 
fruits  of  all  kinds,  and  (lowers  antl  ornainrntal  shade  trees  will 
surroinul  his  home.  All  ihe-.f  impruvtuKnts.  that  in  the  l£a»t- 
cm  States  would  have  re<|uiri:il  a  lu;avy  outlay  of  inontiy  ojul 
many  years  of  time,  are  here  iiecured  in  a  very  nhort  time  at  a 
nominal  cost.  *  ■  .   .   ., 

"The  new  settler  is  not  oblijjed  to  spend  any  money  in  fencing 
his  larm.  The  herd-law  protects  his  fields,  and  he  can  devom 
all  his  time  to  the  breaking  of  sod  ami  growing  of  crops.  i'cncDS 
can  be  grown  with  Osage  orangi;  that  will  turn  stock  in  four 
years,  and  costing  only  the  farmer's  own  labor  in  carin^f  fqr 
them. 

"If  the  settler  can  fmd  on  the  alternate  sections  of  the  lands 
along  the  railroad,  any  desirable  lands  as  yet  unsold,  he  can  pre- 
empt 160  acres  for  very  small  fees,  to  be  paid  for  at  the  end  0/ 
thirty-three  months,  for  ^^2.50  per  acre,  the  sum  of  $4cxDand  sQmc 
fees  to  the  amount  of  |;30  or  525,  or  he  can  take  up  80  acres  in 
Homest(;ad  and  80  more  under  the  Timber-Culture  Act ;  the 
fees  for  both  being  about  $30  or  ^^36,  but  he  will  not  obtain  a 
clear  title  under  from  five  to  eight  years.  By  securing  his  land 
by  one  of  these  methods  his  payments  will  at  first  not  exceed 
$30  or  $36,  and  so  he  will  have  from  ^^136  to  $142  more  for  the 
support  of  his  family,  making  his  entire  sum  $425  to  $431  {w 
their  support  for  fifteen  or  oftcner  twenty  months,  aside  from 
what  vegetables  and  other  produce  he  can  raise  in  thai  time. 
From  this  small  sum  must  be  deducted  what  he  has  to  pay  ie^r 
furniture  or  the  freight  of  it  if  he  has  brought  it  widi  him,  and 
also  probably  for  pigs  and  poultry,  though  a  part  of  this  can 
come  out  of  the  item  of  interest  payment  on  land  one  year  from 
purchase,  $44.80."  .-/itbaK^ 

We  think  it  might  be  possible  for  an  energetic,  IndustrionAS 
farmer,  who  is  a  good  manager,  to  live  with  his  family,  and  plow, 
sow,  and  stock  his  farm  on  $1,000,  till  he  can  realize  from  his 
crops,  if  he  pre-empts  his  land,  or  secures  it  under  the  Home- 
stead or  Timber-CiiUure  Act;  but  buying  railroad  land,  even 
on  six  years'  time,  it  would  be  in>possible,  unless  he  had  o^Htr 


hards,  %ina\\ 

ic  trees  will 

in  the  KaK- 

inuncy  ;uul 

>rl  time  M  a 

ry  in  fcncinj^ 
I  can  iIcvoR* 
x)ps.  I'cncfls 
lock  in  four 
fi  caring;  fur 

of  the  lanUH 
,  he  can  pr«- 
t  the  end  o[ 
ooand  some 
)  80  acres  in 
re  Act;  the 
lot  obtain  a 
ing  his  land 

not  exccftd 
nore  for  the 

to  $431  kur 
,  aside  from 
n  thai  time. 
IS  to  pay  for 
I'lth  him,  antl 

of  this  can 
ic  year  from 

111*.  't^liixitsij^tV 

,  industrkxAs 
ly,  and  plow, 
ize  from  his 
the  Home- 
I  land,  evftn 
te  had  oliher 


"W/Z/f  r  A    TNQVMNti  DOLI.AKS  CANNOT  DO.**  ||j 

•OurccH  of  incoitu:,  or  overworked  himHelf  and  his  team.  The 
item  uf "  $250  fur  house  ot  two  rooms  and  small  kitchen,"  mi^ht 
be  Uiiiiinishcd  by  living  in  a  sodhouHc  or  a  dii^  out,  but  this  i» 
not  pleasant. 

With  an  additional  5500  many  of  the  difficulties  would  \w. 
avoided.  Care  and  (*X()norny  wouKl  still  be  necessary,  and 
there  would  be  many  privations  and  inconveniences  to  bo 
cndurcil,  but  if  he  is  not  visited  by  droii^^ht,  ^rasHhoppers,  or 
other  insect  or  animal  pests,  and  neither  the  t  atile  distrase.  nor 
cycloncH,  nor  prairie  fires  visit  him  ilurin^  the  first  three  years 
after  his  imint^ration,  lie  may,  at  the  end  of  that  time,  have  a 
good  farm  all  his  own,  aiui  within  two  years  more  be  so  situated 
as  to  enjoy  life,  thou}{h  only  on  condition  of  hard  and  steady 
labor. 

The  diK.'\Hters  to  which  wc  have  alluded,  thoM^rh  sufficiently 
distressin),!^  at  any  time,  are  peculiarly  severe  and  ruinous  when 
they  fall  upon  a  furiner  who  is  just  lookinjjf  forward  to  harvest* 
\t\y^  his  first  full  crop.  In  a  few  days,  ptThaps  in  a  few  hours, 
his  crops  of  ^rain  and  of  vegetables  are  swept  away  and  not  a 
vestige  of  them  left;  or  unilcr  the  blaze  of  a  summer's  sun,  un- 
tempirreii  by  clouds  or  rain,  his  arid  fields  have  faiU.d  to  yield  a 
harvest;  or  the  insect  and  rodent  tribes,  banded  together  for  the 
destruction  of  his  crops,  have  destroyed  alike  what  is  alx)vc  and 
what  is  under  the  surface;  or  more  terrible  still,  the  prairie  fire 
rushes  irresistibly  over  cabin,  hay-ricks,  and  stacks  of  grain, 
scarce  permitting  himself  and  family  to  escape,  scorched  and 
blistered,  from  their  burning  home;  or,  once  more,  the  swift 
moving  storm  plowing  through  the  young  and  thriving  village, 
involves  scores  or  hundreds  in  a  common  disaster;  houses, 
barns,  churches,  forest  trees,  the  growing  grain  or  the  gathered 
crops,  are  alike  torn  and  scattered  to  the  four  winds  of  heaven, 
and  it  is  much,  if  many  lives,  but  an  hour  before  joyous  and  full 
of  hope  and  activity,  are  not  also  destroyed.  Disasters  by  flood 
are  infrequent  in  the  West,  though  they  sometimes  occur  along 
the  upper  affluents  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  tributaries  of  the 
Missouri. 

Yet,  while  these  disasters  visit  the  weBtern   settler  only  at 


1 


!i 


I'K^ 


m 


'i'«: 


irregular  and  %(>inrtim»  n  ditttaiu  intrrvaU,  and  cannot  always  bo 
guarded  a>{ainHt  by  any  known  pre aiition,  their  |K>«til)ility  \%  to 
Im*  taken  into  thr  account,  us  a  drawback  ufion  what  mi|{ht 
oilicrwiHC  be  a  |Hrd«uiM  prosprrity.  arul  an  the  farmer  attains  a 
Inttcr  position,  \\v.  will  do  well  to  Hc*ek,  if  he  can,  to  brcomc  the 
owner  of  a  Hccond  farm  (not  falling  into  the  error  of  tr;in^  to 
hold  too  much  land)  diHercntly  located,  and,  if  po»iible,  adapted 
to  a  different  kind  of  culture.  If  his  first  is  a  y^ram  farm,  hit 
■econd  may  be  ilevotcd  to  root  crops,  or  sor^himi,  or  ioratjc 
grasses,  or  to  some  of  thfi  specialties  already  noticed ;  if  the  first 
is  on  a  prairie  or  in  a  valley,  the  second  may  be  on  a  hill-side, 
in  the  timber,  or  at  least  by  the  banks  of  a  stream,  or  he  may 
gradually  work  into  the  rearing  of  cattle  or  sheep,  or  horses  or 
mules.  The  cyclone  or  the  prairie  fire  may  spare  one  if  the 
other  is  swept  as  with  the  besom  of  destruction ;  or  If  the  grass- 
hopper or  locust,  the  weevil  or  the  cutworm,  the  caterpillar,  or 
the  gopher  and  mole  destroy  his  grain  or  root  crops  on  one 
farm,  there  may  be  something  left  on  the  other.  The  young 
man  with  but  little  capital,  but  with  no  one  dependent  upon  him, 
can,  of  course,  commence  farming  with  a  small  sum,  but  he  will 
find  his  account,  after  purchasing  or  securing  his  land,  and 
breaking  it  up  and  sowing  his  crop,  in  hiring  out  to  some  farmct' 
in  ths  vicinity,  and  working  his  way  up  to  competence,  in  five  or 
six  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  may  be  the  owner  of  a 
good  farm  and  farm-buildings,  mainly  the  result  of  his  own  labor 
during  thone  years. 

To  those  possessing  somewhat  larger  means,  say  $4,(xx>  or 
$5,000,  a  better  plan  is  to  buy  a  partially  improved  farm,  from 
some  of  those  settlers  who  are  constantly  disposed  to  obey  the 
policeman's  injunction,  and  "  move  on."  In  many  instances  these 
setders  have  either  pre-empted  their  lands,  secured  them  under 
the  Homestead  Act,  or  bought  of  the  railroad  companies,  and  in 
either  case,  have  become  embarrassed  from  some  cause,  and 
unable  to  make  the  desired  payments,  and  so  they  are  disposed 
to  sell  out,  and  moving  to  the  extreme  frontier  try  again.  Some 
of  this  class  have  thus  moved  on,  by  successive  stages,  i.onx 
Eastern  Iowa  or  Missouri  to  the  frontier  of  Kansas,  Nebraska. 


IL 


■MM 


■-Bj-ft  i»(hlMfc«4fci  ' 


ot  ulwayii  U: 
«»ibility  i»  to 
what  miK^t 
ncr  attaint  a 
)  brcome  the 

of  ir;  injj  to 
lihlc,  uciapleil 
rain  larin,  hi* 
m,  or  foratjc 
id ;  if  the  firiit 
on  a  hill-HiUc, 
im,  or  he  may 
I,  or  hor»c»  or 
re  one  if  the 
ir  if  the  grass- 
caterpillar,  or 
crops  on  one 
,    The  younjj 
lent  upon  him, 
im,  but  he  will 
his   land,  and 
0  some  farmv:. 
:nce,  in  five  or 
le  owner  of  a 

lis  own  labor 

say  $4,000  or 
ed  farm,  from 
;d  to  obey  the 
nstances  these 
d  them  under 
ipanies,  and  in 
ne  cause,  and 
y  are  disposed 
again.  Some 
stages,  l.om 
sas,  Nebraska. 


Bifvinr,  AN  immovtin  fAnitt  ji^ 

Hakota,  or  even  into  \forii.ina.  Wyoming,  or  Utah.  If  their 
land  in  a  liomrntrad  claim,  it  im  worth  only  the*  improv«mrnis,  as 
they  havf  no  title,  and  leaving  it  lieforr  the  five  yrars  art*  up.  the 
fee  simple  reverts  to  the  Unitcil  States  j{«)vcrnment.  and  ran  br 
entered  anew,  rither  as  a  homestead,  or  by  pre  entption,  or  pur- 
chase at  government  price,  If  preemptrti  by  tin*  original  nrtilcr 
therr  it  probably  a  num  due  to  perlec  the  title.  The  purrhahrr 
thoiihl  see  to  it  that  there  are  no  Ii(*n4  on  the  property  for  taxeN 
or  judgmentst.  but  that  his  title  is  perfectly  free  from  (loud.  («en- 
erally,  a  purcha.se  of  thin  kind  can  be  made  for  ccmsiderably  less 
than  it  has  cont,  at  the  ordinary  price  of  lalK>r.  The  cabin  and 
other  buildings  will  prol)ably  Ih;  |K)or  or  indifferent,  and  there 
may  be  no  fences,  or  very  imperfect  on«;s.  but  this  is  noi  ol  much 
consequence,  as  the  herd  law,  in  most  of  the  States  and  rerri- 
tories,  protects  the  settlers'  crops,  and  better  buildings  are  not 
expensive ;  but,  on  the  oiher  hand,  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
land  has  U'en  broken  by  the  plow  and  harrowed,  and  has  yielded 
one,  two.  or  three  crops,  and  thtrre  may  be  a  growing  crnp  on  it 
at  the  time.  The  first  cro}),  with  the  superficial  plowing  so  gen- 
erally practised,  is  generally  the  best  one.  but  the  purchaser  can. 
and  will  if  he  it  wise,  put  in  his  plow  for  his  next  crop  "  beam 
deep,"  and  turn  up  fresh  and  virgin  soil  for  a  more  plentiful 
harvest,  u,  .,  ..  ul     •/.  -'  .    1  '      '   .  ,  ,: 

A  farm  of  I60  acres,  conveniently  situated,  and  near  a  railroad 
or  navigable  river,  may  be  purchased  in  thi.'i  way  with  clear  title, 
cabin,  sheds  for  stock,  eighty  acres  under  cultivation,  and  with 
perhaps  a  growing  crop,  the  necessary  live-stock,  wagons,  harness 
(the  latter  a  little  the  worse  for  wear),  and  plows,  hoes,  rakes, 
and  other  agricultural  implements,  though  hardly  much  agricul- 
tural machinery,  in  Dakota,  Western  Nebraska,  Western  Kansas, 
Colorado,  Wyoming,  or  Montana,  or  in  Oregon  or  Washington 
Territory  for  $800  or  |i,ooo.  In  Minnesota,  Missouri,  Eastern 
Nebraska,  or  Hastern  Kansas,  or  in  California,  and  probably  in 
Texas,  it  would  cost  about  twice  as  much,  but  the  buildings  and 
fences  woald  be  better. 

There  are  two  courses,  either  of  which  the  man  who  has  a 
Cwnily  and  has  but  little  more  than  money  enough  lo  t^ke  hta» 
as 


\\ 


ft  'fi 


j; 


3»'*l,#*- 


i^ 


[ 


;i||0  '    '    OUX    tyK STERN  EMPIRE. 

and  them  to  their  destination  maychoose;  for  without  the  jjji.oooor 
$1,500  he  cannot  buy  a  farm,  nor  support  his  family  on  it  while 
wp'ting  for  his  first  or  scrond  crop,  even  if  tl»e  land  were  given 
him  outright       '         "  '  '    ■  .'  •  .       •>  .■         1    ■       ; 

He  may  rent  a  farm  with  a  cabin  and  the  land  broken,  agree- 
ing to  give  half  the  first  full  crop  for  the  rent  the  first  year,  and 
$1  to  '>i.50  per  acre  thereafter,  but  he  must  still  have  money  to 
buy  his  furniture,  agricultural  implements,  and  necessary  live- 
stock, and  to  support  his  family  till  his  first  crop  comes  in.  This 
will  require  at  least  $450,  and  that  amount  is  more  than  he  proba- 
'blyhas,       -11    •  "lO'^isi  \'>    vmi^p  ■. 'imiin'*  :^dj  jj;  4r  •'-> -■■r.ri  '<  «|^j.! 

Or  he  can  hire  oul  his  own  services  to  some  large  farmer,  and 
those  of  such  members  of  his  family  as  are  able  to  work,  and  secur- 
ing a  homestead  claim,  erect  his  humble  cabin,  and  after  four  or 
ifive  years  of  hard  work,  he  may  succeed  in  getting  his  farm  clear 
of  debt,  but  not  well  stocked,  nor  very  well  cultivated.     The  pri- 
vations he  and  his  family  must  undergo  before  he  reaches  this 
■point,  and  indeed  for  two  or  three  years  aftor,  will  be  very  painful 
and  severe,  but  in  the  end,  perhaps,  they  will  feel  paid  for  their 
•  'Sacrifices,    '''i  ;/»»>  jm.<  ■,  iiw  ip^-^i,/ .i,-jij^;v-6iii>j>w.)!j4i-,<;'.i',!' /ci^^'tsi*^  Tjiii«->.!- 
Hard  as  this  life  is.  for  so  long  a  time,  it  is  much  beii'ter  than 
'?  renting  a  farm,  and  yet  very  many  are  to  be  found  who  are 
'  '  anxious  to  rent  lands.     Indeed,  so  much  are  farms  in  demand 
ifor  rent,  that  as  we  have  noticed  elsewhere,  Englishmen  of 
^Vfixed   incomes,  retired   army  or  navy  officers,  clergymen,  and 
VVetii'ed  civil  officers  have  come   to  this  country  in  very  con- 
/siderpble  numbers,  purchased   railroad  and  other  new  lands, 
4  hired  them  broken  with  tlie  plow,  erected  cheap  cabins,  and 
'rented  them,  deriving  a  much   better  interest  for  their  money 
H>from  the  rental,  than  tJiey  could  realize  in  England.     In  many 
'?•  instances  these  foreign  purchasers   become  the  possessors  of 
'%large  tracts  of  land,  and  thus  lay  the  foundation  for  a  landed 
^aristocracy  in  the  fijture. 

^f^    Renting  farms  is  not  a  good  practice  in  our  Western  Empire. 

It  is  not  wise  for  those  who  hire  the  farms,  and  it  will  in  the  end 

jprove  injurious  to  the  owners  if  they  settle  in  the  vicinity  of 

fi -their    lands.      The    policy  of   our   government    and    of   our 


wmmsmmmtmm>Uiitmmm)ttmm»mattimmiK^ 


■-'^■'^'■"•■'"-■'''i''Tlii'»ii"i"if 


Wry^j:*^m- 


'.■-■'i^ny--. 


ut  the  $1,000  or 
mily  on  it  while 
ind  were  given 

broken,  agree- 

e  first  year,  and 

have  money  to 

necessary  live- 

comes  in.    This 

e  than  he  proba- 

irge  farmer,  and 
work,  and  secur- 
ind  after  four  or 
[ig  his  farm  clear 
vated.  The  pri- 
he  reaches  this 
11  be  very  painful 
:el  paid  for  their 

nuch  better  than 
found  who  are 
iarms  in  demand 
Englishmen  of 
clergymen,  and 
try  in  very  con- 
)ther  new  lands, 
leap  cabins,  and 
for  their  money 
gland.     In  many 
\e  possessors  of 
ion  for  a  landed 

Western  Emplfe. 

it  will  in  the  end 

in  the  vicinity  of 

ent    and    of   our 


T^ 


RENTING  FARMS  UNWISE.  3R7 

institutions  is  to  have  the  land  held  in  small  parcels,  not  more 
than  160  acres,  by  as  many  holders  as  possible,  one  requisite 
being  that  these  landholders  shall  be  citizens  of  the  United 
States  or  have  declared  their  Intention  to  become  such.  One 
result  of  these  sctdements  with  small  farms  is  the  speedy 
establishment  of  schools,  church«.'r.,  newspapers,  and  all  the 
appliances  of  an  intelligent,  high  and  pure  civilization. 

The  rented  lands,  especially  with  absentee  landlords,  contribute 
nothing  to  this.  The  farmer  who  rents  his  farm  of  a  wealthy  land- 
lord is  not.except  in  States  where  a  poll-tax  is  exacted. a  tax-payer, 
and  has  no  special  interest  in  the  promotion  of  schools  or  general 
intelligence;  the  building  up  of  a  village,  and  the  improvement 
of  the  moral  character  of  the  community,  and  its  subordination 
to  law,  are  matters  which  do  not  concern  him.  His  only  object 
is  to  get  as  much  from  his  farm  as  possible,  and  spend  as  litde 
on  it  as  is  consistent  with  that  object .  for  renting  as  practised  in 
the  West  tends  to  demoralize  a  man  and  to  bring  out  his  greed, 
selfishness  and  meanness,  and  indeed  all  his  worst  traits. "  '"     i 

We  have  already  referred  briefly  to  the  evils  attendant  on 
farming  on  a  large  scale;  but  we  cannot  speak  too  strongly  in 
reprobation  of  it  in  its  effect  on  the  future  welfare  of  those 
portions  of  the  West  where  it  prevails.  California  has  suffered 
the  most  from  these  overgrown  farms  or  ranches,  and  Texas 
and  Colorado  have  also  been  materially  hindered  in  their  growth 
by  them,  and  now  Western  Minnesota,  Northern  Dakota  and 
Montana,  are  in  danger  of  injury  from  the  same  tendency  to 
own  vast  tracts  of  farming  lands. 

The  Northern  Pacific  Railway,  after  its  disaster  bf  1873, 
disposed  of  its  lands  already  patented  to  it-at  $2  to  $2.50  per 
acre  and  received  its  preferred  stock  and  its  bonds  at  par  in 
pa) -nent.  As  these  were  for  a  time  held  at  very  low  prices, 
sevc  al  men  of  large  weal'h  wlio  knew  the  value  of  these  lands 
too.c  the  opportunity  of  procuring  large  tracts,  paying  for  them  in 
bonds  and  stock,  and  thus  secured  immense  properties  at  from 
twenty  to  twenty-five  cents  per  acre.  These  lands  have  been 
generally  sown  in  wheat  and  other  easily  cultivated  crops,  and 
25,000  to  35,000  acres  in  wheat  has  been  a  not  unusual  crop  on 


\  I' 


li 


h 


ili 


I 


j£g  OUR   WF.STERN   EMPIRE. 

some  of  these  great  farms,  and  some  of  the  wheat-fields  of 
Southern  California  have  been  very  nearly  as  large.  This  brings 
in  a  large  revenue  to  the  proprietors,  $200,000  or  $300,000 
annually  for  the  present,  bui  the  objections  to  it  are  these : 

I .  The  soil  is  not  properly  tilled ;  the  plowing  is  of  the  shal- 
lowest, merely  scratching  the  ground ;  the  same  crop  is  sown 
on  each  field  year  after  year,  and  the  yield  per  acre  diminishes 
every  year.  The  grain  is  all  sent  away,  the  straw  and  refuse 
burned  in  large  heaps.  Nothing  is  left  to  feed  the  soil  or  re- 
place what  is  taken  from  it.  .,.,'>.>*•-  t,  pt. -■»-,/.  j,.,-i';l.i..i 
-  8.  There  are  no  villages,  no  schools,  no  trade  built  up,  noth- 
ing to  encourage,  and  everything  to  discourage  permanent  set- 
tlement. The  proprietor  chooses  to  cultivate  his  own  land,  and 
desires  no  neighboring  small  landholders. 

3.  This  mode  of  cultivation  encourages  tramps  and  wandering 
farm  laborers,  and  discourages  families  and  homes  Each  divi- 
sion of  the  great  farm  has  its  superintendent,  who  has  his  head- 
quarters during  the  farming  season  in  his  division,  with  excellent 
stables  for  his  numerous  horses  and  sheds  for  the  agricultural 
machinery.  There  are  rude  temporary  cabins  where  the  travel- 
ling laborers  sleep  at  night  well  packed  together,  and  a  large 
cabin  where  the  cooking  is  done  for  the  entire  di^'ision.  The 
men  who  come  from  all  quarters  are  hired  by  the  day  or  week, 
and  dismissed  as  soon  as  their  work  is  done.  The  superintend- 
ent and  foremen  are  in  the  sad^e  all  day  through  the  plowing, 
l^rrowing,  sowing  and  harvesting  and  thre^ng,  overseeing 
their  workmen  and  dismissing  them  at  ooce  if  they  are  not  thor- 
oughly ef^ient.'  When  'the  work  is  ^ximpieted,  the  men  are 
sent  ofif  without  a  word,  ftnd  their  future  wcliaire  is  not  a  matter 
of  consideration  with  anj  of  tbe  ooiployers,  who  do  not  even 
know  the  names  of  their  men- 

4.  These  vast  iacms.  often  comprising  two,  three,  or  four 
townships,  are  utterly  <]j{:^posed  to  the  genius  of  our  institutions, 
and  prevent  that  healthy  growth  of  pppulation,  manufactures, 
mechanism,  and  the  industrial  progress  w-hich  has  niade  our 
country  what  it  is.  Ev^Q  the  ma^nery,  the  horses,  the  pro- 
visions are  pujrchasod  in  lar^  distant  cities.    Small  (arms  with 


'^JIBiiiifiiitiTiifi 


iSMi 


'iilSiimmik 


itimiim 


'iiif^V'il1ilT>afeitrinffl'tiiif^<iiiiilif 


«3^jai&s-^a^^j| 


*";^ti.S'^^ 


it-ficlds  of 
riiis  brings 
r   $300»ooo 
hese: 

>f  the  shal- 
op  is  sown 

diminishes 

and  refuse 
•  ^il  or  re- 

lilt  up,  noth- 
manent  set- 
vn  land,  and 

,d  wandering 
Each  divi- 
lias  his  head- 
lith  excellent 
;  agricultural 
^e  the  travel- 
and  a  large 
vision.    The 
day  or  week, 
superintcnd- 
the  plowing, 
,  overseeing 
are  not  thor-  ) 
the  men  are 
not  a  matter 
do  not  even 

iree,  or  four 
ir  institutions, 
manufactures, 
as  made  our 
rses,  the  pro- 
II  farms  with 


UOMESTEAD   PMO  VISIONS.  ||g 

flourishing  villages  dose  at  hand,  a  thrifty  trade,  manufactures 
struggling  into  existence,  and  the  hearty  feeling  of  good-will 
on  the  part  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  neighborhood,  the  desire 
"to  live  and  let  live,"  furnish  a  much  better  basis  for  a  new  and 
enterprising  State,  than  these  overgrown  estates  in  which  arc 
developed  the  worst  features  of  large  proprietorship,  without  any 
of  its  redeeming  traits.      !  I  *! 

Most  of  the  States  and  Territories  have  homestead  exemption 
taws  which  protect  the  struggling  and  impecunious  young  farmer 
from  the  danger  of  attachment  of  his  farm,  or  house,  or  house- 
hold goods,  by  summary  process.  Some  of  the  States  have 
probably  gone  too  far  in  these  exemption  laws,  and  have  opened 
the  way  for  cunning  and  unprincipled  men  to  defraud  their  cred- 
itors easily;  but,  as  a  general  rule,  these  laws  are  not  abused. 
It  is  a  question  with  many  wise  political  economists  whether  it 
would  not  be  better  to  abolish  all  stay  laws,  and  all  laws  for  the 
collection  of  debts,  and  make  credits  depend  solely  upon  the 
character  of  the  purchaser.  Were  this  rule  tried,  we  think  there 
might  be  some  men  who  would  And  it  diiificult  to  obtain  much 
credit. 

We  give  the  Homestead  Exemption  law  of  Minnesota  as  a 
fair  average  of  these  laws  throughout  the  West.  Kansas,  Ne- 
braska, and  Dakota  exempt  1 60  acres  instead  of  eighty,  while 
Iowa  exempts  but  forty ;  Arizona,  California,  Idaho^  and  Texas 
exempt  homestead  or  dwelling  to  an  amount  not  exceeding 
^5,000,  and  furniture,  books,  tools,  live-stock  to  a  limited  amount 
besides.  Other  States  and  Territories  vary  in  amount  from 
III, 000  to  $2,500  or  $3,000  on  the  h<^ie^ad,  v(|i^  othpr  ^' 
emptions.  T  ''^  \  ■^,;>-«t**''.'v.^- ■'■'•{'   ,-  --.i^.jfi'^,. 

The  following  are  the  provisions  of  the  Minnesota  law:  »   r,;>. 

"  That  a  homestead  consisting  of  any  quantity  of  land,  not  ex- 
ceeding^ eighty  acres,  and  the  dwelling-house  thereon  and  its 
appurteivances,  to  be  selected  by  the  owner  thereof,  and  not 
included  in  any  incorporated  town,  city,  or  village,  or  instead 
thereof,  at  the  option  of  the  owner,  a  quantity  of  land  not  exceedh 
tng  in  amount  one  lot,  being  within  an  incorporated  town,  dty^ 
or  village,  and  the  dwelling-house  thereon  an4  its  appurtenances^. 


m 


MA 


390 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


owned  and  occupied  by  any  resident  of  this  State,  shall  not  be 
subject  to  attachment,  levy,  or  sale,  upon  any  execution  or  any 
other  process  issuing  out  of  any  court  within  this  State.  This 
section  shall  be  deemed  and  construed  to  exempt  such  honje- 
stcad  in  the  manner  aforesaid  during  the  time  it  shall  be  occu- 
pied by  the  widow  or  minor  child  or  children  of  any  deceased 
person  who  was,  when  living,  entitled  to  the  benefits  of  this  act." 
The  same  law  provides,  in  addition,  that  furniture  shall  be 
exempt  to  the  amount  of  $500 ;  animals,  with  food,  and  farming 
utensils,  jji30o;  provisions,  tools,  the  books  or  instruments  of  pro- 
fessional men,  etc.,  1^400.  :<,.     >;.;-'     N       'WmLH!,      Vi    ,r-i.O(''      \\\..;\ 

'ri' 


,n'>i:^i'';,v  >. 


•\  ;ii 


!:   I 


Xs 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


1    J\iiv.>,  to)  ;^:.A  :;,(! 


>iip,i. 


.4..;*  ,.a   .,,,.(   r^"  t.ft.-  ...,.  ,.?  -.-f  ...r.  T' 

The  Immigrant  as  a  Cattle-dreeder  and  Stock-raiser — Methods  or  Stock- 
breeding  IN  Different  States  and  Territories — The  Texas  Cattle 
RANCHE — The  Ranche  in  California,  Colorado,  Wvoming,  Montana — 
Caitle-breeding  in  New  Mexico,  Utah,  Arizona  —  In  Washington, 
Oregon,  Nevada,  and  Idaho — Minnesota,  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Kansas, 
Missouri,  and  Arkansas  as  Cattle-breeding  Stai  es — Lands  best  Adapted 
to  this  Pursuit — Different  Methods  Advisable  in  Different  Sections 
— Scenes  in  a  Cattle-ranche — "  The  Bulls  ok  Trinity  "-^The  Cow-uovs 
or  Herders:  their  Care  of  their  Herds — Their  isolated,  half-savage 
Life — Rounding  up— Branding — The  Capital  Necessary  for  Success — 
How  A  Poor  Man  can  acquire  a  Catile-ranche  in  Time — Staiistics  of. 
the  Cost  of  a  moderately  large  Ranche.  .^.  .  . 

Our  immigrant,  like  the  sons  of  Jacob,  has  "had  his  trade  or 
occupation  ab(  it  cattle  from  his  youth  until  now,"  and  he  desires 
in  migrating  to  this  Western  Empire  to  continue  in  the  business 
with  which  he  is  familiar ;  or  he  has  heard  wonderful  tales  of  the 
great  success  and  wealth  gained  in  cattle-farming,  and  he  believes 
that  a  similar  success  is  within  his  reach,  if  he  follows  the  busi- 
ness. This  latter  view  of  the  case  is  one  more  likely  to  be  enter- 
tained by  one  who  emigrates  from  one  of  our  Eastern  States 
than  by  a  European,  for  our  Yankee  is  a  universal  genius  and 
believes  himself  capable  of  doing  anything  and  everything  which 
any  man  has  ever  done — ^and  generally>it  must  be  acknowledged* 


MittJttMiitiil 


dJMiw 


_J^'^ 


CATTIE-BREEDINC  IN  TEXAS. 


39 « 


ill  not  be 
on  or  any 
ite.  This 
ich  honic- 
1  be  occu- 
,'  deceased 
if  this  act." 
e  shall  be 
id  farming 
nts  of  pro- 

,11   -IK      -i      ll 

ODS  or  SiocK- 
EXAS  Cattle 
,  Montana — 
Washington, 
lska,  Kansas, 
BEST  Adapted 
ent  Sections 
iHE  Cow-boys 

I,  HALF-SAVAGE 

OR  Success — 
-Statistics  OF 

his  trade  or 
d  he  desires 
the  business 

tales  of  the 
1  he  believes 
Ns  the  busi- 

to  be  enter- 
stern  States 

genius  and 
ything  which 
;knowledge4 


he  is  successful  in  what  he  undertakes — while  the  European  im- 
migrant generally  prefers  to  follow  the  particular  line  of  busi- 
ncss  to  which  he  has  been  trained. 

How,  or  under  what  circumstances,  can  the  immigrant  go  into 
the  business  of  stock-raising  as  it  is  conducted  here,  with  a  fair 
prospect  of  success?  There  are  several  other  questions  to  be 
answered  before  we  can  reply  definitely  to  this.  These  (jues- 
tions  are :  i .  VVMiere  does  he  propose  to  establish  his  cattle 
farm  ?  2.  What  amount  of  capital  has  he  ?  3.  Has  he  any  per- 
sonal acquaintance  with  the  busy^ss?  4.  Is  he  informed  as  to 
the  methods  used  in  stock-raising?  5.  Is  he  qualified  to  take 
the  management  of  a  large  cattle-ranche  owned  by  a  joint-stock 
company  and  conduct  it  successfully  ? 

^  A  cattle-ranche  or  cattle-farm  in  Texas  is  one  thing ;  one  in 
Colorado,  or  Montana,  or  Wyoming  is  quite  another.  If  our 
immigrant  proposes  to  start  a  cattle-farm  in  Texas,  he  will  require 
less  capital  than  for  such  an  enterprise  farther  north;  for  his 
cattle  will  cost  less  money,  he  need  not  buy  much  land,  certainly 
not  at  the  beginning,  his  buildings  can  be  fewer  and  less  costly, 
he  has  no  occasion  for  barns  or  shelter  corrals,  his  herders  or 
cow-boys  will  be  mainly  Mexicans,  and  their  wages  will  be  lower, 
and  aside  from  the  expense  of  rounding  up  and  branding  his 
cattle,  with  a  herder  for  each  1,000  or  1,500  head,  they  will  take 
care  of  themselves,  and  he  need  not  see  them  oftener  than  once 
a  year. 

To  counterbalance  these  advantages,  however,  the  general  run 
of  Texas  stock  is  decidedly  inferior  in  quality ;  they  are  long- 
horned,  not  of  large  size,  very  wild,and  do  not  take  on  Hesh  readily. 
They  cost  less  when  two  or  three  years  old,  and  when  ready  for 
market  bring  a  lower  price,  both  alive  and  as  beef  carcasses.  The 
cattle  from  Kansas,  Colorado,  Wyoming  and  particularly  from 
Montana,  are  larger,  of  better  breeds,  not  wild,  fat  readily  and 
will  bring  much  higher  price  both  alive  and  as  dressed  beef. 
They  require  somewhat  more  care,  and  a  more  intelligent  class 
of  herders,  and  should  have  some  preparation  made  for  shelter 
and  for  fodder  during  the  wintry  weather,  but  do  not  always  get 
it    The  cost  of  rearing  steers,  in  the  large  way,  in  Texas  is  only 


Iw'  : 


.U 


M&j 


ar" 


393 


0(/X    Pr£SJ£/t/V   SMriJtE. 


about  forty  to  fifty  cents  per  head  per  annum  ;  in  the  central  and 
northern  tiers  of  States  and  Territories,  it  ranges  from  60  cents  to 
1^1, 10;  but  this  difference  is  more  than  made  up  in  their  greater 
market  vahie.  As  to  the  capital  required,  this  depends,  even  in 
Texas,  very  much  upon  the  ability  or  inability  of  the  stock-raiser 
to  buy  and  fence  his  land.  Land  is  very  cheap  in  Texas ;  grazing 
lands  can  be  bought  for  from  10  cents  to  $1  per  acre — but  from 
3,000  to  5,000  acres  are  required  for  1 ,000  head  of  cattle,  and  the 
fencing  of  this  from  $1 ,500  to  $2,500,  the  fence  being  at  first  a  single 
board  and  a  barbed  wire — whWi  will  be  sufficient  to  turn  cattle. 
If  the  stock-raiser  prefers  to  pasture  on  the  range  he  must  have 
for  1,000  cattle  at  least  six  herdsmen,  whose  wages  will  be  from 
$1,200  to  $1,500  and  their  cabins  and  keeping. 

Eight  hundred  cows,  each  with  a  calf,  will  cost  about  $10,000, 
and  it  will  be  best  to  invest  not  less  than  $2,000  more  in  Durham 
or  Holstein  bulls  in  order  to  improve  the  breed.  The  house, 
stable  and  pens,  rven  of  the  rudest  kind,  will  cost  $1,000,  and  the 
horses,  saddles,  wagons  and  supplies  not  less  than  $1,000  more. 
If  the  immigrant  buys  and  fences  his  land,  he  will  have  to  invest 
from  $18,500  to  $21,500  at  the  start.  If  he  buys  no  land  except 
a  homestead  and  pastures  on  the  unimproved  lands,  he  will  be 
able  to  get  along  witli  about  $4,500  less,  say  from  $14,000  to 
$17,000  in  all. 

For  three  years  the  returns  will  be  small.  The  stock-raiser 
will  "keep  his  heifer  calves,  and  sell  a  few  of  his  steers  when  they 
are  a  year  old,  though  it  pays  better  to  keep  them  till  they  are 
two  or  three  years  old.  His  stock  will  be  improving  in  quality 
every  year,  and  at  the  end  of  three  years  he  will  have  a  mixed  herd 
of  1,200  to  1,500  head,  and  can  thereafter,  unless  his  herd  should 
be  attacked  by  cattle  plague  or  some  other  disease,  sell  off  every 
year  from  $6,000  to  $8,000  worth  of  cattle  and  yet  increase  his 
herd  each  year ;  but  he  will  have  to  buy  his  land  and  fence  it, 
if  he  has  not  already  done  so,  and  increase  the  number  of  his 
employes. 

But,  says  the  immigrant,  can  I  not  start  in  the  business  of  cattle- 
ratsing  With  less  than  $13,000  or  $20,000?  Yes,  if  you  arc  a 
single  man,  and  have  decided  to  aetde  in  Texas.    You  may  begin 


^VtnMSBB 


MMMi 


aiitm&m 


MMifl 


'm* 


flM*!******^ 


central  and 
\  60  cents  to 
heir  greater 
(ids,  even  in 
stock-raiser 
:as;  grazing 
e — but  from 
attic,  and  the 
;  first  a  single 

turn  cattle. 
le  must  have 
will  be  from 

out  $10,000, 
e  in  Durham 
The  house, 
,000,  and  the 
$  1 ,000  more, 
ave  to  invest 
)  land  except 
h,  he  will  be 
n  ji  14,000  to 

;  stock-raiser 
;rs  when  they 
n  till  they  are 
ng  in  quality 
:  a  mixed  herd 
s  herd  should 
,  sell  off  every 
t  increase  his 
and  fence  it, 
lumber  of  his 

■ness  of  cattle- 
,  if  you  arc  a 
'ou  may  begin 


.%■ 


(JligfitfiW'iiiTi 


irovteitAfsim  r/f  cet.fntADo. 


593 


If 


with  a  small  grazing;  fnnn,  500  acres  or  more,  and  purchase  but 
100  cows  anil  calves  amJ  attend  to  these  yourself,  milking  a 
part  of  your  cows,  makinj;  some  butter  and  keeping  a  dozen  or 
twenty  pigs.  But  even  with  this  small  beginning,  you  cannot 
start  on  much  less  than  $4,500  to  $5,000.  Tliere  arc  other 
methods  by  which  an  immigrant  with  a  still  smaller  capital  may 
succeed  in  stock-raising  in  other  States  and  Territories,  but  in 
Texas  intimate  association  with  the  rough  herders  would  be  too 
unpleasant  to  be  endured  by  most  men,  and  there  are  few  or  no 
joint-stock  companies  which  would  employ  a  foreign  manager 
on  their  great  ranches.  It  might  be  possible  to  commence,  as 
some  of  the  present  "  cattle  kings  "  in  that  State  did,  twenty-five 
or  thirty  years  ago,  with  little  or  no  capital,  but  times  and  circum- 
stances are  changed,  and  there  are  not  now  so  many  stray  cattle 
without  owners  who  can  claim  them,  as  there  were  in  war  times. 
The  business  was  not  then  organized  or  systematized,  and  wages 
as  wdl  as  cattle  are  much  higher  than  they  were  then.  There 
arc  very  few  instances  in  Texas  where  the  large  stock-raisers 
make  any  account  of  the  milk.  Most  of  them  buy  their  butter  or 
go  without  it.  In  Kansas,  even  where  the  herds  of  cattle  are  mod- 
erately large,  a  part  of  the  cows  are  kept  for  their  milk,  and  dairying 
is  often  carried  on  in  connection  with  stock-raising.  Here  a  man 
may  begin  with  a  few  cows  and  calves  and  gradually  build  up  a 
cattle-ranche  and  dairy-farm  at  the  same  time.  On  the  frontier 
it  is  still  possible  to  raise  stock  without  owning  an  acre  of  land, 
or  at  most  only  a  homestead  claim.  In  Eastern  and  Northern 
Colorado  and  in  Wyoming,  many  of  the  cattle-ranches  are  on  a 
large  scale,  and  while  their  proprietors  (in  some  instances  joint- 
stock  companies)  purchase  considerable  tracts  of  land,  they  also 
avail  themselves  largely  of  the  unimproved  and  unsurveyed  Gov- 
ernment lands.  Even  the  great  Hermosillo  Ranche,  now  owned 
by  the  Colorado  Cattle  Company,  besides  its  91,000  acres  of 
purchased  lands,  pastures  nearly  500,000  acres  more  of  unsur- 
veyed lands  on  the  adjacent  mountain  slopes.  As  a  rule,  stock- 
raising  in  Colorado  only  pays  well  when  conducted  on  a  large 
scale.  The  great  parks,  as  well  as  the  mountain  slopes,  afford 
fine  pasturage,  and  Colorado  beef  has  the  highest  reputation.  '''^^■ 


1.=: 
-H 


394 


OVM    WKSTKtfU  MUriMK. 


The  man  who  attcmptn  to  start  a  cattlcrnnche  with  K'hs  than 
1,000  head,  aiul  with  a  capital  uf  Ksh  than  1 30,000  or  1^5,000, 
will  hardly  firul  it  profitable.  Ami  whiU;  this  i»  the  lowest  limit. 
|^ioo,ocx>,  $200,000,  or  «ven  f  500,000  can  bo  invcHted  with  j;reat 
advantage  and  profit  in  the;  btiHincss.  VVc  havo  Hpolcen  ol  the 
joint-stock  companicH  for  stock-raiHin);.  Per>*onH  of  inodurate 
capital,  but  who  have  money  which  can  lie  for  two  or  three  yearn 
without  much  return,  in  the  hope  of  an  ample  one  after  that  time, 
may  find  this  a  desirable  mode  of  investment.  It  is  not  difficult 
for  men  who  have  been  accustomed  to  the  care  of  cattle,  and 
who  have  a  little  capital  of  their  own,  to  obtain  a  situation  on 
these  larj^e  rp  iches,  where  piirchasiny;  and  branding  a  few  cattle, 
they  can  have  them  pastured  free  on  the  ranche,  and  securing 
for  themselves  a  quarter  or  half  section  of  land,  can,  by  degrees, 
erect  the  necessary  cabins  and  corrals,  break  up  their  land,  and 
sow  it  with  forage  grasses  or  root  crops,  and  keeping  up  two  or 
three  of  their  cows,  they  have  their  own  butter  and  milk,  fat  some 
pigs,  and  at  the  end  of,  say,  five  years,  have  a  fair  stock  of  aittle 
to  start  their  own  ranche,  and  if  the  location  has  been  well  selected, 
with  abundant  water,  they  can  probably  secure,  when  needed,  suffi- 
cient land  to  pasture  their  stock,  at  very  moderate  prices.  The 
herder's  life  is,  however,  a  very  lonely  one,  and  a  man  who  lias  a 
family  will  find  it  very  distressing  to  him  and  them,  to  lead  a  life 
of  such  isolation  and  with  so  few  comforts.  There  is  indeed  a 
prospect  of  a  moderate  competence  in  the  future,  but  that  future 
seems  so  far  off,  and  meanwhile  his  children,  if  he  has  any,  are 
growing  up  without  opportunities  o^  education,  and  without  the 
refining  influences  of  social  life. 

Catde-ranches  of  large  extent  cannot  exist  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  large  villages ;  they  require  too  much  room ;  some  of 
them  occupy  an  entire  county,  and  except  the  necessary  dwellings 
and  offices  at  the  home  pf  the  proprietor,  where  there  may  be 
also  a  post-office,  there  will  be  in  the  whole  county  no  setde- 
ment  aside  from  the  isolated  cabins  of  the  herders,  and,  of  course, 
neither  schools  nor  churches. 

The  life  of  the  herder  is  not  without  its  perils,  and  those  more 
serious  than  are  usually  supposed.    These  perils  are  of  various 


'^1^ 


timmm 


ktrntm 


miiimmambim 


■^ 


rlitft  than 
r  i2S,ooo, 
west  limit, 
with  ^rcstt 
xw  oi  lite 

mode  rate 
l»ri;t;  yearn 
r  that  time, 
lot  difficult 
cattle,  and 
tiiation  on 

few  cattle, 
d  securing 
L>y  dejifrecs, 
r  land,  and 
r  up  two  or 
Ik.  fat  some 
>ck  of  ciitde 
ell  selected, 
eeded,  suffi- 
rlces.     The 
1  who  has  a 
0  lead  a  life 
is  indeed  a 

that  future 
tas  any,  are 
without  the 

immediate 
i\ ;  some  of 
ry  dwellings 
ere  may  be 
y  no  settle- 
d,  of  course, 

those  more 
e  of  various 


PhtliLS  Of  TttK  //MJtDMA'S  UPM.  ||| 

kinds:  where,  ah  in  Texas,  California,  and  New  Mexico  the  cattle 
are  largely  of  the  long-horned,  half-wild  Mexican  brecdN,  the 
hulls  and  steers  are  dangerous,  specially  when  the  herder  or 
any  one  rUe  meets  them  in  large  numbers,  and  when  excited  by 
ihirHt  or  rage. 

The  poet-novelist.  Hret  Marte,  has  immortalized  in  his  "(iabriel 
Conroy,"  "  the  bulls  of  the  Blessed  Trinity,"  a  ranche  of  South- 
ern California.  Arthur  Poinsett,  one  of  his  heroes,  and  a  lawyer, 
visits  the  proprietress  of  the  ranche.  Donna  Oolorcs,  on  business, 
and  while  waiting  for  her  answer  to  his  propositions,  wanders  out 
upon  the  grazing  lands  on  foot,  and  suddenly  finds  vast  herds 
of  the  bulls  and  steers  of  the  ranche  coming  toward  him  from 
all  dir-ctions.  They  are  not  ferocious  or  fierce ;  they  will  even 
retr(;at  for  a  little  distance  when  he  faces  them  resolutely,  but 
meantime  others  are  coming  up  at  his  back;  he  is  surrounded, 
and  by  a  stolid  but  determined  herd,  who  v.'ill  trample  him  under 
foot,  without  rage  or  excitement.  There  is  apparently  no  hope. 
Hut  just  at  the  crisis  of  his  fat(\  he  is  rescued  by  the  lady  who, 
mounted  on  a  powerful  horse,  rides  directly  at  the  oncoming 
herds,  and  causes  them  to  swerve  on  either  side,  and  saves  him. 
though  he  had  already  fallen,  in  terror  and  despair.  The  Colo- 
rado  herds  are  fiercer  and  stronger  than  these  Texan  and  Cali- 
fornia bulls,  but  perhaps  not  so  wild.  If  the  herder  is  well 
mounted,  he  is  not  in  much  danger,  except  in  rounding  up  time, 
when  the  excited  animals,  worried  by  pursuit,  will  sometimes 
turn  upon  their  pursuer,  and  unless  the  lasso  is  quickly  and 
deftly  flung,  and  both  horse  and  rider  are  wary  and  alert,  will 
gore  and  toss  them  to  death  in  a  moment. 

But  this  peril  from  the  herd  itself  is  by  no  means  the  only 
danger  to  which  the  herder  is  exf  Dsed.  West  of  the  divide  or 
highest  summit  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  grizzly  bear  roams 
monarch  among  the  beasts  of  prey,  and  has  a  decided  appetite 
for  fresh  beef.  If  he  is  very  hungry,  he  will  pull  down  a  steer  or 
cow,  even  in  the  presence  of  the  herder.  He  is  said  to  be  terri- 
fied by  the  yells  of  the  herders,  but,  when  ravenous,  he  will  not 
hesitate  to  attack  men  as  well  as  beasts,  and  his  great  muscular 
power,  his  terrible  claws,  and  his  remarkable  vitality,  render  him 


l( 


f^ 


W^ 


OUM    MTMSrMMM   JtMtiMM. 


a  n\o%t  formiilabic  ant;igoni»l.  It  u  very  d.tn|;rr()ii«  to  aU«ck 
him  »in|;le-han<lcii.  The  cuugnr  or  punthrr,  an«l  the  jaguar  or 
American  tiger,  arc  aliui  rcaily  to  prey  upon  the  hrnl,  whenever 
they  can  approach  it  from  aome  rocky  shelter  or  leafy  covert,  one! 
if  wounclcil  are  tlrsprrattr  ami  (lan)^Mr«)iiH  forn  to  rruoimtrr. 

Ordinarily,  am  we  have  naid,  except  in  the  mont  elevated  pan- 
turc  lands  of  Colorado,  the  utnount  of  mow  and  the  severity  of 
live  cold  is  not  sufficient  to  rendrr  it  necessary  to  corral  anci  fried 
the  cattle,  and  they  run  at  lar^e,  browsing  the  native  InifTalo  and 
gama  grass,  and,  though  rather  tliin  in  the  spring,  they  fatten 
rapidly  m  the  spring,  and  in  the  early  summer  are  almost  too  fat 
to  be  driven  any  considerabi';  distimce.  Hut,  at  iiUervaU  of  eight 
or  ten  years,  there  come  winters  of  great  severity;  tlijep  snows 
occur  every  week ;  the  streams  are  frozen,  and  even  the  bunch 
grass,  which  rises  stiff  and  strong,  from  two  and  a-half  feet  to 
thr-:e  feet  above  the  soil,  cannot  nrach  above  the  level  of  the 
anow)',  and  the  cattle  arc  liable  to  starve.  M<  *ti,  /  .;  • 

The  prcdcnt  stock-raiscr  has  made  provision  for  such  sea- 
sons ;  his  wild  hay  is  stacked  near  the  corrals,  and  groves  of 
•evergreens  shelter  the  stock  from  the  driving  storms ;  where  the 
herds  are  so  large  that  they  cannot  all  be  under  cover,  such  pro- 
tection as  is  possible  is  afforded  them,  and  especially  is  a  supply 
of  water  secured  to  them  by  artificial  lakes,  artesian  wells, 
troughs  and  pools  fed  by  hydraulic  rams  or  by  wimlmill-pumpN. 
But  unfortunately  the  number  of  prudent  stock-raisers  is  not 
"v  very  large,  and  there  is  a  terrible  destruction  of  cattle.  During 
this  period  the  labors  of  the  herder  are  very  severe.  In  the 
fierce,  driving  storm-  he  must  be  constantly  in  the  saddle,  en- 
deavoring to  b»nnj'  ♦v.*'  terrified  and  excited  herd  under  his  care, 
into  safer  and  mor  :  sheltered  positions;  as  thft  snows  grow 
deeper  a' id  the  trail  more  difficult  to  find,  the  cattle,  wild  with 
fright,  plunge  to  one  side  or  the  other,  and  are  at  once  buried  in 
tk«>  drifts,  and  the  herder  must  plunge  in  after  them  till  some- 
times the  horse  and  rider  are  too  weary  to  regain  the  track  and 
both  sink  down  and  perish.  On  such  occasions  these  rude, 
rough  men  often  manifest  a  heroism  and  fidelity  to  the  rnterests 
of  their  employers,  an  un/iinchiBg  courage,  which  goen  to  certain. 


V'T-ci  S  r 


"iVt^ 


»mmiklAmmmmt»a6itmitimlm 


i'.ti.JJb^  <- 


tn  atlAck 

juifiiar  or 
whenever 
overt,  o»n! 
mier. 
i/iiteii  p*!*' 
irvrrity  of 
il  anu  feed 
juffalo  and 
they  fatten 
lost  too  fat 
alH  of  eight 
h'ep  snown 
tlie  hunch 
lialf  feet  to 
level  of  tl\e 
fk,  .'li.v  .'.•  .-■' 

r  Huch  sea- 
,  groven  of 
I ;  where  the 
tr,  such  pro- 
r  is  a  supply 
csian  wells, 
Imill-pumps. 
lisers  is  not 

V.     During 
-re.     In  the 

saddle,  en- 
der  his  care, 
inows   grow 

e,  wild  with 
ICC  buried  i« 

m  till  somt!- 
he  track  and 

these   rude, 

the  interest* 

>eH  to  certain . 


xrociciidntsa  iK  cMi.ironNtA,  ,  n^ 

doath,  with  a  npirit  worthy  of  tlx*  iiol>li!i»t  of  the  martyn  ol* 
ancient  or  modern  timm ;  nameirNK  iK^rucs,  whose  faithful  ser* 
vice  ancl  unilinchin^'  nrlf  tacritice  sliall  yet  Ik:  found  recorded  in 
the  archives  of  heaven. 

When  tl)e  sun  hun  again  resumed  his  sway,  and  the  winter 
NnowH  art*  melted,  the  gray  wolf,  the  coyote  and  the  v(ilturt;s 
have  thtir  ahntulant  IrastH  off  the  (ariasscH  of  the  drad  tattle, 
and  iK'fure  mid  .tummer  their  bones  lie,  bleached  and  white,  on 
all  the  hills. 

In  Montana,  a.id  to  some  extent  in  WaKhington  and  Oregon, 
the  business  of  stock-noising  lias  fallen  into  good  hands.  Most 
of  the  ranches  are  large,  they  are  carried  on  by  joint-stock  com« 
panics,  limited,  or  by  a  partncrslup  with  a  large  capital,  and 
employing  the  best  men  to  be  found  as  managers.  The  cattle 
are  of  high  grade  and  are  larger,  fatter,  and  mortr  tender  of  flesh 
tluin  those  of  any  other  region  of  the  West.  The  excellent  aiid 
nutritious  bunch-grass  and  tlv:  white  sage  bush  after  frost,  have 
much  to  do  with  this  peculiar  excellence  of  the  Montana  btreves. 

Some  of  the  largest  rancl^s  there  have  shelter,  and  wild  rice 
or  other  hay  for  their  cattle  when  the  winter  is  severe ;  but  in 
many  of  the  valleys  where  the  snnw  does  not  lie  deep  and  the 
bunch-grass  is  tall  and  stiff,  they  are  not  sheltered,  but  keep  out 
all  winter  and  do  not  ordinarily  lofie  much  Hesh.  In  tite  spring 
and  summer  the  only  complaint  in  regard  to  Montana  cattle  if 
iJiat  they  are  too  fat.  They  can  be  exported  to  England  by 
way  of  the  Northern  Paci6c  and  Duluth  without  special  fattening 
and  at  a  very  large  profit 

In  California  there  are  but  few  of  the  old  Mexican-Spanish 
ranches  left.  A  better  race  of  cattle  have  taken  the  place  of  the 
long-horned,  raw-boned,  lean  Mexican  cattle,  and  the  proprietors 
of  large  herds  are  not  now  the  dignified,  rather  pompous,  but 
easy-going  hidalgos  of  thirty-five  or  forty  years  ago,  but  wide- 
awake, keen-eyed  Americans,  Germans  or  Englishmen,  whose 
cattle  can  boast  of  a  pedigree  in  the  herd-book,  and  whose 
object  is  to  make  fortunes  out  of  the  cattle  trade.  The  number 
of  cattle  raised  in  California,  though  large,  is  not  much  in  exccM 
of  the  local  and  inter-state  demand,  and  beeves  are  not  shipped 


n 


\ 


/ 


% 


m 


M4\  w.  ifc.ifc.<Wifc   '«>«b.  ■-MA'k^c-t'Wu-ltf.b.  «.e*kiUAA:. 


39' 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


thence  to  other  countries  to  any  great  extent.  They  number 
probably  about  1,800,000  head,  of  which  about  one-third  are 
milch  cows,  and  dairy-farming  is  rapidly  increasing  in  importance. 
The  character  of  the  stock  is  very  high,  and  some  of  the  best  im- 
ported cattle  on  thi?  continent  are  to  be  found  in  California. 
Both  the  bulls  and  cows  are  in  demand  in  the  States  and  Terri- 
tories east  of  the  State,  for  stocking  new  ranches. 

/  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  especially  the  former,  have  been  more 
famous  in  the  past  for  pasturing  and  fattening  Texas  cattle 
driven  thither  for  that  purpose,  and  shipping  them  when  fattened 
over  their  railways  to  the  East,  than  for  the  mana^jement  of 
large  herds  of  their  own  ;  but  this  practice  is  le.ss  prevalent  now 
than  some  years  ago,  as  the  Texas  cattle  are  now  fattened  to  a 
considerable  extent  at  home,  and  shipped  cither  as  live-stock  by 
steamer  to  Europe,  or  slaughtered  and  sent  packed  in  rcfriger- 

■^  ating  rooms  on  the  steamers  to  Europe  or  to  New  York.  Kan- 
sas has  now  nearly  1,300,000,  head  of  tattle,  of  which  about  one- 
third  are  milch  cows,  and  Nebraska  about  700,000  in  the  same 
proportions,  while  Texas  with  her  7,000,000  of  cattle  has  not  over 
800,000  milch  cows.  The  western  half  of  both  Kansas  and  Ne- 
braska is  well  adapted  to  stock-raising,  and  with  the  facilities  for 
shipping  their  stock  to  market  over  nine  or  ten  nearly  parallel 
railways,  the  business  can  be  conducted  with  large  profit.  Iowa 
and  Missouri  have  each  nearly  2,500,000  head  of  cattle,  of  which 
in.  Iowa  more  than  800,000  are  milch  cows,  and  in  Missouri 
about  675,000.    jifoftjiv/- rittiIrK I  bn."  :)i  (./"  imu^  t'.j^j*v/ 

•  Wyoming  has  large  and  increasing  herds,  and  is  probably 
i^omewhat  better  adapted  to  cattle  than  to  sheep.  Besides  her 
own  extensive  ranges  of  pastiiie,  ti  e  Wyoming  stock  raisers 
have  for  some  years  driven  largfe  herds  into  the  North  Park  of 
Colorado,  where  the  pasturage  is  excellent.  ^^  **<' 

'Utah  jmd  Nevada  have  some  good'  grazing  lands,  and  are 
turning  attention  to  cattle-raising,  and  the  number  of  herds, 
though  small,  is  increasing.  New  Mexico  is  peculiarly  adapted 
tQ( sheep-culture,  but,  though  dry,  is  also  a  good  region  for  cattle, 
9^-  are  also  portions  of  Arizona,-  In  the  lofty  wf^jra*  or  table- 
lands from  which  still  rtibre  lofty  spires  and  peaks  lift  their  heads 


m 


^mmmA 


mimm 


Mitt 


'"W^is^^-^rayt  J' 


1 


••r///;  ROUND  vr." 


399 


They  number 
one-third  are 
in  importance, 
of  the  best  im- 
in  California, 
ites  and  Terri- 

ivc  been  more 
r  Texas  cattle 
I  when  fattened 
ana^jement  of 
prevaU:nt  now 

V  fattened  to  a 
IS  live-stock  by 
Led  in  rcfriger- 

V  York.  Kan- 
liich  about  one- 
X)  in  the  same 
:le  has  not  over 
Cansas  and  Ne- 
the  facilities  for 

nearly  parallel 
[e  profit.  Iowa 
cattle,  of  which 
id  in   Missouri 

ind  is  pr6bibly 
Besides  her 
vr  Stock  raisers 
North  Park  of 

lands,  and  are 
nber  of  herds, 
:uliarly  adapted 
egion  for  cattle, 
mesas  or  table- 
lift  tiieir  heads 


into  the  region  of  perpetual  snow,  the  melting  snows  form  lakes 
and  pools  whose  waters  can  be  made  to  irrigate  the  lands  below, 
and  th«!se  lands,  6,000,  7,000  and  even  9,000  feet  above  the  sea. 
furnish  excellent  grazing  for  cattle. 

In  all  those  States  and  Territories  where  there  are  large  herds 
which  pasture  upon  the  unsurveyed  government  or  State  lands, 
being  turned  out,  as  the  phrase  is,  upon  the  ranq^e,  they  mingle 
with  other  herds  and  stray  away  often  many  miles.  The  herders 
do  what  they  can  to  keep  them  together;  but  there  is  a  neces- 
sity once  a  year  for  a  " round  up"  which,  if  the  herd  is  very 
large,  may  last  two  or  three  weeks.  This  is  a  great  occasion  for 
the  herders  and  the  catde  men,  of  whom  a  considerable  number 
are  employed  as  extra  hands.  These  are  all  experts  in  horse- 
manship and  in  the  use  of  the  lasso  or  lariat,  and  they  have  need 
of  all  their  skill  very  often.  In  Texas,  New  Mexico,  the  Indian 
Territory,  Arizona,  and  formerly  in  Southern  California,  where 
the  cattle  were  very  wild,  the  herders,  after  gathering  the  herds 
together  from  over  a  wide  circuit,  rode  into  the  crowded  masses 
of  cattle  anc'  lassoed  every  steer  or  cow  which  had  the  brand  of 
their  employer  upon  it  and  drew  them  out  into  a  herd  by  them- 
selves. The  calves  followed  their  dams,  and  each  herd  was 
guarded  and  separated  from  the  other  till  they  could  be  driven 
to  their  corrals  or  their  own  particular  herding  ground.  Occa- 
sionally a  bull,  bullock,  or  steer,  or  a  cow  unaccustomed  to  this 
rude  treatment,  and  afraid  her  calf  wias  to  be  taken,  from  her, 
would  show  fight,  and,  with  head  lowered,  would  attempt  to  gore 
or  toss  the  horse  or  his  rider,  from  whose  unerring  aim  the 
instrumeht  of  torture  had  been  flung,  but  the  horses  trained  to 
their  work  vere  too  active  and  alert  to  be  in  much  danger,  and 
both  they  and  their  riders  enjoyed  the  sport. 
«.  The  herd  being  thus  separated  from  the  herds  of  other  owners, 
two  other  important  dyttes  remained  to  be  performed ;  the  calves 
were  to  be  branded,  which  was  effected  by  driving  them  with  the 
dows  through  a  passage  so  narrow  that  but  one  animal  could 
pass  through  at  a  time,  and  at  the  narrowest  part  of  the  passage 
the  brander,  his  branding-iron  heated  to  redness  in  a  blazing 
pile;  of'  logs  at  his  back,  pressed  it  down  upon  the  back  of  the 


--li. 


4» 


Omt    WRSTERN   EMPIRE 


cair.  Every  proprietor  has  his  own  peculiar  brand,  which  is 
recorded  in  the  county  records.  •  ^^    ■  > 

The  next  thing  to  be  done  is  to  select  the  three  or  four-year 
old  steers  to  be  sent  to  market,  and,  if  any  of  the  cows  and  calves 
are  to  be  sold,  they  also  are  withdrawn  from  the  herd.  The  se- 
lection of  these  animals  for  sale  is  easy  or  difficult,  according  to 
the  degree  of  wildness  which  they  manifest ;  sometimes  they  are 
readily  and  easily  culled  out,  but  at  other  times  the  lasso  is  re- 
quired, and  there  is  a  protracted  struggle,  before  a  refractory 
steer  will  take  his  place  where  he  belongs.        -.    ♦/  .     *,  ■?  *': 

Where,  as  in  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Minnesota,  Iowa,  and  to  some 
extent  in  Montana  and  California,  dairy-farming  is  connected 
with  stock-raising,  and  the  herds  are  much  smaller,  it  is  possible 
for  a  man  who  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  tr.sin  *•  to 
conduct  a  good  stock  and  dairy  farm«  beginning,  we  wi.l  su),  Widi 
forty  or  fifty  cows  and  two  or  three  bulls,  with  as  many  yearling 
or  two-year  old  steers  as  he  can  find  pasture  for,  with  a  capital 
at  first  of  not  more  than  |ji6,ooo.  For  this  purpose  he  should 
buy  a  quarter-section,  pre-empt  another,  take  another  under  the 
Homestead  Act,  and  am)ther  still  under  the  Timber-Culture  Act, 
if  on  the  plains,  looking  out  for  the  springs,  and  if  he  makes  a 
wise  selection  he  will  have  the  land  between  the  springs  for  a 
free  range  for  some  years.  He  will  need  to  put  considerable 
money  into  fixtures  for  a  dairy  farm,  to  sdect  his  cows  from 
Alderney  and  Jersey  grades  if  he  can  find  them ;  if  not,  Ayrshires 
or  Holsteins ;  and  he  should  have  at  least  one  Alderney  and  pej-- 
liaps  one  Holstein  bull.  r^r 

He  should  sow  forage  grasses  largdly  iind  keep  Tiis  dairy  cowb 
near  the  homestead,  feeding  them  freely  as  the  past^ires  become 
dry.  He  will  be  able  to  sell  bis  steers  at  the  end  of  one  or  two 
years  if  in  good  condition  for  a  very  lai^e  profit,  and  well-made 
butter  and  cheese  always  commafKls  high  prices  throughout  these 
States  and  Territories. 

An  industrious  and  skilful  dairy  fanner  beginning  in  this  mod- 
erate way  can,  in  ten  yea>rs,  have  as  large  a  dairy  as  be  will  wish 
to  manage,  and  sell  every  year  from  fyaoo  to  $6,000  worth  of 
choice  stock  without  impairing  the  value  of  hb  he/d,  and  witlkiA 


mim 


Mimm 


"^im'^im 


"•m 


w 


I,  which  is 

r  four-year 
and  calves 
,  These- 
xording  to 
2S  they  are 
lasso  is  re- 
refractory 

nd  to  some 
connected 
L  is  possible 
bt'.sini  J"  to 
iri/.  sa) ,  Widi 
iny  yearling 
ith  a  capital 
e  he  should 
vc  under  the 
Culture  Act, 
he  makes  a 
prings  for  a 
considerable 
cows  from 
jt,  Ayrshires 
ley  and  pej:- 

IS  dairy  cowb 
res  become 
one  or  two 
1  well-made 
ighout  these 

1  in  this  mod- 
be  'Will  wish 
I  worth  of 
ft,  and  withtA 


DAIRY  Al^D  STOCK FARMltfC  COMBINED,  '.0g 

that  time  he  can  buy  all  the  land  he  needs  to  pasture,  and,  hav- 
ing it  under  fence,  he  need  employ  no  herders,  and  with  his 
other  farming  can  raise  good  crops  of  grain  and  increase  his 
production  every  year. 

Except  as  v/e  have  indicated  in  previous  pages,  however,  there 
is  very  little  opportunity  for  a  man  with  little  or  no  capital  to 
engage  in  stock- farming  with  any  reasonable  prospect  of  profit. 
If  he  is  an  expert  in  the  management  of  cattle  he  may  obtain  a 
situation  as  manager  on  one  of  the  joint-stock  ranches,  and, 
under  a  plan  recently  tried  in  Montana,  he  will  eventually  be- 
come vrealthy.  This  plan,  as  described  by  Mr.  Zimri  L.  White, 
is  as  follows :  one  or  several  capitalists  purchase  a  herd  of  cattle 
of  as  good  quality  as  possible  and  put  them  in  charge  of  a  man- 
ager in  whom  they  have  confidence ;  he  finds  a  suitable  range 
and  undertakes  the  payment  of  all  the  expenses  of  corrals,  cabins, 
wages  of  herders,  the  hay  provision,  etc.  (the  range  is  free,  being 
on  unsurveyed  lands),  llie  capitalists  retain  their  title  in  the 
original  herd,  but  the  manager  makes  sales  from  the  increase  of 
the  stock,  and  if  he  chooses  may  buy  from  the  proceeds  yearling 
or  two-year  old  steers  to  fat  and  sell  at  the  end  of  one  or  two 
years.  When  he  has  paid  back  to  the  investors  the  sum  they 
originally  put  in,  he  becomes  the  owner  of  one-third  of  the  herd 
and  of  the  business,  and  receives  thereafter  one-third  of  the  net 
profits  after  paying  the  expenses.  In  ten  years'  time  a  man 
whose  abilities  and  integrity  qualify  him  for  the  position  can 
become  wealthy. 


/ 


<]*vjii^'. 


"i* ;         1       ■       ; 

.;■•          •'.^     JiOljt'm 

fij;  b/r 

■  ■••^'■^-^  .•'^^.r!Ji3 

li'iflfl^  . 

.'.fn  1*» 

•iTs^m ' ?' 

ii^Y 

:>|iy  ltm;.rii^-'<n  <-.  u\\ 

•5 


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'-  imeiiim^sitmsxm^^mmmmeiiiiif--:. 


40i 


•S>ki 


OUJt   It^ESTBRN  EMrritB.    t^VHt* 


Ui  iMfH',>«  nw  l;i» ;  nii,»i^  CHAPTER   IX,  .ra  nij)  -^.'limifli^  nib^Uo 

Shekp-farminc  and  WooL-r.RowiNG — Thr  Best  Rrcions  and  the  Best 
•:«       Breeds— The  Most  Direct  Routes  TtnTHSR — The  Methods  or  Sheep- 
PARMiNO  IN  OUR  Western  Empire — Capital  Required  in  Dipferint  Sec- 
tions—The Shepherds — Antagonism  of  the  Herders  and  Shepherds— 
t  ,        Improving  the  Breeds — Wintering  the  Sheep— Water  in  Abundance  a 
Necessity — Destruction  o*  the  Herds  from  Thirst — Snowing  Under — 
f        Fatal  Effects  of  a  Sevepk  Norther — The  Shepherd's  Life  more  Isolated 

AND  with  less  EXCITEMENT  THAN  THAT  OF  THE   HERDER  OR   COW-DOV — ITS 

Risks  and  Dangers — How  to  Buy  and  Stock  a  Shebp-ranchb — ^Th  e  Amount 
OF  Capital  Necessary — ^The  Cost  and  the  Profits — The  Enemies  op  the 

,^^T-H0W  A,?P9R  >IaI^  (^  9ECQME  A  SWiiR-MASTBB.    ,,     , 

The  increasirig  attention  which  has  IJeen  given  within  Uie  past 
ten  or  twenty  years  to  sheep-farming  in  Great  Britain,  as  well  as 
on  the  continent,  and  the  fact  that  in  the  Australian  colonies,  the 
South  African  colonies,  and  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  it  is  one 
of  the  chief  branches  of  agricultural  industry,  will  almost  neces> 
sarily  inspire  in  the  ttiinds  of  emigrants  from  Great  Britain  or 
the  continent  of  Europe  the  desire  to  engage  in  it  here.  In 
Europe  sheep- farming,  except  on  a  very  small  scale,  cannot  be 
conducted  by  any  but  wealthy  proprietors.  The  land,  especially 
in  the  United  Kingdom,  is  in  few  hands,  and  is  so  valuable  that 
a  sufficiency  of  it  for  a  large  sheep-farm  is  beyond  the  means  of 
the  small  farmer.  Sheep-pastures,  which  rent  at  from  ^'8  to  ||(2 5 
per  acre,  are  certainly  beyond  the  reach  of  men  of  small  means, 
especially  if  they  reckon  as  they  do  in  Colorado,  in  their  lavish 
way,  that  they  need  to  have  a  range  of  five  acres  to  a  sheep,  in 
\  order  to  change  their  flocks  from  one  pasture  to  another. 

The  large  and  constantly  increasing  importation  of  sheep  and 
mutton  for  food  purposes  into  Great  Britain  from  Australia, 
Canada,  South  Africa,  and  the  United  States,  reduces  the  price, 
of  mutton  there  so  low  that  the  farmers  cannot  raise  sheep  for 
their  flesh,  and  the  vast  increase  in  the  production  of  wool,  and 
the  marked  appreciation  in  its  quality  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  as  well  as  in  other  countries,  ke^ps  down  the  price  of 
that  staple. 


r^fmt^mmfm^l^timmtms^ 


'jjTTWitrfc-  TriB»M^iai>i|iiiji^p||i»|^^aiiBMWii 


! 

AND  THi  Best 
rHODs  or  Sheep- 
r  DiFrBRiNT  Sec- 
ond Shepherds — 

in  a  dun  dance  a 
>«owiN(i  Under — 
FE  MORE  Isolated 
t>R  Cow-Bov— Its 
HE— The  Amount 
E  Enemies  of  THE 

i     .  f     .  ■  ■  ..•'■'•      '  ■  ■ 

within  the  past 
tain,  as  well  as 
in  colonies,  the 
nada,  it  is  one 
I  almost  neces- 
reat  Britain  or 
in  U  here.    In 
cale,  cannot  be 
land,  especially 
0  valuable  that 
cl  the  jTieans  of 
froni  ;^8  to  $25 
)f  small  means, 
,  in  their  lavish 
s  to  a  sheep,  in 
mother, 
n  of  sheep  and 
rem  Australia, 
hices  the  price, 
raise  sheep  for 
jn  of  wool,  and 
lited  States  and 
n  the  price  of 


rl] 

iii 


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m^. 


m:f} 


mtMimmxmmuimtmm 


•i\i'f-ja!«.s^nu;.\-:.,~M"i^MJiJi}^im';^i.if,.-,ii^-,-- 


01MM''' 


_a^rjaftltm»lll!llJ-!-'ll-iH*g*iMW8'4-tCT*B#^ 


A 


m' 


«"  >^  1     >. 


II 


iiiil 


aaiin 


iiiilii'V  -r  mil 


II 


CAtlTAI.  NEKDF.D  FOR  SHF.RP  FAKMIf/G, 


^m% 


Let  us  then  consider  whether  the  immigrant  coming  to  the 
West  from  any  part  of  Europe,  or  from  our  own  Atlantic  States, 
with  a  small  capital  can  enter  upon  sh^ep-farming  with  any  fair 
prospect  of  success  ;  and  if  so,  in  what  region  it  will  be  best  for 
him  to  locate,  and  what  breeds  of  sheep  he  will  find  it  most 
profitable  to  rear. 

Let  us  say,  at  the  commencement  of  this  discussion,  that  to . 
the  man  who  has  not  at  least  %2,ooo  at  his  command,  profitable 
sheep-farming,  except  as  an  employ^  of  others,  is  well-nigh  impos- 
sible ;  and  even  with  that  much  capital,  it  is  only  practicable  in  a 
very  few  of  the  States  or  Territories,  and  with  a  much  smaller  flock 
than  would  suit  the  ambition  of  most  of  our  sheep-masters.  For  ^ 
starting  on  a  small  scale,  Kansas,  Texas,  and  Colorado  have  some 
great  advantages  and  some  disadvantages.  Perhaps  Kansas  is, 
on  the  whole,  the  best  for  these  small  sheep- farms.  Texas  has 
cheaper  land  and  more  free  range,  but  Kansas  has  enough  for 
all  present  necessities.  The  Texas  sheep  are  yet  so  largely  of 
the  Mexican  breeds,  that  they  yield  but  three  or  four  pounds  of 
wool  at  a  shearing;  the  Kansas  sheep  have  been  improved  till  they 
will  average  over  five  pounds,  perhaps  nearly  six,  and  their  wool 
commands  a  somewhat  better  price  in  the  market.  The  Texas 
sheep  are  subject  to  the  scab,  which  gives  them  great  torture, 
and  sometimes  kills  them ;  they  suffer  somewhat  also  from  foot- 
rot,  though  nor  nearly  as  much  as  some  years  ago.  In  Kansas 
there  is  no  foot-rot,  and  very  litde  of  the  scab.   \^j^r^\y^^^  sU?  jt 

But,  perhaps,  the  best  testimony  we  can  have  from  either 
State  is  that  furnished  by  the  simple  testimony  of  practical  wool- 
growers,  who  give  their  account  of  their  success  without  any 
motive  to  make  out  a  case  worse  or  better  than  the  facts  will 
warrant.  These  statements  will  be  far  more  satisfactory  to  the 
intending  immigrant  who  desires  to  become  a  sheep-master,  than 
any  theoretical  estimates  which  can  be  figured  out,  becausife  they 
are  what  has  been  accomplished  by  men  of  average  skill  as  wool- 
growers,  and  men  perhaps  no  more  skillful  than  those  who  desire 
to  engage  in  the  business.  In  Texas,  with  its  vast  flocks  of  sheep 
(about  7,000,000  the  present  year),  the  sheep-masters  do  not 
encourage  small  sheep-farms,  because  they  are  apt  to  be  in  the 


iiiiiiiiiiib^ 


/ 


i 


,-^'>vV^,*^'  OUH    WESTERN  EMPfKE.        *>*'*> 

way  of  their  great  free^rangcs,  and,  as  they  allege,  on  account  of 
the  greater  profit  and  advantage  of  handling  them  in  large  flocks ; 
but  it  is  well  to  note  what  these  sheep-masters  say  of  the  busi- 
ness. Col.  John  James,  a  sheep-master  for  thirty  years,  and 
occupying  an  extensive  tract  west  of  San  Antonio,  writes  that 
that  region  known  as  Western  Texas  is  well  adapted  lor  Merino 
sheep.  "We  have  not  tried  fairly,"  he  says,  "to  raise  the  finer 
and  heavier  mutton  sheep.  We  know  they  do  not  herd  well,  or 
as  well  as  the  Merinos,  and  a  great  deal  of  expense  is  saved  by 
being  able  to  run  them  in  large  Rocks.  The  finer- wooled  sheep 
pay  the  best.  We  know  no  other  disease  among  them  except 
the  scab,*  which  is  not  hard  to  cure,  nor  is  the  expense  heavy  to 
do  so.  We  think  that  the  scab  will  not  originate  in  that  country 
if  the  sheep  are  properly  cared  for  and  kept  out  of  dirty  pens. 
We  have  now  an  excellent  scab  law,  and  that  disease  will  be 
so  generally  controlled  that  we  will  not  hear  much  of  it  from 
this  time  forward.  We  run  our  sheep  in  flocks  of  from  1,000  to 
1,500,  generally  as  high  as  the  last  named  figure,  and  we  use 
Mexicans  for  shepherds,  and  pay  them  f  12  a  month,  and  rations 
which  cost  about  $6  a  month  more.  The  cost  of  living  on  a 
ranche  may  be  rated  somewhat  as  to  the  taste  and  habits  of  each 
ranchero.  If  persons  can  economize  labor,  tiie  outlay  for  food 
is  not  a  serious  item.  Meat  is  abundant  and  cheap,  and  is  gen- 
erally produced  on  the  ranche.  The  people  live  generally  upon 
fresh  meat — cattle,  hogs,  mutton,  chickens,  and  game.  CoflTee, 
sugar,  and  flour  cost  higher  than  where  there  are  railroads. 
Com  is  either  raised  on  the  ranche,  or  purchased  at  about  $\  per 
bushel,  and  there  are  mills  within  reach  to  grind  it 

"Sheep  and  cattle  men  care  very  little  fbr  farming,  their  atten- 
tion th  the  spring  of  the  year  'jeing  devoted  to  their  stock,  which 
then  requires  more  attention  than  at  other  times. 

"  We  do  not  pen  our  flo<iks  at  night ;  our  shepherds  afleepotrt 
on  the  ridges  at  night  with  the  sheep-Mhe  flocks,  at  night,  being 
near  to  each  other  for  mutual  protection ;  nor  do  we  put  up  any 
feed  for  winter  use.    The  grasses  and  other  food  they  get,  upon 


.*Perha|»  not  in  that  vicinity,  luit  in  th«  lower  luidt  of  Tezu  the  faat-nt  hu 
prCvdTeni  among  the  aheep.     At  the  land*  are  drained  thia  diaeaae  diaappean. 


fawfiiUy 


-..imj^M^iimMti^imsmiMmiim 


COLQNM.   y. 4 Mis'   BXPERIKSCR, 


ifi% 


account  of 
irge  flocks ; 
>f  the  busi- 
years,  and 
writes  that 
1  lor  Merino 
Ise  the  finer 
»erd  well,  or 
is  saved  by 
ooled  sheep 
ihem  except 
ISC  heavy  to 
that  country 
f  dirty  pens, 
ease  will  be 
h  of  it  from 
rom  I  ,o©o  to 

and  we  use 
»,  and  rations 
r  living  on  a 
mbits  of  each 
itlay  for  food 
I,  and  is  gcn- 
jnerally  upon 
ime.  Coffee, 
ire  railroads. 

about  $1  per 

gr,  their  atten- 
stock,  which 

rds^leepotrt 
t  night,  being 
ire  put  up  any 
hey  get,  tipon 

hu  bMB  fMtfiiUy 


an  average,  are  as  good  in  January  as  in  June.  Nor  do  we  have 
any  shelter  for  th«m  during  stormy  weather,  except  what  we  fin4 
in  the  ranges  in  the  way  of  thicketa  and  undergrowth — (he  objjcQt 
then  being  to  break  off  the  force  of  the  wind.,H  j«  >t/^- '!  .r{|  " 

"Our  grasses,  we  thinkt  are  as  nutritious  and  valuable  a»  the 
best  cultivated  grasses.  But  the  grasses  are  not  all  that  sheep 
require.  Herbs,  shrubs,  nopals  and  saline  grasses  and  plants, 
contribute  more  to  fatten  these  animals  than  the  grasses.  These 
last  named  are  peculiar  to  that  country,  and  which  we  Americans 
know  the  names  of,  in  some  instances,  by  the  designation  given 
to  them  by  Mexicans  in  their  own  language,  but  not  otherwise. 

"The  climate  in  the  sheep  country  referred  to  is  generally 
warm,  but  very  healthful — being  tempered  by  the  breezes  fron| 
the  Gulf  in  summer,  while  our  coldest  weather  comes  as  northers 
-—sometimes  wet,  but  oftener  dry.  For  a  considerable  part  ofi 
the  year  the  atmosphere  has  but  little  moisture  in  it,  and  this  ii 
one  of  the  reasons  why  it  is  so  good  a  sheep  country.  Often  ii^ 
the  best  ranges  the  sheep  have  to  be  driven  two  or  four  miles  tQ 
water ;  and  this  is  another  reason  why  the  sheep  thrive  so  well, 
(or  sheep  do  not  require  much  water.  In  the  hottt  t  weatheri 
water  once  a  day  is  plenty  for  them,  and  they  do  bettc .  so  tbai> 
when  water  is  abundant  in  their  ranges,  for  they  will  drink  it 
when  it  is  better  that  they  should  not,  h  if  trite. Hhf^  i^  drM 
climati^-  is  the  best  for  sheep.  v<<  t  <.  s  W " 

'*  It  |s  doing  well  to  raise  8oo  lambs  a  year  old  from  I;,oqq  ewifs« 
Probably  900  will  be  born,  and  generally  nearly  all  raised*  Thq 
Merino  sheep  seldom  bcingji  qmr^  thani  one  lamb.  3hea«Fing  't« 
done  in  May.  A  good  hand  at  that  work  will  shear  and  tie  u^ 
fifty  fleeces  in  a  c^.  If  the  labor  is  employed  00*  tjbo  mnche, 
tl^e  cosj^,pf<  slveafjng.  tying  up  the  wool  aod  sacking  it,.iA  /ive 
cents  a  Qeeqe;  We  do  not  wash  pur  sheep,  and  we  sell  pur  wool, 
a^SanA^^^o. 

'^ The  fleeces  taken  from  the  fine  Merinos  are  the  heaviest,  the 
li^le^ican  sHi;^p,  fyrnish  the  lightest  Aeece.  My  flock  this  year 
averaged  four  pounds  only.*     Our  wethers  are  M>td  as   fosf 

—  -y    '     ■■-  ■     '  ■'  '* 9     wm  ■      I. .  nil  ■  ■—  i-ii    ^       ■  111  ■  Ml  II  II  *^^M  p  f    II  1 1^ 

*TM«  Mhovnf  of  fl«ece,  or  weight  of  mutton,  woal4  liar4ly  utiifj  t]^  man  ^pMr|i^Uiii|^ 


i(i 


vaiiAmi>w»"" 


i  I 


OUH    WKSTiKN   MM t tit  a. 


\\  t 


■•  they  mature,  nay  in  the  winter  preceding  the  clip ;  therefore 
they  are  four  years  uld.  Such  was  the  case  the  present  year, 
and  these  animals  produced  the  most  wool. 

"  The  heaviest  Mcece  we  sheared  from  a  ram,  raised  at  home, 
g;ave  over  seventeen  pounds.  Good  withers  give  from  six  to 
tan  pounds  for  the  year's  growth.       '^ 

"Sheep  kept  in  smaller  flocks  give  more  wool  than  when 
kept  in  large  flocks,  but  not  enough  to  compensate  for  the  extra 
expense. 

"There  are  plenty  of  four-year-old  mutton  sheep  upon  the 
ranches  now,  in  Uvalde  and  Frio  counties,  which  will  net  sixty 
pounds,  and  will  yield  twenty  pounds  of  tallow,  and  this  is  a 
good  weight  for  Merino  sheep  to  reach. 

"When  a  wool-grower  has  sheep  enough  to  supply  a  flock 
master,  say  five  thousand  head  or  more,  fifty  cents  a  year  will 
keep  and  care  for  each  sheep,  including  taxes  and  other  ex- 
penditures, and  will  also  enable  a  man  to  procure  and  {>ay  mor^ 
reliable  ln.bor  than  we  have  now. 

•*'*'The  business  suits  single  men  better  at  the  present  time, 
but  upon  the  general  occupation  of  the  country,  that  diffic(ilty 
will  be  less  felt.  ''''- 

"Lands  for  sheep  have  be^n  purchased  generally  during  the 
past  year  at  about  fifty  cents  per  acre,  but  values  are  increasing. 

"  Wool-growers  may  begin  upon  a  small  tract  of  land,  but  the 
time  is  at  hand  when  they  will  be  required  to  own  or  rent  the 
knd  they  graze  upon.     All  prudent  wool-growers  buy  lands 

adjoining  to  them  as  fast  as  their  means  will  permit  them  to 

^  g0^  m5  I....'  r\\-'>i,  ^.,iv.  y:.  ■  .{...In  ;i    ■ 

**  It  is  true  that  itus'buslness  will  be  an  important  one  Iri*  diis 
country.  I  think  it  will  be  second  only  to  the  great  cotton  inter- 
ests of  Texas,  but  it  will  take  time  to  get  the  breeding  stock  to 
occupy  the  country.  Sheep  for  breeding  purposes  c&n  be  got 
from  Mexico,  but  they  are  very  indifferent  in  quality  and  size,^ 
and  wool  very  coarse ;  otherwise  thev  have  to  come  from  the 
Western  States: 

"  By  selling  our  mutton  in  January  or  February,  when  animals 
(br  fibiod  are  ofteh  on  the  decline  in  more  northern  counties,  $uid 


■■•i.-«ss»-,--*ssi»**.'<^'  A^,»«U^M*..--^j^>^"»w<^*»r':k-i*>>*ttf/- 


h^'-ttaii''idif''^t,  .  *>'»,V™,i.j:*B%b-a*---V'.'-Vw-'Ji!Jl;- 


THR   KANSAS  ^Ol.fCY  IN  SMRHf^l'AliMINO, 


407 


;  therefore 
cient  year, 

il  at  home, 
irom  six  to 

than  when 
[>r  the  extra 

p  upon  the 
ill  net  sixty 
nd  thift  is  a 

pply  a  flock 
\  a  year  will 
id  other  ex- 
td  (>ay  more 

iresent  time, 
lut  difficulty 

y  during^  the 
e  increasing, 
land,  but  the 
or  rent  the 
s  buy  lands 
mit  them  to 

one  in  this 
cotton  inter- 
ing  stock  to 
I  can  be  got 
ity  and  size, 
me  from  the 

vhen  animals 
aunties,  and 


generally  no  in  other  parts  of  Texas,  we  are  enabled  to  girt  fair 
prices,  which  conipen!iate!«  us  for  the  distance  we  ar**  frotti  our 
market ;  (his  we  will  call  the  first  crop.  The  second  crop  is  the 
wool  which  romes  into  market  aF  nut  the  first  of  May,  and  I 
regarH  each  crop  as  more  certain  than  by  cultivating  the  soil." 

The  policy  of  the  Kansas  people  is,  on  the  contrary,  to  encour- 
age sheep-farming  on  a  small  scale,  and  generally  in  connection 
with  the  culture  of  crops  of  grain,  roots,  etc.  There  arc  very 
few  of  the  larger  class  of  sheep- ranches  in  Kansas,  no  county 
In  the  State  reporting  18,000  sheep  in  1879,  yet  the  aggregate 
of  the  State  was  about  51  a,ooo  that  year  ;  and  is  rapidly  increat* 
ing.  The  experience  of  these  small  sheep-farmers,  most  of  them 
cultivating  the  soil  also,  and  as  their  several  reports  show,  man- 
aging their  little  flocks  carefully  and  pnidently,  cannot  fail  to  be 
interesting  and  instructive  to  those  who  wish  to  follow  their 
example.  We  have  selected  from  a  mass  of  about  150  returns 
to  the  inquiries  of  the  late  excellent  Secretary  of  the  Kansas 
State  Board  of  Agriculture,  contained  in  his  Quarterly  Report 
for  December  31st,  1879  (really  published  in  February.  1880), 
six  reports,  one  from  the  extreme  east  of  the  State,  one  flVjm  the 
West,  where  the  sheep  range  is  the  still  unbroken  prairie  with 
its  tufts  of  buffalo  grass,  one  from  the  Northern  Central,  and  one 
from  the  Southern  Central  or  Arkansas  Valley  part  of  the  State, 
and  two  from  the  central  belt  of  counties.  Each  one  tells  his 
own  story  frankly  and  honestly,  and  none  of  them  seem  to  have 
invested  more  than  from  %\sxx>  to  $3,000  in  their  enterprise  at 
first,  yet  their  success  has  been  very  fair  for  the  capital  invested, 
and  is  ilkely  to  be  still  better  in  the  future,  as  the  cultivated,  or 
as  they  call  them,  "tame"  grasses,  take  the  place  of  the  wild 
ones. 

T.  Mcintosh,  Oskaioosa,  Jefferson  County. — "  Have  raised  sheep 
here  nine  years ;  had  some  experience  in  Iowa.  Own  aoo  head 
now.  Original  stock  obtained  in  this  State.  Long-wooled 
breeds,  such  as  Cotswolds  and  Lekesters,  are  best  for  both  wool 
and  mutton.  My  ewes  average  about  a  lamb  a  piece.  Average 
weight  of  fleece  from  my  ^eep  is  a  trifle  less  than  seven  pounds. 
Sell  mutton  at  home  for  three  cents.    Sold  wool  in  1879  for 


'-'tf^(et;ji^d44i««4K.4«»;a«'  ■'■^iK^- ' 


mmmmmi»thKm9mMl0aim 


h^ 


twtnty  two  cenU.  Long,  fine  wool  most  pro(iubl«.  W«thert 
may  be  kept  until  three  or  (bur  ycart  old;  ewe*  until  teveo. 
LxMe  from  two  to  three  per  cent,  of  my  flock  annually  by  natural 
causes ;  dogx  kill  about  two  per  cent. ;  wolves  this  year  got  threa 
per  cent.  My  sheep  run  on  prairie  in  summer ;  kept  in  a  dog* 
proof  corral  at  night.  Turn  them  on  tamr  [>a«turc  towards  fall, 
and  when  this  begins  to  fail  commence  feeding  prairie  hay,  millet 
or  clover,  increasing  the  hay  until  they  have  all  they  Mrill  eat. 
As  cold  weather  comes  on,  feed  a  little  corn,  gradually  increa^ 
ing  quantity  until  they  get  an  ear  apiece  each  day ;  give  corn 
morning  and  night,  and  all  tlie  hay  they  will  eat  clean ;  aalt  twic4 
a  week  in  summer,  and  once  in  winter.  Last  year  I  had  148 
sheep,  wurth  (333— -aold  wool  for  I303.38:  mutton.  $31,500* 
133478:  and  have  now  x>8  head,  worth  $600.  Dogs  and 
wolves  are  great  drawbacks  here  to  succesa  in  raising  sheep." 

A.  7.  Uki,  DaHgiau,  Buiitr  Cotmty  •»'*  Have  been  for  thinteen 
years  raising  sheep  in  Kansas;  previously  had  experience  in 
Illinois  and  Texas.  Find  Kansas  has  much  drier  clim^'e,  not  so 
much  mud ;  sheep-lots  and  corrals  can  be  kept  in  \  better 
condition  ;  no  fear  of  foot  rot,  unless  shipped  in  witl.  ..k  from 
abroad;  much  larger  percentage  of  lambs  cun  be  raised  on 
account  of  dry  weather  at  dropping  time,  which,  with  me,  is  in 
Match  aad  April.  In  Texas,  grasa  dried  too  soon,  and  winter 
feed  cost  too  fOAJoh.  My  flock  came  originally  from  Michigan': 
have  OMToed  same  stock  for  eighteen  years ;  in  that  time  had 
rama  from  Vermont,  Illinois,  and  Missouri.  All  seemed  to  do 
well*  fcoBx  whatever  section  they  came,  with  proper  care.  Many 
bfiinig  sJMrap  to  Kansas  latei  ia  bll,  thin  in  flesh,  half  feed  them, 
theo  attribute  faiXv^m  to  *eciimati0n.  I  think  good  feed  and 
proper  care  all  the  acclimation  needed  in  Kansas.  Have  at 
present  478  in  my  flock ;  1,000  roi^  be  successfully  kept  in  one 
flock.  I  Qooaider  Cotswold  ewea,  bred  to  Merino  rama,  best 
cross  for  wool ;  for  mutton,  Southdowils  preferable.  My  expe< 
rience  is,  however,  that  mutton  ak>ne  will  not  pay :  for  both  wool 
aad  mutton,  ci^oss  from  Cotswolds  and  Marinoiv  best,  l  raise 
eighty-five  per  cent  of  all  lambs  dropped.  My  avesage  weight 
^.  fleecei  in>  1 8}i9«^84veRteeQ  and  a  qMarler  pounds.    ScU;  my  mui- 


mmk 


ttemm 


»sitoiJv.-"/ii4Awi&- 


^   MAM%AS  FAatfMM'M  PLOCK, 


40» 


Withers 
itil  tcveo. 
by  natural 
'  l{ot  thre« 

io  a  (log* 
warUf  fall, 
hay,  millet 
•y  will  eat. 
Ily  increai» 

give  corn 
;  lalt  twica 
1  had  148 

DogA  an4 

J  •!!€«?." 

for  thimeen 
p«rience  in 
n''»c,  not  aa 
\  better 
.  .*  from 
•  raised  OH 
h  me,  is  in 
and  winter 
Michigan^ 
t  time  had 
med  to  do 
larc.    Many 
feed  them, 
feed  and 
Have  Al 
kept  in  one 
rams,  best 
My  expe- 
^t  both' wool 
•t.    Ii  raiac 
fag«  weight 
idlroyntui- 


lon  in  Wichita  at  $3.40  per  100  pounds,  grons.  Price  of  twes» 
culled,  $5 :  wethers.  %^.  My  wool  (or  1H79  brouj^ht  twenty 
cents  per  pound.  Most  profitable  grade  of  wool,  in  my  opinion, 
OfMS  of  Merinos  and  Cutawolds.  Six  years  about  as  lung  aa 
profitable  to  keep  nhccp.  My  loss  from  natural  <-auses  about 
Ave  per  ccni ;  mme  from  disease,  wolves  or  do^s ;  Jiecp  licrdcd 
during  day,  at  night  kept  in  corral.  Fut  nty  sheep  on  prairie  as 
soon  aa  grass  is  high  enough  in  spring,  and  kerp  there  till  fall, 
then  turn  into  corn-field;  when  that  is  eaten,  feed  shock'corn 
remainder  of  winter.  Have  owned  sheep  twenty-one  years; 
they  have  always  been  profitable ;  some  years  have  made  ninety 
per  cent,  and  with  exception  of  one  or  two  years,  never  lesa 
than  fifty  per  cent,  on  the  investment.  Do  not  think  it  bcHt  to 
keep  goats  with  sheep.  Greatest  drawbaik  to  success,  dags. 
They  are  a  great  numancc,  and  should  be  heavily  taxed." 
'''/4.  D,  JhyUm,  Lahm,  Ktamty  County,  in  the  extreme  west  of 
the  State.— " Have  been  in  the  sheep  business  in  Kansas  three 
years.  My  flock  now  nui  >ucr8  %<oo\  t,ooo  may  be  successfully 
kept  in  one  Hock.  Original  stock  of  ewes  came  from  New 
Mexicot  rams  fronv  Kansas;  rama  from  the  East  do  not  do  well 
here  first  season  ;  Missouri  ewea  must  be  acclimated.  Colorado 
half-bred  ewes  bred  to  pure  Merino  bucks  are  most  profitable 
for  both  wool  and  mutton.  Annual  increase  ia  my  flock,  aeventy 
per  cent. ;  Mexican  sheep  are  most  prolific.  Fleeces  from  my 
sheep  average  four  and  a  quarter  pounds.  Kansas  City  is  ous 
market  for  mutton.  Ewea  are  worth  %2  ;  wethers,  $1.75  ici  |a. 
Sold  cFip  of  1879  at  2S|>i  cents.  Sheep  can  be  kept  with  profit 
till  f(9ur  years  old.  My  losses  from  natural  causes,  abi>ut  five 
per  cent,  per  annum ;  have  lost  no  sheep  by  disease  or  dogs ; 
wolves  have  killed  fifteen  head  in  three  years.  During  summer 
my  sheep,  range  the  prairie,  and  are  corraled  at  n^ht ;  in  winter, 
are  on  the  prairie  except  during  storms,  when  they  are  kept 
under  sheds ;  if  the  storm  lasts  more  than  from  six  to  ten  hours, 
they  are  fed  with  hay  r  have  never  had  grain,  and  at  no  time 
have  consumed  ten  pounda  of  hay  per  head  during  winter. 
Original  stock  cost  1^350;  have  sold  wool  and.  mutton  to  the 
amoant  of  ^53o.40t  and  have  on  haod  51s  sheep  wortli  %z  eacK 


lii 


iiwi^'iitinpuBWWiBoawr' 


lliilllltLlW 


vmmmmm- 


iH 


OUR    WBSTE.MN  RMFIRE.      , 

or  $1,024.     Coats  are  advantageous  to  lead  sheep;  there  are 
eight  in  my  flock,  that  lead  the  sheep  out  in  the  morning  and 
back  at  night.    I  see  no  drawback  to  successful  sheep  culture 
here ;  if  sheep  are  sheltered  from  storms,  and  not  allowed  to  get 
chilled,  there  is  no  fear  of  disease."  u- 

y.  L.  GrinntU,  Peabody,  Manon  County. — "  Have  raised  sheep 
here  four  years;  was  ne^'er  in  the  business  elsewhere.     Have 
500  now;  ewes  from  Iowa,  bucks  from  Missouri.     They  do  bet- 
tcr  second  year  than  first.     For  wool,  a  cross  of  Merino  and 
Cotswold  is  most  profitable ;  for  mutton,  Southdown,  or  cross  of 
Southdown  and  Cotswold ;  and  this  last  is  also  preferaUe  for 
both  wool  and  mutton.     Increase  in  my  flock  was  108  lambs 
from  100  ewes.     Cotswolds  are  most  prolific.     Avt.agt.  weight 
of  fleece  from  my  sheep,  six  and  a  quarter  pounds.     Only  local 
market  for  mutton;  price,  $3  per  head.     Delaine  or  combingu 
wool  most  profitable.     Pays  to  keep  wethers  until  four  years  old 
for  wool,  rather  than  to  sell  younger  for  mutton  ;  good  breeding 
ewes  should  be  kept  until    exhausted.      Losses  from  natural 
causes,  about  tliree  per  cent,  per  annum ;  none  by  disease  or 
wolves ;  dogs  killed  this  year  about  ono  and  a  half  per  cent.    My 
fk>ck  is  herded  by  day  and  corraled  at  night  during  summer;  in 
winter^  kept  in  yards  '^vith  good  sheds.;  p€L  fair  days,  allowed  to 
range  in  stalk-fields.  .tiv^ii        .,  .  loT 

Original  cost  of  flock    ,.^iijl<^'»i],  i^y>r,:^^'  i^^^fih^ih^'i^i'J'yfi^ 
Original  cost  of  bucks ii^   ,''H^^munr\^yp  whi^^  ^{XMb 

Lost  ^by  dogs.    ....    .i:,^^ys4itrm-ii^%-;^*Jmm^i^^ 

Lost  by  other  causes  ,  ,. ,iA^.tjj*fr/|^:f.^^v^J^«  $k-^\'^uiti\ib_J^ 
■  iVrtai.   .   .  >  J^ w»i>Hv^M '-^#;<l^-.>  .ij»;iiU?^/'1ti  ji,4yo 

Value  of  wool  sold  .  i;'^  /J^^^'^J  f^^^^'^'.'^T^^'fTl^^l^ 
Vilue  of  mutton  sold  •;•'';' <.'-*1"';  f^  Wi  ^inH  ^y'P  P'^l^^*'  *n 
Present'value  of  $a>ck.'..4>;*inTit-^p,;il<i».i:'.ai«  «-vHi^i-q:,^^^;''-*j!^<:W(>i*.tftk'ii.  1,600 

Total.     ,.  ,.  ,,,..,♦  ..     i**.,  .    V,   J     «     .,.,.  'j^^,    ,    t   »3>»'3 
,■  i.-.-  -• '.  J?  xtif;Wcal:Jfc&fM:'t5»^ii,,sjrt*i  nn  ■»  t>if '  1r  i  fel>f?cia  =t ^ 

Drawbacks  are  want  of  tame  grass  for  fall  pasture,  and  dogs. 

•    Joseph  Hosietter,  ■.  Gias^o,  Qoud'  County ^-^"  Have  been  raising 

sheep  for  six  years  in  Kansas ;    previoufsly  handled  sheep  in 

Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania.    Some  of  the  a4vantages  Kansas 


»ifiim^' 


J/Oky  MR,  HOSTETTER  SUCCEEDED. 


411 


;  there  are 
Drning  and 
eep  culture 
)wed  to  get 

atsed  sheep 
ere.  Have 
'hey  do  bet- 
Merino  and 

or  cross  of 
eferable  for 
\  108  lambs 

agt.  weight 
Only  local 
or  combing- 
>ur  years  old 
jod  breeding 
rrom  natural 
>y  disease  or 
lercent.   My 

summer ;  in 
s,  allowed  ta  . 
■»pT' 

..  .  »».4yo 

ire,  and  dogs. 
>  been  raising 
led  sheep  in 
tages  Kansas 


'M 


■A 


possesses  over  Pennsylvania  are :  less  expense  in  handling, 
cheaper  lecd  and  pasture,  a  drier  and  more  healthy  climate,  and 
shorter  winters.  Have  now  650 ;  obtained  my  rams  in 
Pennsylvania  and  Wisconsin ;  ewes  I  bought  in  Kansas — the 
stock  coming  originally  from  Ohio.  For  wool  I  deem  the 
American  Merino  most  profitable ;  do  not  know  what  breed  or 
cross  would  be  most  profitable  for  mutton  ;  have  always  raised 
for  wool,  mut':cn  being  a  secondary  object ;  for  both  wool  and 
mutton,  should  prefer  a  cross  from  Cotswold  ewes  with  Merino 
rams.  Average  annual  increase  of  my  flock,  about  ninety  per 
cent,  of  number  of  ewes.  Maximum  weight  of  fleece  twenty- 
five  pounds,  minimum  two,  average  eight  pounds  ten  ounces. 
Kansas  City  is  6nr  market  for  mutton.  Price  of  ewes  ranges 
from  %2.<p  to  ;f^4 ;  wethers,  $2  to  $2.50.  My  clip  of  1879  sold  for 
twenty-two  and  a  quarter  cents  per  pound.  Most  profitable 
grade  of  wool,  long  Merino.  Keep  my  wethers  for  woe',  till  they 
are  four  years  old ;  good  ewes  may  be  kept  profitably  till  they 
die.  Losses  in  my  flock  from  natural  causes  are  about  one  per 
cent  annually,  and  some  from  all  other  causes.  My  sheep 
are  herded  through  the  summer ;  during  middle  of  hot  days,  keep 
them  in  the  shade ;  allow  plenty  of  water  and  salt,  and  corral  at 
ni£^ht.  Durihg  winter  feed  all  the  prairie  hay  they  will  eat,  and 
Ik  bushel  of  corn  to  each  looihead.perday ;  also  range  them  on 
the  stalk  fields  and  on  prairie,  in  good  weather ;  have  good 
ivarm  sheds  in  the  corral,  which  are  always  open  to  them;  never 
shut  them  up  except  during  bad  storms  and  at  lamhing-time. 
Sheep  eat  about  one  and  a  half  tons  of  hay  per  100  head 
eaich  month.  Cost  and  profit  of  my  flock  last  season  was  as 
Jbllows:    •        ■>'■••;■'■■?'    ■;-^"--.'r-'^:-  ^. '-'   ■;:''••;''•'■_•  •,..v:/^.".,-*";-' 

400  head,  at  <i,  (100  ewes)  .  ^.  *^».»  t,  ^^  ♦  •  »»•£••  >»»47d  00 
Interest !  year,  at  10  per  cent:  .  '.  V  .  .  .  •  \»  •  •  .•  •  «47  00 
Herding  7  months,  at  #5  .  .  .'^iUlv-^^V^'^l'^W^'X'  ■  3500 
700  bushels  corn,  »t  15  cenu       .!  ;»C>i;g,l4V!^'^^>*2i¥b:ifli   .rf.Ki(„i    10500 

35  tones  hay,  at  fs  •  .  .^aaawa»beKj  imi*  ,•;•->;  w-"^  '^  -  7000 
Shearing,  5  cents  per, f»c^^^_,.|  ^,,j^^  \t\.ch^j:X->i^.  ih  ^;d.:^i^fd>  *S  00 
Lobs,  s  head,. at  |3       .   ••  .*■   *^  »,    »    »    •  .  •■  •,.*••••  15  00 

?:i;i       ; ^T«tal.. i., ..m..  ^.  qiii^._4(j4d^cj>;^  ia^^ila*^«:j^.aiiid^,»i.  •  t^fi^l  OQ 


I  rl 


.■1 


■-diimtiMiMMmiitt 


413 


« 


OUR    WESTSUl^  SMPiM.      v.V 


Spring  of  1879,  650  .<ead  at  |3 |i>9So  00 

Wbol.  4,.9i  lbs.,  at  »>^  cent,  ^^^'^^^^  'I  A^n;^!,^!,,^  R,,  ;.  _93»_5d 

Tot«li  1.   b^JUfiixk*    >P50  •  m   .    ..    .1.    .  ..i«:j««if  |»,88a  50 

P'ofi»  •;.f  u*>»Mt*  ><«^Jix)  1»><iW9   J'r.mrK^i/ir^f  brut  'tfiit  »''0'S  3o 

"  Being  too  poor  to,  buy  she«|^  is  the  only  drawback  I  know  of 
to  successful  sheep  husbandry  in  Kansasi.  From  my  experience, 
I  find  that  where  a  farmer  takes  g^ood  care  of  his  sheep,  it  always 
prove;9  a  success,  and.  \  think  it  ia  to-day  the  bes^  paying  busine^A 
in.  th«  country."  .t 

H,  MeUhieSy  ffaiskadu,  Harvey  County.-^"  Havie  had  five  ye^iTs! 
experience  in  sheep-culture  here,  and  some  years  in  Centi^l 
Iowa.  Points  in  fav^r  of  Kansas  for  sheep-raising  are,  mild,,  di:} 
<;Umate«  less  cold  rains  in  lamhing-time,  great  variety  of  rich 
gl»»s,  longer  time  for  grazing,  and  less  feed  reqqired.  My  fjoc)^ 
numbers  750;,  original  stock  camie  from  Illinois  and  Missouri  | 
prefer  Kansas  sheep.  Merinos  are  most  profitable  for  wool; 
for  mutton»  Cotswolds  crossed  with  Southdown;  for  both  woql 
and  mutton,  Merino  ewes  crossed  with  Cotswiold  bucks.  FIee(;es 
from  my  Bock  average  five  pounds.  £we&  are  worth  $2.5p  t9 
I13.  3old  wool  of  13^79  for  tjwenity-fiye;  cpnts.  IVIost  prpfitf^bli^ 
ivool  is.  from  Ipng-wooled  Merinos.  Should  never  ^l  wethers 
before  maturity..  Sh^p  may  be  profitably  kept  till  five  or  >ix 
years  o^.  No  ^)ai^s  from  othi^r  tjb^i>  natural  ca,<^ses,  aboi^^ 
three  per  ceo<t.  anouaUy.  My  fluKk  '^  h«l^4t  ^imI  ^P^i^M.^^ 
night.  Duriog,  sunuaer  ar.e«  keipt.  pn  p^en  pr^tirie :  watere^d  pr^f^^ 
ik,d|y.  Jtlav^.  s^Jt  i»  a  twugjvii)^^  qprjal^^H  times^  Hayi?!;^ 
gpod  fh(?d,  opei^  to  souX^.  jftjVW'W;  ^^>*lipH*)fiv«;l»'*^eU 9^ 
corn  a  day ;  sometimes  feed  straw,  but  usually  hay,  givinig,;^ 
they  will  eat ;  in  nice  weather,  often  turn  them  on  the  prairie. 

"The'  flock  has  cost  about  $1,068;  ex^enises,  if^^^!  toi:^'^ 
$^1,370 ;  receipts  to  date,  $2,3 15  ;  present  value,  of,  AqcJ|cV  |2i9$i; 
total)  $4,400.  Deduct  cost^  $1,370;  net  incomie,  $3,030;  Wanf 
e>f  shade  in  summer,  and  carelessness  on  the  part  of  owners, 
are  the  drawbacks  to  successful  sheep  husbandry.. 

'*A  practice  prevails  in  some  parts  of  the  StSii^e  by  wHIdlPa 
farmer'  who  has  a  flock  of  sheep,  but  who  prefers^  toigive  his 


PENT/NG  OUT  SIIEEt. 


413 


11,950  00 
|3,88a  50 

knovw  of 
;perience» 
ir  always 
r  businew    • 

ive  yevs!  ,  j 

mild,,  dry 

ty  of  «ch 

My  fitKH 
Missouri^ 

for  wool; 
both  woql 
i.   Flewe^ 

:  pr<?fitfibl^ 
^l  wethers 
6veor  pix 
ses,  aboH^ 
torral^4  ^^ 

.    HayP!^ 

the  prairie. 
362;  tbk^t 

30^    Wani 

af  owners 

"J 

t)y  which  i 
toigive  his 


attention  to  the  cuhivation  of  the  soil,  rents  his  flock  to  another 
sheep-master,  who  manages  it  as  skilfully  as  he  knows  how, 
selling  off  the  older  and  lower  grade  ewes  and  wethers,  and 
makes  up  their  number  from  the  increase  of  the  flock,  shears 
and  sells  the  wool  and  gives  to  the  owner  of  the  flock  one-half 
of  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  and  wool,  and  one-half  of  the  lambs 
after  the  losses  and  sales  are  made  good.  By  this  plan  it  is  said 
that  the  owner  of  the  flock  realizes  about  thirty  per  cent,  on  his 
investment."  le  «..Jr>^  •:iv;t-tnirir  vt  it?«>f'Vl 

•:^i  But  it  is  true,  as  Colonel  James  says,  that  the  proportional 
profit  from  large  flocks  is  greater  tlian  from  small  ones,  and 
this  profit  increases  in  almost  a  geometrical  ratio,  when  the  flock 
reaches  its  tens  of  thousands.  In  illustration  of  this  we  give 
statements  thoroughly  verified  of  two  sheep-tanches  or  farms  of 
more  than  2,000  sheep,  llhe  first  that  of  Mr.  G.  H.  Wadsworth, 
of  Pawnee  county,  in  Southwest  Kansas,  south  of  the  Arkansas 
river,  as  furnished  by  him  with  illustrations  of  buildings,  corrals, 
etc.,  to  the  Kansas  State  Board  of  Agriculture;  and  the  other  a 
sheep-farm  in  Colorado,  started  in  1875  by  a  Mr.  G.,  formerly 
of  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  as  reported  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Coleman  in  the 
Christian  Umioh,  of  May  19,  1880. 

"In  March,  1876,  Mr.  G.  H.  Wadsworth  took  up  under  the 
Homestead  and  Timber-Culture  Acts  320  acres  of  government 
land,  situated  eleven  miiles  south  of  the  Arkansas  river,  in  Pawnee 
county,  and  the  same  distance  from  Lamed,  the  county-seat 
The  first  improvement  on  the  land  was  the  Iniilding  of  a  stable, 
consisting  of  six  posts  covered  with  straw,  sided  up  with  rough 
lumber,  with  sod  wall  on  the  outside.  This  house  was  used  by 
die  men  breaking  prairie  and  opening  up  the  fanti,  during  die 
summer.  In  August  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Wadsworth  moved 
his  family  to  his  hrtn.  In  October,  he  In-oughtliis  flock,  2,085 
head  m  all,  ihd  turned  on  the  range.  Before  winter  set  in  Mr. 
Wadswx)rth  had  built  two  sheep-sheds,  each  one  hundred  and 
tweftty-eight  feet  long  by  twenty-nine  feet  niride,  one  running 
-e&st  and  west,  comermg  with  the  odier  running  north  and  south, 
ifonning  two  sides  of  a  square  pointing  to  the  northwest  and 
'OfMm  to  the  southeast    A  light  portable  fence  running  around 


% 


;,(?( 
!:,. 


m 


mi 


m^ 


«..«   ,  ^  ■*».-.. 


4>4 


OU/t    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


the  open  sides  of  this  square  completed  the  corral.  A  stable 
was  also  built,  measuring  fourteen  by  thirty-two  feet,  and  con- 
necting with  the  south  end  of  the  shed  running  north  and  south. 
At  the  same  time  a  well  was  dug,  thirty  feet  deep,  and  a  wind- 
mill put  up,  with  a  capacity  for  raising  water  for  10,000  sheep. 
In  1877,  Mr.  Wadsworth  built  his  present  residence  at  a  cost 
of  about  $1,500;  and  in  1879,  a  granary  large  enough  to  hold 
2,500  bushels  of  wheat,  with  shed  for  farming  implements  and 
two  buggies,  twenty-four  by  thirty-two  feet,  at  a  cost  of  $100. 
The  roof  was  thatched  with  broom-corn,  and  fastened  with  wire. 
There  arc  no  fences  on  the  far.n^  except  the  portable  one  around 
the  corral,  the  herd  law  being  in  force  in  the  county.  On  the 
right  are  two  sheds,  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  by  twenty- 
nine  feet  each,  which  cost,  including  corral,  JI525,  the  lumber 
used  costing  $30  per  thousand  feet.  On  the  south,  and  connect- 
ing with  the  shed  running  north  and  south,  is  the  stable,  fourteen 
by  thirty-two  feet,  which  cost  $20.  Next  south  is  the  sod  shanty, 
the  first  home,  which  cost  $75.  Farther  south  is  the  granary 
and  tool-shed  already  mentioned,  while  back  of  this  is  the  new 
home.  The  wind-mill  cost  $50 ;  the  well  underneath,  $20.  Near 
the  wind-mill  is  a  reservoir  made  of  two-inch  plank,  five  by  six- 
teen, and  three  feet  deep,  supplying  four  troughs,  each  sixteen 
feet  long  and  one  foot  wide ;  ample  to  water  4,000  sheep ;  cost 
$35.  Near  the  well  arc  appliances  for  dipping.  The  boiler  is 
eighteen  inches  deep,  thirty  inches  wide,  and  eight  feet  long,  with 
plank  sides  and  galvanized  iron  bottom,  in  a  clay  and  partly 
excavated  furnace ;  the  smoke-stack  is  ten-inch  stove-pipe — total 
cost,  $7.  Tlie  dipping-vat  is  built  of  two-inch  pine,  and  is  six- 
teen inches  wide,  five  feet  deep,  and  twelve  feet  long  at  the  top. 
The  end  farthest  from  the  dripping-platform  is  perpendicular, 
but  the  end  qearest  the  platform  slppes  from,  the. upper  edge 
inward,  for  six  feet,  or  to  the  middle  of  the.  vs^f,  fprming  at  once 
the  end  anu  the,  bottom  of  one-half  of  it;  On  this  skjpe  are 
nailed  cross-slats,  to  give  the  sheep  a  footholdt  ta  walk  out  It 
leads  to  the  drippiog-platfonp,  an  ascending  inclined  plane^  six- 
teen,feet  long  by:  ten.  feet  wide,  diyided  by  a  fence  supporting  a 
cut-gate  at  the  lower  end,  and  at  the  upper  end  a  gate  for  each 


MR.    WADSWORTH'S  SHBEPRANCHE. 


415 


rral.     A  stable 
feet,  and  con- 
orth  and  south, 
p,  and  a  wind- 
10,000  sheep, 
ence  at  a  cost 
nough  to  hold 
nplements  and 
cost  of  jlioo. 
;ned  with  wire, 
ble  one  around 
unty.     On  the 
ght  by  twenty- 
5,  the   lumber 
h,  and  connect- 
itable,  fourteen 
the  sod  shanty, 
is  the  granary 
lis  is  the  new 
th,  $20.     Near 
k,  five  by  six- 
;,  each  sixteen 
XD  sheep ;  co$t 
The  boiler  is 
feet  long,  with 
ay  and  partly 
ve-pipe — total 
le.  and  is  six- 
ngat  the  top. 
perpendicular, 
e. upper  edge 
rmingat  once 
hid  slope  are 
walk  out    It 
led  plane,  six- 
supporting  a 
gate  for  each 


division.  The  floor  is  made  of  matched  stuff,  with  half-inch 
strips  covering  the  joints.  Over  these,  and  crossways,  are  nailed 
inch  strips,  to  give  the  sheep  a  foothold.  The  half-inch  strips 
make  the  floor  water-tight,  make  a  clear  run-way  under  the 
cross-slats  for  the  drip,  and  guide  it  back  to  the  vat.  When  one 
division  of  the  platform  is  filled  with  drying  sheep,  the  cut-gate 
is  swung  so  as  to  shut  them  in  and  open  the  lower  end  of  the 
other  division.  When  this  is  nearly  filled,  the  upper  gate  of  the 
first  division  is  opened,  and  the  sheep  are  driven  out  by  way  of 
the  descending  platform,  making  room  to  gather  in  a  fresh  lot 
from  the  vat  while  those  in  the  other  division  are  dripping. 
These  steps  are  repeated  until  all  are  dipped,  thereby  economii* 
ing  time  and  fluid.  '•' 

'^  "  The  portable  corral  fence  is  so  arranged  that  the  pen  from 
which  the  sheep  are  taken  to  the  vat  holds  only  100  sheep  at  a 
time,  and  connects  by  a  gate  with  a  larger  pen  capable  of  hold- 
ing 1,000.  The  liquor  used  for  dipping  is  made  of  tobacco,  fifty 
pounds,  sulphur  two  pounds,  and  arsenic  one  pound,  for  each 
100  sheep ;  cost,  $2.30.  The  liquor  is  prepared  the  day  previous 
to  dipping,  when  ihe  large  reservoir  from  the  well  is  brought 
into  use.  The  liquor  is  boiled  and  run  off  into  this  reservoir. 
On  dipping-day  the  liquor  is  run  back  into  the  boiler,  again 
heated,  and  gradually  fed  into  the  vat  as  needed — since  it  i^ 
much  more  effective  when  used  warm.  Cost  of  vat,  $10.50,  dip- 
ping-platform, |6,  and  boiler,  $7;  cost  of  apparatus  complete, 
$23.50,  with  which  four  men  can  dip  3,000  sheep  in  one  day. 
The  sub-ranche  is  six  miles  from  the  farm— its  improvements 
consisting  of  shepherds'  sod  house,  $50 ;  well,  wind-mill,  and 
watering-troughs,  $100;  with  sheds  and  corral  for  2,000  sheep, 
$400;  total,  $550. 

Mr.  Wadsworth  furnishes  the  following  statement  of  receipts 
and  expenditures  for  the  three  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
sheep, business  on  his  present  farm:  K*f     ^ 


COST  or  RANCHE. 


Shepherds'  house 
Sheds  and  corral 
Windmill,  well,  ^nd  watering-trou^s 


.fi<»  '-M 


Sheds  and  corral ^J'.ir'"' 


h.,4S, 


^V?^i75'oo 


.     W      t3 


5«S  00 

10^   CO 


Dipping-vats,  boiler,  flc.      »"♦♦''•*'*  •"'^•"«'''»'    ••  •' •■"<*•"»  fidr*    »    ^9330 


Incidentati 


.V    <!«.- 


50  o© 


The  land  on  which  the  rancho  is  located  was  homesteaded,  and 
cost  the  usual  government  fees.     Operations  commenced  Octo- 
ber I,  1876,  with  1,000  ewes,  1,06a  wethers  and  lambs,  and  23 
bucks — 2,085  head  in  all. 
tv  Receipts  and  expenses  for  the  year  ending  October  i,  1877: 

"  EXPENSIS 

Two  shepherds  .  . 
Shearing  .  .  trH# 
Dipping 


Hay ,«•    %    • 

23  sheep,  died  .     .'  v  '  •    .  " 
15  sheep,  killed  by  wolves 
and  dogt     :»    1    « ,  •.  • 


|6oo  00 
150  00 

85  00 
aio  00 
300  00 

57  50 


37  50 


Total.     .    V^^:l'?«?  '11,34000 


RICBIPTS. 

Wool  sold*.  ...  *  |i>95o  00 
Ewes  sold  <tr>«*.vi»"'-«^  »,-••  i»«$o  00 
Wethers  and  bucki  sold  .    .      935  so 


roia:H,w^\!^¥'t  i$i,4*s  so 

For  year  ending  October  1.  1878:  ^|y  i|»,^.,rfi,,  ..^^.^f,  ^ , 

.-imvi'v          BxrBNBKs.,to''niii 
Two  shepherds     ....    $6ao  00 
Grain 


rff  '-""rri 


Hay •    •    • 

Shearing  .  ."■.".'  '. .  • 
Dipping.  .  .'V^'fUuH 
i4^ieep,  died .  -.  •  •>  • 
Tj  sheep,  killed  by  wolves 
; ,  ■,fnd  dogs  ^^^^  . j<^^, , .    . 


I7S  00 

140  00 

150  00 

85  00 

JS  00 

3»  50 


»Ii<jrf    .  RtCKIPTS. 

Wool  sold #'><5o  00 

Ewossold 1,375  00 

Wethers  and  bucks  sold  .    .      763  50 


Total .    .    .  >l  1V5  .    .>i,8i7  50 

For  year  ending  October  i,  1879:  ,  . 

■Jib  ..  i^rsn 


>M J-tfT' 'xW  i»!.;i!f*{'»«i?T»^! 

Total.    .    .    J$i^    •|4>>87  50 


,  f  jj 


u 


EXPENSES 

Two  shepherds      ....  f  600  00 

Grain lao  00 

Hay 135  00 

Shearing,  dipping,  etc.  .    .  300  C3 

16  sheep,  died 40  00 


Total <t|i85  00 


BECBIPTS. 

Wool  sold  .    *    •    .    • 
Ewes  and  wethers      .    . 


Total. 


7 J   .'iln- 

.  f  1,800  00 
.    1,750  00 


>3,55o  00 


iiajttfgi'ir 


.    .    $93  50 

.     .  i778  SO 

teaded.  and 
need  Octo- 
ibs,  and  23 

r  I,  1877:  t 

t 

;/  .Ji,9S<»  «« 
,    .    1,950  00 

.      .        395    SO 


,-* 

.  .  >a,i50  00 
,,,.  ».375  00 
.     .      76a  SO 

.     .|4.«87  50 

.     .|i,8oo  00 
.    1,750  00 


.    .  »3.550  00 


/I   COLOKAOO  sun  A/'  /'.4  AM.  :^m 

For  these  three  years  the  total  expenses  are  $3,743.50,  total 
receipts,  $1 1,263,  leaving  a  net  cash  profit  of  $7,420.50  on  orig- 
inal investment  of  $4,948.50.  The  original  Hock  was  worth  $2 
each,  or  $4,170  in  all.  From  this  he  has  graded  up  a  flock  of 
3,200,  <ill  young  and  in  fme  condition,  valued  at  $3  each,  or 
$6,600  in  all.  This  gives  an  additional  profit  of  $2,430.  The 
entire  original  stock  of  ewes  and  wethers  has  been  disposed  of 
by  the  ordinary  sales,  so  that  only  young  and  well-graded  sheep 
now  remain.  ..u-  i,^ 

Mr.  Wadsworth  combines  general  farming  with  sheep- raising. 

.  In  addition  to  the  320  acres  secured  from  the  government,  he 

.  has  bought  480  more,  at  a  cost  of  $1,400. 

In  1877,  he  had  twenty  acres  in  wheat,  yielding  400  bushels; 
in  1878,  he  had   130  acres  in  wheat,  yielding  3,000  bushels;  in 

,  1879,  he  had  75  acres  in  wheat,  yielding  858  bushels.  And 
now  he  has  growing  seventy-five  acres  of  wheat  and  forty  acres 
of  rye.  The  wheat  has  pastured  the  sheep  every  winter,  much 
to  the  benefit  of  both. 

The  items  of  hay  and  grain  in  the  statements  of  expenses 
were  not  bought,  but  raised  on  the  farm,  and  the  charge  against 
the  sheep  account  is  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  former  account. 

}  Millet,  rye,  and  wheat  straw,  with  corn  sown  thick,  cut  green 
and  cured,  are  used  as  the  principal  winter  feed,  about  one  ton 
of  fodder  being  required  for  every  100  sheep.     >/; -  i.  1 

Mr.  Coleman's  narrative  of  the  Colorado  sheep-ranche  is  as 
follows: 

In  the  fall  of  1 874,  G.,  a  young  man  of  consumptive  tendencies, 
after  several  years  of  office  work  in  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  and  elsewhere, 
found  his  health  steadily  failing,  and  was  led  to  spend  the  winter 

I  in  Colorado.     He  rapidly  improved  during  his  stay  there,  and  by 

hspring  had  decided  to  remain  and  engage  in  sheep-farming.    He 

'entered  eighty  acres  unlder  the  homestead  law,  in  El  Paso  county, 
about  twenty- five  miles  from  Colorado  Springs,  and  stocked  it 
with  1,350  kmg'wooied  Mexican  sheep,  at  $2  delivered,  and 
twenty-five  Merino  bucks  from  the  east  at  $25  each.     He  was 

^'  industrious  and  a  good  manager,  and  now,  at  the  end  of  five 


27 


■r,W,>ii  ;>•.".'»    f,ij:. 


.  vi«!/-'-'J 


i 


I'*-     ^t^-.tajrwj 


rrZXSUK'^iV 


^l8  OUK    WBSTBKl/  BMHRB. 

years,  he  has  eighteen  ranches,*  6,000  sheep,  and  occupies  100 
square  miles  of  land.  The  slender,  delicate  youn^  man  has 
grown  rugged  and  robust,  and  weighs  184  pounds.  From  It^tters 
and  conversations  I  propose  to  briefly  outline  the  character  of  a 
Colorado  sheep-farm,      wii'ino:.  mv    (i  ^,  *;«t  ,4«.  .<»c»; '• 

<  -A  ranche  or  ranch  is  a  definite  term  for  a  spring  of  water  and 
lome  rude  buildings,  and  an  indefinite  amount  of  grazing  land. 
These  springs  are  found  at  various  points  on  the  plains,  mostly 
in  ravines,  and  several  miles  apart,  and  the  owner  is  entitled,  by 
mutual  consent  of  the  farmers,  to  graze  the  land  on  either  side 
half  way  to  the  next  spring.  It  is  an  object  therefore  to  buy  as 
many  springs  and  as  little  land  as  possible.  In  securing  new 
ranches,  G.  would  enter  them  in  his  herdsnicn's  names,  and  then 
buy  of  thc;m  at  a  low  figure.  The  spring  is  literally  the  main- 
spring of  sheep-farming,  as  the  land  is  valueless  without  water, 
and  wells  have  been  sunk  600  and  800  feet  without  obtaining 
water.  There  is  neither  dew  nor  rain  except  for  a  brief  time  in^ 
spring.  The  water  is  carefully  used,  being  pumped  into  reser- 
voirs, and  the  sheep  watered  from  troughs.  'X  r*<rr 
*»*"fThe  native  grass  is  thin  and  wiry,  and  grows  in  bunches  six  or 
eight  inches  high.  Once  eaten  off  it  does  not  renew  itself  in  the 
same  season.  The  sheep  are  pastured  all  the  year  round,  and 
hay  is  fed  only  when  the  grass  is  buried  in  snow.  The  range 
needed  for  each  sheep  is  five  acres,  as  frequent  shifting  is  oeces- 

The  buildings  are  a  pitch-pine  cabin  for  the  ranchmen,  and  a 
corral  or  sheep-pen,  loo  by  150  feet  square,  and  enclosed  by  a 
tight  board-fence  six  feet  high.  It  has  no  roof,  as  experience 
shows  that  sheep  in  covered  pens  are  often  smothered  by  snow- 
drifts. When  exposed  to  a  storm  the  sheep  pack  together  and 
keep  warm.  After  the  pasturage  at  one  ranche  is  exhausted 
the  furniture  of  the  cabin,  the  pump,  and  the  troughs  are  carried 
to  the  ranche  that  is  next  used. 

The  ranchmen  are  often  intelligent  Eastern  men,  who  have 

*In  most  of  the  Wenttrn  SUttw  and  Ter^UoriM  Iha  ntHtk*  or  ranch  it  the  name  applied  to 
the  entire  theep  or  cattle-farm,  and  these  tections  of  It,  to  which  the  sh"'p  are  moved  for  new 
posture,  are  called  lub-ranthtt,  or,  at  in  Australia,  Uatiom. 


id  occupies  loo 
'ounfi^  man  has 
}.  From  letters 
e  character  of  a 

ig  of  water  ami 
)f  grazing  land. 
e  plains,  mostly 
;r  is  entitled,  by 
id  on  either  side 
efore  to  buy  as 
n  securing  new 
names,  and  then 
erally  the  main- 
s  without  water, 
ithout  obtaining 
r  a  brief  time  in^ 
jped  into  reser- 

n  bunches  six  or 
new  itself  in  the 
year  round,  and 
)w.  The  range 
ihifting  is  neces- 

anchmen,  and  a 
1  enclosed  by  a 
f,  as  experience 
hered  by  snow- 
:k  together  and 
te  is  exhausted 
Ifhs  are  carried. 

men,  who  have 

the  name  applied  to 
-p  are  moved  for  new 


msm 


TItR  SHKP/rKKP'S  JIfOArOTVXOrX  //Air. 

come  to  Colorado  for  their  health.  They  get  at)Out  $20  per 
month  and  board.  Two  usually  occupy  the  same  cabin  for  com- 
pany, and  each  man  is  to  take  care  of  about  3,000  sheep.  They 
do  most  of  their  cooking  at  ni^ht,  after  the  day's  work  is  over, 
BO  as  to  start  out  at  sunrise,  and  be  with  th .  sheep  during  the 
day.  Contrary  to  the  common  idea,  they  do  not  ride,  but  go 
afoot,  and  seldom  use  dogs — if  the  owner  knows  it.  Their  pro- 
visions are  brought  to  them  at  regular  intervals,  and  are  chiefly 
canned  fruits  and  Hour.  They  get  their  meat  from  the  Hock.  So 
great  is  the  consumption  of  baking-powder  (which  is  a  costly 
article)  that  G.  finally  bought  it  by  the  barrel,  and  issued  regular 
(diluted)  rations. 

The  work  of  the  herdmen  is  monotonous.  The  sheep  are  to 
be  driven  and  watched  by  day,  and  watered  and  corraled  at 
night,  and  that  is  about  all  there  is  to  it,  most  of  the  time. 
Sundays  are  the  same  as  other  days,  and  the  ranchman  soon 
forgets  the  days  of  the  week.  At  night  he  plays  cards,  or,  if  he 
has  books  and  papers,  which  is  rare,  he  reads.  G.  takes  pains 
to  save  papers  and  distribute  them  in  rotation  to  his  men.  Dur- 
ing storms  the  sheep  are  held  in  the  corral  for  several  days,  but 
are  then  driven  out,  even  if  the  storm  has  not  abated,  and  from 
the  wind-swept  spots  they  get  a  bite.  Every  day  they  are  counted 
in  a  rough  way,  by  counting  up  all  the  black  sheep,  whose  num- 
ber is  known,  and  once  a  week  they  are  separately  counted  by 
passing  them  through  a  narrow  passage  into  the  corral.  By  the 
use  of  a  swing-gate  the  sheep  can  be  diverted  to  either  part  of 
the  corral,  when  it  is  desired  to  separate  any  grade  or  class  of 
sheep.  There  is  a  steady  leakage  in  a  large  flock,  and  when 
counted  they  are  always  three  or  four  short. 

The  lambing  time  is  arranged  to  come  in  May,  to  avoid  the 
rains  of  March  and  April.  The  percentage  of  loss  is  usually 
small  in  a  well-managed  herd.  Two  years  ago  2,225  ewes  raised 
2,006  lambs.  One  hundred  and  thifty-eight  were  dropped  in  one 
day,  and  in  ten  days  1,100.  Up  to  January  13,  1878,  only  two 
sheep  and  three  lambs  were  lost  out  of  4,700.  But  the  following 
winter  was  very  severe,  and  the  lambing  of  1879  was  reduced  to 
an  average  of  fifty  to  fifty-five  per  cent.    G/s  was  gixty- eight  p«r 


\m 


'  ♦., 


^JO  OU/t    WKSriSKX   KMPtMK. 

cent.,  and  hr  lont  175  lamh^.  Thr  clip  of  woo!  was  tkUo  rrcfiiced. 
Wh»*n  1,000  Jiherp  and  r.ooo  lambs  nrr  tiirnr«l  into  the*  corral 
thurt  is  a  trnnrndous  blfatinjj  until  the  lambs  and  thrir  mothem 
jjrt  together.  A  long,  narrow  |)rn,  with  divisions  holding  one  sheep 
each,  Is  used  for  the  sheep  without  lambs.  A  motherles;?  lamb 
is  given  to  each  one,  and  they  are  kept  together  until  the  lamb 
is  owned — usually  wo  days.  The  lx)ttom  boards  of  the  pen  arc 
nailed  on  the  mhide  of  the  posts,  so  that  the  lambs  can  slip  undf  r 
when  in  danger  of  being  lain  on,  Thf  lambs  are  weaned  the 
first  of  October,  and  taken  to  another  ranche. 

Shearing  is  usually  done  in  June,  but  (i.  waits  till  July,  both  to 
gain  in  weight  of  fleece  (a  sheep  sometimes  gains  a  pound  of 
wool-weight  in  a  hot  week),  and  to  get  help  at  a  lower  figure 
than  he  could  when  everybody  was  shearing.  The  work  is  tKorw*. 
by  Mexicans,  who  come  north  for  the  purpose.  They  get  five 
cents  per  sheep,  and  shear  fifty  to  one  hundred  per  day,  using 
shears  with  very  long  blades.  The  sheep  are  not  washed.  A 
Mexican  sheep  shears  thirty  cents'  worth  of  wool,  a  grade  sheep 
dne  dollar's  worth.  G.'s  shearing  is  done  by  twelve  men  in  two 
•i»reeks.  As  fast  as  the  fleeces  are  delivered  to  the  tyer  the 
^Hhearer  receives  a  ticket,  and  at  the  close  of  the  shearing  two  or 
= three  men  are  usually  found  to  hold  all  the  tickets.  The  Mexi- 
tans  are  great  gamblers,  and  contrive  to  lose  their  earnings 
^fore  they  are  in  hand.  Each  fleece  is  put  in  a  box  with  four 
strings,  and  tied,  then  put  in  large  sacks  holding  500  or  600 
pounds  each.  These  are  drawn  to  market  by  a  "bull  team;" 
cither  three  wagons  fatstened  together  and  drawn  by  twelve  yoke 
of  oxen,  or  one  \Vag6h  drawn  by  seven  yoke.  G.'s  clip  of  1878 
was  18,000  pounds,  Which  cost  two  cents  b>'  rail  to  Boston,  and 
netted  there  twenty  cents  per  pound.  It  can,  however,  be  sold 
to  gotod  advantage  at  Colorado  Springs,  and  the  clip  of  1879, 
20,000  pounds,  G.  "  pooled  "  with  a  neighbor  who  had  30,000 
pounds,  and  by  careful  watcihii^  of  the  market.  With  weekly  tele- 
grams from  dn  Eastern  Wool-hoiise,  the  lot  was  sold  for  twenty- 
four  and  a-half,  when  others  were  getting  twenty  and  twenty-tivo 
cents.  El  Pasb  couhty  wool  Is  rated  two  or  three  cents  higher 
<han  other  wools,  but  the  cold  weather  of  the  previous  winter 
reduced  the  clip  an  average  of  one  pound  per  head. 


^- 


~^SSSS3SB^SI^i^BS^^^^SS^^s^^mmytm 


*o  rrdiirrtf. 
th«'  corral 
rir  motheni 
;j  one  »hccp 
firl^ss  lamb 
il  the  lamb 
the  pen  are 
n  slip  uncif  r 
weaned  the 

Illy,  both  to 
I  pound  of 
lower  figure 
'ork  is  doni? 
Iiey  get  five 
r  day,  using 
washed.     A 
grade  sheep 
men  in  two 
he  tyer  the 
iring  two  or 
The  Mcxi- 
?ir  earnings 
)x  with  four 
500  or  600 
bull  team;" 
twelve  yoke 
clip  of  1878 
Boston,  and 
;ver,  be  sold 
!lip  of  1879, 
had  30,cxx) 
weekly  tele- 
for  twenty - 
twenty-tiro 
:ents  higher 
vious  winter 


i7F  THK   COLORADO  HHKKKFAKht.  ^^X 

Disoascs  do  not  troubii!  nhcrp  as  at  the  I'last.  I'^oot-rot  (lis- 
ap[)t'ars,  the  <  limato  is  so  ilry.  Scab  is  cured  by  a  strong  tolacco 
watih,  made  in  a  vat  through  whu  h  the  shrtrp  arc  driven,  and  up 
an  incline  plane,  which  savrs  tl.r  drip.  Ticks  are  killed  by  it 
also.  The  losses  in  slucp-farmin^  arc  caused  by  insufficient 
shell' r,  poor  feeding  and  nursing,  aud  the  inroads  of  ratdcsnakcs 
and  wolves. 

A  summary  of  G.'s  investment  is  as  follows: 

1,150  ewes  bought  in  1875  at  51       |>>5oo  00 

Merino  \%m% 1,000  00 

3,300  00 
Five  years'  tak  of  wool |i 3,500  00 

1,000  old  Mexicans  anU  oiheri  told a, 500  00 

i  15,000  00 

Value  of  preacnt  herd 15,000  00 

He  raised  3,000  lambs  in  1879,  and  will  have  2,500  ewes  in 
1880.  He  proposes  when  his  tlock  of  6,000  is  incroasc^d  to 
10,000,  to  send  the  surplus  lambs  in  the  fall  to  Western  Kansas, 
where  corn  is  cheapest,  feed  till  spring,  and  ship  to  ChiL.igo, 
where  they  will  bring  5450  per  head  ;  $2.50  will  cover  expenses. 
But  the  Lcadville  excitement  is  opening  a  home  market,  which 
may  change  this  plan  A  neighbor  sold  775  wethers  for  $3,100 
($4  each),  hay  and  grain  being  scarce  this  winter,  and  G.  was 
offered  the  same  price  for  500  three-year  olds,  but  declined  it. 

We  have  already  (in  Part  1.)  given  an  account  of  those  great 
sheep-farms  where  the  flocks  number  30,000,  50,000  or  even 
80,000  head,  and  the  profits  are  reckoned  by  tens  of  thousands 
of  dollars  annually.  The  men  who  own  these  great  properties 
must  have  begun,  or  would  now  find  it  necessary  to  begin,  with 
from  $1 5,000  to  i^so.ooo  or  more,  of  capital ;  and  many  who  have 
come  to  the  We  .  Irom  Europe  with  more  than  the  latter  sum 
have,  after  two  or  thf  o  years'  experiments  with  sheep-farming, 
been  sold  out  by  the  sheriff,  and  in  some  instances  have  been 
obliged  to  seek  employment  as  shepherds,  perhaps  on  the  same 
ranchc  where  they  had  once  been  proprietors.  The  counties  of 
El  Paso,  Pueblo,  Huerfano,  Fr -mont.  Las  Animas  and  Bent,  iiv 
Colorado;  have  many  stories  to  tell  of  these  young  men  who 

^ "'  ''"'^  "  ' .1,..:  '■.:■■":      - "     -"   i  '  '■     ': 


\ 


^  -w»",rai 


4» 


otm  WKxruity  /tMr//nt. 


playrd  tlir  Gr.ind  Sfi^nior  on  no  larjjp  a  nrale,  and  woiitcl  come 
into  Colorado  SprinjjH  or  Pufblo,  drivinj";  thrir  four  in -hand*  and 
•pmdinjf  srvfral  dayn  at  a  time  in  rccklcHH  dinnipation.  Nrjrlrct- 
In},'  fhpir  biisinrns,  thry  wrrr  constantly  flfpcpd  by  ^liarprrs.  till 
tlv  ir  capital  was  all  expended,  and  they  were  often  too  far  ilown 
In  the  scale  of  social  demoralisation,  to  retrace  th<ir  steps  and 
regain  th**ir  lost  manhoovl.  No  man  can  auccet'tl  either  in  Htock- 
raUinp;,  sheep  farming  or  general  agricidture,  who  does  not  give 
his  whole  thoughts  and  att<'ntion  to  his  business.  There  are 
duties  which  munt  be  performed  by  »ul)ordinates,  but  unless  the 
ey«!  of  the  master  is  constantly  over  them,  nnd  he  understands 
when  they  perform  their  tluties  properly,  and  ex<'rcisesi  proper 
discipline  and  authority,  besidtrn  performing  his  own  Hpecial 
duties,  there  will  be  neglect  and  heavy  losses.  One  of  the  class 
of  wealthy  projjrietars  in  Colorado,  ami  one  of  the  best  of  them, 
for  he  did,  to  some  extent,  superintend  his  shee  p  farm,  had 
directed,  in  the  autumn  of  1877,  sheds  to  be  built  for  the  protec- 
tion of  his  sheep  from  t\w  severe  snow  storms  which  once  in 
eight  or  ten  years  visit  that  region,  and  also  ordered  the  gather- 
ing of  a  quantity  of  wild  hay  for  them.  But  his  orders  were  dis- 
regarded, and  in  March,  1878,  his  flock,  or  at  U'ast  a  section  of 
it,  of  over  1,000  sheep,  were  caught,  and  they,  and  the  Mexican 
■hepherd  who  tended  them,  followed  each  other  over  the  brink 
of  a  deep  gulch,  and  fe!!  over  into  the  gulch  and  were  lost. 
Late  in  the  spring  the  jnelting  of  the  snow  uncovered,  In  that 
Big  Corral  Gulch,  the  bodies  of  a  thousand  sheep  or  more,  and 
"  among  them,  amid  evidences  of  his  struggle  to  save  his  sheep, 
lay  also  the  body  of  the  faithful  Mexican  shepherd.  It  was  not 
in  Palestine  alone  that  it  could  be  said,  "the  good  shepherd 
giveth  his  life  for  his  sheep."  '     ' 

There  can  be  no  question,  that  to  the  wool-grower  whose  only 
object  is  to  realize  a  fortune  speedily  in  sheep-farming,  New 
Mexico  offers  the  greatest  inducements.  The  climate  is  pleasant, 
though  dry;  there  is  not  much  agreeable  society,  and  very 
Utrie  enterprise  among  the  inhabitants,  it  is  true,  the  old  Spanish 
forms  and  formalities  and  the  iron  yoke  of  Jesuitism  oppress 
and  impoverish  the  people,  but  emigrants  from  other  lands  and 


St/Afir>rMJtAf/XC   IN  saw  MMXtCO. 


otild  com**, 
hands  and 

luirprrs,  till 
K)  far  ilown 

•trpH  and 
u*r  in  Hiock- 
K'H  not  jjivc 

'lIuTt!  are 
:  unlc'HH  the 
,iml«Tstand» 
iftcH  proper 
3wn   special 
of  the  class 
I'Hl  of  tiu'tn, 
i)  farm,    had 
■  the  protec- 
lich  once  in 
I  the  Kat^****- 
•rs  were  ilis- 
a  section  of 
he  Mexican 
the  brink 
were  lost. 
L'ted,  In  that 
)r  more,  and 
e  his  sheep, 
It  was  not 
■A  shepherd 

whose  only 
rming,  New 

is  pleasant, 
y,  and  very 

old  Spanish 
ism  oppress 

r  lands  and 


from  the  I'!a»trrn  Stntrs  are  cordially  rrccivcd,  anti  both  lh« 
mining'  and  utockraiNint;  inicrcMtM  an*  hcin^  dcvrlo(>cd  with  con* 
Nidcrabl'-  rapitlity.  Tlx;  prr«ent  ChirtJuHticc  of  the  Territory, 
Moil.  I..  Hradlonl  Prince,  nayM  that  " sheep- rai»ing  is  the  most 
iiiipott.mt  iiithiHiiy  in  the  tttrritory;  the  r<  ){ion  for  tihecp  farnit 
••.xuihIh  from  tin:  h«'.ul  watfrs  of  lh«:  Lanailian  river  in  the  tx« 
treiiie  cast  to  the  San  Juan  (ountry  in  the  far  northwest.  'Ilio 
sheep  of  New  Mexico  arc  already  counted  by  the  million,  but 
there  in  abundant  room  for  new  enterprises  both  ai^  to  number 
and  c|uality.  To  comment  e  the  buHlneMS  pioperly  retjuires  a 
capital  of  Jl5,cxx>,  which  will  buy  3,0011  sheep  and  provide  for  all 
necessary  expenses  until  a  regular  income  is  derived  from  the 
flock.  No  business  can  be  safer,  sur«r  or  more  healthful ;  but, 
like  all  others,  it  rec|uires  work  and  attention  :  and  if  any  onit 
thinks  that  sheep-raising  is  to  be  conduttird  profitably  by  livin){. 
in  town  and  having  flocks  ro.iming  tiitr  prairies  under  irrcsponsi* 
ble  herdsmen,  without  percw.iai  aitcntion,  he  had  better  remain 
at  the  Kast."  »t  y    1,./  tt-n 

The  native  sheep  of  New  Mexico  is  a  descendant  of  the  Span* 
ish  Merinos,  brought  there  340  years  ago,  and  has  degenerated 
from  its  early  type,  but  when  bred  with  pun;  improved  Spanish 
Merino  bucks  it  is  capable  of  becoming  in  the  third  or  fourth 
generation  a  most  valuable  sheep  for  wool,  and  the  wool  product 
is  there  much  more  valuable  than  the  mutton  product.  The 
flock  doubles  every  year  under  ^ood  management;  it  is  said  to 
be  capable  of  demonstration  that  sheep  can  be  well  kept,  through- 
out the  year,  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  fifteen  cents  the  head,  and 
that  the  yield  of  wool,  beginning  with  two  pounds  for  each  ewe 
and  two  and  a  half  for  each  wether,  can  be  increased  in  five 
years  by  careful  breeding  to  five  and  six  pounds  per  head,  and 
the  quality  of  the  wool  so  much  improved  that  it  will  bring 
from  twenty  to  twenty-eight  cents  per  pound.  In  other  Territo- 
ries and  States  it  is  said,  that  the  Mexican  ewe,  especially  the  im* 
proved  ewe,  which  is  the  product  of  a  cross  with  other  and  larger 
breeds,  seldom  or  never  bears  twins ;  but  in  New  Mexico  twin 
lambs  are  so  common  that  their  number  fully  makes  up  for  any 
losses  in  the  flock,  and  it  is  an  underestimate  to  reckon  the 


^ 


,  ( 


■\^ 


A'  '•' 


-1  (■■ 


424 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


annual  increase  of  the  flock  at  one  hundred  per  cent,  of  the  ewes. 
As  the  mutton  is  of  no  particular  account  in  New  Mexico,  the 
whole  profit  turning  upo.j  the  wool,  the  young  wethers  at  two 
years  old  are  exchanged,  after  shearing,  for  more  ewes  to  increase 
the  stock  of  wool-producers.  A  sheep-farmer,  in  three  years' 
time,  beginning  with  a  flock  of  5,000  ewes  and  100  bucks,  will 
have  18,000  sheep  and  lambs,  and  will  shear  from  40,000  to 
50,000  pounds  of  wool,  and  in  five  years  he  will  shear  40,000 
sheep  and  obtain  120,000  pounds  of  wool  or  more.  In  New 
Mexico,  while  the  rainfall  is  scanty,  the  snow  and  rain  on  the 
mountains  fill  the  streams,  and  the  facilities  for  irrigation  and  for 
pres  Tving  the  water  in  reservoirs  are  generally  good.  Sheep 
thrive  better  in  a  dry  than  in  a  wet  country,  and  they  require 
water  but  once  a  day,  and  this  they  can  have  without  difficulty. 
Artesian  wells  generally  succeed  well  on  die  plains  in  this  Terri- 
tory. 

There  are  no  diseases  here  to  which  sheep  are  liable,  and  the 
few  destroyed  by  wild  animals  are  the  principal  losses.  The 
corrals  are  usually  of  adobe  or  sun-dried  bricks,  and  can  easily 
be  made,  where  they  are  not  already,  proof  against  wild  animals. 
Neither  the  jaguar  nor  the  grizzly  bear  are  found  in  New 
Mexico,  and  the  cougar  or  panther  and  gray  wolf  are  not 
abundant.  The  brown  or  cinnamon  and  the  black  bear  seldom 
attack  sheep  when  in  care  of  a  shepherd,  and  never  in  a  corral, 
and  the  coyotes  are  too  cowardly  to  attack  any  except  the  sick, 
lame,  or  wounded.  No  provision  for  sheep  in  the  winter  is 
necessary  in  New  Mexico.  There  are  no  heavy  snows  there, 
except  high  up  in  the  mountains,  and  the  floods  which  sometimes 
pour  down  such  torrents  of  water  into  the  Rio  Grande  and  its 
tributaries,  are  either  skilfully  turned  into  the  reservoirs  for 
irrigation,  or  are  drank  up  by  the  thirsty  sands  of  the  river  beds. 
-The  rail.ways  which  already  traverse,  or  will  soon  cross  the 
Territory  in  different  directions,  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa 
Fe  and  its  branches,  the  Denver  and  Rio  Grande,  the  St.  Louis 
afnd  San  Francisco,  and  perhaps  also  the  Ariantic  and  Pacific,  or 
*%  branch  of  the  Texas  Pacific,  will  make  New  Mexico  convenient 
of  access,  and  enable  her  to  send  her  products  to  market  00; 
favorable  terms.  , 


iWWBfllilll 


nt.  of  the  cwcs. 
jw  Mexico,  the 
ifethers  at  two 
wes  to  increase 
n  three  years' 
ICO  bucks,  will 
rom  40,000  to 
11  shear  40,000 
lore.  In  New 
id  rain  on  the 
igation  and  for 
good.  Sheep 
d  they  require 
thout  difficulty. 
IS  in  this  Terri- 

liable,  and  the 
il  losses.  The 
and  can  easily 
St  wild  animals, 
bund    in  New 

wolf  are  not 
:k  bear  seldom 
ver  in  a  corral, 
iccept  the  sick, 

the  winter  is 
y  snows  there, 
lich  sometimes 

rande  and  its 
reservoirs  for 
the  river  beds. 
>oon  cross  the 
leka  and  Santa 
;,  the  St,  Louis 

and  Pacific,  or 
ico  convenient 

to  market  on 


SHE EP.FAR MING  Iff  CALlFORmA. 


435 


California  is  favorably  situated  for  sheep-farming,  especially 
Southern  California,  but  the  higher  price  of  her  lands,  and  the 
fact  that  so  large  a  portion  of  them  are  arable,  renders  the  busi- 
ness somewhat  less  profitable  than  in  New  Mexico,  though  she 
has  a  better  market  for  wool  in  San  Francisco,  and  more  encour- 
agement to  grade  her  flocks  up  to  the  best  quality  of  both  felt- 
ing and  combing- wools,  and  higher  inducentents  to  raise  sheep 
for  mutton,  as  well  as  for  wool.  The  California  flocks  number 
nearly  8,000,000  sheep,  and  include  some  of  the  best  breeds  tc 
be  found  on  this  continent  both  for  wool  and  mutton.  In  South- 
ern California  the  flocks  are  driven  to  the  hills  in  the  summer 
and  return  when  the  autumnal  rains  have  started  the  new  grass 
on  the  foot-hills  and  on  the  plains.  Alfalfa,  Hungarian  grass, 
and  the  millets  are  raised  largely  for  forage  for  the  best  breeds 
of  sheep,  and  their  use  tends  to  produce  the  uniformly  fine  fibre 
so  characteristic  of  the  best  grades  of  California  wool.    1 

The  sheep-farming  of  Montana,  Idalio,  Washington,  and 
Oregon,  as  well  as  that  of  Dakota  and  Minnesota,  diiifers  from 
that  of  the  States  and  Territories  farther  south  mainly  in  the 
necessity  for  more  ample  provision  for  shelter  and  fodder  for 
winter,  and  the  greater  length  of  the  winter  season.  The  flocks 
in  most  of  these  States  and  Territories  (Oregon  only  excepted) 
are  seldom  very  large ;  the  aggregate  sheep  of  the  other  five 
States  and  Territories  probably  aggregating  not  much  over 
2,000,000,  while  Oregon  alone  has  about  1,500,000.  Eventually 
probably  Washington,  Montana,  Dakota,  and  perhaps  Idaho  will 
be  found  to  be  well  adapted  to  the  raising  of  fine  wooled  sheep. 
Utah,  also,  is  a  good  sheep  country,  though  there  is  in  some 
parts  of  the  Territory  a  lack  of  water. 

Wyoming  is  better  adapted  V  cattle  than  sheep,  and  Nevada 
will  probably  raise  a  larger  p  oportion  of  cattle  than  sheep, 
though  perhaps  not  very  large  numbers  of  either.      n;u,'     'u;,  (ii 

To  recapitulate :  we  believe  for  the  sheep-farmer  who  has  but 
a  very  moderate  capital,  say  not  more  than  $2,500  or  $3,000, 
New  Mexico  offers  the  best  opportunity,  and  Kansas  and  Ne- 
braska the  next  best;  for  those  vvith  somewhat  larger  capital, 
from  $5,000  to  $15,000,  Colorado,  Southern  California  or  Texas, 


'■\ 


I 

I 

ill 

m 


>'!:-i 


i-'-«aiiE- 


'     V 


426  OUK    iVESTF./tff  RMPIRS. 

if  they  wish  to  avoid  building  shelters  and  gathering  fodder. 
Oregon,  Montana,  Dakota,  and  perhaps  Utah,  if  they  are  not 
averse  to  these  precautions.  Those  having  a  larger  amount  of 
capital  can  do  well  in  Texas,  better,  perhaps,  in  California,  and 
still  better  in  Colorado  or  New  Mexico ;  while,  if  they  choose  to 
make  the  provision  for  wintering  their  sheep,  Wyoming,  Mon- 
tana or  Dakota  afford  excellent  opportunities  for  conducting 
sheep-ranches  of  the  largest  kind  and  with  excellent  profits. 
For  mutton  sheep  and  lambs,  which  will,  at  the  same  time,  yield 
large  fleeces  of  combingwools,  the  succulent  pastures  of  Mon- 
tana and  Dakota  afford  the  best  feeding  grounds,  and  they  also 
furnish  grasses  which  make  the  fibre  of  the  Merino  v/ool  long, 
even  and  fine. 

We  give  here  a  few  brief  descriptions  of  the  different  breeds 
of  sheep  most  popular  throughout  the  West,  for  which  we  are 
indebted  to  the  late  Hon.  Alfred  Gray,  Secretary  of  the  Kansas 
State  Board  of  Agriculture.         >-  ^.J.     y->    ^af*v».i>.  ■c^:f:m:f.    -mk   ■ 

The  Merino  is  a  fine  white-wool  sheep,  of  a  dark,  greasy 
appearance,  medium  size,  snug  build,  body  shortish,  round  and 
thick,  good  quarters,  legs  short,  stout  and  woolly,  ears  short, 
cheeks  and  forehead  to  the  eyes  thickly  covered  with  wool,  skin 
wrinkled  or  in  folds,  weight  100  to  180  pounds,  fleece  twelve  to 
twenty-nine  pounds,  wool  two  to  three  inches  long.  The  rams 
have  curled  and  convoluted  horns.    It  is  classed  as  a  wool  sheep. 

History. — The  Merino  originated  in  Spain,  in  the  first  century. 
It  is  a  cross  between  the  Tarantine,  of  Southern  Italy,  and  the 
best  native  sheep  of  Spain,  and  was  introduced  into  the  United 
States  in  1800.  In  Spain,  this  breed  was  driven  from  the  south 
northward  every  spring,  400  miles,  and  back  in  the  fall;  each 
journey  was  made  in  six  weeks.  The  name.  Merino,  is  a  modi- 
fied  form  of  the  name  of  the  special  officer  in  charge  of  this 
highly  valued  breed.  .*  ,  t;,  j'  n? 

The  Southdown  is  a  whitish,  coalrse,  short  wool,  hornless 
sheep,  medium  size,  fine  form,  well-balanced  proportions,  hind- 
quarters square  and  full,  thighs  massive,  breast  broad,  fore, 
quarters  well  developed,  legs  rhort  and  trim,  face  and  legs  dark- 
brown  or  black  and  without  wool.     Yearlings  yield  seventy^fives 


ing  fodder, 
ley  are  not 
'  amount  of 
lifornia,  and 
y  choose  to 
ming,  Mon- 
conducting 
lent  profits. 
:  time,  yield 
es  of  Mon- 
id  they  also 
5  v/ool  long, 

;rent  breeds 

/hich  we  are 

the  Kansas 

•  k'  iffl  ;      'Mil   i 

lark,  greasy 

I,  round  and 

,  ears  short, 

h  wool,  skin 

ce  twelve  to 

The  rams 

wool  sheep. 

irst  century. 

aly,  and  the 

>  the  United 

m  the  south 

e  fall;  each 

0,  is  a  modi> 
irge  of  this 

01,  hornless 
rtions,  hind- 
}Foad,  fore< 
d  legs  dark- 
seventyfive 


HKEhDS  OF  SHEEP.  ^^ 

to  eighty  pounds,  dressed  weight.  Average  weight  of  fleece 
about  six  pounds.  Its  wool  makes  flannel  and  soft  goods.  It 
is  classed  as  a  mutton  sheep.     .-'■'■'■   "•     ■    ; 

History. — The  Southdown  is  an  English  breed,  developed  by 
carefully  inbreeding  common  sheep  inhabiting  the  hilly  portions 
of  Southern  England  from  its  earliest  history.  The  improve- 
ment began  about  one  hundred  years  ago.  The  name  of  the 
breed  is  taken  from  the  low  chalk  hills  or  downs  of  Southern 
England,  where  it  was  developed. 

The  Hampsiiiredown  is  a  whitish,  coarse,  medium-wool,  horn- 
less sheep,  good  size,  much  resembling  the  Southdown,  but 
larger,  and  with  longer  and  coarser  wool.  Yearlings  weigh 
eighty  to  a  hundred  pounds,  and  yield  a  fleece  of  six  to  seven 
pounds.     It  is  a  mutton  sheep. 

History. — The  Hampshiredown  originated  in  England  about 
seventy  years  ago,  in  a  cross  between  a  pure  Southdown  and  a 
white-faced  horned  sheep  of  that  district,  from  the  "  downs  "  of 
which  section  it  derives  its  name.    •'  i  "  ■  •>      'l*  "  '  '         "        »-^ 

The  Leicester  is  a  white,  medium,  coarse,  long-wool  sheep,  of 
large  size,  square  and  angular  build,  long,  slender,  clean  head 
and  ears.  Eyes  and  facial  bones  about  the  eyes  prominent, 
hind  quarters  tapering  toward  the  tail,  legs  good  length,  slender 
and  clean.  Yearlings  dress  lOO  pounds  and  at  two  years  150 
pounds.  Full  grown  have  reached  380  pounds,  live  weight. 
Average  weight  of  fleece  seven  to  eight  pounds.  It  is  a  mutton 
sheep.    J'--'  ;"*tiiS      «t\iA  ■  i,i  ii:jd*;.i"ii^;rii>  iv^^.tuij'-.hiA'-'y  mm      .L'-\,:>:::i.\ 

History. — This  breed  was  developed  in  England  over  100 
years  ago  by  a  Mr.  Bakewell,  from  the  common  sheep  of 
Leic  stershire,  from  which  district  it  derives  its  name.  The 
methc  1  of  breeding  was  kept  secret.  They  were  introduced 
into  tlic  United  States  by  General  Washington. 

T111;  Lincoln  is  a  white,  coarse,  long-wool,  hornless  sheep, 
surpassing  all  other  breeds  in  weight  of  body  and  length  of 
wool.  It  has  dressed  ninety-six  and  a  quarter  pounds  to  the 
quarter.  Two  year-olds  dress  1 20  to  1 60  pounds,  and  yield  a 
fleece  of  ten  to  fourteen  pounds  washed  wool,  measuring  nine 
inches  and  over  in  length — used  for  worsteds.  It  is  a  mutton 
$heep. 


M 
V 

!•! 

il 


'ii'l 


Mh'«Mi<Mrvi.<iiviaaU«u«^ff.uufi^>«%>^-*'''-u-'>'^'J>*lM^e-<ti%*C>iT^ 


issi^Hd-tittcom' 


42S 


OUR    WF.STLJiX   EMPIRE. 


History. — The  Lincoln  originated  in  England  less  than  100 
years  ago,  as  a  cross  between  a  Leicester  and  a  common  breed 
now  extinct,  but  then  inhabiting  the  low,  alluvial  and  rich 
herbaged  flats  of  Lincolnshire,  from  which  it  takes  its  name  and 
where  it  best  flourishes. 

The  Cotswold  is  a  white,  coarsC:  long-wool,  hornless  sheep, 
large  size,  long  bodied,  broadening  from  shoulders  to  rump,  head 
well  tapered  from  ears  to  nose,  finely  proportioned,  and  covered 
to  between  the  eyes  with  a  thick  forelock  of  wool,  ears  long  and 
well  formed,  legs  good  length,  well  shaped  and  clean.  Weight 
of  yearlings  about  120  pounds;  full  grown  have  dressed  344 
pounds.  Weight  of  fleece  about  eight  pounds.  Wool  some- 
times nine  inches  long,  and  >yidely  used  f^r  woollcDS..  It  is  a 
mutton  and  wool  sheep.  ,       a^,„fi  ,»,A%r  „«   .  •,;  *t      .-»!,.,,.. 

History. — ^The  Cotswold  originated  in  England  less  than 
100  years  ago,  as  a  cross  between  a  Leicester  and  descendants 
of  common  sheep  imported  from  Spain  in  the  twelfth  century.  Its 
name  conus  from  the  cots  or  huts  built  in  the  hilly  wolds  or  fields 
where  it  was  developed  and  established. 

OxFORDDowN  is  a  whitish,  coarse,  long-wool,  hornless  sheep  of 
medium  size,  round  bodied  and  short  legged,  face  and  legs 
dark,  a  Cotswold-shaped  head  and  thick-set  and  somewhat  curly  i 
fleece  of  eight  to  nine  pounds  of  wool  five  to  seven  inches  long^ 
used  for  worsteds.  At  fourteen  months  it  dresses  eighty  to 
eighty-eight  pounds.     A  mutton  ^nd  wool  sheep. 

History.— T\iG  Oxforddown  originated  in  Oxfordshire,  England, 
since  1830,  whence  its  name.  It  is  ^  cross  between  a  Cotswold 
ram  and  a  Hampshiredowa  ewe,  followed  by  careful  inbreeding. 
Cheviot  is  a  white,  coarse,  medium-wool,  hornless  mountain 
sheep  of  medium  size,  long  bodied,  hind-quarters  and  saddle  full 
and  heavy,  fore-quarters  light,  face  strong  featured  and  massive^ 
head  and  legs  generally  white,  but  sometimes  dun  or  speckled. 
At  three  years  they  dress  eighty  pounds.  The  fleece  yields 
abopt  five  pounds,  and  is  used  for  Scotch  tweed  and  cheviot, 
clot|i.     It  is  a  mutton  and  wool  sheep. 

History. — The  Cheviot  is  a  cross  between  a  Lincoln  and  a" 
breed  pf  comoion  sheep  fpupd  jn  titie  hilly  parts  of  the  Scottish 


m  than  loo 
imon  breed 
\  and  rich 
8  name  and 

tless  sheep, 
rump,  head 
ind  covered 
irs  long  and 
n.  Weight 
Iressed  344 
iVool  seme- 
ns.   It  is  a 

I  less  than 
descendants 
century.  Its 
)lds  or  fields 


] 


,,  1 


pss  sheep  of 

:e   and   legs 

lewhat  curly 

inches  long, 

s  eighty  to 

ire,  England, 
a  Cotswold 
inbreeding, 
js  mountain 
i  saddle  full 
,nd  massive, 
or  speckled, 
leece  yields 
ind  cheviot 
i/V  .-k^i-iimp 
icoln  and  a': 
Ithe  Scottish 


BKSEDS  OF  SHEEr-ANGORA  GOAT. 


4«9 


lowlands,  believed  to  be  descended  from  common  sheep  of  Spain, 
cast  ashore  here  in  1588,  from  wrecks  of  the  Spanish  Armada. 

The  Improved  Kentuckv  is  a  white,  coarse,  long-wool,  hornless 
sheep,  heavy  bodied  and  heavy  fleeced,  resembling  the  Cotswold, 
but  the  quality  of  its  wool,  midway  between  the  Leicester  and 
Cotswold,  distinguishes  it.     It  is  a  mutton  and  wool  sheep. 

History. — The  Improved  Kentucky  is  an  American  breed 
originating  in  Frankfort,  Kentucky,  about  forty  years  ago.  It 
came  from  successful  crosses,  as  follows :  Beginning  with  local, 
common  ewes  and  a  Merino  ram,  the  issue  was  crossed  with  a 
Leicester  ram,  this  with  a  Southdown  ram,  this  with  a  ram  one* 
quarter  Southdown  and  three-quarters  Cotswold,  this  twice 
successively  with  Cotswold  rams,  this  with  an  Oxforddown  ram, 
and  this  with  a  mixed  Cotswold,  Oxforddown  and  Leicester  ram, 
followed  by  careful  inbreeding. 

The  Caraman  or  Fat-Tailed  Sheep  is  a  white,  short,  soft-wool 
sheep,  of  different  varieties  and  sizes,  but  readily  identified  by 
its  remarkable  tail,  which  weighs  from  fifteen  to  twenty  and  in 
some  instances  50  pounds ;  the  fat  being  used  by  some  in  place 
of  butter.  v'-'-  .'v^;,..  -.-.•.  i.>  ,.„,..    \.^a.-\,\. 

History. — The  Caraman  is  a  ftativfe  sheep,  found  in  portions 
of  Asia  and  Africa,  and  by  some  is  regarded  as  a  separate 
group.  Those  now  in  the  United  States  are  from  recent 
importations  from  Karamania,  in  Asia  Minor. 

The  Angora  Goat  is  of  a  grayish  white,  about  as  large  as  a 
medium-sized  sheep,  has  a  square  build,  a  straight  back,  hog- 
shaped  head,  lifted  ears,  large,  long,  wavy  horns  rooted  close 
together  on  top  of  the  head,  and  spreading  at  once  latterly  and 
pointing  a  little  backward,  a  tuft  of  long,  coarse  hair  under  the 
chin,  clean,  trim  legs,  and  undercoat  of  short,  coarse  hair,  and  an 
outer  one  of  long,  curly,  soft  and  silky  hair,  termed  mohair. 
Both  coats  are  used,  and  together  weigh  about  two  and  a  half 
'  pounds.  i-teiiSie-  f,*ttd'-fii«;tJi;>,*tol  j:m^i^^-(^:^^x  iu:.>ir.mvi\  -isjo  ,■}<>■ 
/|-  History. — ^The  Angora  goat  is  an  improved  variety  of  a  com- 
mon goat,  native  of  the  district  about  Angora,  in  Asia  Minor. 
It  was  imported  into  this  country  about  fifteen  years  ago. 

The  Cashmere  Goat  is  generally  of  a  grayish  white,  built 


R 


tmitlmtm 


3iC< 


430 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


much  like  a  sheep,  is  of  medium  size,  back  near  the  hips  a  little 
crowning,  ears  long,  wide  and  drooping,  no  tuft  under  the  chin, 
small  horns,  sometimes  spiral,  shooting  out  near  each  other  from 
top  of  the  head,  erect  or  slightly  spreading  and  pointing  a  little 
backward,  a  long,  heavy  outer  coat  of  coarse  hair  and  an  under 
coat  of  soft,  silky,  fluffy  wool,  weighing  about  one-half  pound, 
and  used  for  Cashmere  shawls. 

History. — The  Cashmere  goat  is  a  noble  species  of  the  goat, 
inhabiting  the  high  table-lands  of  Cashmere,  Thibet  and 
Mongolia,  in  Central  Asia.  It  was  imported  into  the  United 
States  about  fifteen  years  ago.    \,u:^      tt^.f  ->;•?<   mr-*  i-rt  M»i.i  f 

Diseases  of  Sheep. — It  is  perhaps  desirable  to  add  here  a 
brief  description  of  the  diseases  to  which  sheep  are  liable, 
especially  as  it  is  as  true  now  as  it  was  twenty  years  ago,  that  the 
diseases  to  which  sheep  are  liable  in  this  country  are  very 
different  from  those  which  affect  them  in  Europe.  The  late 
Hon.  Henry  S.  Randall,  in  his  valuable  treatise  on  Sheep  Hus- 
bandry, published  in  i860,  and  subsequent  writers  on  diseases 
of  sheep,  have  called  attention  to  this  fact.  It  is  true,  also,  that 
diseases  which  prevail  in  one  section  may  be  entirely  unknown 
in  another.  Thus  the  foot-rot  has  prevailed  extensively  in 
Texas,  and  to  some  extent  in  Southern  California  and  Southern 
Kansas;  but  is  entirely  unknown  in  the  Northern  States,  and 
Territories  of  Washington,  Oregon,  Montana,  Dakota  and 
Minnesota,  and  very  infrequent  in  the  middle  belt  of  States 
and  Territories.  The  scab  is  found  everywhere,  but  is  now 
treated  successfully.  Worms  in  the  head  are  not  common  in 
the  West ;  though  they  kill  many  sheep  in  England  and  some  in 
the  Atlantic  States.  Inflammation  of  the  lungs  is  less  common 
^,,than  in  England,  but  does  occur. 

^^^  Mr.  Frank  D.  Curtis,  of  Charlton,  Saratoga  county.  New 
York,  one  of  the  most  intelligent,  accomplished  and  successful 
of  our  American  sheep-masters,  has  described  so  briefly  and  so 
.well  the  greater  part  of  the  known  American  diseases  of  sheep, 
that  we  cannot  do  better  than  to  give  to  our  readers  his  essay, 
only  supplementing  it  with  two  or  three  western  diseases,  which 
he  has  failed  to  notice.        .,„..;;,,  .,,,..,. 


..  t«»  JKJJ^».«.(S.JJ.;.  [5i_.V,*f -„ 


I  >iii  njMmimifi'^mmimim 


DISEASES  OF  StiEEP. 


431 


ic  hips  a  little 
nder  the  chin, 
Lch  other  from 
ointing  a  little 
and  an  under 
le-half  pound, 

2S  of  the  goat, 
,  Thibet  and 
to  the  United 

to  add  here  a 
ep  are  liable, 
rs  ago,  that  the 
ntry  are  very 
pe.  The  late 
n  Sheep  Hus- 
rs  on  diseases 
true,  also,  that 
irely  unknown 
extensively  in 
and  Southern 
rn  States,  and 

Dakota   and 

>elt  of  States 
|e,  but  is  now 

t  common  in 
and  some  in 

less  common 

county,  New 
md  successful 
[briefly  and  so 

ises  of  sheep, 
lers  his  essay, 
liseases,  which 


Sheep  are  very  delicate  animals  to  treat  when  diseased.  They 
are  easily  discouraged,  and  when  sick  lose  their  appetite  and 
rapidly  become  enfeebled.  It  is  by  far  the  wisest  course  for 
every  shepherd  to  study  carefully  the  habits  of  sheep  and  their 
nature,  and  to  endeavor,  as  far  as  possible,  to  regulate  their  diet 
according  to  their  natural  wants,  and  to  do  nothing  to  shock 
them  either  by  terror  or  abrupt  changes  in  th^^ir  management. 
They  will  not  bear  suddtn  changes  of  food,  sudden  chills,  or 
sudden  changes  of  extreme  heat  and  cold.  Regularity  in  feed- 
ing and  evenness  in  temperature  are  essential  pre- requisites  to 
their  healthful  condition.  They  will  not  endure  wet,  neither  will 
they  thrive  on  low,  marshy  ground.  The  different'  breeds  have 
somewhat  different  characteristics,  and  they  are  not  all  alike 
easily  affected  with  the  same  diseases,  as,  for  instance,  fine- 
wooled  sheep  having  flatter  feet,  with  closer  connection  between 
the  hoofs,  are  more  liable  to  foot-rot  than  the  coarser-wooled 
varieties,  with  more  rpright  feet  and  wider  space  between  the 
bisections.  The  latter,  however,  on  account  of  their  open  and 
distended  nostrils  (they  have  larger  lungs  and  require  more 
space  for  the  circulation  of  air  into  the  respiratory  organs),  are 
much  more  liable  to  the  attacks  of  the  gad-fly  ( CEstrus  ovis)  than 
the  smaller  breeds  with  more  contracted  nostrils.  The  fine- 
wooled  are  much  more  hardy  in  our  changeable  American 
climates  than  the  coarser-wooled  breeds,  hence  precautionary 
management  in  regard  to  climatic  influences  and  carefulness  in 
diet  are  not  so  necessary,  as  they  are  not  so  subject  to  colds  and 
stomach  disorders,  colics,  etc.  There  are  several  infectious  dis- 
eases which  prevail  among  sheep.  The  two  oldest  and  most 
common  in  America  are  foot-rot  and  scab.  There  are  also  other 
parasitical  disorders  which  infest  the  internal  organs  of  sheep. 
The  latter  have  been  far  more  destructive  in  foreign  countries 
than  in  this.  They  have  prevailed  disastrously  in  England, 
South  America,  and  Australia.  We  shall  speak  of  internal  para- 
sites {entozoa)  under  the  hfiad  of  parasites,  with  such  subdivisions 
of  the  subject  as  apply  to  the  various  forms  and  indications  of 
tile  disorder  as  manifested  in  this  country,  and  of  external  para- 
sites {epizoa)  under  the  appropriate  names  of  scab  and  ticks. 


■iiMM 


liwni-«-iTwntn^rtn'-rf  r.s-i. 


.£>«. 


TfiriVrhinri-' 


■Si-ar.itPiViTff"  •.,-:• 


L<:,:l'>iti 


433 


OVK    ITESTKKN   KAirjKK. 


pAKAsiTES. — The  most  ancient  and  ditastroui  of  the  maladies 
caused  by  the  development  of  worms  in  the  body  is  the  liver-rot, 
which  is  caused  by  the  presence  of  sucking  worms,  like  leeches 
which  are  developed  in  the  liver.  These  worms  or  flukes  pos 
scss  the  power  of  self-impregnation,  and  are  propagated  by  eggs 
of  which  they  prodr^c  immense  numbers.  These  eggs  are  car 
ried  along  with  the  bile  into  the  stomach,  and  so  passed  out  with 
the  excrement  of  the  sheep.  They  are  supposed  to  be  hatched 
in  stagnant  water,  in  which  they  develop  into  a  form  of  mullusks. 
But  as  the  disease  {liver-rot)  is  almost  unknown  in  the  United 
States,  and  especially  in  the  West,  we  will  not  take  time  or  space 
to  fully  ucstribe  it  \       hi'.i».vio  vtl  .jAn*  .4ii\\  ks,  >-,^:.h  vwh 

I J  There  is  another  worm  which  is  developed  in  the  lungs  and  bron- 
chial tubes  of  sheep.  These  worms  cause  the  "  pale  disease  "  in 
lambs,  which  has  been  so  fatal  in  many  sections  of  this  country. 
The  worm  is  akin  to  the  gape-worm  in  chickens,  and  is  a  species 
of  Strongylus,  a  slender,  thread-like  worm.  They  are  supposed 
to  l)e  breathed  into  the  lungs  or  taken  into  the  n*  uth  while 
feeding,  from  whence  they  make  their  way  through  the  trachea 
into  the  air-passages,  in  which  they  produce  such  derangement  in 
aeration  or  the  purification  of  the  blood  as  to  cause  irritation 
and  violent  coughing.  The  important  functions  of  the  blood 
being  interrupted,  paleness  of  the  skin  and  debility  of  the  body 
soon  follow,  and  result  in  the  death  of  the  animal.  The  disease 
is  more  prevalent  or  fatal  among  lambs  than  among  sheep. 
'-  As  soon  as  a  lamb  is  attacked  a  poor  appetite  ensues,  which 
helps  to  reduce  the  strength.  Such  penetrating  medicines  as 
turpentine,  sulphur,  and  assafcetida  may  be  given,  which,  through 
absorption,  will  reach  the  lungs,  and  in  the  earlier  stages  of  the 
disuse  may  effect  a  cure.  In  order  to  allow  free  and  full 
absorption,  no  food  should  be  given  for  several  hours  afterward, 
nor  for  a  few  hours  before.  Twenty  grains  of  assafoetida  and  a 
half  teaspoon  of  spirits  of  turpentine  are  all  that  should  be 
administered  at  one  dose  to  a  lamb.  One- third  more  may  be 
given  to  it  full-grown  sheep.  This  may  be  followed  by  a  taUe- 
spoohful  of  sulphur  daily,  mixed  with  molasses.  As  the  appetite 
is  capricious  and  feeble,  in  order  to  keep  up  the  strength  gruels 


taTii.i 


the  maladies 
the  liver-rot, 
,  Hkc  leeches, 
r  Hukes  pos- 
aied  by  eggs, 
eggs  arc  car- 
iiseU  out  with 
;o  be  hatched 
I  of  muUusks. 
in  the  United 
time  or  space 

ngs  and  bron- 

e  disease  "  in 

this  country. 

d  is  a  species 

are  supposed 

Ht  uth  while 

\  the  trachea 

rangement  in 

use  irritation 

)f  the  blood 

of  the  body 

The  disease 

sheep.      »    ' 

nsues,  which 

medicines  as 

lich,  through 

stages  of  the 

ree   and  full 

rs  afterward, 

oetida  and  a 

should  be 

nore  may  be 

d  by  a  table- 

the  appetite 

ength  gruels 


t 


r/fX  LVNG   WORM  IN  S/fKBI'.  ^| 

should  be  poured  down.  The  turpentine  and  assafcrtida  may  be 
mixed  with  a  tablcspoonful  of  linseed  or  castor  oil.  Infected 
sheep  should  be  kept  by  themselves,  and  well  ones  should  not 
be  allowed  to  run  in  the  tame  pasture,  nor  upon  ground  whrro 
the  manure  of  diseased  sheep  has  been  spread.  There  arc 
besides  the  above,  parasites  {hydatids)  or  worms  in  the  bladder 
and  in  the  intestines.  The  latter,  when  prevalent  among  lambs. 
are  fatal.  The  first  symptoms  of  their  prevalence  is  a  fulling 
off  in  condition  anJ  mild  diarrhcea.  The  worm  is  a  species  of 
tape-worm,  and  is  swallowed  by  the  sheep  in  an  embryo  form, 
and  may  have  been  dropped  by  a  dog  or  other  animal. 
Emaciation  rapidly  follows.  The  excrement  is  soft  and  mixed 
with  mucus,  and  by  close  observation  worms  may  be  observed 
in  it.  As  soon  as  the  presence  of  the  disease  is  apparent,  a  dose 
of  turpentine  should  be  given,  from  one-half  to  one  oun':e, 
according  to  the  size  of  the  sheep.  This  may  be  mixed  with  an 
ounce  or  two  of  linseed  or  castor  oil,  and  should  be  given  evvry 
three  days  for  two  weeks,  or  until  no  worms  are  voided.  Nourish* 
ing  gruels  should  be  given  during  the  time  of  treatment.  The 
purgative  will  have  better  effect  if  the  animal  is  required  to  fast 
a  few  hours  before  and  after  administering  the  dose.  Copperas 
will  not  cure  the  disease.  When  given  in  small  quantities  it  acts 
as  an  astringent  and  keeps  the  worms  in  the  body,  and  when 
given  in  large  quantities  it  is  an  active  poison.  The  same  dose 
of  turpentine  and  linseed  oil  is  the  best  remedy  for  parasites  in 
the  bladder  and  kidneys.       :;».  jinw^yir.,   .  -  >>  ..  . 

Worms  in  the  head  are  not  so  common  in  this  country  as  in 
England,  owing  to  the  fact  that  so  large  a  proportion  of  our 
sheep  are  of  the  smaller  breeds.  The  gadfly  ( CEstrus  ovis)  in 
the  summer  months  deposits  its  ^gg^,  with  a  sting,  in  the  nostrils 
of  sheep.  At  the  season  of  the  year  when  this  fly  is  active,  sheep 
stand  huddled  together  with  their  noses  inward  and  close  to  the 
ground  to  avoid  being  stung.  After  being  hatched  the  grub 
crawls  up  the  nostrils  and  feeds  on  the  mucus  until  it  reaches 
the  upper  passages,  where  it  remains  until  it  arrives  at  maturity, 
and  then  passe^i  out  of  the  nostrils  to  the  ground,  where  it 
ultimately  develops  into  a  fly.  Sometimes  they  penetrate  ta 
as 


ruMMMPaMvfwMW**' 


-fi'i!  'i^^ 


4S4 


OVJt    ty^SHiKM  BMPI/tM, 


\     . 


the  brain,  causin|3f  the  sheep  to  Icmr  itsi  appetite  and  die  a 
lingering  and  painful  dcalh.  Wtr  have  known  them  to  (kik* 
away,  scarcely  eating'  anything  for  wecksi — simply  breathing — 
until  they  die  of  starvation,  or  were  killed  to  put  them  out  of 
their  misery.  There  is  no  remedy  except  m  the  tirst  stajft"  of 
the  disease,  when  the  maggots  are  passin;'  up  the  nostrils. 
This  may  be  known  by  violent  shaking  of  )X\*t  head,  sneezing, 
and  running  around.  Tobacco-smoke  blown  up  the  nostriU  at 
this  time,  or  the  §moke  of  a  small  quantity  of  burning  sulphur, 
may  cause  them  to  lose  their  hold  on  the  membranes,  when  the 
sheep  will  cast  them  out.  Some  people  pour  spirits  uf  turpen- 
tine into  the  nostrils.  They  lay  th<^'  sheep  upon  its  back  so  that 
the  liquid  will  run  into  the  head ;  but  this  is  a  dangerous  and 
cruel  practice.  In  the  first  stages,  in  the  hands  of  >  skilful 
person,  it  is  possible  to  open  the  passages  of  the  licad  and 
remove  the  maggots,  without  permanent  injury  to  the  animal. 
Smearing  the  noses  of  she  -  in  July  and  August  with  tar,  two  or 
three  times  a  week,  wiU»  to  — me  extent,  prevent  the  attacL.  uf  the 

gadfly.         :;,•■:■•  '    '»•  ■>"?!'       '''    ..(..■.11 

1.,.  ScAii.— The  worst  form  of  external  parasites  is  til  Acarus 
scabiei.  This  insect  is  a  mile  in  size  and  attaches  itself  to  the 
skin,  into  which  it  burrows.  It  multiplies  rapidly  and  cuts  of!* 
the  connection  of  the  cuticle  from  its  attachments  to  the  body, 
when  it  becomes  dry  and  hard,  and  the  wool  is  lo(  sened  and  lalls 
out.  Its  presence  can  easily  be  determined,  as  the  sheep  is  uneasy 
and  inclined  to  nib  itself  against  any  v  onvcnient  thing.  Unless 
they  are  destroyed,  the  whole  body  will  soon  be  covered,  causing 
great  distress  to  the  sheep  and  entire  loss  of  the  fleece.  They 
will  also  be  conveyed  to  other  sheep,  and  eventually  spread 
through  the  whole  flock.  One  female  will  produce  thousands 
of  insects  in  a  few  days.  The  proper  cure  is  to  dip  tne  animal 
in  a  solution  of  sulphur  and  tobacco,  in  the  proportions  of  four 
parts  of  tobacco  and  ten  of  sulphur  to  a  gallon  of  water.  The 
stems  of  tobacco  will  answer  every  purpose,  if  thoroughly  steeped. 
The  sulphur  may  be  stirred  in  the  liquid.  Patches  of  loose  skin 
and  wool  should  be  removed  before  the  sheep  are  immersed.  1  he 
liquid  should  be  as  warm  as  the  hand  will  bear,  and  time  should 


yimfm 


rx'f^nsr'-. 


'^t*'iS:^**ii^^'  I "' 


ond   di(*   • 
it!m  to  I  »no 
brcithing — 
hem  out  of 
•St  staj^t"  of 
the  nostrils. 
»d,  snee/.iiig, 
le  nostri'^  at 
iini;  siilpiuir, 
cs,  when  the 
ts  of  tur pen- 
back  BO  tltat 
nperous  an«l 

of  I  skilful 
lie  head  and 
»  the  animal, 
th  tar,  two  or 
attacks  of  tlic 

xtH'i  l!»li  >;)     11*1 

i  t\v  Acarus 
\  itself  to  the 
and  cuts  off 
to  the  boely, 
:ned  and  lalls 
epis  uneasy 
ling.     Unless 
lered,  cauBing 
leece.     They 
lally  spread 
e  thousands 
ip  tiie  animal 
tions  of  four 
water.     The 
;hly  steeped, 
if  loose  skin 
lersed.    The 
Lime  should 


D/SKASKS  0/-    ~tlKBP~TllK   FOOT  ROT. 


43S 


b<*  jj^ven  for  it  to  penetrate  every  part.  After  dipping,  the 
animal  nhouhl  be  left  in  the  yard  until  iXxs  when  it  would  be  well 
to  smear  all  the  iiw  and  drnudetl  portions  of  the  bo<ly  with  cOfl' 
tar.  heated  sufficiently  to  Mow  freely.  The  coal-Uir  will  assist  in 
healing,  and  protect  the  sore  pLices,  addinsr  very  much  to  the 
comfort  of  I.    ;  sheep. 

SiiKEP'iicKS — These  inserts  (Mfhphaj^Ms  winus)  prey  upon 
the  surface  of  the  body  and  torture  the  sheep  .ijreatly  by  jnercing 
the  skin  and  sucking  the  blood.  It  propagates  rapidly,  and  is  so 
voracious  that  it  soon  depletes  the  sheep  of  needed  blood  and 
causes  them  to  become  poor  ami  weak.  Their  presence  may  be 
known  by  the  rough,  loose,  and  dangling  npnearancc  of  the 
fleece,  the  locks  of  which  are  torn  out  by  nibbi.ig  in  order  to  get 
rid  of  the  pain  caused  by  tlie  bite  of  the  ticks.  The  most 
effectual  reme<ly  is  to  dip  the  sheep  in  a  strong  dec  ortion  of 
tobacco.  The  numbers  may  also  be  reduced  by  dusting  snuff  or 
j>owdcred  tobacco  in  the  wool  After  shearing,  the  ticks  leave 
the  old  sheep  and  fasten  to  the  lambs.  The  latter  should  be 
dipped  immediately,  and  again  after  the  lapse  of  three  weeks. 
In  this  way  a  flock  may  be  rid  of  ticks,  which  are  a  costly  and 
torturing  nuisance. 

Foot-rot. — This  disease  is  contagio  s,  and  may  be  produced 
by  allowing  sheep  to  run  on  low,  wet  ground.  It  is  an  ulceration 
upon  the  heels  and  between  the  toes,  which  excrete  fetul  matter. 
It  is  most  common  in  the  fore  feet,  and  may  be  known  bv  lame- 
ness. Lameness,  however,  does  not  always  proceed  trom  this 
cause,  but  may  be  produced  by  foul  feet  or  from  inflammation  of 
the  interdigital  canal,  which  opens  at  the  bottom  of  the  foot. 
When  this  canal  or  duct  is  closed  by  any  foreign  substance,  in- 
flammation will  ensue.  The  prompt  removal  of  the  obstacle 
and  the  probing  and  cleansing  of  the  duct  will  generally  effect  a 
cure.  When  there  is  ulceration,  there  must  hv  prompt  and 
effective  treatment.  Canker  of  the  foot,  which  shows  itself  by 
spongy  or  fungous  sprouts  at  the  bottom,  can  be  cured  by  the 
same  treatment  as  for  foot-rot.  The  hoofs  should  be  pared  away 
so  as  to  expose,  the  bottom  of  the  ulcers,  when  the  whole  foot, 
and    iQspecially    the    uloefous    portion,   should  be  ^oroughly 


I  <lli    hAm  k 


^j5  ot/Ji  tfAsrJtMAf  A.vr/ftg,         •\ 

•mcarctl  with  an  ointment  of  powdered  blue  vitriol,  one  pound; 
verdi)(ri»,  half  a  pound ;  linitcrd  oil,  one  pint ;  tir,  one  (|uart. 
ThiH  t-ornliination  makes  a  italvc  which  will  adhere  to  the  (cM)t. 
CarlKilic  acid  rcducetl  (five  partn  of  water  to  one  of  acid)  would 
be  an  cfl'cctivc  remedy,  and  would  als.o  h<:  the  b<!Ht  cure  lor 
canker  of  the  foot.  Il<althy  shtrp  hKouM  never  be  all()wr<l  in 
a  |>aHture  where  those  aifccted  with  tont-rot  have  run  until  u 
winter's  frosts  have  intervened,  which  will  destroy  the  virus. 
Incipient  foot-root  cnuscd  by  feeding  on  wet  ground  may  be 
checked  without  difficulty  by  prompt  applications  of  blue  vitriol 
in  li<|uid  form,  or  by  ililuted  carbolic  acid ;  but  when  the  disease 
becomes  thoroughly  ulcerous,  several  applications  of  the  remedies 
recommended  are  necessary  to  effect  a  perfect  cure. 

CoNsnrATioN. — We  have  known  fatal  constipation,  accom- 
panied with  fever,  to  prevail  in  the  spring  of  the  year  following 
a  long  and  severe  winter,  during  which  fodder  became  so  scarce 
as  to  compel  farmcri  to  turn  out  their  sheep  f)efore  the  fresh 
grass  had  started.  The  sheep  ate  of  the  dry  and  frost-bitten 
grass  so  heartily  as  to  cause  it  to  become  clogged  in  the  rumen, 
producing  constipation  in  whole  flocks.  In  some  neighborhoods 
it  was  so  general  that  it  was  supposed  a  contagious  disorder  had 
broken  out  among  them.  A  number  died  before  the  cause  was 
discovered.  Purgatives,  together  with  restraining  the  sheep 
from  feeding  in  the  fields,  soon  restored  the  Aocks  to  their  nor- 
mal  condition.  "  i  jfftfM  1"»k  .t VlfnoJ  >!.*  fn  norrnno'j  Jjorn  ci  J 
}  Colics.— -These  troubles  are  caused  by  costiveness  or  flatu- 
lence, which  also  causes  stretches  (lying  on  the  ground  and  roll- 
ing about),  the  latter  being  more  of  a  syr  )tom  than  a  disease. 
A  change  of  food  in  this  case,  as  well  as  ii.  the  opposite  case  of 
scours,  is  the  first  thing  to  be  done.  Injections  of  warm  water 
and  soap,  or  linseed  oil,  followed  with  an  ounce  of  the  latter  or 
of  castor  oil,  or  foUr  ounces  of  Epsom  salts,  given  by  the  mouth, 
is  the  first  remedy  in  cases  of  costiveness  or  colic.  Powdered 
sulphur  and  salt  should  be  frequently  given  as  correctives  and 
aids  in  digestion.  Abrupt  changes  from  dry  to  succulent  food 
are  dangerous,  and  should  never  be  made  on  an  empty  stomach, 
as  these  animals,  like  cattle,  are  equally  sirbject  to  bloat,  and 


ISfLAMMATIOS  OF  IVH^M, 


437 


one  pound ; 
one  c{iiart. 

to  the   (cM)t. 

acid)  wouUI 
rsi  ture  tor 
)G  allowril  in 

run  until  a 
y  the  virus, 
und  may  be 
f  blue  vitriol 
n  the  (liHeaNC 
thr  remedies 

ition,  accon*' 
ear  (ollowin^ 

me  8o  Hcarce 
jrc  the  fresh 
d  frost-bitten 
in  the  rume-n, 
eighborhooils 

disorder  had 
:he  cause  was 
ig  the  sheep 
\  to  their  nor- 

less  or  Hatu- 
lund  and  roll- 
lan  a  disease. 
)osite  case  of 
r  warm  water 

the  latter  or 
by  the  mouth, 
:.  Powdered 
rrectives  and 
Dcculent  food 
npty  stomach, 

to  bloat,  and 


with  ithem  It  is  more  rapid  in  its  rcHultn.  A  chan^^e  from  dry 
frrd  K.t)  j^rcen,  without  an  admixture  of  dry  {wA  followin^r,  has 
produced  fatal  colic  even  when  the  pasture  was  stinted. 

|)|/\KKH(KA  AND  S(f»UM». —  I'hc  formiT  tiiHordtT  in  very  common 
tu  latadxt  while  sutkiii;;  and  during'  tlw  tir^t  winter.  Unless 
checked,  diarrhuca  will  soon  run  into  the  more  serious  conditicm 
of  scours,  and  rapidly  deplete  the  tender  animal  of  needed 
strength.  A  teaHpoonful  of  laudanum  and  a  tal>le?t|K)onfid  of 
Hlonj^'  K''^i»'^''  ^*-*"  ^'''  "iK'n  the<k  «liarrhira,  but  if  it  should  not, 
there  must  be  given  a  tablenpoonful  of  castor  oil,  followed  by 
astringents. 

Inh.ammation  oktiik  Lunoh. — Sheep  are  not  apt  to  be  affected 
with  lung  diseases,  as,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  nature  has 
provitled  them  with  amphr  protection,  but  when  exposetl  they 
will  sometimes  have  severe  inflammation  of  the  liuigs.  We  had 
a  valuable  ram  die  within  twenty-fours  with  pneumonia,  which 
was  caused  by  being  left  tied  in  the  wind  after  having  been 
washed  for  exhibition  at  a  fair.  We  have  had  Leicester  sheep 
which,  for  a  whole  year,  were  afflicted  with  consumption,  and 
manifested  perfect  symptoms  of  this  debilitating  disorder. 
Where  symptoms  of  intlammation  of  the  lungs  are  .apparent,  the 
animal  should  immediately  be  bled  and  given  a  purgative. 
After  this,  doses  of  tartar  emetic  may  be  added,  one  grain  to 
each  every  few  hours,  with  flaxseed  tea.  If  it  is  possible,  a 
counter-irritation  should  be  made  upon  the  chest.  The  nostrils 
must  be  kept  clear  and  clean. 

Snuffles  and  Snorinc;. — The  stoppage  of  the  nostrils  with 
mucous  .secretions,  which  may  be  caused  by  a  slight  cold,  or  by 
dust  or  some  other  foreign  substance  irritating  the  lining  mem- 
branes, is  of  frequent  occurrence,  but  may  be  obviated  by  spong- 
ing out  the  nostrils  with  some  soothing  lotion.  Snoring  may  he 
produced  by  a  more  serious  cause,  such  as  tumocs  or  abscesses 
in  the  throat  or  in  the  cavity  of  the  chest.  When  they  are  dis- 
cernible, they  may  be  treated  according  to  their  character. 
Catarrh  is  frequent  with  sheep  exposed  to  the  changes  of  the 
weather,  or  when  wintered  in  close  and  badly  ventilated  stables. 
Local  treatment,  such  as  sponging  the  nostrils  or  inhaling  the 


i 


[■_;h.'.  -'.rt^KX-*^:' 


,Ji'-lMJ<U£M'J»... 


2miXjai&';S!S!t:' 


't 


V 


438  OC/X    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

fumes  of  burning  tar,  will  usually  clean  out  the  nostrils  and 
afford  relief. 

PoiscjNS. — !:  iieep  will  eat  almost  every  plnnt  that  grows,  which 
makes  them  valuable  in  keeping  a  farm  free  from  foul  stuff.  On 
this  account  they  are  often  poisoned  by  eating  laurel.  Saint 
John's  wort,  and  other  poisonous  herbs.  The  effects  are  some- 
times confined  to  the  stomach,  producing  a  derangement  which 
may  be  corrected  by  mild  doses  of  cathartics.  The  lips  and 
mouth  are  often  made  sore  by  eating  poisonous  plants,  especially 
Saint  John's  wort,  which  sometimes  makes  the  mouth  so  sore 
that  the  sheep  cannot  eat.  In  all  such  cases  aperient  medicines 
should  be  adminiscered,  and  the  lips  and  mouth  dressed  with  a 
healing  ointment.  A  change  of  pasture  is  also  essential  to  get 
rid  of  the  cause,  ifi:-  ^wA  ,f;'>i'-i:.>i»;>^.  '  i^ifi!'}-;ii;.  !'j;.«  k^vm\'>  '■■!.»' ■''!.; 
t.  Abortion. — On  account  of  the  timid  nature  of  sheep  they  are 
easily  frightened,  and  when  roughly  handled  or  chased  by  dogs 
they  are  apt  to  abort.  Dysentery  and  other  acute  derangements 
of  thfi  stomach  will  sometimes  produce  this  same  disorder,  hence 
abrupt  changes  in  diet  should  be  avoided,  and  a  mixture  of  dry 
and  green  food  given  through  the  winter.  Roots  are  verv  essen- 
tial to  the  good  health  of  sheep.  Salt  and  water  shouW  always 
be  accessible,  as  sheep  desire  to  drink  often  and  but  little  at  a 
time.  If  these  sanitary  recommendations  are  carefully  carried 
out,  sickness  among  sheep  will  be  very  much  lessened,  especially 
in  the  severe  forms  of  abortion  or  other  disturbances  of  the 
uterus. 

't;The  black-leg  is  a  disease  which  has  affected  lambs  in- various 
parts  of  the  country.  Its  character  seems  uncertain,  though 
generally  believed  to  be  connected  with  disease  of  the  lungs. 
The  legs  seem  to  become  powerless  and  the  flesh  turns  black.  The 
disease  generally  proves  fatal  in  a  short  time.  It  may  be 
the  same  kuojHrn  as  lung-worm  in  other  sections,  but  this  is 
doubtful. 

Some  attempts  at  medication  have  proved  beneficial  in  delay- 
ing the  fatal  termination,  while  others  have  apparendy  hastened 
it  As  a  general  rule,  the  administration  of  and-septics  and 
stimulants,   such  as   diluted  carbolic  acid,  powdered  charcoal. 


¥SSSM 


ympxy««Mmp* 


iEsiaas'^' 


te  nostrils  and 

at  grows,  which 
foul  stuff.  On 
g  laurel,  Saint 
Tects  are  some- 
ngement  which 
The  lips  and 
lants,  especially 
mouth  so  sore 
rient  medicines 
dressed  with  a 
essential  to  get 
n'Kifi:    ',,'■  '.»'  -'•] ..: 

sheep  they  are 
:hased  by  dogs 

derangements 
disorder,  hence 
mixture  of  dry 
are  verv  cssen- 

should  always 
I  but  little  at  a 
arefully  carried 
;ned,  especially 
rbances  of  the 

mbs  in- various 
lertain,  though 
of  the  lungs, 
rns  black.  The 
Hi".  It  may  be 
ns,  but  this  is 

sficial  in  delay- 
endy  hastened 
fid-septics  and 
ered  charcoal, 


"STXICANA   /AT  SHEEPr 


439 


minute  doses  of  sulphate  of  iron  (copperas)  and  cayenne  pepper 
seems  to  be  indicated,  though  when  the  disease  is  fairly 
developed,  it  is  doubtful  whether  any  medication  will  prevent  a 
fatal  termination.  The  disease  is  not  contagious,  though  it  may 
be  epidemic  in  certain  localities,    i     /.         i  ri  '         ! 

The  disease  described  by  Mr.  W.  B.  Shaw,  of  Beverly,  N.  Y., 
in  the  following  paragraph,  as  paper-skin,  seems  to  be  identical 
with  what  Mr.  Curtis  calls  "the  pale  disease  "  in  lambs. 

Lambs  in  this  locality  have  been  scourged  for  several  years 
past  with  a  disease  called  "  paper-skin,"  which  seems  to  be  worse 
in  wet  than  in  d^v  seasons.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  lose  an 
entire  flock  by  the  disease.  It  attacks  the  lambs  at  the  age  of 
from  three  to  five  months,  and  those  in  good  flesh  are  as  liable 
to  it  as  those  that  are  in  poor  condition.  When  attacked,  they 
become  very  pale  and  weak,  apparently  almost  entirely  bloodless. 
The  stomach  contains  small  red  v^orms,  and  frequently,  in 
addition,  the  animal  will  be  found  to  nave  tape- worm. 

We  have  no  knowledge  of  the  cause  of  the  lung -worm — a 
name  given  for  the  want  of  a  better,  perhaps,  k  affects  young 
sheep  in  a  greater  degree  and  to  a  greater  extent  than  matured 
animals.  The  worm  is  a  small  white  one,  and  is  found  in  con- 
siderable numbers  in  the  lungs,  or  in  the  ;;jbes  connecting  the 
windpipe  with  the  lungs.  The  disease  is  less  frequent  than 
either  of  those  named  above,  but  the  fatality  is  greater  in  com- 
parison with  the  number  affected.  The  symptoms  are  weakness, 
failure  to  eat,  loss  of  flesh,  and  a  cough.  This  disease  is  but 
little  understood  by  the  wool-grower.  ■i,.,!i  ,'tvl  t'»  .r - 
.  Stricana  or  strichina  is  perhaps  a  very  incorrect  name  (or 
another  disease  affecting  sheep.  It  is  caused  by  a  very  small 
worm,  so  minute  indeed,  that  it  cannot  be  seen  without  the  aid 
of  a  magnifying  glass.  It  is  believed  to  cause  the  sheep  to  pick 
or  bite  the  wool  from  its  sides,  flank,  and  other  parts,  until  the 
fleece  becomes  more  or  less  ragged  and  wasted.  The  skin 
becomes  rough  and  shows  symptoms  of  disease.  It  is  not 
contagious,  but  attacks  sheep  of  all  ages.  It  is  more  damaging 
in  flocks  that  have  been  closely  bred  "  in  and  in  "  for  many 
years;  indeed,  this  is  the  case  with  most  diseases.     As  both  a 


"-»»«(«•  iWrfi»*V_'«/.V'K';^«.ft«ti.'i*,..-^  j;i 


=i'-J5--it»tt!*!Ka!h.'3li«¥i*^i»f^*'' 


;.iiH;t:y3Ki*i9»m;i!5CJC- ' 


440 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


preventative  and  cure,  wood  and  cob  ashes  with  salt  are  used 
with  partial  success.  We  have  seen  sheep  in  Vermont  and 
Massachusetts  badly  affected  with  this  disease  as  well  as  in  our 
own  State.  ■■  -^i'  -^^     ■'■■   ■  '  *'      ■'■-'•'•^  • 

The  sheep  in  the  more  Northern  States  and  Territories  of  the 
Great  West,  are  as  a  rule  less  subject  to  disease  than  those  of 
the  Southern  States  and  Territories.  This  is  probably  due  to 
the  absence  of  marshy  and  moist  lands,  the  purer  and  more 
elevated  atmosphere,  the  great  range  of  pasturage  and  the 
absence  or  rarity  of  those  insect  and  vegetable  pests  which 
produce  and  promote  disease  among  these  harmless  animals. 


CHAPTER  X.  ^;  s  -      ' 

Other  Farm  Animals — Breeding  Swjne — Swine  Husbandry  less  Popular 
IN  THE  Great  West  than  East  of  the  ■  'ississippi — The  States  and  Terri- 
tories MOST  LARGELY  ENGAGED  IN  IT — ThE  BeST  BrEEDS — MoDES  OF  MAN- 
AGEMENT— The  Margin  of  Profit  in  the  Business — Diseases  to  which 
Swine  are  Liable — Breeding  of  Horses,  Asses,  and  Mules  for  the  Mar- 
ket— This  Pursuit  very  Profitable — Dogs — The  Shepherd  Dog — Dogs 
for  Hunting — The  Greyhl-und;  Different  Varieties — Pointers,  Set- 
ters, Bull-dogs,  Coach-dogs,  Terriers— Mongrel  Hunting  Dogs — Indian 
Cur-dogs — Crosses  Between  Dogs  and  Wolves — Worthless  Dogs  very 
Destructive  of  Sheep.  .  ^^ 

The  whole  of  "  Our  Western  Empire"  reported,  at  the  close  of 
1879,  but  a  litrie  more  than  I2,cxx),cxx)  swine,  only  about  one- 
third  of  the  whole  number  in  the  United  States.  Iowa  had  nearly 
3,000,000,  one-fourth  jf  the  whole  number,  and  Missouri  another 
fourth.  Of  the  other  half,  Texas  had  a  little  more  than  2,000,000, 
or  one-third;  Kansas  and  Arkansas  respectively  1,300,000  and 
1,200,000;  and  the  remainder  were  divided  among  the  other  States 
and  Territories ;  those  on  the  Pacific  slope  having  the  smallest 
numbers.  Beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains,  rearing  swine  is  not  a 
favorite  pursuit  with  the  farmers,  partly  perhaps  because  the 
climate  and  seasons  are  not  so  well  adapted  to  the  animal,  and 
pardy  because  there  is  more  difficulty  in  protecting  a  herd  ot 


SWINE-BREEDING  IN  THE    WEST. 


441 


alt  are  used 
ermont  and 
rell  as  in  our 

itories  of  the 
lan  those  of 
jably  due  to 
r  and  more 
ge  and  the 
pests  which 
animals. 


•  LESS  Popular 
PES  AND  Terri- 

lODES  OF  MaN- 
\SES  TO  WHICH 
FOR  THE  Mar- 
ID  Dog — Dogs 
'ointers,  Set- 
Dogs — Indian 
ESS  Dogs  very 


the  close  of 
'  about  one- 
a  had  nearly 
ouri  another 
in  2,ocx),ooo, 
30o,ocx)  and 
other  States 
the  smallest 
^ine  is  not  a 
because  the 

animal,  and 
r  a  herd  of 


swine  from  the  attacks  of  wild  animals,  and  from  other  thieves, 
than  sheep  or  neat-cattle.  Sheep  are  easily  driven  or  led,  but 
the  swine  seems  to  have  inherited  the  perversity  of  his  ancestors, 
and  persistently  seeks  to  go  in  the  very  direction  that  he  should 
not.  There  are,  however,  hogs  and  hogs  ;  some  bn^eds  are  quiet, 
gentle,  and  well-behaved,  while  others,  lank,  lean  and  long-limbed, 
will  spring  over  a  fence  as  nimbly  as  a  shepherd's  dog,  and  though 
fleet  of  foot,  and  of  evil  and  pugnacious  temper,  possess  few  or 
no  good  qualities  to  counterbalance  these  objectionable  ones. 
The  Southern  swine  are  not,  as  a  rule,  of  the  best  breeds,  though 
there  have  been  great  efforts  made  of  late  in  Texas  to  improve 
the  stock,  and  with  a  commendable  degree  of  success.  Iowa  is, 
after  Illinois,  the  largest  raiser  of  swine  in  the  Union,  and  in  that 
State,  Missouri  and  Kansas,  which  follow  after  in  the  numbers  of 
their  swine  (the  three  States  having  about  7,000,000,  worth  about 
J542,ooo,ooo),  great  efforts  have  been  made  to  raise  only  the  best 
stock. 

In  these  States,  long  experience  has  led  the  best  farmers  to 
prefer  two  or  three  breeds,  and  their  crosses.  In  Kansas,  and 
we  think  in  Iowa  and  Missouri,  these  breeds  are  the  Poland- 
China,  especially  as  improved  by  D.  M.  Megie ;  the  Berkshire, 
either  the  English  or  the  improved  large  Berkshire;  various 
crosses  of  these  two,  some  preferring  the  Berkshire  and  others 
the  Poland-China  boar  with  the  sow  of  the  other  breed,  and  the 
Chester  White,  either  pure  or  crossed  with  the  Berkshire.  A 
very  few  cling  to  the  Essex  and  Suffolk  breeds,  but  the  number  of 
these,  as  well  as  the  advocates  of  the  pii  re  Chester  Whites,  are 
decreasing  every  year.  The  general  opinion  seems  to  be  that 
the  Poland-Chinas  make  the  largest  and  most  quiet  hogs,  and 
give  the  best  return  for  the  money  expended  on  them,  and  give 
the  largest  litter,  but  are  rather  too  large  in  bone,  and  require  a 
great  amount  of  feeding.  The  Berkshires  have  smaller  bones, 
and  their  meat  is  in  the  right  place  to  make  fine  hams  and  shoul- 
ders, and  their  flesh  is  very  fine-grained.  They  are  the  best  for 
the  farmer's  own  packing,  but  do  not  weigh  as  much  at  a  year 
or  a  year  and  a-half  old  as  the  Poland-Chinas,  and  do  not  have  as 
large  a  litter  as  the  Poland-Chinas.     It  is  universally  agreed  that 


.  j  »^  Ksr';^,  t^rWNrtfr*^-- 


itasflujiasfaci: 


i^-t^i'ti! 


442 


OCX   uT.s/r.KX  /■:A//'/A^e. 


m 


the  crosses  of  these  breeds  make  altogether  the  best  animals  for 
market.  These  crosses  should  weirli  at  one  year  old,  wht-n  fat- 
tened, from  350  to  450  pounds,  and  at  ei^jhtecn  or  tvcply  months 
from  650  to  700  pounds.  With  corn  at  twciity  cents  a  bushel,  and 
some  pasture,  and  proper  treatment,  pork  can  be  made  in  Cen- 
tral and  Western  Kansas  at  from  $2  to  $2.25  per  100.  pounds, 
and  it  will  bring  from  $2.87  to  $3.50  per  hundred,  live  weight. 
Most  of  the  diseases,  to  which  swine  are  subject,  can  be  pre- 
vented much  more  easily  than  they  can  be  cured,  and  the  sensi- 
ble and  judicious  swine-breeder  will  find  that,  by  avoiding  crowd- 
ing, damp  and  filthy  pens  or  wallows,  by  occasional  changes  of 
pasture,  and  the  use  of  green  food,  and  mashes  when  the  dry 
food  is  too  constipating,  it  will  be  possible  to  ward  off  disease, 
and  to  have  a  perfecdy  healthy  herd  of  swine.  The  various 
forms  of  worms  which  infest  swine— the  tape-worm,  the  trichina, 
and  the  round  worms — are,  to  a  considerable  extent,  the  result 
of  gr6ss  and  foul  feeding,  and  of  filthy  and  close  pens.  The  hog 
is  not  an  uncleanly  animal  if  he  has  the  opportunity  to  be  clean. 
The  great  losses  sustained,  for  some  years  past,  by  those 
engaged  in  rearing  swine,  from  the  disease  variously  known  as 
Hog-Cholera,  Swine-Plague  and  Hog-Fever  (losses  amounting 
in  1877  to  more  than$i2,cx)o,CKX)),  led  the  United  States  Agricul- 
tural Department  at  Washington  to  make,  in  1878,  a  very 
thorough  investigation  of  the  disease,  including  its  history,  symp- 
toms, causes,  diagnosis,  prognosis,  post-mortem  appearances, 
preventive  measures  and  treatment  The  investigation  was  con- 
fided to  four  of  the  most  eminent  veterinary  surgeons  in  the 
United  States — Drs.  H.  J.  Detmers  of  Chicago,  James  Law  of 
Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  D.  W.  Voyles  of  New  Albany,  Ind.,  and  D.  E. 
Salmon  of  Swannanea,  N.  C. — each  of  whom  spent  months  in  the 
investigation,  pursuing  it  ind-^pendently  of  all  the  others,  and 
without  conference  with  them.  The  results  of  these  investiga- 
tions were  published  'n  a  very  valuable  volume  in  the  autumn  of 
1879,  with  numerous  colored  plates  of  the  appearances  of  the 
lungs,  stomach  and  intestines,  and  tables  and  records  of  the  con- 
clusions to  which  they  came.  These  reports  are  so  able  and 
exhaustive,  and  of  so  high  and  conclusive  authority^  that  we  be- 


m. 


wm 


THE  SWINEPLAGUR  OR  HOC-CHOLERA. 


443 


est  animals  for 
'  old,  when  fat- 
tv.'tPty  months 
ts  a  bushel,  and 

made  in  Cen- 
:r  loo.  pounds, 
id,  live  weight, 
t,  can  be  pre- 
and  the  sensi* 
voiding  crowd- 
lal  changes  of 
when  the  dry 
rd  off  disease, 
The  various 
n,  the  trichina, 
:ent,  the  result 
ens.  The  hog 
ty  to  be  clean, 
jast,  by  those 
jsly  known  as 
ies  amounting 
States  Agricul- 

1878,  a   very 
history,  symp- 

appearances, 
;ation  was  con- 
rgeons  in  the 
[ames  Law  of 
1,  and  D.  E. 
months  in  the 
le  others,  and 
ese  investiga- 
the  autumn  of 
irances  of  the 
rds  of  the  con- 
:  so  able  and 
y,  that  we  be- 


lieve we  are  doing  a  valuable  service  to  the  farmers  of  the  United 
States,  and  especially  of  the  West,  in  giving  a  brief  summary  of 
the  results  of  their  researches.  They  will  serve,  at  least,  to  show 
that  the  only  safeguard  against  the  disease  lies  in  measures  of 
prevention  and  precaution,  which  every  farmer  engaged  in  raising 
swine  should  adopt ;  that  great  pains  should  be  taken  to  keep 
swine  in  a  perfectly  healthy  and  vigorous  condition,  and  that  their 
pens  and  troughs,  as  well  as  the  swine  themselves,  should  fie  kept 
clean;  that  close  inbreeding  is  wrong,  as  weakening  the  con- 
stitutions of  the  animals  and  rendering  them  more  liable  to  dis- 
ease ;  and  that  where  the  disease  appears,  the  infected  herd 
should  be  kept  isolated,  thorough  disinfection  practised  daily,  and 
all  diseased  hogs  killed  at  once,  and  either  buried  very  deeply 
or  burned,  so  as  to  prevent  the  spread  of  the  infection  ;  that  the 
owners  of  the  slaughtered  hogs  should  be  repaid  two-thirds  of 
their  value,  if  they  will  report  the  casts  immediately  on  the  out- 
break of  the  disease  and  follow  directions ;  that  all  hauling  of 
diseased  or  dead  hogs  along  public  roads  or  by  railroad  trains, 
or  in  any  way  exposing  other  herds  to  infection,  should  be  pro- 
hibited under  heavy  penalties,  and  all  communication  of  the 
infection  by  fodder,  running  water  or  the  clothing  of  swineherds 
or  others,  should  be  prevented;  and  the  lots  on  which  these  dis- 
eased herds  or  animals  have  been  penned  even  for  a  single 
night,  should  be  disinfected,  and  plowed  deeply  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  infection,    i  <  <   > /.    ^.r.  ^.i  .<- 

But  we  can  perhaps  best  benefit  our  farming  friends  by  giving 
summaries  of  these  reports  in  the  very  words  of  the  veterinary 
surgeons ;  and,  first,  of  the 


i'n 


','nc  yr'.rti  >!■ 


DESCRIPTION  OF   THE   DISEASE. 


The  disease,  though  popularly  called  Hog- Cholera,  has  really 
no  resemblance  to  cholera  or  to  malignant  pustule.  It  has 
somewhat  more  resemblance  to  the  pleuro-pneumonia  which  has 
proved  so  destructive  of  catde ;  but  is  not  identical  with  that  dis- 
ease. It  is  undoubtedly  contagious  and  infectious,  and  the  ex- 
periments and  researches  of  these  veterinary  surgeons,  many 
times   repeated   and   under  a  great  variety  of  circumstances, 


J 


m 


."J^ 


[iTi^fXr^anTiar^ 


OUX    H'SSI'EJIA/    AAf/'//(t% 

tojjether  with  their  post-mortem  examinations,  have  proved  that 
it  can  be  transmitted,  by  inoculation  and  by  devouring  portions 
of  the  flesh  of  diseased  animals,  to  other  swine,  and  to  rabbits, 
sheep,  and  dogs  as  well,  and  produces  the  same  symptoms  and 
as  often  the  same  fatal  termination,  as  where  it  is  communicated 
by  ordinary  contact.     The  veterinarians   are  agreed   in    these 
points,  that  i*^  is  produced  by  the  transmission  of  a  specific  germ, 
a  bacillus  as  some  of  them  call  it,  into  the  stomach  or  circulation, 
and   that   this  germ  is  propagated  with  inconceivable  rapidity 
and  may  promote  diseased  action  in  any  organ  or  set  of  organs, 
the  lungs,  liver,  stomach,  bowt;ls,  lymphatics,  kidneys,  mur.cles, 
nerves  or  brain,  but  that  the  lungs  and  the  lymphatic  glands  are 
always  affected,  and  the  other  organs  and  tissues,  one  or  more 
of  them  often.     The  best  name  for  it  is  Swine-Plague  or  Hoff' 
Fei'er.     The  disease  does  rot  originate  from  filth,  crowding,  and 
improper  or  heatuij  food,  but  when  It  has  been  once  communi- 
cated to  any  member  of  a  herd    of  swine,  its  propagation  is 
gready  accelerated,  and  its  moriHlity  hastened  and  aggravated 
by  impure  and  unwholesome  surroundings. 

,  ,,v      ,    ,,,      ;.  SYMPTOMS   AND    DIAGNOSIS. 

The  disease  is  ushered  in  by  a  cold  shivering,  lasting  from  a 
few  minutes  to  several  hours,  frequent  sneezing  ami  more  or 
less  coughing.  The  temperature  of  the  body  is  increased,  and 
though  it  is  a  difficult  matter  to  ascertain  the  exact  temperature 
:vithout  a  struggle  which  will,  of  itself,  increa,  the  temperature, 
yet  enough  seems  to  have  been  ascertained  to  make  it  certain 
that  it  ranges  between  two  or  three  and  ten  or  twelve  decrees 
above  the  normal  or  healthy  temperature.  There  is  also  at  first 
a  partial,  and  soon  a  total  loss  of  appetite ;  a  rough  and  some- 
what staring  appearance  of  the  coat  of  hair ;  a  drooping  of  the 
ears  (characteristic)  ;  loss  of  vivacity ;  attempts  to  vomit  (in 
some  cases)  ;  a  tendency  to  root  in  the  bedding  and  to  lie  down 
in  a  dark  and  quiet  corner ;  a  dull  look  of  the  eyes,  which  not 
seldom  become  dim  and  injected  ;  swelling  of  the  head  (observed 
in  several  cases) ;  eruptions  on  the  ears  and  on  other  parts  of 
the  body  (quite  frequent)  ;  bleeding  from  the  nose   (in  a  few 


'^^----■'^sHirtiliiii 


iil 


SWlNRPt.ACUE:   HOW  RECOGNIZED. 


445 


ve  proved  that 
uring  portions 
and  to  rabbits, 
symptoms  and 

communicated 
reed   in    these 

specific  germ, 

or  circulation, 
ivable  rapidity 

set  of  organs, 
Ineys,  mur.cles, 
atic  glands  are 
3,  one  or  more 
^lague  or  Hoc^- 
crowding,  and 
nee  communi- 
:)ropagation  is 
id  aggravated 


asting  from  a 
and  more  or 
increased,  and 
t  temperature 
:  temperature, 
lake  it  certain 
ivelve  degrees 
is  also  at  first 
§^h  and  sonie- 
ooping  of  the 
to  vomit  (in 
id  to  lie  down 
/es,  which  not 
;ad  (observed 
ther  parts  of 
se   (in  a  few 


cases) ;  swelling  of  the  eyelids  and  partial  or  total  blindness  (in 
five  or  six  cases) ;  dizziness  or  apparent  pressure  on  the  brain ; 
accelerated  and  frequently  laborious  breathing ;  more  or  less 
constipation,  or  in  some  cases,  diarrhoea;  a  gaunt  appearance  of 
the  Hanks  ;  a  pumping  motion  of  the  same  at  each  brcatn  ;  rapid 
emaciation ;  a  vitiated  appetite  for  dung,  dirt  and   saline  sub- 
stances ;  increased  thirst  (sometimes)  ;  accumulation  of  mucus  in 
the  corners  of  the  eyes  (very  often  at  an  early  stage  of  the  dis- 
ease) ;  more  or  less  copious  discharges  from  the  nose,  etc.     The 
peculiar  offensive  and  fetid  smell  of  the  exhalations  and  of  th<j 
excrements  may  be  considered  as  characteristic  of  the  disease. 
This  odor  is  so  penetrating  as  to  announce  its  presence,  espe- 
cially if  the  herd  of  swine  is  a  large  one,  at  a  distance  of  half  a 
mile,  or  even  farther,  if  the  wind  is  favorable.     If  the  animal- 
are  inclined  to  be  costive,  the  dung  is  usually  grayish  or  browr^ 
ish  black,  and  hard;  if  diarrhoea  is  present,  the  faeces  are  semi 
fluid,  and  of  a  grayish  green  color,  and  contain  in  some  cases  an 
admixture  of  blood.     In  a  large  number  of  cases  the  more  ten- 
der portions  of   the   skin  on   the  lower  surface  of  the  body, 
between  the  hind  legs,  behind  the  ears,  and  even  on  the  nose 
and  on  the  neck,  exhibit  numerous  larger  or  smaller  red  spots, 
or  (sometimes)  a  uniform  redness  (Red  Soldier  of  the  English). 
Toward  a  fatal  termination  of  the  disease  this  redness  changes 
frequently  to  purple.     A  physical  exploration  of  the  thorax  re- 
veals, if  pleuritis  is  existing,  frequently  a  plain  rubbing  sound. 
As  the  morbid  process  progresses  the  movements  of  tho  sick 
animal  become  weaker  and  slower ;  the  gait  becomes  staggering 
and  undecided ;  the  steps  made  are  short,  as  if  the  animal  was 
unable  to  advance  its  legs  without  pain ;  sometimes  lameness, 
especially  in  a  hind  leg  (not  very  often),  and  sometimes  great 
weakness  in  the  hind   quarters,  or  partial  paralysis   (oftener) 
make  their  appearance.     The  head,  if  the  animal  is  on  its  legs, 
seems  to  be  too  heavy  to  be  carried,  and  is  kept  in  a  drooping 
position  with  the  nose  almost  touching  the  ground ;  but  as  a 
general  rule  the  diseased  animals  are  usually  found  lying  down 
in  a  dark  and  quiet  corner  with  the  nose  hid  in  the  bedding.     If 
a  fatal  termination  is  approaching,  a  very  fetid  diarrhgea  (utiually 


_jt£i 


446 


OVK    WKlitKltf/  EMP/KF. 


I     ^ 


one  or  two  days  before  de?ntli)  takf.n  the  place  of  the  previous 
costiveness ;  the  voice  becomes  very  peculiar,  jrrows  very  faint 
and  hoarse ;  the  sick  animal  manifests  a  great  indifference  to  its 
surroundings,  and  to  what  is  going  on  ;  emaciation  and  general 
debility  increase  very  fast ;  the  skin  (especially  if  the  diseasfr  has 
been  of  long  duration)  becomes  wrinkled,  harfl,  dry,  parchment- 
like, and  very  unclean;  a  cold,  clammy  sweat  breaks  out 
(observed  several  times,  once  as  early  as  forty-eigh.t  hours 
before  death),  and  death  ensues  either  under  convulsions  (com- 
paratively rare),  or  gradually  and  without  any  stnigglo.  A 
peculiar  symptom,  which,  however,  has  been  observed  only  once, 
in  a  litter  of  nine  pigs,  about  a  week  old,  at  the  beginning,  or  in 
the  first  stage  of  the  disease,  may  here  be  mentioned.  It  con- 
sisted in  a  peculiar  and  constant  twitching  of  all  voluntary  mus- 
cles. All  nine  pigs  died,  and  I  am  sorry  that  I  had  no  oppor- 
tunity to  make  zx\y  posl-mortem  examination.    ''<'*  J»'"i    .  jiJUs  .in 

In  some  cases  numerous  eruptions  (ulcerous  nodules) 
appeared  on  the  tender  skin  on  the  lower  surface  of  the  body 
between  fhe  legs  and  behind  the  ears,  and  in  a  few  cases  whole 
pieces  of  skm  (in  one  case  as  large  as  a  man's  hand)  were 
destroyed  by  the  morbid  process,  sloughed  off",  and  left  brhind  a 
raw,  ulcerous  surface.  In  another  case  a  part  of  the  lower  lip, 
of  the  gums,  and  of  the  lower  jaw-bone  had  undergone  ulcerous 
destruction.  .*. -,«<».„)/  rnj  /■      .'uqTiKjrju  !i\u:>u\\:u\ 

Wherever  pigs  of  hogs  had  been  ringed,  the  wounds  thus 
made  showed  a  great  tendency  to  ulcerate.  In  several  cases  the 
morbid  process  had  caused  sufficient  ulcerou's  destruction  to 
form  an  opening  directly  into  the  nasal  cavities  large  enough  to 
enable  the  animal  to  breathe  through,  instead  of  throu,qli  the 
nostrils,  which  had  become  nearly  dosed  by  swelling  and  by 
exudations  and  morbid  products  adhering  to  their  borders.  ^'  ''' 

In  those  few  cases  in  which  the  disease  has  not  a  fatal  termi- 
flfation  the  symptoms  gradually  disappear,  coughing  becomes  more 
frequent  and  easier ;  the  discharges  from  the  nose,  for  a  day  or 
two,  become  copious,  but  soon  diminish,  and  finally  cease  alto- 
gether; appetite  returns,  and  becomes  normal;  the  offensive  smell 
of  the  excrements  disappears ;  sores  or  ulcers  that  may  happen 


DISriXCTIVK  SYAtrrOMS  OF  SWINE  PLAGUR. 


U7 


the  previous 
)ws  very  faint 
ffcrtmce  to  its 

1  and  jj;cneral 
tie  tliseaso  has 
y,  parchment- 
t  bnaks  out 
y-ci^l'.t  hours 
ulsions  (com- 

.stniy;j.;l('.  A 
vvxl  only  once, 
'•^•innini:^,  or  in 
onecl.  It  con- 
okintary  mus- 
ad  no  oppor- 

ous    nodules) 

2  of  the  body 
w  casc>s  whole 
5  hand)  were 
1  left  btliind  A 
the  lowrr  lip, 
jone  ulcerous 

'iUi  'III  • 

wounds  thus 
eral  cases  the 
estruction  to 
•ge  enouj^h  to 

tlirou;;;li  the 
lling  nrul  by 
jorders. 

fatal  termi- 

)e comes  more 

for  a  day  or 

y  cease  altO'- 

ffensive  smell 

may  iiappen 


to  exist,  show  a  tendency  to  heal;  the  animal  becomes  more  lively, 
and  gains,  though  slowly,  in  llesh  and  strength ;  but  some  diffi- 
culty of  breathing,  and  a  short,  somewhat  hoarse,  hacking  cough 
remains  for  a  long  time. 

The  diagnosis,  or  disdnctive  symptoms  of  the  disease,  arc  thus 
detailed  by  I  )r.  Dctmcrs : 

"The  diagnosis  is  very  easy,  especially  if  swinc-plague  is  known 
to  be  prevailing  in  the  neighborhood,  or  has  already  made  its 
appearance  in  the  herd,  and  if  die  fact  that  many  animals  arc 
attacked  at  once,  or  within  a  short  time  and  in  rapid  succession, 
are  taken  into  consideration.  As  symptoms  of  special  diagnostic 
value,  scarcely  ever  absent  in  any  case,  may  be  mentioned  the 
drooping  of  the  ears  and  of  the  head;  more  or  less  coughing; 
the  dull  look  of  the  eyes ;  the  staring  appearance  of  the  coat  of 
hair;  the  partial  or  total  want  of  appedte  fpr  food ;  the  vitiated 
appetite  for  excrements ;  the  rapid  emaciation  ;  the  great  debility; 
the  weak  and  undecided,  frequently  staggering,  gait ;  the  g.-eat 
indifference  to  surroundings ;  the  tendency  to  lie  down  in  a  dark 
corner,  and  to  hide  the  noie,  or  even  the  whole  head  in  the  bed- 
ding, and  particularly  the  specific,  offensive  smell,  and  the  peculiar 
color  ol  the  exi  rcnunts.  This  symptom  is  always  present,  at 
least  in  an  advanced  stage  of  the  disease,  no  matter  whether  con- 
stipation or  diarrhoea  is  existing.  As  other  characteristic  symp- 
toms, though  not  present  in  every  animal,  deserve  to  be  men- 
tioned :  frequent  sneezing  ;  bleeding  from  the  nose  ;  swelling  of 
the  eyelids ;  accumulation  of  mucus  in  the  inner  canthi  of  the 
eyes  ;  attempts  to  vomit,  or  real  vomiting  ;  accelerated  and  diffi- 
cult breathing;  thumping  or  spasmodic  contraction  of  the  ab- 
dominal muscles  (flanks)  at  each  breath,  and  a  peculiar,  faint  and 
hoarse  voice  in  the  last  stages  of  the  disease." 
'  The  PROGNOSIS  or  probable  result  of  the  disease  is  decidedly 
unfavorable,  but  is  the  more  so  the  younger  the  animals  or  the 
larger  the  herd.  Among  pigs  less  than  three  months  old  the 
mortality  may  be  set  down  as  from  ninety  to  one  hundred  per 
cent. ;  among  animals  three  to  six  or  seven  months  old  the  same 
is  from  seventy-five  to  ninety  per  cent. ;  while  among  older 
animals  that  have  been  well  kept  and  are  in  good  condition,  and 


J.i 


^^'^^ 


at/ium 


fiif/Mi  i    ■*''  itif ' 


-itmk- 


448 


otNt  nmxrjtJty  HMtiitM. 


!!!!. 


ill 


naturally  stronj^  and  vijforoiis,  the  mortaln  y  Hornctinu's  may  not 
exct't;d  iw«niy-rive  per  cent.,  but  may,  on  an  averaj^e;,  rracli  forty 
to  filty  |)<;r  cent.  The  pro^noxi.s  ih  conipatiitivcly  tavorablc  only 
in  those  ft:w  cases  in  which  ihtr  morbid  proccH*  is  not  vt;ry  violent; 
in  whicii  the  !«rat  of  the  disease  in  confmed  to  the  retipiratory 
organs  and  to  the  skin ,  in  which  any  thumpinjr  or  pumping 
motion  of  the  flanks  is  absent;  and  in  which  the  patiient  is, 
naturally,  a  strong,  vi^^^orous  animal,  not  too  young  and  in  a  ^'ood 
condition  ;  further,  in  which  but  a  few,  not  more  than  two  or  three, 
animv-\lH  are  kept  in  the  same  pen  or  sty,  and  receive  nothing  but 
clean,  unmntimiinated  food  and  pure  water  for  drinking,  and  in 
whirh  a  frequent  and  thorough  cleaning  of  the  sty  or  pen  pn^- 
vents  miy  consumption  of  excrements. 

The  duration  of  the  disease  varies  according  to  the  violence 
and  the  seat  of  the  morbid  process,  the  age  and  the  constitution 
of  the  patient,  and  the  treatment  and  keeping  in  general.  Whei-e 
the  morbid  process  is  violent,  where  its  principal  seat  is  in  one 
of  the  most  vital  organs — in  the  heart,  for  instance — where  a 
large  number  of  animals  are  kept  together  in  one  sty  or  pen, 
where  sties  and  pens  are  very  dirty,  or  where  the  sick  animals 
are  very  younj^r.  the  disease  frequently  becomes  fatal  in  a  day  or 
two,  and  somcimes  even  within  twenty-four  hours.  On  the 
other  hand,  where  the  morbid  process  is  not  very  violent  or  ex- 
tensive, where  the  heart,  for  instance,  is  not  seriously  affected, 
and  where  the  patients  are  naturally  strong  and  vigorous,  and 
well  kept  in  every  respect,  it  usually  takes  from  one  to  three 
weeks  to  cause  death.  If  the  termination  is  not  a  fatal  one,  the 
convalescence,  at  any  rate,  requires  an  equal  and  probably  a 
much  longer  time.  A  perfect  recovery  seldom  occurs ;  in  most 
cases  some  lasting  disorders — morbid  changes  which  can  be  re- 
paired but  slowly  or  not  at  all — remain  behind,  and  interfere 
more  or  less  with  the  growth  and  fattening  of  the  animaKuviuuii 

From  a  pecuniary  standpoint,  it  makes  but  little  difference  to 
the  owner  whether  a  pig  affected  with  this  plague  recovers  or 
dies,  because  those  which  do  survive  usually  make  very  poor 
returns  for  the  food  consumed,  unless  tiife.att»:k  has  been  a  very 
jnild  one.  ft^#il*<ittp  «ji-.»i^'b(ii*,:K{r)dt.  {St«  -ivrndi  yv?,fi'H-4J  «l[f;mw»5 


TUB  (.'/i/iMX  WHfttt  IHonVCR    Ifth  DISF-AUt. 


449 


nes  may  not 
;,  nucU  forty 
vorablo  only 
very  viokni; 
;  rcupiratory 
or  pumping 
e  patit^nt  is, 
ml  in  a  good 
two  or  three, 
<  nothing  but 
iking,  and  in 
or  pen  prr- 

!.  .     •■    .1. 

the  violence 
:  constitution 
icral.    Wiiei-e 
eat  is  in  one 
ice — where  a 
e  sty  or  pen, 
sicic  animals 
il  in  a  day  or 
rs.     On  the 
iolent  or  ex- 
it sly  affected, 
igorous,  and 
ne  to  three 
Ifatal  one,  the 
probably  a 
[urs ;  in  most 
111  can  be  re- 
ind  interfere 
nimal. 

Idifference  to 
recovers  or 
;e  very  poor 
been  a  very 


Wp  have  alr<ea.1y  m>okcn  of  th<»  eontA^^foui  anci  Inffctlons  char- 
acter of  the  disease*,  and  of  iiM  propaganon  by  mcan^  of  the  diffu 
»ion  of  gt*rms,  Ihrse  gemis,  though  of  a  v<Ty  low  order  of 
structure,  arc  propagated  in  th|f  stomach,  inti'stines.  or  blood  of 
the  swine  with  extraordinary  rapitlity.  Thry  arc  brjicved  to  be 
a  spt!cies  of  the  JiiMfUna,  th«'  f  tniiiy  name  of  these  yeast  or  de- 
structive germs.  Dr.  Detmrrs  hhI  nomc  others  have  givf;n  this 
partid'.ir  species  the  nattu*  ot  /^  ici//us  Sttis,  ov  '  \\tt\e  Ba< //'r;a 
of  th«'  swine."  How  it  enter*  ti:  -u»math,  bowels,  or  blood  of 
the  swine  is  a  qut  stion  which  ha,  1  .en  vrry  carefully  investi'^ated. 
It  was  at  first  believed  that  thi  se  germs  (wli,  h  are  very  mmute) 
were  drivd  aiui  reduced  to  jxiwder  by  the  action  ot  thr  sun  and 
wind,  and  so  taken  up  by  tHe  wind,  and  carrier'  a  distance 
when  they  were  inhaled  and  taken  into  the  hii  ^  by  the  swine, 
and  thus  affected  the  system  of  the  animal. 

This  theory  is  now  exploded,  for  very  good  reasons.  The 
inhalation  of  these  germs  does  not  seem  to  be  attended  with 
injurious  effects;  and  the  present  belief  of  veterinary  surgeons, 
as  well  as  of  intelligent  swine-farmers,  is  that  while  these  germs 
are  taken  up  by  the  air  and  carried  to  a  con'^iderable  distance, 
they  are  deposited  up«jn  the  grass  Li  ihe  dew,  or  by  light  rains, 
or  fall  into  streams  or  creeks  and  impregnate  the  water,  so  that 
those  swine  which  feed  upon  the  grass  or  drink  flie  water  thus 
charged  with  bacilH  take  the  germs  into  their  stomachs,  and  not 
only  become  infected  themselves  but  infect  others.  Dr.  Dctmers 
says :  "  I  have  not  been  able  to  learn  of  any  herd  remaining  ex- 
empted after  the  disease  had  once  made  its  appearance  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood,  unless  the  anim&ls  constituting  the 
herd  were  free  from  any  external  lesions  (sores,  wounds,  or  the 
h'ke),  were  watered  from  a  well,  fed  with  clean  food,  and  shut  up 
during  the  night  and  in  the  morning  till  the  dew  had  disappeared 
from  the  grass,  either  in  a  bare  yard  not  containing  any  old 
straw  stacks,  or  in  sties  or  pens.  Animals  allowed  to  run  out 
on  a  pasture,  or  on  grass,  clover,  or  stubble-fields  at  all  times  of 
the  day,  and  animals  that  had  external  sores  or  wounds,  con- 
tracted the  disease  sooner  or  later  in  every  instance  where  the 
plague  made  its  appearance  in  the  neighborhood.     Further,  the 


'tS^it^ 


'  ••' ^^m.  *!^    •■ 


'JMMCt 


4$o 


OtfM    WBSTtMN  MUtPiMH. 


pla{;iir,  at  lc*a«t  during  the  Aummrr  or  while  a  imuth  wiml  wan  pre- 
vailint;,  nrcmril  to  have  a  Hfiecial  tcndrncy  to  nprraii  from  nouth 
to  north.  If  the  hiiitory  of  Rwine  plague  i»  in(|iiirecl  into,  it  will 
probably  U*  fouml  that  that  tendency  haH  been  prevailing  every 
year.  Thin  year,  for  instance,  the  dineane  made  itn  appearance, 
as  I  have  b<'(;n  informed,  for  the  fir»t  time,  in  Wincomiin.  '1  he  •€ 
facts,  of  course,  could  not  fail  to  be  tu^^estive.  So  1  conceived 
the  idea  that  the  conta^iouH  or  infectiouH  principle,  abundant  in 
the  excretions  of  the  diseased  animuU,  might  rise  in  the  air  in 
daytime,  be  carried  ofT  a  certain  distance  by  winds,  and  come 
down  a^Min  during  the  night  with  the  dew.  That  such  might  be 
the  case  appeared  to  be  possible,  because  the  excrements  of 
hogs,  if  exposed  to  the  influence  of  sunlight,  heat,  rain,  and  wind, 
are  soon  ground  to  powder  (partially  at  least),  which  is  line 
enough  to  be  raised  into  the  air  and  to  be  carried  off  by  winds. 
Moreover,  as  the  bacillus-germs,  which,  I  have  no  ddid)t,  must 
be  looked  upon  as  the  infectious  principle,  are  so  exceedingly 
small,  it  appears  to  be  possible  and  even  probable  that  they  are 
carried  up  into  the  air  by  the  aqueous  vapom  arising  from 
evaporating  urine  and  moisture  contained  in  the  excrements, 
and  from  other  evaporating  fluids  (small  pools  of  water),  which 
may  have  become  polluted  with  the  excretions  of  sick  hogs.  To 
ascertain  the  facts,  I  collected  dew  from  the  herbage  of  a  hog-lot 
occupied  by  diseased  animals,  and  also  from  the  grass  of  an 
adjoining  pasture,  and  on  examining  the  same  under  the 
microscope  I  found  the  identical  bacilli  and  bacillus-germs 
invariably  found  in  the  blood,  other  fluids,  and  morbid  tis- 
sues of  swine  affected  with  the  plague.  Consequently,  I 
have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  bacillus-germs  rise 
into  the  air  during  the  day,  are  carried  from  one  place  to 
another  by  the  wind,  and  are  introduced  into  the  organism  of 
the  animal  either  by  eating  herbage  (grass,  clover,  etc.),  or  old 
straw  covered  with  dew,  or  by  entering  wounds  and  being 
absorbed  by  the  veins  and  lymphatics.  There  is,  however,  still 
another  way  by  which  the  contagious  or  infectious  principle  is 
conveyed  from  one  place  to  another.  It  is  by  means  of  running 
water,    It  has  been  observed  that  wherc^ver  swine-plague  pre- 


^masmm 


MWW*t* 


winti  wail  prtr 
•ad  from  noiith 
cd  into,  it  will 
•rvailin^j  pvrry 
tR  appearance, 
lonsin.  'I'lwic 
So  I  concfivrd 
\v.,  abundant  i'^ 
c  in  the  air  in 
nds,  and  come 
Huch  mi);ht  be 
L'Xtrcments  of 
rain,  and  wind, 

which  is  fme 
[  off  by  winds. 
lO  ddubt,  must 
so  exceedinjjiy 
e  that  they  are 
1  ari.sing  from 
\c  excremi'nts, 
'  water),  which 
iick  hogs.  To 
ge  of  a  hog-lot 
te  grass  of  an 
\e  under  the 
bacillus-germs 
id  morbid  tis- 
onsequently,  I 
US-germs    rise 

one  place  to 
le  organism  of 
er,  etc.),  or  old 
ids  and  being 
I,  however,  still 
us  principle  is 
;ans  of  running 
ne-plague  pre- 


'«S 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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6" 


nioliographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 
WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(7:i)S72-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ECMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadisn  Institute  for  Historical  MIcroreproductlons  /  Instltut  Canadian  de  microreproductlons  historiques 


.4. 


NOW  THE  DISEASE   IS   TKANSMlTTED. 


451 


vailed  among  hogs  that  had  access  to  running  water  (as  small 
creeks,  streamlets,  etc.),  that  all  the  hogs  and  pigs  which  had 
access  to  the  creek  or  streamlet  below  contracted  the  disease, 
usually  within  a  short  time,  while  all  the  animals  which  had 
access  above  remained  exempted,  unless  they  became  infected 
by  other  means." 

Dr.  Detmers  thinks  that  this  infection  is  not  carried  through 
the  air  to  a  greater  distance  than  a  mile,  and  perhaps  not  so  far, 
but  that  the  infection  travels  in  this  way  with  the  prevailing 
direction  of  the  winds.  '  ;i    ■  ■  "      :*!  um 

"  One  thing,"  says  Dr.  Detmers,  '*  I  am  sure  of,  and  that  is 
that  an  exclusive  corn  diet,  as  has  been  asserted  by  several 
agricultrral  writers,  wallowing  in  dirt  and  nastiness,  starvation, 
in-and-in  breeding,  etc.,  although  by  no  means  calculated  to  pro- 
mote health  or  to  invigorate  the  animal  organism,  cannot  con- 
stitute the  cause  and  cannot  produce  a  solitary  case  of  swine- 
plague,  unless  the  infectious  principles  (the  bacilli  and  their 
germs)  are  present.  If  they  are,  then,  of  course,  dirt  and  nasti- 
ness, consumption  of  unclean  food  and  of  dirty  water,  facilitate 
an  infection,  and  warmth  and  moisture,  pregnant  with  organic 
substances,  or  organic  substances  in  a  state  of  decay,  are  un- 
doubtedly well  calculated  to  preserve  the  bacillus-germs  and  to 
develop  the  bacilli^ 

'  The  propagation  of  these  germs  by  inoculation  in  healthy  pigs, 
and  also  in  rabbits,  sheep,  and  young  dogs,  and  the  develop- 
ment of  the  swine-plague  with  all  its  characteristic  symptoms 
and  its  fatal  result,  tried  so  many  times  by  all  these  veterinary 
surgeons,  demonstrates  conclusively  that  the  bacilli  germs  were 
the  specific  sources  of  the  contagion. 


■■--■rfii: 


-f   'Mv 


■.#«rj|   riw  .arr/itad.  .-,«    PREVENTIVE   MEASURES.  ,.$  ,„,,,„^,„,.  >, 

;  Dr.  Detmers  expresses  very  clearly  and  forcibly  the  measures 
which  these  four  veterinary  surgeons  agree  in  recommending, 
"  If  any  transportation  of,  or  traffic  in,  diseased  and  dead  swine  is 
efifectually  prohibited  by  proper  laws,  a  spreading  of  the  swine- 
plague  on  a  large  scale  will  be  impossible,  and  its  ravages  will 
remain  limited  to  localities  where  the  disease-germs  have  not 


4$2 


Our  western  empire. 


Iieea  destroyed,  buf  have  been  preserved  till  they  find  sufficient 
food  again.     In  order  to  prevent  such  a  local  spreading,  two 
remedies  may  be  resorted  to.     The  one  is  a  radical  one,  and 
consists  in  destroying  every  sick  hog  or  pig  immediately,  wher- 
ever the  disease  makes  its  appearance,  and  in  disinfecting  the 
infected  premises  by  such  means  as  are  the  most  effective  and 
the  most  practicable.     If  this  is  done,  and  if  healthy  hogs  are 
kept  away  from  such  a  locality,  say  for  one  month  after  the  dis- 
eased animals  have  been  destroyed,  and  the  sties,  pens,  etc.,  dis- 
infected with  chloride  of  lime  or  carbolic  acid,  and  the  yards 
plowed,  etc.,  the  disease  will  be  st?imped  out.     I  know  that  this 
lis  a  violent  way  of  dealing  with  the  pb.gue,  but  in  the  end  it  may 
prove  to  be  by  far  the  cheapest.     The  other  remedy  is  more  of 
a  palliative  character,  and  may  be  substituted  it  swine-plague,  as 
b  now  the  case,  is  prevailing  almost  everywhere,  or  in  cases  in 
which  the  radical  measures  are  considered  as  too  severe  and  too 
sweeping.     It  consists  in  a  perfect  isolation  of  every  diseased 
herd,  not  only  during  die  actual  existence  of  the  plague  but  for 
some  time,  say  one  month,  after  the  occurrence  of  the  last  case 
of  sickness,  and  after  the  sties  and  pens  have  been  thoroughly 
cleaned  and  disinfected  with  carbolic  acid  or  other  disinfectanrs 
•of  equal  efficiency,  and  the  yards,  etc.,  plowed.     Old  straw-stacks, 
etc.,  must  be  burned,  or  rapidly  converted  into  manure.     It  is 
,tlso  very  essential  thai  diseased  animals  are  not  allowed  any 
access  to  runaing  water,  streamlets  or  creeks  accessible  to  other 
healthy  s^vine.    Those  healthy  hogs  and  pigs  which  arc  within 
sthe  possible  influence  of  the  contagious  or  infectious  principle, 
perhaps  on  the  same  fa;rm  or  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of 
a  diseased  herd,  must  be  protected  by  special  means.     For  these, 
I  think,  ic  will  be  best  to  make  movable  pens,  say  eight  feet 
square,  of  common  fence-boards  (eleven  fence-boards  will  make 
a  pen) ;  put  tWa  animals  rn  each  pen ;  place  1^  latter,  if  possi- 
ble, on  high  and  dry  giroufid,  but  by  no  means  in  an  old  hog-lot, 
on  a  manure-heap,  or  near,  a  slough,  and  move  each  pen  every 
noon  to  a  new  place,  until  after  all  danger  has  passed.     If  this 
is  done  the  aninials  wiU  not  be  compelled  to  eat  their  food  soiled 
with  excrements,  and  as  dry  earth  is  a  good  cNsinfectant,  an  in- 


,*•-, 


find  sufficient 
ipreading,  two 
Ileal  one,  and 
ediately,  wher- 
isinfecting  the 
:  effective  and 
dthy  hogs  are 
I  after  the  dis- 
pens,  etc.,  dis- 
and  the  yards 
know  that  this 
the  end  it  may 
sdy  is  more  of 
wine-plague,  as 
or  in  cases  in 
severe  and  too 
every  diseased 
plague  but  for 
)f  the  last  case 
een  thoroughly 
^r  disinfectants 
•Id  straw-stacks, 
manure.    It  is 
ot  allowed  any 
essible  to  other 
hich  arc  within 
tious  principle, 
sighborhood  of 
ins.    For  these, 
say  eight  feet 
>ards  will  make 
latter.  If  possi- 
an  old  hog-lot, 
sach  pen  every 
passed.    If  this 
iheir  food  soiled 
ilnfectant,  an  in- 


rKEVENTIVR  Aff.n/CAT/OX  OF  iJJTIE   USE.  ^if 

fection,  very  likely,  will  not  take  place.  Besides  this,  the  troughs 
must  always  be  cleaned  before  water  or  foci  is  put  in,  and  the 
water  for  drinking  must  be  fresh  and  pure,  or  be  drawn  from  a 
good  well  immediately  before  it  is  poured  into  the  troughs. 
Water  from  ponds,  or  that  which  has  been  exposed  in  any  way 
or  manner  to  a  contamination  with  the  infectious  principle,  must 
not  be  used.  If  all  this  is  complied  with,  and  the  disease  not- 
withstanding should  make  its  appearance  and  attack  one  ot 
another  of  the  animals  thus  kept,  very  likely  it  will  remain  coiv* 
fined  to  that  one  pen.  '     •  '  >    '         '  i' 

"If  the  hogs  or  pigs  cannot  be  treated  in  that  way,  it  will  ht 
advisable  to  keep  every  one  shut  up  in  its  pen,  or  in  a  bare  yard, 
from  sundown  until  the  dew  next  morning  has  disappeared  from 
the  grass,  and  to  allow  neither  sick  hogs  nor  pigs,  nor  othei* 
animals,  nor  even  persons,  who  have  been  near  or  in  contact 
with  animals  affected  with  swine  plague,  to  come  near  the  animab 
intended  to  be  protected.  That  good  ventilation  and  general 
cleanliness  constit-te  valuable  auxiliary  measures  of  prevention! 
may  not  need  my  mentioning.  The  worst  thing  that  possibly 
can  be  done,  if  swine-plague  is  prevailing  in  the  neighborhood^ 
is  to  shelter  the  hogs  and  pigs  under  or  in  an  old  straw  or  hay 
stack,  because  nothing  is  more  apt  to  absorb  the  contagious  Qt 
infectious  principle,  and  to  preserve  it  longer  or  more  effectively 
than  old  straw,  hay,  or  manure-heaps  composed  mostly  of  hay 
or  straw.  It  is  even  probable  that  the  contagion  of  swine-plague, 
like  that  of  some  other  contagious  diseases,  if  absorbed  by,  or 
clinging  to,  old  straw  or  hay,  etc.,  will  remain  effective  and  ii 
source  of  spreading  the  disease  for  months,  and  maybe  for  a> 
year. 

"Therapeutically  but  little  can  be  done  to  prevent  an  outbreak 
of  swine-plague.  Where  it  is  sufficient  to  destroy  the  infectious 
pnrictple  outside  of  the  animal  organism,  carboFtc  acid  is  effec- 
tive, and,  therefore,  a  good  disinfectant ;  but  where  the  conta- 
gious or  infectious  principle  has  already  entered  the  animal 
Qi^ganism  its  value  is  doubtful.  Still,  wherever  there  is  cause  to 
suspect  that  the  food  or  the  water  for  drinking  may  have  become 
contaminated  with  the  contagion  of  swine-plagme,  it  will  be  ad^f 


•iM 


5:  'I 


454 


OUR    WESTER f/  EMPIRE. 


disable  to  give  every  morning  and  evening  some  carbolic  acid, 
gay  about  ten  drops  for  each  animal  weighing  from  120  io  150 
pounds,  in  the  water  for  drinking ;  and  wherever  there  is  reason 
to  suspect  that  the  infectious  principle  may  be  floating  in  the  air, 
it  will  be  advisable  to  treat  every  wound  or  scratch  a  hog  or  pig 
may  happen  to  have  immediately  with  diluted  carbolic  acid. 
During  a  time,  or  in  a  neighborhood  in  which  swine-plague  is 
prevailing,  care  should  be  taken  neither  to  ring  nor  to  castrate 
any  hog  or  pig,  because  every  wound,  no  matter  how  small,  is 
apt  to  become  a  port  of  entry  for  the  infectious  principle,  and 
the  very  smallest  amount  of  the  latter  is  sufficient  to  produce  the 
disease."    ,   u    <.    i;  ,,    .:;    .:  >-•   ■■■<■,.<:  •;,,•■■,. 

,  "Still,  all  these  minor  measures  and  precautions  will  avail  but 
little  unless  a  dissemination  of  the  infectious  principle,  or  disease- 
germs,  is  made  impossible,  i.  Any  transportation  of  dead,  sick, 
or  infected  swine,  and  even  of  hogs  or  pigs  that  have  been  the 
least  exposed  to  the  contagion,  or  may  possibly  constitute  the 
bearers  of  the  same,  must  be  effectively  prohibited.  2.  Every 
one  who  loses  a  hog  or  pig  by  swine-plague  must  be  compelled 
by  law  to  bury  the  same  immediately,  or  as  soon  as  it  is  dead,  at 
least  four  feet  deep,  or  else  to  cremate  the  carcass  at  once,  so 
that  the  contagious  or  infectious  principle  may  be  thoroughly 
destroyed,  and  not  be  carried  by  dogs,  wolves,  rats,  crows,  etc., 
to  other  places." 

Another  thing  may  yet  be  mentioned,  which,  if  properly  exe- 
cuted, will  at  least  aid  very  materially  in  preventing  the  disease  -, 
l^at  is,  to  give  all  food  either  in  clean  troughs,  or  if  corn  in  the 
ear  is  fed,  to  throw  it  on  a  wooden  platiorm  which  can  be  swept 
clean  before  each  feeding.  ,  ,,j>v>, 

TREATMENT.  ' 

■■•  *'If  the  cause  and  the  nature  of  the  morbid  process  and  the 
character  and  the  importance  of  the  morbid  changes  are  taken 
into  proper  consideration,  it  cannot  be  expected  that  a  therapeu- 
tic treatment  will  be  of  much  avail  in  a  fully  developed  case  of 
swine-plague.  'Specific'  remedies,  such  as  are  advertised  in 
column  advertisements  in  certain  newspapers,  and  warranted  to 
be  infallible,  or  to  cure  every  case,  can  do  no  good  whatever. 


TKRATMENT  OF  SWINE-PLACUE. 


4SS 


;  carbolic  acid, 
om  1 20  lo  1 50 
there  is  reason 
atinj;  in  the  air, 
ch  a  hog  or  pig 

carbolic   acid, 
swine-plague  is 

nor  to  castrate 
ir  how  small,  is 
s  principle,  and 
t  to  produce  the 

ns  will  avail  but 
ciple,  or  disease- 
on  of  dead,  sick, 
it  have  been  the 
ly  constitute  the 
aited.  2.  Every 
st  be  compelled 
\  as  it  is  dead,  at 
cass  at  once,  so 
yr  be  thoroughly 
rats,  crows,  etc., 

if  properly  exe- 
ting  the  disease  •, 
)r  if  corn  in  the 
ch  can  be  swept 

.4. 

process  and  the 
anges  are  taken 

that  a  therapeu- 
veloped  case  of 
ire  advertised  in 
ind  warranted  to 

good  whatever. 


They  are  a  downright  iraud,  and  serve  only  to  draw  the  money 
out  of  the  pockets  of  the  despairing  farmer,  who  is  ready  to  catch 
at  any  straw.  No  cure  has  ever  be<!n  found  for  glanders,  anthrax, 
and  cattle-plague,  diseases  that  have  been  known  for  more  than 
two  tliousand  years,  and  that  have  been  investigated  again  and 
a<;ain  by  the  most  learned  veterinarians  and  the  best  practitioners 
of  Kurope,  and  there  is  to-day  not  even  a  prospect  that  a 
treatment  will  ever  be  discovered  to  which  those  diseases,  once 
fully  developed,  will  yield.  Neither  is  there  any  prospect  or 
probability  that  fully  developed  swine-plague  will  ever  yield  to 
treatment.  It  is  true  that  the  bacilli  suis  and  their  germs  can  be 
killed  or  destroyed  if  outside  of  the  animal  organism,  or  within 
reach,  on  the  surface  of  the  animal's  body.  Almost  any  known 
disinfectant— carbolic  acid,  thymic  acid,  chloride  of  lime,  creosote, 
and  a  great  many  others — will  destroy  them.  But  the  bacilli  and 
their  germs  are  not  on  the  surface  of  the  body,  except  in  such 
parts  of  the  skin  and  accessible  mucous  membranes  (conjunctiva 
and  gums)  as  may  happen  to  have  become  affected  by  the  mor- 
bid process  They  are  inside  of  the  organism,  and  not  only  in 
every  part  and  tissue  morbidly  affected,  in  every  morbid  product, 
and  in  every  lymphatic  gland,  but  they  are  also  in  every  drop  of 
blood  and  in  every  particle  of  a  drop  of  blood  circulating  in  the 
whole  organism.  Who,  I  would  like  to  ask,  will  have  the  audacity 
to  assert  that  he  is  able  to  destroy  those  bacilli  and  their  germs 
without  disturbing  the  economy  of  the  animal  organism  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  cause  the  immediate  death  of  the  animal  ?  But 
even  if  means  should  be  found  by  which  these  bacilli  and  their 
germs  can  be  destroyed  without  serious  injury  to  the  animal,  a 
destruction  of  the  same  will  not  be  sufficient  to  effect  a  cure. 
Important  morbid  changes  must  be  repaired ;  extensive  embolism 
is  existing  in  some  very  vital  organs ;  a  rapid,  proliferous  growth 
of  morbid  cells  has  set  in ;  some  of  the  intestines  (caecum  and 
colon)  may  have  become  perforated ;  exudations  have  been  de- 
posited in  the  lungs,  in  the  thoracic  cavity,  in  the  pericardium, 
and  in  the  abdominal  cavity ;  the  heart  itself  may  have  been  mor- 
bidly changed,  and  every  lymphatic  gland  in  the  whole  organism 
become  diseased.     How,  I  would  like  to  know,  will  those  quacks 


if 


l*T' 


m 


V 


■M 


i,    I 


aiSsii«S»i^^;3afei&i«i5; 


^j5  OUR    WESTERN   EM  PIKE. 

who  advertise  (hoir  'sure  cure'  and  their  high-sounding  •spe- 
cifics "  to  swindle  the  farmer  out  of  liis  hard-earned  dollars  and 
cents — how,  I  ask,  will  those  quacks  restore,  ri'pair,  stop,  and 
reduce  all  those  morbid  changes  ? 

" Still,  I  do  not  wish  to  say  that  a  rational  tt»;atm'\nt  can  do  no 
^ood ;  on  the  contrary,  it  may  in  many  cases  avert  tlv;  worst  anil 
most  fatal  morbid  changes,  and  may  thereby  aid  nature  consider 
ably  in  effecting  a  recovery  in  all  those  cases  in  which  the  disease 
presents  itself  in  a  mild  form,  and  in  which  very  dangerous  or  ir- 
reparable morbid  changes  have  not  yet  taken  place.  A  good 
dietetical  treatment,  however,  including  a  strict  observance  of 
sanitary  principles,  is  of  much  more  importance  than  the  use  of 
medicines.  In  the  first  place,  the  sick  animals,  if  possible,  should 
be  kept  one  by  one  in  separate  pens.  The  latter,  if  movable — 
movable  ones,  perhaps  six  to  eight  feet  square  and  without  a 
floor,  are  preferable — ought  to  be  moved  once  a  day.  at  noon,  or 
after  the  dew  has  disappeared  from  the  grass ;  if  the  pens  are 
not  movable,  they  must  be  kept  scrupulously  clean,  because  a  pig- 
affected  with  swine-plague  has  a  vitiated  appetite,  and  eats  its 
own  excrements  and  those  of  others,  and,  as  those  excrements 
contain  innumerable  bacilli  and  their  germs,  will  add  thereby  fuel 
to  the  flame ;  in  other  words,  will  increase  the  extent  and  the 
malignancy  of  the  morbid  process  by  introducing  into  the  organ- 
ism more  and  more  of  the  infectious  principle.  The  food  given 
ought  to  be  clean,  of  the  very  best  quality  and  easy  of  digestion, 
and  the  water  for  drinking  must  be  clean  and  fresh,  be  supplied 
three  times  a  day  in  a  clean  trough,  and  be  drawn  each  time,  if 
possible,  from  a  deep  well.  Water  from  ponds  and  water  that 
has  been  standing  in  open  vessels,  and  that  may  possibly  have 
Income  contaminated  with  the  infectious  principle,  should  not  be 
Vised.  If  the  diseased  animal  has  any  wounds  or  lesions,  they 
fiust  be  washed  or  dressed  from  one  to  three  times  a  day  witli 
diluted  carbolic  acid  or  other  equally  effective  disinfectants." 

Dr.  Detmers  experimented  with  carbolic  acid— ten  drops  for 
Ci^ch  hundred  pounds  of  live  weight  of  the  hogs,  administered 
^ree  times  a  day  in  the  water  given  the  hogs  for  drinking.  Twoi 
ftf  the  nine  po  which  it  was  tried,  survived,  but  did  not,  corn- 


s'.. 


^'OaSiMKNBFWtUMia 


±-i.&jl5. 


Dumling  'spc- 
cl  dollars  and 
)air,  stop,  and 

...■"I  '  ■'■■'■    '    '■ 
i*»,nt  can  do  no 

;  tlv:  worst  and 

itiire  consid'T- 

lich  the  disease 

ingeroua  or  ir* 

lace.     A  good 

observance  of 

tian  the  use  of 

)Ossible,  should 

',  if  movable — 

and  without  a 

lay,  at  noon,  or 

r  the  pens  are 

1,  because  a  pig" 

te,  and  eats  its 

)se  excrements 

,dd  thereby  fuel 

extent  and  the 

into  the  organ- 

rhe  food  given 

sy  of  digestion, 

sh,  be  supplied 

n  each  time,  if 

and  water  that 

y  possibly  have 

?,  should  not  be 

Dr  lesions,  they 

nes  a  day  witli 

infectants."     ,yj 

-ten  drops  for 

s,  administered 

drinking.    Two 

t  did  not,  com- 


CAKBOL/C  ACID  A   rHKl'SNT/l'/-. 


457 


pletely  recover,  and  were  not  in  good  condition  for  fattening  a 
month  later.  About  this  percentage  recover  with  or  without  treat* 
mcnt.  Of  experiments  with  other  medicines,  he  says,  and  his 
experience  was  almost  exactly  that  of  the  others : 

"  The  principal  medicines  tried  were  carbolic  acid,  bisulphite  of 
soda,  thymol,  salicylic  acid,  white  hellebore  or  vvra^rum  a/bum, 
as  an  emetic,  alcohol,  and  sulphate  of  iron,  and  it  has  been  found 
that  neither  of  them  possesses  any  special  curative  value.  In  a 
few  cases  in  which  most  of  the  lesions  were  external,  ap()lications 
of  very  much  diluted  thymol  or  thymic  acid  produced  apparently 
good  results;  the  animals  recovered,  but  might  have  recovered 
at  any  rate.  Diluted  carbolic  acid  has  been  used  for  the  same 
purpose  and  with  the  same  results.  An  emetic  of  white  hellebore 
or  veratrum  album  was  given  to  some  shoats  (about  eight  or 
nine  months  old,  and  property  of  Dr.  Hall,  at  Savoy),  in  the  first 
stage  of  the  disease,  and  seems  to  have  arrested  the  morbid  process 
immediately;  at  least  the  shoats  recovered.  In  other  more  de* 
veloped  cases,  it  did  no  good  whatever.  Bisulphite  of  soda, 
salicylic  acid,  and  carbolic  acid  were  used  quite  extensively,  but 
no  good  results  plainly  due  to  the  influence  of  those  drugs  have 
been  observed  in  any  case  in  which  the  disease  had  fully 
developed,  either  by  myself  or  by  others.  Sulphate  of  iron  has 
proved  to  be  decidedly  injurious.  Mr.  Bassett  used  it  quite 
persistently  for  forty-five  nice  shoats.  Forty-three  of  them  died> 
one  recovered  from  a  slight  attack— it  had  external  lesions, 
which  were  treated  with  carbolic  acid — and  one  remained  ex- 
empted. To  bleed  sick  hogs,  in  some  places  a  customary 
practice  among  farmers  against  all  ailments  of  swine,  has  had 
invariably  the  very  worst  consequences,  and  accelerated  a  fatal 
termination.  A  great  many  farmers  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Champaign  have  used  several  kinds  of  'specifics'  and  'sure 
cure '  nostrums,  but  none  of  them  are  inclined  to  talk  about  the 
results  obtained,  and  so  it  must  be  supposed  that  the  latter  have 
Hemained  invisible.  h1  ;,;...    i...,...,.   .    -  .;     .  ,..      . 

"A  case  which  I  should  haife  related,  deserves  to  t>e  noticed. 
Mr.  Crews  had  forty-odd  hogs,  of  which  he  had  lost  ten  of 
twelve,  and  was  losing  at  the  rate  of  two  to  four  a  day.     1 


!'fl 


4 


I 
I 


^j8  OUR    tVesrHMAT  KMPIKM. 

advisetl  him  to  separate  thone  apparently  yet  healthy,  or  but 
ftli^'htly  affected,  from  the  very  sick  oncH  ;  to  put  the  former  in  a 
separate  yard,  not  accesnible  to  the  othern ;  to  feed  them  clean 
food  ;  to  water  them  three  timers  a  day  from  a  well,  and  to 
gwe  to  each  animal,  two  or  three  times  a  ilay,  about  ten  drops 
of  carbolic  acid  in  their  drinking  water,  lie  did  so,  and  saved 
every  one  he  sep.irated  (fourteen  in  number),  while  all  others, 
with  the  exception  of  two  animals  which  died  later,  died  within 
a  short  time." 

Dr.  Salmon  had  made  many  experiments  in  the  treatment  of 
the  disease  with  bisulphite  of  soda,  salicylic  acid,  bichromate  of 
potassa,  and  bromidt;  of  ammonia.  These  were  all  administered 
at  an  early  sta^je  of  the  disease.  The  first  two  mitigated  the 
symptoms  somewhat,  but  in  most  instances  the  fatal  result 
followed.  The  last  two  did  not  produce  any  appreciable  result. 
Dr.  Law  recommends  the  following  measures  to  arrest  and 
extirpate  the  disease :  Witliout  entering  at  this  time  into  all  the 
details  of  the  necessary  restrictive  measures,  the  following  may 
be  especially  mentioned :  i .  The  appointment  of  a  local  authority 
and  inspector  to  carry  out  the  measures  for  the  suppression  of 
the  disease.  2.  The  injunction  on  all  having  the  ownership  or 
care  of  hogs,  and  upon  all  who  may  be  called  upon  to  advise 
concerning  the  same,  or  to  treat  them,  to  make  known  to  such 
local  authority  all  cases  of  real  or  suspected  hog-fever,  under  a 
penalty  for  every  neglect  of  such  injunction.  3.  The  obligation 
of  the  local  authority,  under  advice  of  a  competent  veterinary 
inspector,  to  see  to  the  destruction  of  all  pigs  suffering  from  the 
plague,  their  deep  burial  in  a  secluded  place,  and  the  thorough 
disinfection  of  the  premises,  utensils,  and  persons.  4.  The 
thorough  seclusion  of  all  domestic  animals  that  have  been  in 
contact  wuh  the  sick  pigs,  and  in  the  case  of  sheep  and  rabbits 
the  destruction  of  the  sick  when  this  shall  appear  necessary. 
5.  Unless,  where  all  the  pigs  in  the  infected  herd  have  been 
destroyed,  the  remainder  should  be  placed  on  a  register  and 
examined  daily  by  the  inspector,  so  that  the  sick  may  be  taken 
out  and  slaughtered  on  the  appearance  of  the  first  signs  of 
illness.     6.  Sheep  and  rabbits  that  have  been  in  contact  with  the 


I 


GKSKHAl  SASITAKY  MKAXVKKS. 


459 


althy,  or  but 
»c  fonnrr  in  a 
L*d  tlvin  clean 
well,  anti  to 
out  ten  drops 
so,  and  saved 
lilc  all  others, 
L'r,  died  within 

;  treatment  of 
bichromate  of 
11  administtred 

mitigated  the 
le  fatal  result 
reciabic  result, 
to  arrest  and 
me  into  all  the 

foUowinjj  may 

local  authority 
suppression  of 
:  ownership  or 

pon  to  advise 
known  to  such 

fever,  under  a 
The  obligation 

ent  veterinary 
ering  from  the 

1  the  thorough 

sons.    4.  The 
have  been  in 

ep  and  rabbits 

ear  necessary. 

rd  have  been 
register  and 
may  be  taken 
first  signs  of 

ontact  with  the 


nick  herd  nV  uld  aUo  he  registered,  and  any  removal  of  such 
siiould  be  prohibited  until  one  month  after  the  last  sick  animal 
shall  have  been  dis[>osr«l  of.  7.  All  animals  and  birds,  wild  and 
tam<',  and  all  persons  except  those  employed  in  the  work,  should 
\w.  mosL  carefully  excluded  from  inf«'otfd  premises  imtil  these 
have  b<'en  disinfected  andean  be  considenul  safe.  S.  The  lossct 
Mustained  by  the  necessary  slaughter  of  hogs  should  be  made 
good  to  the  owner  to  the  extent  of  not  more  than  two-ihirils  of 
the  rc?.l  value  as  assesried  by  competent  and  disinterested  parties. 
9.  Such  reimbursement  should  be  forfeitetl  when  an  owtKT  fails 
to  notify  the  proper  authorities  of  the  existence  of  th<;  disease, 
or  to  assist  in  carrying  out  the  measures  necessary  for  its 
suppression.  10.  A  register  should  be  drawn  up  of  all  pigs 
present  on  farms  within  a  given  area  around  the  infected  herd — 
say,  one  mile — and  no  removal  of  such  animals  should  be  allowed 
until  the  disease  has  been  definitely  suppressed,  unless  such 
removal  is  made  by  special  license  granted  by  the  local  authority 
after  they  have  assured  themselves  by  the  examination  of  an 
expert  that  the  animals  to  be  moved  are  sound  and  out  of  a 
healthy  herd.  11.  Railroad  and  shipping  agents  at  adjoining 
stations  should  be  forbidden  to  ship  pigs,  excepting  under  license 
of  the  local  authority,  until  the  plague  has  been  suppressed  in 
the  district.  12.  When  infected  pigs  have  been  sent  by  rail, 
boat,  or  other  mode  of  conveyance,  measures  should  be  taken  to 
insure  the  thorough  disinfection  of  such  cars  or  conveyances, 
as  well  as  the  banks,  docks,  yards,  and  other  places  in  or  on 
which  the  diseased  animals  may  have  been  turned. 

Other  measures  would  be  essential  in  particular  localities. 
Thus  in  the  many  places  where  the  hogs  are  turned  out  as  street 
scavengers,  and  meet  from  all  different  localities,  such  liberty 
should  be  put  a  stop  to  whenever  the  disease  appears  in  the 
district,  and  all  hogs  found  at  large  should  be  rendered  liable  to 
summary  seizure  and  destruction. 

The  great  difficulty  of  putting  in  practice  the  means  necessary 
to  the  extirpation  of  the  disease  will  be  found  to  consist  in  the 
lack  of  veterinaiy  experts.  No  one  but  the  accomplished 
veterinarian  can  be  relied  on  to  distinguish  between  the  different 


■itmmmixm^^'- 


4to 


Otm    if£Sr/tMJV   KMrUTM. 


coinmiiniciiblu  «ii<l  flrslniruVe  cliteanrii  bf  tVnirttf,  and  to  aklopk 
the  incMHiircH  nrcTHiary  to  thrir  »t«pprir«Hlon  In  thr  difTrrcnt 
cuHcs.  In  illuHtratiun  1  iu!f!(l  only  to  recall  tlu:  niimrroiiK  r«*portft 
in  which  whut  is  Hupponctl  to  he  hoj^-tholrra  han  Intrn  fotnul  to 
dcpcml  on  iitn/;^  worms,  «)n  any  ont;  of  the  four  different  kinds  of 
iuLtttMai  fouMii  u\irms,  on  the  lard  uvrma,  on  fttibryo  tapt-tvorms, 
on  tua/ifHtiHt  anthrax,  on  fmcumoHia,  c»r  on  erysiptlas.  To  claH» 
nil  thcst;  as  one  and  apply  to  all  the  (tame  HuppresNive  mctsurct 
would  be  a  simple  waste  of  the  public  money,  but  to  dintin^ui^h 
them  anil  apply  the  proper  antitlote  to  trach  over  a  with;  extent 
of  territory  would  demand  a  number  of  experts  whom  it  would 
be  no  euny  matter  to  find.  This  state  of  thinjjs  is  the  natural 
result  of  a  persistent  neglect  of  veterinary  sanitary  science  and 
medicine  as  a  factor  in  the  national  well-bein^^,  and  must  for  a 
time  prove  a  heavy  incubun  on  all  concerted  efforts  to  restrict 
and  iitamp  out  our  animal  plagues.  It  will  retard  success  under 
the  best  devised  system,  and  will  sometimes  lead  to  losses  that 
might  have  been  saved,  yet  if  m\  earnest  and  prolonged  effort  is 
made,  the  obstacle  should  not  be  an  insuperable  one,and  the  U  utcd 
States  should  be  purged  not  of  this  i  lague  only,  but  of  all  those 
animal  pestilences  which  at  present  threaten  our  future  well- 
being.      iM{'|'''  I*  '?.«'    'I'!     ^n^ jM\     'i;(    \\\isM    .■hto.iJui     U    •  i\      i.\    !•> 

The  rearing  and  bn.eding  of  swine  Is  conducted  In  connection 
with  other  farming,  and  often,  and  i>crhapB  most  profitably,  on 
dairy  farms.  Where  the  swine  can  have  good  pasture  and  plenty 
of  buttermilk,  or  sour  milk  with  their  food,  they  thrive  well. 
Where  there  are  large  herds  of  swine,  if  the  farmer  raises  also 
large  crops  of  corn,  or  the  Egyptian  rice-corn,  he  can  fatten  his 
swine  very  cheaply,  hi.  >Jj(»«H  *>;!I  nnVH  e'vn'\i\  inr.tif  -nil  m  f-n(\  J 
<rThc  business  of  rearing  swine  cither  for  sale  dr  for  breeding 
purpoaes,  or  for  pork,  is,  aside  from  the  risks  of  epidemic  dis- 
eases,  very  profitable.  A  man  with  a  farm  of  a  half-section,  320 
acres,  well  in  hand,  sixty  acres  of  it  in  corn,  or  thirty  in  corn  and 
thirty  in  rice-corn,  and  a  dairy  herd  of  thirty  to  fifty  cows,  can 
begin  operations  with,  say,  thirty  young  sows  of  the  Poland*? 
China  or  improved  Bet-kshire  breed,  and  three  or  four  boars  of  ^ 
tbe  alternate  breed,  a  total  outlay  of  not  mfich  over  |a(X> ;  may 


ind  to  adopt 
thr  (lifTrrcnt 
rroiii  rt'porW 
«"rn  found  to 
cut  kinds  of 
r>  tapruHtrttis, 
IS.  'I'o  clant 
ive  mrtsiircii 

0  distinguish 

1  wide;  extent 
worn  it  would 
iH  the  natural 
'  science  and 
id  must  for  a 
rts  to  restrict 
luccosH  under 
;o  losses  that 
njfc'd  effort  ifc 
ndtheU  \itcd 
It  of  all  dtose 

future  well- 
in  connection 
jrofitably,  on 
re  and  plenty 

thrive  well, 
er  raises  also 
an  fatten  his 

for  breeding 
spidemic  dis- 
f-scction,  320 
\f  in  corn  and 
fty  cows,  can 
the  Poland- 
bur  boars  of  ■ 
r  |aoo;  may< 


count  upon  two  littern  a  year  (the  \rc%x.  limrn  arc  in  Mar«  h  and 
Scptrml>«:r),  and  an  increaKn  for  the  two  llttrrs  of  fourteen  to 
each  NOW,  and  may  market  the  neKt  year  330  ^At  ho^<«  wri^diin^ 
An  avemj;e  of  over  40CI  pounds  earh,  at  $3.50  to  ^4  per  hundred 
pounds'  live  wci);ht,  at  the  lowest  price  nettinj^  him  ^4,90^  and 
have  enoujfh  left  to  jrjve  hirn  at  the  end  of  the  rnsuin;;  year  a 
her<l  <»(  Hcx)  tc»  1,000,  an<l  hin  jjrass  anti  torrj  bcinj^'  ronsum«'(|  on 
his  farm  its  value  \%  enhanced  thereby  (if  he  is  a  good  manager) 
to  nearly  double  itn  previous  value. 

VVc  give  a  few  reports  of  swine-farming  in  Kansas  as  a  typical 
State  in  this  industry,  from  the  farmers  themselves,  as  exhibiting 
their  metho*ls  of  breeding  ami  the  best  way  of  making  swine- 
farming  profitable. 

F.  D.  Cohum,  Ihmima,  Franklin  County,  Kansas. — "Thirteen 
years'  experience  breeding  swine  in  Kansas;  imprrived  Herk- 
shires  present  stock;  a  few  of  my  rea.sons  for  preferring  this 
breed  arc :  their  flesh  is  the  highest  quality  of  pork,  they  have 
great  vitality,  strong  digestive  and  assimilative  powers,  will  attain 
heavier  weight,  yet  can  be  readily  fattened  at  any  age,  sows  are 
une()ualed  for  prolificacy,  are  good  sucklers  and  careful  mothers, 
huve  wonderfid  uniformity  in  color,  marking,  and  m«>st  valuable 
points  of  a  good  hog.  A  first-clas.s  Herkshirc  should  be  flossy 
black,  white  strip  in  face,  feet  and  tip  of  tail  white,  body  deep 
andmodcrauJy  long,  straight  back,  hams  thick  and  full,  legs  straight, 
short,  and  rtrong,  face  short,  wide  between  eyes,  neck  sI;ort 
and  thick,  jowl  heavy,  indicating  quick,  easy  feeder,  ears  mv^Uer- 
ately  small,  slightly  inclined  forward,  tail  small,  hair  fine  and 
thick,  skin  fine  and  pliable.  Berkshire  boars  crossed  on  Poland- 
China  sows  roa.<e  best  pork  hog  in  the  world.  (J.se  my  boars 
first  at  from  seven  to  ten  months  old ;  sows,  at  from  eight  to 
twelve  months  old ;  two  litters  a  year  arc  not  ♦oo  many,  with 
facilities  for  giving  proper  care ;  have  them  come  early  in  April 
and  early  in  September ;  first  two  and  a-half  or  three  months  of 
a  pig's  life  should  be  in  temperate  weather.  At  one  year  old, 
my  hogs,  in  good  order,  weigh  300  to  400  pounds.  Being  with- 
out pastures, !  grow  special  green  crops  for  them  in  summer, 
particularly  sweet  corn,  to  be  cut  and  fed  in  stalk ;  use  some 


i 


A^ 


'rHAir#..4i(/.'J-..  ■' 


il 


I 


\\ 


vv 


463  Cl/Jl    IVESTE/tN  EMPfRE. 

milk,  with  ground  rye,  wheat  bran,  shorts,  and  other  stuffs,  which 
make  an  agreeable  and  healthful  variety;  crowding,  or  very  warm 
sleeping-places,  I  avoid.  Don't  consider  it  profitable  to  cook 
feed,  with  corn  at  twenty  cents  per  bushel,  but  with  wind  or 
other  cheap  power,  it  would  often  be  profitable  to  grind  and  soak 
for  forty-eight  hours  before  feeding.  Summer  pasture  necessary; 
the  hog  is  emphatically  a  grass-eater;  red  clover  and  blue-grass 
best.  No  disease  among  my  hogs ;  try  to  raise  stock  with  robust 
constitutions ;  don't  confine  to  exclusive  corn  diet  365  days  in  the 
year ;  don't  let  them  crowd  in  large  numbers ;  give  them  my  per- 
sonal attention,  and  have  had  no  occasion  to  curse  my  luck  or 
the  hog-cholera ;  principal  causes  of  disease,  mean  class  of  hogs, 
kept  in  a  mean  way,  by  negligent  farmers.  Experience  has 
proven  to  me  that  good  pork,  at  a  cost  of  two  cents  per  pound, 
brings  more  than  corn  at  twenty  cents  per  bushel.  Sold  pork 
in  1879  for  $3.25  to  $4  per  100  pounds,  live  weight.  This  State 
presents  no  obstacles  to  succ<-  in  this  branch  of  farm  industry; 
lack  of  success  and  profit  i&  ith  the  man  who  practises  false 
economy,  by  using  year  after  year  runty,  ill-favored  animals  as 
sires,  instead  of  pure-bred  boars,  of  any  breed,  that  would  im- 
prove the  value  of  their  stock  from  fifty  to  ico  per  cent,  by  the 
first  cross;  lack  of  clover,  blue-grass  and  artichoke  pastures, 
pure  water  and  shade ;  the  idea  prevails  that '  any  fool  can  raise 
hogs,'  hence  no  care  in  studying  new  breeds  and  methods."  '<(■; 
r  LinscoU  Bros.t  Holion,  Jackson  County,  Eastern  Kansas. — ■ 
"Twenty  years'  experience;  now  raising  pure-bred  Poland- 
China  ;  they  are  more  quiet,  sows  make  better  mothers,  are  bet- 
ter sucklers,  more  prolific,  pigs  never  get  mangy,  easily  fattened 
at  nine  months  old ;  if  desirable  to  keep  longer,  will  continue 
growing  till  thirty  months  old ;  when  fattened,  have  less  waste, 
bring  higher  prices ;  best  grass  hog ;  will  make  two  pounds  of 
meat  on  grass  to  one  of  any  other  breed ;  grass  meat  being 
cheapest  meat  made,  this  is  a  great  advantage.  Marks  of  pure- 
bred, in  color,  nearly  black,  some  white,  occasionally  sandy  spots, 
long  body,  deep  sides,  heavy  hams,  short  le^s,  when  fattened, 
should  '  roll  a  cob,'  rather  large  ears,  drooped,  rather  short  head, 
slightly  dished  face,  has  more  meat  back  of  shoulders  thari  other 


U. 


ler  stuffs,  whith 
g,  or  very  warm 
)ritable  to  cook 
t  with  wind  or 
grind  and  soak 
iture  necessary; 
'  and  blue-grass 
lock  with  robust 
365  days  in  the 
/e  them  my  per- 
jrse  my  luck  or 
n  class  of  hogs, 
Experience  lias 
ents  per  pound, 
liel.     Sold  pork 
/ht.    This  State 
f  farm  industry; 
)  practises  false 
ored  animals  as 
that  would  im- 
per  cent,  by  the 
choke  pastures, 
iy  fool  can  raise 
methods." 
stem  Kansas. — • 
e-bred    Poland- 
lothers,  are  bet- 
»,  easily  fattened 
;r,  will  continue 
lave  less  waste, 
I  two  pounds  of 
iss  meat  being 
Marks  of  pu  re- 
dly sandy  spots, 
when  fattened^ 
ther  short  head, 
ders  thark  otlier 


KXPEXIENCE   OF  KANSAS  FAXMEKS.  ^5, 

breeds ;  when  well-fattened  will  have  meat  clear  down  to  hocks. 
Poland  sow  with  Berkshire  boar,  best  cross  for  pork  hog,  among 
pure-bred,  but  we  prefer  pure  Polands.  Use  boars  first  time  not 
under  eight  months  old,  sows  not  sooner  than  eight,  tather  at 
twelve  months  old ;  old  sows  may  have  two  litters  ;  young  ones, 
one  litter  a  year,  and  that  in  May  or  June ;  if  I  raised  two  litters, 
April  one,  and  October  one.  Average  increase,  eight  pigs  per 
litter.  Our  hogs  at  one  year  old,  in  good  order,  weigh  350  to 
500  pounds;  at  two  years  old,  600  to  900  pounds.  Have  lost 
none  by  disease  in  five  years.  Let  sows  run  on  grass ;  feed 
soaked  corn  and  slop  of  equal  parts,  bran  and  ship-stuff;  those 
we  wish  to  turn  in  fall,  keep  feeding  on  same  until  corn  is  dented 
in  fall,  then  take  off  grass,  put  up,  and  feed  corn ;  for  breeding, 
wean  at  eight  weeks  old ;  let  run  on  grass,  with  less  amount  of 
slop-feed  than  pork  pigs ;  put  sows,  when  dry,  on  clover,  without 
grain,  until  frost.  Never  let  boar  run  with  sows;  stand  him, 
only  serving  once.  Summer  pasture  absolutely  necessary  for 
profitable  pork-raising ;  clover  and  blue-grass  best.  Have  had 
no  prevailing  disease  among  our  hogs  in  Kansas — seven  years. 
Sold  pork  in  1879  at  four  cents  per  pound,  live  weight.  Well- 
fattened  hogs  should  weigh  400  pounds  or  over,  at  one  year  old." 
E.  M.  Prindle^  Marena,  Ilodgentan  County,  Western  Kansas. — 
"Two  years'  experience  breeding  swine ;  pure  Berkshire  present 
stock ;  think  they  mature  earlier,  fatten  with  less  feed,  endure 
close  confinement,  or  can  get  their  own  living  better  than  any 
other  breed.  Best  cross  among  pure-breds  for  pork,  Berkshire 
with  Poland.  Have  bred  males  at  eight  months,  but  it  is  too 
young ;  sows  at  eight  months,  and  not  oftener  than  three  times 
in  two  yeai  s ;  have  litters  come  in  April  and  May.  At  one  year 
old  my  hogs  weigh  250  to  300  pounds.  No  disease  among 
them ;  too  close  confinement  in  uncleanly  enclosures  is  likel^  to 
produce  sickness.  Don't  think  it  profitable  to  grind  and  cook 
feed,  with  corn  at  twenty  cents  per  bushel.  Summer  pasture 
good,  but  not  necessary.  Costs  not  over  two  cents  per  pound 
to  grow  pork  in  Kansas,  with  corn  at  twenty  cents  per  bushel. 
In  1879  pork  brought  four  cents  per  pound,  live  weight  For  a 
iat  hog,  at  one  year  old,  300  to  350  pounds  is  good  weight."  u/i 


%'• 


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OUX    WSSTEJfff  EMPIRE. 


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'  7M.yohnson,Harveyville,  tVapamsee  County,  Eastern  Kansas, 
— "Twenty  years'  experience  breeding  swine;  now  raising  pure- 
bred Poland-China :  prefer  them,  because  of  their  gentle,  quiet 
dispositions,  large  size,  early  fattening  qualities,  non-liability  to 
disease,  compared  with  a  white  hog ;  body  good  length,  short 
legs,  broad,  straight  back,  deep,  full  sides,  full  square  hams, 
heavy  shoulders,  drooping  ears,  not  too  large,  shoit  head,  wide 
between  eyes.     Best  cross  for  pork  among  pure-breds,  Poland 
and  Berkshire.     First  breed  boars  at  nine  months  old ;  sows,  at 
same  age,  twice  a  year ;  have  litters  come  in  March  and  Septem- 
ber.    In  good  condition,  at  one  year  old,  my  hogs  weigh  375  to 
400  pounds.    Thus  far,  in  Kansas,  have  kept  them  confined,  hav- 
ing no  pasture  fenced ;  keep  breeding  sows  separate  from  other 
hogs ;  have  corn  and  rye  ground  to  make  swill ;  feed  dry  corn. 
One  year  ago  quite  a  number  of  farmers  tried  boilers,  but  found 
no  profit  in  it.     Not  necessary  to  have  summer  pasture  to  make 
a  good  hog,  but  less  expensive ;  red  clover  best.     Never  had  any 
disease  among  hogs  in  this  neighborhood.     Costs  about  two  cents 
per  pound  to  grow  pork  in  Kansas,  counting  corn  at  twenty  cents 
per  bushel    Average  price  received  for  1879  pork,  $3.37  per 
100  pounds,  live  weight.     At  a  year  old,  a  well-fattened  hog 
ought  to  weigh  400  pounds.     No  drawbacks  to  success  here ; 
but  when  com  is  high,  there  is  jjo  money  in  feeding  and  raising 
hogs  in  close  pens.*  '•'  "  »*n;l    r  'i' 

A.  S.  Sutton,  Vesper,  Lincoln  County,  Central  Kansas.—''  In 
1875, 1  raised  twelve  pigs  from  two  sows,  one  a  Poland  China, 
the  other  a  good  grade ;  have  used  pure  Berkshire  males  on 
above  sows  and  offspring ;  have  tried  no  other  kind,  having  been 
very  successfuJ  with  these;  in  1876,  had  the  two  old  sows  and 
six  young  sows  of  th«  1875  pigs;  raised  and  sold  \oo  pigi  chat 
suftimer,  and  increased  my  herd  some ;  in  1877,  sold  fewer  pigs, 
but  began  to  fatten  them;  sold  that  year,  In  pigs,  shoats,  and  fat 
hogs,  over  100,  and  had  at  the  highest  on  hand  200;  in  1878, 
fattened  apd  sold  100 ;  sold  fifty  or  more  young  ones,  and  had  at 
times  300;  in  i879>  fattened  about  100;  soW  over  100  shoats, 
we'ghing  oveir  100  pounds  each,  fifty  or  more  pigs  and  sows ; 
ha  i  as  high  as  400  at  one  time ;  now  have  200.     Berkshire  is  a 


te.ji- 


.Ajijiiy.Mi'8iaiga,.'.»iA''.'t.'»'j'-"i.j>u».CTi»»-. 


Easlem  Kansas, 
»w  raising  pure- 
:ir  gentle,  quiet 
non-liability  to 
>d  length,  short 

I  square  hams, 
lioi  i:  head,  wide 
e-breds,  Poland 
s  old ;  sows,  at 
ch  and  Septem- 
s  weigh  375  to 

II  confined,  hav- 
rate  from  other 

feed  dry  corn. 
>ilers,  but  found 
>asture  to  make 

Never  had  any 
about  two  cents 
at  twenty  cents 
3ork,  $3.37  per 
ill-fattened  hog 

success  here; 
ng  and  raising 

f  Kansas, — "In 

Poland  China, 

>hire  males  on 

id,  having  been 

[)  old  sows  and 

d  100  pigi  that 

old  fewer  pigs, 

shoats,  and  fait 

200;  in   1878, 

nes,  and  had  at 

ver  100  shoats, 

igs  and  sows-; 

Berkshire  is  a 


EXPERIENCE   OF  KANSAS  FAHMERS. 

fine^haired,  black  hog,  some  white  in  face,  white  feet,  small,  erect 
ears,  round,  symmetrical  body,  and  short  legs.  Think  Berkshire 
on  our  Western  stock  produces  as  good  results  as  any  other, 
making  a  beautiful,  easily-kept  hog.  In  my  large  herd,  don't  use 
boarls  first  younger  than  one  year,  and  have  used  same  ones  two 
years,  bdt  think  one  year  preferable ;  can't  keep  my  sows  sepa- 
rate ;  should  be  one  year  old  at  time  of  first  litter ;  breed  them 
twice  a  year ;  they  will  begin  to  farrow  April  1 5th  this  year,  and 
continue  till  next  November ;  when  I  had  fewer,  had  litters  come 
in  March  and  September ;  saves  labor  and  feed  to  have  them 
come,  as  much  as  possible,  in  the  growing  season  of  the  year, 
and  a  larger  percentage  of  pigs  can  be  saved.  Stock  hogs,  at  a 
year  old,  weigh  300  pounds;  fat  ones,  300  pounds  and  upwards. 
Have  had  no  disease ;  think  close,  foul  pens  a  fruitful  source  of 
it.  Since  getting  a  large  number,  am  compelled  to  put  each  sow 
in  pen  by  herself,  just  before  pigging  time,  and  keep  them  there 
till  pigs  are  three  or  four  weeks  old,  then  put  several  together  in 
a  small  field  or  yard,  with  shelter  and  pasture ;  also  have  a  yard 
with  fence  open  sufficiently  to  let  pigs  through,  so  as  to  feed 
them  extra;  have  a  three-acre  lot,  with  water  and  shelter,  for 
fattening  purposes ;  balance  run  in  a  sixty-acre  field  of  prairie 
with  horses,  cattle,  etc. ;  water  and  straw  sheds  for  shelter ;  feed 
com  twice  a  day;  have  had  400  together,  but  stronger  ones  are 
apt  to  cheat  younger  ones  out  of  their  feed.  Don't  think  it 
necessary  to  grind  and  cook  feed ;  pasture  is  necessary  for  health 
as  well  as  for  feed ;  have  so  far  used  only  prairie  grass.  Pork 
at  three  cents  per  pound,  live  weight,  will  leave  a  margin  for 
profit  Receivdd  %i,(it<i/i,  $3.40  and  $$.62}4  per  100  pounds  for 
1879  pork,  i  know  of  no  drawbacks  to  success  in  this  branch 
jd£  isirm  production  in  Kansas." 

"\\M.  B.  Keagy,  Wellington,  Sumner  County,  Southern  Kansas. — 
"Ten  years' experience  breeding  swine;  pure-bred  Berkshires 
present  stock ;  prefer  them  because  I  have  had  best  success  with 
tiiem  ;  will  make  as  much,  if.  not  mone,  pork,  under  one  year  old, 
as  any  other ;  think  they  caire  more  for  their  pigs,  and  make  bet- 
/ter  sucklers ;  best  hog  to  follow  cattle,  active  when  quiitie  fat,  and 
not  liable  to  cholenu  A  pure-^bred  should  be  black,  with  white 
30 


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;,||g  \  .N     OUX    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

on  face,  feet,  and  tip  of  tail,  very  short  head,  good  length  of  body| 
large  hams,  stand  wide  apart  on  front  feet,  nearly  straight  or 
back  and  belly  from  head  to  tail,  short  in  legs.  My  experience! 
is,  that  Poland-China  and  Berkshire  make  best  cross  among  purel 
breds  for  pork.  Consider  one  year  old  best  age  to  first  breec 
boars ;  sows,  at  from  nine  to  twelve  months ;  have  best  luck  wi 
two  litters  a  year,  in  March  and  September.  At  one  year  old,| 
in  good  condition,  mine  weigh  about  350  pounds.  Average  in- 
crease, about  seven  pigs  to  a  sow.  Have  had  no  disease  among 
my  swine ;  confinement  and  poor  treatment  causes  it.  Have  not  I 
bred  more  than  five  to  eight  sows  per  year,  and  when  I  find  a 
good  mother,  think  it  best  to  keep  her  four  or  five  years;  have 
fed  on  corn  mostly,  as  we  have  but  little  tame  grass  here ;  let 
run  along  creek  part  of  time ;  don't  think  best  to  confine  them ; 
by  all  means,  separate  males  from  females  as  soon  as  weaned. 
Have  ground  and  cooked  feed,  with  profit,  when  pigs  were  small 
and  learning  to  eat.  Consider  summer  pasture  necessary  to 
obtain  best  results  ;  clover  best  of  any  I  have  tried.  Think  cost 
of  growing  pork  in  Kansas  is  about  two  cents  per  pound,  count- 
ing corn  at  twenty  cents  per  bushel.  Sold  1879  pork  at  three 
and  a  half  cents  per  pound,  live  weight.  Weight  of  a  well-fattened 
year-old  hog  should  be  about  400  pounds.  Many  farmers  con- 
fine too  much ;  seem  to  think  anything  good  enough  for  a  hog ; 
I  think  them  a  nice  animal,  if  they  have  an  opportunity."  ^  jc; 
The  breeding  of  horses,  asses  and  mules  for  the  market  is  a 
profitable  business,  but  is  not  prosecuted  on  a  large  scale  except 
in  Texas,  California,  Oregon,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Kansas,  and,  re- 
cently, Colorado.  The  greater  number  of  the  Texas  horses  are 
of  two  kinds,  the  Mustang — the  wild  and  half  wild  descendants 
of  Barbary  horses  or  Spanish  horses,  birought  over  here  by  the 
early  Spanish  conquerors ;  they  have  degenerated  in  size, 
and  are  of  fitful  and  vicious  temper,  but  tough,  wiry  and  sure- 
; footed,  with  great  powers  of  endurance — and  the  Indian  pony,  a 
descendant  from.  English  and  French  horses,  also  half  wild  and 
•tough,  but  possessing  perhaps  less  powers  of  endurance,  and  a 
[better  temper  than  the  Mustang.  A  cross  of  these  gives  a  very 
iica'viceahle  horse,  though  not  entirely  free  from  vices. 


ood  length  of  body, 
,  nearly  straight  or 
js.     My  experience 
t  cross  among  pure- 
t  age  to  first  breed 
have  best  luck  with 
.     At  one  year  old, 
inds.     Average  in- 
1  no  disease  among 
luses  it.     Have  not 
,  and  when  I  find  a 
or  five  years ;  have 
Tie  grass  here ;  let 
st  to  confine  them ; 
IS  soon  as  weaned, 
len  pigs  were  small 
sture  necessary  to 
tried.     Think  cost 
5  per  pound,  count- 
879  pork  at  three 
It  of  a  well-fattened 
Many  farmers  con- 
enough  for  a  hog ; 
portunity." 
or  the  market  is  a 
large  scale  except 
i,  Kansas,  and,  re- 
;  Texas  horses  are 
'  wild  descendants 
t  over  here  by  the 
nerated    in    size, 
rh,  wiry  and  sure- 
he  Indian  pony,  a 
also  half  wild  and 
endurance,  and  a 
lese  gives  a  very 
vices.      


MVSTANCS  AM)   HRONCHOS,  ^67 

There  are,  both  here  and  in  California,  where  the  mustang  is 
very  common,  many  horses  thoroughbred  and  of  the  best  blood, 
as  well  as  grades  from  the  most  renowned  English,  French  and 
American  stocks,  and  there  are  those  who  are  largely  engaged 
in  rearing  and  breeding  these  very  fine  animals.  It  is  claimed, 
anil  probably  with  truth,  that  some  of  the  finest  horses  on  this 
continent  are  owned  in  California,  Colorado  and  Texas.  But 
very  little  of  these  finer  strains  of  blood  is  to  be  found  in  the 
droves,  sometimes  consisting  of  10,000  or  20,000  horses,  which 
are  intended  to  supply  the  needs  of  the  tens  of  thousands  who 
want  one,  or  a  dozen,  or  a  hundred  horses  for  work.  The 
mustangs,  Indian  ponies,  and  the  cross  between  the  two  go  by 
the  general  name  of  broncho  throughout  the  West,  just  as  the 
name  of  "  Canuck  "  is  given  to  all  the  Canadian  horses  at  the 
E!ast.  Without  the  broncho  (notwithstanding  all  his  bad  habits) 
the  western  settler,  and  especially  the  large  farmer  or  the  ranche- 
owner,  would  hardly  be  able  to  exist,  and  the  Indian  certainly 
would  not.  The  shepherd  follows  his  flock  on  foot,  but  the 
vaqttero  or  herder,  the  cow-boy,  as  this  western  herdman  delights 
to  call  himself,  would  be  utterly  bereft  of  all  his  importance  if  he 
could  not  exhibit  his  skill  and  horsemanship  by  careering  about 
on  his  broncho.  The  stages  or  Concord  coaches,  which  in  such 
numbers  traverse  all  parts  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  which  the 
railways  have  not  yet  penetrated,  are  all  drawn  by  bronchos,  and 
all  the  relays  are  from  the  same  stock.  At  every  station,  also, 
of  all  the  railways,  there  are  numerous  conveyances,  Concord 
coaches,  buggies,  lumber-wagons,  buckboards,  and  often  the 
more  pretentious  carriage,  to  which,  in  the  absence  of  blooded 
stock,  there  are  attached  from  one  to  four  or  six  of  these  moun- 
tain  horses.':'"'  •♦»'>  iV'    '■<:',    "'•'   Im--  ■■!   "i^-     ■-,    i^'       •■;."(•)■-..    jMi)i.;-;f 

But  while  the  "  broiicho "  has  great  labors  to  perform,  and 
often  with  scanty  and  indifferent  fare,  his  humble,  patient,  and 
much-enduring  congener,  the  "  burro,"  has  a  still  harder  time  of 
it.  Every  sort  of  long-eared  animal,  except  the  mule,  from  the 
stately  Spanish  or  Maltese  ass  down  to  the  gentle  little  donkey 
bestridden  by  the  young  tyrant  in  knickerbockers,  goes  by  the 
name  of  "burro,"  and  its  office  is  to  bear  burdens.     Over  the 


:  ^i 


..^^ssiaii'afe*- 


I! 


if 


H 


^68  OUJt    WESTERN'  EMPIRE. 

passes  of  the  Great  Divide,  nine,  ten  and  eleven  thousand  feet 
above  the  sea,  passes  never  tracked  by  a  wheel,  and  only  pene- 
trable by  the  sure-footed  ass  during  the  four  summer  months, 
the  patient  little  donkey  picks  his  way,  bearing  a  heavy  load  of 
concentrated  ore,  or  panniers  of  "  canned  vittlea,"  or  perhaps 
furniture  or  grain,  which  could  not  by  any  other  mode  reach  the 
mining  camps  far  up  in  the  mountain  gulches. 

Strange  that  an  animal  so  gentle,  meek  and  patient,  should, 
by  the  mingling  of  a  nobler  strain  of  blood  with  its  own,  give 
birth  to  a  progeny  so  thoroughly  perverse  and  refractory,  yet  so 
indispensable  on  account  of  its  hardiness  and  strength  as  the 
mule.  This  contrary,  obstinate,  sulky  brute,  whose  intelligence 
seems  to  be  wholly  concentrated  on  the  best  mode  of  accom- 
plishing the  greatest  amount  of  mischief  and  destruction,  is 
nevertheless  invaluable  in  all  the  western  lands.  He  commands 
a  price  at  least  fifty  per  cent,  higher  than  that  of  a  horse  of  the 
same  grade ;  and  is  universally  employed  in  hauling  ore,  timber, 
miners'  supplies,  groceries,  dry-goods,  furniture,  hardware,  etc., 
etc.  Unlike  the  burro,  the  primary  function  of  the  mule  is  not 
to  cross  the  "  Divides  "  on  mountain  trails,  but  to  draw  over  the 
roads,  good  or  bad  (generally  the  latter),  those  huge  wagons 
with  their  loads  of  from  two  to  four  tons.  A  mule-team  may 
consist  of  four,  six  or  eight  mules.  But  there  are  pack-mules 
also,  which  bear  on  their  backs  heavy  loads,  fastened  to  them 
with  all  the  packer's  skill,  and  which,  if  well  bound  with  the  skiU 
ful  but  complicated  diamond  hitch,*  will  resist  the  determined 
and  desperate  efforts  of  the  mule  to  rid  himself  of  it.  But  woe 
to  the  packer  who,  in  his  zeal  to  display  his  skill,  comes  within 

*  This  ii  a  peculiar  fastening  of  the  ropes  which  bind  the  pack  on  the  mule's  back,  and  thi 
■ability  to  execute  it  successfully  is  regarded  »«  one  of  the  highest  attainments  among  the  moun- 
taineers. It  is  related  of  one  of  Professor  Hayden's  corps,  that  at  one  time  he  was  separated 
from  bis  coropaniotw  and  fell  into  a  camp  of  packen  and  tnule-drtvcrs.  His  new  companions 
looked  with  contefnpt  upon  the  delicate  and  apparently  frail  youth,  and  btgan  to  badger  him. 
"  You  are  nothing  but  a  tender-foot,"  they  said ;  "  what  business  have  you  up  here,  among  men 
Chat  have  been  in  the  moantatns  for  years  ?  You  had  better  go  home  to  your  Yankee  friends  and 
let  them  take  care  of  yo«.  W«  ilon't  need  «ny  •  tender-feet  •  up  here."  "  I  nuqr  be  a  tender- 
foot," replied  the  young  man,  quietly,  "probably  I  am;  but  I  can  put  the  dinnjond  ihitch  on  a 
mule's  pack  with  any  of  you."  "  Can  you  ?  "  asked  his  tn-ventors,  in  astonishment.  "  Then 
you  are  weicnme  to  the  beat  we  have  in  camp^"  .... 


ji^ 


n  thousand  feet 
and  only  pene- 
Kimmer  months, 
a  heavy  load  of 
les,"  or  perhaps 
mode  reach  the 


ur  Mil  I'li' 


patient,  should, 

ith  its  own,  give 

efractory,  yet  so 

strength  as  the 

lose  intelligence 

Tiode  of  accom- 

l  destruction,  is 

He  commands 

>f  a  horse  of  the 

iling  ore,  timber, 

:,  hardware,  etc., 

"  the  mule  is  not 

|:o  draw  over  the 

e  huge  wagons 

mule-team  may 

are  pack-mules 

istened  to  them 

nd  with  the  sk'iU 

the  determined 

of  it.     But  woe 

11,  comes  within 

e  mule's  buck,  and  lh<« 

nent«  among  the  rooun- 

e  time  he  was  separated 

His  new  companions 

began  to  badger  him. 
>u  up  here,  amofig  men 
our  Yankee  friends  and 
I  maijr  be  a  tender- 
the  diamond  >hilch  on  a 

Mtonifbment.    "  Then 


DOGS  OF  AJ.L  A'WDS.  ^ 

reach  of  the  heels  of  this  vicious  brute ;  he  will  find  it  looking 
most  demurely,  but  without  the  slightest  warning  those  legs  will 
lash  out  with  lightning  sj>eed,  and  whosoever  awd  whatsoever  is 
within  their  reach,  will  feel  that  they  possess  all  the  hardness  and 
elasticity  of  steel,  and  will  not  desire  to  r<:peat  the  experiment. 

The  rearing  and  breedirig  of  mules  is  not  a  very  expensive 
business.  It  is  only  necessary  to  have  the  nuile  parent  of  large 
size  and  of  good  pro[)ortions ;  the  mother  may  be  a  mart!  of 
almost  any  breed ;  even  the  Indian  ponies  or  the  mustangs 
answer  the  purpose.  The  mule  colts  are  much  hardier  and 
tougher  than  the  horse  colts,  and  feed  upon  anything  which 
comes  in  their  way,  shavings,  sage-brush,  weeds,  bufl'alo  grass 
or  anything  else.  They  bring  a  high  price  because  the  demand 
is  always  greater  than  the  supply.  There  is  probably  no  agri- 
cultural business  which  will  return  surer  and  more  liberal  profits, 
upon  a  moderate  outlay,  than  this.  We  regret  that  we  are  un- 
able to  give  figures,  but  the  horse  and  mule-breeders,  if  not  a 
close  corporation,  are  ^t  least  close-mouthed,  and  will  not.  as  the 
slang  phrase  goes,  give  themselves  away. 

Our  record  of  domestic  animals  and  their  relations  to  the 
farmer,  stock-raiser,  or  sheep-master  would  not  be  complete 
without  a  notice  of  the  dog.  Nowhere  is  it  more  true  than  in 
the  Great  West,  that  "  there  are  dogs  and  dogs."  From  the 
shepherd-dog  or  colly,  which  rivals  man  in  point  of  intelligence, 
or  the  graceful  and  fleet  grey-hound,  whether  of  English,  Danish 
or  Italian  breed,  to  the  base  cur-dogs  which  are  always  found 
around  an  Indian  camp,  base,  sneaking,  half-starved  brutes,  half 
wolf  or  coyote,  the  descent  is  almost  infinite.  The  sheep-farmers 
complain  bitterly  of  the  ravages  of  these  cur-dogs  (and  some- 
times, it  is  to  be  feared,  of  the  better  sorts)  among  their  flocks, 
and  often  in  their  haste  and  anger,  demand  that  all  dogs  shall  be 
slaughtered  or  banished  from  the  State,  not  even  excepting  the' 
collies,  which,  with  rare  exceptions,  are  the  best  friends  of  the 
sheep ;  but  while  it  is  to  be  wished  that  th€y  might  succeed  in 
destroying  all  the  mongrels  and  curs,  we  cannot  desire  the 
destruction  of  the  more  beautiful  and  intelligent  canines  who  are 
not  destroyers  of  sheep  or  cattle,  -^i;..    j. ,-,.,.  ;,  •  mji;,    , ,/;:,    >  /. 


i! 


)Ti ; 


\i^ 


MM  I,  It 


.,-ii*.ii'    '^iVt'ikjv,*  ■' 


470 


OUK    H^RSTKRX   F.MPrKE. 


\  t 


i 


The  shephrrd-dojj  Ih  truly  the  companion  of  his  master,  listrn!* 
to  and  understands  every  word  spoken  in  his  hearing,  and  is  so 
faithful  in  ^uardin);;  his  woolly  flock  that  he  will  sacritice  his  own 
life  for  their  preservation.  We  may  be  told  that  sometimes 
even  these  dogs  have  proved  unfaithful  to  the  trust  confided  to 
them,  and  have  killed  the  sheep  they  were  set  to  protect.  This 
may  be  true  in  very  rare  instances,  but  have  there  been  no  cases 
where  men,  honored  and  trusted,  have  proven  false  to  their 
trusts  ?  If  so,  why  visit  on  a  poor  dog  the  punishment  due  to 
man,  with  his  superior  intelligence?  '      • 

In  those  parts  of  the  West  where  game  is  still  plentiful,  hunt- 
ing dogs  are  in  great  demand,  and  there  are  many  kennels  of 
superior  breeds.  The  hunters  in  Kansas,  Colorado,  Wyoming, 
Montana,  Dakota  and  on  the  Pacific  slope,  have  many  fine  dogs 
adapted  to  the  great  variety  of  game  found  there.  The  pointers 
and  setters  for  feathered  game,  are  of  excellent  quality,  and  the 
stag-hounds,  employed  for  hunting  the  deer  and  elk,  arc  not  sur- 
passed anywhere.  The  fox-hounds  and  wolf-dogs  are  not  always 
quite  so  good,  but  answer  a  tolerable  purpose.  Very  few  of  the 
most  plucky  dogs  like  to  attack  the  grizzly  bear,  for  a  single 
blow  of  its  powerful  claws  kills  them.  They  are  not  in  so  much 
fear  of  the  black  or  cinnamon  bears,  and  often  render  efficient 
aid  to  the  hunters  in  bringing  them  down.  The  whole  tribe  of 
cur-dogs,  Indian  dogs,  mongrels,  and  crosses  on  the  coyote  or 
the  gray  wolf  are  a  nuisance,  and  kill  more  sheep  than  the 
coyotes  or  gray  wolves,  ten  times  over.  The  laws  for  the 
destruction  of  these  pests  are  very  strict  and  severe,  but  it  is 
difficult  to  carry  them  into  effect.  Where  there  are  Indian  camps 
there  are  sure  to  be  scores  of  these  wretched  dogs,  mangy,  ugly, 
and  half-starved,  but  the  Indian  values  them  very  highly,  and 
some  of  the  savage  tribes  offer  them  as  sacrifices  at  the  burial 
of  their  dead  braves,  while  others,  when  hard  pressed,  cook  and 
eat  them.  Most  of  them  seem  to  be  on  excellent  terms  with  the 
coyotes,  the  most  despicable  of  all  the  carrion  hunters  of  the 
wolf  tribe,  and  it  is  not  always  easy  to  distinguish  which  is  dog 
and  which  coyote. 

We  have  alluded,  incidentally,  more  than  once  to  the  rearing 


RA/srNG  rovunv. 


471 


master,  listen? 
rinj;,  and  is  so 
crilice  his  own 
lat  sonvtimes 
St  contidcd  to 
protect.  This 
been  no  cases 
false  to  their 
shment  due  to 

plentiful,  hunt- 
iny  kennels  of 
ido,  Wyominj*. 
nany  tine  dogs 
The  pointers 
[uality,  and  the 
Ik,  are  not  sur- 
are  not  always 
/ery  few  of  the 
ir,  for  a  single 
not  in  so  much 
ender  efficient 
whole  tribe  of 
the  coyote  or 
eep  than  the 
laws   for  the 
vere,  but  It  is 
Indian  camps 
,,  mangy,  ugly, 
y  highly,  and 
at  the  burial 
sed,  cook  and 
erms  with  the 
unters  of  the 
li  which  is  dog 

Ito  the  rearing 


of  poultry,  as  a  pursuit  to  be  follow(;d  in  connection  with  a  grain* 
farm,  a  market-garden,  or  even  a  laborer's  "  little  patch  "  of  land. 
There  is  hardly  any  crop  which  a  farmer  will  find  more  profit- 
able, in  the  small  way,  to  help  out  his  income,  than  a  crop  of 
chickens. 

We  do  not  recommend  the  breeding  of  fancy  fowls,  which 
most  people  find  unprofitable.  Neither  would  we  advise  the 
establishment  of  a  chicken  factory.  These  are  well  enough  in  their 
way  and  are  probably  sometimes  the  sources  of  a  large  revenue  ; 
but  they  require  capital,  experience  and  skill.  But  every  farmer  can 
have  fifty  or  a  hundre'^'  hens;  the  barn-yard  variety  is  the  best  if 
crossed  with  Drahma,  Moudan  or  Hamburg,  Black  Spanish  or 
Plymouth  Rock  males.  If  the  children  want  a  brood  of  Ban- 
tams, indulge  them.  The  outlay  is  inconsiderable,  and  the 
fresh  eggs  and  the  chickens  pay  a  large  profit.  Take  these 
examples: 

Raising  Poultry  in  Iowa. — Mrs.  D.  W.  Gage,  near  Ames, 
Iowa,  raised  In  1871,  600  chickens,  of  which  about  150  were 
Brahmas  and  Houdans,  the  rest  being  half-blood.  One  Brahma 
cock,  nine  months  old,  weighed  11^  pounds.  The  poultry 
brought  at  Ames  6  cents  per  pound,  live  weight,  while  pork 
brought  $3.20  per  hundred.  Mrs.  Gage  states  that  she  can  raise 
poultry  as  cheaply  as  she  can  pork,  weight  for  Weight,  and  gen- 
erally sell  for  twice  as  much.  As  to  her  method  of  rearing,  for 
three  or  four  days  after  hatching,  the  chickens  were  fed  with 
hard-boiled  eggs  and  cheese-curd,  after  which  they  received 
mush  made  from  corn-meal  and  wheat.  Mrs.  Gage  recommends 
willows  planted  close  as  a  shelter  for  fowls ;  the  leaves  also  afford 
them  an  agreeable  food.  She  finds  the  Prahmas  profitable  for 
market,  but  for  the  home-table  prefers  Houdans. 

Mr.  Arthur  P.  Ford,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  an  experienced  fowl- 
raiser,  thus  records  his  experience  in  the  extreme  South,  which 
will  be  of  interest  in  those  States  and  Territories  south  of  the 
thirty-fifth  parallel :    toio'j  vniv^^inijui  ;k."-*  (:■   ;  '  '.:• -i    'ili  !.,,..;.;-: 

"Breeds. — The  best  breeds  suitable  to  our  climate  are  the 
Game,  Black  Hamburg,  Spanish,  Dominique,  and  the  common 
Barn-yard,  and  also  crosses  between  the  Brahma  and  any  of  the 


1 

i 


4^* 


OVK  tirssrhttu  XA/j'/jf/t. 


■cv 


foregoing.  The  large  thoroughbred  Asiallcs  do  not  thrive  nouth 
of  the  thirty-fifth  parallel  of  latitude ;  the  climate  iH  too  warm  for 
them ;  they  may  live  two  or  three  yearn,  but  their  progeny  in- 
variably degenerates.  This  is  now  a  vt;ry  generally  accrpt^'d 
fact  among  those  who  have  had  experience  in  raising  fowls  in 
the  South  for  actual  profit.  The  dark  colors  arc  the  hardiest, 
and  in  every  way  the  most  remunerative.  Light-colored  fowls 
arc  generally  delicate,  and  nearly  always  inferior  layers  and  set- 
ters. Persons  forming  a  stock  from  any  of  the  six  varieties 
named  should  be  careful  to  select  the  dark  colors.  White  fowls 
are  very  pretty  for  the  fancier,  but  they  are  an  injudicious  invest- 
ment for  the  ordinary  poultry-raiser  in  the  South. 

"  HousHs. — Fowls  should  in  all  cases,  wherever  practicable,  be 
allowed  to  sleep  on  trees  for  the  eight  months  from  ist  March 
to  I  St  November;  they  enjoy  the  privilege  very  much,  and  are 
always  healthy ;  whereas  when  sleeping  in  houses  during  this 
warm  period  they  will  be  constantly  liable  to  all  the  diseases  that 
appertain  to  their  kind.  When  the  cold  weather  comes  on  they 
should  be  put  into  the  house  at  night,  as  they  will  not  lay  well 
during  the  winter  if  exposed  to  the  cold  rain  and  ice.  The  house 
should  be  placed  upon  the  highest  part  of  the  grounds  assigned 
to  the  fowls,  in  order  to  secure  thorough  drainage.  It  should 
be  built  of  inch  boards,  placed  two  inches  apart,  to  afford  good 
ventilation ;  the  roof  should  be  close,  the  floor  covered  with  dry, 
loose  saiid,  and  the  roost  made  of  two-inch  laths,  and  slipped 
between  the  openings,  in  order  that  they  may  be  withdrawn  fre- 
quently and  cleansed  with  kerosene  oil.  The  house  should  con- 
tain nothing  whatever  except  the  roosts;  no  nests  or  boxes 
should  be  allowed  in  it ;  and  it  should  be  whitewashed  at  least 
twice  during  the  winter,  and  the  floor  frequently  cleansed  and 
supplied  with  fresh  loose  sand.      ruri .'  .itmiT/     ti;/; 

."Lice. — Red  lice  will  infest  a  fowl-house,  even  during  the 
winter,  in  the  South,  and  will  be  principally  found  on  the  under 
sides  of  the  roosts,  in  small  mahogany-colored  patches.  These 
lice  infallibly  cause  sore  heads,  swelled  eyes,  and  the  dangerous 
disease  known  to  fanciers  as  roup ;  they  are  instantly  killed,  how-> 
ever,  by  applications  of  kerosene  oil ;  and  for  this  purpose  the 


lU 


iimmmmmmmmmitim 


tOVLTKY  JTA/S/m:  tS  Tlftt  SOVT/r. 


VJ 


not  thrive  nouth 
I  in  too  warm  for 
ifir  projrt'ny  in- 
ncrally  accepted 
raisinj;  fowU  in 
arc  tin;  hardiest, 
ht-colored  TowIh 
r  layers  and  sct- 
thc  six  varieties 
rs.  White  fowls 
ijudicious  invest- 
1. 

:r  practicable,  be 
from  1st  March 
y  much,  and  arc 
uses  durinj;  this 
the  diseases  that 
r  comes  on  they 
will  not  lay  welt 
ice.  The  house 
rounds  assigned 
lage.  It  should 
t,  to  afford  good 
overed  with  dry, 
ths,  and  slipped 
e  withdrawn  fre- 
juse  should  con- 
nests  or  boxes 
washed  at  least 
ly  cleansed  and 

ven  during  the 
id  on  the  under 
patches.  These 
\  the  dangerous 
ntly  killed,  how- 
his  purpose  tho 


roosts  should  \yc  withdrawn  and  oiled  nt  least  every  three  woekt. 
Wh<*n  fowU  have  sore  heads,  caused  by  these  lite,  they  will  die, 
unless  promptly  taken  in  hand.  A  simple  but  iniallible  cure  is 
to  grease  their  heads  tiaily  for  three  or  four  days  with  olive-uil, 
and  make  them  sleep  on  the  trees  in  the  open  air.  ^*l^^•  large 
white  lice  will  never  be  found  on  fowls  that  sleep  on  trees  during 
the  spring  and  summer  months ;  but  if  allowed  to  occupy  a  house, 
these  lice  cannot  be  escap<il,  and  the  fowls  will  kIiow  their  pres- 
ence by  appearing  droopy,  and  having  colorless  combs  and  gills, 
akul  unless  they  arc  relieved  they  will  die. 

"Wait.r.— Pure,  clean  drinking-water  is  absolutely  essential  to 
the  health  of  all  poultry;  impure  water  is  a  prolific  source  of 
cholera  in  summer,  and  of  roup  in  winter.  During  the  cold 
weather  a  little  red  pepper  put  into  the  drinking-water  of  fowls 
will  be  found  beneficial.  This  is  a  good  tonic,  and  warms  up  tho 
hens  and  induces  them  to  lay.  Another  excellent  [)rovision  is 
to  place  at  the  l)Ottom  of  the  vessel  of  water  a  piece  of  assafce* 
tida,  which  impregnates  the  drink  with  its  tonic  qualities  and  is 
very  wholesome.  I'^owls  drink  but  little  water  at  a  time,  but 
they  drink  very  often  ;  and  in  the  course  of  the  ilay  consume  a 
surprisingly  large  quantity  of  it. 

"Food. — The  food  should  be  varied  occasionally  from  hard 
grain,  to  flour  or  meal  mixed  with  a  little  water,  and  should  be 
fed  to  them  principally  in  the  afternoon,  in  order  that  they  may 
have  a  supply  for  quiet  digestion  during  the  night.  During  the 
winter  months  fowls  require  more  food  than  they  do  at  other 
times,  for  they  are  unable  to  obtain  insects,  and  the  cold  weather 
renders  more  food  actually  necessary.  If  fowls  are  fed  well 
during  the  cold  weather,  they  will  lay  well ;  but  they  will  not  lay 
during  the  winter  without  an  abundant  supply  of  food.  Chan- 
dlers' scraps,  or  oil-cake,  that  can  be  obtained  at  all  soap-factories 
at  two  cents  per  pound,  will  be  found  very  valuable  food,  given 
two  or  three  times  a  week,  but  if  fed  too  freely  it  will  scour  the 
fowls,  as  it  is  very  greasy.  An  abundance  of  green  food,  fresh 
grass,  etc.,  is  absolutely  indispensable  during  the  summer,  and 
should  also  be  given  Uie  fowls  during  the  winter  whenever 
practicable.  ;  •ynu.rtvtumn  I.';;. 


474 


OVK    WK%TKIIS    AMttltM. 


tl 


I 


"  KANr.r. — A  dry  ran^e  \%  etiientiai ;  fowU  will  not  thrive  in 
{lam|>  Icii-alitic!!  nr  no  ilirty  |>ri*mi«es.  They  nhoiiltl  iirvrr  Iw 
aIIowihI  uri-fHM  tu  rottt-d  iimiuirr  hrapw,  bn  the  ammonia  ^cner* 
ated  by  siirh  hrapji  aiwuy>t  taiiMii  Moro  cynt  and,  if  (oniiiuuHl. 
death.  n»t«rc  In  a  very  ^Tr<\\  tlif'fcrence  Ix'twi-rn  an  ordinary 
•table,  or  cow-yard,  and  a  com(>oat  hrap ;  in  thr  Ibrmrr  thr  f.iwU 
obtain  much  food  without  riitk,  but  in  the  latter  the  food  obtained 
id  always  at  the  cost  of  disra«e. 

"SKrriNci  Hk.ns, — llenn  should  never  Ikj  net  lirtween  mt 
May  and  ist  Srptrmbrr,  as  the  simall  lice  will  become  trouble> 
•ome  durin(<;  thr  warm  weather ;  and  the  youn^  chickN  will  not 
thrive.  I'licy  may  be  Hct  advanta^eouMly  at  any  time  between 
Septrmb<r  and  May;  but  the  chiclcH  will  re(|uirc  much  care 
and  protection  if  hatched  durinj,;  the  cold  winter  months.  I'hv 
hardiest  chicks  and  most  easily  raised  are  those  hatched  during; 
the  months  of  bebruary  and  March.  Only  the  *'^^%  of  the  hnest, 
healthiest  hens  should  be  set,  and  particularly  those  from  the 
best  layers ;  but  eggs  from  hens  that  have  had  attacks  of  roup 
should  never  be  set,  as  the  constitutions  of  such  hens  are  alwayti 
weakened  by  this  disease,  and  the  chickens  will  be  liable  to 
similar  attacks.  It  is  certain  that  only  strong,  healthy  hens  can 
lay  eggs  that  will  produce  strong,  healthy  chickens.  The  nests 
should  always  be  made  on  the  ground,  so  that  the  c^gs  can 
obtain  the  natural  amount  of  moisture  essential  to  hatching;  and 
never  under  any  circumstances  should  hens  be  allowed  to  set 
or  even  to  lay  in  the  fowl-house.  They  shoidd  be  taken  care- 
fully from  the  nests  once  daily,  and  given  corn  and  water ;  but 
when  hatching  has  actually  commenced  they  should  be  let  most 
rigidly  alone. 

"  Chic  KKNH. — The  young  chickens  should  be  kept  in  coops  for 
at  least  one  month  after  being  hatched,  or  many  of  them  will 
be  lost  by  injuries  and  various  accidents.  A  little  meat,  finely 
chopped  up  and  fed  to  them  occasionally,  will  be  found  of  great 
advantage.  Only  the  largest,  best  formed  should  be  kept  for 
stock,  and  the  inferior  should  be  sold  or  eaten.      a  ^n  ,  •<  < 

*'  Profits. — A  stock  of  three  cocks  and  twenty-seven  hens  will 
be  found  very  manageable  and  remunerative  by  any  family  in  the 


••■1^ 


not  thrive  in 
tiilii  navrr  !»« 
utioniii  ^•«'nrr« 

I,  it    COIIlitUMll, 

1   nn  onliiiAry 

rnwr  thr  I  »wU 

iuoil  ubtuinuU 

I 
between  I  at 
come  trniihic* 
:l)ickH  will  not 
timr  iM'twj'cn 
re  inuth  care 
montliH.  I'he 
atchcii  (luring 
;»  of  the  finest, 
lose  from  the 
ttncks  of  roup 
L*ns  are  alwnyn 
1  be  liable  to 
lilthy  henn  can 
IS.  The  nests 
the  e^K*  can 
hatching' ;  and 
lilowecl  to  set 
e  taken  care- 
id  water;  but 
d  be  let  most 

>t  in  coops  for 
^  of  them  will 
e  meat,  finely 
)und  of  great 
be  kept  for 

;ven  hens  will 
y'  family  in  the 


fOUL  m  Y  KAiHtHQ,  ^y| 

cmintfy,  nnd  will  yield  an  ahiindanc'**  of  ejjj»t  nnd  thirkenn  for 
c-onHiiinptinn  an«l  haU'  annually.  Ihe  proliin  of  krrpin^  fowU  in 
n  prui  ticablr.  onlinary  way  may  be  drmonatratrd  by  the  tollowinif 
MUtcment,  calculated  lor  a  |m nod  oi  two  yearM: 

"Dtvro*. 

To  ,<|e  hfncU  nf  fowl*,  «l  75  renu  iwr  |Mir |ti   15 

Tu  allow  M  lo  ilie  In  two  yft*T%  «ni|  Im  rcpiared  «t  75  tenu  |irr  |Mtr  j  00 

To  4H  litinlu-l«  of  frrd,  al  50  <rniii 14  00 

PowlhoiiM? t     ,     , (00 

41&  (luxri)  rggt  for  wiling,  at  15  renU       .     , 6  00 

lLil.iiu'0  of  profit  in  Iwu  yean   ...........  MM  83 

"  CmniTfMi. 

ny  177  «lo>:cn  crrs.  At  15  rent* l4i  SS 

Ky  506  <  hi<  kcnit  hud  hcd,  Irm  100  died,  My,  4c6  railed,  lit  ao  centi  .  Mi   jo 

Ily  manure  uvrd  in  two  years 3  00 

By  30  head  of  fowU,  at  73  rents  per  pair *  I  >5 

"Thus,  thirty  heads  of  fowls  will  pay  a  clear  profit  of  588. S5  in 
two  y«!ars,  or  an  average  of  %\.\'i  e.ich  annually,  (jood  speci- 
mens of  the  brcetis  named  will  protluce  annually  about  sixty  to 
seventy  eggs  each.  The  settings  should  average  thirteen,  and 
of  thcrse  about  eleven  will  hatch.  The  extension  of  poultry-rais- 
ing should  in  every  way  be  encouraged,  as  it  increases  the  supply 
of  good  food  at  a  very  reduced  cost."',    ./   .,  ,.  1    • 

Turkeys  are  also  a  source  of  profit  near  villages  and  large 
towns.  Where  land  is  plenty,  as  at  tlie  West,  it  pays  well  to 
give  poultry  a  tolerably  wide  range,  accustoming  them  to  come 
home  at  night  to  roost  and  be  fed.  They  will  make  havoc  with 
the  grasshoppers  and  locusts,  and  prevent  losses  from  these 
pests.  They  fatten  easily,  although  they  require  care  when  they 
are  young.  They  always  command  a  good  price,  and  as  Mrs. 
Gage  says  of  the  fowls,  it  costs  no  more,  pound  for  pound,  to 
raise  them  than  it  does  pork,  and  they  will  bring  three  or  four 
times  the  price.         ./,,  .^  -    -^     .       ,?  ,  .  ,         .      ;i.. 


1 


.4Siimnsai«>:%«a>tkiu^,mrc*:».^x 


^  OUR    WESTEKS   EMPIRE. 

Ducks  and  geese  are  also  profitabW:  when-  there  is  water. 
The  latter  especially  haw^  a  triple  value,  for  th«ir  eggs,  their 
flesh  and  their  feathers,  which  are  plucked  from  the  living  bird, 
once  or  twice  a  year.  This  is  a  large  business  now  in  some 
parts  of  Texas,  and  is  conducted  on  an  extended  scale.  Pigeons 
are  easily  raised,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  towns ;  they  are 
very  prolific,  and  the  young  pigeons  or  squabs  command  high 
prices. 

The  raising  of  poultry  in  the  West  is  attended  with  some 
risks,  as  they  have  many  enemies.  Foxes,  coyotes,  raccoons, 
weasels,  ground-hogs,  and  other  four-footed  marauders,  and  the 
whole  tribe  of  hawks,  owls  and  vultures,  are  ready  to  pounce 
upon  the  helpless  fowls. 

But  a  still  more  formidable  enemy  is  the  so-called  "  chicken 
cholera,"  a  disease  which  has  made  sad  havoc  in  the  poultry- 
yards  of  all  parts  of  the  Country.  Many  farmers  have  lost  hun- 
dreds of  fowls,  and' where  a  flock  are  attacked  from  twenty-five  to 
ninety  per  cent.  die.  Ducks,  geese  and  turkeys  are  as  subject 
tb  it  as  hens  and  chickens.  The  disease  is  contagious  and  goes 
throujjh  an  entire  flock  when  one  or  two  are  affected.  The 
symptoms  are :  at  first,  the  fowl  begins  to  mope  around,  some- 
times seeming  to  have  a  full  crop,  but  oftener  an  empty  one;  it 
will  not  eat,  but  drinks  often,  and  seems  to  be  very  thirsty ;  the 
comb  and  watricc  become  a  dark  red,  nearly  a  black  color ;  the 
droppings  are  at  first  of  a  pale  green  color,  then  dark  green  and 
yellow,  but  grow  thinner^  clearer  and  more  liquid  with  each 
evacuation,  till  utterly  weakened  and  prostrate,  in  the  course  of 
from  twelve  to  forty-eight  hours  the  fowl  dies,  usually  with  great 
appearance  of  agony.  Many  times  they  will  use  their  last  re- 
maining strength  to  crawl  or  flutter  away  under  bushes  or  a 
fence  to  die.  The  liver  is  always  found  to  be  diseased.  They 
sometimes  have  an  appearance  of  fatness,  but  this  is  due  to 
dropsical  effusion.  The  discharges  and  the  flesh  of  the  fowls  have 
a  most  offensive  odoft'xj>^  s.  himmnm-i  ky/jwIc  y;'>jjT    .j.;n(7o/  'nn 

That  the  cause  of  this  disease,  like  that  of  the  so-called  "hog 
cholera,"  was  a  germ  or  organism  of  a  contagious  nature,  and 
capable  of  the  most  rapid  propagation,  was  discovered  in  Franc  " 


ere  is  water, 
ir  eggs,  their 
e  living  bird, 
now  in  some 
lie.  Pigeons 
ns;  they  are 
Dinmand  high 

:d  with  some 
tes,  raccoons, 
ders,  and  the 
dy  to  pounce 

illed  "  chicken 
the  poultry- 
lave  lost  hun- 
twenty-five  to 
re  as  subject 
cus  and  goes 
iffected.  The 
Lround,  some- 
ampty  one ;  it 
y  thirsty;  the 
ck  color;  the 
irk  green  and 
lid  with  each 
the  course  of 
ally  with  great 
their  last  re- 
bushes  or  a 
;eased.  They 
this  is  due  to 
the  fowls  have 


PROF.   PASTEUR'S  DISCOVERIES. 


477 


nUiKii  '.fii.^ 


So-called  "hog" 
js  nature,  and 
;red  in  Franr^' 


by  M.  Moritz,  of  Upper  Alsatia,  and  M.  Toussaitit,  of  Alfort, 
French  veterinary  surgeons,  in  1878  and  1879.  Sig.  Peroncito, 
a  veterinary  surgeon  of  Turin,  also  ':orrohorated  their  investiga- 
tions. It  was  reserved,  however,  for  M.  Pasteur,  the  eminent 
French  physiologist  and  chemist,  to  apply  the  knowledge  already 
obtained  on  this  point  to  practical  use.  In  a  paper  '•  on  virulent 
diseases,  and  especially  on  the  disease  commonly  callec^  chicken 
cholera,"  read  before  the  Academie  des  Sciences,  February  9th, 
1880,  and  translated  and  published  here  by  P.  Casamayer, 
Ph.  D.,  in  the  "Journal  of  the  American  Chemical  Society,"  Prof. 
Pasteur  details  the  results  of  his  experiments  carried  orf  for  many 
months  with  this  specific  poisonous  germ,  by  which  he  has  dem- 
onstrated that  its  virulence  may  be  greatly  diminished,  and  that 
if  the  chickens  are  inoculated  with  this  modified  germinal  poison 
their  sickness  will  be  slight  and  they  will  be  perfectly  protected 
from  the  original  disease.  In  a  word  he  has  applied  Jenner's 
principle  of  vaccination  to  the  chicken  cholera.  The  processes 
by  which  this  may  be  accomplished  are  so  simple  and  the  results 
so  satisfactory  that  we  presume  it  will  be  largely  practised  where 
there  is  danger  of  the  prevalence  of  chicken  cholera. 

But  until  this  method  can  be  more  generally  made  known  and 
adopted,  it  is  certainly  best  that  measures  of  prevention  should 
be  resorted  to,  and  that  the  roosts  and  henneries  should  be  kept 
perfectly  free  from  vermin,  by  the  free  use  of  whitewash  and 
kerosene  oil,  that  no  lice  or  other  insects  should  infest  the  fowls, 
and  that  they  should  have  pure  water  and  perfectly  clean  feed, 
with  fine  gravel,  red  pepper,  and  occasionally  a  litde  assafoetida 
put  in  their  water  to  act  as  a  tonic.  Their  food  should  not  be 
exclusively  of  corn,  but  meal,  bran  and  other  articles  should  be 
given  a  part  of  the  time.  They  should  have  no  access  either  to 
their  own  droppings,  or  any  manure  heaps,  especially  if  any  dis- 
ease prevails  among  other  domestic  animals,  but  should  have 
during  the  day  the  range  of  a  large,  and  if  possible,  gravelly  lot. 

Another  disease  which  affects  fowls  very  often,  and  is  con- 
siderably destructive,  though  less  so  than  the  chicken  cholera,  is 
roup.  Under  ,tluB  name  several  distinct  diseases,  though  all 
afiectiog    the    atr    passage,  are    included.      It   is    sometimes 


»t4«^ 


1 


i 


, 


f 


478  OVk    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

analogous  to  croup,  and  the  fowls  die  of  suffocation ;  at  other 
times  it  is  only  a  severe  catarrh,  and  sometimes  a  contagious 
one;  at  still  other  times  it  is  an  inflammation  of  the  lungs  or  a 
sort  of  pleuro-pneumonia.  These  are  all  caused  primarily  by 
damp  and  unwholesome  temperatures  at  the  roosts,  foul  air, 
currents  of  air,  etc.  The  symptoms  are  sneezing,  mucous 
discharge  from  the  nostrils,  froth  in  the  corners  of  the  eyes,  and 
a  tendency  to  suffocation — stimulating  food,  red  pepper,  and 
bran  mash,  are  as  good  as  any  medicines  internally,  and  the 
external  application  of  a  wash  of  sulphate  of  iron  (copperas), 
spirits  of^  turpentine  or  kerosene  to  the  head  and  throat  (taking 
care  that  none  of  it  enters  the  eyes),  are  the  best  external 
remedies.  If  the  mucous  discharge  is  copious  and  offensive, 
separate  the  sick  fowls  from  the  rest  of  the  fllock,  as,  at  this  stage, 
the  disease  is  contagious.  A  lump  of  borax  of  the  size  of  a 
chestnut  dissolved  in  one  or  two  quarts  of  their  drinking  water, 
is  a  very  good  remedy  for  tliC  suffocating  trouble  of  the  throat. 

■1;./  \''\\v-  -'iu     ;i:fn  ■  \;:\  ji'-r. ',"  ','(! 


;<((:.' 


r^'T^a'^ 


CHAPTER  XI. 


trn.<\ 


M 


Special  Crops — Rice  Corn — Pearl  Millet — Other  Millets — Hungarian 
Grass  —  Sweet    Potatoes  —  Pea-nut    or    Ground-nut  —  The    Sugar 
Question  once  more — Is  not  Corn  worth  more  than  Twenty  Cents  a 
|M  Bushel  to  Manufacture  into  Sugar? — The  Cultivation  of  Textiles — 
S,h  Flax,  Hemp,  Ramie,  Jute,  Tampico,  Tule,  Nettle,  Esparto  Grass,  the 
,H  Brake    or    Swamp    Cane — Some  of  the  Cacti — Cultivation  of  Oil- 
I   Producing  Plants— Castor  Bean,  Olive,  Flax,  Rape,  Hemp  and  Cotton 
^.  Seed,  Tar   Weed,  Sesame,  Peppermint,  Spearmint,  Bergamot — Culti- 
y  VATioN  OF  Nut-bearing  and  Fruit-bearing  Trees  and  Shrubs — English 
^"^'Walnut,   Black  Walnut,    Hickorv-nut,   Common    Chestnut,  Italian 
l»i  Chestnut,  Almond,  Filbert,  Pecan,  Hazel-nut,  Pawpaw,  Persimmon, 
{j;t  Japanese    Persimmon,    Pomegranate,    Mandrake,    Apricot,    Medlar, 
^^  Orange,    Lemon,    Shaddock,    etc.— Ordinary  Fruits,   Apples,   Pears, 
Quinces,  Peaches,  Plums,  Cherries,  Prunes,  etc. — Small  Fruits,  Grapes, 
Currants,  Gooseberries,  Strawberries,  Raspberries,  Blackberries,  Dew- 
berries, Partridgeberries,  Whortleberries— Employment  for   Profes- 
fi  sional  Men,  Artisans,  Tradesmen,  Florists,  Market-Gardeners,  Factory 
-  Operatives,  btc.  ■  ja..j.  ,;,■,:  ..,r:i,,.,,,  .„.,     :\,^^ 


In  previous  chapters  we  have  endeavored  to'j^kce  before  the 
sfttler  the  results  attained  by  skilful  farmers  And  stock-raiser4>, 


:ion ;  at  other 
a  contagious 
the  lungs  or  a 
I  primarily  by 
osts,  foul  air, 
zing,  mucous 
the  eyes,  and 
pepper,  and 
lally,  and  the 
n  (copperas), 
throat  (taking 
best  external 
and  offensive, 
,  at  this  stage, 
the  size  of  a 
rinking  water, 
if  the  throat. 

'"*.'!  .'  i'  '■ '  ';'.»■   ('.-': 

!TS — Hungarian 
•  —  The  Sugar 
rwENTY  Cents  a 
»  OF  Textiles — 
lrto  Grass,  the 

VATION    OF    OlL- 

SMP  AND  Cotton 

RGAMOT — CULTl- 

HRUBs — English 
ESTNUT,  Italian 
AW,  Persimmon, 
iicoT,  Medlar, 
Apples,  Pears, 
Fruits,  Grapes, 
ckcerries,  Dew- 

ST   FOR     PrOFES- 

>eners.  Factory 

(C^  before  the 
stock-raisenS», 


SPECIAL   CROPS. 


479 


in  the  ordinary  crops  and  avocations  of  an  agricultural  or 
pastoral  life.  It  now  remains  for  us  to  show  what  special  crops 
have  proved,  or  are  likely  to  prove,  profitable,  when  their  culture 
is  undertaken  under  favorable  circumstances. 

We  have  already  said  in  our  First  Part,  that  above  the  thirty- 
second  parallel  of  north  latitude,  the  best  first  crops  which  a  setder 
can  raise,  on  new  lands,  are  wheat  or  the  root  crops.  But,  after  the 
arable  land  of  the  farm  has  been  under  the  plow  two  or  three 
times,  and  a  rotation  of  crops  seems  desirable,  it  is  well  for  him 
to  turn  his  attention  to  some  other  crops  in  addition  to  his  wheat, 
oats,  barley,  corn  and  potatoes,  which  with  proper  care  he  may 
find,  perhaps,  more  profitable  than  the  staples  which  he  has  been 
cultivating,  and  must  still  continue  to  cultivate  on  the  larger  part 
of  his  farm. 

If  he  has  any  cows,  kept  for  dairy  purpor.es,  any  sheep  or 
swine,  he  will  do  well  to  turn  his  attention  first  to  forage  plants, 
or  to  those  which,  in  addition  to  their  value  for  this  purpose, 
yield  some  other  important  product.  The  different  varieUes  of 
Sorghum,  differing  in  their  time  of  ripening,  in  their  size  and  in  the 
amount  of  saccharine  matter  they  contain,  answer  an  admirable 
purpose  for  both  these  crops.  They  can  be  sown  early  and  cut 
just  as  the  seed  ripens,  the  leaves  stripped  for  forage  and  the 
tops  either  reserved  for  feeding  stock  or  for  sowing,  while  the 
stalks  can  be  crushed  for  the  saccharine  juice.  Indian  com  may 
be  made  to  furnish  a  triple  product  in  the  same  way ;  the  leaves 
being  used  for  forage,  the  stalks  for  sugar  and  syrup,  and  the 
bagasse  or  dry  crushed  stalks  used  for  fuel  or  for  paper,  the  corn 
preserved  for  its  various  uses,  not  the  least  profitable  of  which  is 
now  the  manufacture  of  glucose  sugar.  With  such  a  demand  as 
there  now  is  for  com  for  this  and  other  purposes,  it  ought  to  be 
worth  much  more  than  twenty  cents  a  bushel,  at  which  price  it 
has  been  sold,  for  several  years  past,  in  Western  and  Central 
Kansas,  and  even  within  ten  or  fifteen  miles  of  a  railway.  There 
is  some  dispute  in  regard  to  the  healthful  character  of  the  glucose 
sugar  and  syrup,  which  are  now  made  to  the  extent  of  many 
millions  of  pounds  annually  in  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  and  Buffalo,  some 
contending  that  as  made,  it  contains  free  sulphuric  acid  ^nd  other 


i^ 


OUK   WMSTE^^  KMPIRE. 


^ 


'!»  ij 

II 


\S 


substances  which  arc  very  injurious ;  others  insisting  that  it  is 
perfectly  devoid  of  any  injurious  quality,  and  equal  in  quality  to 
any  sugar  in  the  market. 

These  crops  are  both  easily  raised,  and  can  be  cultivated  with- 
out any  special  insiructions.  Broom  com  is  largely  cultivated 
in  several  of  the  States  and  Territories,  and  is  a  very  sure  crop, 
growing  and  ripeningwhereversorghumand  Indian  corn  will  ripen. 
In  Kansas  the  average  yield  is  about  580  pounds  to  the  acre. 
It  always  finds  a  prompt  and  ready  sale,  and  brings  from  $20  to 
%2l  per  acre.  Another  excellent  plant  for  both  forage  and  grain 
is  the  Egyptian  rice  corn,  or  Pampas  rice.  It  has  been  extensively 
tested  in  Kansas,  and  while  inferior  to  Indian  corn  as  a  forage 
plant,  its  grain  is  richer  in  fattening  qualities,  yields  on  good  land 
a  larger  crop,  and  stands  drought  better  than  any  oriier  grain, 
ripening  its  grain  where  Indian  com  and  all  the  cereals  failed. 
It  is  not  only  excellent  for  fattening  stock,  swine  and  poultry, 
but  when  ground  yields  a  richer,  better  and  more  appetizing  food 
for  family  use  than  any  of  the  other  cereals.  It  yields  from  forty 
to  sixty  bushels  of  grain  to  the  acre,  and  as  it  tillers  very  widely, 
requires  less  seed  for  sowing  than  other  grains. 

Another  of  these  forage  plants  which  promises  fairly,  is  the 
pearl  millet.  Its  yield  of  forage  is  enormous ;  it  can  be  cut  four 
or  five  times  in  a  season,  and  will  yield  from  fifty  to  eighty  tons 
of  green  forage,  or  seven  to  ten  tons  of  dry,  to  the  acre.  It 
stands  drought  much  better  than  Indian  corn,  and  thoug'h  its 
stalks  are  not  as  sweet  and  somewhat  more  woody  than  those 
of  the  com  (it  is  one  of  the  sugar-producing  plants),  it  yields  a 
much  larger  quantity,  and  in  its  green  state  is  eaten  with  great 
avidity  by  cattle.  The  seeds  or  grain  are  exceillent  food  for  cat- 
tle or  poultry,  though  not  quite  so  rich  in  the  fat-producing  prin- 
ciples as  the  rice  corn.  It  is  sometimes  cohfownded  with  the 
German  millet,  an  inferior  pliant,  and  one  of  much  less  value  for 
forage,  though  even  this  yields  from  five  to  six  tons  of  dry 
forage  to  the  acre. 

AlfcUfd,  a  species  of  Lucern,  long  cultivated  in  Chill  and  Peru, 
has  been  very  widely  introduced  into  California,  Arizona,  Texats, 
New  Mexico,  Colorado  and  Kansas  as  a  forage  grass,  and  is 


HUNGARIAN  CXASS^J'ME    TJiXTJ/.ES. 


^ 


ng  that  it  is 
in  quality  to 

tivated  with- 
ly  cultivated 
ry  sure  crop, 
jrn  will  ripen. 

to  the  acre. 

from  $20  to 
ge  and  grain 
n  extensively 
1  as  a  forage 
)n  good  land 

oriier  grain, 
lereals  failed, 
and  poultry, 
petizing  food 
ds  from  forty 

very  widely, 

fairly,  is  the 
n  be  cut  four 
o  eighty  tons 
the  acre.  It 
d  thoug'h  its 
ly  than  those 
s).  It  yields  a 
en  with  great 

food  for  cat- 
oducing  prin- 
ded  witli  the 
less  value  for 

tons  of  dry 

hili  and  Peru, 
•izona,  Texats, 
grass,  and  is 


much  liked.  It  lias  a  long  tap-root  which  reaches  far  down 
below  the  surface  and  draws  moisture  from  the  depths  of  the 
soil  below,  so  that  it  does  best  in  a  dry  climate.  The  grass  is 
perennial,  and  these  tap-roott*,  in  the  course  of  four  or  five  yeara, 
grow  to  the  size  of  a  carrot.  It  yields  four  or  five  crops,  in  aU 
from  five  to  eight  tons  of  hay,  in  a  year,  which  is  very  nutritious  aad 
eagerly  sought  for  by  boises  and  cattle.  It  does  not  flourish 
well  in  cold  climates,  and  cannot  be  successfully  cultivaled  north 
of  40"  north  latitude. 

Hungarian  grass,  a  species  of  millet  very  nearly  akin  to  the 
Sitaria  Germanua  or  German  millet,  is  also  a  j^reat  favorite  as  a 
forage  plane  throughout  the  West.  It  grows  to  the  height  of 
three  or  three  and  a  half  feet,  and  yields  from  two  to  four  tons 
of  hay  per  acre.  It  is  better  to  cut  it  before  it  seeds,  and  to 
take  off  two  or  three  crops  a  year.  It  is  an  annual,  but  is  better 
«n  the  plains  than  timothy  or  common  clover.  The  seed  should 
«ot  be  fed  to  hoTMs  ©r  cattle  alone,  but  should  be  mixed  with 
bran  or  some  lighter  food,  as  it  is  very  rich  and  stimulating  and 
often  proves  a  powerful  diuretic.  The  product  of  this  grass  in 
Kansas,  in  1378.,  was  1^1,782,000.  It  is  said  to  exhaust  the  soil 
more  than  the  AlfaWa. i'^ .i    '     .<-     /•  i  »s  1  n , ;  v-    ,  i  .    ,.  v: 

Another  class  of  special  crop?,  which  will  often  paj  a  very 
handsome  profit,  are  the  textiles.  Some  of  these,  as  cotton, 
jute,  ramie,  and  the  cacti,  can  only  be  successfully  cultivated  in 
the  southern  portion  -df  our  Western  Empire.  All,  or  neai^ly  all, 
these  flourish  well  in  Texas,  Arkansas,  the  Indian  Territory, 
Southern  Kansas,  N^w  Mexico,  Arizona,  Southern  Nevadiv,  and 
Southern  Califonnia.  Cotton,  ^&git/lax  and  kemp,  is  valu^e  hot 
only  for  its  textile  product  -but  for  its  seeds,  which  produce  a 
Auduable  oil,'  and  a  rich  oil-cake  for-  feeding  cattle,  of  which  we 
shall  have  more  to  say  byiand-by.  It  can  be  raised  as  far  jKHth 
as  Kansas,  gr  in  tJbe  latitude  of  Southern  Illinois,  but  is  not  a 
very  profitable  crop  above  the  35th  paisiUel.  JitUe  is  a  shrub  «f 
the  order  Tiliaoese;  to  whidh  the  linden  or  basswood  trees  al«o 
belong.  It  is  an  annuali  a  native  of  the  East  Indies,  but  is  easily 
cultivated  in  «he  extreme  Southwestern  States.  The  fibre  has 
many  uses ;  diough  too  easily  affected  hy  moisture  for  cordage, 


-yfes*-'  ■ 


ii  ii 


483  OU*    WESTEX//  EMPIRE. 

it  is  largely  used  for  gunny-bags,  for  paper  stock,  as  a  substitute 
ff><-  iiair,  for  cheap  carpeting,  and  employed  in  the  adulteration 
of  cheap  silk  and  mohair  goods,  etc.,  etc.  The  settler  in 
Texas,  Arizona,  or  Southern  California  would  hardly  fmd  any 
crop  more  remunerative.  The  ramie  or  China  grass,  like  the 
hemp  and  the  nettle,  belongs  to  the  family  of  Urtlcacea:,  or 
nettle-like  plants.  It  yields  a  beautiful  fibre,  stronger  than  hemp, 
finer  than  flax,  and  of  a  beautiful  whiteness.  It  will  grow 
wherever  cotton  grows,  yields  three  crops  a  year,  of  about  1,500 
pounds  of  6bre  to  the  acre,  and  ought  to  be  largely  cultivated. 

The  different  species  and  genera  of  the  cactus  do  not  require 
cultivation.  They  abound  in  Texas,  Arizona,  Southern  New 
Mt.'xico,  and  Southern  California,  and  especially  the  peninsula  of 
Old  California.  Many  of  the  species  have  an  abundance  of  long, 
wl^ite  fibres,  easily  obtained  by  crushing  them  between  rollers, 
and  these  can  be  used  to  advantage  for  many  purposes.  In 
Southern  California  they  are  curled  and  used  for  filling  mat- 
tresses, for  which  their  elasticity  admirably  adapts  them. 
■  The  brake,  or  swamp-cane,  which  is  our  only  plant  akin  to  the 
bamboo  of  the  eastern  continent,  abounds  along  the  shores  of 
the  Gulf  and  the  southern  rivers.  It  is  one  of  the  best  materials 
known  for  the  production  r  f  paper  stock,  and  by  an  ingenious 
machine  is  easily  reduced  tQ  a  tough  and  fibrous  pulp  of  great 
strength. 

The  tuU,  a  rush  found  abundantly  on  the  islands  and  shores 
of  the  California  lake^  and  rivers,  is  also  an  excellent  material 
for  paper  stock.  So  is  the  palmetto,  which  will  grow  on  the 
poorest  lands  in  Texas,  Colorado  and  New  Mexico,  as  well  as 
in  Arkansas  and  tlie  Indian  Territory.  >r  viiE> 

»y,The  Agave  Americana,  a  native  of  Mexico,  but  sufficiently 
hardy  to  grow  anywhere  south  of  40*  north  latitude,  yields  a 
fibre  nearly  equal  to  hemp,  and  capable  of  being  extensively 
raised  on  sandy  and  dry  lands.  This  is  good  for  cordage,  for 
brushes,  for  which  purpose  it  is  sold  9i&^tampuo,  and  for  paper 
stock.  The  Esparto  grass,  which  is  found  in  the  south  oi  Spain 
and  on  the  coast  of  Algeria,  is  in  great  demand  in  England  and 
to  some  extent  here  for  paper  stock.     It  grows  very  profusely 


FI.AX,  HUMP  AND  NETTLE. 


a  substitute 
adulteration 
c   settler  in 
dly  find  any 
ass,  like  the 
Irticaceae,  or 
r  than  hemp, 
;t  will   grow 
f  about  1,500 
cultivated. 
D  not  require 
luthern    New 
peninsula  of 
lance  of  long, 
ween  rollers, 
jurposes.     In 
r  filling  mat- 
them.       j:v;ki 
It  akin  to  the 
the  shores  of 
jest  materials 
an  ingenious 
pulp  of  great 


■I, 


Is  and  shores 

[lent  material 

grow  on  the 

:o,  as  well  as 

jt  sufficiently 

tude,  yields  a 
extensively 
cordage,  for 

|nd  for  paper 
)uth  of  Spain 
England  and 

[ery  profusely 


on  the  poorest  lands,  and  at  the  price  now  paid  for  it  would  be 
a  very  profitable  crop  for  the  poorer  lands,  as  there  is  a  great 
demand  for  paper  pulp,  for  all  descriptions  of  manufactures. 

Flax,  Linum  Usitatissimum  •  hemp.  Cannabis  Sativa ;  and  the 
nettle,  Urtica  Dioica,  and  other  species,  and  we  might  probably 
add  the  New  Zealand  flax,  Phormium  tenax,  which  would  be  a 
valuable  addition  to  our  textiles,  are  all  natives  of  temperate 
climates,  and  are  cultivable  in  any  part  of  "  our  Western  Em- 
pire," except  where  the  conditions  of  drought  prevent.  All  of 
them  draw  very  heavily  for  growth  and  nourishment  upon  the 
soil,  and  rank  as  exhausting  crops,  requiring  for  their  best 
growth  a  rich  and  highly  manured  soil ;  but  all  of  them  are  pro- 
fitable when  properly  cultivated ;  the  fiax  and  hemp  yielding  not 
only  the  lint,  but  seeds  which  produce  valuable  oils  used  by 
painters  and  artists;  and  the  nettle  being  very  valuable  as  a 
forage  plant  aside  from  its  fibres.  The  New  Zealand  flax  is 
about  twenty  per  cent,  stronger  than  hemp,  and  is  well  adapted 
t'.o  the  manufacture  of  cordage.  We  are  not  aware  of  any  other 
economical  use  of  its  seeds  or  leaves  except  for  textile  purposes. 
Where  the  soil  and  rainfall  are  adapted  to  these  crops,  as  in 
,  Minnesota,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Eastern  Kansas,  Nebraska 
and  Dakota,  and  Western  Oregon,  their  cultivation,  though 
attended  with  considerable  labor,  even  with  the  present  improve- 
ments, cannot  fail  to  be  profitable.  The  breaking  of  flax  and 
hemp,  I.  e.,  tne  process  of  removing  the  woody  portion  from  the 
'  fibre,  was  formerly  a  difficult  and  laborious  process,  but,  thanks 
to  the  inventive  skill  of  some  American  mechanics,  it  is  now 
only  a  light  amusement.  The  bleaching  of  tlie  flax  (hemp  is  not 
often  whitened),  as  practised  in  Ireland,  is  a  process  requiring  a 
peculiar  climate  and  the  constant  presence  of  moisture.  It  is 
possible  that  Minnesota,  and  perhaps  Oregon,  might  furnish  the 
required  conditions  with  their  numerous  lakes  and  their  some- 
what plentiful  rainfall.  But  the  cultivation  of  flax  and  hemp, 
especially  the  former,  for  the  seeds  alone  is  very  profitable.  In 
Kansas,  in  1879  (not  a  favorable  year  for  these  crops),  flax  was 
raised  for  the  seed  only  on  nearly  70,000  acres,  and  the  net 
profit  was  more  than  $g  per  acre.     Hemp  was  raised  in  that 


-jjiiiamiWiXOaiifew «*iiiA./i»><i»t«wt;<ituaartMi.-«;fc«^w.i<>:. v V> '~  ' 


n 


~    -*  V     HftA^M^ 


.  4.A    it^   |i»»/^ 


ij 


^  ©Mr    WESTEKN   KMPIHK. 

jitate  the  same  y*ar  on  '^r.'.y  606  acres,  but  the  crop  sold  mainly 
tfor  the  Hnt  for  about  $56  per  acre.  The  nettle  ih  not  yet  much 
cultivated  as  a  textile  and  forage  plant;  but  the  climate  is  better 
adapted  to  it  than  that  of  Germany,  where  it  has  proved  a  great 
success.  The  neule  fibre  is  fine  and  even  and  of  great  strength, 
so  that  it  is  well  adapted  to  the  manufacture  of  fabrics  for  sum- 
mRr  wear,  as  well  as  to  fine  cords,  etc.  For  these  pur[X)ses  it  is 
thought  to  surpass  flax,  and  it  grows  well  on  a  poor  soil,  though, 
of  course,  not  as  iarge  as  on  a  rich  one. 

Turning  now  from,  textiles  to  oil-producing  plants,  we  notice, 
•first,  after  the  textile  seeds,  cotton,  flax  and  hemp,  all  of  which 
yield  oils  of  great  comi^ercial  value,  and  which  form  a  constantly 
increasing  product  both  for  home  consumption  and  export,  a 
very  valuable  diough  humble  plant  which  is  ckstined  yet  to  be- 
come a  very  important  product  of  the  soil — the  AracMs  Hyft^- 
'■gady  'known  as  the  pea-nut,  ground-nuit,  or  goober.     This  sin  • 
•^ular  plant  possesses  a  variety  of  claims  upon  our  consideration  ; 
its  straw  or  vines  when  cursd  make  an  excellent  hay  or  forage 
which  c.4ttle  eat  greedily;  the  nuts  or  seeds,  enclosed  in  a  hard 
'shell  nnd  spreading  and  ripening  beneath  the  so9  lik«  the  tubers 
oT  a  potato,  are,  when  baked  or  roasted,  in  great  demand  among 
dhildren,  and  grown  people  also ;  while  they  yield  on  pressure 
a  clear,  pMre  oil,  wliidh  for  salad  purposes  is  equal  to  oKve  oil, 
and  is  of  ^great  value  for  Illuminating  and  lubricating  purposes, 
and  is  also  used  for  the  manufacture  of  the  bettor  iC^iialities  of 
•soap.    The  mits  when  powdered  are,  in  France,  largely  mixed 
"With  oacao  for  tSie  manu^oture  of  chooolale,  and  in  the  so-called 
chocofeoe  condiments,  are  sufosdtuied  for  the  cacao.     The  pea- 
nut isfery  eaatty  cakiviited,  and  ih  a  good  soil  yields  a  large 
and  profiiaide  drop,    it  fs  raised  in  ciiiisidcr.-kfale  quantities  in 
TenlnesBee  'aod  in  iCam^as,  and  to  borne  extent  in  'other  States. 
It  yields  from  twenty  to  (tifty  bushels  to  the  acre,  «nd  with  good 
cultivation  'on  ^eod  ikmf^  the  crop  inay  eaatty  be  increased  to 
80,  TOO,  ^r  <even  1^5  'iMishels.    The  prLoe  simply  for  use  for 
roasting  purposes  varies  foom  t^enty^two  cents  to  %\  per  bu^iel; 
'the  first  lieing  am  (exeeptiorKdly  low  pnce  caused   by  a  Sodden 
Jigjlut  *in  the  market  which  was  unprepared  for  it  at  tiie  time. 


)  sold  mainfy 
ot  yet  much 
late  is  better 
oved  a  great 
•eat  strength, 
rics  for  sum- 
jurposes  it  is 
-  soil,  though, 

ta,  we  notice. 

,  all  of  which 

I  a  constantly 

lAd  export,  a 

•d  yet  to  bc- 

racftis  Nypt- 

r.    This  sill' 

onsideratida ; 

lay  or  forage 

led  in  a  hard 

k«  the  tubers 

«nand  among 

on  pressure 

to  oKvc  oil, 

ng  purposes, 

qualities  of 

argcly  mixed 

the  so-called 

X     The  pea- 

iolds  a  large 

quantities  in 

'Other  States. 

nd  with  good 

'fBcfeased  to 

for  use  for 

I  perbu^MJl; 

by  a  sodden 

at  ^e  time. 


OLIVES  ASD  SRSAMB.  4f| 

With  a  simple  oil-mill  and  a  sufficient  local  supply  to  keep  th<) 
mill  running,  and  facilities  for  markf:ting  the  product,  we  think 
the  price  might  readily  advance  to  ^\,  or  even  more,  per  hushcK 
Hardly  any  crop  so  easily  raised  will  pay  better. 

The  culture  of  the  Oliv*,  which  is  not  only  practicable  but 
lucrative  in  Texas  (possibly  in  Arkansas),  in  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory, in  Arizona  and  Southern  California,  is  eminently  desirable* 
wherever  it  is  possible,  both  for  the  fruit  and  the  oil.  It  r« 
hardly  necessary  to  go  into  particulars  in  regard  to  the  method* 
of  cultivation  of  this  interesting  plant,  as  most  of  those  who  would 
K  likely  to  cultivate  it  have  already  been  engaged  in  its  culturo 
in  Southern  Europe,  and  if  not,  can  easily  learn  from  tliose 
around  them  the  best  processes  of  propagating  and  training  it. 
Pure  olive  oil,  though  a  little  liable  to  become  rancid  from  th« 
vegetable  mucilage  it  contains,  is  generally  regarded  as  the  best 
of  the  vegetable  oils,  though,  for  many  purposes  for  which  it  ia 
uaed,  the  oil  of  the  seeds  of  the  Sesamum  Indicutn,  of  the  groumi. 
nut  already  described,  or  of  the  Madia  Sativa,  the  tar-weed  oi 
the  Pacihc  coast,  all  of  which  are  cultivated  for  the  oil  expressed 
from  their  seeds,  is  preferable.  I'hese  plants  are  all  worthy  of 
cultivation,  as  they  yield  on  an  av.erage  about  500  pounds  of  oik 
•rem  the  seed  produced  on  an  acre.  •»  '  •'<♦»'  <  f"  r  ■  <v  t 
■  The  seeds  of  the  summer  and  winter  rape,  the  coleworta, 
rocket,  gold  of  pleasure,  sunflower,  white  poppy,  turnip  cabbage 
ind  Swedish  turnip,  all  of  them  plants  which  can  be  matured 
in  any  climate  where  Indian  corn,  will  ripen,  yield  from  385 
pounds  to  875  pounds  of  oil  to  the  acre's  product 

There  are  also  a  few  oil-producing  plants  whose  oils  have  a 
medicinal  character,  or  perhaps  have  a  certain  value  for  the  pef- 
(lim«r,  which  may  be  cultivated  with  profit  by  tfjc  farmer,  especially 
•n  the  prairie  lands.  The  most  noted  of  these  is  the  castor  bean  or 
castor  oil  plant,  Ricinus  Communis  or  Sangutnarim.  This  is  cuH 
tivated  sonwwhat  largely  in  Kansas  and  other  States ;  fifty-five 
counties'  in  Kansas  having  68,179  acres  pl&nted  with  it,  in  1879^ 
though  only  twenty-two  counties  raised  over  ipoo  bushels  each ; 
ind  die  product  being  vahied  at  $766,143,  or  about  $11.36  pet 
aucre.    This  is  a  tow  average,  as  with  ordioaiiily  good  culthration 

.'<*'i'   .•   •  ■■--      ■    ■        V         •  -■.,  ,  .  -.  ;. 


I 


"W^ 


i 


s 


>V; 


486  Ol/M   WttSTAMS   KMtmR. 

tlic  crop  hHouM  b«^  from  twrnty  to  twenty  five  biiHhdn  per  nprfr, 
•ml  with  special  carr  nhoiild  reach  thirty  huiihrlH.  In  the  absence 
of  any  oil-millH  near,  the  price  of  the  lieanH  was  %\  per  bushel. 
With  an  oil  mill  near,  an  they  mi^ht  have  had  in  the  coimtieH 
havinjj  larjjc  crops  of  it,  they  would  have  liecn  able  to  realize  at 
least  $1.50  per  bushel,  and  still  have  left  a  lar(i[c  mar^^in  of  proHt 
to  the  manufacturer.  The  plant  is  of  lar^re,  rank  {growth,  and 
matures  its  beans  in  a  summer  of  ordinary  length.  It  is  planted 
In  Kansas  in  March,  April  or  M^y,  according;  to  the  locality. 

Peppermint  an!  spearmint  are  larjjely  cultivated  in  some  sec- 
tions mainly  for  the  oil,  though  the  dried  herbts  arc  sold  in  small 
quantities.  In  Illinois  there  arc  large  tracts  sown  with  them  for 
this  purpose,  and  the  culture  proves  profitable.  Bergamot  is 
sown  for  the  same  purpose.  These  plants  can  bt!  profitably 
cultivated,  if  there  is  a  distilling  apparatus  in  the  vicinity  to  distil 
off  the  oils.  They  are  a  cro|)  easily  raised,  as  they  require 
no  weeding  or  hoeing,  if  planted  on  clean  land,  and  can  be 
Harvested  with  the  mowjT  or  harvester. 

I  Among  other  special  crops,  we  may  notice  also  those  of  the 
nut-bearing  and  fruit-bearing  trees  and  shrubs,  not  included  in 
those  of  the  ordinary  orchard..  ''  fw  tM^  Ul'j.if  V'iit*  ^ti  -it  »*j'.^/r)t»t 

Under  the  Timber-Culture  Act,  though  orchard  trees  are  not 
allowed  to  be  reckoned  among  those  planted  for  the  purpose 
of  holding  the  land,  yet  quite  a  variety  of  the  nut  or  fruit-bearing 
trees  are  permitted.  Amon^  those  which  are  native  to  our  soil 
•re  the  butternut  and  black  walnut,  three  species  of  the  hickory, 
the  chestnut,  of  which  there  are  two  or  three  varieties,  and  its 
congener,  the  chinquepin,  of  which  there  are  two;  the  horse- 
chestnut  and  the  buckeye,  which  though  not  edible  by.  man  are 
prized  by  some  animals  and  have  an  economic  value  for  their 
starch;  the  piflon  pine,  whose  edible  nuts  furnished  food  to 
Fr6mont's  men  and  to  many  explorers  since ;  two  or  three 
species  of  the  beech,  whose  three-cornered  nuts  are  greedily 
seized  by  swine  and  squirrels;  the  pecan  nut,  a  shrub;  the 
filbert,  which  though  not  native  is  naturalized;  the  hazel  nut; 
and  of  imported  nut-bearing  trees,  the  English  walnut,  caUed 
•Iso  the  Madeira  nut,  and  the  Italian  chestnut.    The  last  two. 


*\ 


wij?)H!4Bilia!Wm».iJl'-i" 


»iw.w^Mw'jjiiiWiiiiiwi<witfiW'twttL.iJkiia>e;.)'^'.-a.'wig'.«w'*^-»j''''.!)~i'iw^'»'*it*^ 


^m 


fieln  per  ftmH 
1  the  absrncr 
I  per  hiiHhrl. 
I  the  counties 
I  to  realize  at 
irjfin  of  profit 

{growth,  and 

It  is  planted 
?  locality. 

in  some  sec- 
sold  in  .small 
ivith  them  for 
Hergamot  is 
hvt  profitably 
:inity  to  distil 
they   require 

and  can  be 

those  of  the 
t  included  in 

Lrees  are  not 
the  purpose 
fruit-bearing 
ve  to  our  soil 
'  the  hickory, 
eties,  and  its 
;  the  horse- 
by.  man  are 
ilue  for  their 
hed   food  to 
wo  or  three 
are  greedily 
shrub ;    the 
e  hazel  nut; 
ralnut,  caUed 
rhe  last  two. 


SUTBHAKlSii  IMMliS  AND  S/iKUBS.  ^ 

are  Vf  ry  vnlunbtr*  additions  both  to  our  nhade  and  fruit  treet. 
The  niitH  of  tlu?  I'.ntjlisth  walnut  are  in  ^rv\ii  demand  and  are 
largely  imported.  The  Italian  clu-sinut  furnishes  a  flour  which 
is  only  interior  to  wheat,  and  which  forms  the  only  or  principal 
farinacrouH  food  of  the  Italian  pt-asantH  of  the  Apennines.  Its 
cultivation  would  therefore  be  the  introduction  of  an  additional 
f()()d  product  of  great  value.  ' 

Our  native  chestnut  is  undoubtedly  capable  of  great  improve- 
ment tK)th  in  size  and  quality  of  its  nuts,  and  the  wood,  which 
forty  or  fifty  years  ago  was  reganled  as  only  fit  for  rails  ami  the 
like,  is  now  prized  as  one  of  tlu;  best  of  our  native  woods  for 
cabinet  work.  The  <;inigrant  farmer,  who  has  settled  on  "the 
plains,"  when  planting  trees,  as  it  is  his  duty  and  for  his  ad- 
vantage to  do.  will  ilo  well  to  set  some  of  these  noble,  kingly 
trees.  They  may  not  grow  so  rapiilly  as  ailantus,  locust  or 
bois  d'arc,  but  they  will  be  worth  a  great  deal  more  when  they 
are  grown. 

Orchards  of  fruit  trees,  as  well  as  fruit-bearing  shrubs,  are 
very  desirable  and  profitable  everywhere  in  the  West.  Our 
space  does  not  permit  us  to  enumcMtc  all  the  varieties  of  apples, 
pears,  peaches,  plums,  cherries,  quinces,  and  other  fruits  very 
widely  cultivated  in  all  or  nearly  all  these  States  and  Territories. 
The  apple  and  pear  do  well  almost  everywhere,  though  of  course 
different  varieties  are  cultivated  in  different  regions.  The  apples 
of  Iowa,  Minnesota,  Dakota,  Montana.  Oregon  and  Washington 
are  of  excellent  quality  and  command  high  prices.  Equally 
valuable,  though  of  different  varieties,  are  the  apples  and  pears 
of  the  middle  belt  of  Missouri.  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Colorado, 
and,  to  some  extent.  Now  Mexico;  while  Arkansas,  the  Indian 
Territory.  Northern  Texas,  and  those  portions  of  Arizona  where 
fruit-growing  is  practicable,  produce  excellent  apples,  but  do  not 
succeed  so  well  with  pears.  The  apples  of  Oregon  are  of  such 
excellence  that  they  are  largely  exported  not  only  to  San 
Francisco,  which  is  an  excellent  fruit  market,  but  to  the  cities 
and  countries  along  the  Pacific  coast  of  South  America,  and  to 

the  Sandwich  Islands.  n^j^c^3ifi^Ki*r''-!^!i  'i:->^>    f.-5fftvH!.»-.  ..}  ,.»!• 
t '  Quinces  grow  best  along  the  banks  of  streams,  but  the  New 


I 


I] 


41 


■VN 


0^  0VM    WiiTMUff  MMriMM. 

York  markef  r<H?clv<»«  from  CaKfomio,  qiilncr<«  of  gS^nntlc 
fm^vth,  like  ail  th«  Cali^rnia  fniitn,  hut  aUo  of  the  numt  ex* 
^uinitc  and  deliratc  tl.ivor.  IMiimn,  apricott  and  nrttarincK, 
lieinfi;  all  liable  to  the  nrinij;  of  the  ciirrulio— "the  littlr  1'urk,"  an 
the  farmera  call  hinv«-«re  more  Hiiccrnfifully  cultivated  by  the  Hide 
or  banka  of  lakcm  or  atreamit,  where  their  little  enrinv  may  he 
nhakcn  off  into  the  watrr  and  perish.  Cherrim  do  w»*ll  only  \\\ 
certain  localilies,  but  are  very  profitable  where  they  can  \h'  cul- 
tivated. The  peach  in  succettsfully  ra«<ied  aa  far  north  aa 
Iowa  and  .Southern  Dakota,  and  to  the  extreme  noiKhi'rn  limit, 
but  the  noulhern  varleiien  rip«'n  much  earlier  than  those  farther 
rtorth.  and  command  the  best  prices  in  conse(|uence  of  their 
early  rpening.  A  peach  orchard,  well  cared  for  and  manajjed 
With  enterprise,  in  Texas,  Arkansas,  or  the  Inilian  Territory, 
should  prove  a  fortune  to  its  owner.  Of  shrubs  or  small  trees, 
yielding  fruit,  there  are  the  dale  plum,  or  persimmon,  J)ios/>yros, 
of  which  there  arc  two  American  species,  both  very  astringent 
before  being  touched  with  the  frost,  but  pleasant  afterward,  ami 
t>i€  Japanese  persimmon,  greatly  superior  to  the  American  in  all 
respects,  and  now  extensively  introduced ;  the  fig,  a  favorite  fruit 
in  the  southern  and  middle  tier  of  States,  where  it  ripens  with> 
out  difficulty ;  the  pawpaw,  or  custard  apple,  Anona,  which  grow.4 
wild,  but  is  easily  cultivated,  and  a  Peruvian  species  of  very 
delicious  flavor,  Anona  Chentnoya :  the  pomegranate,  introtluced 
into  California,  and  the  mandral:e,  Podophyllnm  pdlatum,  whose 
fVuit,  when  carefully  ripened,  is  equal  to  that  of  the  pawpaw. 
All  of  these,  as  well  as  other  fruits  which  only  grow  wild,  do  not 
flburish  well  in  the  northern  tier  of  States  and  Territories,  but 
are  in  their  best  condition  in  the  central  or  southern  tier.  The 
liemort,  fime,  orange,  and  shaddock  will  only  mature  with  cer* 
tttinty  in  Texas,  '  rizona  and  Southern  California;  but  a  very 
gtood  Chl)»es6  v.»rJefy,  which  should  be  introduced  here,  ripens 
dnd  withstands  frdst  and  other  changes^  in  that  country,  above 
Hhe  latitude  of  40*>  rtorth. 

*  Of  th«*  «man«r  iWdts,  the  grape,  in  different  species  and  varie- 
ties, is  cultivated  from  the  British  boundary  line  to  the  Girff 
(Mast.    The  virteyards  of  California  are  of  immense  extent,  ahd 


MPi 


1 


9 


of  gi^antte 
w  moM  ex- 

nrttanni'S, 
I^  Turk."  as 
I  l>y  thf  niilf 
rinv  may  !>€ 
wj'll  only  m 
'  can  Im;  ciil- 
kr  nortit  ah 
v.hi'rn  limit, 
host'  farthfr 
\cv.  of  thfir 
id  niann^'fd 
n  Territory, 

small  trt'vH, 
I,  Dioaftyros, 
y  astrin>/('nt 
rrward,  am! 
eriran  in  all 
hvorilc  fruit 
ripens  with*- 
ivhich  growi 
ics  of  very 
',  introduced 
ntum,  whose 
lu!  pawpaw, 
wild,  do  not 
•ritories,  but 
I  tier.  The 
•e  with  cer- 

but  a  very 
here,  ripens 
in  try,  above 

s  and  varie- 

to  the  Girff 

extent,  add 


GMArMS  ASD  SMAlt.   FML/IX  ^ 

«ifery  ^r*fM»  known  »o  Eumpean  vine  growem  in  ctiltivatrd 
iKertr;  i\\r.  winr«  of  California  are  improving  every  year,  and 
evrntually  mutt  rnntrul  the  market.  Minsouh,  Texas,  New 
Mexico,  South'rn  Arizona,  and,  in  a  lewi  cxtenHtva  sen^c,  Kan- 
•AH  and  Nebranku,  are  aUo  noted  for  their  vinryanln.  The  win«»« 
ot  Miasouri  and  Texas  have  a  high  reputation.  The  protluttion 
of  raisin»v  and  especially  "  raisins  of  the  sun,"  han  been  succcM' 
fully  prosecuted  in  California,  and  might  k)c  in  Ariiona  and 
Texas.  The  Zantc  currant  or  grape  of  Corinth,  a  small  gra|»« 
which  i*'  imported  in  immense  quantities  for  plum-puddings  and 
for  the  use  of  the  (jermans,  might  easily  be  raised  here. 

The  other  small  fruits,  strawlicrrics,  raspberriei,  of  two  specie* 
and  srveial  varieties,  blackberries,  also  of  several  varieties,  dew* 
Ijerries,  whortleberries,  currants,  black,  white,  .ind  especially  red, 
gooseberries,  and  sevcr>l  specieti  of  mulberry,  which  differ  from 
the  others  in  growing  on  a  tree  instead  of  a  shrub  or  vine ;  the 
|»artridge  or  wintergreen  berry,  etc.,  etc.,  are  for  the  most  part 
cultivated,  and  all  are  cultivable,  and  will  add  a  very  material 
!ium  to  the  farmer's  income.  All  of  them  bring  good  prices  and 
lind  a  ready  market  in  their  season.  Their  cultivation  is  not 
difficult,  and  the  returns  arc  very  considerable,  and  come  at  a 
season  of  the  year  when  they  are  particularly  convenient 

We  shoidd  cal'  attentbn  here  also  to  the  advantages  of  the 
cultivation  of  vegetables,  etc.,  or,  what  is  known  In  the  vicinity 
of  our  larger  cities,  as  "  market-garden  truck."  A  settler  in  the 
neighborhood  of  one  of  these  western  towns  or  villages,  and 
especially  the  mining  villages,  if  he  has  a  farm  of  i6o  acres,  or 
even  of  eighty  or  forty,  can  make  a  handsome  fortune  in  a  few 
years,  if  he  will  devote  ten  or  twenty  acres  to  the  intelligent 
cultivation  of  these  vegetables :  such  as  asparagns^  celery,  early 
beetSt  peas,  string-beans,  lima  and  kidney  beans^  new  potatoes, 
sweet  early  com,  salsify,  egg-plant,  cauliflower,  kale,  cabbages, 
onions,  leeks,  garlics,  squashes,  carrots,  early  tumipisv  ruta-bagaa, 
mangel-wurzel,  etc.,  etc.,  adding,  if  he  can  find  room  and  time,  the 
small  fruits.  .buUM  Hm  w^^i  ^;?ti(  /, 

In  a  chapter  of  our  First  Part  we  have  already  pointed  out  the 
opportunities  which  "  Our  Western  Empire  "  offers  to  men  wlif» 


i 


fl 


.-O-^f^it-^/:^- 


.tiUat-^JL.    jaL,.^L^jlmii>^^ 


f. 

lit 


■>V 


490 


CUX    ly/iSTflKX   EMPIRE. 


have  not  beer  accustomed  to  farming,  and  who  have  no  special 
adaptation  to  it.  There  are  very  few  of  them  who  are  not  too 
old  for  successful  emigration,  and  who  possess  industry  and 
energy,  and  a  little  capital,  who  will  not  find,  in  the  course  of 
five  or  six  years,  that  their  condition  has  been  materially  im- 
proved by  their  removal.  All  such  persons  should  buy  a  little 
land,  even  if  it  be  not  more  than  forty  acres ;  the  time  will  come 
within  the  next  twenty  or  thirty  years  when  land  even  in  the 
West  will  be  very  valuable  and  not  easily  obtained ;  and  those 
who  have  trades  or  professions,  or  pursuits  which  yield  them  a 
comfortable  support,  though  they  may  not  desire  to  farm  their 
lands,  yet  desire  a  good  vegetable  and  a  good  flower-garden. 
They  need  also  pasture  for  one  or  more  horses,  one  or  two 
cows,  and  perhaps  some  swine  and  poultry.  Tleir  land,  mean- 
while is  growing  in  value  constandy,  and  in  their  declining  years 
may  become  their  most  important  possession. 

We  would  especially  urge  this  upon  professional  men,  clergy- 
men, lawyers,  physicians,  artists,  etc.,  and  also  upon  merchants, 
tradesmen  and  master-mechanics.  Florists  and  nurserymen  can 
do  well  with  small  tracts  of  land,  and  will  find  their  business,  if 
well  managed,  a  surer  road  to  wealth  than  a  large  farm.  Even 
day-laborers,  especially  near  the  mining  villages  and  towns,  will 
be  able,  by  raising  vegetables,  keeping  a  cow,  the  inevitable  pig, 
and  a  moderate  stock  of  poultry,  to  make  a  much  better  living 
than  they  could  in  "  the  old  country." 

H  The  concentration  of  a  large  population  in  these  districts  so 
sparsely  setried  hitherto,  will,  of  necessity,  bring  in  a  great 
variety  of  manufactures,  and  thus  furnish  ample  employment  to 
many  operatives ;  but  to  each  of  these  we  would  say,  in  all  kind- 
ness :  endeavor,  as  soon  as  possible,  and  even  at  considerable 
sacrifice,  to  become  the  owners  of  a  little  land,  and  to  have  a 
home  of  your  own.  It  is  the  first  step  toward  independence, 
and  when  you  have      "- »  pf.n«i»"    awl  ;,(• 

f*wl  \ ,  '■'>  rvl'  h  fiii  mt^i        "A  little  home  well  filled,  ^-^pJ'  rr;' 

;''■*  ?^'  ,'^  A  little  farm  well  tilled,  ^jjrrt)  iUittr' 


»,n 


if  AlittlewifewcUwilled,"     ol,,       tt.,.,r ,  .•  f,f 

and  the  bliv^-plants  begin  to  be  numerous  about  your  table,  you 


<-  ^ 


•"mmnwviv 


WM.m.vhr'.fag? 


ive  no  special 
»  are  not  too 
industry  and 
he  course  of 
naterially  im- 
Id  buy  a  little 
ime  will  come 
1  even  in  the 
d;  and  those 
yield  them  a 
to  farm  their 
lower-garden. 
,  one  or  two 
r  land,  mean- 
2clining  years 

I  men,  clergy- 
tn  merchants, 
rserymen  can 
r  business,  if 

farm.  Even 
id  towns,  will 
nevitable  pig, 

better  living 

se  districts  so 
g  in  a  great 
nployment  to 
y,  in  all  kind- 
considerable 
nd  to  have  a 
ndependence, 

)ur  table,  you 


■~> 


SCHOOLS  AND  CHURCHES. 


491 


will  not  be  so  anxious  for  strikes,  nor  regard  the  behests  of  a 
labor  union  as  so  imperative ;  if  wages  are  too  low,  you  can  till 
your  own  acres  and  wait  till  they  are  higher — but,  by  all  means, 
secure  you  a  litde  homestead. 

To  all  classes  of  settlers  we  would  say,  farther:  in  your  zeal 
to  establish  yourselves  in  your  new  homes,  do  not  forget  to  rear 
the  school-house  within  convenient  distance  of  your  dwelling. 
Whether  you  have  children  or  not,  the  school  is  one  of  the 
strongest  safeguards  of  free  institutions.  The  State  has  gener- 
ously made  ample  provision,  or  what  will  be  in  time  ample,  for 
supplying  it  with  good  and  efficient  teachers,  and  what  the  State 
cannot  now  do  a  light  tax  will  accomplish.  If  your  children,  and 
the  children  of  the  community,  can  be  well  educated,  they  will 
be  the  better  fitted  to  become  the  rulers  and  leaders  of  a  great 
State. 

And  we  have  still  another  injunction  for  you :  In  all  your  set- 
tlements, whether  large  or  small,  give  your  aid  freely  toward  the 
early  establishment  of  Christian  churches.  We  urge  this,  with- 
out reference  to  the  question,  whether  you  are  yourselves 
believers  or  unbelievers  in  Christianity.  It  will  not  take  you 
long  to  learn  that  a  church  will  do  more  to  preserve  and  main- 
tain good  order  and  respect  for  law,  will  give  you  a  purer  and 
better  social  condition,  and  a  higher  standard  of  morals,  than  a 
gambling-den,  a  liquor-saloon,  or  a  low  varieties  theatre ;  as  you 
love  your  families,  as  you  seek  after  the  best  interests  of  society 
and  the  promotion  of  justice  and  good  order,  give  the  preference 
to  the  church  over  these  institutions  which  are  fraught  with  so 
much  evil;y/t|-  rlfrnfilo  *'-£■  bftn  v><:  ^ii^-V.  -W!!-;:-,..;  -;i)    .•■v,-;-:. 

moi;  abttji-gnot  Ji.O-,v ';^ii  ■■!  it  Xcu  '\v:^\'\vi\'<\s'An\:.      ■■.,\^  t:    _,v;?:%.: 
him  .bi)'^ •>'*■; UK  :i:.i'i>d  ■■.!:.>'  il  U'  no! -*•:"(  !;;.:ri; 

.r*r)Ii!rt  frtJ 

OH  bn:nsi  ^ni  lU-f  u  IQ'U  i-l  '{Jiunr. 

nttmii  til     .«;?»!■'«  •ns?j;|)?:  bfi«v'i»'>if'  i/,r»-jr 

VJDtrmT  -i'Ai  mi  l-iLfumd  .-i  n  li'ion  -nhj.: 


(i .' 


r;  ■.■■ 


V  i-\  *"»n:'    i:'. 


it 


.■i 


'i^ish  \>>h 


■  ■  no. 


l«t.f) 


I 


i 


i\i11  -n 'Wi\a^j^y.'^iA^«iiiliii»l#<!i^^^  -«)a*<|'j>i|ltl '  i«ri  nntjMtifliWii  i  i  Mj  i 


1l[_lruH|1ilMi|i:.n 


'■:?    .  •J      ii''     ■■' '     '•'•    '•'f,      '^»    .v>  Ji    ,  '  vi'r  fii-'fTM  >■■:■   •  't   ■K'ini.i   i  .«({'' 
.'•  •■.7'j  '(••  ».(    ,M'<'^    I'vti.  .f(  'Vrr      v.';,i  !';>:  ur\ff  ^'ifi     >?  ■>.  .'ff;'.' '•4«i' 

.,■,,...,  ,,,T,  ■'^■.•t<''   ;nft  ''.('«   .      PART  III    '  '■'  "''    '  '■'■"'''^'•'  Hvi4't» '•■'' 

THE  SEVERAL  STATES  AND  TERf^ITORIES 

DESCRIBED  ,, 

CHAPTER  I:      '^'''•i^'i^"'^''  :r^rf'"4''p»:}r»^ 


.1)  ^' 
^'^•(■f*:.v4!/*  '^ARIZONA 


Its  Location— Extent— Tctpographv — Mountains,  Kitbr»,  Lakes,  Canons 
— Table-lands — Its  Soil,  Climate,  Temperature,  and  Rainfall — Its 
WoNPEES  and  Peculiarities— Its  Minerals  and  Mmus — Ite  ZootOGV — 
Adventures  with  its  Wild  Animals — Its  Productions,  Mini  •  i".,  Animal. 
Vegetable — Its  Populationi— The  Indians  nearly  ?xi  .;  Races — 
The  Ancient  Province  of  Tusavan — White  Inhabitants — Its  Present 
Condition,  and  the  Advantages  and  Facilities  it  affords  to  Settlers — 
Leiters  and  Communications  from  Major-General  J.  C.  Fremont,  Gov- 
brnor  or  Arizona,  and  Colonel  }.  W.  Powell,  United  States  Armv, 
Explorer  of  the  Couoradq,  etc.— Its  Probable  Future. 


>r<»' 


••/,    j^xBi... 


The  Territory  of  Arizona  occupies  a  part  of  the  sowtlrwcstern 
portion  of  "  Our  Western  Empire,"  though  separated  from  the 
Pacific  by  Southern  California  and  the  rocky  and  terrible  desert 
of  Lower  California,  above  the  head  of  the  gulf;  it  does  not 
extend  so  far  south  as  Southwestern  Texas,  but  is  comprised 
between  the  parallels  of  31**  ac/  and  37°  of  north  latitude,  and 
between  the  meridians  of  109*  and  114"  35'  west  longitude  f  ^m 
Greenwich.  But  a  small  portion  of  it  has  been  surveyed,  ad 
as  its  western  boundary  along  the  Colorado  of  the  West  k 
irregular,  there  is  some  doubt  about  its  actual  area.  It  is  esti- 
mated, in  the  last  Land  Office  Report,  at  113,916  square  miles, 
or  72,906,240  acres.  The  probability  is  that  it  will  be  found  to 
exceed  this  amount  by  several  thousand  square  miles.  Its  form  is . 
somewhat  irregular ;  on  the  north  it  is  bounded  by  the  Territory 
of  Utah,  the  thirty-seventh  parallel  forming  the  boundary  as  far 


'i"l'-^-!'fe''iM';W(*4''-!''.'. ' 


^^g^^m 

HT 

;■   ■    '   )i)iy   ]!':■• 

^ 

■  ■w'^ni}  \  i»Ci' 

''.    .T'f?*.'  •'■n> 

V.    "<:'.,'     '  ■'.■-:'■ 

^rh'ilr  .■T    , 

i 

rORIES'/ 

• 

• 

="  •■j.fi'tl;  Y{>'i;-f.' 

;|;nrff'/i'j-'!f«^ 

i'fi*«  i^'-^fjte;'* 

r?fV'»l(ff*H'i    '»V?, 

KKts,  Canons 

t% 

UiNPALU — Its 

ra  Zoology — 

f'^'.,  Animal, 

>  . ;    Races — 

1 

-Its  Present 

po  Sbttlbrs — 

REMoirr*  Gov- 

• 

»tates  Army, 

* 

■°c., 

mtltwestern 

'» 

d  from  the 

'•  f 

Tible  desert 

it  does  not 

1  edmprised                 j 

ati^nde,  and 

gitude  fi-^m         '■        : 

rveyed,  and 
he  West  ir 
.  It  is  esti- 
[uare  miles, 
be  found  to 
Its  form  is 
le  Territory 
ndary  as  far 


'      -^ 


•t'« 


"'"'''MHiUSMMi^- 


■fl:f 


n 


M 


I  >: 


O^yn^  *f  Mrt)t/Aera/St.  MS/ 


Ei 


4! 


i:^! 


Ul 


il 


m 

n 


r 


X. 


;.i?^ 


's.j:,  ..    ■-  -;  , 


*;  •''  ■■>  ;■- 


-*^ 


BOUNDARIES  AND   ORGANIZATION. 


493 


-:.     ■',. 


west  as  the  114th  meridian,  which  forms  the  western  boimdary 
of  Utah;  this  meridian  forms  jilso  the  western  boundary  of 
Arizona  as  far  south  as  the  thirty-sixth  parallel,  where  the  Colo- 
rado of  the  West  crosses  the  angle  formed  by  the  meridian  and 
parallel,  and  proceeds  northwest  and  then  west-southwest,  and 
turning  sharply  south  at  Callville,  just  after  it  emerges  from  the 
Grand  Caflon,  flows  southwardly  thence  to  the  Gulf  of  Califor- 
nia, forming,  for  all  this  distance  (about  500  miles),  the  western 
boundary  of  Arizona.  The  original  southern  boindary,  acquired 
from  Mexico  in  the  Treaty  of  Guadaloupe-Hidalgo  (Februaiy  2d, 
1^48),  -was  the  river  Gila,  the  most  considerable  of  the  lower 
afRuents  of  ihe  Colorado,  and  the  only  one  which  is  navigable 
ibr  any  considerable  distance.  By  the  Gadsden  Treaty,  made  at 
Mexico,  December  30th,  1853,  atl  the  territory  lying  south  of  the 
Gila  to  the  border  of  the  Mexican  State  of  Sonora,  was  conveyed 
to  the  United  States.  The  southern  boundary  now  runs  due 
west  along  the  parallel  of  31°  20' to  the  iiith  meridian,  and 
thence  west-northwest  in  a  straight  diagonal  line  till  it  reaches 
the  Colorado  in  about  3J**  30'.  The  Territory  is  bounded  on 
the  east  by  New  Mexico. 

'  The  law  authorizing  the  ot^ganization  of  the  Territory  was 
passed  February  24th,  1863,  and  the  Terrhorial  Government 
inaugurated  December  agth,  1863.  It  has  never  been  thor- 
loughly  explored,  and,  «p  lo  1880,  only  ^bout  6,100,000  acres 
had  been  surveyed,  about  one-twelfth  of  its  area.  Its  area  is 
about  equal  to  that  of  all  the  New  England  States,  New  York 
and  New  Jersey.  The  counti^  is  mountainous  in  much  of  its 
extent,  though  there  is  but  litde  regularity  about  its  mountain 
langes.  In  the  middle  and  hotl!he&st  there  are  elevated  plateaux 
of  vast  extent  having  a  inean  altitude,  varying  from  3,000  to 
7,500  feet  above  che  sea,  and  from  these  plateaux  volcanic  cones 
and  hiUs  rise  at  many  points.  In  the  north  a  mesa  or  plateau 
stretches  away  far  into  Utah  Territory.  South  of  the  Gila  river 
die  plain  sinks  dlmost  to  the  sea-level,  but  in  -the  southeast  and 
along  the  Sonora  line,  there  arc  fourteen  or  fifteen  detached 
ranges,  and  four  or  five  isolated  peaks.  "Man^',  perhaps  most, 
of  the  mountain  ranges  liave  a  general  course  from  northwest  to 


1 


! 


494 


OVK    WKSTKK.S'    HMriKti. 


southeast,  but  the  Mogollon  Mountains,  and  Hom<:  of  the  other 
groups  extending  into  New  Mexico,  hr.ve  an  east  and  >vcHt 
direction.  The  highest  known  elevation  in  the  Territory  is  Mount 
San  Francisco,  at  the  northern  end  of  the  lofty  San  I'rancisco 
plateau,  from  which  it  rises  to  a  height  of  13,700  feet  above  the 
sea-level.  i»i.  ;;  ij| /''.ii/iii,.^  ji. /it  "<^  /t'lDfr!  .jijitrmi 

Scattered  among  these  mountain  ranges,  detached  and  isolated 
mountain  summits,  plateaux  and  mesas,  are  many  valleys  of  great 
beauty  and  fertility,  but  the  river  valleys  are  generally  narrow 
ravines,  gorges  and  caAons,  accessible  to  the  rays  of  the  sun 
only  at  high  noon,  and  whose  precipitous  and  nearly  perpen- 
dicular walls  excite  terror  rather  than  pleasure.  The  valleys  oi 
the  Colorado  Chiquilo,  cr  Flax  river,  and  of  the  Rio  Salinas,  or 
Salt  river,  are  exceptions  to  this,  being  the  garden  spots  and 
granaries  of  the  Territory,  and  the  bordering  mountains  fur- 
nishing great  stock-ranges  where  the  cattle  are  sometimes  too 
fat  to  be  driven. 

The  most  remarkable  feature  of  the  topography  of  Arizona  is 
the  tendency  of  its  rivers  and  streams  to  form  caAons,  of  great 
depth  and  with  precipitous  sides.  Either  the  strata  through 
which  these  rivers  have  cut  their  way  to  the  Gulf  of  California 
are  more  friable  and  easily  eroded  than  the  same  strata  else- 
where, or  the  great  descent  of  tJie  rivers  and  their  immense 
volume  when  swollen  by  the  rains  and  melting  snows  give  them 
a  force  which  is  irresistible.  The  whole  Territory  is  drained  by 
the  Colorado  river  and  its  tributaries.  Most  of  these  tributa- 
ries— all,  indeed,  except  the  Gila,  which  is  in  itself  a  large  river — 
enter  the  Colorado  high  up  in  its  course ;  the  San  Juftn,  which 
enters  the  northeast  corner  of  the  Territory  and  receives  a  con- 
siderable affluent,  the  Rio  de  Chelly,  there ;  and  the  Colorado 
Chiquito,  or  Flax  river,  with  its  important  affluents,  the  Rio 
Puerco  of  the  West,  Rio  Qqemado,  and  Chevelon's  Fork,  falling 
into  the  parent  stream  above  the  Big  CaAon  of  the  river,  and 
forming  deep,  dark  and  precipitous  caAons  of  their  own.  The 
Colorado  itself,  through  more  than  600  miles  of  its  course  through 
Arizona,  flows  through  deep  caAons,  and  receives  nearly  200 
streams,  large  and  small,  all  of  them  coming  through  gorges  of 


i:  of  the  other 
:ast  and  wcHt 
itory  is  Mount 
san  i-'raucisco 
feet  above  the 

:d  and  isolated 
alleys  of  jjroat 
nerally  narrow 
ys  of  thu  sun 
learly  perpen- 
The  valleys  o( 
Rio  Salinas,  or 
Jen  spots  and 
mountains  fur- 
sometimes  too 

fit    tirtnfifi    IajW 

yr  of  Arizona  is 
lAons,  of  great 
strata  through 
If  of  California 
ne  strata  elsc- 
their  immense 
lows  give  them 
y  is  drained  by 
r  these  tributa- 
a  large  river — 
lAn  Juan,  which 
receives  a  con- 
1  the  Colorado 
uents,  the   Rio 
n's  Fork,  falling 
if  the  river,  and 
heir  own.    The 
;  coarse  through 
ves  nearly  300 
ough  gorges  of 


DKSCBUT  OF   THR  CKAND  CANON. 


49S 


less  depth,  and  falling  over  the  as  yet  only  partially  eroded  rocks 
in  cataracts,  into  the  main  stream.  Its  descent  in  these  600 
miles  is  more  than  3,000  feet.  The  Uig  or  Grand  CaHun  is  one 
of  the  wonders  of  the  world.  Itn  descent  has  b<<on  several  limes 
attempted,  and  was  accomplished,  though  nut  without  loss  of 
life,  by  a  party  under  command  of  Major  J.  W.  I'owcll  in  1869, 
and  again  in  1871. 

.  The  narrative  of  these  descents,  as  given  by  the  intrepid 
explorers,  is  of  the  most  thrilling  interest.  Through  its  whole 
course,  except  the  last  500  or  600  miles,  and  through  the  entire 
course  of  its  principal  afTluents,  these  caAons  succeed  one 
another,  each  one  in  the  downward  course  of  the  current  being 
deeper,  darker  and  more  terrible  than  its  predecessor.  At 
irregular  intervals  there  are  rapids,  cataracts,  and  falls  of  great 
height,  while  every  one  of  the  ti  Ixit.iry  streams  plunges  into  the 
main  river  through  a  minor  caAou  of  its  own,  by  a  cataract  often 
of  \  50,  200,  or  300  feet.  The  iirn  stalwart  men,  provided  with 
every  necessity  for  their  perilous  journey,  and  stocked  with 
ample  supplies,  who,  on  the  30th  of  May,  1869,  had  started  from 
the  Green  river  station,  in  four  boats,  to  descend  the  Colorado, 
had  passed  through  the  last  of  the  great  caAons,  on  the  29th  of 
August,  their  numbers  reduced  to  six,  their  boats  to  two,  hatless, 
shoeless,  and  ragged,  their  provisions  exhausted,  their  instru- 
ments broken,  and  they  themselves  batl(  --ed  and  bruised  by 
their  conflicts  with  rapids,  cataracts,  whii  pools  and  rugged 
rock^  The  walls  of  their  long  prison  house  were  in  some 
places  more  than  a  mile  in  heiglit,  and  in  their  dark  gorges  they 
could  only  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  sun  at  high  noon.  Yet  the 
monuments,  towers,  cathedrals,  castles  and  lofty  battlements  of 
all  conceivable  colors,  were  grand,  impressive  and  often  beauti- 
ful beyond  description;  and  worn  and  wearied  as  they  were, 
they  were  full  of  enthusiasm  over  the  accomplishment  of  their 
perilous  voyage.  Three  of  those  who  had  left  them  were  slain 
by  Indians ;  one  returned  to  Utah. 

The  river  is  navigable,  though  with  some  difficulty,  on  account 
of  its  numerous  rapids,  from  Callville,  Nevada,  at  the  terminus 
of  the  Grand  CaAon,  to  its  mouth,  a  distance  of  612  miles. 


\ 


( 


If 


1  s 


Neither  the  Co'  mdo  Chiquito  nor  the  San  Juan  arc  navit^abic, 
but  their  caHuM  and  the  rapid  deHcent  of  their  water*  arc  only 
inferior  to  those  of  the  parent  stream.  The  lower  waters  of  the 
Colorado  arc  not  much  hif^hcr  than  the  (julf  of  California,  and, 
indeed,  flow  at  one  point  through  a  broad  and  almost  sta^^nant 
lake.  The  Gila  rises  in  the  mountains  of  New  Mexico,  and  for 
about  one-half  of  its  course  traverses  a  mountainous  region, 
though  it  does  not  at  any  point  cut  for  itself  deep  or  precipUous 
gorges.  From  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  San  Pedro  its  course  is 
through  a  less  elevated  regbn,  and  a  part  of  the  distance  is 
navigable  and  without  rapids.  >u..iu  i-i  j  -f  c  i.iv»> 
Theae  deep  caAon«  cf  Uie  principal  riven  drain  much  of  the 
surrounding  country  of  its  moisture,  and  render  large  tracts  unfit 
for  anything  but  grazing,  and  still  larger  ones  unfit  for  that,  un- 
less by  aqueducts,  reservoirs,  or  artesian  wells  the  necessary 
water  can  be  supplied  for  stock.  In  the  existing  condition  e«f 
the  country,  much  of  the  rainfall  which,  in  some  seasons,  is 
abundant,  or  sufficiently  so  for  the  country,  if  it  could  be  savee!, 
ia  wasted,  running  off  from  these  hard-baWcd  table-lands  into  the 
caAons  and  not  penetrating  the  soil.  Yet  this  soil  under  irriga- 
tion is  wonderfully  productive.  The  lands  i^uhich  can  be  irrigateil 
yield  sixty-five  bushels  of  the  finest  wheat  in  the  world  to  the 
acre,  and  proportionate  quantities  of  other  cereals ;  while  Indian 
com  and  the  root  crops  are  producnd  in  almost  incredible  quan- 
tities. Fortunately  iior  the  Territory,  very  much  of  this  lafid 
which  once  produced  large  crops  can  be  reclaimed ;  mBny«of  the 
gorges  and  ravines  ican,  at  small  expense,  be  made  reservoiri, 
and  thus  treasure  «p  the  water  which  oomes  down  from  the 
meltiag  snows  of  the  mountains,  or  that  whidi  now  runs  off  into 
the  oaAons  after  heavy  rains,  and  this  can  be  used  with  great 
advantage  fiar  irrijpitioa,  for  the  watering  of  Hve-«took,  and  'for 
mining  purposes ;  while  deep  ptowfing  and  the  broiikrng  up  «f 
the  hard  and  idry  sod  wSll  render  the  soil  far  more  pervious  and 
absorbent  of  the  rains,  and  so  capable  of  more  -Mtsy  cultivation. 
;But  on  these  mnas  and  hi|^  tabte-lands,  where  there  are  no 
streams  available  for  purposes  of  irrigation,  artesian  wells  have 
never  foiled  to  bring  water,  and  usually  with  sufficient  head  and 


} 


irc  navigable, 
iktcrt  arc  only 

water*  of  the 
alifofnia,  and, 
moiit  Htaj^nant 
exico.  and  for 
inoui  region, 
or  precipUous 

its  course  Is 
\c  distance  is 

n  much  of  the 
rge  tracts  unfit 
It  for  that,  un- 
the  necetaaiy 
condition  e*f 
ne  seasons,  is 
9u]d  be  saved, 
-lands  into  the 
I  under  irriga- 
an  be  irrigated 
L-  world  to  the 
I ;  while  Indian 
icrcdible  quan- 
i  of  this  land 
! ;  many«of  the 
tde  reservotrt. 
»wn  from  the 
w  runs  off  into 
»ed  with  great 
-mode,  and  'for 
reakmg  up  -oT 
;  pervious  and 
My  cukivation. 
there  are  no 
tan  wells  1ia¥e 
lent  head  and 


GRSKKAI.    FREMOST'n  ACCOUNT  OF  ARtZOXA, 


497 


in  sufficient  quantity  to  (low  of  itself  without  pumping  and  to 
supply  pools  or  rrservoirs  of  great  extent. 

No  man  living  is  more  familiar  with  the  physical  geography 
of  Arizona  than  Major-Cit.-ncral  John  C.  l'*r»'!mont ;  ♦  In:  explored 
it  thirty-six  years  ago  in  his  expeditions  for  the  discovery  of 
routes  for  railways  to  the  Pacific  coast,  made  under  the  direction 
of  the  government ;  he  traversed  considerable  portions  of  It  later 
in  the  interest  of  the  Pacific  railways,  of  which  he  was  the  pro- 
jector ami  president,  and,  since  1877,  as  Govrrnor  '*f  the  Terri- 
tory, he  has  devoted  much  attention  to  its  physical  geography 
with  a  vi<;w  to  the  development  of  its  mining,  agricultural,  and 
grazing  interests.  His  recent  proposition  to  our  government  to 
restore,  by  a  short  ship-canal,  the  great  inland  sea  which  for- 
merly existed  in  Southern  California,  east  of  the  San  Bernardino 
Mountains,  where  its  dry  basin  is  now  far  b<'low  the  sea  level, 
was  so  full  of  sound  sense,  so  broad  and  comprehensive  in  its 
spirit,  and  fraught  with  so  many  advantages  to  that  whole  region, 
that  it  should  be  acted  upon  promptly.  The  evaporation  from 
that  sea  would  ensure  a  moister  atmosphere  and  a  greater  rain- 
fall to  Western  Arizona,  and  in  connection  with  other  measures 
would  render  that  Territory  the  garden-spot  of  all  the  West,  as 
well  as  its  treasure-house  for  its  mineral  wealth. 

In  his  Report  to  the  Department  of  the  Interior  in  October, 
1878,  General  Fremont  thus  describes  the  topography  of  the 
Territory,  with  especial  reference  to  its  central  portion  along  or 
near  the  line  of  the  thirty-fourth  parallel — a  region  which  pretty 
fairly  represents  the  general  character  of  the  Territory,  being 
less  moist  and  hot  than  that  along  and  below  the  Gila,  but  per- 
haps somewhat  hotter  than  that  north  of  the  Grand  Caflon  and 
above  the  thirty-sixth  parallel. 

"  Broken  ranges  of  mountains,  swelling  occasionally  into  lofty 
peaks  «.nd  pine-covered  masses,  and  alternating  evenly  with 
elevated  valleys  or  mountain  basins  of  greater  or  less  size,  rep- 
resent in  general  terms  the  face  of  the  country  in  Arizona.  Its 
water-ways  are  the  Colorado  and  Gila  rivers,  with  their  tribu- 
taries, of  which  none  enter  either  stream  in  the  lower  part  of  its 

f  yu ,'         *  Sm  biographical  sketch  of  U«ncr«l  FrimoDt  kt  the  cloM  of  thii  chapUr.  ^ 


\  > 


^  OVK   WHSTMKN  /tMt/ltM. 

coiirHe.     The  valley  of  the  Colorado.  l)rtwrrn  Uh  river,  hilli  <{ 
l)or(lrrin);  mountains,  i«  ilry,  Mony,  ami   liarrrn,  the  moiintainl 
naked  rock.    Cro«»in>j  the»e  in  joiirneyinjf  Iron)  Khrcnbcr^  ravil 
wnrd,  a  travrlirr  in  spring  wouUI  (inil  thi»  country  covcrcil  wiij 
liloom,  the  ihrubs  and  trees  bcin};  reprcnentrd  mainly  by  arac  i.i 
and  cacti,  and  the  ground  covered  with  low*(lowcrin^  plant] 
amon^  gnk%%  growing  thinly.     Ivxcept  for  some  shrub-like  tr<r 
and   gigantic   cactus  (Saguara),  atotiiio,  and    yucca   trees,  thtl 
ridges  here  along  are  still  of  naked  glistening,  and  black  or  barj 
ron,  rock,  showinjj  no  signs  of  water.     The  acacias,  /Wo  vtrt^i-X 
and  other  trees  crowd  down  into  the  dry  stream-beds,  reaching 
after  the  water  below  the  sands,  but  the  o€otillo  and  tree-cactusl 
iletight  in  the  stony  and  dry  mountain  sides.     In  the  rainy  sea-l 
son   these  stream-beds  are  short-lived   torrents.      This  is  the 
country  traversed   by  the  dtstrt  roads.     Hut  this  character  of 
desrrt,  applied  to  the  valleys,  comes  only  from  the  heated  air 
and  absence  of  water,  and  not  absence  of  vegetation.     A  run- 
ning stream  would  make  anywhere  here  a  garden. 

"After  some  seventy  miles,  as  the  crow  flies,  over  such  coun- 
try, what  may  be  called  f:rHle  mountains  are  reached ;  that  is  to 
say,  mountains  more  or  less  covered  with  shrubs  and  grass,  and 
having  springs  and  running  streams,  and  ffording  good  cattle- 
ranges.  Continuing  eastward,  the  <  ry  jn  this  respect 
steadily  improves,  until,  after  travelling  over  about  a  hundred 
miles  of  air  distance  from  Ehrenbcrg,  scattering  junipers  of  very 
sturdy  growth  appear,  several  feet  in  diameter,  with  here  and 
there  small  oaks  and  locust  trees ;  and  presently  the  road  enters 
among  pines,  whidi  thenceforward  generally  cover  the  more 
upland  parts  of  the  country  to  the  eastward.       (  t^if^y/  itrr.fw  ^.^  r( 

"  The  elevation  here  is  probably  5,000  feet  in  the  valleys,  the 
surrounding  mountains  rising  several  thousand  feet  higher.  On 
t!ic  higher  ranges,  such  as  the  San  Francisco  and  Mogollon, 
t.i(;so  open  woodlands  become  extensive  forests,  where  the  pines 
reach  sometimes  a  solid  growth  of  six  feet  in  diameter.  From 
Prosoott  the  San  Francisco  Mountains  show  grandly  in  the  hori- 
zon of  hills  some  sixty-Ave  miles  away  to  the  northeast,  and 
J  2700  feet  above  the  sea.    These  and  the  Mogollon  Mountains 


r    »,i    a'fm 


rrn  its  river,  hiili  or 
»rrrn,  the;  muuntainN 
Iroin  I'ihrcnbcr);  cast 
country  covcrcil  wiili 
tt'il  inuinly  by  arari.in 
Iow.Howcrinjr  ,,|a„ts 
omc  Mhrub'likc  irtr . 
nd    yucca    trees,   tlir 
IK.  anil  bbck  or  bar 
:  acacias,  /Wo  fmiV, 
trcam-bc<li,  reaching 
fft//o  and  tree-cactus 
.     In  the  rainy  sea- 
rents.      This  is  the 
it  this  character  of 
rom  the  heated  air 
vejfcutioiu    A  run- 
irdcn.      1 

ies,  over  such  coun- 
reached ;  that  is  to 
•ubs  and  grass,  and 
ording  good  cattle- 
y  in    tliis    respect 
r  about  a  hundred 
ng  junipers  of  very 
!ter,  with  here  and 
itly  the  road  enters 
y  cover  the  more 

t  in  the  valleys,  the 
d  feet  higher.  On 
CO  and  Mogollon. 
ts,  where  the  pines 
I  diameter.  From 
randly  in  the  hori- 
he  northeast,  and 
>gollon  Mountains 


lN?4/f€Vry  OF  H'ATFIt, 


4W 


are  thr  principal  water  Nhcds  of  Ariz  )n«,  rining  from  rlrvatrjj 
plateaux  <»f  6,ocx>  or  7.ot)0  fret  into  peak*  l)rtwrrn  q.ooc)  and 
1 3,000  fret  alxtve  the  sea.  They  make  a  forrtt  country  averag- 
ing forty  miirs  in  breadth,  rxtrnding  through  thr  Trrritory  south- 

•  '.I'.twardly  over  the  hcadwatrm  of  thr  ( iila  and  pn>l)ably  into 
Mi'xico.  North  and  rant  of  these  rangrn,  and  running  ".p  into 
lite  Hanks  of  thr  moiiTtainn,  and  reaching  doubtlrss,  far  to  the 
•oiith,  are  reportrti  to  Ik;  thr  great  coal  tieUls  of  Arizona.* 

"  In  confadistinction  to  the  Mastern  States,  where  the  strrams 
in.nintain  themselves  in  gathering  strength  from  mountain 
to   sea,  dryness  is  onr  of  thr  striking   features  of  this  whole 

•  Uvatcd  region.  Streams  and  springs  are  few  ami  far 
„\\v\tl.  The  larger  streams  gather  no  abluents,  but  wastr  them- 
selves in  absorption  and  evaporation,  and  the  smaller  ones 
usually  sink  and  disappear  under  the  first  valley  which  they 
enter,  where  the  soil  if  generally  light  and  loose  enough  to 
absorb  them.  But  the  water  can  there  always  be  found  ;  in  the 
lower  country,  at  variable  depths  of  50  to  350  feet,  and  usually 
only  a  few  feet  below  the  surface  in  many  of  the  upland  valleys. 

This  may  give  the  necessary  provision  of  water  for  thr  farms  in 
the  valleys,  while  tli  mountains  furnish  it  sufficiently  for  stork. 
There  are  two  seasons  of  falling  weather :  the  heavy  summer 
rains,  when  the  washes  and  stream-beds  become  temporary  tor- 
rents, and  the  winter  season  of  rains  and  snow.  Now,  at  the 
end  of  October,  the  falling  weather  of  the  winter  has  not  yet 
commenced,  except  in  the  high  mountains.  The  days  are  warm, 
the  sky  is  uninterruptedly  cloudless,  but  ice  makes  at  night,  and 
a  light  snow  has  just  fallen  in  the  San  Francisco  Mountain.  The 
grass  there  is  beginning  to  dry  up,  and  the  northern  face  of  the 
mountain  is  probably  covered  with  snow,    f"! I '1   5I     ., /ii).;ii,,.  .;i  ,»' 

*  Prom  Mr.  A,  O.  Nnyrt,  who  had  •  iia«r*mill  twelve  mile*  from  Prcxcott,  iind  who  wa^  fur 
m«ny  y«tn  rinfiiited  here  in  the  lamber  huvineiio,  I  learn  th«t  the  pirtc*  in  the  Tre^cott  nn«iii 
run  from  en  avcrege  diameter  of  lwenljr-«igbt  inchet  to  four  feet  in  the  largcat  tree*.  Hut  ihi  y 
do  not  make  good  lumber,  becauie  there  are  «o  many  knot*  in  the  trees,  cauied  l)y  fire<>,  nitil 
bfeeanse  to  many  tree*  have  been  attuck  1)y  the  liKhtnin^;,  Which  i*  one  nf  the  ItKal  features  h>  r<-. 
There  arealao  In  lhl«  baiin  aoaie  very  fiat  «pr«ce  treca,  nearly  four  feet  in  dinmeier,  In  ih« 
largi  belt  of  foreat  to  the  north  all  is  clear^  Bne  timber,  with  an  average  diameter  of  four  feet, 
reaching  to  five  feet  in  lar|;e<it  tree*.  Mr.  Noyes  has  cot  here  some  35,000,000  feet  of  lumber. 
IIV  itWw  fHe  ihrtt  -nw  hi«'  benkn  are  rrtw^es  Agrfihkt  the  name*  of  nver  300  men,  wit!h  whum  ht' 
hail  ilcnlin|;'<,  »  hu  h.ive  been  killed  l>y  Indiana. 


umiti^HiiVHii'-i^-  ■«*>««js*«r"*u'*^  • 


tftr 


500 


OUK    ll'ESTERIV  EMPIRE. 


"The  Little  Colorado  (Colorado  Chiquito)  and  Salt  river 
(Rio  Salinas)  regions  are  reported  to  be  the  granaries  of  the 
Territory.  Their  valleys  are  becoming  garden-spots,  and  the 
bordering  mountains  great  stock-ranges,  where  the  cattle  are 
sometimes  too  fat  to  be  driven.  Like  California,  the  country  is 
favorable  to  animal  life.  In  the  Salt  River  valley  there  are 
probably  ioo,ocx>  acres  under  cultivation ;  in  the  Gila  valley, 
between  the  Pima  villages  and  the  mouth  of  the  cai^on,  about 
50,cxx);  in  the  Santa  Cruz  valley,  about  25,000;  and  25,000  more 
in  all  the  southern  district.  In  the  Salt  River  valley  the  amount 
under  cultivation  is  being  rapidly  augmented  to  the  full  extent 
of  the  water  supply.  On  the  San  Pedro  river  the  land  is  sparsely 
occupied,  and  mostly  for  grazing ;  and  farther  to  the  eastward 
the  country  is  better  adapted  to  grazing  than  agriculture.  Many 
years  ago  I  found  on  the  San  Pedro  and  neighboring  country 
many  wild  cattle  which  had  belonged  to  ranches  now  deserted, 
where  the  people  had  been  killed  or  driven  off  by  Indians.  So 
far  as  my  present  knowledge  goes,  the  grazing  and  farming 
lands  comprehend  an  area  aoout  equal  to  that  of  the  State  of 
New  York." 

In  his  report  for  1879,  dated  November  20,  1879,  General 
Fremont  gives  these  additional  items  respecting  the  southern 
and  northern  portions  of  the  Territory : 

•  "  Near  the  end  of  February  of  the  present  year  I  found  fig 
trees  budding  and  apricots  in  bloom  at  Phoenix.  The  cotton- 
wood  trees  which  line  the  streets  were  in  full  spring  foliage,  and 
the  fields  were  green  with  Alfalfa  and  grain.  The  town  is  on 
the  Salt  river  tributary  of  the  Gila,  about  i  ,800  feet  above  the 
sea.  The  river  here  runs  through  a  broad  valley  plain  encircled 
by  mountains.  It  furnishes  abundant  water  for  irrigation,  and 
the  acequias  or  water-ditches  are  spread  out  over  the  valley  in  a 
space  eight  or  ten  miles  broad.  Streams  of  running  water, 
which  one  met  in  every  direction,  gave  a  very  grateful  sense  of 
freshness  in  this  dry  country  of  Arizona,  and  remains  of  old 
acequias  used  by  the  former  Indian  population  show  that  with 
them,  too,  it  was  a  favorite  place.  For  seven  or  eight  months  of 
the  year  the  weather  is  said  tQ  be  plea«ant»  but.  hat  ibr  the 


jnarmt  Lf^,  f.-v.  j«  ,  si 


and  Salt  river 

anaries  of  the 

■spots,  and  the 

the  cattle  are 

the  country  is 

alley  there  are 

he  Gila  valley, 

le  cafion,  about 

nd  25,000  more 

ley  the  amount 

the  full  extent 

land  is  sparsely 

to  the  eastward 

iculture.    Many 

iboring  country 

s  now  deserted, 

by  Indians.     So 

ig  and  farming 

of  the  State  of 

,  1879,  General 
hg  the  southern 

/ear  I  found  fig 
ix.  The  cotton- 
ring  foliage,  and 
The  town  is  on 
D  feet  above  the 
y  plain  encircled 
r  irrigation,  and  ' 
:r  the  valley  in  a 

running  water, 
rrateful  sense  of 

remains  of  old 

\  show  that  with 

eight  months  of 

but  hot  for  the 


CLIMATE  AND  SOIL    OF  ARIZONA. 


SOI 


remainder.  The  town  is  the  centre  of  an  important  f^^rming 
district,  and  its  growing  prosperity  is  secured  and  mad'^'  perma- 
nent by  its  position,  which  is  indicated  by  the  country  surrounding 
it.  The  trade  of  a  large  neighboring  Indian  reservation  has 
been  an  element  in  its  prosperity,  and  now  the  Southern  Pacifir 
Railway  passes  within  thirty  miles  of  the  town.  .  .  .  Except  its 
bottom  lands,  which  are  of  unusual  productiveness  and  strength, 
the  valley  proper  of  the  Colorado,  below  the  cations,  that  which 
lies  between  the  bordering  river  hills  over  a  space  of  fifty  miles, 
is  dry,  hot  and  barren.  All  else  is  fertile  and  habitable.  In  its 
east  and  west  course  running  through  the  northern  limit  of 
Arizona,  the  Colorado  borders  and  encloses  a  beautiful  country. 
Here  in  the  cafions  the  Indians  from  a  renioie  time  have  grown 
excellent  fruit  and  grain,  and  with  their  produce  have  maintained 
a  primitive  trade  with  other  tribes.  In  fact  this  whole  northern 
region  has  the  resources  to  sustain  a  wealthy  population,  and 
<:reate  a  permanent  and  valuable  trade  for  the  first  railway  which 
lias  the  enterprise  to  penetrate  it  The  climate  is  healthy  and 
the  country  fertile;  wooded  and  grassed  from  the  Colorado  hills 
eastward  into  New  Mexico.  Water  in  abundance  will  undoubt- 
edly be  had  when  adequate  means  are  employed  to  get  it.  Its 
inexhaustible  grasses  will  support  immense  herds,  and  its  great 
coal  fields  and  heavy  forests  of  timber,  continuous  through  the 
Territory,  will  command  a  ready  market.  It  has  broad  valleys 
of  farming  lands,  and  in  its  mining  districts  are  abundance  of 
copper,  silver  and  gold." 

'-  A  correspondent  of  the  New  York  DaUy  Times,  writing  from 
Tucson,  May  26,  1880,  complains  that  that  region  and  the  Globe 
mining  district  east  of  it,  in  fact  the  whole  of  Southeastern 
Arizona,  lack  water  and  timber.  There  is,  however,  a  con- 
siderable tract  of  pine  of  large  size,  the  forest  being  twelve  miles 
long  and  two  miles  wide,  beside  the  cottonwood  and  mezquite, 
which  are  used  for  fuel,  and  bring  $8  to  $10  a  cord.  The  Pinal 
creek,  which  furnishes  water  to  this  district,  sinks  in  the  sands 
once  or  twice  in  its  course  for  a  distance  of  ten  or  twelve  miles, 
but  water  can  always  be  found  by  digging  in  its  bed.  Still  there 
is  unquestionably  a  scarcity  of  water  in  this  as  in  many  other 


1 


i 


I 


$02 


>  7     Ol/Ji    WESTERN  EMPIKE. 


i\ 


i>l 


parts  of  Arizona,  though  by  adopting  such  measures  as  were 
adopted  by  the  highly  civilized  Indians  who  had  populous  towns 
in  all  this  region  ages  ago,  and  adding  to  these  acequias  and 
reser  jjrs,  drive  wells  and  artesian  wells,  this  desert  land  may 
again  be  made  to  blossom  as  the  rose. 

The  climate  of  Arizona  may,  perhaps,  be  inferred  from  what 
has  already  been  said.  It  varies  in  different  parts  of  the 
Territory.  The  lowlands,  from  Fort  Yuma  eastward,  along  the 
valley  of  the  Gila  and  farther  south  between  the  thirty-second  and 
thirty-third  parallels,  are  extremely  hot  in  summer.  May,  June, 
July,  August,  and  September  are  the  hottest  months,  and  a 
record  of  112°  Fahrenheit  in  die  shade  is  not  very  infrequent 
during  those  months.  During  the  other  months  of  the  year  the 
heat  is  not  excessive,  and  the  dry  air  makes  it  healthy.  Tht; 
rainfall  is  principally  in  July  and  August  in  this  part  of  the 
Territory,  though  there  is  occasionally  a  season  of  rain  in 
December  and  January.*      wtj  :*HteuUv  wi**  iiirjijfejurj*}  *.  .u>,  >r> 

It  is,  however,  a  characteristic  of  the  heat  of  Ariz6na,  that  it 
is  not  enfeebling  or  oppressive,  and  that  there  is  much  less 
liability  to  sun-stroke  than  in  the  towns  and  cities  of  the  north. 
"In  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  Territory,"  says  General 
Fremont,  "the  climate  is  especially  agreeable.  In  the  Sierra  de 
Santa  Caterina,  the  Pinalena  Mountains,  the  Chiricahui  Mountains, 
and  the  Peloncello  Range,  as  well   as  the  Cordilleras  de  Rio 


•Yuma  (latitude  3a"  43' 32")  «  pro'wbly  the  hottest  place  in  the  United  .Stales.  Army 
officers  assert  that  it  has  reached  a  temperature  of  1 26*  Fahrenheit  m  the  shade.  In  1877-78, 
Uie  signal-service  officers  reported  I106  d.iys,  between  April  29  and  Oolober  3,  ni  which  the 
ina|(imuin  temperature  was  above  ioO° ;  thirty  days  in  which  it  ww  »bove  108°,  and  twelv-e 
days  in  which  it  was  above  I io».  On  four  days  it  stood  at  1 1 2'>,  and  on  one  at  1 13<».  Tucson, 
though  a  little  further  south  (latitude  32*  28'),  is  not  so  hot.  Its  maximum  was  i  lo",  and  only 
dfiy-one  dayf,  a!l  in  the  summer  jdonths,  exceeded  too*.  Phoeaix  (Jatitude  33"  18  ), 
Wickenburg  (latitude  33°  58'),  and  Maricopa  Wells  (latitude  33»  10')  approach  Yuma  in 
temperature,  the  temperature  exceeding  ioo»  for  seventy-nine,  eighty-two  and  eighty-six  days 
respectively,  and  reaching  II2»  more  than  once.  Florence  ("  .iiude  33«>  2')  is  very  much  liki! 
Tucson  in  its  temperature.  Prescott,  the  capital  of  the  Territory  (latitude  34'>  29'),  5,700  feet 
above  the  sea,  has  a  very  fine  climate.  In  1878,  but  two  days  exceeded  ioqo.  The  mean  of 
summer  temperature  did  not  exceed  84<».  The  mean  of  the  year  was  65"  49'.  Camp  Verde, 
in  nearly  the  same  latitude,  bMt  less  elevated,  had  thiriy-six  ilays  in  which  the  temperature 
exceeded  100°,  and  several  times  reached  108°.  Camp  Grant  (^titude  32"  25'),  on  the  San 
Pedro  river,  but  above  the  canons  of  the  Gila,  was  below  Prescott  ir.  temperature,  never  exceeding 
95*  iu  summer,  though  its  winter  nUnimum  luxt  not  bejow  24»«  while  that  of  Prescott  yas  I<*. 


..^^iHi 


t:i*dlM't'^,aiX.^'K.,^J  j-'te.'i    I    ■>■>-»  . 


) 


CLIMAIK  OF  ARIZONA. 


S<iO 


asurcs  as  were 
populous  towns 
se  acequias  and 
esert  land  may 

rred  from  what 

t  parts  of   the 

ward,  along-  thfi 

lirty-second  and 

Rr.     May,  June. 

months,  and  a 

very  infrequent 

of  the  year  the 

:  healthy.     Th(! 

his  part  of  the 

son  of  rain    in 

Arizona,  that  i^ 
re  is  much  less 
les  of  the  north, 
says  General 
In  the  Sierra  de 
ahui  Mountains, 
•dilleras  de  Rio 


United  States.  Army 
lie  shadf.  In  1877-78, 
>otober  3,  in  which  the 
»bove  108°,  and  twelve 

oneatlij".  Tucson, 
um  was  I  io»,  and  only 
%  (Jatilude  33"  18). 
>')  approach  Yuma  m 
vo  and  eighty-six  day» 
*  2')  ia  very  much  liki- 
ide  34»  29'),  5,700  feet 
d  ioo».  The  mean  of 
>S°  49'-  Camp  Verde, 
which  the  temperature 
e  32»  25'),  on  the  San 
rature,  never  exceeding 
it  of  Prescott  yas  I'. 


Gila,  north  of  the  river,  and  just  on  the  borders  of  New  Mexico, 
the  character  of  the  country  is  greatly  improved.  It  is 
sufficiently  well  watered,  and  in  greater  part  an  exceptionally 
rich  pasture  ground,  which  the  mild  and  even  climate  of  all  tlie 
year  makes  favorable  to  animal  life.  Its  annual  rainfall  is 
twenty-four  inches,  and  as  this  occurs  mostly  in  the  summer 
months,  the  grass  remains  fresh  and  green  the  year  round.  .  .  . 
This  grazing  country  comprehends  large  tracts  of  agricultural 
land  which  will  become  valuable  because  situated  in  the  midst  of 
a  rich  mining  region,  and  the  railroad  which  is  about  to  penetrate 
it  will  carry  off  its  surplus  produce." 

The  northern  and  northwestern  part  of  the  Territory  is  not  so 
well  known,  and  has  not  been  so  fully  explored  as  the  central  and 
southern  portions.  The  region  of  the  Cerbat  Mountains,  south  of 
the  Great  Bend  and  Grand  Cafion  of  the  Colorado,  was  visited  by 
(ieneral  Fremont  in  December,  1878.  He  represents  it  as  a 
grass-covered  country,  with  valleys  and  mountain  ranges  well 
wooded  with  both  juniper  and  pine.  The  juniper  of  this  region 
is  a  large  forest  tree  often  four  or  five  feet  in  diameter.  In  the 
Wallapai  Valley,  just  east  of  the  Cerbat  range,  is  Red  lake,  the 
largest  lake  in  the  Territory,  which  receives  the  waters  of  a  very 
considerable  creek.  There  are  numerous  large  springs  in  this 
valley ;  north  and  east  of  the  Colorado  is  a  region  very  little 
known.  It  is  mountainous,  but  the  mountains  so  far  as  known 
are  believed  to  be  mesas,  isolated,  lofty  and  flat-topped  table 
lands.  North  and  northeast  of  the  Flax  river  or  Colorado 
Chiquito,  between  the  thirty-fifth  and  thirty-sixth  parallels,  after 
crossing  a  region  known  as  the  Painted  Desert,  from  the 
variegated  colors  of  its  rocks,  lies  the  ancient  province  of  Tusayan. 
with  its  groups  of  villages  of  the  Moquis  or  cliff-dwellers, 
and  the  ruins  of  their  ancient  towns,  which  we  will  describe 
presently. 


noyri/'.'.m    mmnrn    :,j;i  i 


'JK^v  ).jrnfH<' 


'MU'IUJ! 


Yet  farther  to  the  northeast,  between  the  thirty-sixth  artd 
thirty-seventh  parallels  and  the  109th  and  iioth  merklians,  just 
west  of  the  Navajo  reservation,  are  extensive  beds  of  anthracite 
coal  said  to  be  of  excellent  quality.  There  are  also  in  the  Mesa 
la  Vaca  (Plain  of  the  Cows)  and  the  Calabasa  Mountains,  ridh 


|. 


•Aatti 


■MM 


wmmm 


i 


.m 


X  ■■,':':'  V'   ■'■  V 


■'X- 


JO4  Ol/X    tVESTEX?/  EMPIRE. 

deposits  of  gold,  silver  and  copper.  "  The  face  of  the  country 
here,"  says  General  Fremont,  "  presents  mountain  ranges  with 
broad  intervening  valleys  running  into  each  other  by  easy  passes. 
The  hills  and  lower  ridges  are  wooded  with  juniper  and  piAon 
pine,  worthy  sometimes  to  be  called  forests,  the  higher  ranges 
with  yellow  pine.  The  valleys,  occasionally  of  several  hundred 
thousand  acres  in  extent,  are  covered  with  varieties  of  the  most 
nutritious  grass,  among  them  bunch  and  gramma  grass. 
This  would  be  notably  a  grazing  country  if  water  could  be  had, 
but  the  scarcity  of  it  repels  settlement,  and  at  present  it  is 
mostly  unoccupied.  The  great  trough  of  the  Colorado  near  by 
seems  to  have  drained  it  of  all  except  what  is  afforded  by 
occasional  springs  and  the  streams  in  the  higher  mountains. 
But  no  attempt  to  store  and  retain  water  by  dams,  or  to  obtain 
it  by  artesian  or  flowing  wells,  has  been  made."  The  elevation 
of  this  region  insures  for  it  a  mild  and  equable  temperature. 

The  rainfall  of  Arizona  is  a  variable  quantity  in  the  diiiferent 
sections  of  the  Territory  and  at  different  seasons.  The  five  years 
previous  to  July  i,  1879,  had  been,  throughout  Arizona,  years  of 
drought ;  the  rainfall  had  been  very  slight,  except  in  a  very  few 
localities,  through  the  entire  Territory,  and  hence  the  reports  of 
the  amount  of  rain  during  that  period  must  be  regarded  as  below 
the  average  of  ten  or  twenty  years.  This  long  season  of  drought 
is  now  happily  ended.  In  a  private  letter  to  the  writer,  dated 
December  30,  1879,  General  Fremont  said:  "The  whole  country 
here  (Prescott)  is  covered  with  snow,  and  the  streams  are  impass- 
able. We  have  had  for  a  week  a  continued  storm  of  rain  and  snow. 
Nothing  like  it  has  been  known  for  many  years  past.  There 
had  been  so  little  falling  weather  for  the  last  five  years  that  even 
the  pine  trees  were  beginning  to  die  in  the  mountains.  Now  all 
vegetation  will  revive,  and  the  Territory  will  be  greatly  prosperous 
during  the  coming  year."  The  rainfall  in  Arizona  is  usually 
almost  wholly  during  July  and  August,  and  so  heavy  a  rain  in 
December  was  without  precedent.  The  signal-service  year,  July 
1,  1877,  to  June  30,  1878,  the  first  in  which  we  had  any  full 
meteorological  reports  from  Arizona,  gave  the  rainfall  at  the 
different  stations  as  follows:   Yuma,  two  inches,  Wickenburg^ 


mmmm 


>Wil.»<M-.^V*-^.^ 


the  country 

ranges  with 

y  easy  passes. 

ler  and  piAon 

ligher  ranges 

vcral  hundred 

5  of  the  most 

amma    grass. 

could  be  had, 

present  it  is 

orado  near  by 

afforded  by 

er  mountains. 

s,  or  to  obtain 

The  elevation 

nperature. 

n  the  diiiferent 

The  five  years 

zona,  years  of 

t  in  a  very  few 

the  reports  of 

arded  as  below 

son  of  drought 

:  writer,  dated 

whole  country 

ms  are  impass- 

rain  and  snow. 

i  past.    There 

rears  that  even 

ains.     Now  ail 

itly  prosperous 

3na  is  usually 

eavy  a  rain  in 

•vice  year,  July 

:  had  any  full 

rainfall  at  the 

,  Wickenburg> 


GEOLOGY  AND  MIKEROLOGY  OF  ARIZONA. 


50s 


five  inches;  Tucson,  13.03  inches;  Stanwix  (six  months),  0.65 
of  an  inch;  Prescott,  13.81  inches;  Phoenix,  5.01  ;  Maricopa  Wells 
(eight  months),  4.89  inches;  Florence,  7.18  inches;  Camp  Verde, 
10.81  ;  Camp  Grant,  8.96  inches;  Burke's  (seven  months),  0.88 
inches ;  Bear  Springs,  twenty-four  inches. 

Geology  and  Mineralogy. — The  only  extensive  geological  ex- 
plorations which  have  been  made  in  Arizona  are  those  along  the 
walls  of  the  caflons  of  the  Colorado  river.  From  the  upper 
waters  of  the  Green  and  Grand  rivers,  whose  union  forms  the 
Colorado  of  the  West,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Gila  at  Yuma,  it  is 
estimated  that  the  river  has  cut  through  strata  representing  a 
thickness  of  25,000  feet,  or  five  miles  of  vertical  height,  and  that 
there  are  exposed  in  its  course  every  geological  formation  found 
in  North  America,  from  the  quaternary  alluvial  deposits  to  the 
primary  azoic  rocks,  and  that  at  some  points  in  its  course  the 
rocks  have  been  altered  by  volcanic  action  and  that  vast  streams 
of  lava  have  been  injected  into  the  cafions.  1,  ;,<  k.. 

Of  these  strata,  worn  through  by  the  great  volume  of  water 
which  has  thus  torn  for  itself  a  passage,  about  16,000  feet  of 
nearly  vertical  descent,  are  within  the  bounds  of  Arizona.  There 
are,  of  course,  the  superficial  deposits,  alluvium,  and  perhaps 
diluvium,  and  certainly  loess,  and  the  clay  and  sandstone  detritus 
from  the  wearing  down  of  the  rocks,  but  we  doubt  whether  there 
are  many  strata  as  high  up  as  the  tertiary  among  the  surface- 
rocks  of  Arizona.  The  coal-beds  in  the  northeast  of  the  Terri- 
tory are  said  to  be  anthracite  and  of  excellent  quality;  but 
whether  they  are  from  the  tertiary  lignites  and  bituminous  coals 
which  have  been  transformed  into  anthracite  by  volcanic  action 
like  the  coal-beds  in  New  Mexico,  or  whether  they  are  true 
anthracites  from  the  carboniferous  strata,  seems  to  be  doubtlul. 
If  they  are  the  latter,  they  are  the  only  anthracites  of  that  period 
between  the  Mississippi  river  and  the  Pacific  coast.  Of  marbles 
of  all  colors  and  shades,  of  sandstones,  white,  pink,  orange,  buff, 
vermilion  and  brown,  and  granites,  rose-colored,  gray,  slate- 
(^plored  and  blue,  there  is  no  end. 

The  mineral  wealth  of  Arizona  is  undoubtedly  very  great.  Its 
veins  and  placers  of  gold,  silver,  copper  and  lead,  and  its  car- 


] 


I 


?/'-' 


mi 


5?i 


j06  ^^^    WESTERN   EMPIRE.  •  » 

bonates  and  oxides  of  iron,  platinum  and  quicksilver  are  dis- 
tributed very  widely  over  the  Territory.  Gold  is  found  free 
both  in  placers  and  in  quartz  lodes ;  silver  in  galena,  and  com- 
bined with  both  lead  and  copper  as  sulphides  and  carbonates ; 
copper  is  also  found  alone  in  the  form  of  gray  sulphurets  ;  quick- 
silver in  the  form  of  cinnabar  and  perhaps  other  combinations ; 
tin,  platinum  and  nickel  nearly  pure;  iron  ores  of  all  kinds,  and 
well  situated  for  producing  the  finer  qualities  of  iron  and  steel ; 
besides  the  anthracite  coal  in  the  northeast  there  is  bituminous 
coal  adapted  to  smelting  purposes  at  Camp  Apache  and  else- 
where. Immense  deposits  of  salt  of  the  purest  quality  have  been 
discovered,  and  there  are  large  beds  of  sulphur,  gypsum, 
hydraulic  lime,  valuable  mineral  springs,  natural  loadstones  of 
great  magnetic  power,  and  fossil  woods  of  many  varieties.  There 
are  also  opal  pebbles,  garnets,  red,  white  and  yellow;  azurite. 
malachite,  chalcedony,  sapphires,  opals,  and  possibly  some  dia- 
monds. 

Gold  and  silver  mining  was  prosecuted  by  the  Spaniards  and 
Mexicans  for  many  years  before  the  Territory  came  into  the 
possession  of  the  United  States,  and  some  of  these  mines  are 
still  largely  productive.  Among  these  were  the  Cerro  Colorado, 
now  known  as  the  Heintzelman  mine;  the  Mowry,- Santa  Rita, 
Salero,  Cahuabi,  and  San  Pedro,  and  the  quicksilver  mine  of  La 
Paz.  Many  others  have  since  been  discovered,  and  new  mines 
are  being  constantly  opened.  They  are  found  in  all  the  ex- 
plored portions  of  the  Territory,  and  seem  to  indicate  that  the 
mineral  wealth  of  Arizona  is  greater  than  that  of  any  other  Ter- 
ritory of  the  West.  For  mining  purposes  all  the  explored  por- 
tion of  the  Territory  belcw  the  thirty-sixth  parallel  has  been 
divided  into  mining  districts.  These  are  most  numerous  in  the 
southeast,  though  the  new  developments  are  to  a  considerable 
extent  in  the  central  and  northwest  portions.  Those  most  noted 
in  the  southeast  are  the  Dos  Cabezas,  the  Sierra  Bonita  (north 
of  the  Gila),  the  Dragoon  Range  district,  the  Globe  district, 
the  Tombstone  district,  the  Huachuca  district,  the  Patagonia, 
the  Washington  and  the  Harshaw  districts,  the  Santa  Rita  dis- 
trict, the  mines  of  which  have  been  worked  for  many  years,  and 


■emis- 


1 

il 


csilver  are  dis- 

is  found    free 

lena,  and  com- 

nd  carbonates ; 

phurets ;  quick- 

r  combinations ; 

f  all  kinds,  and 

iron  and  steel ; 

■t  is  bituminous 

lache  and  else- 

ality  have  been 

Iphur,   gypsum, 

I  loadstones  of 

varieties.  There 

yellow;  azurite. 

sibly  some  dia- 


(.>  f  m  i\j 


e  Spaniards  and 
came  into  the 
these  mines  are 
Cerro  Colorado, 
wry,- Santa  Rita, 
ilver  mine  of  La 
and  new  mines 
i  in  all  the  ex- 
ndicate  that  the 
r  any  other  Ter- 
le  explored  por- 
irallel  has  been 
numerous  in  the 
)  a  considerable 
hose  most  noted 
ra  Bonita  (north 
;  Globe  district, 
the  Patagonia, 
Santa  Rita  dis- 
many  years,  and 


I 


MINING  DISTRICTS    IN  ARIZONA,  yy, 

with  profit.  A  number  of  new  mines  have  been  opened  at  the 
south  end  of  the  Santa  Rita  mountain,  the  Oro  Blanco  and 
the  Arivaca  districts,  and  still  further  west,  the  Baboquivari  dis- 
trict, and  near  the  Colorado  the  (jiia  City  district,  which,  after  * 
being  abandoned  as  a  placer  mine  many  years  ago,  has  recently 
come  to  the  surface  as  having  a  rich  quartz  ledge  of  great  extent. 
Thtise  are  all,  except  the  Sierra  Bonita,  south  of  the  Gila  river. 
North  of  that  river,  and  beginning  at  the  west,  is  the  Castle 
Dome  district,  the  ores  of  which  are  mostly  argentiferous  galena  ; 
the  Pioneer,  Pinal,  Tiger  and  Peck  districts ;  the  Bradshaw,  Oro 
Bonito,  Gray  Eagle,  Silver  Prince,  Silver  Belt  and  Cabinet  mines, 
Ruffner's  Camp  (copper  and  silver),  and  the  Verde  mines. 
Richer  than  any  of  these  is  the  great  Mineral  Park  district,  above 
the  thirty-fifth  parallel  and  on  the  meridian  of  114°  20*,  a  belt 
nearly  a  hundred  miles  long,  and  which  General  H"remont  says, 
"  carries  between  porphyry  walls  a  mile  and  a  half  breadth  of 
ore  matter,  which  is  interspersed  with  veins  principally  chlorides 
of  silver.  These  are  said  to  be  very  rich,  reaching  several  hun- 
dred dollars  the  ton.  The  whole  mass  is  said  to  carry  silver." 
The  Bradshaw  and  other  districts  within  a  circuit  of  thirty  miles 
around  Prescott,  the  capital  of  the  Territory,  have  many  rich 
mines.  The  great  obstacles  in  the  way  of  successful  mining  in 
Arizona  have  been  hitherto  the  dangers  from  hostile  Indians, 
the  lack  of  capital,  want  of  good  roads  or  railroads,  and  the 
scarcity  of  water  and  timber.  Some  of  these  obstacles  are  now 
removed.  The  greater  part  of  the  Indians  in  the  Territory  (the 
Apaches  in  the  extreme  east,  and  the  Pi-Utes  in  the  north  alone 
being  somewhat  uneasy)  are  now  peaceable  and  friendly  to  the 
whites.  Much  of  this  quiet  and  good  order  is  due  to  the  skil- 
ful management  of  General  Fremont  and  Major-Gene r£il  Willcox, 
tlie  army  officer  in  command  of  the  military  district  of  Arizona. 
The  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  traverses  the  southern  portion  of. 
the  Territory  from  west  to  east,  while  the  Texas  Pacific  and  the 
Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  Fe  are  rapidly  approaching  from 
the  east.  Toll  and  good  wagon-roads  traverse  all  the  southern 
and  central  portions  of  the  Territory.  Capital  is  flowing  in 
rapidly,  and  though  the  vicinity  of  some  of  the  mines  is  very  bare 


i 


,-.!9»iMi«i<3*^AVi«ifcF»iyi>i»  3^S*;.^*<iWWli«.««*<t-"" 


m 


508  Ol/Jt    WI-lSTKfiy   ESiriKR. 

of  timber,  there  is  an  ample  supply  in  other  portions  of  the  Ter- 
ritory, which  will  be  brou^'ht  thither  by  some  of  the  railways. 
The  want  of  water  is  still  a  difficulty  in  some  of  the  mines,  and 
will  cause  the  abandonment  of  those  where  it  cannot  be  obtained, 
but  the  construction  of  acequias  or  water  ditches,  or  the  repair 
of  those  constructed  many  years  ago  by  the  Indians,  the  building 
of  reservoir  dams,  and  the  boring  of  artesian  or  drive  wells,  will 
supply  many  of  the  mines  which  have  hitherto  lacked.  Very 
many  rich  veins  or  lodes  have  been  opened  by  individuals,  gen- 
erally farmers  or  stock-raisers,  which  have  not  come  upon  the 
market  at  all.  Their  owners  have  not  sufficient  capital  to  de- 
velop them  extensively,  and  hence  there  has  sprung  up  a  prac- 
tice which  General  Fremont  denominates  "  gold-farming,"  which, 
so  far  as  we  are  aware,  does  not  prevail  to  any  considerable  ex- 
tent elsewhere.  A  farmer,  who  has  discovered  a  gold  lode  or 
placer  on  his  farm,  as  very  many  of  them  do,  proceeds  with  his 
iarm-work  or  cattle-breeding  just  as  thi  other  farmers  do,  but 
when  he  has  a  leisure  day  he  picks  out  a  few  bushels  of  ore  from 
the  lode,  or  of  gravel  from  the  placer,  washes  out  the  gold  with 
the  pan,  or  amalgamates  it,  if  fine,  and  then  expels  the  quick- 
silver by  a  slight  roasting,  puts  the  gold  in  a  sack  or  pouch,  and 
the  next  market-day  sells  it  at  the  nearest  town.  He  thus  sup- 
plies himself  with  funds,  and  knowing  his  mine  will  not  deterio- 
rate by  keeping,  reserves  to  some  future  day  any  complete  de- 
velopment of  it. 

The  prospects  for  the  speedy  opening  of  the  immense  mineral 
wealth  of  Arizona  to  the  world  are  now  much  brighter  than  ever 
before.  But  with  this  prospective  development  there  are  flock- 
ing into  the  Territory  hosts  of  "  mining  sharps,"  as  the  miners 
call  them;  unprincipled  men  who  will  bond  a  mine  which,  while 
imperfecdy  opened,  may  prove  to  be  either  a  pocket  or  a  vein, 
.and  which,  until  it  is  further  developed,  may  be  dear  or  cheap 
at  $5,000,  but  which  is  very  probably  in  a  district  with  very  little 
water  or  timber,  and  providing  themselves  with  opinions  from 
some  of  their  partners  in  rascality,  will  come  East  and  work  up 
this  doubtful  property  into  a  gold  mine  with  a  capital  of  from 
j|250,ooo  to  ;jii, 000,000,  and  interesting  a  few  friends  in  the  mat- 


~\ 


] 


GOLD  FAKMtffG-QUESTIOys    TO  .Ul/^F.  SUllKltS. 


509 


ms  of  the  Ter- 
the  railways. 

he  mincN,  and 
ot  bo  obtained, 
or  the  repair 
)s,  the  buildinjir 

rive  wells,  will 

lacked.  Very 
dividuals,  gen- 
ome upon  the 

capital  to  de- 
jng  up  a  prac- 
irming,"  which, 
ansiderable  ex- 
1  gold  lode  or 
>ceeds  with  his 
farmers  do,  but 
els  of  ore  from 
t  the  gold  with 
5els  the  quick- 
:  or  pouch,  and 

He  thus  sup- 
k^ill  not  detcrio- 
y  complete  de- 

imcnse  mineral 
jhter  than  ever 
here  are  flock- 
as  the  miners 
lie  which,  while 
cket  or  a  vein, 
dear  or  cheap 
with  very  little 
opinions  from 
it  and  work  up 
apital  of  from 
ids  in  the  mat- 


ter, dispose  of  the  greater  part  of  the  capital  to  the  unwary,  who 
will  be  very  likely  to  fmd  thcniHclves  swindleil  most  rgr<-^iously. 

For  the  pur|>ose  of  exposing  these  frauds  we  would  counsel 
any  one  who  wishes  to  invest  in  mining  property  in  Arizona,  or, 
indeed,  elsewhere,  before  purchasing  to  institute  the  following 
inquiries:  What  is  the  exact  location  of  your  mine?  How  near 
is  it  to  a  permanent  supply  of  water,  sufficient  for  the  mine? 
What  is  that  water — a  spring,  creek,  or  river  ?  Is  it  a  perpetual 
stream,  or  does  it  intermit  and  lose  itself  in  the  sands,  reappear- 
ing, perhaps,  miles  below  ?  What  timber  is  there  near  the  mine, 
and  at  what  price  is  it  held  ?  What  progress  has  been  made  in 
the  mine  by  shafts,  tunnel,  or  winze  ?  What  amount  and  value 
of  ore  is  now  upon  the  dump  ?  What  is  the  average  assay,  and 
what  the  actual  practical  yield  per  ton  ?  What  is  the  estimated 
present  value  of  the  mine  as  appraised  by  skiliul  and  honest 
experts  ? 

These  points  being  satisfactorily  ascertained,  the  investor  may 
be  justified  in  offering  about  one-fifth  of  what  is  asked  for  the 
mine,  though  he  would  be  safer  if  he  offered  only  a  tenth.* 

The  vegetation  of  Arizona  is  peculiar.  The  lower  valley  of 
the  Colorado  and  that  of  the  Gila  as  far  east  as  the  Rio  Santa 
Cruz  are  for  the  most  part  low  and  dry.  In  the  spring,  the 
cactus,  which  abounds  in  all  its  species  here,  and  delights  in  a 
dry  and  desert  land,  is  in  full  bloom,  and  pleases  the  eye  with 
its  gay  and  beautiful  colors. 

There  is  very  little  grass  here,  and  that  little  dries  up  under 
the  summer's  intense  heat,  but  is  renewed  by  the  rains  of  July 
and  August  The  mountains  are  covered  with  scrubby  pines 
and  junipers,  and  along  the  streams  there  is  a  thin  line  of  cotton- 
woods.  In  the  desert  lands,  the  mezquite  and  iron-wood  con- 
tend with  the  cactus  for  a  place  in  the  parched  soil,  and  these 
furnish  a  moderate  supply  of  fuel,  though  there  are  bituminous 
coals  in  the  Gila  valley  which  ?tupplement  what  is  lacking.     In 

*  In  suggesting  these  inquiries  and  urging  this  cnution,  we  do  not  intend  to  imply  that  there 
IS  Miy  doubt  thmt  the  mineral  wealth  of  Ariiona  is  vast,  and  perhaps  gri;ater  than  that  of  any 
other  portion  of  the  West  t  but  the  distance  to  markets  is  so  great,  the  expenses  so  heavy,  the 
obstacles  so  many,  and  the  facilities  for  deception  so  numerous,  that  great  caution  on  the  part 
of  the  buyer  is  obaoluiely  necessary. 


Mif%ii>^>iiiS3Si^\^-*i!i!»'muiuimt*'»>'^-^'' 


'I 


ij 


||0  OUJt    fKSTKKf/   KMr/KK. 

thr  tiistcrn  and  Houihcastcrn  parts  of  the  Territory  there  &ro 
more  htrrams,  and  the  ntountains  arc  covcrtil,  though  «»parHrIy, 
with  pin<  and  juniper.  North  of  the  (Jila  there  in  in  the  cast 
an  extensive  mass  of  mountains  known  as  the  Mo^ollori  Moun* 
tains,  which  .'•re  covercil  with  yellow  pine,  piAon  or  nut-pine,  and 
juniper,  while  the  valleys  which  are  watered  by  the  streams 
which  unite  to  form  the  Colorado  Chicpiito,  and  the  Siilitms,  San 
Carlos,  Ik)nito,  Prieto,  and  A/ul,  affluents  of  the  (Jila.  ure  cov* 
ered  with  rich  grasses  and  are  excellent  gru/in)r  and  arable 
lands.  A  oroad  but  elevated  valley  lies  between  the  Mo^ollon 
and  the  San  Francisco  range,  which  is  watered  only  by  the  San 
Francisco  river  and  its  affluents,  and  by  one  or  two  small  lakes, 
and  by  one  or  two  creeks  whidi  tlow  into  die  Salinas.  This 
valley  plateau  is  but  little  known,  but  in  It^  upper  poriion  at 
least  is  probably  very  dry.  1  he  lower  portion  i:»  said  to  be  an 
excellent  grain  region. 

Another  extensive  mountain  mass,  extending  more  than  200 
miles  from  north  to  south  and  about  1  35  from  east  to  west,  of 
which  the  San  Francisco  Mountains  form  the  eastern  Ijar.ier, 
and  which  is  traversed  by  many  fertile  valleys  and  some  lofty 
mesas  or  plateaux,  extends  westward  to  the  I^lack  Mountains, 
which  overlook  the  Colorado  valley.  Nearly  in  the  centre;  of 
this  mountain  mass  is  situated  Prescott,  the  capital  of  tht;  Ter- 
ritory, which  is  5,700  feet  above  the  sea,  and  enjoys  a  fmc^  climate, 
not  too  hot  or  too  cold,  a  pure  air,  and  freedom  from  maluria. 

The  atmosphere  here  is  very  dry  and  highly  electric,  at  times 
almost  painfully  so.  Thunder-storms  are  very  frequent  in  sum- 
mer, and  so  many  of  the  pine  trees,  which  arc  obundant  here, 
have  been  struck  by  lightning  that  they  arc  unfit  for  lumber. 
Most  of  these  mountains  are  covered  with  yellow  pine,  juniper, 
an')  pinon  pine,  with  some  oaks,  and  much  good  lumber  is  fur- 
nished from  those  thirty  or  forty  miles  north  of  Prescott.  In 
this  region,  as  well  as  farther  south,  those  fruits  which  delight 
in  a  hot  climate  and  do  not  require  too  much  moisture,  flourish 
in  perfection.  The  peach,  apricot,  fig,  banana,  and  where  they 
have  been  planted,  the  olive  and  pomegranate,  yield  abundant 
fruit      The  orange,  lemon,  and  lime  probably  require  more 


lory  there  an» 
loii^li  <«{)arHt*|y, 
r  is  in  the  cast 
o^'ollofi  Moun- 
r  tuit-pitu',  and 
y  the  Hircams 
he.  S;»linns,  San    • 

(iila,  urc  cov* 
n^t  and  arable 
I  the  Mo;;ollon 
nly  b\  the  San 
wo  small  lakes, 
Salina.s.  This 
)pcr  poriion  at 
s  suid  to  bu  an   * 

more  than  200 
east  to  west,  of 
eastern  bar.ier, 
ind  jumi<!  lofty 
ack  Mountains, 
I  the  centre  of 
tal  of  the  Ter- 
'3  a  fine  climate, 
from  malaria.  . 
ilectric,  at  times 
'eqncnt  in  sum* 
nhurtdant  here, 
kfit  for  lumber. 
w  pine,  juniper, 
I  lumber  is  fur- 
if  Prescott.  In 
&  which  delight 
oisture,  flourish 
nd  where  they 
yield  abundant 

require  in^re 


I 


n7/.D  ASIM.il.S   uf  AKItONA. 


Sii 


motsturr.  Sornr  of  the  palms,  pnrtlf  ularly  the  date  and  talipot 
palmt,  would  undoubtedly  do  well  in  the  Gila,  Salinas,  and  Santa 
Cru/  vallt.'ys. 

Of  the  re^ifm«i  north  of  the  Colorado  and  th»*  Colorado 
Chiquito,  there  is  hardly  enouj^h  known  to  JtiHiify  any  ronsitlcr- 
ablc  description  of  tluir  vej^etation.  Near  the  Colorado  the 
land  is  ho  thorou)^hly  drained  of  moisture  as  to  l)c  almost  a 
desert.  Kastof  the  Colorado  Chi(|uito  is  a  broad  plateau,  a  |K)r- 
tion  of  which  is  volcanic  in  character,  ami  is  laid  tlown  upon  the 
maps  as  a  "painted  tlesert,"  probably  from  the:  color  of  its  lime- 
Atones,  shales,  and  sandstones.  North  of  this  are  the  villajjcs 
of  the  Motjuis,  where,  in  the  past,  the  water  has  been  lr<'asured 
up  in  reservoirs  for  domestic  purpf)st;s  and  for  irrijfation.  On 
portions  of  these  mesas  they  were  accustomed  to  cidtivat<:  their 
fields  of  blue,  red,  yellow,  oran^e-mlored  and  white  corn,  keep- 
ing Ciirh  carefully  in  fields  by  itself,  and  KJirn(!rin>;  tluim  in  sep- 
arate granaries.  Their  crops  of  these  would  inilicate  a  fertile 
Boil,  and  the  grazinjj  was  j^ood  for  their  ^oats  and  sh<!ep. 

A  large  mesa  in  the  extreme  northeast  is  called  Mesa  la 
Vaea,  which  would  indicate  that  it  had  formerly  been  a  pasture 
ground  for  cattle.  The'  Navajos,  who  have  a  larger  reservation, 
pardy  in  Arizona  and  partly  in  New  Mexico  in  this  northeastern 
corner,  arc  famous  for  their  flocks -of  sheep,  numbciing  it  is  said 
nearly  or  quite  a  million. 

Zooioj^y. — Geographically,  all  the  wild  animals  of  the  western 
slope  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada,  should  find  homes  in  the  forests  and  plains  of 
Arizona.  Perhaps  occasional  specimens  of  nearly  all  of  them 
may  be  found ;  but,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  wild  animals  are  not 
very  numerous  in  Arizona.  Of  the  larger  game  the  elk  is 
rare,  but  there  are  two  species  of  deer,  the  Rocky  Moun* 
tain  antelope,  the  bighorn  or  mountain  sheep,  and  the  Rocky 
Mountain  goat  or  goat  antelope.  Most  of  them  were  more 
abunda"'  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Territory  than  in  the  south- 
ern. 01  the  smaller  game,  there  are  the  sage  hare,  the  jack 
rabbit,  and  several  species  of  squirrels.  Of  the  larger  beasts  of 
prey,  the  grizzly  bear  is  very  rare,  if  he  inhabits  the  Territory  at 


I 


-'VJ»tMt»J « iMI>  IWimUMW  1.^  .^.iMIM*  .■lk>»<n«.iaMt>'>««>' 


I'll 


all;  tlw!  Mack  ami  cinnamon  l)rani  arr  morr  numrrnua.  The 
puma  or  (ouf^ur  Ih  iuun<i  in  the  lorcHtn,  thoii}{h  Icmm  numrroim 
than  in  better- wattrrcd  lonntricH;  thr  jaguar  \s  found  in  th<-  low 
landn,  thmi(;h  \v%%  abundant  than  in  'I't'xaM.  I'hr  (u-clot,  thr  wihl 
cat  an<l  the  lynx  arc  oc*  anionajly  found  in  the  forcMtn,  .\%  well  a«  • 
the  rr<l  or  j;ray  wolf,  ami  one  or  two  npccic*  of  fox.  The  prairie 
wolf,  uHually  called  the  coyote,*  ia  not  found  in  the  I'rrritory, 
thou}{h  the  true  coyote,  a  iniHernblt>  little  cur  of  an  animal  scarcely 
larj^er  than  a  fox,  in  occanionally  »cen ;  but  there  are  fKxcarica, 
reccoonn.  opoAXums,  skunks,  and  the  frophrr  or  prairie  do^  or 
marmot.  There  arc  said  to  btr  larj^e  herds  of  muHtan^s  or  wild 
horxcH  in  the  plains  of  Southern  Arizona.  Of  birds  there  are  a 
considerable  number,  many  of  them  of  jjay-colore<l  plumage. 
The  Wheeler  expedition  sent  to  the  Smithsonian  Institution  500 
■pecimens,  and  183  distinct  specie  ,  and  others  have  since  been 
discovered.  Game-birds  arc  abundant,  pluMsants,  |)artridge9, 
quails  and  grouse,  especially  the  sage-hen  and  tht^  prairie-hen. 
The  crane,  ibis  and  flamingo  are  among  the  birds  of  Southern 
Arizona.  Eagles,  vultures,  buzzards,  hawks  and  owls  arc 
numerous ;  the  king  vulture,  little  inferior  in  size  to  the  condor 
or  lammergcicr,  a  rare  bird  in  North  America,  is  only  found  in 
the  United  States,  in  this  Territory  and  in  Texas.  There  arc 
many  varieties  of  fish  found  in  the  rivers,  some  r)f  them  edible 
fish  of  1,'reat  delicacy  and  peculiar  to  this  Territory.  Several 
species  of  fish  have  been  discovered  in  the  mineral  springs. 
There  are  also  many  species  of  mollusks.  The  reptiles  and 
serpents  of  Arizona  are  formidable,  and  in  some  parts  of  the 
Territory  nutr  'ous.  There  arc  alligators  in  the  ( iila  and  Lower 
Colorado,  horned  toads,  lizards,  scorpions,  and  centipedes  in  the 
chaparral  and  among  the  cacti,  rattlesnakes  on  the  mesas  or 
table-lands  of  Central  and  Northern  Arizona. :  v.p  i'^-U  .n/,( 
'  The  skunk,  in  other  sections  a  harmless  animal,  except  for  hit 
fearfully  offensive  odor,  is,  in  all  the  region  below  the  fortieth  par- 

*  Culonnl  Richard  Irving  Dodge,  United  Sinlei  Army,  ■  very  high  authority  In  all  hunting 
malltrv,  Innioik  ('•  The  Plaint  of  the  Great  West ")  that  the  coyote  it  an  iniignificani  little  animal 
luwdly  larger  than  a  fux,  and  it  found  rml/  in  Texat,  Arifona  and  Mexico;  and  that  the  prairit 
wolf,  to  often  called  a  coyoie,  and  to  abundant  on  the  "  plaint,"  it  really  an  entirely  difTercat 
■ad  nuch  larger  tp«ci«r  of  the  canine  family.  « 


.jiW 


^ 


8 


AprMYnmKi  irrrti  who  aS'imals, 


tuimrrmn.     Th« 

)     l«-HH    lUlllU-nillN 

iDtituI  in  the  low 

»•  «u «|()t,  {\\r  wild 

iirrgtM,  as  well  at  • 

f(HX,    Th«  priiirle 

n   the    Trrritory, 

I)  ;tnimal  ■tiancly 

rr  art*  |Mccarir», 

r  prairir  tlojr  or 

mustangs  or  wild 

Mrcls  thcrr  arc  a 

rolorrd   plumage. 

in  InHtitution  500 

have  HJncc  been 

Hantn,  fiartridges, 

.1  thr  prairie-hen. 

)ird.H  of  Southern 

i    and    owls    are 

lize  to  the  condor 

I,  is  only  found  in 

cxas.     There  arc 

ne  of  them  edible 

crritory.     Several 

mineral  springs. 

The  reptiles  and 

onur  parts  of  the 

ic  Cjila  and  Lower 

centipedes  in  the 

on  th»»  mesas  or 

nal,  except  for  his 
w  the  fortieth  par- 

h  iulhoritx  In  alt  hunting 
I  IniigniAcanl  little  aninial 
sxlco;  »nU  that  the  prairie 
really  an  entirely  difTercnt 

•  -*•■::  ::,■  _  \\'--k 


51s 


aUel,  very  much  drradnl  for  hin  carnlvorwus  propensity.  Fhf^dinj; 
his  way  into  a  camp,  or  whcrr  settlers  are  sleeping;;  on  the  ground 
un«lrr  tentn,  hr  pnx  rnU  without  any  hrsiintion  to  bite  anti  jjnaw 
the  face  or  harxls  nr  feet  of  the  nUf  prrs,  ami  his  ap|M'titc  for 
human  Mesh  and  blood  once  aroui»rrl  he  will  return  to  hin  rrpairt 
even  if  driven  away.  Thwe  hitrs  in  very  many  cases  product: 
hydrophobia,  thou>;h  thtr  animal  itii<-lf  shows  rto  sifjns  oi  rabies. 
These  animals  are  very  numerous  in  Arizona,  New  Mexico, 
Colorado,  Kansas,  the  Indian  Territory  and  Texas,  and  though 
many  thi)iisandH  of  them  an*  killed  every  year  for  their  skins, 
the  fur  b<ing  in  great  demanil  in  the  fashionable  world,  they  do 
not  seem  to  diminish  in  numbers.  Colonel  R.  I.  Dodge  relaten 
a  case  of  these  skunk  bites,  which,  happily,  did  not  prove  fatal. 
It  oicurred  in  the  (Juadaloupe  Mountains  in  Texas,  not  far  from 
the  southeast  border  of  Arizona.  A  soldier  and  his  comrade 
were  sleeping  in  a  common  or  A  tent.  The  soldier  dreamed 
that  he  was  being  eaten  up  l>y  strme  animal,  but  a  sort  of  night- 
marc  prevented  his  moving.  After  some  time,  however,  th« 
pain  and  horror  together  woke  him  np  to  find  a  skunk  eating  his 
hand.  With  »  cry  and  sudden  effort  he  thrtrw  the  animal  from 
him.  tt  struck  the  other  side  of  the  tent  and  fell  upon  the  other 
man,  who,  recognizing  the  intruder,  rushe<l  out  of  the  tent.  The 
bitten  man,  who  had  heard  of  the  ;iurely  fatal  result  of  skunk- 
bite,  was  so  paralyzed  with  fear  and  horror  that  he  made  no 
efTort  to  get  up,  and  seeing  the  skunk  coming  towards  him  agairt 
buried  himself  in  the  blankets.  The  skunk  vralkcd  all  over 
him,  apparently  seefcmg  for  an  opening,  and  fmding  none  began 
to  scratch  the  blankets  as  If  trying  co  dig  out  his  victim.  The 
mental  condition  of  t\n%  poor  fellow  can  better  be  imagined  thah 
described.  In  the  meantime  the  other  tnah  had  loosened  the 
tent  pins  and  lifted  up  one  side  of  the  tent,  letting  in  the  moon- 
light; then  pelting  the  animal  with  sticks,  from  a  distance,  at  last 
frightened  It  so  that  it  rtm  off  into  the  deep,  dark  bank  of  the 
river.  This  skufik  emitted  no  odOf,  and  was  undoubtedly  simply 
hungry  and  not  rabid.  The  man  came  to  Colonel  Dodge  in  the 
morning  with  his  hand  bound  up,  and  asked  if  there  was  any 
cure  for  a  skunk-bite.  The  ccloncl's  heart  sunk  within  him,  but 
U 


m 


I 


i 


5»4 


OUK    IVESTEKX  EMP/StE. 


!»«-: 


\ 


he  made  light  of  the  matter  and  examined  the  wound.  The 
whole  ball  of  the  right  thumb  was  torn,  lacerated  and  gnawed  in 
a  fearful  manner.  He  had  no  caustics  or  other  means  of  cauteri- 
zation, an  1  so  long  a  time  had  elapsed  that  he  thought  they  would 
have  done  more  harm  mentally  than  good  physically.  So  he  had 
the  wound  carefully  and  thoroughly  washed  with  Castile  soap,  cut 
ofT  the  protuberant  pieces  of  mangled  flesh,  and,  binding  it  up, 
kept  on  a  simple  water-dressing  till  the  wound  healed,  which 
was  in  about  ten  days.  The  man  was  with  Colonel  Dodge  for 
more  than  a  year  after  this,  but  never  experienced  any  ill  effects 
except  temporary  pain  from  the  ."ound.  Colonel  Dodge  says 
that  this  was  the  only  non-fatal  case  of  which  he  knew  in  that 
region,  though  in  other  sections  they  were  not  often  fatal. 

The  gray  wolves  not  unfrequendy  suffer  from  rabies  or  go 
mad,  and  in  that  condition  lose  all  fear,  and  will  rush  into  houses, 
tents,  etc.,  biting  every  one  whom  they  can  reach,.,, ,!.„,..|vi,^Mr^, 
,.;  PfoductioHs  of  Arizona. — In  1 879  there  was  about  ^^3,500,000  of 
gold,  silver  and  copper  sent  to  San  Francisco  from  Arizona.  In 
1880,  the  amount  will,  in  all  probability,  be  over  j^,ooo,ooo,  and 
as  soon  as  railroads,  now  constructing,  are  completed  through  the 
Territory,  the  mineral  exports  will  be  much  increased,  and  lead, 
anthracite  coal,  platinum,  quicksilver  and  other  metjals  will  be 
added  to  them..'  \\  ,^%.*a,^'...^^  u..f-»  ■'fv,  f-v>.;-^'f  f.>^>i'  ^.f../  7?  •■■';  'f;- 'iV' 
^,,  Wheat  is  the  principal  vegetable  production  exported.  It  is 
of  excellent  quality,  fully  equal  to  the  best  California,  and  where 
irrigation  can  be  practised,  the  yield  is  enormous.  We  have  no 
^statistics  of  the  vegetable  crops  gathered  the  last  yea,r,  and  be- 
lieve none  have  been  collected.  Fruit,  of  semi-tropical  qualities, 
is  beginning  to  be  extensively  cultivated.  Lymber  and  timber 
can  be  produced  in  some  quarters,  sufficient  not  only  to  supply 
the  home  demand,  but  to  have  considerable  quantities  to  export. 
The  Papago  Indians,  in  the, southwest,  the  Pimas  and  Maricppas, 
in  the  south  and  central  region,  the  Mohaves,  and  to  some  ex- 
tent, the  Yumas,  in  the  west  and  on  the  Lower  Colorado,  and  the 
more  civilized  bands  of  the  Apaches  in  the  east,  cultivate  the  soil 
and  obtain  a  livelihood  from  it,  the  MarioQpas  and  Papagos  ex- 
erting conuderable  grain  to  San.  Francisco.     In  the.  northeast 


e  wound.  The 
I  and  gnawed  in 
leans  of  cauteri- 
ught  they  would 
:ally.  So  he  had 
Castile  soap,  cut 
d,  binding  it  up, 
d  healed,  which 
lonel  Dodge  for 
ed  any  ill  effects 
»nel  Dodge  says 
he  knew  in  that 
iften  fatal.  -  ' 
m  rabies  or  go 
rush  into  houses, 

)ut  $3,500,000  of 
om  Arizona.  In 
•  $8,000,000,  and 
leted  through  the 
•eased,  and  lead, 
r  metals  will  be 

exported.  It  is 
brftia,  and  where 
s.  We  have  no 
ist  yea;r,  and  be- 
tropical  qualities, 
nber  and  timber 
It  only  to  supply 
mtities  to  export, 
s  and  Maricppas, 
and  to  some  ex- 
[Tolorado,  and  the 
,  cultivate  the  soil 
and  Papagos  ex- 

In  the  northeast 


INDIAXS  OF  ARI7.0NA. 


5«$ 


the  Navajos  are  largely  engaged  in  sherp-farming,  as  already 
noticed.  The  Hualapais  and  the  Yavapais,  as  well  as  some  of 
the  Apaches,  are  more  inclined  to  a  nomadic  life,  but  will  make 
good  herdmen.  The  Apaches  in  the  southeast,  and  the  Pah- 
Utes  or  Pi-Uten,  in  the  north  and  northwest,  are  not  inclined  to 
any  industry,  and  are  roving,  troublesome  and  thievish. 
•  The  white  population  of  Arizona  is,  according  to  the  census 
just  taken,  almost  42,000  and  rapidly  increasing.  In  i860  there 
were  6,482,  and  in  1870  there  were  9,658.  There  has  been 
within  the  past  two  years,  a  rapid  influx  of  persons  interested 
in  mines  and  mining,  as  well  as  some  who  preferred  ap^ncul- 
tural  pursuits,  or  the  rearing  of  cattle  and  sheep.  In  187  u  c 
were  32,052  Indians  in  the  Territory;  the  number  he  p;<;  v 
ably  somewhat  diminished  since  that  time,  as  the  small-po...  .n^' 
other  fatal  diseases  have  raged  among  them,  and  some  of  »^%' 
tribes  have  scarcely  escaped  starvation,  but  they  must  rrjml  > 
nearly  39,000  at  the  present  time.  > 

Besides  the  tribes  we  have  named,  there  are  other  smr  t 
bands,  such  as  the  Succhis,  Apache  Mohaves,  Apache  Coyote  os, 
Cosninas,  Chemehuevis  and  Wallapis.  The  Apaches,  who  num- 
ber about  5,000,  and  have  a  large  reservation  in  the  southeast, 
are  divided  into  six  bands :  the  Tontos,  Pinals,  Arivapas,  Mes- 
caleros,  Bonitos  and  Cochise's  band.  They  are,  for  the  mofit 
part,  treacherous  and  mischievous,  and  have  of  late  been  raiding 
in  New  Mexico,  but  have  met  with  summary  punishment.  With 
the  exception  of  these  and  the  Pi-Utes  in  the  north,  the  Indians 
of  Arizona  are  frtendly  to  the  whites,  peaceable,  and,  for  Indians, 
industridus. 

There  are,  all  over  Arizona,  ruins  of  ancient  dwellings,  castles 
and  fortified  villages,  together  with  acequias  or  water-conduits, 
caves  and  dwellings  hewn  out  of  the  rocks,  or  built  up  with  larije 
stones  and  evidently  formerly  containing  a  large  population.  Of 
these  ruins,  Hon.  A.  P.  K.  Safford,  formeriy  Governor  of  the 
Territory,  and  its  Co  missioner  at  the  Centennial  Exposition, 
says: 

"  Many  portions  of  the  Territory  are  covered  with  ruins,  which 
prove  conclusively  that  it  was  once  densely  populated  by  a  peo- 


-*1* 


-J. 


1) 


jl^  OVR    WESTERN  EMPIKE. 

file  far  in  advance,  in  point  of  civilization,  of  most  of  the  Indian 
tribes.  '1  here  is  no  written  record  of  them,  and  it  is  only  a 
matter  of  conjecture  who  and  what  they  were.  Occasionally  a 
deserted  house  is  found  sufficiently  well  preserved  to  ascertain 
the  character  of  the  architecture.  The  walls  of  the  Casa  Grande, 
situated  on  the  Gila,  near  Sanford,  are  still  two  stories  above  the 
ground.  In  size,  the  structure  is  abotit  thirty  by  sixty  feet;  the 
walls  are  thick,  and  made  of  mud,  which  was  evidently  confined 
and  dried  as  it  was  built.  It  is  divided  into  many  small  rooms, 
and  the  partitions  are  also  made  of  mud.  The  floors  were  made 
by  placing  sticks  close  together  afid  covering  them  with  cement 
Around  and  near  the  Casa  Grande  are  the  rums  of  many  other 
buildings ;  but,  by  the  lapse  of  time,  the  decay  of  vegetation  has 
formed  earth  and  nearly  covered  them,  and  all  that  now  marks 
the  place  where  once  a  stately  mansion  stood  is  the  elevation  of 
the  ground.  Near  the  Ancha  Mountains  are  ruins  not  so  ex> 
tensive,  but  in  far  better  preservation  than  the  Casa  Grande; 
and  near  these  ruins  are  old  arastras,  for  the  reduction  of  silver 
ores— 'which  indicate  that  this  old  people  were  not  unmindful  of 
the  root  of  all  evil.  On  the  Verde  river  are  immense  rooms  dujj 
in  from  the  sides  of  high,  perpendicular  sandstxme  banks,  that  can 
only  be  reached  with  ladders.  •  AnM  xl«  fiin?  F'iJBiviB'H'tii 

"  Very  liittle  information  is  obtained  by  excavating  these  ruins. 
Pottery  of  tin  excellent  quality,  and  ornamented  with  paint,  is 
found  everywhere,  and  occasionally  a  stone  axe  is  unearthed,  "but 
nothing  to  indicate  that  they  were  a  warlike  people ;  on  the  con- 
trary, scarcely  an  implement  of  defence  can  be  found,  though 
there  are  reasons  to  believe,  from  the  numerous  lookouts  or 
places  for  observatioft  lo  be  seen  qo  tJt^  fops  of  hills  and  moun- 
tains, and  the  construction  of  th«ir  hi6ufies,  that  they  had  eRcmies, 
and  that  they  liviere  censtandy  on  the:  ail«tt  to  avoid  surprise ; 
and  ajbo,  that  by  the  hands  of  these  enemies  they  pek'tshed.  It 
is  not  im^oUible  thai '(he  Apaches  wei^  the  "enemits  who  caused 
their  destni<^tiicMi^  Indeed^  the  Apaches  have  a  legfeod  that  such 
is  the  case.  During  the  past  year  I  opened  an  old  ruin  at  Puebla 
Viejo,  on  the  Up]^  Gila,  ancd  ibuind  Ifie  bones  of  several  human 
beings  within ;  also  the  bones  of  a  number  <A  domestic  animal& 


iii 


f  the  Indian 

it  is  only  a 
Occasionally  a 

to  ascertain 
Casa  Grande, 
ics  above  the 
ixty  fcet ;  the 
:ntly  confined 

small  rooms, 

rs  were  made 

with  cement 

»f  many  other 

■egetation  has 

it  now  marks 

e  elevation  of 

IS  not  so  ex> 

Casa  Grande ; 

:tion  of  silver 

unmindful  of 

ise  rooms  du^ 

lanks,  that  can 

ig  these  ruins, 
with  paint,  is 
unearthed,  but 
e ;  on  tiac  con- 
found, though 
IS  lookouts  or 
ills  and  moun- 
y  had  enemies, 
void  surprise; 
y  perished.  It 
its  who  caused 
^ead  that  such 
I  ruin  at  Pucbla 
several  human 
neslic  animals. 


ANCIEirr  RUISS  IN  ARtZONA.  <|f 

On  the  fire,  an  alia  (crockery-ware  vessel)  was  found  with  the 
bones  of  a  fowl  in  it,  and  it  appeared  as  though  the  people  within 
had  resisted  an  attack  from  an  enemy,  and  had  finally  been  mur- 
dered. Shortly  after,  I  visited  a  ruin  in  Chino  valley,  twenty 
miles  north  of  Prescott,  and  over  three  hundred  miles  from  Puebla 
Viejo,  and  there  found  that  Mr.  Banghart  had  opened  a  ruin  on 
his  farm.  In  it  he  found  the  bones  of  several  human  beings — 
five  adults  and  some  children — and  the  evidences  were  unmis- 
takable that  the  inmates  had  died  by  violence,  as  the  door  and 
window  liad  been  walled  up  with  stone,  evidently  to  resist  a  hos- 
tile foe.  The  subject  is  an  interesting  one,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped 
that  further  excavations  may  throw  more  light  upon  the  subject. 
The  ruins  of  towns,  farms  and  irrigating  canals,  that  are  to  be 
seen  on  every  hand  through  this  vast  Territory,  give  abundant 
proof  that  this  country  was  once  densely  inhabited,  and  that  the 
people  who  lived  here  maintained  themselves  by  cultivating  the 
soil.  Probably  that  is  about  all  we  shall  ever  know  of  thenv, 
Many  hieroglyphics  are  to  be  seen  on  rocks  in  different  portions 
of  the  Territory,  but  by  whom  made,  or  what  they  mean,  no  one 
knows. 

"  In  excavating  a  well  between  Tucson  and  the  Gila,  at  the 
depth  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  pottery  and  other  articles, 
the  same  as  are  found  in  the  vicinity  of  ruins,  were  taken  out" 
,  /•  But  by  far  the  most  interesting  of  these  ruins,  inasmuch  as 
they  are  not  wholly  ruins,  but  some  of  tliem  inhabited  by  the 
remnant  of  the  original  tribes  which  built  them,  are  those  of  the 
ancient  province  of  Tusayan,  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
Territory.  Seven  of  the  sixty  or  more  towns  which  constitute 
this  once  populous  province,  are  still  Inhabited  by  the  Moquis, 
who  are  undoubtedly  the  descendants  of  d>ie  original  nation 
which  once  occupied  the  whole  of  this  Territory,  and  who  sttH 
adhere  to  the  religion  of  their  fathers.  Of  the  sixty  towns,  thirty 
are  still  inhabited,  but  all  except  the  seven  are  under  the  con- 
trol of  Catholic  priests,  and  the  Pctgan  rites  and'  ceremonies  are 
prohibited ;  but  occasionally  the  inhabitants  steal  away  from  their 
villages  and  join  with  the  Pagans  of  the  "  Province  of  Tusayan>'' 
m.  their  rites  and  worship.     There  are  other  groups  of  these  vil> 


""H 


R'^^ 


jlS  OUR    WESTERN  EMPiRB. 

lages  on  the  San  Juan  river  in  New  Mexico  and  Southwestern 
Colorado,  which  have  been  visited  by  Professor  J.  S.  Newberry 
and  his  companions,  in  i860,  whose  language,  religion,  etc^,  are 
identical  with  these.  Colonel  J.  W.  Powell,  United  States  army, 
visited  the  province  of  Tusayan  in  i87i,and  spent  about  two 
months  in  studying  the  language,  manners,  customs,  and  religion 
of  these  interesting  people.  The  narratives  of  Professor  New- 
berry (which  has  not  been  published)  and  of  Colonel  Powell  are 
both  full  of  interest,  and  from  them  we  glean  a  few  particulars 
in  addition  to  those  already  given  in  Part  I.,  chapter  vi.,  page  671 
which  will,  we  think,  be  of  interest  to  our  readers.  .1   .\.i 

The  villages  of  these  Moquis  are  always  situated  on  some  lofty 
m*sa  or  isolated  table-land,  difficult  of  access;  their  dwellings  are 
of  stone,  usually  three  or  four  stories  high,  and  around  an  inte- 
rior court,  common  to  the  village.  The  outer  walls  are  blank 
9ind  inaccessible,  and  the  inner  court  is  only  approached  by  a 
covered  way  easily  defended.  Entering  the  village  plaza  or  in- 
terior court-yard,  the  houses  are  joined  together,  forming  a  con- 
tinuous wall  outside,  and  within  the  court  they  are  built  in 
terraces,  the  second  story  being  set  back  upon  the  first,  the  third 
upon  the  second,  and  the  fourth  upon  the  third.  There  are  no 
doors  or  low  windows  to  the  first  story ;  access  to  it  is  had  only 
by  ascending  a  ladder  to  the  top  of  the  story  and  then  descend-* 
ing  another  to  the  floor  of  the  first.  This  lower  story  is  for  the 
most  part  a  store-house  where  the  corn  or  other  grain  used  by 
the  family  is  stored^  each  color  of  the  corn  by  itself.  The  second 
s<tory,  or  sometimes  the  third,  contains  the  family  room,  which  is 
twenty  or  twenty-four  feet  by  twelve  ar  fifteen  in  width,  and 
about  eight  feet  high.  Usually  all  the  rooms  are  plastered  care- 
Cully,  and  sometimes  they  are  painted  with  rude  devices.  For 
()<)iors  and  windows  there  are  openings  only,  except  that  some- 
tinnes  sm«tU  windows  are  glazed  with  thin  sheets  of  selenite,  the 
transparent  flat  crystals  of  gypsum.  To  go  up  to  the  third  or 
f«turth  story  you  climb  by  a  stairway  made  in  the  projecting  wall 
oif  the  partition.  In  a  corner  of  each  principal  room  a  little  fire- 
place is  seen,  large  enough  to  hold  about  an  armful  of  wood;  a 
8(one  chimney  is  built  in  the  corner,  and  often  capped  outside 


m^ 


I'-l-  ■ 


THE  DWELLINGS  OF  THE  AfOQUIS. 


519 


Southwestern 
S.  Newberry 
gion,  etcj,  are 

States  army, 
nt  about  two 
i,  and  religion 
ofessor  New- 
lel  Powell  are 
;w  particulars 

vi.,  page  67, 

on  some  lofty 
dwellings  are 
ound  an  inte' 
ills  are  blank 
roached  by  a 
e  plaza  or  in*  • 
Drming  a  con-  , 

are  built  in 
first,  the  third 
There  are  no 
it  is  had  only  , 
then  descends 
tory  is  for  the  1 
g^rain  used  by 

The  second 
room,  which  is 
in  width,  and 
>lastered  care-<  ^^■ 
devices.     For ,, 
ipt  that  some* ,-, 
i  selenite,  thcx^; 
>  the  third  or. 
projecting  wall  r 
m  a  little  fire<;  2 
x\  of  wood ;  a  • 
ippcd  outsider 


with  a  pottery  pipe.  The  exterior  of  the  houses  is  very  irregu- 
lar and  unsightly,  and  the  streets  and  courts  arc  filthy,  though 
in  the  centre  of  each  court  is  a  large,  deep  fountain  and  pool, 
which  is  used  for  bathing ;  but  within  the  houses  great  cleanli- 
ness is  observed.  Separated  from  the  houses,  indeed  belonging 
to  the  village,  is  the  kiva,  called  Esiufa,  "  the  Sweat  House,"  by 
the  Spaniards.  It  is  a  large  underground  room  in  the  court- 
yard or  plaza,  chiefly  intended  for  religious  ceremonies,  the 
church,  in  fact,  of  the  village,  but  also  used  as  a  place  of  social 
resort.  A  deep  pit  is  excavated  in  the  shaly  rock  and  covered 
with  long  logs,  over  which  are  placed  long  reeds,  these,  in  turn, 
covered  with  earth,  heaped  in  a  mound  above ;  a  hole  or  hatch- 
way is  left,  and  the  entrance  to  the  kiva  is  by  a  ladder  down  this 
hatchway. 

The  people  are  very  hospitable  and  quite  ceremonious ;  they 
are  also  remarkably  polite.  Enter  a  house  and  you  are  invited 
to  take  a  seat  on  a  mat  placed  for  you  upon  the  floor,  and  some 
refreshment  is  oflered,  perhaps  a  melon  with  a  little  bread,  per- 
haps peaches  or  apricots.  After  you  have  eaten,  everything  is 
carefully  cleared  away,  and  with  a  little  broom  made  of  feathers 
of  birds,*  the  matron  or  her  daughter  removes  any  crumbs  or 
seeds  which  may  have  been  dropped.  They  are  a  very  economi- 
cal people ;  the  desolate  circumstances  under  which  they  live, 
the  distance  to  the  forests,  and  the  scarcity  of  game,  together 
with  their  fear  of  the  neighboring  Navajos  and  Apaches,  which 
prevents  them  from  making  excursions  to  a  distance,  all  com- 
bine to  teach  them  the  most  rigid  economy.  Their  wood  is 
packed  from  a  distant  forest  on  the  backs  of  mules  or  asses,  and 
when  a  fire  is  kindled  but  a  few  small  fragments  are  used,  and 
when  no  longer  needed  the  brands  are  extinguished,  and  the  re- 
maining pieces  preserved  for  future  use.  Their  corn  is  raised  in 
fields  near  by,  out  in  the  drifting  sands,  by  digging  pits  eighteen 
inches  to  two  feet  deep,  in  which  the  seeds  are  planted  early  in 
the  spring,  while  the  ground  is  yet  moist.  When  it  has  ripened 
it  is  gathered,  brought  in  from  the  fields  in  baskets  carried  by 

*  Some  of  th*se  brushes  or  brooms  are  very  beautiful,  and  are  made  of  the  feathers  of  hum* 
mmg- birds  and  Other  birds  of  gny  plumage  found  in  that  region. 


:  *«m«iM«s,j«»-fj»sia)iaa»w  *W«R8iw«*!W«^ 


po 


OUK    WtSTERN  MMP/ltK. 


the  women,  and  stored  away  in  their  rooms,  being  carefully 
corded.  They  take  great  pains  to  raise  corn  of  different  colors, 
^d  have  the  corn  of  each  color  stored  in  a  separate  room.  This 
ia  ground  to  a  fine  flour  in  stone-mills,  then  made  into  a  paste 
Kke  a  rather  thick  gruel.  In  every  house  there  is  a  little  oven 
made  of  a  flat  stone  eighteen  or  twenty  inches  square,  raised 
iour  or  Ave  inches  from  the  floor,  and  beneath  this  a  little  fire  is 
built.  When  the  oven  is  hot  <'ind  the  dough  mixed  in  a  little 
vessel  of  pottery,  the  good  woman  plunges  her  hand  in  the  mix- 
ture and  rapidly  smears  the  broad  surface  of  the  furnace  rock 
yrith  a  thin  coating  of  the  paste.  In  a  few  moments  the  film  uf 
batter  is  baked ;  when  taken  up  it  looks  like  a  sheet  of  paper. 
This  she  folds  and  places  on  a  tray.  Having  made  seven  sheets 
of  this  paper  bread  from  the  batter  of  one  color  and  placed  them 
(Ml  the  tray,  she  takes  batter  of  another  color,  and,  in  this  way, 
inakes  seven  sheets  of  each  of  the  several  colors  of  corn-batter. 

They  have  many  curious  ways  of  preparing  their  food,  but 
perhaps  tl.e  daintiest  dish  is  "  virgin  hash."  This  is  made  by 
chewing  morsels  of  meat  and  bread,  rolling  them  in  the  mouth 
into  little  lumps  about  the  size  of  a  horse-chestnut,  and  then 
tying  them  up  in  bits  of  corn-husk.  When  a  number  of  these 
are  made,  they  are  thrown  into  a  pot  and  boiled  like  dumplings. 
The  most  curious  thing  of  all  is,  tliat  only  certain  persons  are 
flowed  to  prepare  these  dumplings;  the  tongue  and  palate 
kneading  must  be  done  by  a  virgin.  An  old  feud  is  sometimes 
avenged  by  pretending  hospitality^  and  giving  to  the  enemy 
dumplings  made  by  a  lewd  woman. A^^^rtl  ''fh  M^rV  fIflRW'Vvr  'ifil. 

In  this  warm  and  dry  climate  the  people  live  principally  out 
of  doors  or  on  the  tops  of  their  houses,  and  it  is  a  merry  sight 
to  see  a  score  or  two  of  little  naked  children  climbing  up  and 
dowR  the  stairways  and  Ladders,  and  running  about  the  tops  of 
the  houses  engaged  in  some  active  sport. 

In  every  hoAA&e  vessels  of  stone  and  pottery  are  found  in  great 
aibundaace.  These  Indian  women  have  great  skill  in  ceramic 
^1,  decorating  thein  vessels  with  picture-writings  in  various 
colors,  but  chiefly  black.  r7*n't'^?T?*':r 

In  the  early  history  of  this  country,  before  the  advent  of  the 


eing  carefully 

ifferent  colors, 

tc  room.  This 

c  into  a  paste 

s  a  little  oven 

square,  raised 

s  a  little  ftrc  is 

cod  in  a  little 

nd  in  the  mix- 

e  furnace  rock 

nts  the  film  of 

leet  of  paper. 

e  seven  sheets 

d  placed  them 

d,  in  this  way, 

of  corn-batter. 

:heir  food,  but 

is  is  made  by 

n  in  the  mouth 

tnut,  and  then 

mber  of  these 

ike  dumplings. 

in  persons  are 

je  and   palate 

d  is  sometimes 

to  the  enemy 

principally  out 
i  a  merry  sight 
imbing  up  and 
lut  the  tops  of 

found  in  great 
kill  in  ceramic 
igs   in  various 

advent  of  the 


ll 


CLIPV  uwei.i.KRs. 


iihT   -'"   f'tn       T'tiilliiri   II    lYwtailltirt-iiiiiiJi 


w  iijTnirMiaiwwfr  fiwfitirfltjimra 


!is-iia»i-> 


> 


r 


1^''^" .,  '••  ■ 


\,  •• 


t«         ^> 


DKBSS  Attr>  irAfilTS  OF  TUB  MOQU/S. 


'4 


■;!*.  i. ft' ■.».    ,. 


Spaniards,  thcHC  people  raised  cotton,  ami  from  it  made  their 
clothing;  but  between  the  years  1540  and  1600  they  were  sup- 
plied with  sheep,  and  now  the  jjrcater  part  of  their  clothing  it 
made  of  wool,  though  all  their  priestly  habilimcntH,  their  wedding 
and  burying  garments,  are  still  made  of  cotton.  The  weaving 
is  mostly  done  by  the  men,  anti  their  woollen  blankets  are  re- 
markable for  their  density  and  their  fine  texture.  They  are 
perfectly  water-proof,  as  we  have  already  noticed,  page  67. 

Men  wear  moccasins,  leggings,  shirts  and  blanke»s ;  the 
women,  moccasins  with  long  tops,  short  petticoats  dyed  black, 
sometimes  with  a  red  border  below,  and  a  small  blanket  or 
ahawl  throw.)  over  the  body  so  as  to  pass  over  the  right  shoui- 
der  under  the  left  arm.  A  long  girdle  of  many  bright  colors  is 
wound  around  the  waist.  The  outer  garment  is  also  black. 
The  women  have  beautifid,  black,  glossy  hair,  which  is  allowed 
to  grow  very  long,  and  which  they  take  great  pains  in  dressing. 
Early  in  the  morning,  immediately  after  breakfast,  if  the  weather 
is  pleasant,  the  women  all  repair  to  the  tops  oi  the  houses,  tak- 
ing with  them  little  vases  of  water,  and  wash,  comb  and  braid 
one  another's  hair.  It  is  washed  in  a  decoction  of  the  soap 
plant,  a  species  of  yucca,  and  then  allowed  to  dry  in  the  open 
air.  The  married  ladies  have  their  hair  braided  and  rolled  in  a 
knot  at  the  back  of  the  head,  but  the  maidens  have  it  parted 
along  the  middle  line  above,  and  each  lock  carefully  braided  or 
twisted,  and  rolled  into  a  coil  supported  by  litde  wooden  pins, 
so  as  to  cover  each  ear,  giving  them  a  very  fantastic  appearance. 

The  politeness  of  the  people  is  shown  in  their  salutations. 
If  you  meet  them  in  the  fields  they  greet  you  with  a  salutation 
signifying,  "  May  the  birds  sing  happy  songs  in  your  fields."  If 
you  do  one  of  them  a  favor,  even  though  a  very  slight  one,  he 
thanks  you  ;  if  a  man,  he  says  "  kwa  kwa;"  if  a  woman,  "es-ka-li.'* 
It  is  an  interesting  feature  in  their  language  that  many  words 
are  used  exclusively  by  men,  others  by  woqfiieii.  *  Father,"^  as 
spoken  by  a  girl,  la  one  word ;  spoken  by  a  boy,  it  is  another ; 
and  nothing  iis  considered  n&ore  vulgar  among  these  people  than 
for  a  man  to  use  a  woman's  word,  or  a  woman  a  man's. 

At  the  ^wfi  of  dtiy  the  governor  of  the  town  goes  up  to  the 


>  =!^lif*jalS:ietXiy*i^^jLit»t,»M>¥l^^»iM^^.-\Mfl*.hii-^^^  '• 


m 


ill 


W\ 


H      I 


,11!  :■  I 


512 


Ol/Jt    HESTKKy    FMrrKK. 


top  of  his  housp  and  calls  on  tlu*  people  to  come  forth.  In  a 
few  miniitc^s  th<!  upper  story  of  the  town  id  covered  with  men, 
women,  and  children.  He  haran{»iies  them  briefly  on  the 
duties  of  the  tlay;  then,  as  the  sun  is  about  to  rise,  th«'y  all  nit 
down,  draw  their  blankets  over  their  heads,  and  peer  out  through 
a  little  openinj^  and  watch  for  the  sun.  As  the  u[»()er  limb  ap- 
pears alH)ve  the  horizon  every  person  murmurs  a  prayer,  and 
continui!S  until  the  whole  disk  is  seen,  when  the  prayer  nds  and 
the  people  turn  to  their  various  avorui^^ins.  The  young  men 
gather  in  the  court  about  the  deep  fountain,  stripp(  tl  niiked, 
except  that  each  one  has  a  belt  to  which  are  attach'  d  bones, 
hoofs,  horns,  or  metallic  bells,  which  they  have  been  able  to  pro- 
cure from  white  men.  These  they  lay  aside  for  a  moment, 
plunge  into  the  water,  step  out,  tie  on  their  belts,  and  dart  away 
on  their  morning  races  over  the  rocks,  running  as  if  for  dear  |ife. 
Then  the  old  men  collect  the  little  boys,  sometimes  with  little 
whips,  and  compel  them  to  go  through  the  s; mo  exercises. 
When  the  athletes  return,  each  family  gathers  in  the  large  room 
for  breakfast.  This  over,  the  women  ascenil  to  the  tops  of  the 
houses  to  dress  thei  lair,  and  the  men  depart  to  the  fields  or 
woods,  or  gather  in  tiie  kiva  to  chat  or  weave. 

The  theology  of  these  people  seems  to  He  complicated.  They 
acknowledge  a  Supreme  or  Great  Spirit,  the  Creator  of  men, 
symbolized  by  the  sun  or  by  fire,  but  consider  tlie  planets,  sun, 
moon,  and  stars  the  workmanship  of  a  benehcent  spirit  of  miracu- 
lous power  and  strength  and  most  loving  disposition,  who  dwelt 
among  men  and  exerted  his  various  powers  to  help  them.  This 
beneficent  divinity,  who  bears  strong  analogies  to  the  Hercules 
of  the  Greeks,  the  Divine  Emperor  of  the  Chinese,  and  the  Hia- 
watha of  the  Northern  Indians,  ih-y  named  Ma-chi-ta,  and  they 
never  tire  of  telling  of  his  loving  tenderness  to  complaining  and 
ungrateful  humanity.      •  >  f    ;•  '  '^ 

But  they  worshipped  also  the  powers  and  fon  es  of  nature,  at 
least  to  the  extent  of  prayer  and  homage.  The  aridity  of  their 
soil  made  water,  and  especially  rain,  a  prime  necessity,  and  Col- 
6nel  Powell  gives  us  a  prayer  which  he  heard  addressed,  with  a 
variety  of  other  ceremonies,  to  Mu-tng-wa,  the  rain-goil,  by  one 


MKfjnroVS  WnltSHI^  OP  MOQVn. 


Saj 


•  forth.  In  a 
<'<l  with  mm, 
riftly  on  the 
e,  tli«y  all  sit 
■rout  throujjh 

•  prr  h'ml)  ap- 
a  praytT,  and 
iy<r    tills  and 

yoiinjr  mtn 
ipprd  naked, 
tarli>  I  b<»nrs, 
n  ablr  to  pr<>« 
)r  a  moment, 
nd  dart  away 
f  for  dear  jife. 
r»es  with  little 
me  exercises. 
ie  large  room 
ic  lops  of  the 
J  the  fields  or 

icatf  «1.  They 
cater  of  men, 
:  planets,  sun, 
lirit  f)f  miracu- 
on,  who  dwelt 
3  them.  This 
the  Hercules 
.  and  the  Hia- 
li-ta.  and  they 
npiaining  and 
•\i\  \V\:  .  '     "  :I 

i  of  nature,  at 
ridity  of  their 
sity,  and  Col- 
ressed,  with  a' 
n-god,  by  one 


of  the  Moqui  priests:  "  Muing  wa !  \  ry  j;ood,  thou  dost  love 
us,  for  thou  didst  bring  us  up  from  the  Sower  world.*  Thou 
didNt  teach  our  faih^  rs,  and  their  wisdom  has  de»cetided  to  us. 
We  eat  no  «jtolcn  bre.ul.  No  »»tolen  sheep  are  found  in  our 
flocks.  ()ur  \'*"'^K  ""'"  "^♦^  "*"  '^'"  ^'^*'  Htf)l<n  ass.  We  bc- 
see(h  lit'  e,  Mu-ingwa,  thai  thou  woultlst  dip  thy  brush.  n\ad(; 
of  the  feathers  of  the  birds  of  heaven,  into  the  lakes  of  l!»e  skies 
and  scatter  water  over  the  e.irth,  even  as  I  scatter  water  over 
the  II  r  of  this  kiva  ;  M  ing-wa,  v<  y  good."  After  scattering 
whiU;  sand  over  the  floor,  the  old  priest  prayed  that  during  the 
coming  season  Mu-ing-wa  would  break  the  ice  in  the  lakes  of 
heaven,  ami  j^iind  it  into  ice-dust  (snow),  nnd  sialtf-r  it  over  the 
land  so  that  during  the  coming  winter  the  ground  might  be  pre- 
pared for  the  planting  of  another  crop.  'Ihen,  after  another 
ceremony  with  kernels  of  corn,  he  prayed  that  the  corn  might 
he  impregnated  with  tfie  life  of  the  water,  and  made  to  bring 
forth  an  abundant  harvest.  After  a  ceremony  with  certain  jewels 
whii  h  seemed  to  be  a  part  of  the  sacred  emblems  kept  in  the 
kiva,  he  [)rayed  that  the  corn  might  ripen  and  earh  kernel  be- 
come as  hard  as  one  of  the  jewels.  This  petition  woidd  seem 
to  imply  the  desire  that  it  might  be  preserved  from  the  insect 
pests  which  do  not  attack  the  corn  when  it  lias  become  plenty. 
There  seems  to  be  in  their  theology  no  place  for  the  sacrifice 
of  animals,  much  less  of  human  beings.  All  their  sacrifices  were 
of  fruits,  flowers,  and  seeds.  'he  villages  visited  by  I'rof.  New- 
berry in  die  San  Juan  region  liffered  very  little  either  in  their 
religions  worship,  their  habits  ami  customs,  or  their  language 
from  these  inhabitants  of  Tusayan.  They  cuUivated  only  the 
blue  corn,  and  their  bread,  made  in  the  same  way  as  thut  de- 
scribed by  Colonel  Powell,  resembled  nothing  else  so  much  as  a 
ream  of  druggists'  blue  paper.  Colonel  Powell,  after  cart  ful 
inquiry,  estimated  the  inhabitants  of  these  seven  villages  as 
about  2,700.  The  names  of  the  villages  are  O-raibi,  Shi-pau-i- 
luv-i,   Mi-shong-i-ni-vi,  Shong-a-pa-vi,  Te-wa,  Wol-pi,  and   Si- 

*  This  declaration  would  seem  to  identify  Mu-ing-wa,  he  rain-god,  with  Ma-chita,  iheir 
heroic  deliverer  and  helper,  for  it  was  one  of  his  special  benefits  conferred  upon  man  that  he 
brought  bim  up  from  the  lower  world  and  raised  for  him  the  sky  (o  its  present  altitude. 


-'r>4«»V«Ht«^-M»V     .— .  **/ 


f! 


i  \ 


i\ 


\i 


1 1 


l;iii 


i 


m 


II 


SM 


Ot/M    WhSTMMM   MMr/MK. 


chnam-a-vl.  Prof.  Newberry  fo\iniJ  a  Rtnalirr  numln-r,  prrhap« 
not  much  more  than  i.ouo,  on  the  mtsoji  of  thr  Sun  Juan  rc'|rion  ; 
but  thi*  ruinn  of  thfir  town«  ami  villa^cH,  Homc  of  thi*m  of  i;rcat 
Rite  M\*\  Ktrcn^th  and  of  rcmarkublt;  architectural  U'aiily,  crown 
th(!  Hiirniititx  of  ahnoHt  cvrry  mesa  and  hilltop  throu^ltoiit  Nc* 
vada,  Utah,  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  Arlzima,  and  Southern  Cali- 
fornia. "  Not  only  Salt  Lake  City,  but  nearly  every  settlement 
in  ihe  Territory  of  Utah,  and  maiy  in  tlw  .Stale  of  Nevada,"  sayH 
Colonel  I'owell,  "are  liuilt  on  the  site  of  one  oi  tlu-Hc  ancient 
towns.  They  have  In^en  foutid  x\so  on  the  <astern  slope  of  the 
Rocky  Mountain:!,  near  Golden  City,  and  southward  from  tlut 
point"  I 

Who  were  these  peoph?,  antl  from  whence  did  they  come  ? 
Colonel  I'owcll,  on  somewhat  innufhiiient  evidence,  thinks  them 
related  to  the  Shoshont:s,  Ules,  I'i-Utes,  and  Comanches,  and 
rcjrartis  the  Navajos  and  Apaches,  with  some  of  the  smaller 
tribes  in  California,  as  the  intruders  who  have  pursued  them  so 
mercilessly  and  nearly  destroyed  them  from  off  the  face  of  the 
earth.  The  arj^uments  by  which  he  supports  this  theory  seem 
to  us  far  from  satisfactory.  The  erection  of  these  massive  build- 
inj^'s,  the  proj^ress  in  agriculture,  the  entire  avoidance  of  a  no- 
madic life,  the  proficiency  in  ceiamic  art,  the  ability  to  spin  and 
weave  wool  and  cotton  .so  dextrously,  the  daily  preparation  of 
skilfully  cooked  food,  the  worship  of  the  sun,  the  virgin  priest- 
esses, and  the  complex  system  of  religious  belief,  all  indicate  a 
superiority  over  the  Utes,  Shoshones,  and  Comanches  which  is 
entirely  incompatible  with  any  recent  common  origin  with  them, 
whatever  may  be  the  supposed  affinities  of  language.  It  is  no 
new  thing  for  a  conquered  nation  to  force  upon  its  conquerors 
its  own  language.  The  Saxons  did  *his  with  the  Normans ;  the 
Malays  have  done  it  with  the  Chmc.ie.  Their  afl'inities  of  race, 
habits,  and  manners,  as  well  as  relij.,  n,  seem  to  be  much  nearer 
to  the  Toltecs  and  Peruvians  than  even  to  the  Aztecs,  from 
whom  they  differ  in  language,  and  in  the  sternness  and  cruelty 
of  th^ir  religious  practices,  while  their  difference  from  the  Sho- 
shones, Utes,  and  Comanches  is  infinitely  greater.  Colonel 
Powell  says  that  sotne  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  thirty  towns 


AKlZOlfA    AX  4    l/OMK    K)K    KJIfft;/lf4,Vr.t 


5>S 


iiImt,  prrhapt 
I  Jtinn  ri't^'ion ; 
then)  of  ^Tcat 
iK-aiity,  crown 
r<Hijfl)<)iil  Nc« 
Soiilh«;rn  Calh 
ery  sfllKincnt 
Nevada."  sayi 
tlu-Hc  arui(;iU 
n  tilo|)L'  of  the 
arc!  from  tlat 

id  they  come  ? 
:v.  thinks  thorn 
omanches,  and 
of  the  smaller 

rsued  them  so 
the  face  of  the 
is  theory  seem 

massive  build- 
dance  of  a  no* 
ity  to  spin  and 
preparation  of 
e  virgin  priest- 
f,  all  indicate  a 
inches  which  Is 
igin  with  them, 
[iiagc.     It  Is  no 

its  conquerors 

Normans;  the 
Tinitics  of  race, 
DC  much  nearer 
e  Aztecs,  from 
:ss  and  cruelty 
;  from  the  Sho- 
ater.  Colonel 
le  thirty  towns 


whith  ytvrr.  dnitroyed  have  iK'come  nomadic,  "  for  the  rrt-aninU 
and  Walla  pais,  who  now  livr  in  the  rockn  and  dtcp  j;or^«s  of 
th(?  Siin  (''rantiHro  IMat(*aii,  claim  that  they  oner  dwelt  in  piirlilon 
or  townn  near  where  Zimi  now  Htan»U."  ThiH  '\n  [K)Msil)lr,  though 
(torn  what  little  In  known  of  thric  trihrn,  the  I'imaN  or  Marit opas 
wodll  Hrem  to  have  had  ntron^er  clalmn  to  nuch  an  ori^'in  ;  hut, 
iC  true,  it  in  one  of  those  casrs  of  dejrcneration  or  moral  lapii*, 
Hvhjf  h  can  only  b<:  accounted  for  on  the  liihiical  ground  of 
Adam's  fall. 

That  these  Moquisand  their  kinsmen,  the  ancient  cliff dwrlh'rs, 
were  originally  of  Asiatic  origin,  and  migrated  from  that  portion 
«jf  Atia  inhabited  by  the  Aryan  race,  Ik  too  evident  to  neetl 
demonstration ;  antl  those  who  arc  so  zealous  to  find  on  this 
continent  the  descendaiifs  of  the  lost  ten  tribes,  may  find  among 
them  a  mort*  hopeful  quest  than  among  the  Anglo-Saxons  of 
Europe  or  America. 

Returning  to  the  general  subject  of  the  Territory  of  Arizona, 
we  have  but  little  to  add.  The  population  of  the  Territory  in 
11)70  was  only  9,^58  whites  and  civili/ed  Imlians,  and  at)Out 
25,000  tribal  Indians.  The  recent  census  {1880)  mak(!S  the 
white  population  40,441  and  adding  tribal  Indians  it  is  prol>ably 
about  65,000.  It  is  now  divided  into  five  counties — Yuma,  I'ima, 
Maricopa,  Mohave  and  Yavapai.  The  last  named  has  an  area 
as  large  as  the  State  of  Iowa.  The  principal  towns  are  Tucson, 
the  former  capital,  which  had  in  1870  a  population  of  3,224.  Its 
present  population  is  estimated  at  somewhat  more  than  6,000 ; 
the  Southern  Pacific  Railway  now  extends  to  it.  Arizona  City, 
aituated  at  the  junction  of  the  Gila  and  Colorado,  population  In 
1870,  1,144,  "ow  estimated  at  about  1,600.  Prescott,  the  present 
capital,  which  had,  in  1870,  668  inhabitants,  has  now  about 
a,ooo.  It  is,  like  Tucson,  central  to  ft  fine  mining  country. 
Phoenix,  on  the  Rio  Salinas,  Is  a  thriving  and  growing  town, 
though  very  hot  in  summer.  Ehrcnburg,  on  the  Colorado,  Is  the 
chief  shipping  point  for  Central  Arizona,  Fkjrence,  Sanford, 
Mineral  Park,  Hardyvllle  and  Wickcnburg  are  also  places  of 
some  Importance. 

We  can  hardly  recommend  this  Territory  to  the  emigrant 


,1 


il 


Ml 


,i      ' 


if 


lii'  ■: 


1  SI       T. 


J 26  0£//f    IV£Sr£JtAf   F.MPIRR. 

farmer,  though  those  who  take  up  favorably  situated  lands  near 
the  mining  centres,  and  can  have  facilities  for  irrigation,  will 
imdoubtedly  do  well.  The  soil  when  irrigated  is  fertile  enough 
to  produce  any  crop.  The  stock-raiser  and  the  sheep-farmer 
will  fuid  excellent  grazing  lands  and  a  good  market  in  Arizona, 
nor  (vcept  in  the  extreme  north  or  the  southeast  need  they  have 
any  great  apprehension  of  Indian  raids.  Wild  beasts  certainly 
exist  there,  but  they  are  less  numerous  than  in  the  other  new 
Territories,  and  the  losses  from  them  will  not  be  large,  while  the 
profits  of  both  catde  and  sheep-raising  are  certain  and  speedy. 

But  mining  is  the  pursuit  in  which  Arizona,  like  the  adjacent 
Slate  of  Nevada,  is  likely  to  be  pre-eminent  Transportation  for 
mining  products  is  now  good  and  will  soon  be  better;  capital  is 
flowing  into  the  Territory.  The  Indians  have  ceased  to  be  trou- 
blesome in  Ihe  mining  districts,  and  wood  and  water,  two  indis- 
pensable requisites  for  successful  mining,  though  not  as  abundant 
as  desirable,  are  yet  to  be  had  and  without  excessive  cost;  while 
the  placers,  veins  and  lodes,  already  opened  or  now  opening,  indi- 
cate depo  iits  of  the  precious  metals,  richer  than  those  of  any 
other  State  or  Territory  in  the  West.  The  future  of  Arizona, 
after  long  years  of  waiting,  trial  and  disappointment,  seems  now 
to  be  assured.  It  has  purchased  this  right  to  a  futur*:  prosperity 
with  the  blood  of  some  of  its  best  citizens,  slain  eithr.*  by  the 
fierce,  treacherous  and  bloodthirsty  Apacht^s,  or  by  the  still  more 
bloodthirsty  and  reckless  outlaws,  who,  prior  to  its  territorial 
organization,  made  it  their  refuge  and  planned  and  executed 
there  the  most  gigantic  crimes.  But  they  have  now  been  driven 
from  the  Territory,  and  its  present  citizens  are  quiet,  peaceful 
and  law-abiding. 


yiif- 


GENERAL    JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


A  .;?;■/ 


ii 


.  No  description  of  "Our  Western  Empire"  would  have  any 
claims  to  completeness,  which  failed  to  do  justice  to  the  great  ser- 
vices rendered  to  almost  every  part  of  that  vast  region  by  Gen- 
eral Fremont.  His  fame  as  an  explorer,  resolute,  intrepid,  yet 
thoughtful  of  his  men,  successful,  notwithstanding  innumerable 
obstacles,  always  grappling  with  broad  principles,  yet  ever  mind- 
ful of  the  minutest  details,  has  become  world-wide,  and  the  title 


M^i 


tuated  lands  near 
or  irrigation,  will 
I  is  fertile  enough 
the  sheep-farmer 
larket  in  Arizona, 
St  need  they  have 
i  beasts  certainly 
in  the  other  new 
)e  large,  while  the 
:ain  and  speedy, 
like  the  adjacent 
rransportation  for 
better;  capital  is 
:eased  to  be  troii- 
water,  two  indis- 
1  not  as  abundant 
essive  cost;  while 
low  opening,  indi- 
lan  those  of  any 
iture  of  Arizona, 
ment,  seems  now 
future  prosperity 
ain  eithr.-  by  the 
by  the  still  more 
to  its  territorial 
2d  and  executed 
now  been  driven 
•e  qiiiet,  peaceful 


si    J 


would  have  any 
to  the  great  ser- 
t  region  by  Gen- 
lute,  intrepid,  yet 
irtg  innumerable 
s,  yet  ever  mind- 
de,  and  the  title 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  GENERAL    FREMONT.  ||jf 

of  the  "Pathfinder^  everywhere  bestowed  upon  him,  boars  t*lti- 
mony  to  the  universal  reco).Miition  of  his  great  yierits  in  the  way 
of  discovery  and  exploration.     But  his  executive  st;rvices  have 
not  been  less  conspicuous,  or  rendered  with  a  smaller  measure 
of  self-sacrifice.     He  has  devoted  his  life  to  the  Great  West;  in 
his  efforts  for  its  development,  he  has  lost  more  than  one  colossal 
fortune,  earned  by  the  most  extraordinary  labors,  but  has  never 
repined  over  his  losses,     A  man  of  impetuous  spirit,  of  great 
daring  and  unbounded  energy,  but  sensitive  and  delicate  as  a 
woman  in  regard  to  everything  which  concerned  his  honor,  he 
has  made  many  frientls  whom  he  has  bound  to  him  as  with  hooks 
of  steel,  and  has  also  had  some  enemies,  the  bitterness  of  whose 
hatred  seemed  almost  infernal  in  its  malignity.     But  he  has  out- 
lived the  host'lity  of  even  these  foes,  and  now  in  the  ripeness  of 
his  intellectual  faculties,  and  with  a  vigor  which  is  born  of  his 
long  outdoor  life,  he  is  devoting  his  great  powers  to  the  develop- 
ment of  that  one  of  the  Territories  of  "Our  Western  Empire," 
which  has  hitherto  been  considered  the  most  hopeless,  from  its 
arid  climate,  its  intense  heat,  and  the  violence  and  treachery  of 
the  Indian  tribes  which  roam  over  it.    And  in  this  great  effort  he  is 
likely  to  succeed.    He  has  won  the  confidence  of  most  of  die  tribes, 
and  led  them  forward  to  an  agricultural  and  quiet  life,  and  even 
the  savage  and  treacherous  Apaches  could  not  refuse  to  listen 
to  one  whom  they  had  known  for  thirty-five  years  as  the  bravest 
of  the  brave,  and  as  a  commander  w!  ;  hnd  severely  punished 
their  offences,  but  had  shown  a  magnanimity  in  his  treatment  of 
the  conquered,  which   far   exceeded   their  deserts.     In  all  the 
region  south  of  the  forty-nmth  parallel,  the  name  of  John  C. 
Fremont  is  honored  and  reverenced.     John  Charles  Fremont 
■was  born  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  January  21st,  18 13.     His  father  was 
a  Frenchman,  his  mother  a  Virginian.      He  was  educated  in 
Charleston  College,  graduating  with  honor  in  1830  at  the  age  of 
seventeen.     His  attainments  in  applied  mathematics  gained  him 
a  position  as  instructor  in  mathematics    in    the  United  States 
Navy  from  1833  to  1835.     He  accompanied  Captain  Williams, 
United  States  Army,  in  a  survey  of  the  Cherokee  country  in 
1837-8,  and  in  1838-9  assisted  Nicollet  in  exploring  the  country 


I] 


'.    h 


gjg  Ol/X    WESTEKiV   EMPtnS. 

between  the  Missouri  river  and  the  British  line.      While  thus 
engaged  he  w{^s  appointed  second  lieutenant  of  topographical 
engineers,  July  7th,  1838.     On  the   19th  of  October,   '.841,  he 
married   Jessie,    daughter    of    Hon.    Thomas    H.    Benton,   of 
Missouri.     In   May,  1842,  he  began,  under  the  authority  of  the, 
government,  the  exploration  of  an  overland  route  to  the  Pacific ; 
examined  the  South  Pass  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  ascended  in 
August  the  highest  peak  of  the  Wind  River  Mountains,  now 
called  Fremont's  Peak,  and  returning  late  in  the  autumn  of 
1842,  published  a  report  highly  commended  by  Humboldt  in  his 
"Aspects  of   Nature."     In    the    summer    of   1843,  in    another 
expedition,  he  explored  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  and  reached  Fort 
Vancouver,  near  the  mouth  of  Columbia  river,  in  November  of 
that  year.     Attempting  to  return  by  a  more  southern  route,  his 
progress  was  impeded  by  deep  snows,  and  his  party  suffered 
severely  from  hunger  and  ccld.    Changing  his  course  he  returned 
through  the  Great  Basin  and  the  South  Pass,  having  exhibited 
a  fortitude  and  daring  rarely  surpassed,  and  was  breveted  cap 
tain.  July  3i3t,  1844.     In  a  third  expedition  in  1845  ^^  explored 
the  Sierra  Nevada,  California,  etc.     In  March,  1846,  he  success- 
fully repelled  an  attack  by  .vlexicans  near  Monterey;  was  major 
commanding  battalion  of  California  volunteers,  July  to  November, 
1846;  was  appoIiiti.-d  lieutenant-colonel  of  mounted  rifles,  27th 
May,  1846  ;  was  aopointed  soon  after  Governor  of  California  by 
Commodore  Stockton,  whose  authority  was  disputed  by  General 
Stephen  Kearney.     Arrested  by  the  latter,  he  was  tried  by  a 
court-martial  and  found  guilty  of  mutiny  and  disobedience.    The 
finding  was  disapproved  by  the  President,  who  offered  him  a  full 
pardon.    This  he  declined,  and  resigned  his  commission.     In 
1848  he  undertook  a  new  expedition  across  the  continent.     His 
guide  lost  his  way,  and,  after  experiencing  ineredibi«  hardships, 
he  returned  v/ith  the  loss  of  one-third  of  his  patty  to  Santa  F^. 
Renewing  his  efforts  he  successfully  encoontered    the  hostile 
Apaches,  and  in  106  days  reached  the  Sacramento  river.     Ift 
1&49  he  settled  in  California,  having  purchased  the  aurifefous 
Mariposa  tract,  which  was  believed  to  be  worth  many  Aiillion^ 
of  dQllars.     In  hte  efforts  to  develop  this  somewhat  too  rapidly, 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  GENEItM.  tREMONT. 


529 


While  thus 
topographical 
ober,   1841,  he 
\.    Benton,   of 
ithority  of  the 
to  the  Pacific ; 
IS,  ascended  in 
lountains,  now 
he  autumn  of 
[umboldt  in  his 
^3,  in    another 
1  reached  Fort 
\  November  of 
:hern  route,  his 
party  suffered 
rse  he  returned 
,ving  exhibitefl 
J  breveted  cap 
45  he  explored 
46,  he  success 
•ey ;  was  major 
y  to  November, 
ted  rifles,  27  th 
)f  California  by 
ted  by  General 
vas  tried  by  a 
(bedience.    The 
fcred  him  a  full 
Dtnmis&ion.     In 
xjntlnent.     Hte 
libk  hardships, 
Iky  to  Santa  F^. 
ed   the  hostile 
snto  river.     Ift 
the  auriferous 
many  Ai»Uion& 
uit  too  rapidly, 


he  fell  into  the  hands  of  some  sharp  New  York  bankers,  who  by 
adroit  management  (for  in  financial  matters  he  was  as  open- 
hearted  and  simple  as  a  child)  contrived  to  deprive  him  of  the 
whole  of  this  magnificent  property.  He  had  previously  had  six 
years'  litigation  in  regard  to  it,  but  in  1855  the  Suprcimi;  Court 
of  the  United  States  confirmed  his  title.  But  during  all  this 
time  he  was  actively  engaged  in  the  service  of  his  country.  In 
1849  he  was  a  commissioner  to  run  the  boundary  line  bctwcti-n 
the  United  States  and  Mexico.  He  used  his  great  influence  to 
make  California  a  free  State,  when  the  struggle  betwc;»:n  the 
South  and  the  North,  in  regard  to  the  increase  of  the  slave  States, 
was  at  its  height.  In  1850-51  he  was  the  first  United  States 
Senator  from  California.  In  1850  he  received  from  the  King  of 
Prussia  a  gold  medal  in  token  of  his  great  services  to  science, 
and  the  same  year  the  great  gold  medal  of  the  Royal  Geographi- 
cal Society  of  London.  In  1853  he  led  at  his  own  expense  a 
fifth  expedition  across  the  continent,  and  succeeded  in  finding  a 
new  route  to  the  Pacific,  about  latitude  38"  north.  In  1856  the 
Republican  party,  then  recendy  organized,  made  him  its  nominee 
for  the  Presidency,  and  he  received  1 14  electoral  votes  against 
17,4  for  his  successful  competitor,  Mr.  Buchanan.  In  the  fall  of 
i860  he  visited  Europe,  where  he  was  received  with  great  honors. 
On  tlie  14th  of  May,  1861,  he  was  appointed  a  major-general  of 
the  United  States  army,  and  placed  in  command  of  the  Western 
District,  with  head-quarters  at  St.  Louis.  In  August  he  issued  an 
order  emancipating  the  slaves  of  those  wl^o  should  take  arms 
against  the  United  States.  This  order  was  annulled  by  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  as  premature.  Wt  commenced  a  vigorous  pursuit 
of  the  insurgents,  whom  he  had  finally  overtaken  at  Springfield, 
Mok,  when,  by  the  intrigues  of  other  commanders,  he  was  re- 
moved from  the  command,  November  2d,  1861.  Three  months 
later  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  an  army,  poorly 
equipped  apd  without  sufficient  supplies,  in  the  mountain  dis- 
trict of  ^^irginia,  where  he  was  directed  to  operate  against  the 
skillful  rebel  general,  Stonewall  Jackson.  His  operations  were 
unsuccessful,  mainly  from  the  want  of  efficient  support.  When 
General  Pope  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  army  of 


to 


vMf,H   :>jb  Vti  'V'fl^KV/  >i   r:J.f;{M.yJ  j/'.        '    MTtqift'l    (ri'.>l;r>  W  'U!'. 


»,f  I — 


ili 


if 


Ml 


M 


i   ^^: 


I    1 


1^  OUR    WESTE/lf/  EMPIRE,    '      ' 

Northern  Virginia,  General  Frdimont  declined  to  serve  under  an 
officer  whom  he  outranked,  and  resigned  his  commission.  But 
he  was  too  pure  a  patriot  to  refuse  his  aid  to  the  government, 
though  he  might  deem  them  slow  in  their  action,  and  his  purf.e 
and  influence  were  all  at  their  command.  In  May,  1864,  a 
portion  of  the  Republicar.  party,  dissatisfied  w':h  the  dilatoriness 
of  the  government,  nominated  General  Fremont  for  the  Presi- 
dency at  the  coming  election  in  November.  At  first  he  accepted, 
but  soon  perceiving  that  his  continued  candidacy  would  injure 
the  Republican  cause,  and  might  throw  the  power  into  the  hands 
of  its  enemies,  he  withdrew  and  supported  Mr.  Lincoln  cordially. 
For  some  years  after  the  close  of  the  war  he  took  no  part  in 
public  affairs,  but  prosecuted  with  great  energy  measures  for 
the  promotion  of  a  Southern  Transcontinental  Railway  to  follow 
nearly  the  line  of  the  thirty-fifth  parallel.  He  visited  Europe 
repeatedly  in  behalf  of  this  railway,  and  urged  a  land-grant  for 
it  with  every  prospect  of  success;  but  the  panic  of  1873  crushed 
the  enterprise  for  the  time,  and  disheartened  some  of  the  pro- 
moters of  it  in  France.  General  Fremont's  health  was  seriously 
impaired  for  some  years;  but,  on  his  partial  recovery,  he  was 
appointed  Governor  of  Arizona,  where  he  is  again  exerting  all 
his  energies  for  the  development  of  the  Great  West,  and  laying 
broad  and  deep  plans  for  turning  these  arid  deserts  into  a  fruit- 
ful field. 


^-.--i  i 


!U    -••    ,;!.J      j,. 


CHAPTER  II. 


ViY.V  s' 


-;.;:MiKt 


ARKANSAS. 


ic: 


:!r'ihJ.';l, 


'li'}h'' ■:.>:. 


Oil    ::U 


Uii^l< 


Its  Situation,  Area,  ExrfiNT— Topography — MouNTAms-  Rivbrs,  Lakes, 
Valleys — Navigable  Rivers  ani>  Railways — Soil — Climate — Rainfall- 
Minerals  and  Mineral  AND  Hot  Springs — Vegetation — Animals — Pro- 
ductions, Mineral,  Vegetable  and  Animal — Crops — Commerce — Popu^ 
lation — Origin  of  Fopulatson — Educat'  jn — Religious  Denominations — 
Manufactures — Exemptiot«s — Donateij  Lands — Views  of  Hon.  Charles 
S.  Keyser,  Hon.  David  Walker,  W.  A.  Webber,  Esq.,  and  Hon.  A.  H. 
Garland,  U.  S.  Senator,  on  the  History  and  Probable  Future  or 

'"ARKANSAS  and  Louisiana  form  the  southeastern  States  of 
"  Our  Western  Empire."     Arkansas  is  washed  by  the  waters  of 


serve  under  an 
nmission.  But 
c  government, 

and  his  purse 

May,  1864,  a 
the  dilatoriness 

for  the  Presi- 
st  he  accepted, 
y  would  injure 

into  the  hands 
ncoln  cordially, 
took  no  part  in 
'  measures  for 
lilway  to  follow 
visited  Europe 

land-grant  for 
f  1873  crushed 
me  of  the  pro- 
1  was  seriously 
covery,  he  was 
lin  exerting  all 
est,  and  laying 
rts  into  a  fruit- 

i  .■:  '  f  .:  '.-.^i  I 
..,.:)^rv,   ■    !,., 

:  Rivers,  Lakes, 
;ate — Rai  nfall— 
t — Animals — Pro- 
dommerce — popu' 
Denominations — 
OF  Hon.  Charles 
AND  Hon.  a.  H. 
•ABLE  Future  or 

ern  States  o( 
the  waters  of 


jijUt.  ,-i  iLawgyiwB 


■     ^ 


ill 


mi 


i 


III  I 


SURFACE  AtfD    TOPOCRAPHY  OF  ARKANSAS. 


531 


the  Mississippi  along  nenrly  all  of  its  eastern  boundary,  separat- 
injr  it  from  Tennessee,  ex':ept  for  the  space  of  one  county,  where 
it  has  the  St.  I'Vancis  river  for  its  eastern  bound,  and  Missouri 
claims  the  little  peninsula  between  the  St.  I'Vancis  and  the  Mis- 
sissippi rivers.  On  the  north,  it  is  bounded  by  Missouri ;  on  the 
south,  by  Louisiana,  and  on  the  west  by  Texas  and  the  Indian 
Territory.  It  lies  between  the  parallels  of  33°  and  36"  30'  north 
latitude,  and  between  the  meridians  of  89°  40'  and  94°  42'  west 
longitude  from  Greenwich.  Its  area  is  52,198  square  miles  or 
33,406,720  acres,  one-sixth  larger  than  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  about  the  same  size  as  England  without  Wales. 

Surface  and  Topography. — The  eastern  portion  of  the  State, 
from  30  to  100  miles  west  of  the  Mississippi,  is  generally  low, 
containing  many  lakes,  bayous  and  swamps,  and  is,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  some  of  the  more  elevated  bluffs,  subject  to  occasional 
inundation  from  the  Mississippi  river.  These  inundations,  though 
sufficiently  extensive  to  occasion  much  loss,  seldom  or  never 
cover  the  whole  of  these  lowlands,  which  rise  gradually  toward 
the  foot-hills  of  the  Ozark  range. 

The  land  rises  by  gradual  stages  from  this  low  valley  of  the 
Mississippi,  to  the  elevated  plateaux  of  the  central  part  of  the 
State,  as  well  as  to  the  Black  Hills  in  the  north,  and  Ouachita 
Hills  in  the  west.  But  the  principal  mountain  range  in  the  State 
is  the  Ozark,  which,  beginning  in  the  southwest,  trends  north- 
eastward  and  northward,  spreading  out  into  broad  table-lands 
with  narrow  and  deep  ravines,  and  occasionally  rising  into  higher 
summits,  though  of  no  great  height.  The  general  elevation  of 
these  table-lands  is  from  1,500  to  2,000  feet,  and  some  of  the 
rounded  knobs  may  rise  from  500  to  800  feet  higher.  The  hills 
of  this  range  have  distinct  local  names,  such  as  Pea  Ridge  and 
Boston  Mountains  (both  famous  during  the  late  civil  war),  north 
of  the  Arkansas  river,  and  Massime  Mountains  south  of  that 
river.  The  line  of  the  .St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  .Southern 
Railway,  which  crosses  the  State  diagonally  from  northeast  to 
southwest,  nearly  marks  the  line  of  division  of  the  higher  forest 
and  mineral  lands  from  the  plain,  prairie  and  lowlands  in  the 
east  and  southeast  of  the  State.     Large   deposits  of  valuable 


ir.-*^ 


''ilii:' 


'ill*! 


}|j  Ot/Jf    tVESTRXAf  MMr/X/i. 

minerals  arc  found  in  the  northern  division.  The  mountains,  table- 
Inndn  and  valleys  of  this  division  present  generally  a  rich  surface, 
good  drainage,  rumaiuic  and  picturesque  scenery,  and  a  produc- 
tiveness remarkable  fur  the  formations  and  latitude.  I'lic  south- 
ern, southeastern  and  eastern  divisions  have  rich  tertiary,  post- 
tertiary  and  alluvial  deposits  which  are  not  excelled  in  fertility 
by  any  lanil  on  the  globe.  Exempt  alike  from  the  intense  heat 
of  the  extri:me  south,  and  the  severe  cold  of  the  north,  the  genial 
climate  and  fertile  .soil  of  the  State  yield  in  abundance  the  rich 
production?;  of  both  regions.  The  rich  bottom-lands  will  pro- 
duce, under  favorable  conditions,  from  fifty  to  sixty  bushels  of 
Indian  corn,  and  about  450  pounds  of  cotton  per  acre,  which  is 
considered  a  fair  average  crop.  With  better  and  more  carefid 
culture,  they  are  capable  of  greatly  exceeding  this  average,  and 
in  some  instances  do  exceed  it. 

Rivers, — Arkansas  is  abundantly  supplied  with  navigable 
rivers,  so  distributed  as  to  give  access  interiorly  to  all  parts  of 
the  State.  The  great  boundary  on  the  east  is  formed  by  the 
mighty  Mississippi.  The  St.  Francis  on  the  northeast,  which 
rises  in  southeastern  Missouri  and  flows  tlirough  the  low,  un- 
dulating portions  of  the  northeast,  where  it  intermingles  widi 
lakes,  creeks  and  paludal  surfaces,  is  a  tributary  of  the  Mississippi. 
it  IS  navigable  to  and  beyond  the  Missouri  line. 

The  White  river  rises  in  northwestern  Arkansas,  flows 
through  the  lower  southwestern  counties  of  Missouri,  and  returns 
to  the  .State,  joining  its  affluent,  the  Black  river,  which  affords, 
from  the  confluence,  almost  at  all  seasons,  navigation  for  a  dis- 
tance of  350  miles.  White  river,  with  Its  tributaries,  gives  drain- 
age for  a  broad  expanse  of  country  from  the  northwestern,  mid- 
41,^  and  northeastern  parts  of  the  northern  section  of  the  State. 

The  Arkansas  river,  one  of  the  largest  fributaries  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, riseij  in  the  mountains  of  Colorado,  and  flows  easterly 
for  a  distance  of  2,000  miles  to  join  the  Mississippi.  White  river 
is  an  affluent,  flowing  into  it  near  its  mouth.  The  Arkansas 
river  bisects  and  drains  this  vast  country ;  it  is  navigable  entirely 
across  the  State,  and,  during  high  water,  beyond  it,  far  up  into 
the  Indian  Territory.     The  Ouachita,  with  its  tributaries,  drains 


:.^iiti^miiam 


)unta!ns,  taUle- 
a  ricli  surface, 
and  a  produc- 
i.  The  south- 
I  tertiary,  post- 
led  in  fertility 
e  intense  luai 
jrth,  tlie  genial 
LJance  the  rich 
ands  will  pro- 
icty  bushels  of 
acre,  which  is 
i  more  careful 
!»  average,  and 

/vlth  navigable 
to  all  parts  of 
formed  by  the 
^rtlieast,  which 
rh  the  low,  un- 
erminglcs  widi 
the  Mississippi. 

ifkansas,   flows 
•uri,  and  returns 
■,  which  affords, 
ition  for  a  tils 
ies.  gives  drain- 
thwestern,  mid 
n  of  the  State.;,, 
ries  of  the  Mis- 
l  flows  easterly 
jj.    White  river 
The  Arkansas 
ivigable  entirely 
i  it,  far  up  into 
ibutaries,  drains 


Jf/yjAS  /AT  AKKAmAS. 


533 


almost  the  entire  State  lying  south  of  the  Arkansas  river,  or  all 
liiat  surface  lying  between  it  and  the  Red  river.  It  is  navigable 
250  miles.  The  Red  river  is  tlu;  southwestern  channel  of  drain- 
age, and  is  navigable  throughout  its  course  in  the  .State,  a  distance 
of  about  luo  miles. 

Black  river  rises  in  Southeastern  Missouri  and  crosses  five 
counties,  discharging  its  waters  into  the  White  river.  It  is  navi- 
gable from  its  mouth  to  the  Missouri  line. 

Saline  river  rises  in  .Saline  county,  and,  after  passing  through 
six  counties,  discharges  into  the  Ouachita  in  Union  county.  It 
is  navigable  for  icxd  miles. 

Bayou  Bartholomew,  another  tributary  of  the  Ouachita,  is 
navigable  in  the  State  for  about  150  miles. 

The  Little  river,  an  afifluent  of  the  Red  river,  and  the  Little 
Red  river,  an  affluent  of  the  White  river,  are  both  navigable  for 
from  fifty  to  seventy-five  miles  for  six  months  of  the  year. 

The  Petit  Jean,  a  tributary  of  the  Arkansas,  is  navigable  for 
about  seventy-five  miles. 

Several  smaller  streams,  such  as  the  Cach^,  Dorcheat,  L'Aigu- 
ille  and  Antoine,  are  navigable  a  part  of  the  year. 

Nearly  every  county  in  the  State  is  traversed  by  one  or  more 
of  these  navigable  streams,  which,  with  their  branches,  form  a 
navigable  highway  within  the  State  of  more  than  3,000  miles, 
and  secure  nn  abundant  supply  of  water  to  every  county. 

Most  of  these  streams  have  their  sources  in  springs  in  the 
hills  or  mountains,  and  furnish  abundant  and  permanent  water 
power  for  manufacturing  purposes.  Of  one  of  these  springs,  the 
fountain-head  of  Spring  river,  a  clear,  limpid  stream  which  flows 
through  Fulton,  .Sharp  and  Randolph  counties,  emptying  into 
Black  river,  Professor  D.  D.  Owen,  in  his  Geological  Recon- 
noissance  of  Arkansas,  thus  speaks : 

"The  country  is  well  watered,  and  possesses  many  fine  water- 
[)owers — even  at  the  verv  fountain-head  of  some  of  its  numerous 
limpid  calcareous  streams,  which  frequently  burst  forth  from 
among  the  ledges  of  rock.  One  of  the  most  remarkable  of  these 
forms  the  fountain-head  of  the  main  fork  of  Spring  river,  known 
as  the  '  Mammoth  Spring,'  in  Fulton  county,  welling  up  on  the 


:r 


IJ4  OUR  H^Esm/i/f  a  Ml'/ fig. 

Romh  side  ol  a  low,  rocky  ridgf,  from  a  suhmergf^Hl  abyM 
beneath  '.A  sixt)  four  It;*'!,  aiul  constiuitinjr,  at  its  very  source,  a 
rcH|)ci.tal)l«'  lake  of  about  (Mic-hixtefnlh  of  a  mile  l.om  north  to 
Huuth,  and  one-fifth  to  unc-s>ixth  of  that  dli»taticc  from  cat^t  to 
west.  -,     , 

"  It  is  said  by  those  who  have  sounded  th<!  bottom,  that  there 
ar<;  large  cavities  and  creviceB  in  the  rock,  and  that  the  main 
f)Otly  of  the  water  issues  from  a  lar^^e  cavernous  opening,  of 
Kome  forty  yards  \n  circumf<;r»nc<-.  It  has  been  estimateil  that 
it  boils  up  at  tlu;  rat'"  of  about  8,(XX3  barrels  per  minute ;  die 
correctness  of  this  estimate  we  had  no  means  of  verifyinj;,  but  it 
may  be  safely  estimated  that  the  av«;raj;e  constant  flow  woulil  be 
at  least  sufficient  to  pro|)el  from  twelve  to  filt''en  run  of  stones. 

"The  uniform  temperature  (60"  I'ahrenheit)  and  composition 
of  the  water  is  peculiarly  congenial  to  the  growth  of  a  variety  of 
cryi'togamic,  aquatic  plants,  possessing  highly  nutritive  qualities, 
both  for  herbivorous  animals  and  birds. 

"In  the  early  settlement  of  the  country,  herds  of  herbivorous 
wild  animals  travelled  from  great  distances  to  this  fountain  for 
both  food  and  water,  as  well  as  llocks  of  wild  fowl.  Now  the 
cattle  of  the  neighboring  farms  may  be  seen  wading  in  its  waters 
up  to  their  middle,  and  browsinj.^  on  the  herbage,  which  appears 
peculiarly  congenial  to  their  tastes;  it  is,  also,  a  general  resort 
of  geese,  ducks  and  other  aquatic  birds.  It  affords  valuable 
water-power  for  general  manufacturing  purposes." 

In  addition  to  her  water-courses,  Arkansas  is  reasonably  well 
supplied  with  railways,  which  are  uein<r  extended  so  as  to 
embrace  every  section  of  the  State.      Ii     a   m ''  I     f  '    «!  t  1  ;,! 

The  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  Southern  road  runs 
diagonally  across  the  State,  a  distance  of  300  miles,  rriaking  con- 
nections with  roads  east  and  west.  This  is  a  land-grant  roaJ, 
holding  nearly  a  million  and  a  quarter  acres  of  choice  lands  in 
this  State  which  it  offers  to  immigrants  at  very  low  rates,  and  by 
its  enterprise  lias  attracted  many  immigrants  to  the  State.  As 
a  general  rule  an  immigrant,  in  this  State  particularly,  will  do 
better  to  buy  of  the  State  or  United  vStates  government,  tb(* 
lands  he  needs ;  but  if,  for  any  cause,  he  prefers  to  buy  of  a  rail' 


5  very  source.  ;i 
e  iroin  north  to 
:e  from  ciit>t  to 


ttom,  tliat  thf^rr 
I  that  thr  main 
JUS  opening,  of 
I  c-stirnatfci  th.it 
)er  ininulf ;  ilu* 
verifyinj;,  but  it 
It  How  would  be 
I  run  of  stones, 
mil  composition 
h  of  a  variety  of 
itritive  quahties, 

of  herbivorous 
ihis  fountain  for 
fowl.  Now  the 
iny^  in  its  waters 
;,  which  appears 
1  general  resort 
affordb  valuable 

It 

reasonably  well 
nded    so   as  to 

lern  road  runs 
les,  making  con- 
land-grant  roati, 
choice  lands  in 
5w  rates,  and  by 
•  the  State.  As 
ticularly,  will  do 
government,  the 
to  buy  of  a  rail' 


yS  AV  AKK'AJsrSAS. 


%i% 


road  compn  iy,  he  will  find  the  St,  I  ouin,  Iron  Mountjiin  and 
Southrrn  Ra  Iway  will  treat  him  fairly  and  honorably,  as  will  the 
other  land-grant  railways  alno. 

The  Memphis  and  Little  Rock  road  extends  from  the  cajiital 
Id  Memphis.  i 

The  Little  Rock  and  Fort  SmitI  road  is  running  a  distance  of 
168  mil-s,  up  the  valley  ol  Arkansas,  to  the  hulian  bortler. 

The  Little  Rock,  Line  Bluft  and  New  Orleans  roail  is  com 
pleteii  and  running  a  distar  -  e  of  eighty  miles,  from  Pine  LJIuff  to 
Arkansas  City,  on  the  Mi  sissippi  river.     A  survey  has  recently 
been  made  of  the  gap  bciween  this  city  and  Pine  lilufi,  which 
will  soon  be  built.  ..  r 

The  Mississippi,  Ouachita  and  Reel  River  road  is  completed, 
a  distance  of  about  thirty  miles  west  from  Chicot. 

The  Arkansas  Central  (narrow-gauge)  is  complefmi  a  distance 
of  about  sixty  miles,  and  runs  trains  regnlarl\  l>etween  Claren- 
don on  While  river,  and  Helena  01*  the  Mi  iiii,.s4ppi. 

A  narrow-gauge  road  is  in  opcralioi.  Uitween  Malvern,  a 
point  on  the  S<t.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  Southern  Railway, 
and  the  famous  Hot  Sj)rings,  thus  giving  the  (^utsldt;  world  a 
continuous  line  of  railway  to  the  Springs.  i. 

Climate  and  Rain/all. — 'Ihc  climate  of  Arkansas,  except  in 
the  lowlands  near  the  Mississippi,  is  better  entitled  to  be  called 
temperate  than  perhapfi  any  other  in  the  United  Staters.  The 
streams  are  not  closed  by  ic»  in  the  wint -r,  nor  is  the  earth 
parched  by  drought  in  summer.  The  two  points  most  character- 
istic o{  the  climate  of  the  State  are  Little  .'lock,  the  capital,  for 
the  moderately  ekvated  table-lands,  and  Hopefield,  opposite 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  for  the  lowlands.  In  Litde  Rock  the 
mean  annual  temperature  for  a  series  of  years  is  62°.66  luihrcn- 
heit ;  the  highest  pointv  generally  reached  in  August  or  Septem* 
ber,  and  for  not  more  tlian  one  or  two  days,  96° ;  the  lowest, 
generally  reached  in  December,  or  more  rarely  in  January,  4'; 
the  annual  range,  92".  The  average  rainfall  is  from  fifty-tive  to 
sixty  inches  annually.  In  the  more  mountainous  region  in  the 
northern  and  northwestern  part  of  the  State  the  mean  annual 
temperature  is  about  60°  Fahrenheit,  and  the  rainfall  a  trifle  less 
than  at  Litde  Rock. 


mm 


'(. 


fi 

)\ 

, 

I;! 

|| 

■K 

' 

1 

' 

t 

I 

' 

■  n 

i^4 


At  Vlnprfirld  thr  hmt  of  the  hot  month*  is  longer  continn(>(i 
though  but  littir  hiy;hrr. 

Tin*  avrra^jr  maximum  t»*m|M'ratiirr.  which  U  rrarhrtl  j>rr. 
hapM  on  twrlvr  or  hftrcn  dayn  of  th<*  xummcr,  Is  98"  I'ahrrnhrit. 
In  exceptionally  hot  Hiimmcrs  it  may  rinc?  to  101  ".5,  but  not  for 
more  than  one  or  two  tlayn.  The  nu'an  of  the  Hummer  months 
is  8 1  ".4.  The  avera^je  minimum  is  9",  risinjj;  some  years  to  17", 
and  at  others  sinking'  to  a".  The  mean  temperature  of  the  year 
is  6c>".6.      The  averaj^c  rainfall  63.42  inches. 

Mon.  John  R.  Makin,  Chancellor  of  the  I'ulaski  Chancfry 
Court,  an  eminent  afrriculturist  and  author  of  a  treatise  m  vini- 
culture, speaking'  in  that  work  of  a  peculiarity  in  the  cluiiato  of 
Central  Arkansas,  says: 

"  In  the  ICastern  and  Northwestern  States,  they  all  try  to 
avoid  a  northern  exposure.  Our  country  is  somewhat  differently 
situated,  especially  that  portion  lyin^  west  of  the  Ouachita  anf| 
between  the  moimtain  ranges  south  of  the  Arkansas.  It  may 
be  well  to  dwell  on  this  a  little.  This  section  of  country,  and 
also  that  north  of  the  Arkansas  river  for  a  considerable  distance, 
is  the  only  part  of  the  United  States  protected  a^i^ainst  violent 
winds.  The  mountains  which  shield  it  ranj^e  east  and  west. 
The  Blue  Ritljije,  Allejjheny,  and  Cumberland  Mountains  run  in 
a  north  and  south  direction,  and,  except  in  sheltered  nooks  pro- 
tected by  spurs,  the  winds  rush  down  on  each  side  of  them  from 
Labrador  and  Hudson's  Bay.  The  same  is  the  case  with  the 
northern  portion  of  Missouri,  with  Ohio,  Illinois,  and  Indiana, 
and  on  down  the  Mississippi  and  the  Southern  States  east  of 
the  river.  These  north  winds  art;  very  sudden  and  destructive, 
bringing,  in  twenty-four  hours,  the  climate  of  the  frigid  zone — 
throwing  aguinst  vegetation  the  identical  air  that  was  but  yes- 
terday on  an  iceberg.  This  influence  is  greatly  modified  with 
us.  These  hills,  to  our  north,  perform  the  same  office  which  the 
Alps  do  to  Italy.  This,  as  to  climate,  is  the  Italy  of  tlie  United 
States."     :  rno  I't  ,  i  ".yju   ■   ■••  ir-y.-i;    m;  T     .'■<.,»  ■^'■fu  ;  l<.,t...>.  ■     < 

Sudden  changes  in  the  climate  are  less  frequent  than  in  the 
Eastern  and  Western  States.  All  evidence  demonstrates  that 
there  is  not,  on  this  continent,  any  locality  supei^or  to  this  region 


•ntj^rr  continued, 

in  rcachfd  (»#»r. 
98*  l'ahrrnlu;it 
".5,  hut  not  for 
lummcr  inonthn 
nc  y«*arn  to  1 7", 
kturc  of  the  year 

iliinki  Chanrrry 
irrntiHc  <>n  vini- 
1  the  clunatu  of 

th<*y  all  try  to 
•what  differently 
u:  Ouachita  anrl 
kanHas.  it  may 
of  country,  and 
Jcrablc  distance, 
I  ajjainst  violent 

cast  and  west, 
lountainn  run  in 
ercd  nooks  pro- 
de  of  them  from 
jc  case  with  the 
lis,  and  Indiana, 
1  States  east  of 
and  destructive, 
le  frigid  zon*! — 
»at  was  but  yes- 
tly  modified  with 
!  office  which  the 
ly  of  the  United 

[uent  than  in  the 
smonstrates  that 
ior  to  this  region 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREiT 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)872-4503 


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11^ 


AUKAlVS.iS  .IS  A  HEALTH   RESORT. 


537 


for  the  equable  character  of  its  climate  and  its  freedom  from  sud- 
den changes  and  violent  winds.   '  '  •    I       ; 

In  this  connection  it  should  be  said  that  Arkansas,  and  espe- 
cially this  central  region,  has  a  deservedly  high  reputation  for 
the  relief  of  pulmonary  diseases.  It  strongly  resembles  that  of 
Mentone  and  Pau  in  the  south  of  France.  The  tables  of  vital 
statistics  of  the  census  of  1870  showed  that  no  part  of  the 
United  States  was  so  favorable  for  consumptives  as  this,  and 
partly  no  doubt  for  the  reason  which  Chancellor  Eakin  has 
stated.  The  air,  though  mild  and  not  subject  to  sudden  charges, 
is  not  sufficiently  hot  to  be  relaxing,  and  respiration  is  not  so 
difficult  as  in  the  thinner  air  of  the  elevated  plateaux  of  Colorado 
and  New  Mexico.  The  difference  may  be  stated  in  another 
way:  the  invalid  who  goes  to  Colorado  may  recover  his  health 
partly  or  wholly,  but  he  must  stay  there.  If  he  attempts  to 
return  Hast  after  one  or  two  years  the  disease  returns  and 
.•jpeedily  proves  fatal.  In  Arkansas,  on  the  contrary,  the  process 
of  cure  is  radical,  and  the  invalid,  after  one  or  two  years,  may 
leturn  to  the  East  without  fear  of  the  recurrence  of  the  disease. 

Minerals  and  Mineral  and  Hot  vS^;V«fj.— Arkansas  has  a 
great  variety  of  mineral  deposits,  most  of  them  of  excellent 
quality  and  apparently  of  unlimited  abundance.  First  in  econ- 
omic importance  are  its  immense  beds  of  coal.  The  Arkansas 
coal-fields  have  an  estimated  area  of  1 2,cxx)  square  miles,  wholly, 
so  far  as  known  at  present,  in  the  valley  of  the  Arkansas  river, 
though  the  carboniferous  basin  may  prove  to  extend  southward 
beyond  that  valley.  The  Arkansas  river  runs  for  more  than 
150  miles  through  this  coal  formation.  The  counties  of  Wash- 
ington, Crawford,  Sebastian,  Franklin,  Scott,  Logan,  Johnson, 
Yell,  Pope,  Perry,  Conway,  White,  and  Pulaski,  are  almost  en- 
tirely situated  in  this  coal  basin.  The  veins  vary  from  one  to 
nine  feet  in  thickness,  though  most  of  those  which  have  been 
worked  are  from  four  to  nine  feet  thick.  It  is  found  at  from  six 
to  fifty  feet  billow  the  surface.  The  coal  is  similar  in  structure 
and  appearance  to  the  Cumberland  coal  of  Maryland,  and  an- 
alysis, as  well  as  use,  demonstrates  its  practical  identity  in  quality 
with  tliat  well-known  coal.     It  proves  to  be  an  excellent  steam* 


51 


.'ill 


c-g  OUR    WESTERN   EMPIRE.  ^ 

producing  and  manufacturing  coal,  and  commands  a  high  price 
for  both  purposes.  Mines  have  been  opened  and  are  now  in 
successful  operation  near  Russellville  and  Ouita  in  Pope  county, 
at  Spadia,  and  at  Horsehead,  in  Johnson  county,  and  at  several 
points  in  Sebastian  and  other  counties.  The  coal  has  been  used 
freely  in  Little  Rock,  St.  Louis,  Memphis,  and  New  Orleans,  and 
wherever  tested  it  sells  readily  at  a  higher  price  than  any  other 
coal  in  the  market.  Inexhaustible  deposits  of  hajmatite  and 
other  iron  ores  are  found  in  close  proximity  to  these  coal-beds, 
and  limestone  of  the  best  kinds  for  fluxing  purposes  and  heavy 
forests  of  hard  wood  for  charcoal  are  close  by.  Large  and 
never- failing  water-powers  are  contiguous  to  these  coal  and  iron 
deposits.  In  the  present  demand  for  iron  and  steel,  Arkansas 
offers  extraordinary  facilities  for  its  successful  manufacture. 

Several  zinc  mines  have  been  opened  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  State,  principally  in  Lawrence  and  Sharp  counties — which 
are  as  rich  in  every  respect  as  any  in  the  Union.  Lead  and 
silver  are  abundant,  and  several  mines  are  now  being  profitably 
worked.  Notable  among  these  are  the  Kellogg  mine,  eleven 
miles  north  of  Little  Rock,  two  mines  in  Sevier,  one  in  Mont- 
gomery, another  in  Boone,  and  perhaps  others.  These  mines 
are  sufficiendy  rich  in  silver  (argentiferous  galena  ores,  yielding 
about  fifty  ounces  of  silver  to  the  ton)  to  leave  the  lead  as  a  clear 
profit,  after  paying  all  expenses  of  mining,  smelting,  etc. 

There  are  extensive  caves  of  nitre  and  nitrous  earth  in  New- 
ton and  other  northern  counties  of  the  State,  from  which  large 
quantities  of  powder  were  manufactured  and  used  by  the  Con- 
federates during  the  recent  war. 

There  are  also  numerous  salt  springs — some  of  which  are 
being  profitably  worked,  notably  one  near  Arkadelphia,  which 
supplied  salt  for  the  entire  army  of  Arkansas  during  its  occupa- 
tion by  the  Confederates  in  1862-3.  ;;J  iih  f»s   !  .  5    >f!,f! 

Valuable  mines  of  copper  have  been  discovered  in  Montgomery 
and  other  counties,  though  no  efforts  have  been  made  to  work 

them.      ■  ,l^i<«"/i*--iA    V>   U.- <i    „;;i. ;,.;-.,,;;,-    '    .'^-j  !ii     ;...;-!, ,.-. 

The  mangaineB€  depdstti  ai»e  of  CdASldfeikble  eJtte^t  artd  rich- 
ness. 


-i^*-/»»'*»W**»"'*-'  *'  * 


8  a  high  price 
nd  arc  now  in 

Pope  county, 
and  at  several 
has  been  used 
V  Orleans,  and 
than  any  other 

hxmatite  and 
ese  coal-beds, 
ses  and  heavy 
Large  and 
:  coal  and  iron 
teel,  Arkansas 
lufacture. 
rthern  part  of 
>unties — which 
>n.  Lead  and 
eing  profitably 
y  mine,  eleven 
;  one  in  Mont- 

These  mines 
I  ores,  yielding 
lead  as  a  clear 
ig,  etc.  •-''•  \n<y> 
earth  in  New- 
•m  which  large 
d  by  the  Con- 

of  which  are 
idelphia,  which 
ing  lis  occupa- 

n  Montgomery 
made  to  work 

ctent  and  rich- 


^ 


UlNEKALS  OF  ARKANSAS.  jjp 

The  novaculite  or  whetstone  quarries  near  Hot  Springs  furnish 
a  rock  which  has  gained  almost  z  world-wide  fame,  and  its  supply 
is  inexhaustible. 

Marble  of  superior  quality  and  in  exhaustless  quantities  has 
been  discovered  in  Uoone  and  Newton  counties,  a  block  of  which 
has  been  placed  in  the  Washington  Monument, 

Gypsum,  kaolin,  slate,  limestone,  granite,  marl,  chrome  and 
other  minerals  for  use  as  mineral  paints,  are  among  the  economic 
minerals  found  in  large  quantities  in  the  State,  but  few  of  them 
are  as  yet  mined  or  quarried  to  any  great  extent. 

Dr.  Lawrence,  of  Hot  Springs,  contributed  to  the  Centennial 
Exposition  a  collection  of  minerals,  mostly  from  Magnet  Cave, 
Hot  Springs  county,  among  which  were  manganite,  or  black 
oxide  of  manganese ;  melanite,  or  crystallized  black  garnets ; 
green,  yellow  and  black  mica ;  crystallized  schorlamites ;  quartz 
crystallized  ;  crystals  of  Perofskite,  hornblende,  elaeolite,  epidote, 
strontianite,  Shepardite,  Lydian  stone  or  touchstone,  agate,  hydro- 
titantte,  titanic  iron,  sulphur  from  iron  pyrites,  talc,  rutite,  isolated 
and  in  quartz  ;  rose,  smoky  and  milky  quartz,  chert,  burrstone ; 
the  hornblendes,  novaculite,  quartzite,  syenite  and  granite. 

The  Hot  Springs  of  Arkansas  are  situated  in  Hot  Springs 
county,  about  sixty  miles  southwest  from  Little  Rock.  A  narrow 
gauge  railroad,  twenty-five  miles  in  length,  now  conveys  passen- 
gers directly  to  the  springs  from  Malvern  Junction,  on  the  St. 
Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  Southern  Railway.  The  springs,  now 
sixty-six  in  number,  are  in  a  wild,  mountainous  region,  issuing 
from  the  western  slope  of  a  spur  of  the  Ozark  range,  at  an  eleva- 
tion of  about  1,400  feet  above  the  sea-level,  and  range  in  tem- 
perature from  93°  to  1 50°  Fahr.  They  discharge  over  500,000 
gallons  of  water  daily,  sufficient  in  quantity  to  accommodate,  with 
delightful  bathing,  10,000  bathers  every  day  in  the  year.  These 
natural  earth-heated  waters  hold  in  solution  valuable  mineral 
Constituents.  Clear,  tasteless,  inodorous,  they  pour  forth  from 
the  novaculite  ridge  as  pure  and  sparkling  as  the  pellucid  Neva; 
The  various  springs  are  qualitatively  allied,  not  holding  in  solu- 
tion or  freighted  with  too  many  mineral  constituents,  and  they 
are  free  from  all  noxious  gases.    It  is  believed  that  the  proper* 


,.:f„>;#3®-"> ' 


540 


OUR    WESTERN   EMPfRE. 


ties  of  the  waters,  especially  in  the  treatment  of  chronic  tliseases, 
anri  particularly  chronic  rheumatism,  scrofula,  etc.,  are  uneciualled. 
There  are  no  springs  known  of  superior  value,  or  that  can  com- 
pare with  the  Hot  Springs  of  Arkansas,  as  adjuncts  in  the  treat- 
ment of  that  class  of  chronic  diseases.  The  advantages  of  the 
climate  throughout  the  entire  year,  the  pure,  rarefied  mountain 
air.  the  delightful  waters,  all  make  these  springs  one  of  the  most 
delightful  resorts  for  invalids  in  the  United  States. 

Within  from  seven  to  twelve  miles  of  Hot  Springs  are  other 
springs.' sulphurous  and  chalybeate,  but  not  hot,  to  which  many 
of  the  physicians  order  their  patients  after  two  or  three  courses 
of  the  Hot  Springs  treatment,  and  the  change  greatly  facilitates 
their  recovery.  The  Hot  Springs  waters  are  not  only  used  for 
bathing  and  for  hot  vapor  baths,  but  the  v/ater  is  drank  in  large 
quantities,  as  hot  as  it  can  be  borne,  and  with  great  benefit. 
There  are  about  6,000  inhabitants  In  Hot  Springs  City,  and  it  is 
said  that  xo.cxx)  or  more  invalids  annually  avail  themselves  of  its 
baths  and  healing  medicinal  waters.^     i.aii-M  mvii  m,;;  ;ii  -f;  :  ;iu 

Numerous  analyses  of  the  waters,  which  vary  but  slightly  in 
their  contents,  though  materially  in  their  temperature,  show  that 
among  the  solid  constituents  of  a  gallon  of  the  water  are  found 
the  following: 

Alumina  with  Oxide  6(  Iron, 
Oxide  of  Manganese, 
Sulphate  of  Lime,? 

*Arsehiate  of  Lime.? 

♦Arseniate  of  Iron,? 


Silicates  with  base^ 
Bicarbonate  of  Lime, 
Bicarbonate  of  Magnesia, 
Carbonate  of  Soda, 
Carbonate  of  Potassa, 
Carbonate  of  Lithia, 
Sulphate  of  Magnesia, 


w'O.. 


*Bromme,  ^ 

lodme,  a  trace,     ; 


Chloride  of  Magnesia, '"  •       Organic  matter,  a  trace.     :   !'.  , 

The  city  of  Hot  Springs  is  in  a  deep  ravine,  and  the  springs 
issue  from  the  slopes  of  the  mountains  on  either  side — those 
on  one  side  being  of  much  higher  temperature  than  those  on 
the  other.     The  city  consists  of  one  very  long  and  not  very 


*  These  salts  and  elements  were  in  very  minute  quantity  in  any  of  the  walei-s,  and  were  nol 
found  at  all  in  some  of  those  cKamined.      .1  •       ;^  .•1,  •  .".rn  lij,  i.i     .. 


i:  I 


tesaawuwiweM*'''*-*^" 


ronic  disrases, 
iK?  unof|iialled. 
that  can  com- 
ts  in  the  treat- 
intages  of  the 
fied  mountain 
ne  of  the  most 

njjs  arc  other 
o  which  many 

three  courses 
eatly  facilitates 

only  used  for 

drank  in  large 

great  benefit. 

City,  and  it  is 

emselves  of  its 

but  sh'ghtly  in 
ture,  show  that 
rater  are  found 

cide  of  Iron, 
nese. 


!  ;<ri     ' 


;o, ! 


e, 


p     i,     f-    ■■VJV;-. 


».? 


,",-.' 


\tfii    , '  •  ' 

1  trace.        " 

nd  the  springs 
sr  side — those 
than  those  on 
and  not  very 

watei-s,  and  were  nol 


A0/l/iS7S  AND    VKGETAriON  OF  AKKANSA5.  |^| 

wide  street,  with  short  streets  running  up  the  hills  on  cither 
side.  It  has  almost  as  many  hotels,  boarding  houses,  hospitals 
and  private  dwellings,  and  quite  as  many  physicians  of  all  sorts, 
as  there  are  patients.  Ihe  hills  in  the  vicinity  are  occupied 
very  largely  by  small  farmers  of  the  class  known  in  the  South  as 
"  poor  whites,"  who  cultivate  a  little  corn,  a  few  potatoes,  and 
keep  a  few  swine,  and  a  considerable  number  of  fowls,  and  who 
in  their  indolent  and  rude  way,  succeed  in  eking  out  a  bare 
subsistence.  The  whole  region  containing  the  springs  has  long 
been  in  litigation,  and  within  one  or  two  years  has  been  decided 
to  be  the  property  of  the  United  States.  Provision  has  been 
made,  in  a  rough  way,  to  extend  the  benefits  of  the  springs  to  the 
very  poor  without  compensation,  and  many  of  these  are  now 
availing  themselves  of  this  privilege.  •  ,  i  f'  . 
.  uVe<;eiation, — The  area  oi  woodland  in  Arkansas  in  1877,  wa-s 
16,815,037  acres,  just  about  one-half  of  its  entire  surface.  The 
rapid  progress  of  railroads  in  the  State  and  adjacent  States  and 
the  demands  for  shipment,  lumber  and  manufactures  may  have 
s'ightly  decreased  this  amount  within  the  past  three  years,  but 
Arkansas  still  possesses  a  larger  proportion  of  timber  lands  than 
any  other  State  or  Territory  of  "  Our  Western  Empire."  And  a 
very  large  proportion  of  her  t  mber  is  of  the  very  best  quality, 
much  of  it  the  best  of  the  hard  woods,  and  pines  of  gigantic 
growth.  At  the  Centennial  Exposition  in  Philadelphia,  fifty 
species  of  forest  trees  were  exhibited  (and  these  did  not  nearly 
exhaust  the  entire  number  found  in  her  forests) ;  these  included 
thirteen  species  oif  oak,  varying  In  diameter  from  twenty-one  to 
fifty  inches  ;  two  species  of  pine,  thirty-six  inches  through ;  black 
walnuts,  forty-'two  inches  in  diameter ;  hickory  of  three  species, 
thirty-five  to  thirty-nine  inches  through ;  a  cottonwood,  eighty- 
four  inches,  and  sycampr^s,  sixty  inches ;  red  elm,  sixty-three 
inches ;  maple,  two  species,,  the  ^ugar  and  the  curled,  twenty-six 
inches;  three  species  of  gum  trees,  the  tupelo,  black  and  sweet 
gum,  from  twenty-nine  to  tliirty-nine  inches  in  diameter;  cypress, 
forty-eight  inches;  yellow  poplar,  forty-five  inches;  American 
elm,  forty-six  inches;  white  ash,  forty-two  inches;  Bois  d'Arc 
(O-sage  orange),  twenty-two  inches ;  blue  ash,  twenty-three  inches; 


;  M 


Mi^&SMt:. 


•iM^- 


543 


OUR    ITKSrffJfy   KMP/ltK. 


red  cedar  or  juniper,  sixteen  inches ;  beech,  thirty  inches;  persim- 
mon, twenty-tour  inches ;  sassafraH,  twenty-eight  inches ;  honey 
locust,  twenty  inches,  and  wild  chi  i  ry,  nineteen  inches.  The 
supply  of  pine,  cypress  and  oak  is  almost  inexhaustible.  The 
pines  south  of  the  Arkansas  river  grow  to  the  height  of  150 
feet  and  more,  and  are  from  six  to  seven  feet  through. 
•"  At  the  same  exposition  thirty-five  species  of  pasture  grasses, 
many  of  them  new  and  native  to  Arkansas,  were  exhibited,  all 
of  them  yielding  largely  and  much  sought  after  by  cattle.  The 
Alfalfa  and  four  kinds  of  millet  were  also  exhibited,  yielding 
irom  four  to  eight  tons  of  dried  forage  to  the  acre. 

All  the  fruits  arc  sure  of  luxuriant  growth,  including  as  well 
the  different  kinds  grown  in  the  Northern  States  as  those  which 
nearly  approach  the  tropics.  Apples,  peaches,*  pears,  plums, 
quinces,  cherries,  apricots,  figs,f  grapes,  strawberries,  and  other 
small  fruits,  grow  luxuriantly  in  all  parts  of  the  State,  and  arc 
noted  for  their  size  and  flavor.  In  this  climate  fruit  trees  and 
the  vine  produce  abundantly,  and  ripen  their  fruit  in  the  greatest 
perfection ;  and,  though  it  may  seem  incredible  to  northern 
fruit-growers,  yet  we  are  credibly  assured  ihat  the  fruit  crop  of 
Arkansas  has  not  been  a  failure  but  once  in  thirty  years. 
'  Chancellor  Eakin,  in  his  little  work  on  the  culture  of  the  grape, 
says:    ;»  >.*  > '(rii  '•(!■.  ,,'l/f.X'v^   iju;tl    -.Hi  So   \,.j'.!t  vflj    .;:  Ii-   i/>v;n' 

.  "  This  is  the  best  region  for  wild  grapes  in  America.  What 
we  mean  to  assert  is,  that  the  region  between  the  Mississippi 
and  the  Staked  Plains,  and  between  the  Missouri  river  and  the 
swamp  lands  of  the  Gulf,  produce  more  and  larger  and  better 
wild  grapes  than  any  other  portion  of  the  known  world.  This 
is  deliberately  said,  after  much  reading,  inquiry,  travel  and  exten- 
sive observation."     •£  ;  riyuu'irii  tbi\0M'-ji\'\U  tnVii  «»i   jytt-tiuiiJ 

5»  The  growing  of  grapes  for  wine  is  largely  practised  in  the 
State,  as  well  as  the  culture  of  the  other  small  fruits  for  northern 


*  The  apples  of  Washington  and  Benton  counties,  and  of  the  southwestern  counties  geneially, 
are  noted  for  theif  fine  flavor  and  are  in  demand  in  St.  Louis  aiid  Memphis.  The  peach  seems 
specially  M  home  in  this  Slate.  The  fruit  is  lai]g«  and  of  eatfeM^nt  flavor,  and  grows  with  very 
little  care.     Pexches  here  ripen  full  four  weeks  earlier  Ibah  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Louis. 

t  I^igs  grow  as  finely  here  as  in  Louisiana,  and  nothing  better  can  be  Mid  of  that  delicioua 
frtit; 


E'— . 


'  inches;  prrsim- 
t  inches;  Ijoney 
n  inches.  The 
(haustible.  The 
c  height  of  150 
rough. 

posture  grasses, 
ere  exhibited,  all 
•  by  cattle.  The 
hibited,  yielding 
re. 

ncluding  as  well 
s  as  those  which 
,*  pears,  plums, 
Tries,  and  other 
c  State,  and  arc 
:e  fruit  trees  and 
it  in  the  greatest 
)le  to  northern 
the  fruit  crop  of 
ty  years.  " 

ure  of  the  grape, 

America.  What 
the  Mississippi 
uri  river  and  the 
rger  and  better 
wn  world.  This 
ravel  and  exten- 

practised  in  the 
nits  for  northern 

Item  counties  geneially, 
phii.     The  peach  seems 
or,  and  grows  with  very 
ty  of  St  Louis. 
«  taid  of  that  delicious 


1M 


tOOLOGY  OF   .4 K h'A  S'SAS.  |^ 

markets.  All  kinds  of  fruit  and  vejuiftablcs  mature  and  are  rrady 
for  market  from  three  to  four  weeks  earlier  than  in  the  latitude 
of  St.  Louis;  and  hence  the  culture  of  small  fruits,  and  of  mar- 
ket garden  vegetables,  is  as  profitable  a  business  as  a  settler 
can  prosecute,  the  transportation  by  river  or  railroad  being 
speedy  and  cheap.  • 

Wiid  Animals. — Of  beasts  ol  prey,  there  are  some  black  and 
brown  bears,  though  a  much  smaller  number  than  its  cxten* 
sive  forests  would  justify,  rarely  cougars  and  other  wild  felines. 
The  jaguar  may  sometimes  stray  up  from  his  Texan  haunts,  but 
we  cannot  learn  of  any  hunterr  who  have  discovered  him  on  the 
soil  of  Arkansas.  There  arc  also  occasionally  wolves,  foxes, 
raccoons,  opossums,  and  perhaps  the  Texan  coyotes.  Peccaries 
and  wild  hogs  are  sometimes  found.  The  buffalo  prefers  the 
plains,  and  the  wooded  mountainous  regions  of  Western  Arkan- 
sas have  no  charms  for  him,  but  there  are  deer  of  two  species ; 
rarely  the  elk,  but  not  except  by  accident  the  antelope  or  the 
bighorn.  Rabbits  or  hares,  squirrels  of  several  species  and  the 
gopher,  are  the  principal  rodents. 

Birds  of  prey  are  moderately  abundant,  but  mostly  of  the 
eagle  and  vulture  and  hawk  tribes.  Of  game  birds  there  are 
wild  turkeys,  ducks,  partridges,  pinnated  grouse  or  prairie  hens, 
quail,  etc.  Of  the  birds  of  the  State,  there  were  exhibited  at  the 
Centennial  the  bald  eagle  and  the  royal  eagle,  as  well  as  the 
following : 

Wild  duck,  crow,  house-wren,  blue  bird,  bobolink,  sapsucker, 
red-headed  woodpecker,  blue  jay,  kingfisher,  paroquet,  flicker, 
bird  hawk,  robin,  meadow  lark,  tiiocking  bird,  red  bird,  mammoth 
woodpecker,  cock  of  the  woods  and  the  snake-killer  or  water 

turkey^  ;;  fr;'V-:i    !'t,fi    ■■*..  r'.mr,,'     ;'ji 

The  rivers,  lakes  and  bayous  are  well  stocked  with  fish, 
among  which  are  pickerel,  black  bass,  buffalo-fish,  cat-fish  and 
shad,  while  the  mountain  streams  have  an  abundance  o(  perch, 
roach  and  trout.  In  the  bayous,  lakes  and  in  the  Red,  Ouachita 
and  Arkansas  rivers  the  alligator  sometimes  makes  his  appear- 
ance, though  he  is  less  common  than  in  Louisiana  or  Texas.      i 

The  copperhead,  the  milk  udder  and  other  reptiles,  venomous 


t-u  ■.\iit>e£tl^^is^ii^A'i(i:i<M^i&^^ 


1^  OUR   WKSTlCtfX   KMP//IM. 

and  harmless,  arc  plciuifiil  in  the  lowlandH,  and  the  rattlesnake 
and  inuccHHin  snake  an:  toiind  in  thi;  hilU.        i   lu.  ,i   ;     >  ,<> 

riie  insect  tribes  in  Arkansas  are  t:xceedlng!y  numcrouR  in 
the  lowlands,  and  well  disserve  the  name  of  pests.  I  he  mus(|iiito 
ot  this  region  is  renowned  lor  his  size,  vi^or  and  venom,  and  die 
most  fabuloiiH  stories  are  related  of  his  strength  and  audacity. 
In  the  hills,  however,  thiH  insect  is  less  troubleKomc.  The  bot- 
fly, the  tick,  the  chigoe  and  the  guinea-worm  arc  very  annoying 
to  man  and  beast.  1  he  cotton  worm,  the  army  worm  and  sev- 
eral IlicH  are  destructive  of  vegetation.  Some  of  the  pests  found 
a  little  farther  north,  such  as  the  Colorado  beetle  and  the  Rocky 
Mountain  locust,  have  not  visited  Arkansas  ia  any  considerable 
numbers. 

Arclueoloji^y. —  There  are  no  ruins  of  ancient  cities  or  towns, 
indicative  of  its  having  been,  in  the  remote  pustt,  the  home  of  a 
semi-civili/ed  race,  in  Arkansas.  Neither  the  Aztec  nor  the 
Toltec  race  seem  to  have  penetrated  so  far  to  »he  Hast.  When 
l)e  Soto  visited  what  is  now  Eastern  Arkansas  in  1541,  the 
Natchez,  a  tribe  now  extinct,  were  in  possession  there,  and  140 
years  later  de  La  Salle  found  them  in  possession,  while  the 
Quapaws  were  in  the  northeast,  and  the  Osages  in  the  western 
part  of  the  State.  Of  one  or  other  of  these  tribes,  mounds  and 
relics  have  been  found  in  Hot  Springs,  Garland.  Montgomer)' 
and  Phillips  counties.  Some  of  these  wcrr  exhibited  at  the 
Centennial,  and  consisted  of  vases,  water  carriers,  bowls,  mortars, 
pestles,  rollers,  discoidal  stones,  scrapers,  skin  dressers  and 
polishers,  axes,  hatchets,  lances,  darts,  pipes,  beads,  amulets, 
iponays  or  Indian  money,  hand  hammers^-  sling,  bails,  balls  for 
games,  plough  points,  knives  and  drills.    '  ')  .'•>•!•>      • '•>  >  r;  <" 

Productions. — Until  returns  are  had  from  the  tenth  census  of 
mineral  products,  we  cannot  estimate  the  mineral  productions 
'of  Arkansas.  There  is  a  moderate  but  constantly  increasing 
quantity  of  her  excellent  semi-anthracite  coal  mined  each  year, 
and  many  thbusand  bushels  of  the  lignite  in  the  southeastern  part 
of  the  State  are  also  furnished  to  the  Mississippi  steamers. 
There  are  large  quarries  of  hovaoutite^  the  Arkimsas  hone  or 
oil-stone,  in  Hot  Springs  and  Grant  counties;  of  brimstone  in 


tJiHi&ltmt^iM 


'Olf '- 


tlic  rattlesnake 

y  nii.nitroiiM   ii> 

1  lu*  moN({iiiiu 

vtriiDni,  ami  the 

)  and  audacity. 

■omc.     The  bot- 

vcry  annuyinf; 

worm  and  scv- 

the  p».'st8  found 

and  the  Rocky 

ny  considerable 

cities  or  towns, 

,  the  home  of  a 

Aztec  nor  the 

le  Hast.     When 

in    1541,  the 

there,  and  140 

ssion,  while  the 

in  the  western 

•cs,  mounds  and 

id,  Montgomer)' 

xhibited  at  the 

,  bowls,  mortars, 

I   dressers  and 

beads,  amulets, 

balls,  balls  for 

tenth  censiii  of 
ral  productions 
ntly  increasing 
ned  each  year, 
utheastern  part 
iippi  steamers, 
limsas  hone  or 
)f  brimstone  in 


AGKKUI.  rVHAl.    I'tiOUiXTS. 


S4f 


thn  Ozark  Mountains ;  of  itlate  of  excellent  quality  in  Pul<>:ki, 
I'oik,  I'ike,  and  Sevier  counties ;  and  of  pink  and  ^ruy  nurblcs 
in  Madinon  and  other  counties.  Of  aj^rimltural  pruductH,  the 
latest  full  returns  (and  even  these  iire  partly  iislinuted)  ^xv.  for 
the  year  1875.     Ilit^y  ^^  »•  folloivt: 


ArticlM. 

Amount  of  Crop. 

AvcniKC 

Yield  I'cr 

.\cr«. 

NUrkct  VjUio, 

Cuttun.  Doiindt ,., 

443,351,400 

33,60 1,)00 

3,598,200 

4,318.800 

5". 500 

1,778,600 

6.69.1,000 

76,14* 

Total  value 

356 

>7X 

14 

a6 

105 

».w 
1.86 

<55.»Hi..»oo 
11,760,420 

J.7y7.M6 
J, .{80, 840 

!»•>'. «7S 

J.«»o.775 
9,202,875 

1.524,840 
...f88, 161,071 

C'ftrn.  1)ukIm.*Ii 

Wheat,     '♦     

Oati,        "     

Rvr.         «•     

Irinh  uotatuoi.  Uim 

Sweet       "            *' 

Hav.  toni 

'•    1               1     . i     / -  •  1   ■  1 

of  cro(M..... 

Rf.makka  — There  were,  of  course,  a  number  of  minor  cro|M,  wich  an  sor- 
ghum, melons,  ft<iu(Mthc8,  ('u<  umbori,  market  garden  prcMimt.i,  Miiall  fruitit, 
grapes  and  wine,  not  included  here,  which  would  very  probably  bring  the 
aggregate  up  to  ;f  100,000,000  ;  but  1875  was  a  year  of  ex(  eptiunal  productive- 
ness which  has  not  on  these  crojw  been  opialU'd  before  or  since,  and  we  are 
inclined  to  believe  that  $88,000,000  will  cover  the  entire  value  of  the  average 
agricultural  products.  The  Agricultural  Department's  estimate  in  1H78  wait 
lesH  than  half  that  s'ini.      'i     '     .  .u.    .     ■>   :.    .  ■      ,..    ,  .-        1 

Live-Stock  in  January,  1879.     (Agricultukai.  Deparimknt  Estimate.; 


Animals. 


Horses 

Mules  and  asses 

Milch  cows 

Oxen  and  other  cattle. 

Sheep  

Swine 


Number. 


180,300 

89,300 

187,700 

357.000 

»93.5oo 

.'a3.50o 


Value. 


I7.347.3as 
4,606,987* 

>.490.779t 
3.430,770 

437. 3'5 
3,696,400 


.  I  v(i,),.    /'rl  I' 


Total  value $10,999,476 


*  Probably  an  underoitimate, 

t  Probably  an  over-eitimatc.  Cattle,  horses,  mules,  and  sheep  thrive  and  keep  fat  the  year 
through,  without  feeding,  in  (he  central  and  southern  portions  of  the  State,  where,  in  addition 
to  the  native  grasses,  they  feed  and  do  remarkably  well  on  imall  cane,  which,  in  many  locali* 

as 


I 


iTJ 


'^i^ii'fii^^r- 


1^6  f*^lf    WKSlKHf^  KMFIItK 

MtiHu/atlHrts,  in  Arkansas,  nre  yv\  in  thrir  infanty,  hut  have 
made  consitlrrahh:  projjr«»H  nincr  1H70.  whrn  them  wen*  only 
i,.'^64  maniifartiirin);  i'Htahlishi»unl!i,  grrnt  an<l  small,  in  the  S«at«, 
pm|)loyinj;  4.453  hamU  of  all  a^v%,  usin^  >a.i.U-7.V*^  *^f  capital 
anil  1^4,833,651  in  value  of  matcriaU;  |)aying  $754,950  in  wa^cK 
and  prothicinj;  jroocU  anti  wares  of  the  valuer  of  f;, 699,676. 
'I'hrrr  wrrr  also  home  manufai  tureii  of  the  value  of  $807,573, 
Of  the  whole  numlx'r  ol  maniitacturin^  eslahlishmentii,  38j  were 
cotton  gins,  373  flour  and  meal  mills,  mostly  snmll  gristmillt, 
the  average  capital  l>eing  only  $1,750,  an«l  31  3  saw-mills.  There 
were?  two  (otton  an<l  thirteen  woollen  munufactorien.  There 
are  now  nimurrous  larj^c  Mouring  mills,  and  the  Arkansas  brand 
commands  a  high  price  in  the  St  Louis  markets  The  cotton 
and  the  woollen  milli  have  greatly  increasrel,  mmX  a  new  manu* 
facture,  that  of  oil  from  cotton  Het:d,  has  been  built  up  within  the 
pa.st  scve-n  or  eight  years.  Arkansas  has  now  the  largest  cotton 
Hced  oil  mills  in  the  world.  There  arc  also  factories  for  wagons, 
tobae  CO  and  cigarn,  stoneware,  brooms,  doc  rs,  sash,  blinds,  leather, 
«tc.  The*  magnificent  water  powers  in  the  State  and  the  cheap- 
ness of  fuel  for  the  production  of  steam,  as  well  as  the  liberal 
cncoiir.'igement  given  by  the  State  to  manufacturing  and  mining 
establishments  in  exempting  them  from  taxation,  the  large  pro- 
duct of  cotton  and  wool,  the  extensive  forests  of  hard  woods,  and 
the  valuable  deposits  of  iron,  coal,  and  lime  in  close  proximity, 
offer  the  best  inducements  for  the  development  of  manufactures 
on  the  largest  scale. 

Population. — The  population  of  the  State  in  1870  was  484,471, 
an  increase  of  only  49.021  over  the  population  of  i860.  Several 
causes  had  conspired  to  produce  this  result,  among  others  the  civil 
war,  the  emancipation  and  escape  of  many  of  the  slaves,  the 

■  ■  •'  ■    -        liiilhuiMi  

tiei,  grows  lusuriantly  the  entire  year  lhrou|{h,  affbrdttiK  •  nutriliouii  range  during  the  winter. 
F«l  cattle  from  lhi«  Stnte  find  a  ready  market  at  St.  I.ouii  and  Memphlii.  Trairie  and  I.onoke 
countic*  do  A  considerable  liuvlnest  in  thii  line.  They  shipped  last  year  several  hundred  cur. 
load*  of  cattle  ratsed  on  the  prairie.  This  l)U«ines»  has  been  found,  by  thfjse  who  have  tried  it, 
more  profit.ible  even  than  farming.  Hogs  can  lie  raised  here  without  cost.  They  fatten  readily 
in  the  fall  from  the  abundance  nf  mast  in  (he  woods.  Large  number*  of  hogs  nre  driven  to 
Utile  Rock,  Mimplili,  M«l  other  marluts  during  the  fall  and  winter  from  the  northwetiern 
'VMuntiet.        7^'    ^.  ...... ...H,  ^rv,„. 


TfiSSSr- 


■  ^    -^. 


^J 


inf.iniy,  hut  have 

tl»:Tr  were  only 

mall,  in  the  Sutr, 

.17-7.^*^  ''•  oapiial 

754.950  in  waives 

M-  of  117,699,676. 

iliif  of  $807,573. 

hrnrntii,  aSj  wcrr 

Htiinll   ^rint  millt, 

saw  mills.    TIutc 

factorit^s.     There 

Arkansas  brand 

ris     The  cotton 

and  a  new  manii* 

uilt  up  within  the 

the  lar^(>st  cotton 

torics  for  waj;ons, 

sh,  blinds,  leather, 

[c  and  the  chcap- 

ell  as  the  liberal 

urin^  and  minuig 

)n,  the  large  pro- 

f  hard  woods,  and 

\  close  proximity, 

i  of  manufactures 

1870  was  484,471, 
of  i860.  Several 
ng  others  the  civil 
>f  the  slaves,  the 


range  (luring  itie  winter. 
ihi».  Prairie  nnii  Lonoke 
ear  leveral  hundred  car* 
y  those  who  have  tried  it, 
:o*t.  They  fatten  readily 
ert  of  hog»  nre  driven  to 

tr  from  tfa«  northwalcni 

1,1  /• -I  -    ,1.  «  .'i^',.   ,  i 

it 


rOPVt.ATION  Of  AUKASSAS, 


II 


547 


(Irpreiitiion  in  biininrRM,  and  the  hopclcHNneM  of  the  inhahitantH 
In  rr^anl  ti)  their  future.  Since  1870,  \f^xvv>x  ihan^'tH  have  taken 
|»lace  in  the  Slate.  The  construt  ti<»n  of  railroadh,  the  introduc* 
tion  of  new  brunihcs  of  induHtry,  the  improvement  in  the  mean* 
of  eilucntion,  a  ^nxid  market  for  ail  agricultural  prtKhutH,  and 
tite  iW-velopment  of  the  renources  of  thcr  .Stalt'  through  llw  infu* 
nion  of  new  blood  by  immii^ratiun  has  ^'really  promoted  iti 
growth,  and  the  icnsus  of  iKKo  shown  a  population  of  the  lar^Q 
numb-r  of  80^,564,  an  incnasc  of  318,093  from  1870.  It  i'l 
fair  to  say,  however,  that  the  accuracy  of  the  enimieration  i* 
doubted  in  some  (piartcrs. 

riie  ( han^je  in  the  <  haracter  of  the  population  \%  aUo  marked. 
In  \ks  earlv  days,  lK)th  as  a  Territory  and  a  .State,  it  had  within 
its  bonlers  a  jjreat  number  of  outlaws — ruffians,  j;ambltrs,  high- 
way robbers,  murderers,  horsc-thieyes  and  brigands.  Human 
life  waH  not  safe,  and  crime  was  rife.  Iwery  man  went  armed, 
and  the  "  soft  notes  of  the  pistol "  were  heard  everywhere  tlay 
and  ni^ht;  while  a  man  was  made  an  offender  for  a  word,  antl 
was  often  shot  down  in  tihecr  wantonness.  I'tie  natural  conse- 
f]U('nce  of  this  state  of  things  was  that  the  belter  disposed  part 
of  the  community  were  compelled  to  take  the  law  into  llurir  own 
i'-'nds.  Vigilanc"  committees  were  appointed,  and  when  the 
Outlaws  found  their  occupation  gont ,  they  reti>".ated  by  banding 
tl"-'mselves  together  as  "  Regulators  "  and  raiiling  the  settlements. 
For  some  years  a  desperate  warfare  was  wageil  between  these 
outlaws  and  the  rest  of  the  community,  anil  the  services  of  Judge 
Lynch  were  often  called  for. 

Ai  length  law  and  order  triumphed  ;  the  oudaws  were  driven 
out,  and  peace  and  quiet  were  established.  It  was  time.  Busi- 
ness was  paralyzed ;  and  ignorance  and  brutishness  prevailed. 
In  this  partial  restoration  to  order,  some  attention  was  paid  to 
education,  and  from  1850  to  i860  there  was  a  rapid  growth,  the 
population  doubling,  and  a  decided  advance  being  made  in  the 
social  condition  of  the  people.  The  number  of  slaves  was  very 
large,  and  some  of  the  worst  evils  of  slavery  were  rife  there. 
With  the  commencement  of  the  war,  the  old  outlaw  spirit  revived, 
and  for  some  years  there  was  anarchy  again.     But  the  friend^ 


■. 


l.-i 


I  ) 


.^mkriiMiti^mmti 


V 


-.g  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

of  law  and  order  were,  after  a  time,  in  a  majority,  and  they  have 
succeeded  in  putting  down  ruffianism  completely.  The  era  of 
railroads  was  late  in  opening  in  Arkansas,  but  it  helped  materially 
in  producing  order,  enterprise  and  development  in  the  State. 
The  people  arc  now  law-abiding  and  orderly ;  the  carrying  of 
fire-arms  is  prohibited,  and  the  prohibition  pretty  well  enforced. 
The  people  are  industrious  and  desirous  of  improvement; 
strangers  who  come  into  the  State  to  settle  are  cordially  welcomed 
and  protected  ;  and  all  things  being  taken  into  account,  the  State 
is  a  desirable  one  for  immigrants  to  settle  in.  Great  efforts  are 
now  making  to  improve  the  system  of  puUic  school  and  higher 
education,  and  an  advance  on  this  subject  is  perceptible:.       • ' 

If  the  emigrai}t  from  the  busy  States  of  the  East  or  Europe 
find  the  citizens  a  litde  slow  or  apathetic,  tn  regard  to  progress, 
it  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  influence  of  their  early  history.  There 
is  a  most  commendable  desire  for  improvement  manifested,  and 
if  an  intelligcp'  class  of  emigrants  come  into  the  State  and 
endeavor  to  p  iiote  its  interests,  the  Stat*^  wiU  become  in  a  few 
years  one  of  the  best  in  "Our  Western  Empire,"  in  all  the  elements 
which  conduce  to  a  permanent  prosperity,  >  > .  r"*  '^  v  h  my 
•  Religious  Denominations. — The  Methodi^ts  are  the  leading 
religious  denomination  in  the  State,' but  are  divided  into  the 
adherents  of  the  "  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,"  and  those 
of  the  "  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,"  as  the  northern  body  is 
called.  The  n'^xt  denomination,  and  but  little  inferior  in  num- 
bers, are  the  Baptists,  with  whom  may  also  be  numbered  in  this 
general  estimate,  the  Christians,  Disciples  or  Campbellites. 
After  these  come  the  Presbyterians,  in  several  division.s,  such  as 
the  Southern  Presbyterian  Churc'.i,  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian, 
Presbyteran  Church  (north),  etc 

There  is  a  Roman  Catholic  diocese  and  a  few  churches,  per- 
haps fifteen  or  twenty ;  an  Episcopal  diocese  with  about  the  same 
number;  a  few  Lutherans,  etc.  ■  i;>ril^.s.lii«5i;snik!ui.j|,>  «ef5«1ij?<mM 
'  Education. — One  of  the  best  indications  of  progress  in  the 
State  is  the  advance  which  it  is  making  in  education.  In  1S70 
•two-fifths  of  the  population  above  ten  years  of  age  could  not 
read  or  write,  and  of  these  133,339  illiterates,  64,095  were  whites 


^SSSSBBSE^^™ 


ty,  and  they  have 
ely.     The  era  of 
helped  materially 
nt  in  the  State, 
the  carrying  of 
ty  well  enforced, 
f  improvement ; 
rdially  welcomed 
ccount,  the  State 
Great  efforts  are 
ichool  and  higher 
rceptiblf:. 
East  or  Europe 
jard  to  progress, 
y  history.     There 
t  manifested,  an<l 
:o  the  State  and 
1  become  in  a  few 
in  all  the  elements 

are    the   leading 

divided  into  the 

South,"  and  those 

northern  body  is 

inferior  in  num- 

fiumbered  in  this 

or    Campbellites. 

divisions,  such  as 

and  Presbyterian, 

;w  Churches,  per- 
;h  about  the  same 

progress  in  the 
cation.  In  1870 
f  age  could  not 
,095  were  whites 


F.DUCATIOiW  IN  A K KANSAS.  j^ 

and  69,222  colored.  There  are  still  not  over  one-fifth  of  the 
school  population  (between  the  ages  of  six  and  twenty-one)  in 
attendance  upon  the  schools,  but  there  are  better  and  :nore  effi- 
cient teachers,  and  the  schools  are  held  for  a  greater  number  of 
weeks  in  the  year.  The  schools  assisttid  by  the  Peabody  fund 
are  also  improving,  and  those  in  the  larger  towns  are  up  to  the 
grade  of  similar  schools  in  other  States.  The  half  dozen  colleges 
in  the  State  are  doing  well  and  advancing  their  requirements  for 
admission.  The  Industrial  University,  at  Fayetteville,  is  doing  a 
goDd  work,  but  there  is  great  need  of  more  thorough  agricultural 
education.  The  farming  is,  much  of  it,  slovenly,  and  calcul?':ed 
merely  to  skim  the  surface  of  the  soil  and  thus  render  it  barren, 
than  to  improve  it.  When  on  excellent  cotton  lands  the  average 
crop  is  but  273  pounds  to  the  acre,  but  litde  more  than  half  a 
bale ;  when  the  average  wheat  crop,  in  a  good  year,  is  but  six 
bushels  to  the  acre,  of  Indian  corn  but:  twenty-four  bushels,  of 
oats  the  same,  and  of  potatoes  but  121  bushels,  the  fault  is  not 
in  the  land  but  in  the  cultivator,  and  there  should  be  some  fotre 
somewhere  to  stir  up  such  indolent  and  inefficient  farmers. 

There  are  a  few  men  of  force  in  the  State,  men  who  have  the  in- 
terests of  the  State  at  heart,  and  are  ready  to  do  all  they  can  to 
promote  its  prosperity ;  among  them  we  may  name  the  present 
Governor,  Hon.  W.  R,  Miller;  Hon.  A.  H.  H.  Garland,  United 
States  Senator ;  Hon.  David  Walker,  Hon.  Charles  S.  Keyser, 
Dr.  G.  W.  Lawrence,  late  United  States  Centennial  Commis- 
sioner, Hon.  W.  A.  WebLer,  and  others.  These  gentlemen  rnay 
be  too  sanguine  in  regard  to  the  rapidity  of  the  future  growth 
and  prosperity  of  the  State  ;  but  they  are  well  versed  in  its  his- 
tory, aqd  they  have  proved  their  faith  by  their  works  and  the 
zeal  with  which  they  have  labored  for  its  interests.  We  should 
not  do  justice  to  the  State,  and  to  those  who  are  so  desirous  of 
its  growth  and  prosperity,  if  we  neglected  to  state  the  special 
advantages  which  are  offered  by  the  State  government  to  im- 
migrants. The  exemption  laws  of  the  State  are  singularly  favor- 
able to  the  setder.         ,/..,!.      .,       -.     ;,        7     1    I  M    .     .!        ' 

The  homestead  law  oJ  the  State  is  more  liberal  than  that  of 
any  other  State  in  the  Union ;  the  homestead  of  any  married 


■'' 'S 


550 


Ol/A    tr£STEJf//  EMPtRS, 


^; 


man  or  head  of  a  family,  to  the  value  of  $2,500,  or  160  acres  of 
land  outside  of  a  city  or  village,  and  the  homestead  in  any  city 
or  village,  not  over  one  acre  of  land  and  improvements  of  that 
value,  and  one-quarter  of  an  acre  and  improvements,  wiiliout 
regard  to  value,  are  exempted  from  execution.  The  benefits  of 
this  exemption,  should  the  head  of  the  family  be  removed  by 
death,  inure  to  his  widow  while  she  remains  unmarried ;  also  to 
his  children  during  their  minority.  In  addition  to  his  wearing' 
apparel,  the  personal  property  of  any  resident  citizen  of  the 
State,  to  tlie  value  of  $500,  to  be  selected  by  such  resident,  is 
exempted  from  sale  or  execution,  or  other  final  process  of  any 
court  issued  for  the  collection  of  any  debt.  No  taxation  for  State 
purposes  is  allowed  beyond  one  per  cent. 

All  capital  invested  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  and  woollen 
goods  and  yarns,  agricultural  implements  and  machinery,  in  tan- 
neries, in  the  manufacture  of  cotton-seed  oil,  in  mining  and  in 
smelting  furnaces,  shall  be  exempt  from  taxation  for  a  period  of 
seven  years  from  and  after  the  thirtieth  day  of  October,  1874, 
the  date  of  the  ratification  of  said  Constitution :  provided,  that 
the  capital  invested  in  such  manufacturing  establishments  shall  ex- 
ceed $2,000;  and,  provided  further,  that  no  person,  corporation  or 
company  having,  prior  to  the  passage  of  this  act,  invested  capital 
in  any  such  manufacturing  establishment  in  this  State  shall  be 
entitled  to  the  exemption  herein  provided  for,  unless  the  capital 
stock  so  invested  shall  be  increased  twenty-five  per  centum  of 
ils  value  as  determined  by  the  last  annual  assessment. 

The  United  States  lands  in  the  State  exceed  in  quantity 
7,500,000  acres,  all  of  which  are  for  sale  at  $1.25  and  $2.50  per 
acre.  Some  of  these  lands  are  excellent,  and  some  not"  so  good. 
The  homestead  law  of  the  United  States  applies  to  theni.'' "  '^'  "^ 

The  State  has  also  about  3,000,000  acres  of  land  subject  -o 
ehtry  and  sale,  besides  nearly  1,000,000  acres  of  Swamp  lands, 
not  yet  approved  to  the  State  by  the  General  Government,  and 
about  681,000  acres  of  forfeited  lands  for  non-payment  of  taxes. 
Of  these  the  internal  improvement,  seminary,  saline,  and  swamp 
lands,  amounting  to  about  70,000  acres,  are  for  sale  at  from  $2 
to  $3  per  acre,  and  small  fees.    The  school  lands,  of  which  there 


ii^ 


»«<«i  A'i'.'W.lil  >ll  I      I 


-fffi 


D,  or  1 60  acres  of  • 
istead  in  any  city 
rovements  of  that 
)vements,  wiiliout 
The  benefits  of 
'  be  removed  by 
imarried ;  also  to 
)n  to  his  wearincr 
nt  citizen  of  the 
such  resident,  is 
1  process  of  any 
taxation  for  State 

tton  and  woollen 
nachinery,  in  tan- 
n  mining  and  in- 
n  for  a  period  of 
>f  October,  1874, 
1 :  provided,  that 
shments  shall  e.\- 
>n,  corporation  or 
,  invested  capital 
s  State  shall  be 
nless  the  capital 
e  per  centum  of 
sment.    ti  ft-";"-- 
:eed  in  quantity 
5  and  $2.50  per 
•me  not"  so  good. 
i  to  them, 
f  land  subject  10 
of  Swamp  lands, 
rovernment,  and 
lyment  of  taxes, 
line,  and  swamp 
sale  at  from  $2 
3,  of  which  there 


I 


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SITUATION   OF  CALIFORNIA. 


SSI 


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'      / 


are  over  1,000,000  acreii,  are  for  sale  at  ;|li.25  to  $i  per  acre,  and 
the  forfeited  and  unconfirmed  swamp  lands,  about  i  ,6(X),ooq  acres, 
arc  for  sale  at  fifty  centi^  p<::r  acre  and  lee.s,  or  are  donated  to  the 
settler  in  quantities  of  160  acre:)  on  proof  of  re.sidcme  and  cul- 
tivation and  improvement  of  five  acres,  and  the  fees,  which  are 
about  six  dollars. 

The  railways  in  the  State  have  lands  to  the  amount  of  about 
2,600,000  acres  for  sale  on  several  years'  time  at  $3.50  per  acre. 
With  these  facilities  for  purchase  and  settlement,  the  lands  of 
Arkansas  offer  to  the  immigrant  homes  which  are  within  the 
reach  of  all.  The  land  may  not  all  of  it  be  of  the  highest  qual- 
ity, though  there  is  much  excellent  land  there,  but  there  is  none 
of  it  from  which  an  industrious  man  cannot  make  a  comfortable 
living. 

.jJiniVlifr; )            f     •■•■   '  ' 
fii  rilr.*  r.  f'fic  ';,'    ^!!— 


!)tU'.     t'/i  i'i-)iy>     -fit    111!'.")   fiir>i>r.    "iiili.  ii.:'i  \n;    f'fi;  '• 'f      l'«t  '. 

<i^r    h\V  _  .ojrr.f.-...       CHAPTER  III, 

livltl;;  »-i    ri-    (.'  )  ir.i)    -I  71  i.ii  IK 


CAUFORNTA. 


.'trlt   )••      ■    'ti   ■    •hi  I 
■\'I      ti.  ;'  •;,;i'j  '    '•;  .'   ■'' 


Its  Situation— Topography — Mountains,  Valleys,  Lakrs,  Rivers,  Harbors, 
Islands — Geology  and  Mineralogy — Soils  and  Vegetation — Zoology — 
Wonders— Prof.  E.  W.  Hilgard  on  Climates  of  the  State — Agricul- 
tural Products — Manufactures,  Mines  and  Mining  iNousTRY — Rail- 
roads— Steamers — Its  Commerce  and  Navigation,  Imporis  and  Exports, 
Banks,  etc. — California  as  a  Health  Resort — Population,  how  Classi- 
fied— Education — Churches — Counties  and  Principal  Towns — Its  His< 
TORY  and  Probadle  Future.  iw».-»i,.    j       >  .^  . 

California  is  one  of  the  largest  States  of  "Our  Western 
Empire,"  and  stretches  for  700  miles  along  the  Pacific  coast.  It 
is  between  the  parallels  of  32°  28'  and  42°  north  latitude,  and 
between  the  meridians  of  1 14°  30'  and  1 24"  45'  of  west  longitude 
from  Greenwich.  It  formed  a  part  of  the  territory  ceded  by 
Mexico  to  the  United  States  at  the  close  of  the  Mexican  war, 
and  is  bounded  north  by  Oregon,  east  by  Nevada  and  Arizona, 
south  by  Lower  California,  and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean.  The 
Pacific  coast  of  California  trends  southward  from  the  Oregon  line 


,  i** 


i%, 


$i» 


OUM    WRSTKItN   RMPIKB. 


to  Cape  Mendocino  in  latitude  40",  and  ihcncc  in  a  nearly  south- 
easterly  direction  to  the  coast  of  Lower  California.  The  area 
of  thv!  State  is  188,981  square  milos,  or  1 20,947,840  acres,  or 
about  the  combined  areas  of  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Ohio  and  Michigan.  Its  length  is  700  statute  miles,  and 
its  average  breadth  more  than  200  miles.  -  :*»    >«  '»    J   ■    ' 

'  Topography. — The  mountain  systems  of  California  are  vast 
in  extent,  diversified  In  character,  rich  in  mineral  wealth,  and 
unsurpassed  in  beauty  and  grandeur  of  scenery.  They  may  be 
considered  undor  two  great  divisions:  the  Sierra  Nevada  or 
Snowy  Mountains,  on  the  eastern  border  stretching  with  its 
spurs  over  a  breadth  of  about  seventy  miles  in  a  aeries  of 
ranges ;  and  the  Coast  Range,  which,  in  its  several  chains,  in- 
cludes about  forty  miles  in  breadth,  extends  near  the  coast  the 
whole  length  of  the  State  and  into  Lower  California.  These 
two  ranges  unite  near  Fort  Tcjon  in  latitude  35°  and  again  in 
latitude  40°  35',  and  separating  again  form  the  extensive  and 
fertile  valleys  of  the  San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento.  The  two 
lines  of  ranges  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  may  be  traced  in  regular 
order  for  a  distance  of  nearly  seven  degrees  by  their  two  lines 
of  culminating  crests,  which  rise  in  varying  heights  from  10,000 
to  1 5,000  feet  above  the  sea.  There  does  not  seem  to  be  as 
much  order  in  the  position  and  direction  of  the  summits  of  the 
Coast  Range,  peaks  of  widely  varying  heights  and  entirely 
cHfferent  mineral  constitution  being  found  in  close  proximity. 
The  summits  of  the  Coast  Range  vary  in  altitude  from  1,500  to 
8,000  feet.  The  highest  peaks  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  are  Mount 
Shasta,  Lassens  Butte,  Spanish  Peak,  Pyramid  Peak,  Mounts 
Dana,  Lyell,  Brewer,  Tyndal,  Whitney,  and  several  others  of 
tess  note.  Tho^e  of  the  Coast  Range,  though  richer  in  minerals, 
d^re  less  lofty  and  less  noted.  < 

On  the  eastern  side  of  the  crest  line  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  afC^ 
a  chain  of  lakes,  including  the  Klamath  lakes,  Pyramid,  Mono 
9nd  Owen  lakes,  lying  wholly  east  of  the  range,  and  Lake  Tahoei 
a  gem  of  the  purest  crystal  water,  far  up  in  the  mountains, 
occupying  a  depression  between  two  summits.  The  depression, 
Mk  which  most  of  these  lakes  arc  situated,  continues  southwarcl' 


nearly  aoiith- 
la.     The  area 

1,840  acres,  or 
rsey,  Pcnnsyl- 
ite  miles,  and 

|rnla  are  vast 
1  wealth,  and 
They  may  be 
la  Nevada  or 
hing  with  its 
■»  a  aeries  of 
ral  chains,  in- 
the  coast  the 
)rnia.     These 
and  again  in 
:xtensive  and 
to.     The  two 
ed  in  regular 
icir  two  lines 
s  from  10,000 
;em  to  be  as 
jmmits  of  the 
and    entirely 
se    proximity, 
from  1,500  to 
Ja  are  Mount 
'eak,  Mounts 
ral  others  of     ^ 
rin  minerals, 
ii.  M  >;iw.1i.d  a'l 
I  Nevada  are 
ramid,  Mono^ 
Lake  Tahoe,' 
R  mountains, 
e  depression, 
:s  southwardi 


X 

B 

K 
> 


rs 


n 


miUini',:<iiliiL 


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jUlliimililHiiHinIwi  iiMimi  I  irm  i"'  '  '  ' 


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kf     , 


1 


TorocKArify  cp  CAtironNiA. 


SS3 


to  tho  f  ntmncr  of  the  Clila  river  into  tlu*  Colonido.  For  a  con- 
Niderablc  di^tancr  northward  from  the  Roiith«rii  limit  of  the  Stale 
it  it  many  firi  bdlow  tin:  ocran  lcv<l,  und  ^"olo^it.il  invrnti^a- 
tionn  kIiow  that  it  wan  oiuc  thr  Ik><1  of  a  lar^r  lakr  or  cHtuary 
comnuiniratinj^'  with  thf  ocean  liy  a  nonuwhat  narrow  strait,  it 
has  n-irntly  )><:(-n  propost  d  to  rcoprn  thin  itlrait  as  a  shi|>  canal, 
which  could  Ix;  done  at  a  vrry  moderate  expense,  and  thtii  re- 
store this  ancient  land  locked  tea.  to  modify  the  climate,  and 
remove  the  tirouyht  from  a  rej^ion  ome  populous,  but  now  cxccfi- 
•ively  arid. 

A  similar  deprffKnioh,  though  not  qiiUe  no  extentiive,  exists  on 
the  western  slope  of  these  mountains  for  a  wiilth  of  about  fifty 
miles,  and  contains  several  lakes. 

The  n-gion  lyiiijf  east  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  is  called  tin:  east- 
ern slope ;  that  'jetween  the  foot-hills  of  the  Sierras  and  the 
Coast  Kan^e  irt  known  as  the  California  Valley,  and  that  west 
of  the  Coast  Ran^e  is  called  the  Coast  V^dley,  or  simply  the 
Coast.  Another  geoji;raphical  division  is  maih-  by  drawing  an 
east  and  west  line  across  the  State  in  the  latitude  of  Fort  Tejon, 
that  part  of  the  State  lying  south  of  this  line  \\v\w^  called  South- 
ern California.  The  country  between  this  line  ami  one  extend- 
ing east  and  west  through  Trinity,  Mumboldt,  Tehama  and 
Plumas  counties  is  called  Central  California ;  all  north  of  this 
if;  known  as  Northern  California.  Central  California  contains 
about  three-fourths  of  the  known  wealth  and  population  of  the 
State. 

The  Monte  Diablo  division  of  the  Coast  Range,  about  1 50 
miles  long  by  50  miles  wide,  is  a  striking  landmark  of  the  .State 
when  approached  by  sea,  and  from  its  summit  may  be  obtained 
the  finest  views  of  the  varied  scenery  and  landscapes  of  Cali- 
fornia which  can  be  found  anywhere.     .,  )n '(»!   .    ic  fi   •.•  ,    I    I  I 

The  valleys  of  the  Sacramento  and  the  St.  Joaquin,  though 
the  largest,  are  by  no  means  the  only  valleys  of  California. 
There  are  hundreds  of  them  of  greater  or  less  extent,  and  many 
of  theni  remarkable  for  fertility  and  beauty.  East  of  the  Sierras, 
in  Southern  California,  some  of  these  valleys,  the  deepest  por- 
tions of  a  former  extensive  inlan  1  sea,  are  now  salt  lakes  and 


I 


jj^  Ot/M    WMMrKMy   KMrfMM. 

art!  »iirfoun<lc»tl  by  mmi  forbidding  atui  implt'awint  «c«nery.  In 
Mono.  Ir.sno  and  Kt*rn.  Inyo  an«l  San  Hrrnardino  countit-4 
there  arc  trvcral  of  thrnr  nail  lakr»,  and  in  the  lanl-nanrd 
county,  amonj;  the  otht-r  rvidfncca  of  volcanic  action.  i»  that 
cond»ination  ol  horrorn  known  aa  the  nink  of  the  Amar^oia 
river  or  "Dc-ath  Valley."  It  \%  150  feet  and  prolxdily  more 
briow  the«  level  of  the  sea,  intennely  hot,  dry.  ami  Hul|»hurouH. 

California  in,  for  the  n»OHi  part,  well  watered,  but  the  Coast 
Ranjje  limits  the  len^'th  of  its  navi>;able  rivers  except  in  two  or 
three  instances.  The  Kio  S.linas  is  the  only  navigable  river  on 
the  coast  which  discharKea  illrecUy  into  the  Pacific  below  Cape 
Mendocino,  but  the  Sacramento  river  from  the  north  and  the 
San  Joa<|iiin  from  the  south,  large  and  navigable  rivers,  Iwth 
discharge  into  the  beautifid  Hay  of  San  I'Vancisco.  The  Klamath 
river  at  the  north,  rising  in  the  Klamath  lake,  Hows  through  a 
crooked  valley  to  the  ocean,  but  is  not  navigable  for  any  con- 
siderable distance.  This  is  also  true  of  the  other  rivers  north 
of  the  Golden  (iate.  Most  of  the  rivers  east  of  the  Sierras,  in 
the  long,  depressed  basin  already  described,  discharge  into  lakes 
in  the  basin,  and  have  no  connection,  direct  or  indirect,  with  the 

ocean.       '"'     'ii.  •mmi    .  mU    ni'^fii    /Hinii'*     Ml        .i..'ii,i'ii 

The  harbor  of  San  Francisco  is  the  finest  on  the  whole  Pacific 
coast,  fifty  miles  in  length  by  nine  in  width,  landlocked  and  ap- 
proached by  the  Golden  Cjate,  five  miles  in  length  with  a  width 
of  one  mile,  and  having  nowhere  less  than  thirty  feet  of  water. 
'I'hat  of  San  Diego,  at  the  southern  extremity  of  the  State,  is 
next  in  imi)ortancc,  and.  with  its  railway  connections  soon  to  be 
completed,  will  prove  a  formidable  rival  to  that  of  San  Francisco. 
The  other  harl)ors,  ten  or  twelve  In  number,  are  cither  shallow 
or  not  well  protected  from  violent  winds,  and  need  breakwaters 
or  other  improvements.  There  are  many  islands  along  th€ 
coast,  seme  of  them  small  and  rocky,  like  the  Farallones  off  the 
Golden  Gate,  and  inhabited  only  by  seals,  sea-lions,  and  aquatic 
birds ;  others  are  large  and  adapted  to  grazing  or  cultivation,   i  I 

The  amount  of  arable  lands  in  California,  including  those 
■which  only  require  irrigation  to  make  them  productive,  and  are 
so  situated  that  they  can  be  irrigated,  and  the  swamp  or  tuU 


I 


GKOtoav  4sn  m*nh  ft  a  /.  or,  v. 


fSf 


t  Hcrncry.     In 
r'ilino  (tiuriticM 
lit:  la»t  nanrtl 
nction,  i.H  liut 
(he   Arnur^txa 
IprolKihly  more 
Mulphiirous. 
I  Hit  the  Coast 
crpt  in  two  or 
igabio  river  on 
ic  below  ('n()r 
north  and  the 
jje  rivers,  lx)tl» 
The  Klamaih 
ows  through  a 
for  any  con- 
tr  rivers  north 
the  Sierras,  in 
arge  into  laken 
direct,  with  the 

le  whole  Pacific 
ockcd  and  ap- 
th  with  a  width 
^  feet  of  water, 
jf  the  State,  is 
ons  soon  to  be 
San  Francisco, 
cither  shallow 
d  breakwaters 
nds  along  the 
•allones  off  the 
US,  and  aquatic 
cultivation, 
icluding  those 
ictive,  and  are 
swamp  or  tuU 


M 


In  whiih.  whrn  reclaimed  and  protectrd  from  overflow,  yirld 
th<^  larj^est  cro|Mi  in  the  worUI,  ii  rHtimatrd  at  not  Icm  than 
60,000,000  acri!*,  or  niKMit  one  half  the  arra  of  the  State;  th«? 
^rarin^  landu  on  thr  titoiititain  nloprs  and  on  thr  sidm  of  the 
vallr«y:i  are  rstiiitat^d  at  40,o<k),<m>)  acre'H  morr,  and  thr  fon-st 
arr'an,  much  of  ihrm  too  ntcrp  for  cultivation,  were  oOii  iaily 
itat«*d  at  (),6o4,6()7  acres  in  1873,  but  have  been  ronHidrrabiy 
diminished  nince  that  time.  There  are  then  Homrwiiat  more 
than  io,ooc>,(X)0  acres  which,  from  one  cause  or  other— some 
b<'ing  iindrr  water,  some  voUanic  aiid  barren,  or  arid  and  not 
irri^ablr,  or  bald  and  !)are  mountain  praks — are  worthloNs. 
I  his  is,  h()wrv«*r,  but  one  twelfth  of  thr  area  of  the  State. 

(ieolo)*y  and  Aftnfraio/ry. — The  Coast  Range  and  its  foot  hills 
generally  belong  to  the  tertiary  system,  but  at  .San  INdro  bay 
(atx)ut  latitude  34')  the  cretaceous  rocks  come  to  the  coast,  to 
he  replaced  at  the  mouth  of  the  Margaritii  river  (about  33'  lo^) 
by  oil. I  ternary  or  recent  alluvial  (hposits  which  extend  to  the 
Hotitlicrn  line  of  the  .State.  It  is  these  alluvial  deposits  which 
(ff'ncral  I'rd'mont  believes  have  filletl  up  \\v.  aniirn*  strait  or 
estuary  which  led  to  the  now  dry  and  desert  site  of  the  inland 
sea,  which  forme-rly  occupit'd  a  large  part  of  .Southeastern  Cali- 
fornia, and  which  he  urges  our  government  to  re-open  and  thus 
render  an  extensive  portion  of  Western  Arizona  and  .South- 
eastern California  again  habitable. 

At  two  points  of  the  Coast  Range,  viz.:  at  the  Monte  Diablo 
mines,  in  Contra  Costa  county,  nearly  east  of  .San  I'Vancisco,  and 
in  Mendocino  county  (about  latitude  39*'  30'),  the  tertiary  coal 
or  lignite  crops  out  in  extensive  beds.  The  first  of  these  has 
been  worked  for  many  years,  and  produces  a  fair  burning  coal, 
of  which  about  150,000  tons  are  annually  sent  to  market.  i' 

The  valleys  lying  between  the  Coast  Range  and  the  Sierras 
belong  mostly  to  the  cretaceous  formation,  though  in  the  extreme 
south  they  are  overlaid  by  alluvial  sands.  There  is  very  little 
gold  in  these  valleys  except  \\  placers  which  have  been  washed 
down  from  the  mountains,  though  occasioniily  pockets,  and  pos- 
sibly true  veins,  have  been  found  in  metamorphic  rocks  belong- 
ing as  high  up  in  the  series  as  the  cretaceous.  This  may  be 
due  to  volcanic  action  in  ages  long  past 


i^JftHHitiSiMi^ 


"TTX- 


1 


:! 


jj(5  ^^'f^    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

The  grieater  part  of  the  auiiforous  and  argentiferous  rock*  of 
the  State  belongs  to  the  triassic  and  Jurassic  strata,  which  form 
tlie  surface  rocks  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  from  the  Columbia  river 
nearly  to  the  head  of  the  Gulf  of  California.  It  is  in  these 
triaissic  and  Jurassic  strata  that  n\ust  oi  the  gold  and  silver 
deposits  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Pacific  occur.  South 
and  west  of  the  sierras,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  upper  waters 
of  Kern  river  and  its  tributaries,  is  an  extensive  volcanic  region, 
where  basaltic  and  porphyritic  rocks,  sulphurous  and  chalybeate 
springs,  deposits  of  s  ilphur  and  large  tracts  of  lava  and  lava 
ashes  are  found.  A  somewhat  similar  though  much  smaller 
tract  exists  in  Sonoma  county,  between  two  spurs  of  the  Coast 
Rarige.  There  are  geysers  here,  and  other  indications  of  former 
volcanic  action.  Much  of  the  region  east  of  the  sierras  is  of 
recent  formations,  though  modified  by  former  volcanic  action,  and 
is  forbidding  to  the  last  degree.  The  lakes  or  sinks,  often 
very  deep,  are  always  salt  and  bitter,  and  often  without  water 
most  of  the  year.  The  beds  of  the  lakes  are  covered  with 
alkaline  deposits.  The  famous  Death  Valley,  the  Dry  Lakes,  of 
which  there  are  at  least  a  dozen,  Dry  Salt  Lake,  Owen's  Lake 
and  other  sinks  of  this  region  "gis^  striking  evidence  of  its  former 
volcaAic  cliaracter,  and  of  the  great  changes  which  have  taken 
place,  some  of  them  within  modern  times  in  this  part  of  the 
Stite.  The  earthquakes  of  187 1  were  most  violent  in  this 
section,  especially  in  Kern,  Inyo,  and  San  Bernardino  counties. 

Mineralogy. — Gold  is  found  pure,  in  scales,  fine  dust,  in 
nuggets  and  in  crystals,  and  in  combination  with  copper,  silver, 
lead,  zinc,  cinnabar,  arsenic,  iron,  sulphur,  tellurium,  iridosmine, 
etc.  Silver  is  found  native,  though  very  rarely,  as  a  chloride 
(horn-silver),  in  combination  with  lead  as  argentiferous  galena, 
sulphurets  and  carbonates  of  silver  and  lead,  with  copper  as 
copper  glance,  red  silver  ore,  etc.,  and  with  several  of  the  rarer 
metals  as  well  as  with  sulphur,  iron,  etc.  Copper  exists  in  the 
form  of  native  copper,  and  as  malachite,  copper  glance,  rubescite, 
a/urite,  chalcopyrite  and  chrysocolb^  in  combination  with  sulphur, 
etc.  Mercury  or  quicksilver  appears  as  cinnabar  very  abun- 
dantly throughout  the  Coast  Range,  as  coccinite  ih  Santa  Barbara, 

Jgeq  j^no!  K^^^ju  ni  noB^r/r>fm»lov  cyt  rnji. 


fcMjTWWiWMilwiiiitiirrrii  iiMiii'iifi'>rrriiBiiw«iw  lamiMinMfir 


II 


erous  rocks  of 
ta,  which  form 
Columbia  river 
It  is  in  these 
old  ant!  silver 
;  occur.    South 
e  upper  waters 
volcanic  region, 
and  chalybeate 
lava  and  lava 
much  smaller 
•s  of  the  Coast 
tions  of  former 
e  sierras  is  of 
anic  action,  and 
)r  sinks,   often 
without  water 
covered  with 
Dry  Lakes,  of 
,  Owen's  Lake 
ce  of  its  former 
ch  have  taken 
lis  part  of  the 
violent  in  this 
lino  counties, 
fine  dust,   in 
copper,  silver, 
jm,  iridosmine, 
as  a  chloride 
ferous  galena, 
ith  copper  as 
al  of  the  rarer 
r  exists  in  the 
nee,  rubescite, 
1  with  sulphur, 
it  very  abun- 
lanta  Barbara, 


C£OL  00  V  AND  MIXER  A  T.  OG  Y. 


557 


and  native  in  the  Pioneer  claim  and  elsewhere.  There  are  now 
about  sixty  mines  of  quicksilver  in  the  State,  and  the  supply 
increases  with  the  ever  increasing  demand. 

Platinum  has  only  been  found  in  California  in  placers,  though 
its  occurrence  in  veins  with  gold  or  silver  is  not  improbable. 
Tin  is  found  as  cassiterite  oi  binoxide  of  tin  in  the  Temiscal 
range  about  sixty  miles  from  Los  Ang<^les,  and  in  grains  else- 
where. Lead  is  abundant  as  galena  all  over  the  State,  and  in 
many  cases  carries  a  considerable  percentage  of  silver.  The 
molybdate  of  lead  (Wulfenite)  occurs  in  one  or  two  localities. 
Arsenic  occurs  pure  in  Monterey  county,  and  as  arsenilite  in 
one  or  two  counties,  and  is  extracted  as  white  oxide  in  smelting 
several  ores.  Iron  exists  in  variods  forms,  as  chromic  iron,  as 
haematite,  as  magnetic  and  specular  ores,  and  as  oxide  or  boj.; 
iron  ore  in  several  localities.  Tellurium  occurs  native  and  in 
combination  with  gold  and  silver  and  copper,  and  forms  one  of 
the  most  refractory  of  ores.  Diamonds  (so  called)  are  found  ii< 
several  localities,  but  are  not  probably  the  genuine  article,  though 
they  possess  n-.any  of  the  properties  of  the  diamond.  Graphite 
occurs  in  Tuolumne  county  and  elsewhere  ;  borax  and  boracic 
acid  in  one  or  more  lakes  and  in  the  marshes  adjacent ;  salt  as 
rock-salt,  as  brine,  and  evaporated  from  the  sea  water  and  from 
the  numerous  salt  lakes ;  soda,  both  as  caustic  soda  in  deposits 
of  a  hundred  feet  or  more  in  thickness  and  of  great  extent,  and 
as  carbonate  of  soda  around  some  of  the  alkaline  lakes,  and  in 
the  Volcanic  valleys ;  sulphur,  pure,  and  in  sulphurets  and 
sulphates;  gypsum,  barytcs, antimony,  ochre, alabaster,  fluorspar, 
corundum,  and  cobalt  in  the  form  of  erythrine,  abound  in  various 
parts  of  the  State.  Magnesite,  iridosmine,  magnetite,  limonite, 
tourmaline,  pyfolustte  (binoxide  of  manganese),  zircon,  garnets, 
chrysolite  and  haysine  are  the  other  principal  minerals.  Coal, 
as  already  stated,  occurs  in  several  localities.  Petroleum  and 
bitumen  are  found  in  several  of  the  coast  counties,  and  the 
former,  after  many  mishaps  and  failures,  has  become  one  of  the 
standard  products  of  the  State,  and  is  now  supplying  a  con- 
siderable part  of  the  local  demand. 

Mines  and  Mining. — California  is  one  of  the  great  mining 


I 


^ii 


m 


t>3yijiii. 


■;;  v')i;;  }:,. 


Kn 


558  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

States.  Her  production  of  the  precious  metals  has  been  larger 
than  that  of  any  other  State  or  Territory,  though  Nevada  has 
approached  it,  and  amid  all  changes,  and  with  the  exhaustion  of 
the  ordinary  placer-mining,  the  State  has  still  maintained  a  very 
large  yield,  and  is  likely  to  increase  rather  than  diminish  it. 
Gold  or  silver  or  both  have  been  discovered  in  paying  quantities 
in  eighteen  counties  of  the  State  and  possibly  more.  Of  these 
counties  all  (except  Humboldt,  Klamath  and  Del  Norte,  which 
have  deposits  only  in  the  shore  and  beacii  sands,  being  all  coast 
counties,  and  Los  Angeles,  in  which  silver  mines  have  recently 
been  discovered)  are  situated  along  the  eastern  or  western  slopes 
of  the  Sierra  Nevada ;  some  of  them  extending  also  across  the 
valley  to  the  eastern  fool-hiils  of  the  Coast  Range.  These 
counties,  with  the  character  of  their  product  and  the  processes 
used  in  obtaining  it,  are  as  follows,  beginning  with  the  southern- 
most :  I .  Inya — silver  mines  in  veins  or  lodes,  mostly  in  Owen's 
valley  and  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Inyo  or  Buena  Vista 
Mountains,  one  of  the  parallel  ranges  of  the  Sierra  Nevada, 
Irom  twelve  to  thirty  miles  southeast  of  the  head  of  Owen's  Lake. 
There  are  700  or  800  claims  here,  and  many  of  them  are  worked 

successfully.  \\,i,  ^r.Mii-iyMi  'Mii  iu  hm^  r^-yMA  ■.>'»uin  i.>  :>iio  ui  f'l  1, 

2.  Mariposa  county,  lying  on  the  western  slope  of  the  main 
range  of  the  Sierras,  and  having  the  famous  valley  of  the 
Yosemite  within  its  borders.  The  mines  are  mosdy  in  the  west 
and  southwest  part  of  the  county,  and  the  greater  part  of  them, 
on  the  Mariposa  estate,  were  once  the  property  of  General 
Fremont  Besides  these  there  are  the  Oaks  and  Roese  mines, 
which  are  largely  productive.    These  are  gold  only,  and  in  quartz 

veins,.;!  ,,jfimm)iKm\^j>mtim\mi  riJ««it>«^jlvi    4>iji:^c  :'UJ  U^jitxktv 

3.  T>*oltimne  county^  lying  immediatdy  north  of  Mariposa  on 
the  western  slope  and  foot-hills  of  the  Sierra.  The  mines,  mostly 
gold,  (hough  there  are  a  few  silver,  and  all  in  veins  or  lodes,  are 
in  the  west  and  southwest  portion  of  the  county.  There  are 
somewhat  more  than  fifty  mines.  ,r;  :  ;r;r';  im  -fti-rnnir  r--  - 
..fi,  4.  Calaveras  county,  situated  northwest  of  Tuolumne,  but  on 

the  same  range.  The  mines  are  scattered  throughout  the 
county.  There  are  many  gold  mines  in  quartz  veins,  and  exten- 
sive placers  (of  gold),  but  they  are  very  nearly  exhausted. 


MHi 


has  been  larger 

gh  Nevada  has 
le  exhaustion  of 
alntained  a  very 

lan  diminish  it 
)aying  quantities 
nore.  Of  these 
)el  Norte,  which 
i,  being  all  coast 
2S  have  recently 
•r  western  slopes 

also  across  the 
Range.  These 
d  the  processes 

th  the  southern- 
lostly  in  Owen's 
or  Buena  Vista 

Sierra  Nevada, 
of  Owen's  Lake. 
;hem  are  worked 

jpe  of  the  main 
is  valley  of  the 
ostly  in  the  west 
ter  part  of  them, 
erty  of  General 
tid  Reese  mines, 
ily,  and  in  quartz 

of  Mariposa  on 
he  mines,  mostly 
iins  or  lodes,  are 
nty.    There  are 

lolumne,  but  on 
throughout   the 
(reins,  and  e^ten- 
sxhausted. 


U/V/Z/G  Iff   THR    COUNTtES.  ||p 

5.  Amador  county,  immediately  north  of  Calaveras,  a  small 
county,  but  rich  in  gold  deposits.  It  has  twelve  or  fifteen  mines, 
mostly  in  the  western  part  of  the  county,  gold  in  quartz  veins, 
and  yielding  well. 

6.  Eldorado  county,  the  county  in  which  gold  was  first  discov- 
ered. This  county  is  partly  in  the  Sacramento  valley,  and  is 
drained  by  one  of  the  affluents  of  the  Sacramento  river.  The 
mines  (gold  in  quartz  veins),  which  have  always  been  produc- 
tive, though  the  placers  have  long  since  given  out,  are  situated 
mostly  in  the  western  part  of  the  county.  There  are  a  dozen  or 
more  large  stamp  mills  and  a  greater  number  of  mines. 

7.  Placer  county,  north  and  no*  thwest  of  Eldorado.  Lake 
Tahoe  is  mostly  in  this  county,  and  the  Central  Pacific  Railway 
traverses  the  entire  length  of  the  county  from  southwest  to 
northeast.  There  are  many  placers  and  large  deposits  in  the 
former  beds  of  what  are  known  as  "dead  rivers,"  which  are 
being  worked  by  the  process  of  hydraulic  mining.  There  are 
also  some  quartz  veins  which  yield  liberally.  The  product  is 
gold  exclusively.  There  are  about  forty  mines  and  placers  now 
worked. 

8.  Nevada  county,  north  of  Placer  county,  is  probably  the  richest 
of  all  the  counties  of  California  in  mineral  wealth.  Its  gold  mines 
and  placers,  many  of  them  very  rich,  are  scattered  all  over  the 
county.  Its  placer  gold  is  nearer  to  absolute  purity  than  that 
of  any  other  mines  or  placers  in  the  State.  Of  the  1 30  placers 
recorded,  the  gold  product  in  most  ranged  from  90x3  to  976 
(absolutely  pure  gold  being  1,000),  and  the  "You  Bet"  claim 
gold  assayed  994.  The  gold  from  the  thirty-seven  quartz  veins 
of  the  county  did  not  assay  quite  so  high,  but  ranged  from  798 
10875.  '■•         '  .vtni«i:j  .•1'rt:  iu  n/ii.!  ni   '-i^w 

9.  Sierra  county,  north  of  Nevada  county,  is  noted  for  its 
hydraulic  mining.  Through  this  county,  on  a  ridge  one  or  two 
hundred  feet  above  the  adjacent  lands,  is  the  ancient  bed  of  a 
river,  which  the  miners  know  as  the  Big  Blue  Lead,,  whose  sands, 
for  a  depth  of  five  or  six  feet  or  more,  and  for  a  distance  of 
probably  a  hundred  and  ten  miles,  were  rich  with  gold.     It  had 

.  beep  upheaved  in  the  volcanic  changes  through  which  the  Sierras 


i 


I 

I 

i 
li 


W. 


,tm 


i 


jgj,  (WJl    ir£S7£JiJV^  EMPIRE. 

have  passed,  and  wherever  living  streams  cross  its  anciefit  bed 
with  tlieir  deep  cartons,  they  wash  down  rich  masses  of  gold  dust. 
The  miners  havs  becji  breaking  down  tlie  blue  gravel  of  tliis 
"dead  river"  bed  by  tunnels,  blasting,  and  the  hydraulic  pro- 
cess, for  the  past  twelve  or  thirteen  years,  and  have  reaped  a 
rich  harvest.  In  this  county  was  found,  in  August,  1869,  a  nuggec 
of  gold  weighing  95  )4  pounds,  worth  $21,156.52. 

10.  Yuba  county,  souUiwest  of  Sierra,  is  also  a  famous  county 
for  hydraulic  mining,  having  five  or  six  large  deposits  of  gold. 

1 1 .  Butte  county,  west  of  Yuba,  has  many  quartz  veins  rich  in 
gold.     Seven  or  eight  large  mines  are  worked,    n.j.    r.u.i 'nofit 

1 2.  Plumas  county,  north  of  Sierra,  has  in  the  eastern  and  cen- 
tral portions  of  the  county  fifteen  or  twenty  gold  mines,  some  of 
them  hydraulic,  others  quartz  mines. 

1 3.  Alpine  county,  situated  on  the  extreme  eastern  border  oi 
the  Sute,  on  tiie  crest  of  the  Sierras,  between  latitude  38°  20'  and 
38"  50'.  The  ores  here  are  sulphurets  and  antimonial  sulphurets . 
in  all  of  them  silver  predominates,  in  some  witli  a  liberal  per 
centage  of  gold,  in  others  with  considerable  copper.  The  claimi. 
which  are  very  numerous,  are  all  of  them  worked  by  openinjif 
adits  or  tunnels.  This  requires  more  capital  at  first,  but  is 
necessary  in  so  mountainous  a  region.  The  mines,  so  far  aa 
developed,  yield  very  well, — from  %\o  to  $75  per  ton  of  ore,— 
diough  there  are  difficulties  in  the  reduction. 

1 4.  Shasta  county,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  the  forty- 
lirst  parallel  passing  through  it,  has  deposits  and  quartz  veins  of 
gold  and  copper.  The  gold  mines  yieki  either  free-milling  gold 
or  gold  combined  with  sulphurets  of  copper,  lead  or  zinc.  The 
mines,  eight  or  ten  in  number,  which  are  worked,  are  tn  the  ^ 
western  part  of  the  county.  ' 

1 5.  It  has  generally  been  supposed  that  the  western  slope  of 
the  Coast  Range  was  barren  of  ores  of  tht  precious  metals,  but 
recent  developments  show  that  the  silver-bearing  ledges  are 
found  there  .as  well  as  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  sr-me  range, 
lor  on  both  slopes  of  the  Sierra  Nevada.  Los  Angeles  county, 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  on  the  coast,  has  hitherto  been 
regarded  as  the   finest  agricultural   county  in  the   State,  but 


TERRA  CE  MIArWG^ 


s  ancierif:  bed 
i  of  gold  du3t. 
gravel  of  tliis 
lydraulic  pro- 
ave  reaped  a 
869,anuggec 

imous  county 
iits  of  gold, 
z  veins  rich  in 
.  u»i  'J  ton  I 
stern  and  cen- 
nines,  some  of 

«rn  border  oi 
de  38**  20'  and 
ial  sulphurets, 
a  liberal  per 
•.  Theclaimi. 
d  by  openitifif 
Lt  first,  but  iii 
ines,  so  far  as 
■  ton  of  ore,-»- 

tate,  the  forty- 
[uartz  veins  of 
se-milling  gold 
or  zinc.  The 
ed,  are  in  the 

istern  slope  of 
)us  metals,  but 
ig  ledges  are 
le  SKme  range, 
ngeles  county, 
s  hitherto  been 
the  State,  but 


7". 


recently  there  have  been  discovered  extensive  veins  of  srlver 
there,  and  numerous  mines  are  clustering  around  Silverado  in 
the  soudicrn  part  of  the  county.  The  ore  is  argentiferous 
galena  (sulphurets  of  silver  and  lead),  and  the  assays  range  from 
$18  to  $200  per  ton. 

The  beach  deposits  of  Dd  Norte»  Klamath  and  Humboldt 
counties  of  gold  in  iron  sands  are  not  simply  those  found  in  the 
sands  washed  by  the  tides,  and  which  are  common  to  all  coasts 
which  have  rivers  discharging  into  a  sea  or  ocean  from  gold- 
bearing  mountains ;  these  sands,  though  extending  ten  miles  out 
from  the  coast,  contain  gold  in  such  small  quantities,  as  hardly 
to  repay  the  labor  of  collection  ;  but  they  occur  in  terraces  or  old 
beaches  and  bluffs,  sometimes  two  or  three  miles  back  from  high- 
water  mark,  and  from  250  to  1,200  feet  above  the  sea.  In  thes; 
bluffs  or  terraced  beaches  are  extensive  layers  of  iron  sand,  rich 
in  gold,  and  varying  in  thickness  from  a  few  inches  to  three  or 
four  feet.  The  miaers  call  thb  terrace-mining.  Several  of  these 
strata  have  been  discovered,  one  at  five  miles  below  Trinidad,  in 
Klamath  county,  one  at  Crescent  City,  in  Del  Norte  county,  one 
in  Humboldt  county,  and  one  at  Randolph,  Curry  county, 
Oregon.  These  terraces  indicate  either  an  upheaval  of  the 
coast  or  a  retrograding  of  the  ocean. 

The  falling  off  in  the  production  of  silver  ia  the  Comstock 

lodes  of  Nevada  has  produced  a  reacdon  in  favor  of  the  gold 

placer  and  quarts  mines  of  California,  and  there  is  ait  the  present 

time  (August,  iSfio)  a  greater  activity  in  gold  mining  in  Cali- 

foiirnia,  than  at  any  time  fior  the  last  fifteen  years.    All  the  gold 

mines  in  the  countiffs  named  above  bave  been  reopened,  and  are 

sow  actively  woodced  with  a  greatly  increased  production ;  more 

tlian  a  hundred  new  quarts  raiiUs  have  been  erected  witMn  the 

past  year  and  a  half,  and  arc  now  actively  at  work,  and  many 

new  mines  and  placers  hav>c  been  opened  and  developed  in  tfte 

counties  wbida   have   previously  yielded   gold,  while   Trinicy, 

Klamalii,,  Fiiesaoi  San  Bevnardino,  and  M«ndocino  counties  are 

added  ti9^^e  list  of  fliiMng  counties.     It  is  confidendy  predicted 

chat  tile  gold  yield  of  Califeniia,  in  i^So,  will  be  much  greater 

than  in  any  year  since  i8d6.  -  ^. 

36 


-liiiM 


mmmm 


'hi 


J03  Ot/Jt    WESTRRlf  EMPIRE, 

Soils  and  Vegetation. — "  In  a  region  of  such  vast  extent,"  saya 
Professor  i£.  W.  Hilgard,  "traversed  by  mountain  ranges  formed 
of  rocks  of  all  kinds  and  ages,  there  is,  of  course,  an  endless 
variety  of  soils,  to  describe  all  of  which  would  exceed  our  limits, 
even  if  the  data  were  available.  Unfortunately  this  is  far  from 
being  the  case,  the  geological  survey"  (of  which  Professor  Hil- 
gard  was  the  chief)  "having  paid  but  little  attention  to  the  cx> 
amination  of  soils,  which,  it  is  true,  is  a  subject  requiring  special 
qualiBcations  and  care  on  the  part  of  the  observer  to  insure  use- 
ful results.  There  are,  however,  some  general  features  devel- 
oped on  a  large  scale  in  the  more  thickly  setded  parts  of  the 
State,  a  brief  summary  of  which  may  find  an  appropriate  place 

here."  ^r.!  i"VPrt-  •.  ^'--r  ;^,.-,-    ,'i'- 

"  It  is  well  known  that  the  main  axis  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  is 
'formed  by  granitic  rocks,  which  in  the  northern  portion  of  the 
.range,  as  well  as  on  the  slopes,  are  usually  overlaid  by  clay 
slates  and  shales,  forming  the  proverbial  '  bed-rock '  of  the  gold- 
'"  placers  and  gravel-beds.     The  soil  derived  either  directly  from 
'  the  granites  or  from  the  older  portion  of  the  slates — in  other 
words,  the  gold-bearing  soil  of  the  Sierra  slope — is  an  orange- 
colored  (commonly  called  'red')  loam,  more  or  less  clayey  or 
sandy  according  to  location,  and  greatly  resembles,  on  the  whole, 
^'I'the  older  portion  of  the  '  yellow  loam '  subsoil  of  the  Gulf  States. 
H  Of  course  it  contains  much  more  of  coarse  materials  in  the  shape 
1  of  undecomposed  rock,  and  its  sand-grains  are  sharp  instead  of 
''rounded.     It  is  the    predominant    soil  of  'the  foot-hills,'  and 
f  where  ridges  extend  from  these  out  into  the  Great  Valley,  they 
are  usually  characterized  by  the  red  tint,  which  gradually  fades 
^^'  out  as  the  ridges  flatten  into  swales  in  their  approach  to  the  San 
:^  Joaquin  and  Sacramento  rivers,  being  lost  in  the  gray  or  black 
yof  the  '  adobe,'  or  the  buff  of  the  river-sediment  soils.     Its  admix- 
'  ture  is  everywhere,  I  believe,  found  to  be  advantageous  to  the 
/Other  soils;  and  in  the  foot-hills  themselves  it  proves  to  be 
highly  productive,  as  well  as  durable,  easy  of  tillage,  and  what 
is  termed  a  'warm'  soil.     The  rocks  of  the  lower  slope  of  the 
Sierra,  but  more  especially  those  of  the  Coast  Range  opposite, 
are  predominantly  of  a  very  clayey  character,  soft  gray  clay 


!:* 


wrtw w^<i  <■»»  *wi 


rast  extent,"  says 
in  ranges  formed 
)urse,  an  endless 
:xceed  our  limits, 
y  this  is  far  from 
ch  Professor  Hil- 
tention  to  the  ex- 
rrquiring  special 
\fcr  to  insure  use- 
1  features  devel- 
tled  parts  of  the 
ippropriate  place 

Sierra  Nevada  is 
'n  portion  of  the 

overlaid  by  clay 
rock '  of  the  gold- 
ther  directly  from 

slates — in  other 
je — is  an  orange- 
or  less  clayey  or 
bles,  on  the  whole, 
-}( the  Gulf  States, 
erials  in  the  shape 
e  sharp  instead  of 
he  foot-hills,'  and 
jvesit  Valley,  they 
ch  gradually  fades 
proach  to  the  San 
the  gray  or  black 
:  soils.  Its  admix- 
rantageous  to  the 

it  proves  to  be 

tillage,  and  what 
3wer  slope  of  the 
t  Range  opposite, 
;r,  soft  gray  clay 


J 


THE  SO/L   OF  THE    VALLEYS.  Mj. 

shales  and  laminated  clays  alternating  with  ledges  of  soft  clay 
Kandstone  and  brittle  hornstone.  Their  mechanical  and  chemi- 
cal decomposition  results,  therefore,  in  the  formation  of  gray, 
buff,  or  sometimes  almost  white  clay  soils,  which  occupy  the  hill- 
sides and  higher  portions  of  the  valleys,  while  in  the  lower  por- 
tions the  admixture  of  vegetable  matter,  especially  in  the  pres- 
ence of  a  comparatively  large  amount  of  lime,  causes  them  to 
appear  dark,  and  often  cf)al-black.  These  soils  constitute  the 
'  adobe,'  so  often  mentioned  in  connection  with  California  agri- 
culture. They  are  substantially  the  same,  both  as  to  tilling 
qualities  and  chemical  composition,  as  the  prairie  soils  of  the 
Western  and  Southern  States.  Like  these,  they  are  rich  in 
plant  food,  durable  and  strong,  yielding  the  highest  returns  of 
field  crops  in  favorable  seasons  and  under  good  culture,  but 
sensitive  to  extremes  of  wet  or  dry  seasons,  and  of  course  more 
in  cultivation,  as  well  as  more  liable  to  crop  failures,  than  lighter 
soils,      ♦ill'  (■fM-».v-r'.t'-  ■."; 


,'..r!, 


\-M,:    "i;iv''  ".-!i    \ 


(I  iin. 


)  "  During  the  dry  season  the  adobe  soil,  unless  it  has  been  very 
deeply  and  thoroughly  tilled,  becomes  conspicuous  by  the  wide 
and  deep  gaping  cracks  which  traverse  it  in  all  directions,  some- 
times to  a  depth  of  several  feet,  precisely  as  in  the  '  hog-wallow 
prairies '  of  the  Southwestern  States.  Of  course  the  effect  of 
rains  is  here  also  similar  in  causing  a  bulging  up  of  the  masses 
between  the  cracks  when  the  material  which  has  fallen  into  the 

flatter  expands  forcibly  on  wetting.  Hence  the  'hog- wallow* 
surface  is  as  familiar  in  California  as  in  Texas ;  and  the  fact  that 

I  a  traveller  outside  of  the  Sierras  in  the  dry  season  is  rarely  out 
of  sight  of  some  such  land  is  eloquent  as  to  the  wide  prevalence 

f  of  the  '  adobe.'     On  the  steep  hillsides  of  the  Coast  Range  the 

,  sun-cracks  aid  in  giving  foothold  to  stock  ;  and  during  the  rainy 

•  season  the  water  running  into  them  to  the  bed-rock  causes 
f  numberless  land-slides,  such  as  gave  rise  to  the  memorable  case 

6f  Hyde  vs.  Morgan.  As  it  is  well  ascertained  that  at  a  former 
'geological  period  the  entire  interior  valley,  as  well  as  the  Bay  of 
San  Francisco,  v.^as  fresh-water  lake  basins,  the  bulk  of  the  adobe 

•  soil  would  seem  to  represent  ancient  lake,  or  rather,  perhaps, 
'-swamp  depo&its,  which  are  therefore   found  in  corresponding 


■fi 


!  l\ 


iiiwiniiifa<iiiiifrfiri»WinmBiitmrMBriifiir  v 


0^  OVU    WKSTKItN  KMPfKK. 

ponitlons  in  most  of  the  cnnnprtlnjr  vallry^.  On  tho  hoy  wp  find 
usually  only  a  narrow  strip  of  sanrly  soil  runninfj  alon;;^  the 
bench ;  inland  of  thin  a  level  bolt  of  Nack  adobe  (or  at  times  salt 
marsh),  from  which  there  is  a  gradual  ascent  toward  the  foot  of 
the  Coast  Range,  the  soil  brtroming  ligfhter  colored  and  minyr|(>d 
with  bowlders  and  rock  fra^'ments.  The  nature  of  the  materials, 
as  well  as  the  form  of  portions  of  this  slope,  characterizes  them 
almost  inevitably  as  the  result  of  glacial  action. 

"The  peninsula  on  which  5>an  Francisco  is  situated  is  overnm 
with  the  dune  sand  drifted  from  the  ocean  beach  for  a  distance 
ot  several  miles  south  from  the  Golden  Gate,  so  that  the  f\K\t\g 
of  the  sand  and  its  conversion  into  soil  is  one  of  th«  chief  prob- 
lems of  the  gardens  and  parks  of  that  city.  The  city  of  Oak- 
land, also,  is  situated  on  a  somewhat  sandy,  but  nevertheles'i 
quite  productive,  soil ;  and  land  of  a  similar  character,  but 
stronger  by  admixture  of  the  adobe,  yet  easily  till«d>  forms  the 
soil  of  the  fe.-tile  valleys  in  the  plain  lying  between  the  eastern 
shore  of  the  bay  and  the  Coast  Range,  which  are  largely  devoted 
to  m»rket>garden8  and  fruit-culture,  and,  farther  from  the  cities, 
to  that  of  barley.  The  comparative  diAkulty  and  more  or  less 
of  uncertainty  attendant  upon  the  cultivation  of  the  adobe  soils, 
unless  very  thoroughly  tilled,  has  caused  a  preference  to  be  very 
commonly  given  to  the  lighter  soils  found  nearer  to  the  streams, 
which  are  formed  of  a  mixture  of  the  adobe  with  the  r>ver  sedi- 
ment, or,  nearest  the  water-courses,  of  that  sediment  alor»e.  It 
is  suggestive  of  the  character  of  tlie  majority  of  CaKfomia 
streams  that  the  word  '  bottom,'  used  east  of  the  mountains  to 
designate  the  well-defined  flood-plain^  \h  scarcely  heard  in  the 
State,  the  more  inddvnite  and  general  term  'vaHisy'  being  in 
generail'  use.  The  obvious  reason  i»  that  there  it  in  moat  cases 
no  very  definite  terrace,  but  at  nather  gvaduai  atope  from  the 
fannk  to  the  bordering  biUs.  The  Saoeamento  andl  Snn  Joaquin 
have  not,  as  a  ru4ev  raised  their  immediate  banks  perceptibly 
ftbovc  the  rest  of  the  floook-pfatln,  beoonise  the  sediment  they 
-  oarry  is  not  such  ob  will  subside  at  the  sKgheest  diminution  of 
/vcloci^,  but  re  apt  to  be  carried  some  distftfice  inland  At  the 
.)X)int8  of  its  upper  course  the  San  Joaquin,  and  \n  the  lowtr 


^>l%i^j^e(Mifii^iii*^i^^*^f-'''''"^^''^'''^^''*'''''  ■'■  ••■***"■- 


hr  hay  wr  find 
injj  along  the 
or  at  times  »nlt 
rd  the  foot  of 
J  and  min^^led 
r  the  material)!, 
acterizes  them 

ted  is  overnm 
for  a  distance 
that  the  fiKing^ 
bhe  chief  prob- 
e  city  of  Oak- 
C  neverth«leB» 
character,  but 
Ued,  formn  the 
len  the  ca«tem 
argely  devott'd 
from  the  cities, 
d  more  or  less 
:he  adobe  soils, 
snce  to  be  very 
to  the  Rtreams, 
the  Hver  sedi- 
nent  alot>e.  It 
'  o(  CaKibmia 
t  mountainft  to 
f  heard  in  the 
s^y'  being  in 
I  m  most  cases 
itoptt  fpom  the 
d  San  Joaquin 
iks  perceptibly 
!}ediniient  they 
diminution  of 
Inland  At  the 
d  ifv  tb9  Umtr 


rffM    TUt.R  LANDS,  |^ 

portions  both  it  and  the  SacrainuiUo,  mib<livide  into  ntimcruus 
slought  traversing  widr  btlts  of  more  ur  K'sk  marsthy  llat»,  sub- 
ject to  overflow,  and  covered   with  a  rank  growth  uf  '  tuJe/ 
This  name  applies,  strictly  spiaking,  to  the  round  ruiih  {Scirpua 
Lacustris),  which  occupies  pn.Juininaotly  ihe  tide-water  marshes, 
here  as  well  as  on  the  Gulf  uf  Mexico.     The  farther  from  salt 
water,  however,  the  more  it  is  intermingled  with   (or  locally 
almost  replaced  by)  other  ac^uatic  grasses,  sedges,  r^nd  cat-tail 
flag  {Typha),  affording,  together  with  the  young  '  tule,'  excellent 
pasture  nearly  throughout  the  year.     Here  as  elsewhere  in  such 
districts,  the  cattle  soon  ac(]uire  the  art  of  keeping  themselves 
from  getting  bogged,  by  ntaintaining  a  sort  of  paddling  motion 
when  on  peaty  ground,  while  draugiit-horses  require  to  be  pro> 
vided  with  broad '  tule-shoes.'   These  tule  lands,  embracing  a  large 
number  of  rich  and  partly  reclaimed  islands,  such  as  Union. 
Bram^an,  Sherman,  and  others,  forming  part  of  the  counties  of 
Sacramento,  San  Jouquin,  and  Solano,  continue  with  varying 
width  along  the  east  shores  of  Suisun  and  San  Pablo  bays,  and 
up  the  tributary  valleys  of  Napa,  Sonoma,  and  Petaluma,  nearly 
to  the  limit  of  tide-water.     It  is  noteworthy  that,  as  regards 
salubrity,  the  tules,  at  least  so  far  as  they  are  within  reach  of 
brackish  tide-water,  are  less  liable  to  malarious  fevers  than  the 
upper  portions  of  the  great  valleys.         i    w,.,.     •       i      ..    ...  .. 

"  The  soil  of  the  tule  lands  is  of  two  principal  kinds :  sediment 
land,  found  chiefly  along  the  Sacramento  and  other  streams, 
currying  much  '  slum '  from  the  hydraulic  mines ;  and  peaty  land, 
more  prevalent  along  the  San  Joaquin  and  its  branches.  The 
latter  kind  consists  almost  entirely  of  tule  roots,  in  various 
stages  of  freshness  and  decay,  to  a  depth  of  from  two  to  twentyi 
and  more  feet ;  in  the  latter  case  we  have  the  '  float  land,'  whick, 
rests  on  the  water-table  and  rises  and  falls  more  or  less  with  it 
Like  tbe  •  Prairie  Tremblante,'  near  New  Orleans,  it  often  trem- 
Ues  under  the  tread  of  man,  but  will  nevertheless  sustain  herds 
of  cattle  without  the  least  danger,  its  bulges  forming  places  of 
refuge  for  them  in  time  of  high  water.  An  excellent  fuel  has 
been  made  by  pulping  this  qis^ss  ^nd  forming  it  into  bricks  ]iiiim 


true  peat. 


1,ii.d-!  jj^r;.. 


.1 


:'»> 


•f-i    ,  f  f'f  M 


1^ 


MiUmMm 


■■^<WBiWMMiatiiiiiiiii>i)riiiitiiiiiMriir"i'i 


■PI  OVK    WKSTRKS   K Mr/It K. 

"  Thr  tiile  lanH«  were  lon^  thought  to  b**  worthless  except  for 
panturc  purposes;  but  it  has  now  come  to  In;  well  undrrHtood 
that  they  arc  in  lar^ftr  part  of  extraordinary  fertility,  and,  if  pro. 
tected  from  overflow  by  Irveet,  are  almost  sure  to  yield  abimdant 
crops  every  year,  even  in  seasons  when  those  of  the  uplands 
fail  for  want  of  moisture.  In  their  reclamation  the  constniction 
of  levees  is  of  course  the  first  thing  needful.  The  sediment  land 
can  then  be  taken  into  cultivation  at  once  by  the  use  of  large 
sod  plows,  resembling  the  prairie  plows  of  the  Western  Stales. 
It  is  usual  to  bum  off  the  rushes  and  native  grasses  previous  to 
plowing,  especially  in  the  pf?aty  lands  where  the  plow  would 
otherwise  find  no  soil.  But  here  the  fire  penetrates  several  feet 
down,  cither  to  the  underlying  soil  or  to  moisture,  leaving  U'hind 
a  layer  of  ashes  so  light  that  the  plow  is  u.teless.  At  the  proper 
■eiason  grain  is  then  sown  upon  the  ashes,  and  either  brushed  in 
or  trodden  in  by  sheep,  and  extraordinary  grain-crops  are  thus 
produced  during  the  first  years,  the  duration  of  fertility  depend- 
ing, of  course,  upon  the  soil  underlying  after  the  ashes  have 
been  exhausted.  The  tule  lands  bordering  upon  Tulare  lake 
are  of  a  different  character  from  those  of  the  lower  rivers.  The 
soil  is  heavy,  consisting  of  fine  sediments  mixed  with  gray  clay 
and  shell  dibris,  contains  a  large  supply  of  plant  food,  and  with 
proper  cultivation  will  doubtless  prove  as  highly  productive  as 
affc  the  soils  of  the  Great  Tulare  plains  themselves. 

"The  soils  of  the  Mojave  desert  seem  on  the  whole  to  be 
rather  light,  whitish  silts,  of  whose  possible  productiveness  little 
can  as  yet  be  said,  except  that  without  irrigation  culture  is  hope- 
less. In  striking  contrast  with  these  close  soils  of  the  San 
Joaquin  valley  are  those  which  prevail  south  of  the  Sierras,  San 
Fernando,  and  San  Gabriel,  in  the  Los  Angeles  plain  and  its 
tributary  valleys,  the  home  of  the  orange,  lemon,  and  olive  in 
their  perfection.  The  fine  rolling  uplands  ('mesas')  of  that 
re^on  are  generally  covered  with  a  brownish,  gravelly  loam, 
from  eight  to  t>venty  feet  in  thickness,  which,  with  tillage,  assumes 
tfie  most  perfect  tilth  with  ease.  It  is  a  generous,  'strong'  soil, 
vatying  locally  so  as  to  adapt  itself  to  every  variety  of  crop,  yet 
readily  identifiable  by  its  general  character  from  Los  Angeles  to 


wtmm 


1 


ilfsn  fxcppt  for 
rll  undnrHtnocI 
ity,  and,  if  pro- 
yield  abundant 
of  the  iiplandH 
le  rnnstniction 
sediment  land 
le  use  of  largf 
l^estern  States, 
ses  previous  to 
le  plow  would 
tcs  several  feet 
leaving  bf*hind 
At  the  proper 
ther  brushed  in 
crops  are  thus 
ertility  depcnd- 
the  ashes  have 
on  Tulare  lake 
er  rivers.     The 
with  gray  clay 
food,  and  with 
Y  productive  as 

ES. 

le  whole  to  be 
uctiveness  little 
:ulture  is  hope- 
ils  of  the  San 
le  Sierras,  San 
3  plain  and  its 
1,  and  olive  in 
esas')  of  that 
gravelly  loam, 
lillage,  assumes 
s,  'strong'  soil, 
Ity  of  crop,  yet 
-OS  Angeles  to 


AL/CAU  SOtL.  S67 

.San  Diego.  In  most  respects  it  may  Iw  ronnidcred  a  variety  of 
the  red  Hoils  ol  the  Sierra  slope  already  dcHc  rilxHl,  like  which  it 
appt.'ars  to  be  prr-eminriwly  .ulaptrd  to  fruit  culture. 

"  I'hc  HoiJH  of  the  plain  to  srawarvl  of  I.oh  An|;elcH,  and  of  the 
coast  plains  south  of  Santa  Harlara  generally,  so  far  as  not 
modified  by  the  Hcdiments  of  the  streamn,  seem  to  be  uniformly 
characterized  by  a  very  large  amount  of  glistening  mica  stalvi, 
distributed  in  a  rather  sandy,  dark-colored  mass,  destitute  of 
coarse  materials.  They  arc  easily  cultivated  and  highly  pro- 
ductivc  when  irrigated,  although  not  unfre(|ucntly  afllii  teil  with 
a  certain  taint  of  '  alkali.'  This,  however,  when  not  too  strung 
or  salt,  is  here  readily  neutralized  by  the  use  of  gypsum. 

"  'Alkali '  soil  is  the  name  used  in  California  to  designate  any 
soil  containing  such  unusual  (juantities  of  soluble  salts  as  to  allow 
them  to  become  visible  on  the  surface  during  the  dry  season,  as 
a  while  crust  or  efflorescence.  They  arc  of  course  found  chieMy 
in  low,  level  regions,  such  as  the  Great  Valley,  and  the  plains  to 
seaward  of  the  Coast  Range ;  sometimes  in  continuous  tracts  of 
many  thousands  of  (icres,  sometimes  in  spots  so  interspersed 
with  non-alkaline  land  as  to  render  it  impossible  to  till  one  kind 
without  the  other.  The  nature  and  amount  of  salts  in  these 
soils  is  of  course  very  variable.  Near  the  coast  the  '  alkali '  is 
often  little  more  than  common  salt,  and  can  be  relieved  only  by 
drainage  or  appropriate  culture.  At  times  we  fmd  chiefly 
magnesian  salts,  when  liming  will  relieve  the  trouble.  But  in 
the  Great  Valley  the  name  'alkali '  is  in  most  cases  justified  by 
the  nature  of  the  salt,  which  almost  always  contains  more  or  less 
carbonate  of  soda,  and  sometimes  potassa.  The  presence  of 
these  substances,  even  to  the  extent  of  a  fourth  of  one  per  cent., 
while  it  may  do  but  little  harm  during  the  wet  season,  results  in 
their  accumulation  at  the  surface  whenever  the  rains  cease,  and 
the  corrosion  of  the  root-crown,  stunting,  and  final  death  of  the 
plants.  But  when  stronger,  as  is  too  often  the  case,  the  seed  is 
killed  during  germination.  Moreover,  land  so  afBicted  cannot 
be  brought  to  good  tilth  by  even  the  most  thorough  tillage. 
Fortunately,  a  very  effectual  and  cheap  neutralizer  of  this,  the 
true  'alkali,'  is  available  in  the  form  of  gypaum,  which  transforms 


i 


I 


a 


•NMWMi 


mm 


Vtatmm'. 


'immim: 


j^  OVK    WMXTKMff  KJUr/MM. 

thr  rauitic  carbonates  into  innocent  milphatrn.  Wherever  the 
amount  of  alkiiti  present  it  not  excet»ive,  the  une  of  gy|mum 
relii;vt:H  all  itifficuttirH  arising  from  the  pretence  of  tltc  former. 
Moreover,  analytiH  thowH  that  in  many  canes  lar;4e  anioimts  of 
important  mineral  plant-focHi,  kucH  a.i  iKXash,  phosphates,  and 
niiratrn,  accompany  the:  injtirioiiM  Huhstances ;  so  that  when  li.e 
latter  are  neutralized,  the  previously  uhcI(-s»  soil  may  be  exf)ected 
to  possess  extraordinary  and  lasting  f«.'rtility.  Abundant  di  |>«iHttt 
of  gypsum  have  been  shown  to  exist  in  many  portions  ot  the 
State  since  attention  has  been  directed  to  its  im|X)rtancc  in  this 
connection.  •";'■  »,'-'•;"«•■  .■-.•-f .  a- -.i  ...  i  i*^,*-..  *■.■  ♦i,;>^,j  ^..*,^,,.  .  * 
"  On  the  eastern  afffiienfs  of  the  f^acramenio  river,  the  Ameri- 
can. Bear,  Yuba,  Feather,  and  oth<  r  Btrcamn  heading  in  the 
region  where  hydraulic  mining  is  practised,  a  new  kind  of  soii  it 
now  being  formed  out  of  the  materialH  carried  down  from  the 
gold-bearing  gravels.  The  cnormmis  masses  of  detritus  washed 
into  the  streams,  filling  their  up[)er  valleys  to  the  height  of  sixty 
feet  and  more  with  boulders  and  gravel,  while  a  muddy  flood  of 
the  finer  materials  overruns  the  valley  lands  in  tlicir  lower  course, 
have  given  rise  to  a  great  deal  of  complaint  on  the  part  of 
farmers ;  and  the  '  mining  d^in's  question  '  has  Iteen  the  subject 
of  numerous  lawsuits,  ami  of  much  angry  debate  in  the  legislative 
halls.  In  some  cases  the  lands  so  overrun  are  defmitivoly  ruined; 
in  others  the  new  soil  formed  is  of  fair  quality  in  itsctlf,  but  as  yet 
unthrifty;  in  many,  the  best  quality  of  black  adobe  is  covered 
many  feet  deep  with  an  unproductive  'slum.'  By  the  same 
agency,  the  beds  of  the  Sacramento  and  its  tributaries  have 
become  filled  to  such  an  extent  as  to  greatly  obstruct  navigation 
and  to  cause  much  more  frequent  overflows,  whose  deposit, 
1.0  vever,  appears  to  improve,  in  general,  the  heavy  lands  r.f  the 
|)lain,  as  wel!  as  the  tules.  It  is  difficult  to  foresee  a  solution 
>  af  this  question  that  would  be  satisfactory  to  all  parties  con- 
cerned ;  the  more  as  the  navigation  of  the  bay  itself  is  begin- 
ning to  suffer  from  the  accumulation  of  deposit,  the  reddish 
sediment-bearing  waters  of  the  Sacramento  being  always  distin- 
guishable in  front  of  the  city  from  the  blue  water  brought  io  by 
the  tides." 


**^'tiilliliMii>''ii»W'ii''""i''''i'i '' 


II  Kill  iwanwi 


wWMiBi  iiiilliiW«iwai*w 


TNR  MAWiroU   OltOVM  Oft  JUtQl'OfAS, 


969 


Wlicrovrr  the 

"'*  ^^  gypNuin 

c)l  tlic  former. 

<■  arnoiinu  of 

io-«l>l)ati's.  and 

that  when  ti.e 

ay  be  cx|)fcti-«l 

mlaiit  lit  {Misitt 

lortiuns  (it  tho 

mrtuiuc  ill  this 

'<'r,  the  AmcrU 
icachti^r  in   the 
kind  of  soil  it 
lown  from  the 
lotrituK  wanhf-'d 
hoij^ht  of  sixty 
luddy  flood  of 
r  lower  course, 
n  the  part  of 
en  the  subject 
I  the  legijilative 
nitivcly  ruined; 
tsclf,  but  as  yet 
)be  \h  covered 
By  the   same 
ibutaries  have 
'uct  navigation 
ivhose  deposit, 
y  lands  r.f  the 
see  a  solitiiou 
!1  parties  con- 
tsclf  is  bejjin- 
t,  the  reddish 
always  distin- 
brought  ia  by 


Miirh  «if  the  noil  of  the  State,  cspnially  ol  thr  mountain  slopes, 
is  (Mculiarly  adapted  to  thr  growth  of  |;i^antic  forent  trees.  Of 
tlume  dK're  have  been  recognized  and  ilrscribcti  frirtyeight 
genera  and  one  himdrtrd  and  five  Mpecim  in  thr  State,  tin;  greater 
part  of  which  are  not  only  indigenous  but  only  to  be  found  on 
the  I'acitic  >»lope.  Of  these  forty  species  arc  cvergnTm*.  found 
mostly  on  the  mountains  of  the  Cf>ast  Range  and  thr  Sierras. 
The  moiit  reniurkabic  of  those  are  the  two  species  of  SvifHOta, 
Stquoia  jip£i$H/ta,  or  mammoth  tree,  and  Stqucia  itmft«nHKttn^ 
or  California  Redwood.  Of  the  former  there  are  niiir  (proves 
known  in  tlu;  State,  though  the  largest  trees  have  Urrn  felltxl 
by  the  l)arl)arity  of  the  showmen,  who  couUI  not  be  co  i<  cd 
without  despoiling  the  forests  of  their  monarchH,  the  growth  of 
thousands  of  years,  only  that  they  might  exhibit  their  own  mean- 
ness and  brutishness  for  a  miserable  pittance.  Some  of  these 
trees  were  more  than  450  feet  in  height,  with  a  circumference 
near  the  ground  of  not  less  than  1 30  feet.  The  giant  Eucalypti 
of  Australia  may  have  hod  a  somewhat  greater  circumference, 
but  they  were  not  as  tall  as  these.  'I>ie  largest  now  standing 
is  said  to  be  376  feet  in  height  and  106  in  circumferer>ce. 

The  Mariposa  and  Calaveras  groves  are  the  best  "known, 
though  not  the  largest,  of  these  collections  of  mighty  trees. 
Mr.  A.  R.  Whitehill,  of  the  Chicago  TrituMt,  who  has  recently 
visited  several  of  these  groves,  thus  describes  the  "Grizzly 
Cuant,"  and  die  Mariposa  grove  in  that  paper : 

"The  principal  tree  in  the  grove  is  the  one  known  as  the 
'Grizzly  Giant,'  and  the  eye  and  sense  of  the  spectator  arc  at 
once  bewildered  at  the  size  of  its  mighty  proportions.  At  the 
base  of  this  tree  the  carriage  road  stops,  and  the  t-ail  for  horses 
begins.  Carefully  measuring  the  circumference  with  a  line  car- 
ried for  that  purpose,  we  found  it  to  be  over  ninety-three  feet  at 
the  base,  and  this  not  counting  the  burnt-away  portions,  which 
would  have  made  the  total  still  greater.  We  measured  thirty- 
one  feet  as  the  diameter.  At  the  base  were  five  openings,  any 
one  of  which  seemed  large  enough  for  the  accommodation  of  a 
camping  party;  and  immediately  around  these  the  bark  was 
gone.    From  the  ground  to  a  height  of  about  eleven  feel  the 


1 


i^ 


dtkAai 


MSM 


■iiii-  iin  rur  innntriTn'T"  rrt'f  ""•-  r-ii'-tnifii" 


570 


OUR   WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


^ 


tree  contracted  perceptibly;  then,  perfectly  round,  it  shot  up 
with  scarcely  a  change  to  the  lowest  limbs,  which  were  fully  100 
feet  from  the  ground.  On  one  side  were  about  ten  limbs,  vary- 
ing frotn  two  to  six  feet  in  diameter,  and  on  the  other  about 
twelve  almost  as  large.  The  largest  limb  was  probably  1 50  feet 
from  the  ground,  and  this  was  fully  twenty  feet  in  circumference 
where  it  left  the  trunk.  Shooting  out  in  a  straight  line  for  a 
distance  of  thirty  feet  or  more,  it  curved  then  suddenly  upward 
in  a  perpendicular  direction,  and,  at  a  distance  of  seventy-five 
feet  more,  was  lost  in  the  upper  foliage.  Secondary  branches, 
as  large  as  a  full-grown  eastern  oak,  shot  out  from  this  primary 
branch  as  a  trunk,  and  there  again  produced  other  branches,  to 
the  third  and  fourth  generation.  Some  of  these  branches  were 
decayed ;  some  were  moss-covered ;  some  were  in  the  full  vigor 
of  their  extraordinary  growth.  The  top  of  the  tree  seemed  to 
have  been  broken  off,  perhaps  by  lightning ;  and  the  appearance 
of  the  whole  was  that  of  a  war-worn  veteran  of  the  Sierra,  i  !».».► 
.  ;'Ut  was  near  dusk  when  we  had  finished  our  inspection  of  this 
mighty  tree.  We  were  over  a  mile  above  the  level  of  the  sea, 
and  six  miles  from  our  stopping-place  for  the  night.  Still  we 
lingered.  Although  it  was  then  June,  yet  the  eternal  snows  of 
the  mountains  were  everywhere  around  us,  and,  as  the  huge 
banks  and  drifts  stretched  away  off  in  the  distance,  the  melting 
power  of  heat  and  the  elements  was  on  every  side  defied.  Not 
a  weed  or  blade  of  grass  relieved  the  monotony  of  the  view ;  not 
the  chirping  of  an  insect  or  the  twittering  of  a  bird  was  heard. 
The  solemn  stillness  of  the  night  added  a  weird  grandeur  to  the 
scene.  Now  and  then  a  breath  of  wind  stirred  the  topmost 
branches  of  the  pines  and  cedars,  and,  as  they  swayed  to  and  fro 
in  the  air,  the  music  was  like  that  of  Ossian,  'pleasant,  but 
mournful  to  the  soul'  There  were  sequoias  on  every  side 
almost  twice  as  high  as  the  Falls  of  Niagara;  there  were  pines 
rivaling  the  dome  of  the  Capitol  at  Washington  in  grandeur; 
there  were  cedars  to  whose  tops  the  monumetit  of  Bunker  Hill 
Ww>uld  not  have  reached.  There  were  trees  which  were  in  the 
full  vigor  of  manhood  before  America  itself  was  discovered; 
there  were  others  which  were  yet  old  before  Charlemagne  waa 


1 


id,  it  shot  up 
were  fully  loo 
en  limbs,  vary- 
other  about 
>bably  1 50  feet 
circumference 
ght  line  for  a 
ddenly  upward 
of  seventy-five 
dary  branches, 
m  this  primary 
^r  branches,  to 
branches  were 
n  the  full  vigor 
ree  seemed  to 
the  appearance 
e  Sierra, 
spection  of  tliis 
;vel  of  the  sea, 
light.     Still  we 
brnal  snows  of 
1,  as  the  huge 
ce,  the  melting 
le  defied.     Not 
f  the  view ;  not 
»ird  was  heard, 
grandeur  to  the 
i  the  topmost 
lyed  to  and  fro 
'pleasant,  but 
on  every  side 
ere  were  pines 
1  in  grandeur; 
)f  Bunker  HUl 
:b  were  in  the 
IS  discovered; 
irlemagne  was 


liMia'- 


f 

THR  GiANT  TUBES  OF  MAMIPOSA.  571 

born  ;  there  were  others  still  growing  when  the  Saviour  himself 
was  on  the  earth.  There  were  trees  which  had  witnessed  the 
winds  and  storms  of  twenty  centuries ;  there  were  others  which 
would  endure  long  after  countless  generations  of  the  future 
would  be  numbered  with  the  past.  There  were  trees  crooked 
and  short  and  massive ;  there  were  others  straight  and  tall  and 
slender ;  there  were  pines  whose  limbs  were  as  finely  propor- 
tioned as  those  of  the  Apollo  Belvidere ;  there  were  cedars 
whose  beauty  was  not  surpassed  in  their  counterparts  of  Leba- 
non ;  there  were  firs  whose  graceful  foliage  was  like  the  fabled 
locks  of  the  gods  of  ancient  story.  It  was  a  picture  in  nature 
which  captivated  the  sense  at  once  by  its  (grandeur  and  extent ; 
and,  as  we  drove  back  through  six  miles  of  this  forest  luxuri- 
ance, with  the  darkness  falling  about  us  like  a  black  curtain  from 
the  heavens,  and  the  mighty  caRons  of  the  Sierra  sinking  away 
from  our  pathway  like  the  openings  to  another  world,  then  it 
was  not  power,  but  majesty ;  not  beauty,  but  sublimity ;  not  the 
natural,  but  the  supernatural,  which  seemed  above  us  and 
before  us." 

The  Sequoia  setnpervirens,  or  Redwood,  is  a  very  stately  tree, 
attaining  a  height  of  3CX)  feet  and  a  circumference  of  seventy- 
five  or  eighty  feet.  It  is  the  most  valuable  timber-tree  of  Cali- 
fornia, but  is  fast  disappearing,  being  confined  to  the  upper  por- 
tion of  the  Coast  Range,  not  appearing  below  San  Luis  Obispo 
and  but  sparingly  below  San  Francisco,  and  disappearing  entirely 
wli«'ii  felled,  being  replaced  by  other  trees.  Its  gigantic  congener 
does  not  appear  on  xYz  Coast  Range,  but  is  confined  to  four  or 
five  counties  along  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierras.  Both  of 
these  trees  belong  to  the  cedar  family.  The  sugar  pine  {Pinus 
Lambertiand)  is  almost  the  peer  of  the  Redwood  in  size  and 
commercial  value.  Its  wood  is  white,  straight-grained,  clear  and 
free-splitting.  Its  height  is  sometimes  300  feet,  and  its  circum- 
ference forty-five  feet.  It  has  cones  eighteen  inches  long  and 
four  thick;  a  sweetish,  resinous  gum  exudes  from  the  harder 
portion  of  the  wood,  tasting  much  like  manna,  and  having  cathar- 
tic properties.  There  are  fifteen  other  species  of  pine,  of  which 
the  finest  are  the  /%»«»  ponderosa,  or  yellow  pine,  225  feet  high. 


7,:<Mi<».v>«-'/<  tv^.*ai(i«tei»iB»»>wmw.fcir<<hitt«tii»-^^ 


^m^m>^miimis&^im^i6^^&i^M' 


>  r  a  -  If  ri»  aifflM  i.iiif  iirtirmrij,  ""^  I'fi  f_'J(nj  i.  "ji 


5;a 


©Mt   WESTEJtN  JLVTMX.      AW 


/^>i»j  SabinianM,  Sabine's  or  nut  pine,  which  has  an  edible  ccne 
or  nut,  much  valued  by  the  Indians,  and  Pinus  maigtiis,  or  Mon- 
terey pine.  This  and  the  yellow  pine  are  similar  to  our  yellow 
and  pitch  pines  at  the  East,  and  are  in  demand  for  flooring  pur- 
poses. The  other  species  of  pines  rise  from  30  to  100  feet 
in  height,  but  are  not  so  much  prized.  There  are  six  species  of 
true  fir,  one  of  them,  Adies  Dauglasii,  Douglas's  spruce,  being 
300  feet  in  height,  and  three  of  the  others,  stately  trees,  100  feet 
or  more  in  height ;  the  western  balsam  fir,  PUta  grandU^  grows 
to  the  height  of  150  fuet.  \:A'\:y/tv'<M.  '^.xAi^  >jvd  l«!i.;y  »» ,,4a  str..- 
The  California  white  cedar — USocalrus  decurrens — grows 
to  the  height  of  140  or  150  feet.  There  are  abo  four  species  of 
cypress,  three  of  juniper,  two  of  arbor-vitse,  and  one  of  yew— 
Taxus  brevifoUa — which  attains  the  height  of  seventy-five  feet 
The  wild  nutmeg — Torreya  CcUifcmica — the  California  laurel— 
Oreodaphne  Californica — the  madrona — Arbutus  Menziesii — and 
the  manzanita — Ardostapkylos  gl(tvc<-~xt.  all  beautiful  ever- 
greens. There  are  twelve  species  of  oak,  two  of  them  ever- 
green or  live  oaks,  the  rest  deciduous.  The  burr  oak — Qmrcus 
tnacrocarpaf — is  the  largest  of  these,  but  its  wood,  like  most  of 
the  others,  is  principally  valuable  for  fuel.  The  Quercus  Garry^ 
ana,  sometimes  called  white  oak,  though  not  a  large  tree,  has  a 
dense,  fine-grained  wood,  used  for  making  agricultural  imple- 
ments. There  is  one  of  the  chestnut  family,  the  Western  chin- 
quapin, a  fine  tree,  sometimes  attaining  a  height  of  125  feet. 
There  are  four  acacias,  thorny  enough ;  three  poplars,  or  cotton- 
woods,  one  very  large ;  two  alders ;  the  Mexican  sycamore ;  one 
species  of  walnut — yuglans  rupestris — a  fine  tree ;  three  species 
of  dogwood  or  Cornel,  all  differing  from  the  \.  'i'lem  dogwoods; 
four  wild  lilacs;  two  wild  cherries,  both  shrn'  wo  maples — 
Acer  macrophyUwH — a  large  and  beautiful  tree-  a  XAcercirci- 
naium — the  vine  maple,  a  smaller  tree,  found  only  in  the  moun- 
tains. There  are  three  yuccas,  two  species  of  willow,  a  box 
elder,  an  Oregon  ash,  and  the  flowering  ash,  which  is  not  t  true 
ash.  one  species  of  buckeye,  cue  of  ironwood,  a  Parkimoim  or 
greenwood,  small  but  elegant ;  two  or  more  species  of  cactus,  a 
native  persimmon,  and  the  valuable  Japanese  species;  Uie  pie- 


■■■ 


CALIFORNIA   TREES,  SJ/RVBS  AND    GRASSES. 


573 


aa  edible  cone 

i^is,  or  Mon- 

to  our  yellow 

r  flooring  pur- 

o  to  loo  feet 

six  species  of 

spruce,  being 

trees,  loo  feet 

frandis^  grows 

\rrens — grows 
bur  species  of 
one  of  yew — 
renty-five  feet 
brnia  laurel — 
Menziesii — and 
beautiful  ever- 
of  them  ever- 
oak — Quercus 
d,  like  most  of 
}uercus  Garry- 
rge  tree,  has  a 
cultural  imple> 
Western  chin- 
it  of  125  feet, 
lars,  or  cotton- 
sycamore  ;  one 
;  three  species 
■in  dogwoods ; 
».  vo  maples — 
\  ■XAeer  circi- 
'  id  tbe  moun^i 
willow,  a  box 
h  is  not  a  true 
Parkimotti^  or 
es  of  cactus,  ft> 
^ies;  ^  pMiv 


tachio-nut  and  many  species  of  semi-tropical  trees  which  arc 
unknown  elsewhere.  The  shrubs  and  small  fruits  are  numerous, 
but  the  'cultivation  of  these  and  of  grapes  and  edible  nuts  and 
berries  belongs  rather  to  horticulture.  There  are  many  medi- 
cinal plants  and  shrubs,  some  of  them  possessing  very  valuable 
qualities.  Grasses  are  very  numerous,  and  some  of  them  highly 
nutritious,  but  they  are  nearly  all  annuals,  and  except  in  the 
foggy  regions  along  the  northwestern  coast,  there  are  hardly 
any  native  grasses  which  will  make  a  sod  or  which  are  adapted 
for  hay.  The  greater  part  of  the  State  is  entirely  destitute  of 
anything  tike  a  permanent  sod,  and  aside  from  the  wild  oat 
{Avcna  sattva),  the  wild  barley  {Hordeutn  jubatutn),  tlie  burr 
clover  {Medicago  denticulatm)  and  four  or  five  species  ot  native 
clovers,  which  are  annuals,  and  are  cured  by  the  sun  at  the 
beginning  of  the  dry  season,  but  form  for  a  time  good  pasturage, 
the  &rmer  and  stock-raiser  is  compelled  to  rely  on  Alfalfa  and 
the  forage  grasses  and  cereals,  Hungarian,  German,  and  pearl 
millet,  Egyptian  rice-corn  or  Dhurra,  oats,  wheat,  rye,  sor- 
ghum as  a  forage  plant,  etc.,  for  late  feeding  of  his  stock. 

Wild  flowers  abound  in  California,  many  of  them  those  highly 
prized  by  florists  elsewhere,  of  remarkable  beauty  of  form  and 
color,  and  some  of  them  exceedingly  fragrant.  The  lily  and 
syringa  families,  many  of  them  shrubs  and  even  trees,  and  con- 
spkuous  alike  for  beauty  and  fragrancy,  are  found  growing  wild 
and  filling  the  air  for  long  distances  with  their  perfume.  Of 
cryptogamous  plants,  the  quantity  and  variety  is  almost  without 
limit.  One  hundred  species  of  mosses  have  been  described, 
and  the  mushrooms,  seaweeds,  lichens  and  fungi  are  still  more 
aibandaat. 

Zoi^gy-r^lhtrti  are  115  species  of  mammalia  in  California, 
of  which  twenty-seven  are  carnivorous,  including  the  grizzly, 
Uack,  and  brown  or  Mexican  h^'\  the  raccoon,  badger,  two 
species  of  skunk,  the  wolverine  iisher,  American  sable  or  mar- 
■ten,  mink,  yellow-cheeked  weasel,  California  otter  and  sea  otter, 
ibe  cougar,  jaguar,  wild  cat,  red  lynx  and  banded  lynx,  raccoon 
fox  or  mountain  cat,  gray  wolf,  coyote  or  barking  wolf  (this 
differs  somewhat  from  the  prairie  wolf,  and  is  becoming  annoy- 


r? 


I 


.    I 


.:>mimmmmmmm0mmit* 


^i 


tfMMtMiMHMMHIlMnMl^M^^ 


574 


OVR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


.■,»i  1  ■ 


ingly  abundant  in  the  State,  preying  upon  lambs,  young  pigs, 
fowls,  etc.),  five  species  of  fox,  three  or  four  species  of  sea-lion, 
two  species  of  seal,  and  the  sea-elephant.  The  larger  and  more 
formidable  of  these  carnivora  are  becoming  rare  in  the  State 
except  in  some  of  the  more  sparsely  inhabited  counties;  the 
grizzly  and  other  bears  are  found  in  the  mountains,  but  the 
felida,  especially  the  cougar,  jaguar,  and  the  lynxes  are  rare, 
and  the  gray  wolt  is  not  often  found  near  the  settlements. 

Of  the  insect  eaters,  there  are  two  moles,  two  shrews,  and  six- 
teen species  of  bats.  Of  the  rodents,  there  are  the  beaver,  the 
sewellel  or  mammoth  mole,  five  species  of  ground-squirrels, 
pest;i  which  multiply  by  the  million  and  levy  their  assessments 
upon  the  grain  crop,  often  carrying  off  half  the  crop  and  riddling 
the  stacks  and  sacks  of  grain,  and  even  finding  their  way  into 
the  barns  and  storehouses.  There  are  also  five  species  of  tree- 
squirrels,  more  harmless  in  their  character.  Of  the  mouse  family 
there  are  eighteen  species,  including  three  naturaUzed  ones. 
The  musk-rat,  jumping  mouse,  four  species  of  kangaroo  mice, 
and  five  of  gophers,  a  pest  almost  as  destructive  of  trees,  shrubs, 
Und  plants  as  the  squirrel  is  of  the  grain.  There  is  a  yellow- 
haired  porcupine,  six  species  of  hares  and  rabbits,  some  of  them 
peculiar  to  the  Pacific  coast,  and  a  coney  or  rat- rabbit.  Of 
ruminants,  there  are  the  elk,  the  white-tailed,  black-tailed,  and 
itiule-deer,  the  American  antelope,  the  mountain  goat  or  goat- 
antelope,  and  the  big-horn  or  mountain  sheep.  *' 

Of  the  cetacea,  as  well  as  of  the  sea-fishes,  California  claims 
justly  all  that  are  found  in  the  waters  of  the  Pacific  within  the 
bounds  of  the  United  States,  possibly  excluding  Alaska.  This 
includes  the  right  and  the  California  gray  whale,  the  hump-back 
aind  fin-back,  two  of  the  beaked  whales,  the  sperm  whade,  the 
black  fish  and  three  species  of  porpoise. 

Of  birds  there  are  350  species  or  more,  recognized  as  natives 
of  Califot-Aia.  There  are  twenty  species  of  climbers,  fifteen  of 
them  wood-peckers;  of  birds  of  prey  there  are  thirty-seven 
species,  including  five  of  the  eagle  family,  ten  species  of  buzzard- 
hawks,  four  hawks  and  four  falcons ;  twelve  species  of  owls ;  the 
king  of  the  vultures,  and  the  turkey-buzzard,  or  turkey- vulture. 


ltWii<t>'iL  *■! 


idiil  I  iiwuili  ll-  I 


OBJECTS  OF  tNTRREST  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


575 


)s,  young  pigs, 
cies  of  sea-lion, 
irger  and  more 
e  in  the  State 
counties;  the 
ntains,  but  the 
'nxes  are  rare, 
tlements. 
shrews,  and  six- 
the  beaver,  the 
'ound-squirrels, 
;ir  assessments 
op  and  riddling 
\  their  way  into 
species  of  tree- 
le  mouse  family 
ituraUzed  ones, 
kangaroo  mice, 
of  trees,  shrubs, 
lere  is  a  yellow- 
s,  some  of  them 
rat-rabbit.  Of 
}lack-tailed,  and 
1  goat  or  goat- 

lalifornia  claims 
icific  within  the 
r  Alaska.  This 
,  the  hump-back 
)enn.  whade,  the 


\f^t.<iaft  i 


nized  as  natives 
nbers,  fifteen  of 
ire  thirty-seven 
cies  of  buzzard- 
ies  of  owls ;  the 
turkey-vulture. 


There  are  eleven  species  of  perchers  in  the  first  group,  including 
the  crows,  ravens,  magpies,  jays,  and  king-fishers ;  1 4K  species 
in  the  second  and  third  groups,  the  insectivorous  and  granivor- 
ous  perchers,  including  the  fly-catchers,  humming-birds,  swallows, 
wax-wings,  shrikes,  tanagers,  robins  and  thrushes,  wrens,  chicka- 
dees, grosbeaks,  finches,  linnets,  larks,  orioles,  and  sparrows. 
There  are  but  three  species  of  pigeons,  the  band-tailed  pigeon, 
and  the  turtle  and  ground-doves.  Of  grouse  there  are  the  blue 
grouse,  sage-cock,  prairie-hen,  and  ruffed  grouse,  and  three  new 
species  of  quail.  The  waders  are  numerous,  fifty-one  species 
having  been  described.  These  include  cranes,  herons,  bitterns, 
ibises,  plover,  kill-deer,  avocets,  snipes,  sandpipers,  curlews,  rails 
and  coots.  Of  swimmers  over  ninety  species  have  been  de- 
scribed, including  many  species  of  geese,  brant,  teal,  ducks, 
scooters,  coots,  sheldrakes,  mergansers,  pelicans,  cormorants, 
albatrosses,  fulmars,  petrels,  gulls,  terns,  loons,  dippers,  auks, 
sea-pigeons  and  murr^s.  -A     '.■ .'     '    *    f    r  :  ''''! 

Of  the  fishes,  about  240  species  have  been  discovered  in  the 

lakes,  bays,  rivers,  and  on  the  sea-coast  of  California,  of  which 

more  than  200  are  edible.     These  include  nine  species  of  the 

ijwlmon  family,  four  of  the  cod  family,  a  dozen  eels,  seven  or 

eight  species  of  mackerel;  numerous  species  of  the  perch  family 

,and  the  allied  genera;  two   tau togs,  viz.,  the  red-fish  and  the 

kelp-fish;  fifteen  flat  fish  and  flounders;  nine  species  of  shad, 

herring  and  anchovies,  two  of  them  introduced  from  the  East ; 

twenty-two  carps,  and  thirty-five  species  of  cartilaginous  fishes, 

' sturgeons,  sharks,  rays,  sun-fish,  etc.,  etc.  r,;  -rv 

I     There  are  sixty  species  of  mollusks,  including  a  great  varieity 

of  clams,  oysters,  mussels,  scollops,  whelks,  limpets,  sea-snails, 

cuttle-fish,  squids,  nautiluses,  etc.,  etc.     Of  crustaceans  there  are 

eight  or  ten  species,  including  crabs,  king-crabs,  lobsters,  shrimps 

and  craw-fish.     Of  the  reptiles  there  are  great  numbers,  though 

there  are  no  true  saurians  (alligators  or  crocodiles),  except  in 

i  the  Colorado  river  on  the  southeast  border  of  the  State.     There 

are  three  species  of  tortoise,  possibly  some  terrapins,  thirty-one 

fltzards,  five  ratde-snakes,  twenty-five  species  of  harmless  snakes, 

^r  twenty-three  frogs,  several  toads,  horned  toads,  salamanders,  etc. 


;  i 


1 


.  .«Mtetf  .«w«J«iA)igiM«&£i^<£^£aB^!ii^'' 


J 


rmMmm 


HMMMMIHM 


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,mm^  OUR    WSSTEXAT  MMJ^/HS. 

Objects  of  Inttrtst  and  Wonder. — First  among  these  is  the  far. 
fiiined  valley  of  the  Yosemite,  known  everywhere  as  one  of  the 
wonders  of  the  world.  The  best  and  most  accurate  and  satis* 
Victory  description  of  this  wonderful  valley  ever  written  is  that 
from  the  pen  of  Josiah  D.  Whitney,  LL.  D.,  State  Geologist  of 
California,  and  a  member  of  the  National  Academy  of  Science. 
This  description,  slighdy  condensed,  we  give  below ; 

•*  The  word  Yosemite  means  •  a  full-grown  grizzly  bear,'  and 
was  not  the  aboriginal  name  of  the  valley  itself,  but  that  of  a 
noted  chief  of  the  tribe  inhabiting  it.  The  present  Indian  name 
of  the  Yosemite  is  said  to  be  Ah-wah-nei.  p  f  -  "" 

"  The  Yosemite  valley  is  situated  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  of 
California,  about  1 50  miles  in  a  direct  line  a  little  south  of  east 
from  San  Francisco,  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  State  of  Califor- 
nia, north  and  south,  and  about  midway  between  the  east  and 
west  bases  of  the  Sierra,  which  is  here  not  far  from  seventy  miUjs 
in  width.  It  is  a  level  area,  about  six  miles  in  length,  and  from 
half  a  mile  to  a  mile  in  width,  and  is  sunk  nearly  a  mile  in  depth 
below  the  general  level  of  the  adjacent  region.  It  has  very 
much  the  charactar  of  a  gorge  or  trough,  hollowed  in  the  moun- 
tains in  a  direction  nearly  at  right  angles  to  their  general  trend. 
Tlus  gorge  has  not  a  r^ular  form,  but  while  its  general  direc- 
tion remains  nearly  the  same,  its  sides  advance  and  retreat,  with 
angular  projections  and  recesses,  thus  giving  a  great  variety  of 
oudf ne  tx>  die  enclosing  masses.  The  river  Merced,  which  rises 
in  die  Sierra,  some  fifteen  m^es  higher  up  dian  the  head  of  the 
valley,  in  the  group  of  mountains  of  which  Mount  Lyeli  is  die 
domtnatittg  peak,  runs  througii  the  Yosemite  with  many  graceful 
windings,  and  gives  rsse  at  the  head  of  the  valley  to  the  remark- 
able waiterfallsi  which  will  be  nodced  farther  on.  Two  branches 
of  the  main  Merced  also  enter  die  valley  near  its  head;  one,  the 
Teoaya  Foek,  whidi  rists  in  a  beautifVil  mountain  bice  of  the 
same  name,  comes  in  from  the  northeast ;  die  other,  die  Iltiloiii- 
ette,  enters  from  die  sondi.  These  tributaries  join  die  Merced 
through  deep'  cxAons,  as  the  mountain  gorgtes  in  the  Sierra  aite 
Always  called;  bnt  tbcre  are  several  other  smaller  streams  w4ii<ih 
aka  enter  die  valley,  leaping  over  its  walls,  and  giving  rise  2n 


,..^M[8i^i»&a^wafetewia^j:«MiWi 


tiWBiiwiYt'T  -n'^'»^-'f^'"-  '^■-»'"'->>- 


9fmiimmm»mtiKmmimimummmme-'t .. 


XfraWr*' 


these  U  the  far- 
e  as  one  of  the 
urate  and  satis- 
written  is  that 
te  Geologist  of 
:my  of  Science, 
w: 

zzly  bear,'  and 
f,  but  that  of  a 
nt  Indian  name 

rra  Nevada  of 
e  south  of  east 
►tate  of  Califo-- 
the  east  and 
n  seventy  tmUts 
ngth,  and  from 
a  mile  in  depth 
It  has  very 
id  in  the  moun- 
p  general  trend. 
(  general  diree- 
nd  retreat,  with 
jrreat  variety  of 
ced,  which  rises 
the  head  of  the 
nt  Lyell  is  t^ 
I  many  graceful 
to  the  remark- 
Two  branches 
head;  one,  the 
kin  hike  of  tfte 
her,  ^  imioih- 
>m  ^  Merced 
I  the  Sierra  ai*e 
*  streams  vAMi 
giving  rise  in 


\ 


77/A    YOSF.M/T£    VALLEY. 


$77 


almost  every  instance,  to  interesting  falls ;  which,  however,  are 
not  in  general  of  any  great  size,  except  during  the  early  part  of 
the  season,  when  the  snow  upon  the  adjacent  mountains  is 
melting. 

"The  pleasure-seeking  traveller,  who  visits  the  Yosemite,  does 
not  confine  his  explorations  to  the  valley  proper,  but  from  vari- 
ous commanding  points  adjacent  to  it  obtains  a  great  variety  of 
views  of  the  groups  of  peaks  which  form  the  crest  of  the  Sierra 
in  that  region,  as  well  as  of  the  spurs  which  extend  down  from 
the  m.\in  range,  or  stretch  along  parallel  with  it.  Thus  a  jour- 
ney to  the  Yosemite  properly  includes  a  tour  around  its  exterior, 
or  at  least  one  or  more  visits  to  prominent  points  of  view  above 
it,  from  which  the  observer  cannot  only  look  directly  down  into 
the  depths  of  the  valley  below  him,  but  also  command  a  variety 
of  views  of  lofty  and  in  part  snow-clad  ranges,  which  offer  among 
themselves  most  remarkable  contrasts  of  form  and  structure. 

"  In  noticing  the  details  of  the  scenery  of  the  Yosemite,  the 
valley  proper  may  first  be  considered.  The  prominent  features 
here  are :  the  great  elevation  of  th^  walls  which  enclose  it ;  the 
remarkable  approach  to  verticality  in  these  walls;  their  great 
height  and  their  wonderful  variety  and  beauty  of  form.  To 
these  features  may  also  be  added  the  attractions  of  the  mag- 
nificent waterfalls  which  occur  at  various  points  on  both  sides  of 
the  valleyi  although  these,  as  already  noticed,  must  be  seen  early 
in  the  seaoon  in  order  that  the  traveller  may  be  greatly  im- 
pressed by  them.  In  entering  the  Yosemite  by  the  roads  which 
approach  it  from  the  lower  end,  the  visitor  notices  that  he  has 
before  him  a  valley  of  a  different  type  of  form  from  those  he 
has  before  been  accustomed  to  see.  He  passes  from  a  V-shaped 
gorge  or  cafion  into  one  which  may  b^  fairly  csUled  U-shaped, 
since  its  walls  rise  almost  vertically  from  its  floor.  This  change 
of  form  is  strikingly  impressed  on  the  visitor  as  he  approaches 
what  may  be  call^  die  gateway  of  the  Yosemite.  Here  he 
sees  before  him,  on  the  north  side  of  the  valley,  the  mass  of 
rock  called  El  Capitan,  and  exactly  opposite  the  Bridal  Veil  and 
Cisithedral  Rocks.  At  this  point  the  distance  across  the  valley  is 
only  a  mile,  measuried  from  the  summit  of  the  Bridal  Veil  Roek 


1 


— S^s^SU"' 


j^g  OUK    WKSTEKS   RMPIRB. 

to  that  of  El  Capitan,  and  at  the  bane  of  these  cliffs  there  Ih  only 
just  room  for  the  river  to  pass.  LI  Cnpitan  is  an  inimcnsc 
block  of  granite  projecting  squarely  out  into  the  valley,  and 
presenting  two  almost  vertical  faces,  which  meet  in  a  sharp  edge 
3,300  feet  in  perpendicular  elevation.  The  sides  or  walls  of  this 
mass  are  bare,  smooth  and  entirely  destitute  of  vegetation.  It 
is  doubtful  if  anywhere  in  the  world  there  is  presented  so 
squarely  cut,  so  lofty  and  so  impos'ng  a  face  of  rock.  On  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  valley  is  the  grand  mass  of  the  Cathedral  Kocks, 
divided  into  two  parts  by  a  deep  notch  between  them.  The 
most  striking  face  of  the  larger  Cathedral  Rock  is  turned  up 
the  valley,  but  on  the  side  facing  the  entrance  there  is  a  feature 
of  great  beauty,  namely,  the  Bridal  Veil  Falls,  made  by  the  crtrck 
of  the  same  name,  which,  as  it  enters  the  valley,  descends  in  a 
vertical  sheet  of  630  feet  perpendicular,  striking  there  a  pile  of 
dibfis,  down  which  it  rushes  in  a  series  of  cascades,  with  a  vertical 
descent  of  nearly  300  feet  more,  the  total  height  of  the  fall  being 
900  feet.  This  creek  flows  through  the  entire  year,  but  tlie  fall 
is  only  great  when  the  amount  of  water  is  near  its  maximum. 
When  the  stream  is  ntMther  too  full  nor  too  low,  the  mass  of  water, 
in  its  fall,  vibrates  with  the  varying  pressure  of  the  wind  blowing 
in  the  daytime  up  the  valley  in  the  most  beautiful  and  remark- 
able manner.  It  is  this  fluttering  and  waving  of  the  sheet  of 
wat'T  which  has  given  it  the  poetic  but  somewhat  fanciful  name 
it  now  bears,  that  of  the  Indians  having  been  Pohono,  a  term 
having  reference,  it  is  said,  to  the  chilliness  of  the  air  under  the 
high  clifl'  and  near  the  falling  waters.  There  is  also  a  charming 
fall  in  a  deep  square  recess  of  the  rocks  opposite  the  Bridal 
Veil,  and  just  below  El  Capitan.  This  fall,  which  is  over  i  ,000 
feet  high,  is  called  the  Virgin's  Tears.  It  runs,  however,  but  a 
short  time  during  the  early  summer  months. 

"  Passing  up  the  valley  after  entering  between  the  Cathedral 
Rocks  and  El  Capitan,  the  level  area  or  river-bottom  increases 
to  nearly  half  a  mile  in  width.  This  area  is  broken  up  into 
Small  meadows,  gay  with  flowers  in  the  early  summer,  and 
sandier  regions  on  which  grow  numerous  pitch-pines,  and  some 
oaks,  cedars  and  firs.     The  walls  of  the  valley  continue  lofty  and 


wimm 


tamamm 


TNR    YOSEMITK    VAI.I.HY. 


fTs  there  is  only 

is  an  intmcniie 

ihc  valley,  and 

in  a  sharp  cd^e 

or  walls  of  this 

vegetation.     It 

presented    so 

.   On  the  oppo- 

athedral  Kocks, 

en  them.     The 

k  is  turned  up 

lere  is  a  feature 

ide  by  the  crt-tk 

U  descends  in  a 

there  a  pile  of 

s,  with  a  vertical 

of  the  fall  being 

ear,  but  tl^e  fall 

r  its  maximum. 

e  mass  of  water, 

le  wind  blowing 

ill  and  remark- 

of  the  sheet  of 

t  fanciful  name 

Pohono,  a  term 

te  air  under  the 

also  a  charming 

>site  the  Bridal 

;h  is  over  i,cxx> 

however,  but  a 

• 

n  the  Cathedral 
ottom  increases 
broken  up  into 
y  summer,  and 
)ines,  and  some 
tntinue  lofty  and 
;^fn  .li'  '  ■^,' 


579 


broken  into  the  most  picturrscjur  forms.  Of  these  the  Three 
Brothers  and  the  Sentinel  Rock  are  the  most  conspicuous. 
Nearly  opposite  the  Sentinel  Rock  is  one  of  tho  most  attractive 
feat'ircs  of  the  Yosemite,  namely.  th<-  fall  made  by  the  descent 
of  Yosemite  creek  down  the  wall  on  the  north  side  of  tht*  valley. 
The  vertical  elevation  of  the  edge  of  this  fall  is  3,600  feet,  but 
the  descent  is  not  in  one  unbroken  sheet.  There  is  first  a 
vertical  fall  of  1,500  feet,  then  a  descent  of  626  feet  in  a  sericn 
of  cascades,  and  finally  one  plunge  of  400  feet  on  to  a  low  talus 
of  rocks  at  the  foot  of  the  precipice.  The  body  of  water  is  not 
large,  and  it  decreases  considerably  as  the  season  advances,  be^ 
coming  very  small,  in  ordinary  years,  by  the  end  of  August. 
The  width  of  the  stream  in  June  and  July  is  usually  about  twenty 
feet,  and  its  depth  about  two  feet.  The  beauty  and  grandeur  of 
this  fall,  however,  taken  in  connection  with  the  majesty  of  its  sur- 
roundings, give  it  a  claim  to  be  ranked  among  the  most  remark- 
able natural  objects  in  the  world.  There  are  certainly  very  few 
waterfalls  which  can  compete  with  it.  '  '''  '    '^♦♦•'^ »    '  '•• 

''••At  the  head  of  the  valley  the  falls  of  the  Merced  river  are  of 
great  interest.  There  are  two  of  them  with  beautifiil  interven- 
ing rapids.  The  lower  one  is  called  the  Vernal  Fall,  and  t§ 
about  400  feet  in  vertical  bright.  The  upper,  the  Nevada  F'all, 
is  about  600  feet  in  elevation.  Th<  body  of  water  in  these  falls 
is  large,  and  the  efTect  very  grand.  As  the  Merced  river  is  fed 
by  melting  snows  high  up  in  the  Sierra,  the  amount  of  water  is 
not  so  much  diminished  toward  the  end  of  the  season  as  it  is  in 
the  case  of  the  smaller  creeks  heading  at  an  inferior  elevation ; 
thus  the  falls  of  the  Merced  usually  remain  extremely  picturesque 
and  attractive  objects  during  the  whole  summer. 

"  The  dome-shaped  masses  of  granite  which  characterize  the 
vicinity  of  the  Yosemite  are  also  extremely  grand.  The  North 
Dome,  on  the  north  side  of  the  valley,  lends  itself  to  beautiful 
combinations  of  scenery,  as  seen  from  various  points  a  litthe 
above  the  Yosemite  Falls.  The  Sentinel  Dome,  on  the  opposite 
side,  is  not  visible  from  the  valley  itself,  but  it  affords  a  magnifi- 
cent view  from  its  summit  of  the  valley  and  its  surroundings, 
-  and  especially  of  the  high  Sierras.    A  projecting  cliff  called 


__   ,,111111 


U<iMfc  -  t^mSH 


t|^  Ot/St    WhSTKMN   KMPiMK. 

Calacier  I'oint,  a  little  lower  than  tluH,  and  juHt  on  the  aX^c.  of 
the  valley,  ih  aluo  much  vinited  for  the  iiake  of  the  grand  view, 
which  it  ofTcrH  of  the  whole  region,  but  eipectally  on  account  of 
i|a  favorable  Aituation  with  reference  to  the  Half- Dome,  of  which 
it  commandn  a  moiit  wonderful  view.  The  rock  thus  named  in 
the  highest  point  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Yotiemite,  rining 
tp  an  elevation  of  4,737  feet  above  the  general  level  of  the 
^ley.  The  Half-Dome  haH  the  appearance  of  having  been 
originally  a  dome-shaped  mass  which  has  been  split  into  two 
§arts,  one  of  which  has  lunk  down  and  disappeared ;  hence  the 
9ame.  It  fronts  the  Valley  of  the  Tenaya  fork  of  the  Merced 
wuth  a  very  steep  slope,  crowned  by  a  vertical  wall  of  fully  1,600 
iipet  in  elevation,  forming  together  a  mass  of  rock  of  the  most 
astonishing  form  and  imposing  magnitude.  Arrangements  are 
now  made  by  which  this  Half- Dome,  or,  as  it  is  now  called,  the 
South  Dome,  may  itself  be  ascended.  It  is  a  weary  climb,  pos- 
i^le  only  by  the  aid  of  a  rope  of  great  strength  fastened  to  the 
rock  by  iron  staples  every  fifteen  feet,  by  which  the  climber 
¥fork8  his  way,  hand  over  hand,  for  about  1,500  feet;  but  the 
v^w  at  the  top  is  grand  and  beautiful.  Still  more  magnificent. 
ip,  the  view  from  Cloud's  Rest,  fourteen  miles  away  by  the  trail, 
4hd  a  most  fatiguing  journey,  but  on  re  reached,  the  traveller 
(Eeels  that  he  has  seen  'all the  kingdoms  of  the  world  and  the 
flory  of  them.' 

'  "The  rocky  citadel  juts  out  into  space,  so  that  you  seem 
isolated  from  the  world,  and  held  pendant  over  the  vaPciy. 
Abound  you  is  an  unbroken  horizon  of  mountain  peaks,  with 
ibe  great  valley  in  the.  centre,  its  walls  dwarfed  to  pigmy  pro- 
portions. The  lesser  mbuntains  and  barren  rolling  ridges  re< 
semble  nothing  so  much  a9  a  storm-tossed  ocean  turned  to 
•tone.  A  more  absolute  desolation  could  1  not  be  conceived. 
Vou  feel  the  weight  of  the  centuries,  tbat  look  down  upon  you 
lirom  the  lonesome  peaks  of  the  Sierras.  The  spectacle  reminds 
one  strongly  of  maps  of  the  moon ;  it  gives  the  same  impres- 
sion of  lifeless  repose  afoer  giant  upheavala  of  mountains  and 
rending  of  rock-buttressed  M»alU.  Thomas  Hill;  the  artist,  soys 
tfiat  he  once  took  a  seven  days'  camping  excursion  about  the 


)n  the  cdjfc  of 

thft  grand  view 
f  on  account  of 

Domo,  of  which 

thus  named  \n 
V'onemitc,  riNing 

nl  level  of  the 
having  been 
Mplit  into  two 
red;  hence  the 

of  the  Merced 
ill  of  fully  i,6c» 
>ck  of  the  most 
rangements  are 

now  called,  the 
cary  climb,  pos- 

fastened  to  the 
ich  the  climber 

0  feet;  but  the 
ore  magnificent 
vay  by  the  trail, 
sd,  the  traveller 

1  world  and  the 

that  you  seem 
over  the  val''uy. 
tain  peaks,  with 
I  to  pigmy  pro- 
tiling  ridges  re- 
ceaa  turned  to 
t  be  conceived, 
down  upon  you 
»ectacle  reminds 
E)  same  impres- 
mountains  and 
the  artist,  soys 
rsion  abom  the 


YOSMM/TK  Afft)   TVOI.imNH   VAtlKVX.  }|*i 

valley,  with  a  nephew  of  the  present  Czar  of  RuNnia.  At  all  th<i 
other  pcakn  the  Prince  found  some  mountain  in  the  Alps  or  the 
Mitnalayas  the  view  from  which  surpassed  the  one  iM'fore  him. 
Hut  when  the  summit  of  Cloud's  Rest  was  reached,  he  took  off 
his  hat  and  said:  '  I  salute  the  grandest  view  in  the  world.'" 

The  Yosemite  valley  was  given  by  Congress  to  ih«!  State  of 
California  in  1864  to  be  "held  for  public  ^se,  resort,  and  recrea- 
tion," to  be  also  "  inalienable  for  all  time  "  with  the  conditiofi 
that  portions  of  the  valley  might  l)e  leased,  the  income  arising 
from  such  leases  to  Ik:  expended  "  in  the  preservation  of  th« 
property  or  the  roads  leading  thereto."  The  grant  is  managoA 
by  commissioners  appointed  by  the  governor  of  the  S':ate. 
Wagon  roads,  railroads  and  trails  have  been  built  to  afford  mort: 
convenient  access  to  the  valley,  and  to  various  points  command' 
ing  remarkable  views  of  the  valley  and  its  surroundings.       '     '' 

The  Tuolumne  river,  another  tributary  of  the  San  JoaquiA, 
ivhich  enters  it  a  few  miles  north  of  the  Merced  and  drains  Tuo- 
lumne county  as  the  Merced  docs  Mariposa,  also  has  its  sourcei 
in  the  Sierra  Nevada,  and  about  fifty  miles  northwest  of  the 
Yosemite  valley,  flows  through  another  valley  nearly  or  quite 
as  picturcs({uu  and  grand  as  the  Yosemite  and  with  as  many 
and  as  lofty  waterfalls.       ^   "..",«  n",.,w>,,    .,  ;, ;       , 

But  these  remarkable  valleys  do  not  furnish  all  the  natural 
wonders  of  California.  In  Tulare,  Fresno,  Mariposa,  Tuo- 
lumne, and  Calaveras  counties  there  are  groves  of  the  gigantic 
Sequoias,  whose  vast  height  and  wondrous  beauty  would  w«fl 
repay  a  journey  across  the  continent. 

In  Napa  county,  near  Calistoga,  is  a  narrow  valk-y  where  zrk 
all  the  evidences  of  recent,  and,  indeed,  existing  volcanic  action. 
The  whole  valley  or  cafton  is  filled  with  flowing  (not  spouting) 
hot  springs,  which  are  called  geysers  (an  inappropriate  name; 
though  they  are  very  singular  in  their  action,  flowing  with  i^ter^ 
missions),  and  the  whole  soil  is  covered  with  a  crust  of  sulphur, 
iron-rust,  and  other  mineral  deposits,  and  filled  with  steam  from 
the  boiling  water.  The  ground  shakes  under  the  foot-steps,  ancji 
is  so  hot  as  to  be  uncomfortable  to  the  feet.  « 

Besides  these  there  are  the  natural  bridges  and  the  chyote 


I 


4 


' 


'  'j.trjiL-*nff^-^^''^ 


mmanMn  iiB-.iOTTt^'W-    4^  - 


|gj  OUM    WhSTMMJ^   KMriKK. 

caves  of  Calaveras  county,  with  their  liell-sounthn^  rockn,  the 
magnificent  grotto  near  (irixxly  Flat,  in  Ml  I )ora<lo  county ;  of 
the  lakeN,  Tahoc,  the  gem  ot  the  mountain^t,  ahnont  at  the  sum- 
iitit  of  the  Sirrran,  and  the  smaller  but  romantic  Lake  Donm-r 
on  the  iKiundary  line  of  Nevada ;  Mono  (salt)  lake,  in  Mono 
county,  not  far  from  Yonemite ;  Klamath  lake,  in  the  north ; 
Tulare  lake  in  the  county  of  the  same  name ;  and  the  wild  vol. 
canic  region  In  the  southcant  in  Inyo,  Mono,  San  IJernardino,  and 
Kern  countii's ;  that  region  of  horrors  enclosing  the  xink  of  the 
Amargoza  river,  the  "  Heath  Valley,"  of  which  we  have  already 
■poken,  400  feet  below  the  level  of  the  Hea,  w  hile  within  sight 
of  it  the  Sierras  tower  14.CXX)  or  15,000  feet  above  the  sea. 
This  deep  dej)ression,  forty  miles  long  and  eight  or  ten  wide,  is 
partly  crusted  over  with  salt  and  soda  and  other  alkalies  several 
inches  thick,  and  partly  composed  of  an  ash-like  earth  mixi  d 
with  a  tenacious  clay,  sand,  and  alkali  so  soft  that  no  animal  ran 
cross  it  withou  being  mired.  There  is  no  vegetation  on  any 
part  of  it,  and  t.ic  temperature  during  at  least  six  months  of  the 
year  ranges  from  110°  to  140"  Fahrenheit. 

Climates— Vrol  \l.  W.   Hil>'     I   thus  describes  the  various 
climates  of  the  State : 

"Taking  as  a  convenient  point  of  view  the  central  portion  of 
the  State,  the  climates  of  California  may  be  roughly  classified  a:; 

(pllows:  ;"    ;|        -/-       ..,    ■!.  j.....,^ 

^••i.  The  bay  and  coast  climati.  Its  prominent  characteristics 
arc,  first,  the  small  range  of  the  thermometer,  caused  by  the 
tempering  influence  of  the  sea,  the  prevailini;  winds  being  from 
the  west.  The. average  winter  and  summer  temperature  at  San 
Francisco  thus  differs  by  only  about  6°  Fahrenheit  (53°  and  59" 
respectively).  Snow  rately  reaches  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  is 
sometimes  not  seen  for  several  seasons,  even  on  the  summits  of 
the  Coast  Range.*  A  few  light  frosts  with  the  thermometer  at 
between   28*  and  32*  Fahrenheit  for  a  few  hours  during  the 


•The  winter  oC  1880  wm  on*  of  the  axcepilonftt  ye»n  In  which  tnow  did  re«ch  the  coMt, 
m4  the  thermometer  marked  l8*  Fahrenheit.  TI)U  neirere  wenlhcr  w«»  very  dettnictive  to 
Howering  plants  and  ihrubs,  but  wat  laid  not  to  have  occtirred  for  more  than  thirty  ycaia  pre- 
^[M»)y.    Ordinarily,  the  (uchiU  and  heliotrope  live  and  tl^iive  19  Uii  opf n  nir  there  ^b  wilder. 


'■-mmmmmm 


.    •.  -^m  »■-. 


»<linj{  rockn.  the 

a<U)  county ;  o( 

noHt  ttt  the  Hum- 

Lake?  DoMiitr 

lake,  in   Mono 

:\  in   the   north ; 

tu\  the  wild  vol. 

licrnardino,  and 

the  nink  o(  ihc 

v«'  have;  already 

lile  within  si^jht 

above  the   sea. 

It  or  ten  wide,  ik 

'  alkalies  several 

ke  earth  mix  id 

It  no  animal  can 

getation  on  any 

ix  months  of  the 

bes  the  variouit 

:ntral  portion  of 
ghly  classified  a» 

It  characteristics 
',  caused  by  the 
inds  being  from 
iperaturc  at  San 
leit  (53°  and  59° 
if  the  sea,  and  is 
I  the  summits  of 
thermometer  at 
}urs  during  the 

ow  i/ii/  re«ch  iha  coa«l, 
wan  very  dMinictive  to 
w  than  thlrljr  yuan  prt- 
^n  air  there  in  winter. 


HAY  A\D  COAST  Ct.tMATK.  }gj 

night  \%  the  ordinary  ex|>c>ctAiion  for  winter,  while  in  Humntcr  the 
ntitnbrr  of  'hot'  <l4>«  on  whiih  the  thernionirtcr  rcachc'n  Ho"  or 
more,  rar«ly  rxcretU  right  or  ten.  'l'hr»e  occur  chiefly  in  '.t|v 
tendxT  and  under  the  jnlltience  of  the  '  norther,'  which  cauiteg 
th<'  h«»t  dry  air  of  th«'  interior  valleys  to  overflow  the  Iwrrier  of 
th«'  C'o.tNt  Kai»j;e.  Untl«*r  .1  brilliantly  clear  nky,  it  nweeps  «)v«r 
the  nioiintains,  accompanied  by  <  UnuU  oi  elust,  and,  like  the  hot 
breath  til  a  furnace,  it  lickii  up  aM  moiHture  Ufore  it,  wilting  and 
withering  ilx!  leaven  of  all  but  the  most  hanly  planis,  cracking 
and  l).tkii)^r  the  hoII,  loosening  the  jointHof  all  wooden  structured, 
whether  wa^'onn,  furnitiire,  or  houses,  and  causing  the  latu  r  to 
rehound  at  night  with  the  Hplittin;;  of  panels  and  similar  unearthly 
noises,  to  the  discomfort  of  the  nervous  sleepers,  that  .it  such 
times  comprise  the  vast  majority  of  the  population.  This  nni* 
versal  infliction  fortunately  lasts  but  rarely  more  than  three  days, 
whtrn  the  welcome  sea-fo/,  which  has  Xnivn  kept  standing  like  a 
wall  fort/  or  fifty  miles  in  the  offing,  gradually  advance  s,  and 
with  its  grateful  coolness  and  moisture  infuse-s  fresh  lite  into  the 
parched  vegetation  and  the  irritable,  panting  population. 

"  Dniing  the  winteT  months  the  north  winel  is  e(|ually  dry,  but 
at  the  same  time  coUl ;  and  while  it  then  Kometimes  lasts  a  week 
or  more,  it  causes  but  little  discomfort  e)r  damage,  save  occa* 
sionally  to  the  young  grass  and  grain.  Thr  second  distinctive 
feature  of  the  coast  climate  is  the  fogs  brought  in  from  the  sea 
by  the  prevailing  west  winds  or  summer  trades,  as  the  result  of 
their  crossing  the  cold  Alaskan  current  in-shore.  The  sea-fogs, 
coming  in  regularly  almost  every  afternoon  from  the  latter  part 
of  June  to  that  of  August,  and  more  or  less  throughout  the  year, 
often  with  a  gorgeous  display  of  cloud  pictures,  temper  materi- 
ally not  only  the  heat,  but  also  the  summer  drought ;  <io  that 
under  their  intlucnce  plants  requiring  but  a  moderate  degree  of 
moisture  can,  in  a  loose  soil,  grow  throughout  that  season.  In 
the  latitude  of  San  I'Vancisco  it  thus  happens  that  in  the  coast 
climate  sub-tropical  and  northern  plants  may  thrive  side  by  side; 
the  latter  (such  as  currants  and  cranberries)  ripening  with  case 
and  in  great  perfection,  while  the  fig,  grape,  orange,  etc.,  though 
growing  luxuriantly,  can  ripen  their  fruit  only  in  valleys  pro- 


i 


\ 


\ 


.  >;fctasaiiBivBt,t«»:'gte;,iaaiW<aat— 


:~'<^.  VfC*-n>:<iiimM«>v>i.'«»i«>''ir  M;/^.nm~«yi.MmiiV''Ji'«i0^j>'>ii<'nt-u*.majiitfws^amKX»itiWx^M 


rg;^  Ot/Jt    WESTERN  EMPIEB. 

tected  by  mountain  ridges  from  the  direct  influence  of  the  sum- 
mer trade-winds.  Thus  while  a  broad  river  of  fog  may  be  pour- 
ing in  at  the  Golden  Gate,  covering  the  two  cities  and  spreading 
out  on  the  opposite  shore  to  a  width  of  eight  or  ten  miles,  the 
hamlet  of  San  Rafael,  only  fourteen  miles  to  the  north,  but  under 
the  lee  of  Mount  Tamalpais,  and  the  old  town  of  San  Jos^,  under 
the  protection  of  its  seaward  mountains,  forty  miles  to  the  south, 
are  mosdy  basking  in  full  f-mshine,  and  ripen  to  great  perfec- 
tion not  only  the  grape,  but  also  the  more  tender  fruits  of  their 
groves  of  fig  and  orange. 

2.  Climate  of  the  great  interior  valley.  "The  average  winter 
temperature  is  lower  than  that  of  corresponding  portions  of  the 
coast,  although  the  minimum  is  little,  if  at  all,  below  that  of  the 
latter.  Sub-tropical  plants,  therefore,  winter  there  almost  as 
readily  as  on  the  coast.  In  summer,  however,  the  av  -age 
temperature  is  high,  often  rem  IniLg  above  ioo°  Fahrenheit  for 
imany  days,  the  nights  also  being  very  warm.  At  the  same  time, 
however,  the  air  is  so  dry  as  to  render  the  heat  much  less 
oppressive  than  is  the  case  east  of  the  mountains,  sunstroke 
being  almost  unknown.  Standing  on  the  summits  of  the  Coast 
Range  in  summer,  and  looking  down  upon  the  thick  shroud  of 
fog  covering  all  to  seaward,  t'*e  white  masses  can  be  seen  drift- 
ing against  the  mountain  side,  and,  rising  upward,  dissolving 
into  thin  air  as  soon  as,  on  passing  the  divide,  they  meet  the 
warmth  of  the  Great  Valley.  From  points  in  the  latter  the 
i loud-banks  may  be  seen  filling  the  mountain  passes  and  some- 
times pouring  like  a  cataract  over  the  summit  ridges,  but  power- 
less to  disturb  even  for  a  moment  the  serenity  of  the  summer 
sky,  or  to  yield  a  drop  of  moisture  to  the  parched  soil  of  the  Sa.i 
Joaquin  plains.  The  unwary  traveller,  starting  from  Sacramento 
or  Stockton  on  a  hot  summer's  day  without  the  thought  of  shawl 
jor  overcoat,  may  find  himself  chilled  to  the  bone  on  crossing  the 
Coast  Rai^e,  and  runs  imminent  risk  of  rheumatism  or  pneu- 
monia. On  the  other  hand,  the  San  Franciscan,  feeling  the  need 
Kof  having  his  pores  opened  by  a  good  perspiration,  can  have  his 
fivish  gratified  in  an  hour  or  two  by  taking  the  reverse  direction. 
The  '  norther '  is,  of  course,  more  frequent  in  the  great  vallqy 


..\ 


«■■■ 


ce  of  the  sum- 
:  may  be  pour- 
and  spreading 

ten  miles,  the 
arth,  but  under 
ian  Jos6,  under 
:s  to  the  south, 
►  great  perfec- 

fruits  of  their 

average  winter 
portions  of  the 
ow  that  of  the 
lere  almost  as 
r,  the  av  -age 
Fahrenheit  for 
the  same  time, 
eat  much  less 
ains.  sunstroke 
:s  of  the  Coast 
lick  shroud  of 
1  be  seen  drift- 
ard,  dissolving 
they  meet  the 
the  latter  the 
sses  and  some- 
§^es,  but  power- 
jf  the  summer 
soil  of  the  San 
)m  Sacramento 
ought  of  shawl 
>n  crossing  the 
atism  or  pneu- 
jeling  the  need 
n,  can  have  his 
rerse  direction, 
le  great  valley 


vmmt&itsmmKimeimimmm^ 


INTERIOR  CUUATR.  jgj 

than  on  the  coast ;  but  its  dryness  and  high  i^mperature  are  not 
so  much  of  a  change  from  the  ordinary  condition  of  things,  and 
it  therefore  does  not  cause  such  general  remark,  disturbance,  or 
damage  unless  unusually  severe. 

3,  Climate  of  the  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  ""^he  essential 
features  of  the  climate  of  the  Great  Valley  may  be  roughly  said 
to  extend  to  the  height  of  about  2,000  feet  up  its  flanks  into  the 
'  foot-hills,'  with,  however,  an  increasing  rainfall  as  we  ascend, 
and  therefore  greater  safety  for  crops  and  less  absolute  depend- 
ence upon  irrigation.  Higher  up,  the  influence  of  elevation 
makes  itself  felt ;  snow  falls  and  lies  in  winter,  while  the  summers 
are  cool ;  and  we  thus  return  to  the  familiar  rigime  of  season* 
as  understood  in  the  Middle  and  Northern  States,  including, 
especially  in  the  more  northern  portion,  the  phenomenon  of 
summer  thunder-storms,  which  are  almost  unknown  on  the  coast 
and  in  the  San  Joaquin  valley.  The  same  general  features 
•:ome  into  play  more  and  more  as  we  advance  northward  in  the 
hilly  and  mountainous  regions  lying  north  of  San  Francisco  bay, 
toward  the  Oregon  line,  marked  also  in  general  by  a  gradual 
increase  of  timber  growth.  The  features  of  the  three  principal 
climates  described  intermingle,  or  are  interspersed,  according  as 
the  valleys  are  open  to  seaward,  run  parallel  to  the  coast,  or  are 
in  communication  with  the  great  interior  valley.  We  thus  find 
numberless  local  climates,  '  thermal  belts,'  and  privileged  nooks 
adapted  to  special  cultures  which  may  be  impracticable  in  an 
adjoining  valley,  and  almost  insular  as  regards  the  region  where 
similar  conditions  are  predominant.  To  the  southward,  the  chief 
climates  above  defined  are  modified  by  thi'ee  factors,  viz. :  the 
increase  of  temperature,  the  decrease  of  rainfall,  and  the  de- 
crease, from  about  San  Francisco  southward,  of  the  feature  of 
summer  fogs.  As  regards  temperature,  the  extreme  range  is 
still  very  nearly  the  same  at  Los  Angeles  as  ot  San  Francisco ; 
but  the  averages  are  very  considerably  higher  at  the  formfef 
point,  that  of  the  winter  being  60",  that  of  summer  about  75® 
Fahrenheit.  At  intermediate  points  along  the  coAst,  local  variti' 
tions  excepted,  tfce  averages  vary  as  sensibly  a^  th'e  latiivJe. 
As  to  rainfall  along  the  coast,  its  decrease  is  slow,  descending 


I 


'A 


% 


'11 


,SBljWi«*;^.rR 


I 


i>.s£mK!ti& .  'mmim.mjia^em3xnmmmiiiaum^&.u,Miui.t-<iifi%i  •  i 


■  nfc  i  .rmBTijcf  i!i^r.ate^" 


t^  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

from  twenty-four  inches  at  San  P'rancisco  to  fifteen  at  5>anta 
Barbara,  twelve  at  Los  Angeles,  and  nine  to  ten  at  San  Diego. 
But  in  the  interior  valley  the  decrease  is  much  more  rapid,  as 
previously  stated,  modified  locally,  according  as  the  divide  of  the 
Coast  Range  is  so  high  as  to  preclude  the  access  of  moisture 
from  the  sea,  or  low  enough  to  admit  its  influence.  The  same 
factor  influences  also  the  cooling  and  moistening  effect  of  the 
summer  winds  and  fogs,  which  temper  the  summer  climate  of 
the  Los  Angeles  plain,  but  fail  to  reach  the  Mojave  desert  or 
the  fervid  plains  of  the  upper  San  Joaquin  valley." 

We  supjilcnK'nt  this  general  statement  by  the  following  table, 
corrected  to  the  latest  date.  It  is  the  average  in  most  cases  of 
twenty  years: 


Placet. 


San  Francisco 
Sacramento 
Humboldt  Bay 
Benicia .  .  . 
Monterey  .  . 
Visalia  .  .  . 
San  Diego  .  . 
Los  Angeles  . 
Fort  Yuma 


563° 
58.5' 
53.0° 

56-5° 
540" 
60.6° 

59-4' 
58.6° 
12.0" 


aia.  i 


59-5° 
71.5" 
57-5' 
67.0° 

59-0° 

79-5'' 
69.1° 

68.6° 

90.0" 


8i! 

S8. 


58.8' 
62.1° 
530° 
60.5° 
57-0" 
60.9° 
63.8° 
65.1° 

75-5° 


I 


S'-9 

47-9^ 

435^ 
490^ 

48.6' 

54-3° 
S7-0' 


56.6° 
599° 

515° 
58.0° 

55-5° 
62.4° 

61.6° 

61.7° 

73-5° 


III 


84-97 
19.80 


9.96 
11.70 
19.88 

1.89 


^'1 


a.31 
1.70 


053 
.80 

1.38 

•73 


i 


.2^ 


27.28 
21.50 

57-24 

23.86 

12.20 

10.49 
12.50 

21.26 
2.6a 


In  1878,  the  maximum  temperature  was  reached  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, September  15th  to  i8th,  when  the  thermometer  stood  at 
86**,  90",  92**  and  93"  Fahrenheit.  In  no  other  days  of  the  year, 
except  one  in  October,  did  it  reach  80°.  The  lowest  point  was 
reached  on  the  4th  of  January  and  was  39"  Fahrenheit.  There 
were  no  frosts  during  the  year.    The  extreme  range  of  the  year 

was  54**.         .>.  .  €iu-JS2-*afttoj  M>imv';,'>'*/»s  ;-^i<^,i/^'.»»4iilliifc4 

In  Sacramento  the  highest  point  reached  was  103** ;  for  three 
days  the  thermometer  rose  above  100"  ;  for  twenty- three  days  it 
exceeded  95*,  and  for  sixty-three  days  it  was  above  90".  The^ 
lowest  point  was  reached  January  3d.  It  was  27".  For  §135, 
days  there  were  frosts.  The  extreme  range  was  76".  t  >  >  ,^  oh 
In  San  Diego  the  thermometer  indicated  91*'  on  the  first  of 


ttte«.f.fi; 


jL      '  **'="'•"  'llfif'   '  '  -"-'~'-  -'  -     •■'*>1^tft'.*i^ 


ftecn  at  .Santa 
at  San  Diego, 
more  rapid,  as 
he  divide  of  the 
:ss  of  moisture 
ce.  The  same 
»g  effect  of  the 
ner  dimate  of 
)jave  desert  or 

bllowing  table, 
most  cases  of 


a. 31 
1.70 


053 
.80 

1.38 

•73 


15' 
.2^ 


27.38 
31.50 

57-a4 
33.86 

I3.30 
10.49 
13.50 
31.36 
3.63 


:d  in  San  Fran- 
meter  stood  at 
lys  of  the  year, 
west  point  was 
enheit.  There 
ige  of  the  year 


03**; 


for  three 

:y-three  days  it 

ove  90".    The 

27".     For  six 

on  the  first  of 


AGRICULTURAL  PRODUCTS.  J87 

September,  but  did  not  reach  90"  on  any  other  day.  It  exceeded 
80"  only  eleven  days  of  the  year.  The  minimum  was  for  three 
days  in  January,  38°.    The  range  was  53°. 

Visalia  (latitude  36"  20',  west  longitude  from  Greenwich 
119.16)  reached  Io6.5^  July  14th.  During  twenty-three  days 
the  temperature  exceeded  100°,  and  for  sixty-nine  days  it  ex- 
ceeded 95°.  The  minimum,  January  4th,  was  24*.  There  were 
eight  days  of  frost.    The  range  was  82.5°. 

Los  Angeles  (latitude  34°  3',  west  longitude  from  Greenwich 
118®  16')  reached  93°  on  the  20th  of  July  and  the  ist  of  Septem- 
ber. Seven  days  exceeded  90°.  The  minimum  was  36.5°  on 
the  31st  of  December.     There  were  no  frosts.    The  range  was 

56.5".   '■    .      '  ^  

Fort  Yuma  (latitude  32®  4  V,  west  longitude  1 24*  36')  reached 

113*,  July  I9lh  ;  four  days  were  above  1 12";  eleven  days  above 
no";  fifty-three  above  105°,  and  one  hundred  and  six  above 
icxj**.  In  other  years  the  maximum  had  been  as  high  as  126". 
The  minimum,  December  31st  and  January  3d,  was  12!" . 
Range  80". 

Agricultural  Products. — Professor  Hilgard  has  treated  these 
in  a  manner  so  attractive,  that  we  quote  from  him,  in  part,  ir:  re- 
gard to  them.  Speaking  at  first  of  cereal  crops,  he  says : 
J.  "  Of  all  the  field-crops  grown  in  the  State,  wheat  is  the  most 
important  at  this  time.  It  was  the  first  culture  on  a  large  scale 
introduced  on  the  subsidence  of  the  gold  fever,  and  the  returns 
recei\  ;d  proved  to  be  so  much  greater  and  more  certain  than 
those  from  the  placer  mines  that  it  extended  rapidly,  and  has 
ever  since  remained  the  largest  and  most  generally  appreciated 
product  of  California  agriculture.  The  amount  produced  in 
1878,  an  average  year,  was  22,000,000  of  centals,  of  which 
8,069,825  were  exported  as  grain,  and  about  500,000  barrels  of 
flour.  In  the  markets  of  the  world  the  wheats  of  the  Pacific 
coast  are  noted  for  their  high  quality,  the  plumpness  and  light 
color  of  the  '  berry,'  and  the  high  percentage  of  first-class  flour  it 
furnishes  in  milling.  At  home  the  extraordinarily  high  product 
per  acre  of  fprty  to  sixty  bushels,  and  even  more,  under  very  im- 
perfect tillage,  for  a  number  of  consecutive  years,  forms  a  strong 


V.' 


i 


•  »*a«aii5*w 


1  '  I    r  liMfc  Yi 


-  uat.t..iiai« 


...  _*iii)riji' 


i-jft I .. i-iiiaiiiM»lW»i iMi . Iwi iiiii«Vi.ir Sm rifti  J Wift'i' 


.g3  OVX    tt^£SrEJl2V  EMPTKE. 

incentive  to  this  culture.  Nor  is  the  CaHfotfiia  wheat-grower 
obliijed  to  be  very  careful  in  the  choice  of  his  seed.  Probably 
every  known  variety  of  wheat  has  in  the  course  of  time  been 
brought  and  tried  here ;  but  all,  in  a  short  time,  seems  to  assume 
very  nearly  the  same  peculiar  California  type,  upon  which,  in 
fact,  it  would  seem  hard  to  improve  materially.  It  is  almost 
ludicrous,  at  times,  to  compare  the  eastern  seed  with  its  Califor- 
nia offspring,  which  has  undergone  the  '  swelling  process  *  of  one 
season's  growth  in  her  generous  soil  and  climate.  It  is  but  fair 
to  say  that  substantially  the  same  peculiarities  are  observable  in 
the  wheats  of  Oregon,  grown  in  the  valley  of  the  Willamette  and 
on  the  plains  of  the  Upper  Columbia.  Since  the  growing  season 
in  the  greater  part  of  California  extends,  with  little  interruption 
from  cold,  from  the  beginning  of  November  to  June,  the  distinc- 
tion between  winter  and  spring  grain  is  also  in  a  great  measure 
lost.  The  farmer  plows  and  sows  as  early  as  practicable,  watch- 
ing his  chances  between  rains,  in  November  and  December  if 
he  can,  in  March  if  he  must,  or  at  any  convenient  time  between ; 
increasing  the  amount  of  seed  sown  per  acre  in  proportion  as 
there  remains  less  time  for  the  grain  to  tiller.  Should  the  ears 
fail  to  fill,  he  can  still  make  hay. 

"  Much  discussion  has  been  had  concerning  the  merits  of  early 
as  compared  with  late  sowing.  The  objections  against  the  former 
practice  are  that  copious  early  rains  may  start  the  growth  too 
rapidly,  the  chances  being  that  in  that  case  but  little  more  water 
will  fall  until  Christmas.  It  is  true  that  the  weather-wise  may 
sometimes  gain  materially  by  delay  in  sowing ;  but  the  general 
result  of  experience  seems  to  be  that  it  is  better  in  the  long  run 
to  take  the  risk  of  having  to  sow  twice,  rather  than  that  of  being 
kept  from  sowing  at  all,  until  too  late,  by  persistent  rtiins.  It 
has  therefore  become  a  very  common  practice  to  '  dry^sow '  grain 
in  summer-fallowed  land  in  September  and  October.  The  seed 
lies  quiescent  in  the  parched  atid  dusty  ground  until  called  forth 
by  the  rains,  and  in  clean  fields  and  ordinary  seasons  such  gtaiti 
generally  yields  the  highest  returns.  The  preparation  of  the 
grourtd  for  the  crop  on  the  large  wheat  farms  is  usually  madfe 
by  means  of  gang-plows  with  from  two  to  six  shares,  drawn  by 


l« 


iitaffimMJWiawnwiwwiiiimiwfiriiWHiMn 


•msL"^" 


m^ 


wheat-grower 
cl.     Probably 
of  time  been 
ins  to  assume 
pon  which,  in 
It  is  almost 
th  its  Califor- 
rocess '  of  one 
It  is  but  fair 
observable  in 
/illamctte  and 
rowing  season 
e  interruption 
le,  the  distinc- 
jreat  measure 
ticable,  watch- 
December  if 
time  between ; 
proportion  as 
tould  the  ears 

merits  of  early 
inst  the  former 
lie  growth  too 
le  more  water 
ther-wise  may 
t  the  general 
1  the  long  run 
I  that  of  being 
ent  rains.  It 
Iry-sow '  grain 
er.  The  seed 
ttl  called  foiiih 
ns  such  grain 
tration  of  tlie 
usually  mad<e 
res,  drawn  by 


HARVESTING  IN  TJiE  LARGE   WAY.  j^g 

from  three  to  five  horses  or  mules,  three  animals  very  commonly 
walking  abreast.  At  the  critical  season  it  is  not  uncommon  to 
see  half  a  dozen  such  implements  and  teams  at  work  in  a  single 
field,  closely  followed  by  a  wagon  carrying  seed-grain  and  the 
centrifugal  sower,  which  showers  the  grain  upon  tae  fresh-turned 
furrows,  in  strips  thirty  or  more  feet  wide.  Before  the  day  ends 
the  great  (usually  flexible)  harrows  have  also  perform«;d  their 
work,  and  thirty  or  forty  acres  of  what  was  a  stubble-fickl  in  the 
morning  have  been  converted  into  a  well-seeded  grain-field.  Of 
late,  appliances  for  seeding  and  coveting  have  been  attached  to 
the  gang-plows  themselves,  so  that  the  whole  task  is  performed 
in  one  operation — certainly  the  perfection  of  labor-saving 
macliincry.  Seed  drills  are  as  yet  in  but  limited  use ;  although 
nowhere,  probably,  would  drilling  be  more  desirable,  in  order  to 
admit  of  subsequent  culture,  for  want  of  which  crops  often  totally 
fail  on  the  heavier  soils.  During  the  rainy  season  the  covering 
\%  often  done  by  rolling  alone,  and  on  harrowed  ground  the 
roller  is  frequendy  used  later  in  the  season,  in  order  to  compact 
the  surface  so  as  to  mitigate  the  drying  effects  of '  northers.' 

"  In  the  grain  harvest  (which  begins  in  the  second  week  of 
June)  the  '  wholesale '  mode  of  procedure  is  equally  prevalent. 
The  scythe  is  used  only  to  cut  the  way,  and  that  on  small  farms; 
then  follows  the  reaper,  liired  if  not  owned  by  the  farmer  himself. 
But  the  binding  and  shocking  process  that  is  to  succeed  is  far 
too  slow  for  the  large  grain-grower,  who  has  his  hundreds,  and 
sometimes  thousands,  of  acres  to  reap  within  the  short  time 
allowed  by  the  exceedingly  rapid  maturing,  which  threatens  him 
with  serious  loss  by  shedding,  the  air  being  at  that  season  very 
dry  even,  at  night.  His  implement  is  the  giant  header,  pushed 
ii^tp  the  golden  fields  by  from  four  to  eight  horses.  Its  vibrating 
cMj;ters  clip  off  the  heads  with  only  a  few  inches  of  straw  attached, , 
on  a  swath  sbcteen  and  even  twenty-eight  feet  wide,  while  a  re- 
volving apron  carries  the  laden  ears  to  a  wagon  driven  along-< 
side,  and  having  a  curious,  wide,  slanting  bed  for  their  reception. 
Several  of  these  wagons  drive  back  and  forth  between  the  swaths 
a^d  the  steam-thresher,  where,  within  half  an  hour,  the  grain  that 
W49  waving  in  the  rriorning  breeze  may  be  sacked   ready  for 


MMUftMWiBWWttBil,  JTOtiimw 


,  i»ty,i!i<*IM»lFiii»'.>lii'-"'"*'-' 


» 


'f 


1*0  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

shipment  to  Liverpool.  Even  this  energetic  mode  of  procedure, 
however,  has  appeared  too  slow  to  some  of  the  progressive  men 
in  business,  and  we  have  seen  a  wondrous  and  (earful  combina- 
tion of  header,  thresher  and  sacking-wagon,  moving  in  procession 
side  by  side  through  the  doomed  grain.  If  this  stupendous  com- 
bination and  last  refinement  shall  prove  practically  successful, 
We  shall  doubtless  next  see  the  llouring-mill  itself  form  a  part  of 
this  agricultural  pageant.  Where  farming  is  not  done  on  quite 
so  energetic  a  plan,  the  reapeil  and  bound  grain  being  at  that 
season  perfectly  safe  from  rain,  is  left  either  in  shocks  or  stacks 
until  the  threshing  party  comes  aroimd,  mostly  with  a  portable 
engine  often  fed  with  straw  alone,  to  drive  the  huge  'separator,' 
whose  combined  din  and  puffing  will  sometimes  startle  late  sleep- 
ers, as  it  suddenly  starts  up  in  the  morning  from  the  most  unex- 
pected places.  Two  wagons  usually  aided  by  some  '  bucks '  (a 
kind  of  sledge-rake,  which  also  serves  to  remove  the  straw  from 
the  mouth  of  the  thresher)  feed  the  devouring  monster.  In  an 
incredibly  short  time  the  shocks  or  stacks  are  cleared  away  and 
in  their  stead  appear  square  piles  of  turgid  grain-sacks  and  broad, 
low  hillocks  of  straw.  Both  products  often  remain  thus  for  six 
or  eight  weeks,  the  grain  getting  so  thoroughly  dry  in  the  interval 
that  there  is  frequently  an  overweight  of  five  or  more  per  cent, 
when,  after  its  long  passage  in  the  damp  sea  air,  the  cargo  reaches 
Liverpool.  The  moral  question  thus  arising  as  to  who  is  entitled 
to  the  benefit  of  this  increase  I  will  not  pretend  to  determine ; 
but  the  producers  say  that  they  rarely  hear  of  any  differences  in 
their  favor. 

"  The  manner  of  disposing  of  the  straw  is  one  of  the  weakest 
points  of  California  agriculture.  Near  to  cities  or  cheap  trans* 
portation,  much  of  it  is  baled  like  hay,  and  finds  a  ready  market, 
but  in  remote  districts  it  is  got  rid  of  by  applying  the  torch ;  and 
these  'straw  fires'  habitually  redden  the  "xutumn  skies  as  do  the 
prairie  fires  in  the  Western  States,  covering  the  whole  country 
with  a  smoke  haze,  as  a  faint  reminiscence  of  the  Indian  summer, 
which  is  not  otherwise  well-defined  on  the  Pacific  coast.  Thi^ 
holocaust  of  valuable  materials,  which  might  be  made  the  means 
of  some  slight  return  of  plant-food  to  the  soil,  is  a  standing  re- 


.t,.-, 


CALIFORNIA  BAKl.F.V,   KYK  AND   OATS, 


59« 


le  of  procedure, 
rogressive  men 
•arful  combina* 
1^'  in  procession 
tupendous  com- 
cally  successful, 
form  a  part  of 
done  on  quite 
being  at  that 
locks  or  stacks 
with  a  portable 
tige  '  separator/ 
artle  late  slee p- 
the  most  unex- 
ome  '  bucks '  (a 
the  straw  from 
lonster.     In  an 
•ared  away  and 
acks  and  broad, 
in  thus  for  six 
^  in  the  interval 
iiore  per  cent. 
e  cargo  reaches 
who  is  entitled 
to  determine; 
^  differences  in 

of  the  weakest 
>r  cheap  trans- 
ready  market, 
the  torch ;  and 
ikies  as  do  the 
whole  country 
idian  summer, 
:  coast.  This 
ide  the  means 
I  standing  re-^ 


proach  to  those  who  practise  it ;  yet  thry  have  some  rxcuse  in 
the  fact  that  the  pfjculiarities  of  the  climate  do  not  make  it  as 
easy  to  convert  it  into  manure  as  is  the  case  in  coiintri-  s  having 
summer  rains.  For  in  winter  the  tempfrature  is,  alter  all,  too 
low  to  favor  rapid  decay,  while  during  the  summer  months  the 
intense  drought  soon  puts  an  end  to  fermentation.  It  therefore 
takes  two  seasons  to  render  the  straw  fit  for  plowing  in  ;  anti  in 
the  mean  time,  as  left  by  the  thresher,  it  occupies  considerable 
ground.  As  yet,  the  conviction  that  straw-burning  is  pinny  wis- 
dom and  pound-t'oolishness  has  not  gained  sufficient  foothold  to 
induce  the  majority  of  wheat-growers  to  take  the  pains  of  putting 
the  straw  into  stacks  with  concave  tops,  to  collect  and  retain  the 
water.  But  those  who  have  done;  so  report  that  the  resulting 
improvement  of  the  soil  pays  well  for  the  trouble.  The  practice 
of  burning  will,  of  course,  disapijear  so  soon  as  the  syst<  m  of 
large-scale  plar.u/g  gives  away,  as  it  soon  must,  to  that  ol  mixed 
farming  on  a  smaller  scale. 

"Of  the  other  cereals,  barley  and  oats  are  the  only  ones  that 
can  as  yet  lay  claim  to  general  importance ;  and  the  methods  of 
culture  are  much  the  same.  Like  the  wheats,  so  the  barleys  of 
California  are  of  exceptionally  fine  quality,  that  of  the  'Cheva- 
lier '  variety  being  so  eagerly  sought  for  by  eastern  brewers  that 
but  little  of  it  finds  its  way  into  California-brewed  beer.  The 
common  (six  and  four  rowed)  barleys  are,  however,  themselves 
of  such  high  quality  that  the  absence  of  the  highest  grade  grain 
is  certainly  not  perceptible  in  the  quality  of  the  beer,  into  which, 
unlike  most  of  its  eastern  brethren  of  St.  Louis  and  Chicago, 
nothing  but  barley  and  hops  find  their  way.  The  various  kinds 
of  oats  are  produced  for  home  consumption  only,  the  difficulty 
being  very  commonly  that  the  straw  becomes  so  strong  as  to 
interfere  seriously  with  its  use  for  forage.  Rye  is  grown  to 
some  extent  in  the  mountain  counties,  and  yields  a  splendid 
grain,  called  for  chiefly  by  the  taste  of  the  German  population 
for  rye  bread.  Some  Polish  wheat  ( Triticum  polonicum)  is  grown 
under  the  name  of  'white  rye.'  Maize  is  thus  far  grown  but  to 
a  srhall  extent,  compared  with  wheat,  barley,  and  qats ;  not,  how- 
ever, because  of  any  difficulty  in  producing  corn,  which,  both  as 


X 


t? 


■Htk 


a)«ia»»»umsiili»f«iittuMiiJ>v»b'iav&H»  -:'-^<^^ 


s. 


Willi*  .t»  JBllf 'HnrTMi 


.;•  .jurt 


i 


'■  i  > 


to  quality,  size,  and  yield  per  .icro,  can  compete  with  any  in  the 
Missisnippi  valley.  The  large  foreign  element  in  the  population 
limits  the  demand  for  corn-meal,  and,  as  before  remarked,  on 
account  of  the  mild  winters,  hog-raising  on  a  large  scale  is  not 
likely  to  h<!come  important  in  the  State.  A  good  deal,  however, 
is  planted  for  green-soiling  purposes  in  connection  with  dairies. 
The  planting  is  generally  done  very  late  in  April,  and  in  May 
after  everything  else  has  been  attended  to,  since  in  the  coast 
climate  a  crop  of  corn  is  often  made  without  a  drop  of  rain  from 
the  time  of  planting,  when  the  season  has  been  one  of  abundant 
moisture.  Of  late,  several  millets,  and  among  them  especially 
the  Dhurra  or  Egyptian  corn,  are  coming  into  favor.  The 
Dhurra,  though  not  as  much  relished  by  cattle  as  maize  fodder, 
will  admit  of  three  cuttings  each  season,  when  irrigated,  and  the 
meal  made  from  its  grain  ^'s  by  many  preferred  to  corn-meal, 
while  as  a  chicken-feed  it  ;s,  apparently,  superior  to  anything 

else.  ■.Ir'»i'    •  >f'rn:>  "If' 

"Of  Other  field  crops,  the  'beans'  that  formed  the  chief  solace 
of  the  Argonauts  of  early  days  are  still  prominent,  especially 
where  the  Mexican  element  is  somewhat  strong.  To  them 
'  frijoles '  are  still  the  staff  of  life,  supplemented  by  the  '  tamales,' 
the  native  preparation  of  the  '  roasting-ears '  of  green  corn. 

"  The  Irish  potatoes  grown  in  California  are  not,  as  a  rule,  of 
first  quality,  but  incline  to  be  watery.  The  tuber  is  largely  im- 
ported from  Utah  under  the  name  and  style  of '  Salt  Lake  pota- 
toes,' albeit  much  that  is  sold  under  that  brand  is  of  California 
growth.  The  sweet-potato  flourishes  especially  in  the  lighter 
soiLs  of  the  coast  south  of  San  Francisco ;  its  quality  would  noti 
be  likely  to  be  criticised  by  any  but  those  who  have  been  accus- 
tomed to  the  product  of  the  Gulf  States  or  of  the  Antilles. 

"  The  big  pumpkins  of  California  have  acquired  a  world-wide 
reputation  not  unlike  that  enjoyed  by  the  sea-serpent.  The  un- 
prejudiced observer,  however,  readily  appreciates  the  fact  that 
when  a  well-organized  pumpkin  has  ten  months' time  to  grow' 
instead  of  three  or  four,  it  has  every  reason  to  give  a  corre- 
sponding account  of  its  stewardship.  But  while  a  laudable' 
ambidon  to  excel  may  result  in  the  production  of  three  hundred*- 


ii.\ 


ttrntiMI^STf. 


with  any  In  the 

the  population 
remarked,  on 
•gc  scale  is  not 

deal,  however, 
on  with  dairies, 
il,  and  in  May 
:e  in  the  coast 
op  of  rain  from 
ne  of  abundant 
icm  especially 

favor.  The 
s  maize  fodder, 
igated,  and  the 

to  corn-meal, 
or  to  anything 

the  chief  solace 
lent,  especially 
ig.      To  them 
y  the  '  tamales,' 
[reen  corn. 
>t,  as  a  rule,  of 
r  is  largely  im- 
)alt  Lake  pota- 
is  of  California 
in  the  lighter 
ility  would  not 
ve  been  accus* 
;  Antilles.        ri 
i  a  world-wide 
>ent.     The  un- 
>  the  fact  that 
time  to  grow 
give  a  corre- 
ile  a  laudable 
hree  hundreds 


SUaitk-BEMTS-ffOrOKOWINa,  i^j 

pound  pumpkins,  it  is  hut  fair  to  say  thry  are  not  the  rule  ;  being 
mconvenicnt  to  handle,  and,  like  other  organisms  exceeding  » 
certain  age,  inclined  to  be  hard  and  tough.  The  same  is  true 
of  mammoth  beets  (mangel-wurzel),  carrotM  and  turnips,  which, 
when  l(;ft  out  in  the  field  during  a  mild  winter,  continue  incon* 
tincntly  to  grow  and  develop  until  the  time  comes  to  put  in 
another  crop.  The  dairy-m-n  and  stock-breeders  raise  these 
crops  largely,  and  are  chiefly  responsible  for  the  production  of 
the  monsters.       >''..,        '     "  . 

"The  sugar-beet  succeeds  admirably  in  a  large  portion  of  the 
State,  and  in  appropriate  locations  yields  a  juice  of  extraordinary 
richness ;  as  much  as  nineteen  per  cent,  is  clarified  in  some  cases 
(but  I  can  vouch  for  fifteen  only  from  personal  experience),  and 
a  fair  degree  of  purity.  Several  prosperous  beet-sugar  factories 
already  exist,  the  failures  reported  having  apparently  been  due 
to  mismanagement.  It  is  difficult  to  see  why,  with  such  material 
and  the  possibility  of  keeping  up  the  supply  for  nine  months  by 
the  planting  of  successive  crops,  this  industry  should  not  become 
one  of  the  most  important  and  lucrative  in  the  State,  and  fully 
able  to  compete  with  any  sugar-cane  planting  that  may  hereafter 
be  introduced  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  coast. 

*'  Hop-growing  is  an  important  industry  in  the  middle  portion 
of  the  State,  especially  in  the  Sacramento  valley  and  in  the 
Russian  river  region,  north  of  San  Francisco  bay.  The  pro- 
duct is  of  excellent  quality,  and  is  much  sought  after  by  Eastern 
brewers, 

*'  Of  other  crops  of  minor  or  only  local  importance  may  be 
mentioned  the  culture  of  pea-nuts,  chiefly  in  the  coast  region 
south  of  San  Francisco ;  of  the  chiccory  root,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Stockton,  supplying  a  large  amount  of  the  parched  and 
ground  'old  government  Java  coffee*  sold  by  grocers.  In  the 
same  neighborhood  the  culture  of  the  'Persian  insect-powder 
plant'  {Pyreihrum  cameum)  is  being  successfully  carried  out,  the 
product  being  m  very  general  requisition  on  account  of  the  pre- 
vailing abundance  o(  fleas.  This  neighborhood  supplies  a  quality 
of  mustard  that  is  somewhat  overwhelming  to  the  no^rice,  and 
even  for  plasters  should  be  diluted  with  flour.    Wert  rape-seed 

3« 


i 


■i 


.^^^tSI-AS!  jpAV^x^** 


>1       •■->.. 


■'  > 


:    > 


1^  OUM    WttsrMMSf  KMMHK. 

oil  in  demand,  thr  fui  t  tliat  the:  whole  State  in  overrun  with  the 
plant  that  prmluL-e*  it,  as  a  most  troublesome  weed,  prove*  what 
could  Ih:  done  with  it  if  iontered. 

"  Nothing,  prol>ably,  striken  the  new-comer  to  California  more 
forcibly,  and  nothing  certainly  more  agreeably,  than  the  advan- 
tage»  offered  by  a  climate  where  plants  can  ordinarily  be  kept 
growing  from  ten  to  twelve  months  in  the  year,  provided  water 
is  supplied.  The  immigrant  desiring  to  make  a  home  for  him- 
self is  delighted  to  find  that  the  rapid  growth  of  shrubbery  and 
flowers — and  among  them  many  that  he  has  so  far  seen  only 
nurtured  in  greenhouses — will  enable  him  to  create  around  him 
in  the  course  of  three  seasons,  on  a  bare  lot,  a  home  atmosphere 
that  elsewhere  it  would  have  required  teii  or  more  years  to 
establish.  The  housewife,  however  industriously  disposed,  is 
not  ill-pleased  to  fmd  herself  relieved  from  the  annual  pressure 
of  the  '  preserving  season '  by  the  circumstance  that  fresh,  fruits 
are  in  the  market  at  reasonable  rates  during  all  but  a  tew  weeks 
in  the  year ;  so  that  a  few  gallons  of  jellies  ib  all  that  is  really 
called  for  in  the  w^y  of  '  putting  up.'  It  is  not  less  pleasing  to 
her,  as  well  as  to  the  rest  of  the  family,  that  a  good  supply  of 
fresh  vegetables  is  at  her  command  at  all  seasons,  and  that  the 
Christmas  dinner,  if  the  turkey  docs  cost  thirty  cents  a  pound, 
may  be  graced  with  crisp  lettuce,  radishes,  and  green  peas  just 
as  readily  as  it  may  be  celebrated  by  an  open-air  picnic  on  the 
green  grass  under  blooming  bushes  of  the  scarlet  gooseberry. 
Of  course  there  are  seasons  of  preference  for  each  vegetable, 
but  among  the  great  variety  naturally  introduced  by  the  various 
nationalities  there  are  few  that  cannot  be  found  in  the  San  Fran- 
cisco market  at  almost  any  time  in  the  year — if  not  from  local 
culture,  then  from  some  point  between  Los  Angeles  and  the 
mouth  of  the  Columbia.  The  truck-j^ardens  are  largely  in  the 
hands  of  the  Italians  and  Portuguese,  who  have  brought  with 
them  from  their  home  habits  of  thrift ;  and  their  manure  piles, 
windmills  for  irrigation,  and  laborious  care  of  their  unceasing 
round  of  crops  on  a  small  area,  render  their  establishments  easy 
of  recognition.  Their  products  are  distributed  partly  by  them- 
selves, partly  by  the  ubiquitous  Chinese  huckster,  trotting  with 


mUlT  CVLTVKK   IS  CALIt'OKNlA. 


S9S 


tivcrrun  with  fhc 
»rct:d,  proves  what 

0  California  more 
^  than  the  advan- 
rdinarily  be  kept 

ir,  provided  water 
a  home  for  him- 
of  shrubbery  and 
so  far  seen  only 
reatc  around  him 
home  atmosphere 
r  more  years  to 
usly  disposed,  is 
;  annual  pressure 
;  that  fresh,  fruits 

1  but  a  tew  weeks 
all  that  is  really 

\  less  pleasing  to 
I  good  supply  of 
uns,  and  that  the 
;y  cents  a  pound, 
1  green  peas  just 
air  picnic  on  the 
arlet  gooseberry, 
r  each  vegetable, 
:d  by  the  various 
in  the  San  Fran- 
if  not  from  local 
Angeles  and  the 
ire  largely  in  the 
ive  brought  with 
:ir  manure  piles, 

their  unceasing 
ablishments  easy 

partly  by  them- 
ter,  trotting  with 


his  two  huge  baskets  under  a  wt>i^r|u  that  lew  Cuucasians  would 
carry  for  any  length  of  time.  Not  a  few  Chini'sr  also  are  en- 
gaged in  tlie  truck-farming  buHineHS.  The  vegetables  arc  in 
general  of  excellent  ((uality,  and  it  nuy  be  truly  said  that  in  no 
city  in  the  United  States  is  the  general  (quality  of  fare  ho  good, 
HO  well  adapted  to  every  variety  of  laKte,  and,  last  but  not  least, 
so  (heap,  as  in  the  <  ity  of  the  Golden  Cjate ;  and  nowhere  is  the 
ilecoration  of  even  the  humblest  homes  with  (lowers  and  shrub- 
liery  more  universal,  and  at  the  same  time  so  generously  aided 
l)y  nature.  ^ 

"In  no  departmrnt  of  industry,  prol)ably,  is  the  reputation  of 
California  better  established  than  in  regard  Xo  fruit  cuiiurt.  Its 
pears  seem  to  have  been  the  pioneers  in  gaining  tlie  award  of 
special  excellence ;  grapes  and  cherries  have  rapidly  taken  a 
place  alongside,  and,  last,  oranges  and  lemons  have  come  to  dis- 
pute the  palm  with  Sicily  and  the  Antilles.  I  he  most  striking 
peculiarity  of  California  fruit  culture  is  its  astonishing  versatility, 
not  to  say  cosmopolitanism ;  for  the  variety  of  fruits  capable  of 
successful  culture  within  the  limits  under  consideration  in  this 
article  probably  exceeds,  even  at  this  time,  that  found  elsewhere 
in  any  country  of  similar  extent,  and  is  <  onstantly  on  the  in- 
crease by  the  introduction  of  new  kinds  from  all  quarters  of  the 
globe.  Doubtless,  in  time,  each  district  will  settle  down  to  the 
moif  or  less  exclusive  production  of  certain  kinds  found  to  be 
most  profitable  under  its  particular  circumstances,  so  far  as  the 
large-scale  cultures  are  concerned ;  but  whosoever  raises  fruit 
mainly  for  home  consumption  will  hardly  resist  the  temptation 
offered  by  the  possibility  of  growing  side  by  side  the  fruits  of 
the  tropics  and  those  of  the  north  temperate  zone — the  currant 
and  the  orange,  the  cherry  and  the  fig,  the  strawberry  and  the 
pineapple,  the  banana  and  plantain,  as  well  as  the  apple  and  the 
medlar.  It  would  be  supposed  that  the  quality  of  these  products 
must  of  necessity  suffer  grievously  under  the  stress  of  their 
mutual  concessions  of  habit;  and  this,  of  course,  is  true  as 
regards  the  highest  qualities  of  the  extremes,  under  the  judg- 
ment of  the  expert,  but  unperceived  to  a  surprising  degree  by 
the  taste  of  the  public  in  the  general  market.     The  oranges 


.  iAiaH^'i*.*fi<*'*M^'-). 


i<'k^   •      r# 


'    '* 


10  OUH    WMSTMMU  KMPtHM. 

grown  in  name  of  thr  nhrltrrrcl  vallryn  of  the  Coant  Ran{^.  an<l 
on  the  ml  «oiU  of  the  foot  hills,  an  far  north  ns  Ihittc  county, 
often  Muccctntdlty  (lispiitc  thr  prrccUrncc  of  the  priKJuct  of  Lot 
An^clcM  unti  Sun  lUrnarchno. 

"  In  view  of  the  nhort  time  within  which  thiM  imhiHtry  has 
dcTcJuped,  nnil  of  the  multitiutr  of  nationaiiticH  which  have  taken 
part  therein,  it  is  not  Hur|>riKin^^  that  many  important  questions 
relating'  to  it  should  still  remain  unsettled,  and  that  die  best 
regular  routine  for  the  several  districts,  or  even  ft)r  general 
practice,  sliould  as  yet  not  have  Uren  established.  Too  many 
different  varieties,  whoHe  adaptation  to  the  local  and  general 
climate  is  undetermined,  fill  the  orchards,  and  give  rise  to  im- 
mense quantities  of  unmarketable  fruit,  that  ultimately  fall  to  the 
ahare  of  cattle  and  hogs.  The  high  price  of  labor  and  of  tran»< 
portation  from  remote  districts  condemns  another  large  part  to 
a  similar  fate,  especially  in  favorable  seasons,  when  the  local 
market  soon  becomes  glutted  with  fruit  unable  to  bear  shipment 
to  the  East.  Curiously  enough,  even  at  such  times,  the  prices 
of  fruit  to  the  consumer  are  generally  higher  than  is  the  case  at 
corresponding  times  in  the  Western  States,  showing  irrefragably 
that  the  cost  of  production  is  higher,  and  cons<«(jufntly  that  only 
fruit  of  high  quality  can  bear  exportation.  Inattention  to  this 
point  has  rendered  unprofitable,  or  worse,  many  of  the  refrigera- 
tor-car shipments  heretofore  made,  and  the  same  want  of  proper 
care  in  assorting  the  various  qualities  is  one  of  the  chief  causes 
of  1'-'  quent  business  failures  of  those  supplying  the  markets  of 
San  Francisco.  This  practice,  however,  is  fast  being  improved 
upon,  and  the  disposal  of  the  surplus  fruit  by  drying  is  beginning 
to  relieve,  to  a  very  great  extent,  the  glut  that  has  of\en  de- 
pressed prices  below  the  paying  point.  The  exportation  of 
dried  fruits  of  all  kinds  is  doubtless  destined  to  become  one  of 
the  most  important  branches  of  agricultural  industry  in  the  State, 
both  on  account  of  quality  and  of  the  natural  facilities  for  the 
drying  process  offered  by  the  dr>'  summer  air.  It  is  found  to  be 
absolutely  necessary  to  exclude  in  the  drying  operations  all 
access  of  insects,  which  otherwise  lay  their  eggs  on  the  fruit  and 
spoil  ft  withiki  a  year.    This  is  now  very  generally  and  cflTectu- 


■  s 


1 


TMit  cvi.TVim  (*F  .WM-fMor/i'/ti.  mvtrs 


5g7 


tant  KariKr.  and 
Hiittr  county, 
priKluct  of  Lot 

\h  in<ttifitry  ha« 

lich  have  taken 

rcant  c]uc»tionH 
that  the  best 

en  for  i^cneral 
I.     Too  many 

al  and  {general 
five  rise  to  im- 
latcly  fall  to  the 
or  and  of  trant- 
er large  part  to 

when  the  local 
3  boar  KJiipmcnt 
inics,  tho  prices 
m  in  the  case  at 
inj^'  irrefra^'ably 
ucntiy  that  only 
ittention  to  this 
of  the  refrigera- 

want  of  proper 
the  chief  causes 
the  markets  of 
being  improved 
ng  is  beginning 
\  has  oflen  de- 
exportation  of 
become  one  of 
try  in  the  State, 
facilities  for  the 
t  is  found  to  be 

operations  all 
3n  the  fruit  and 
ny  and  effectu- 


ally  aceomplitihrd  liy  the  ute  of  the  t)r«t  dr>'int(  npp«ratuR,  not 
uncommonly  in  f-oo|)«rativc  factories  rrr't  tcil  by  <om|>anir»  or 
grnngcu.  Hie  (pulity  of  the  pnim*'*,  piunis,  apritotn,  prars,  etc., 
curr<l  by  nome  ol  thene  CMtablisluncntH  is  not  b<-hind  the  Iwnt  of 
the  kind  iin|K)rt<*d  from  IVance  and  Italy,  Uit  an  yt  the  nratneM 
and  convenience  of  the  paika;;«s  is  not  v>  generally  what  would 
be  necennary  to  render  ll'-m  <>{|ually  attractive  to  the  purchaser. 
"While  the  orange,  lemon,  lime,  and  other  sob  tropical  fruits 
are  more  or  lenii  in  cultivation  up  to  the  northern  third  of  the 
State^  tlney  form  the  H|K'(iaIty  of  Los  Angeles,  Sun  Hernardino» 
and  adjoining  counties,  wIktc  also  the  pineapple,  banana,  guava, 
and  other  more  Mtrictiy  tropical  fruits  ar<-  tiiainly  under  trial.  In 
a  measure,  what  has  been  said  al)ove  of  the  more  northern  fruits 
applies  h/  re  also.  While  much  fruit  of  the  highest  c|uality  is 
produced,  much  also  is  still  in  the  experimental  stage,  and  some 
very  poor  Iota  arc  occasionally  thrown  upon  the  market.  The 
f.ubject  has  lately,  however,  Ixten  earnestly  taken  in  hand  by  the 
young  but  pro|)ortionally  energetic  horticultural  Society  of 
SouJ:  C:;!iruiiiia,  in  which  a  number  of  the  most  intelligent  men 
have  combined  to  determine  in  the  shortest  possible  time,  by 
systematic  experiments,  discussion,  and  scientific  investigation, 
in  connection  with  the  agricultural  department  of  the  university, 
the  practically  important  questions  relating  to  this  culture. 
While  the  orange  and  lemon  product  is  marketed  without  diffi- 
culty and  at  good  prices,  the  millions  of  excellent  limes  borne 
by  the  hedges  customary  in  the  southern  {lart  of  the  State  are 
still  mosdy  allowed  to  decay  where  they  full.  The  manufacture 
of  citric  acid  can  hardly  fail  before  long  to  put  an  end  to  this 
waste  of  precious  material.  The  pomegranate,  which  is  to  some 
extent  similarly  used,  generally  finds  a  ready  sale  for  its  fruit. 
The  olive,  so  universally  found  arouml  the  old  missions  as  a  relic 
of  the  past,  has  not  so  far  found  its  place  in  general  culture  ; 
and  on  the  shelves  of  the  grocers  in  the  cities  we  still  find  the 
same  mixtures  of  cotton-seed,  pea-nut,  and  other  oils,  with  a 
modicum  of  the  genuine  product  of  the  olive,  that  form  the 
standing  complaint  of  salad-caters  throughout  the  United  States. 
The  su^ect  of  olive  culture  has  of  late  attracted  considerable 


i  .1  ir-  -«ir,       1-  -,»-t.»...».<«i,i.<3.j^j.^.»^ 


I 


:;i  ■^t'.:. .Mimik' rafiy-  ii;itii.i:;';.iat%'..'... ; L,,i(iJtsiiJi:':.t:^cjL 


598  OVK    tVESTEKN^  EMPIRE. 

attention,  and  small  quantities  of  excellent  oil  have  been  made 
in  various  parts  of  the  State,  proving  beyond  cavil  that  its  pro- 
duction can  be  made  an  important  industry.  The  culture  of 
the  fig  in  California  is  co-extensive  with  that  of  the  vine,  and 
both  fresh  and  dried  fruit  of  the  highest  quality  is  found  in  the 
market. 

"As  to  nuts,  the  European  walnut,  Italian  chestnut  and  almond 
a»"  those  whose  culture  on  a  large  scale  has  been  successfully 
carried  out.  The  filbert  may  also  be  mentioned.  Of  these,  the 
almond  has  been  made  the  subject  of  the  largest  experiments, 
and,  as  might  be  expected,  there  have  been  numerous  disappoint- 
ments in  consequence  of  the  selection  of  unsuitable  localities, 
subject  to  light  frosts  at  the  time  of  bloom.  The  best  results 
have  been  obtained  in  situations  moderately  elevated  above  the 
valleys,  •  thermal  belts,'  where  the  cold  air  ca^mot  accumulate. 
The  quality  of  the  product  leaves  nothing  to  be  desired,  where 
proper  care  is  had  in  selection  of  varieties.         < 

"  The  Japanese  persimmon  promises  here,  as  in  the  Southern 
United  States,  to  prove  an  important  acquisition.  The  jujube, 
the  carob,  the  pistachio  nut,  and  many  others  are  under  trial. 

'Of  small  fruits,  the  strawberry  is  in  the  market  during  the 
twelve  months  of  the  year.  Raspberries  and  blackberries  are 
largely  grown,  both  for  market  and  canning.  The  currant  ib  of 
especial  excellence  and  size,  and  is  extensively  grown  between 
the  rows  in  orchards.  Gooseberries  have  not  been  altogether 
successful  in  general  culture.  ■  -j:  x 

"A  good  deal  has  been  said  and  wrftten  aiboiit  coffee  culture. 
It  was  currently  reported  that  a  kind  of  coffee  grew  wild  in  the 
foot-hills,  and  of  course  the  real  coffee  must  succeed.  The  'wild 
coffee,'  however,  is  simply  the  California  buckthorn  {FrangtUa 
Cali/omica),  and  of  course  no  more  suitable  for  a  beverage  than 
turnip-seed.  True,  coffee  trees  are  now  growing  at  numerous 
points  in  the  State,  but  it  is  not  probable  that  the  culture  will 
prove  a  success  outside  of  South  California. 

"The  grape-vine  was  among  the  culture  plants'  fntrbdtid^d 
earliest  by  the  Catholic  missionaries.  The  similarity  of  the  Cali- 
fornia climate  to  that  of  the  vine-growing  regions  of  the  Mediter- 


^.-X--   -; 


have  been  made 
avil  that  its  pro- 
The  culture  of 
of  the  vine,  and 
f  is  found  in  the 

tnut  and  almond 
>een  successfully 
Of  these,  the 
est  experiments, 
rous  disappoint- 
jitable  localities, 
The  best  results 
irated  above  the 
not  accumulate, 
e  desired,  where 

in  the  Southern 
•n.  The  jujube, 
i  under  trial, 
rket  during  the 
slack  berries  are 
he  currant  ib  of 
grown  between 
been  altogether 

t  coffee  culture, 
rew  wild  in  the 
eed.  The  'wild 
lorn  {Frangtiia 
\  beverage  than 
g  at  numerous 
the  culture  will 

ints  introduced 
rityoftheCali- 
of  the  Mediter- 


COFFBE  AND   GRAPE   CULTVRB. 


599 


ranean  would  naturally  suggest  the  probable  success  of  vine 
culture,  corroborated  by  the  fact  that  a  native  vine,  albeit  with  a 
somewhat  acid  and  unpalatable  fruit,  grows  abundantly  along  the 
banks  of  all  the  larger  streams.  The  grape  variety  introduced 
by  the  missionaries,  and  still  universally  known  as  the  '  Mission ' 
grape,  was  probably  the  outcome  of  seed  brought  from  Spain ; 
it  most  resembles  thaf  of  the  vineyards  which  furnish  the  '  Beni- 
carlo '  wine.  It  is  a  rather  pale-blue,  small,  round  berry,  forming 
at  times  very  large  and  somewhat  straggling  bunches.  It  is  very 
sweet,  especially  in  South  California,  has  very  litde  acid,  very 
little  astringency,  no  definite  flavor,  and,  on  the  w'.v'f.  commends 
it  elf  as  a  wine-grape  only  by  the  abundance  o'^  a.  .lice  and  its 
great  fruitfulness.  The  American  immigrant..  founJ  this  vine 
growing  neglected  around  the  old  missions,  along  with  the  olive, 
fig  and  pomegranate.  It  soon  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
European  emigrants  from  wine-growing  countijo'S,  was  resusci- 
tated and  propagated,  and  still  forms  the  bulk  of  the  vineyards 
of  California.  We  have  good  testimony  to  the  effect  tliat  the 
wines  made  by  the  missionaries  were  of  very  indifferent  quality, 
owing  partly,  of  course,  to  the  inferiority  of  the  grape  used,  but 
chiefly  to  the  primitive  mode  of  manufacture ;  the  entire  caskage 
consisting  of  a  few  large,  half-glazed  earthenware  jars  {tinajas), 
from  which  the  fermented  wine  was  rarely  racked  off,  being 
mostly  consumed  the  same  season.  Still,  the  luscious  grapes 
and  refreshing  wines  of  the  missions  are  dwelt  upon  with  all  the 
delight  that  contrast  can  impart  by  travelers  just  from  the  fier>' 
ordeal  of  the  Arizona  deserts,  or  the  thirsty  plains  of  the  Upper 
San  Joaquin.  The  European  wine-makers  soon  improved  vastly 
upon  the  processes  and  product  of  the  padres,  but,  in  accordance 
with  the  fast  ideas  of  the  early  times  of  California,  they  impru- 
dently threw  their  immature  product  upon  the  general  market, 
and  thereby  damaged  the  reputation  of  California  wines  to  such 
a  degree  tl"  t  it  is  only  of  late  years  that  the  prejudice  thus 
created  has  Deen  overcome,  not  only  in  consequence  of  better 
methods  of  treatment,  and  greater  maturity  of  the  wines  when 
marketed,  but  also,  and  most  essentially,  by  the  introduction  of 
the  best  grape  varieties  from  all  parts  of  the  world.     Th^  result 


! 


\ 


^1 


.  <.HS»fV!n>&«*'iis»*  SlSi<IiaE»WJV«r.-iu>-^ 


Jtsa&ri 


ss&aia 


i,iifcsii-?m!aJWK5^-4W'i'.' 


600 


OVK    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


is.  that  at  this  time,  a  large  part  of  the  wines  exported  are  either 
partially  or  wholly  made  of  foreign  grape  varieties,  and,  as  a 
whole,  will  compare  favorably  with  the  product  of  any  European 
country,  while  among  the  choicer  kinds  now  ripening  there  are 
some  that  will  take  rank  wjth  the  high-priced  fancy  brands  of 
France.  It  is  true  that  so  far  all  California-grown  wines  are 
recognizable  to  experts,  a  peculiar  flavor  difficult  to  define,  which 
has  been  called  *  earthy,'  recalling  to  mind  that  of  the  wines  of 
the  Vaud  and  of  some  of  Burgundy.  But  this  peculiarity  re- 
mains unperceived  by  most  persons,  and  is  not  comparable  in 
intensity  to  the  *  foxy '  aroma  of  wines  made  from  the  American 

grape  varieties.      .  '^■u;Klrii<K^,;-iH  vU  v,u.  ■  ..:■?•,.'.■  i:  .  k  iJ;«4  m 

"  Another  prominent  peculiarity  of  the  California  wines  is  that 
they  are  generally  of  considerable  alcoholic  strength,  as  the  re- 
sult of  the  intense  and  unremitting  sunshine  under  which  they 
invariably  ripen.  This  is  especially  the  case  in  the  Los  Angeles 
region,  whose  natural  wines  are  by  many,  at  first  blush,  thought 
to  be  '  fortified,'  since  they  not  only  reach  the  maximum  alcoholic 
strength  attainable  by  fermentation,  but  even  then  retain  a  very 
perceptible  amount  of  unchanged  sugar.  This  circumstance 
interferes,  of  course,  with  the  safe  daily  and  sanitary  use  of  the 
native  wines  at  home,  and  explains  the  fact  that  as  yet  a  not  in- 
considerable amount,  of  French  clarets  especially,  is  imported 
into  California  for  table  use  by  the  foreign-born  population. 
This  folly  (for  such  it  must  be  considered  in  this  point  of  view) 
has  already  been  in  a  measure  remedied  by  the  use  of  such 
varieties  as  the  Hungarian  '  Yinfandel '  and  others  of  a  more  acid 
and  tart  character ;  and  it  is  quite  probable  that  it  will  be  found 
desirable  to  limit  the  time  of  exposure  of  the  ripe  grapes  to  the 
sugar-making  autumn  sun  in  order  to  restrict  still  further  the 
alcoholic  strength  of  some  of  the  wines.  Of  course,  the  German 
and  French  vintners  are  difficult  to  convince  that  there  may  be 
in  California  too  much  of  the  blessed  sunshine,  every  hour  of 
which,  in  their  native  climes,  adds  to  the  market  value  of  their 
product.  This  is  but  one  of  the  many  points  in  which  the  vini- 
eultural  practice  of  California  seems  susceptible  of  improvement. 
We  find  elsewhere  that  long  experience  teaches  the  vintners  of 


„^jiiaKUaik^r'^' 


CALIFORNIA    WINRS. 


601 


rted  are  either 
ties,  and,  as  a 
any  European 
ning  there  are 
ncy  brands  of 
)wn  wines  are 
.0  define,  which 
the  wines  of 
peculiarity  re- 
comparable  in 
the  American 

ia  wines  is  that 
gth,  as  the  re- 
der  which  they 
le  Los  Angeles 
blush,  thought 
imum  alcoholic 
n  retain  a  very 
s  circumstance 
tary  use  of  the 
IS  yet  a  not  in- 
ly, is  imported 
>rn  population, 
point  of  view) 
le  use  of  such 
I  of  a  more  acid 
it  will  be  found 
B  grapes  to  the 
itill  further  the 
se,  the  German 
:  there  may  be 
every  hour  of 
;  value  of  their 
which  the  vini- 
f  improvement. 
;he  vintners  of 


each  country  how  to  obtain  the  best  possible  results  under  their 
particular  conditions;  and  it  is  not  surprising  that  during  the 
short  period  of  experience  had  in  California,  and  with  the  tend- 
ency of  Spaniards,  Portuguese,  Italians,  French  and  Germans  to 
introduce  each  the  practice  of  his  own  country  under  circum- 
stances so  different,  the  best  methods  and  uniformity  in  quality 
should  not  yet  have  become  fixed.  What  is  true  of  wine-making 
proper  is  equally  so  of  the  modes  of  culture.  The  padres  natur- 
ally adopted  the  system  of  short  pruning  prevailing  in  their  own 
country,  and  the  later  comers  as  naturally  continued  it,  and, 
oddly  enough,  applied  it  almost  indiscriminately  to  the  other 
grape  varieties  brought  from  Northern  France,  Germany  and 
Hungary,  in  some  cases  even  to  the  varieties  of  the  native 
American  stock,  altogether  unused  to  such  summary  treatment 
The  experimental  stage  in  California  wine-making  is  also  strik- 
ingly evidenced  by  the  great  variety  of  grapes  still  found  in  the 
vineyards  of  progressive  growers,  as  the  result  of  which  we  find 
in  the  markets  and  in  fairs  a  most  tempting  and  beautiful  dis- 
play of  the  grape  varieties  of  all  countries ;  and  nothing  can  be 
more  convincing  as  regards  the  peculiar  adaptability  of  the  State 
to  this  industry  than  the  excellence  of  most  of  these,  often  sur- 
passing in  this. respect  the  best  of  their  kind  in  their  original 
homes.  Yet  we  can  hardly  wonder  at  this  in  a  climate  which 
allows  the  currant  and  the  orange  to  ripen  side  by  side. 
.  "Another  drawback  to  the  quality  of  the  wines  thus  far  is  the 
tendency  of  each  vine-grower  to  make  his  own  wines,  involving 
not  only  an  unnecessary  multiplication  of  costly  buildings, 
caskage,  etc.,  but  also  the  unfounded  assumption  that  wine- 
making  is  an  easy  thing,  and  can  be  managed  by  any  one  having 
a  moderate  amount  of  common  sense;  whereas,  on  the  contrary, 
the  production  of  the  best  possible  result  from  a  given  material 
requires  in  this  case,  as  in  other  manufacturing  industries,  a  very 
considerable  amount  of  knowledge  and  good  judgment,  which 
can  be  in  some  degree  replaced  by  mere  practice  only  in 
countries  where  long  experience  has  settled  all  into  a  regular 
routine.  The  introduction  of  large  wineries,  managed  by  pro- 
fessional ex;perts  (like  the  magnificent  establishment  of  Buena 


i 


1 


ii 


r. 


;*tt*l«ajl»wi!i;Ai>;J.SS«*iS*a«o\<W-«l;*'aSt'««S^ 


ma^ 


liiiM^it?'aii1iiSm.iU,    i..  -■i,r^^m■^fc..■litla^^,V^,^irti^;l^^^l  ■••-YVyiW'firrii,iri<''1ia^^  . 


602 


OUJt    WBSTEKff  EMPIRE. 


Vista,  near  Sonoma  Town),  has  gone  far  toward  redeeming  the 
wines  of  California  from  the  reproach  cast  upon  them  by  the 
hasty  marketing  of  first  crude  efforts,  which  has,  until  lately, 
caused  much  of  the  native  product  to  be  sold  under  foreign 
labels.  They  have  always  possessed  at  least  the  merit  of  being 
made  of  the  j^^rape  pure  and  simple,  ungallized  and  unpainted, 
not  so  much,  perhaps,  as  the  result  of  superior  virtue  of  wine- 
makers  on  the  Pacific  coast  as  because  the  superabundance  and 
low  price  of  grapes  reduces  the  temptation  to  adulterate  or 
•correct'  the  natural  product  to  a  minimum.  Even  within  the 
last  few  years  some  vineyards  in  the  interior  have  been  in  part 
harvested  by  turning  in  hogs;  and  other  uses  for  the  surplus 
product  have  been  sought  and  found  in  the  making  of  an  excel- 
lent syrup  by  evaporation  of  the  must.  The  growing  appre- 
ciation and  consequent  be^er  price  of  California  wines  will 
probably  hereafter  prevent  recourse  to  such  expedients. 

"A  detailed  consideration  of  the  methods  of  wine-making  is  be- 
yond the  limits  of  the  present  article,  but  it  should  be  said  that 
after  the  picking  of  the  grapes  (usually  by  Chinese)  the  means 
and  appliances  used  in  the  succeeding  processes  are  generally 
(as  in  other  branches  of  agriculture  in  California)  of  the  most 
approved  and  efficient  kind,  and  the  operations  conducted  in  the 
most  cleanly  manner.  The  reported  treading  of  the  grapes  by 
the  feet  of  'Greasers'  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State  applies 
only  to  the  pommace  destined  for  distillation  into  brandy ;  albeit 
for  certain  kinds  of  wine  {e.  g..  Port)  the  treading  process  is 
deemed  indispensable  in  Europe,  and,  after  all,  feet  can  be 
washed  as  clean  as  hands. 

"Again,  there  are  in  California,  as  elsewhere,  regions  whose 
soil  and  climate  favor  the  development  of  the  highest  qualities 
in  wines,  while  there  are  others  whose  product,  however  abun- 
dant, good-looking,  and  pleasant  to  the  palate  when  fresh  from 
the  vine,  will  fail,  even  with  the  best  management,  to  yield  a 
beverage  fit  for  exportation.         '•>'*    5^  f*M  «><  a* »? 'i    *  ^      •    i'^ 

"The  volcanic  soils  of  the  beautiful  valleys  of  Napa  and  Sonoma 
have  thus  far  achieved  the  highest  general  reputation  for  wines 
of  fine  bouquet ;  yet  even  there  the  products  of  adjacent  vine- 


■A 


redeeming  the 
m  them  by  the 
S  until  lately, 
under  foreign 
merit  of  being 
and  unpainted, 
virtue  of  wine- 
bundance  and 
adulterate  or 
i^en  within  the 
been  in  part 
or  the  surplus 
ig  of  an  excel- 
rowing  appre- 
nia  wines   will 
iients. 

e-making  is  be- 
ild  be  said  that 
;se)  the  means 
I  are  generally 
i)  of  the  most 
)nducted  in  the 
the  grapes  by 
e  State  applies 
brandy ;  albeit 
ing  process  is 
i,  feet  can  be 

regions  whose 
jhest  qualities 
lowever  abun- 
»en  fresh  from 
:nt,  to  yield  a 

a  and  Sonoma 
tion  for  wines 
adjacent  vine- 


THE  BEST  VINEYARDS.  (qJ 

yards  sometimes  differ  widely,  and  these  differences  are  not  yet, 
as  a  rule,  sufficiently  considered  by  the  producers,  or  by  those 
who  blend  the  several  products  for  market.  The  red  soils  of  tin: 
foot-hills  of  the  Sierra  also  give  high  promise  of  fine  wines,  and 
in  the  Coast  Range  those  of  the  valley  of  San  Jos6  are  note- 
worthy. The  wines  made  from  the  sugary  berries  of  Los 
Angeles  are,  of  course,  very  similar  to  those  of  South  France, 
Spain  and  Portugal — fiery,  and  with  a  heavy  body,  but  less 
'  bouquet '  than  those  grown  farther  north.  Its  least  deserving 
wine  (if  it  may  be  so  classed  at  all)  is  perhaps  the  far-famed 
Angelica  ;  and  the  mission  grape  almost  alone  is  in  bearing  there 
as  yet. 

"  The  vineyards  planted  on  the  heavier  soils  of  the  Sacramento 
plain  yield  a  large  part  of  the  table  grapes  for  the  home  and 
eastern  markets,  and  seem  destined  to  become  one  of  the  chief 
regions  for  the  raisin-making  industry,  to  which,  the  climate  of 
the  great  interior  basin  is,  of  course,  especially  adapted  in  conse- 
quence of  its  rainless  summers  and  intense,  dry  heat,  sweetening 
the  grape  to  the  utmost,  and  rendering  the  curing  process  easy. 
Owing  probably  to  a  combination  of  favorable  soils  and  good 
management,  some  of  the  Muscatel  raisins  from  near  Woodland, 
in  Yolo  county,  have  proved  fully  equal  to  the  highest  quality  of 
those  imported  from  Malaga.  Unfortunately  the  commercial 
standing  of  California  raisins,  like  that  of  its  wines,  has  been  in- 
jured by  putting  into  market  such  as,  from  the  mode  of  curing, 
did  not  possess  the  requisite  keeping  qualities.  The  efficient 
drying  apparatus  now  introduced  obviates  this  objection,  and 
being  accompanied  by  a  superior  style  of  packing,  it  is  probable 
that  raisin-making  will  hereafter  take  its  place,  alongside  of  wine- 
making,  among  the  most  important  industries  of  the  State,  as  in- 
deed the  increased  demand  and  large  advance  in  price  already 
indicates.:   ,^H^!vti-:V  •:'■;•'■  '■  '  '■'  '        "      ."■■'i    '"'     '■■'■■  '  ■     • 

)  "  Brandy-making,  also,  has  not  been  neglected,  but  in  conse- 
quence of  unfavorable  Federal  legislation  has  until  lately  labored 
under  great  disadvantages.  Most  of  the  native  'Aguardiente ' 
has  been  distilled  from  pommace,  and  is,  of  course,  rather  hot 
and  rank-flavored.     In  the  Los  Angeles  region  it  is,  to  a  great 


I 


\ 


•<«W»«-*!«>M«nHWM«4M«<a«S»,ia(Kil«^ 


7,  ..^1  ■  ■-■ '. .. '■   •»■■-'-■  •  ■■»  —  '«»* ->■  >->  f  <'i  -   r  ■■■•    ..,*rt/  /r,-,  fm..'.,.-i.i ; 


)   I 


extent,  the  '  firat  run '  of  the  grapes  only  that  Ih  made  into  wine, 
no  prcss(;s  being  used ;  hence  the  brandy  made  from  the  residue 
is  of  higher  quality.  The  distillation  of  brandy  from  wine  itself 
(now  so  rare  in  France)  from  the  best  of  foreign  grapes  has  been 
made  a  specialty  by  (ieneral  H.  Naglee,  of  San  Jose,  and  the 
quality  of  the  product  is  far  above  that  of  any  imported  now  in 
the  market.  That  the  extensive  importation  of  grape  varieties 
should  result  in  the  introduction  of  their  formidable  enemy,  the ' 
Phylloxera,  is  not  surprising ;  but  we  may  well  wonder  at  the  in- 
difference with  which  that  now  well-known  fact  is  regarded  by 
the  majority  of  wine-growers,  even  in  districts  in  which  the  in- 
sect has  already  made  its  appearance,  and  has  shown  its  power 
for  harm.  This  is  due  largely  lo  the  fortunate,  as  well  as  unex- 
pected and  hitherto  unexplained,  circumstance  that  the  progress 
of  the  pest  has  been  remarkably  slow  as  compared  with  its  sweep- 
ing advance  in  Europe,  though  evidendy  not  less  sure.  It  is  as 
(hough  the  winged  form  were  not  produced  at  all,  or  very  much 
restricted  in  its  powers  of  locomotion.  It  therefore  seems 
quite  possible  to  check,  and  perhaps  stamp  it  out  by  timely  pre* 
cautions.  But  nothing  of  the  kind  has  been  done,  and  the 
penalty  of  this  neglect  has  already  been  dearly  paid  in  the 
Sonoma  valley,  tlie  region  chiefly  afflicted.  Sonoma  Mountain 
seems  to  have  proved  an  effectual  barrier  against  its  transmission 
to  the  Napa  valley.  The  ravages  of  the  insect  are  also  reported 
from  some  other  localities,  but  no  noteworthy  damage  has  thus 
i;ir  been  heard  of.  Of  other  vine  pests,  the  Oidium  and  a  kind 
of  black  knot  are  the  chief;  but,  on  the  whole,  the  damage  done 
has  been  merely  local  and  easily  checked,  and  it  may  be  truth- 
fully said  that  to  the  grape  vine,  as  to  the  human  race,  the  climate 
of  California  is  exceptionally  kind." 

''Forage  Crops. — The  strong  tendency  of  the  farming  popula- 
tion of  California  to  engage  in  stock-raising,  dairying,  and  wool- 
growing,  and  the  fact  that  the  rainless  sumir.ers  of  the  greater 
part  of  California  exclude  from  its  agricultural  system,  at  least 
on  unirrigated  land,  both  permanent  meadows  and  clover,  render 
absolutely  necessary  the  cultivation  of  forage  plants  suitable  for 
such  cltmatijc  conditions.  The  search  for  these  was  early  begun 
and  is  far  from  being  yet  concluded. 


nade  into  wine, 
"om  the  residue 

»m  wine  itself 
Tapes  has  been 

Jose,  and  the 
iported  now  in 
grape  varieties 
ble  enemy,  the ' 
►nder  at  the  in- 
is  regarded  by 
n  which  the  in- 
own  its  power 
s  well  as  unex- 
it  the  progress 
with  its  sweep- 
sure.     It  is  as 
or  very  much 
erefore   seems 
by  timely  pre- 
done,  and  the 
y  paid   in  the 
Dma  Mountain 
ts  transmission 
J  also  reported 
nage  has  thus 
^m  and  a  kind 
damage  done 
may  be  truth- 
ice,  the  climate 

rming  popula- 
ing,  and  wool- 
of  the  greater 
l^stem,  at  least 
clover,  render 
ts  suitable  for 
s  early  begun 


FORAGE   CROPS.  (Jgj 

"The  most  obvious  expedient,  adopted  at  the  outset,  and  still 
supplying  the  bulk  of  dry  forage,  is  the  cutting  of  the  ordinary 
cereal  crops  lor  hay  before  tin:  grain  ripens.  '  Wheat  hay '  and 
'  barley  hay,'  which,  with  oats  similarly  cured,  constitute  the  main 
mass  of  the  hay  crop,  are  among  the  Californian  oddities  that 
first  strike  the  agricultural  immigrant.  Most  of  the  late  sown 
grain,  as  well  as  so  much  of  the  early  sown  as  from  any  cause 
does  not  promise  a  good  grain  crop,  and  the  *  volunteer  crop ' 
that  commonly  springs  up  from  the  seed  shed  in  harvesting  the 
previous  season's  grain  on  land  left  untilled,  is  devoted  to  this 
purpose,  for  which  it  generally  becomes  fit  some  time  in  May, 
according  to  location.  Oddly  enough,  embarrassment  not  un- 
commonly arises  on  fresh  and  strong  land,  from  the  fact  that  the 
straw  is  so  strong  and  tall  as  to  render  it  unsuitable  for  cuttin;' 
into  hay.  A  great  deal  also  is  cut  at  too  late  a  period,  when  the 
grain  is  almost  full-grown — it  being  well  known  that  it  is  then 
that  the  greatest  total  weight  is  harvested ;  the  quality,  however, 
is  in  that  case  of  course  injured.  During  hay-making  time  (end 
of  April  to  that  of  May)  the  weather  is  usually  so  dry  that  there 
is  little  difificulty  about  curing.  There  are  no  sudden  thunder- 
storms to  call  for  a  hasty  garnering  of  the  hay.  So  little  danger 
is  there  that  injury  from  rains  will  occur  after  May  that  the 
shocks  are  often  left  exposed  for  many  weeks  to  the  bleaching 
action  of  dew  and  sunshine.  The  regular  practice,  however,  is 
to  gather  them  into  large  rectangular  ricks,  built  without  much 
reference  to  protection  from  rain,  but  mainly  with  regard  to  the 
convenience  for  pressing  into  bales.  This  is  mostly  done  by 
contract  with  gangs  or  '  pressers,'  usually  consisting  of  four  men 
with  a  wagon  and  press,  who  perambulati  the  country  from 
June  to  October. 

"Undoubtedly  the  most  valuable  result  of  the  search  after 
forage  crops  adapted  to  the  CalifornV  climate  is  the  introduction 
of  the  culture  of  Alfalfa;  this  being  the  name  universally  applied 
to  the  variety  of  Lucerne  that  was  introduced  into  California 
from  Chili  early  in  her  history,  differing  from  the  European 
plant  merely  in  that  it  has  a  tendency  to  taller  growth  and 
deeper  roots.     The  latter  habit,  doubtless  acquired  in  the  dry 


; 


\ 


i 

; 

! 


'  rf^irlKlUJMM:<fn»MiM»,H««ll^:'hA.':M<al■.  J^  ?*-  >-.:■ 


'SJ-n^Xi-^'^-  ''•"•*' 


mx'7vt,-rimi0^'»m<m:i!mvm¥stnt*tti'-  *-mH3Mimu-T.ime:»'r' 


666 


oux  ty£sriCA4V  mmp/kb. 


climate  of  Chili,  xt  of  course  especially  valuable  in  California,  as 
it  enables  the  plant  to  withstand  a  drought  so  protracted  as  to 
kill  out  even  more  resistant  plants  than  red  clover ;  as  a  substi- 
tute for  the  latter,  it  is  difificult  to  over-estimate  the  importance 
of  Alfalfa  to  Calit'urnia  agriculture ;  which  will  be  more  and  more 
recognized  as  a  regular  system  of  rotation  becomes  a  part  of  the 
general  practice.  At  first  Alfalfa  was  used  almost  exclusively 
for  pasture  and  green-soiling  purposes ;  but  during  the  last 
three  or  four  years  Alfalfa  hay  has  become  a  regular  article  in 
the  general  market,  occasional  objections  to  its  use  being  the 
result  of  want  of  practice  in  curing.  On  the  irrigated  lands  of 
Kern,  Fresno,  and  Tulare  counties,  three  and  even  four  cuts  of 
forage,  aggregating  to  something  like  twelve  to  fourteen  tons 
of  hay  per  acre,  have  frequently  been  made.  As  the  most  avail- 
able green  forage  during  summer.  Alfalfa  has  become  an  invalu- 
able adjunct  to  all  dairy  and  stock- farming,  wherever  the  soil 
can,  during  the  dry  season,  supply  any  moisture  within  two  or 
three  feet  of  the  surface. 

"Grasses. — Of  the  ordinary  pasfre  and  meadow  grasses  of 
Europe  and  the  East,  but  a  few  have  to  any  extent  gone  into 
cultivation.  One  of  the  most  unsuited  to  the  climate,  viz.,  Ken- 
tucky blue  grass,  is  carefully  nurtured  by  daily  sprinklings  as 
the  chief  ingredient  of  lawns,  for  which  the  Eastern  immigrant 
generally  maintains  a  preference,  often  satisfied  at  an  inordinate 
cost  of  money  and  labor,  and  sometimes  of  health.  As  water 
for  household  purposes  is  almost  universally  kept  under  press- 
ure from  elevated  tanks  or  water- works,  the  hose  and  lawn- 
sprinkler  are  probably  in  more  general  use  here  than  in  any 
other  country;  and  innumerable  attacks  of  rheumatism  and 
malarious  fever  are  traceable  to  their  intemperate  use,  even  to 
the  injury  of  the  coveted  grass  itself.  But  few  attempts  have  as 
yet  been  made  to  find  an  acceptable  substitute  for  the  costly 
blue-grass  lawn.  Among  those  which  promise  best  are  the 
Italian  rye  grass,  which  remains  green  all  summer  without  irri- 
gation in  the  bay  climate ;  and,  with  proper  treatment,  doubdess 
the  Bermuda  grass  could  also  be  used.  In  either  case,  fully  six 
out  of  seven  weekly  sprinklings  might  be  dispensed  with.    This 


n  Calirornia,  as 
rotracted  as  to 
it ;  as  a  substi- 
:lic  importance 
ftiore  anil  more 
.*»  a  part  of  the 
ost  exclusively 
uring  the  last 
gular  article  in 
use  being  the 
gated  lands  of 
en  four  cuts  of 
fourteen  tons 
the  most  avail- 
ome  an  invalu- 
ercver  the  soil 
within  two  or 

ow  grasses  of 
tent  gone  into 
nate,  viz.,  Ken- 
sprinklings  as 
:ern  immigrant 
t  an  inordinate 
ilth.  As  water 
)t  under  press- 
ose  and  lawn- 
-e  than  in  any 
leumatism  and 
:e  use,  even  to 
tempts  have  as 
for  the  costly 
:  best  are  the 
er  without  irri- 
nent,  doubtless 
r  case,  fully  six 
ed  with.     This 


iTOCA'BKKKniUG  AND  OAlHYtSC.  ^7 

rye  grass  {Loiium  Italicum,  mulliflorum)  has  in  somt;  districts 
become  so  naturalized  as  to  be  cut  for  '  volunteer  hay,'  while  at 
other  points  it  is  regularly  cultivated  with  irrigation,  if  needed. 
In  the  tule  lands  and  other  naturally  or  artificially  irrigated 
regions,  the  soft  meadow  grass  {HoUus  lanalus),  under  the  sin- 
gularly inappropriate  name  of  '  mezquite,'  as  well  as  the  orchard 
grass  {Daciylis  glomerata)  have  come  into  use  for  pasture  as 
well  as  hay;  but  the  latter  is  not  found  in  market.  .So  of  the 
millets  {Panicum  lialicum,  Getmaniaim),  which  are  locally  in 
use.  Of  late  various  species  and  varieties  of  sorghum  are  com- 
ing into  favor;  among  these  especially  the  Dhurra,  or  Egyptian 
corn,  and  the  pearl  millet  {Penicillara  spicala).  Other  forage 
plants  arc  under  trial  in  various  portions  of  the  State ;  but  thus 
far  none  can  compare  in  importance  with  the  cereal  grasses  and 
Alfalfa.  It  is  probable  that  hereafter  some  of  the  native  grasses 
and  clovers,  now  considered  as  weeds  only,  will  be  found  profit- 
able for  culture. 

'*  Stock-breeding  and  Dairying. — Prior  to  the  American  occu- 
pation, the  breeding  of  sheep,  horses,  and,  to  a  less  extent,  of 
neat  cattle,  roaming  in  flocks  over  the  extensive  ranches,  was 
the  chief  occupation  of  the  inhabitants ;  and  to  a  great  extent 
the  remnant  of  the  original  Spanish- Mexican  population  still 
clings  to  the  old  pursuit,  which  affords  an  easy  livefihood,  and 
permits  of  indulgence  in  that  doice/ar  nienle  which  seems  to  be 
impossible  to  the  'Americanos,'  however  varied  may  be  the 
nationalities  that  compose  the  population  of  the  United  States. 
It  thus  happens  that  even  where  the  'ranche'  and  stock  are 
owned  by  Americans,  the  herders  are  to  a  great  extent  still  the 
native  '  vaqueros,'  who,  mounted  on  their  hardy  mustangs,  and 
with  the  old-time  lasso  (more  properly  '  lazo '),  coiled  around 
the  horn  of  their  high  Mexican  saddles,  and  rarely  more  than  a 
rope  to  guide  their  steed,  may  be  seen  careering  around  the 
steep  hill-sides  with  a  disregard  of  all  the  ordinary  precautions 
against  the  breaking  of  necks,  that  is  quite  straining  to  the 
nerves  of  novice  lookers-on.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  accidents  very 
rarely  happen  to  these  wild  riders ;  and  their  efificiency  in  keep- 
ing in  bounds  and  '  corraling '  the  cattle  intrusted  to  their  care, 


Ji«S*B'M»*»««*'.».»i':.Jri?^«-*0«'»J'*»<«»"'^" 


->  -  i 


608 


OUK    W^KSIEKS   KMP/KR. 


I 


on  the  most  rugjjrd  j^round.  in  rctnarkal)lr.  It  is  but  fair  to  say, 
however,  ifuil  their  pratiicc  has  brt'ti  (jiiitt  ^iircrnslnlly  iinitattd 
by  other  nalionalitirs.  and  that  many  a  sw.trthy  hrrdsmun  now- 
a-dayn  rrnponds  mo.  :*  promptly  to  th«'  Saxon  or  Norse  saluta- 
tion than  to  that  of  the  Mrxican  Spanish  dialect. 

"The  purely  pastoral  n^trthod  of  stock-raising  !»,  of  cotir^te, 
gradually  receiling  Ixfon-  fhe  atlvance  of  agriculture  proper  to 
the  nu)r«:  thinly  seitUil  regions;  maintaining  itHelf,  however,  in 
some  of  the  large  ranches  o\vM«d  by  partie's  declining  to  sell  to 
small  farmers.  The  obvious  (hsadvantag^  of  b<.ing  entirely  at 
the  mercy  of  the  seasons,  thus  sometimes  losing  in  a  single  dry 
year  all  tin;  increase  of  a  previous  succession  of  favorable  ones, 
has  gone  far  toward  the  introduction  of  a  safer  system,  iu  which 
the  hardj^and  nutritions  Alfalfa  serves  to  carry  reduced  numlK-rs 
of  stock  of  ( Dirf'spondingly  higher  qiKility  safely  through  the 
dry  months.  In  lew  States,  probably,  i:s  the  value  of  improved 
breeds  more  higiily  appreciated  than  in  California  ;  and  nowhere, 
probably  can  the  best  strains  ol  the  more  important  breeds  be 
seen  in  (later  perfection.  The  one  lomestic  animal  of  com- 
mon n  )te,  not  as  well  represented  in  California  as  elsewhere,  is 
the  ho>r;  the  obvious  cause  of  the  comparaive  negiect  being  the 
absence  pf  a  sufficiently  lon<T  and  regular  period  of  freezing 
weather,  whereby  the  safe  packing  and  curing  of  pork,  hanv, 
etc,  is  rendered  too  precarious.  While,  therefore,  fresh  pori; 
of  excellent  quality  is  commonly  found  in  the  markets,  the  sup- 
plies of  bacon,  ham,  and  lard  are,  as  a  nde,  furnished  by  the 
Western  .States,  and  partly  by  Oregon.  Foremost  in  numbers 
among  the  rest  is  undoubtedly  the  sheep,  in  Its  double  capacity 
of  wool  bearer  and  producer  of  some  of  the  best  mutton  in  the 
world;  a  combination  which  has  doubtless  contributed  much  to 
the  preference  given  it  on  the  part  of  the  somewhat  inert  native 
population.  Easily  satisfied  with  s:anty  pasturage,  and  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  State  scarcely  ii'  eding  shelter,  the  sheep  is 
the  very  animal  'or  the  swarthy  inhabitant  of  the  adobe  house, 
who  loves  to  take  his  ease  lounging  on  the  airy  veranda,  askinj^^ 
of  fate  no  luxury  beyond  a  due  allowance  of  cigaritos,  and  not 
at  all  envious  of  the  greater  comforts  and  riches  of  his  unquiet, 
hard-working,  and  ever-scheming  Saxon  neighbor. 


t)ut  fair  to  »ny, 

sttilly  itnitatt  (I 

f'l'chman  now- 

Norsc  suluta- 

is,  of  course, 
:uf«r  proper  lo 
If,  howevrr,  in 
nin^  to  sell  t<i 
injf  entirely  at 
in  a  sinjjle  dry 
avorabic  ones, 
'Stem,  ill  whith 
liiced  numljers 
y  through  the 
p  of  improved 
;  and  nowhere, 
ant  breeds  be 
nimal  of  com- 
s  elsewhere,  is 
^iect  being  the 
r)d  of  freezing 
of  pork,  hanir, 
ire,  fresh  pork 
rkets,  the  sup- 
•nished  by  the 
ist  in  numbers 
ouble  capacity 
:  mutton  in  the 
buted  much  to 
jat  inert  native 
ge,  and  in  the 
ir,  the  sheep  is 
e  adobe  house, 
eranda,  askini,^ 
aritON,  and  not 
of  his  unquiet. 


tdLUOHNfA   SHhEP.  (^^ 

"The  mmon  »heep  of  the  country,  while  far  from  Uin^j  a 
high  bred  animal  l»  yet  superior  in  mariy  points  to  the  stuck 
commonly  found  in  olii-f^r  countries,  and  its  adaptation  to  the 
climate  has  rendered  it  profitable  in  cases  whf^rc  improve  1  stock 
lailed  to  pay.  'Ihc  Spanish  Merino,  whost^  blood  doul)ll<:ss  runs 
in  the  veins  of  the  native  stock,  seems  to  Ik*  best  adapt -d  to  its 
improvement,  nd  the  bt:sr  of  this  breed  has  been  imported  into 
the  Stater.  Tht;  wool-clip  i->  am<»ng  the  most  important  products 
of  South  California ;  but  tt  would  neem  that  the  attainni«'iU  of 
the  highest  ((uality  requires  some  change  from  the  natural  con- 
ditions of  pasturage,  which  present  too  great  a  rontrasi  between 
the  wet  and  dry  seasons  to  insure  perfect  imifotnuty  of  the  fibre. 
This,  however,  can  undoubtedly  Ik;  accomplished  by  the  intrO' 
duction  of  the  proper  forage  plants.  In  Jt>  seasoiis,  such  a.i 
that  of  1876-/7,  the  mortality  among  the  larger  tlo^.ks  h.is  .some- 
times amounted  almost  to  annihilation.  The  sheep-owners  of 
the  plains,  in  order  to  save  something,  have  driven  their  flocks 
to  the  foot-hilLs  and  valleys  of  the  high  Sierras,  leaving  their 
route  marked  with  the  festering  carcasses  of  the  weaker  animals, 
and  sweeping  every  green  tiling  bt:fore  theui,  to  the  dismay  of 
the  dwellers  in  tlie  invaded  regions,  who  were  thus  sometimtrs 
themselves  reduced  to  extremities,  in  ordinary  seasons,  th's 
migration  has  its  re^'ular  methods  and  routes,  the  herds  ascend- 
ing the  mountains  m  the  wake  of  the  summer's  drought,  and 
returning  to  the  foot-hills  or  plains  to  winter. 

•'  Of  other  fleece-bearing  animals  the  Angora  or  Shawl  goat  has 
attracted  consideraUe  attention,  and  seems  to  si,  ceed  well ;  but 
the  industry  has  not  as  yet  assumed  large  proportions,  chiefly,  it 
seems,  on  account  of  the  want  of  a  regular  market  sustained  by 
competition  among  the  purchasers. 

"Of  Horses. — The  Mexican  mustang,  a  rather  undersized  yet 
hardy  and  serviceable,  but  proverbially  tricky,  race,  descended 
from  the  Spanish  breed,  and  therefore  far  from  being  inferior 
blood,  still  forms  the  greater  portion  of  the  horses  in  common 
use  irf  California.  The  larger  American  horse  brought  from  the 
Eastern  States,  although  preferred  for  heavy  work,  is  not  so 
well  adapted  to  the  mountains,  and  requires  higher  feeding. 
39 


^•m.  •****tm\  tM»  — "imM  «i<bm»m 


rr  -ii'ii  i-ir--  ifTwritliifrr'nrr-r'y-ti-r- ^v- ; 


i 


ttio 


OVK   WltSTKUM  MMrt»M. 


The  two  variotiea  ««?,  of  cour»«*,  rapidly  mixing;,  and  l)rtii!r 
l)lo<>i|  than  that  of  many  CaHfi)rni.i  Hiudn  it  would  Im?  harti  to  find 
anywhirre.  Pant  homes  ami  fant  men  havr  her* ,  |Mrh4|i«.  mt>rt! 
than  clHcrwhttre  Ix'rn  the  banc  of  the  n^riiultural  lalrH,  wiu>HC 
real  and  impoieant  objectii  havr,  until  lately,  U'cn  nioMt 
fr(M|U(*ntly  nwnllowrd  up  '\\\  that  of  an  o|i|K)rtunity  ibr  U'ttin^^ 
and  hornr-racin);,  to  the  diiigUHt  of  tlx!  a^^ricidturiittM.  1  he  in- 
troduction of  the  more  useful  brerdn  ha"»  not,  h«»wever,  btrn 
neglected,  as  ih  evidenced  by  the  tine  Noruun  and  I'en  heron 
dray  horses  seen  on  the  Htrcets  of  Son  I'Vuncisco.  A  tolerable 
ridin^thonie  can  prol>ably  btt  bought  for  less  money  in  Californk 
than  anyvvh<*re  else!  in  the  United  States,  the  mustangw  (whu;h 
are  generally  of  li^ht  build)  Ix'in^  bred  in  larj^e  herds  on  (uk* 
lures,  with  little  care  and  therefore  little  expense.  Hut  wlien 
the  excursioniHt  pays  twenty  or  thirty  dollars  for  his  steed  he 
must  not  expect  to  fmd  it  trained  to  jjentlenesa  and  affection,  for 
the  '  breakin]^-in '  process  which  these  animals  under^'o  on  the 
ranches  has  but  f(;w  of  the  features  that  Mr.  Karey  would  recom- 
mend. The  unwary  horseman  will  pay  for  his  experi<:me  by 
many  an  unex|>ected  nip  or  kick,  or  by  beinjj  left  on  foot  at  in- 
convenient distances  from  his  destination,  in  con<ie(]uence  of  a 
dexterous  slip  of  the  rein  from  his  arm,  a  sudden  rush  under  a 
tree  with  low  branches,  or  a  'buckinj,'*  process  of  exceptional 
suddenness  and  violence.  I'hc  mustang  w»ll,  ordinarily,  abandon 
these  practices  in  proportion  as  it  feels  that  the  rider  is  '  up  to' 
its  tricks ;  but  the  latter  should  never  be  found  altogether  oflT  his 
guard  against  them,  as  he  might  safely  do  with  a  ivell-educated 
horse. 

"  The  neat  cnttle  r%{  California,  previous  to  the  American  occupa- 
tion, were  chiefly  of  r  .ype  whose  ancestry  may  still  be  seen  on 
the  pastures  of  Anoaiusia — a  middle-sized  race,  lightly  Unit, 
bearing  medium,  long,  but  aggressively-pointed  horns,  which, 
combined  with  an  irritable  temperament  and  a  fair  capacity  for 
speed,  render  the  proximity  of  a  herd  of  these  cattle  not 
altogether  pleasant  to  the  novice.  Like  its  cousin,  tb'*  Texas 
Lon;^-horn,  ik>w  familiar  to  the  West,  it  is  a  hardy,  prolific  race, 
yielding  a  fair  quality  of  beef,  and  a  thick  and  tough  hide,  well 


■« 


ml«I  ktr  hanl  to  tind 
vr« ,  iJfrhap*.  more* 
ultural  lairH,  wiuMc 
latj'Iy,    lM'<n    nio«t 
rturiity  (or  iM'ttinj; 
•tilturis»tH.      The  in- 
not,  howvvv.r,  Inrn 
\'in  uiul  r«rtlur<)n 
t  iuco.     A  lolcrabk- 
ijoncy  in  California 
I  nujKtanjj*  (wluch 
arj^r  hern  I  s  on  (ium- 
ptnsc.     Hut  wiven 
»  for  hi.i  strcci  hi* 
H  anti  affection,  for 
H  iintlery^o  on  the 
arcy  would  rrcotn- 
hiH  cxp<iri<:ncc  by 
left  on  foot  at  in- 
coi>sc'<iiu'ncc'  of  a 
dtlen  ruhh  under  a 
osi  of  exccptiooal 
>rdinarily,  abandon 
:he  rider  is  'up  to' 
I  altogether  off  his 
th  a  ivell-educated 

American  occupa- 
y  still  be  seen  on 
ace,  li^rhtly  biiilt, 
ted  horns,  which, 
I  fair  capacity  for 

these  cattle  not 
I'ousin,  thf  Texas 
irdy,  prolific  race, 

tough  hide,  weli 


AfMMf   CAITLM    Of  CAt.lfOMSli, 


6il 


adapted  cither  to  the  production  of  noIc  leatlx  r  or  to  tliat  of  the 
Ntrong  rawhide  thony;H,  which  verve  the  Mexican*  in  pinie  of 
ro|M.*,  twine,  naiU  and  citUer  tliMne»tic  applianceit  deenu-d  indis- 
priisablc  by  more  paniperid  natioiiH.  Art  niilki th,  however,  its 
town  are  a  failure; ;  nor  are  itn  oxen  n-inarkuble  for  cithiT  docility 
or  disposition  to  <  n^'a);e  in  a^rii  ultural  pursuilH,  l>ein^  the  natural 
result  of  a  nomadic  liie  on  wdd  pastures,  from  which  they  were 
tlriven  in  ami  'corraled,'  ior  branding;  or  Hlau^htirin^,  only  a  few 
lunes  in  die  cour:ie  of  the  year.  All  thin,  of  course,  ban  mate* 
rially  changed  since  the  advent  of  the  American.  The  immi* 
^'rantH  brout^ht  their  cattle  with  them  over  the  plainH,  and  found 
no  reason  to  exchange  the  progeny  of  these  for  the  pugnacious 
nativt'H.  The  latter  have,  tlun^fore,  greatly  dimininhed  in  num> 
bers,  and  are  little  seen  in  the  more  |)opulous  regions,  xv\\x\x\^ 
before  the  advance  of  culture  like  their  original  masler».  I  he 
gentler  race  that  accompanied  ilie  Americans  acroHS  the  Rueky 
Mountains  now  dots  the  plains  and  (oot-hills  of  the  Great  Valley 
of  California ;  and  since  their  weaker  brethren  mostly  perished 
on  that  trying  and  weary  voyage,  a  process  of  selection  has  taken 
place,  as  a  result  of  which  the  worst  breeds  of '  scrubs '  are  rarely 
seen  in  the  State.  Moreover,  the  tendency  to  improvement  that 
is  so  apparent  in  tiic  use  of  perfected  appliances  of  every  kin<l 
has  manifested  itself  at  least  equally  in  the  importation  of  th(* 
best  breeds  of  neat  catdc,  among  which  the  Short-horn,  Jersery, 
Alderney  and  Ayrshire,  and  to  some  extent  the  Devon,  have 
found  especial  acceptance,  and  are  represented  by  some  of  their 
best  strains.  Much  discussion  prevails  as  yet  in  regard  to  the 
rejative  merits  of  the  various  breeds  under  the  peculiar  climatic 
conditions  of  California ;  but  already  they  arc  beginning  to  be- 
come localized  in  accordance  with  their  several  adaptations  to- 
local  climates,  which  can  be  found  to  suit  all ;  and  perhaps  '\w 
time  the  tawny  race  of  the  Swjss  Alps  will  6nd  a  congenial  range 
on  the  Sierra  Nevada.    ,        .    ',      '.  "> 

"  The  production  of  beef  is  as  yet  timited  by  the  requirement* 
of  home  consumption;  but  the  dairy  interest  is  rapidly  assuming 
a  wider  range,  and  with  an  increasing  knowledge  of  the  modifr- 
cations  of  the  processes  demanded  by  climatic  conditions,  the 


I 


1'!'^; 


II' 


W: 


g.j  .  OUX    WESTER l\r   EMPIRE. 

quality  of  dairy  products  is  improving  so  much  tliat  as  a  market 
for  all  but  the  choicest  kinds,  California  will  soon  be  closed  to 
the  Eastern  producer,  and  will,  perhaps,  compete  with  him  in 
foreign  markets.  The  average  quality  of  the  milk  supplied  to 
San  Francisco  and  Oakland,  from  the  numerous  '  dairy  ranches ' 
op  the  coast  and  bay  and  in  the  Coast  Range,  is  gready  superior 
to  that  generally  found  in  Eastern  cities ;  one  obvious  reason 
being  that  in  the  absence  of  distilleries  there  is  no  opportunity 
or  temptation  to  feed  the  cows  on  unhealthy  offal ;  nor  do  the 
sleek  and  healthy  cows  that  range  the  breezy  hills  of  the  coast 
ever  need  to  be  propped  or  slung  up  in  order  to  enable  them  to 
stand  the  milking  process.  ,It  is  believed  that  an  undue  increase 
of  bulk  from  a  too  free  use  of  the  pump  is  all  that  the  milk  con- 
sumers of  these  cities  ever  have  to  complain  of.  ^ 

"Butter  is  now  very  generally  of  fair  quality,  some  brands 
being  quite  up  to  the  'gilt-edge '  standard.  It  is  usually  sold  in 
rolls  supposed  to  weigh  two  pounds,  but  in  reality  always  several 
(ninces  below  that  weight — a  circumstance  so  well  understood,, 
hpwever,  that  the  practice  hardly  amounts  to  deception.  The 
price  per  roll  rarely  falls  below  fifty  cents  to  the  consumer,  and 
ranges  more  generally  from  sixty  cents  to  $i.io  about  Christmas 
ijme,  when  even  that  which  has  been  packed  in  casks  with  salt 
during  the  spring  and  summer  brings  seventy  cents. 

"The  intimate  connection  (to  the  housekeeper  at  least)  of 
butter  with  eggs  suggests  a  few  vi^ords  on  that  subject  in  this 
place.  The  demand  for  eggs  is  unusually  large  in  California 
-.ities,  in  consequence  of  the  commonly  prevailing  practice  of  not 
only  single  men  and  women,  but  also  small  families  in  moderate 
circumstances,  living  in  lodgings,  and  taking  an  easily  made 
breakfast  of  eggs,  bread  and  coffee,  thereafter  going  to  the  res- 
taurant for  dinner,  and  thus  avoiding  the  pains  and  pleasures  of 
housekeeping.  Whatever  may  be  said  of  the  desirability  of  this 
practice  in  a  social  point  of  view,  it  manifests  its  effects  in  the 
price  of  eggs,  which  rarely  falls  below  thirty  cents  per  dozen  to 
the  consumer,  and  is  more  frequently  among  the  fifties  and  up- 
Mirard ;  even  so,  fowls  cannot  often  be  bought  at  less  than  eighty 
cents  apiece,  and  %\  is  a  common  price.     Poultry-keeping  is 


t  as  a  market 
1  be  closed  to 

I  with  him  in 
k  supplied  to 
lairy  ranches ' 
eatly  superior 
t)vious  reason 
D  opportunity 
, ;  nor  do  the 
?  of  the  coast 
nable  them  to 
ndue  increase 
the  milk  con- 

some  brands 
jsually  sold  in 
ilways  several 

II  understood,, 
ception.  The 
;onsumer,  and 
out  Christmas 
asks  with  salt 
;s. 

r  at  least)  of 
iubject  in  this 

in  California 
practice  of  not 
s  in  moderate 
I  easily  made 
ng  to  the  res- 
J  pleasures  of 
rability  of  this 

effects  in  the 
5  per  dozen  to 
fifties  and  up- 
ss  than  eighty 
try-keeping  is 


BEES  IN  CALIFORNIA.  5  A 

therefore  a  very  remunerative  pursuit  when  judiciously  managed, 
since  feed  is  as  cheap  as  elsev\  here  ;  and  it  is  one  of  the  indus- 
tries which  have  not,  as  yet,  been  overdone.  There  are  no 
special  difficulties  to  be  overcome  in  poultry-raising  in  Califor- 
nia ;  yet  a  great  deal  of  money  has  been  lost  in  attempts  made 
by  persons  unfamiliar  with  its  proper  management.  There  is  no 
lack  of  the  improved  breeds,  but  among  them  the  Leghorns  seem 
to  enjoy  the  widest  acceptance  at  this  time. 

"Apiaculture  is  common  throughout  the  State,  and  nowhere  is 
the  product  of  the  bee  of  finer  flavor,  or  marketed  in  a  mor6 
attractive  form.  The  best  of  improved  hives  are  in  common  use, 
and  the  market  is  always  supplied  with  the  frames  filled  with  the 
delicate,  almost  white,  comb.  Of  course  the  improved  varieties 
of  bees  have  been  introduced,  and  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
State  especially  this  industry  is  practised  on  a  scale  not  often  th 
be  met  with  elsewhere,  as  can  readily  be  seen  from  the  figures 
showing  the  export,  amounting  in  1878  to  no  less  than  three  and 
a  half  millions  of  pounds.  How  kindly  the  honey-bee  takes  to 
even  the  desert  region  of  that  country  is  well  illustrated  in  what 
has  been  supposed  by  many  to  be  a  '  snake '  story,  but  what  is 
an  unquestionable  fact;  namely,  that  some  miner?,  prospecting 
in  Arizona,  struck  a  regular  '  fissure  vein '  of  honey  in  a  rock^ 
ridge,  where  the  bees  had  been  making  deposits  for  years,  and, 
although  the  vein-contents  were  not  what  they  had  been  search^• 
ing  for,  they  took  to  it  kindly  and  worked  it,  extracting  therefrom 
ix  fabulous  amount  of  honey.  Another  adventurous  colony  took 
possession  of  the  court-house  cupola  at  San  Bernardino,  and  had 
accumulated  several  hundred  pounds  of  honey  when  discovered. 
The  bee  is  very  fond  of  the  flower  of  the  mountain  sage  [Arte- 
misia), as  well  as  of  a  number  of  other  desert  plants,  and  is  thus 
afforded  unlimited  pasture  through  three-fourths  of  the  year.  It 
seems  that  certain  kinds  of  flowers,  not  yet  identified,  impdrt  to 
the  honey  a  tendency  to  become  turbid  after  straining,  from  the 
separation  of  minute  white  crystals,  whose  nature  has  not  as  yet 
been  ascertained.  Such  honey,  whose  other  qualities  are  gehen- 
ally  of  the  highest,  has  been  unjustly  suspected  of  adulteration 
in  Eastern  and  English  markets!     The  prejudice  arising  from 


■A'.v*.  .uut»<»<KwM'^<W««>>!n''*^(Sr>^'KS*«A^^i*«^l- 


rHPii,>SJ«^r*^-,-VV-K.ii»:A^Vi*4V..;^i;<VlJStW.V-«*-.(''i;'i-->ii*A-^^^^ 


ll?. 


rf.< 


^,^  OUR    WESTERN  EHPtRE. 

this  merely  conventional  defect  will  soon  be  overcome,  and  Sou^ 
California  will  doubtless  become  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the 
largest,  honey-producing  country  of  the  world. 

*' Silk-culture  is  at  present  almost  extinct  in  California  in  con- 
Sixjuence  of  the  reaction  against  the  mania  for  this  industry  that 
/bco^an  in  the  State  some  eighteen  years  ago  and  raged  with 
(unabated  fury  for  several  years,  inflicting  severe  losses  upon 
those  who  indulged  in  the  popular  delusion  that  the  silk-worm 
»ould  thrive  in  the  State  without  any  special  precautions  in  the 
way  of  shelter  and  such  intelligent  care  as  can  be  given  only  by 
those  versed  in  its  treatment.  Some  of  the  airy  sheds  that  were 
supposed  to  be  an  adequate  protection  against  the  compara- 
tively slight  changes  of  temperature  are  still  extant,  as  monu- 
ments of  that  flush  period  when  mulberry  trees  were  thought  to 
ijbe  the  only  nursery  stock  worth  having.  It  can  hardly  hit 
jdoubted  that  tf  .e  advantages  offered  by  a  climate  in  which  the 
food  of  the  worm  is  available  during  all  but  two  or  three  months 
«n  tlie  year,  yet  free  from  the  excessive  heat  that  elsewhere  mili- 
lates  against  the  insect's  well-being,  will  ultimately  assert  them- 
selves in  the  esumption  of  silk-culture  in  a  calmer  mood.  It 
l^as  been  very  successfully  kept  up,  on  a  small  scale,  by  Mr. 
^UPtTvi-j  Neumann,  of  San  Francisco,  showing  pretty  conclu- 
^tively  that  it  is  not  the  natiire  of  the  climate,  but  adverse  com- 
fliercLil  and  industrial  circumstances  that  at  present  keep  the 
rise  of  silk-culture  in  check."      ,.     ^      ;     ;. 

The  tables  on  page  615  show  the  leading  agricultural  products 
!of  the  State  (except  grapes  and  wine)  for  the  year  1878  as  esti- 
inared  by  the  Agricultural  Department;  the  statistics  of  1879 
are  not  yet  received.  They  give  also  the  estimated  live-stock 
;of  the  State  in  January,  1879. 

In  regard  to  items  not  entering  into  these  statistics,  we  may 
say  that  in  1877  California  had  30,000,000  grape  vines,  most  of 
them  in  bearing,  one  county  (Los  Angeles)  alone  having  over 
j6,ooo,ooo  ;  of  fruit  trees,  common  to  temperate  climates,  340,000 
in  bearing,  and  of  sub-tropical  fruit  trees,  the  almond,  lemon, 
orange,  olive,  fig,  etc..  500,000.  Of  wine  6,400,000  gallons  were 
/exported  in  1877  over  the  Central  Pacific  Railway,  and  about 


>mc,  and  SouOi 
jest,  if  not  the 

lifornia  in  con- 
is  industry  that 
ind  raged  with 
re  losses  upon 
t  the  silk-worm 
^cautions  in  the 
e  given  only  by 
iheds  that  were 
:  the  compara- 
xtant,  as  monu- 
vere  thought  to 

can  hardly  bf; 
ite  in  which  the 
)r  three  months 
elsewhere  mili- 
:ly  assert  them- 
Imer  mood.  It 
11  scale,  by  Mr. 

pretty  conclu' 
t  adverse  com- 
'esent  keep  the 

ultural  products 
ar  1878  as  esti- 
itistics  of  1879 
lated  live-stock 

atistics/wb  may 
;  vines,  most  of 
le  having  over 
imates,  340,000 
almond,  lemon, 
X)  gallons  were 
way,  and  about 


CROPS  AND  LIVESTOCK  IN  CAUFORNIA.  6|j 

45,000,000  pounds  of  wool,  beside  the  large  amount  retained  for 
home  consumption.  Of  salmon,  mostly  in  tins,  7,841,680  pounds 
were  shipped  eastward  in  1877  ;  of  borax  536,000  pounds. 


Crop?*. 
Producw. 


Indian  corn 

I  Wheat  . 
|Rye  .  . 
lOats  .  . 
Rirley  . 
I  Potatoes . 
iHay.     . 


I. 


Mcaturn. 


bushels 


<« 
tons 


Qiianlilv 
produced. 

1 
Av'go  yield 

(Kr  acre. 

3,467,250 

34  5 

41,990,000 

»7- 

195,000 

»S- 

4,350,000 

30- 

14,950,000 

23- 

4,377,600 

114. 

1,371,000 

205 

Miiniber  uf  acres 
of  each  crop. 

V  .liie  pir 

bushel  tir 

Ion. 

100, SCO 

.60 

2,470,000 

«   03 

13,000 
145,000 

650,000 

38,400 

•75 
.69 

•65 
.98 

( 20,000 

4,036,900 

12.61 

Total  valiiatloa. 


$2,080,350 

43,240,700 

146,250 

3,001,500 

9,717,500 

4,290,048 

i6,027,3to 

$78,512,658 


Live-itock.— Anlmalii. 

Number. 

Average  price. 

Value. 

Horses      .... 
Mules  .    ^.     .     .     . 
Milch  cows   .     .     . 
Oxen  and  other  cattle 

Sheep  

Swine 

273,000 
25,700 

459,600 
1,010,000 
6,889,000 

565,000 

143-95 

66.24 

25.90 

18.91 

1. 61 

5-9S 

$11,998,350 

1,702,368 
11,903  6,40 
19,099,100 
11,091.290 

3.361.750 

$59,156,498 

Manufacturing  Products. —  California,  not  content  with  being 
the  richest  agricultural  State  and  one  of  the  best  mining  States 
of  "  Our  Western  Empire,"  aspires  also  to  a  high  rank  as  a  manu- 
facturing State,  for  which,  indeed,  she  has  many  facilities.  Her 
earliest  manufactures  were  connected  with  her  mining  interests, 
mining  implements  and  machinery,  and  generally,  miners'  sup- 
plies. In  these  she  has  been  remarkably  successful,  and  at  the 
present  time  some  of  the  best  mining  machinery  known  is  pro- 
duced at  San  Francisco,  and  in  other  California  cities ;  the  excepn 
tional  size  and  excellence  of  her  forest  trees  led  to  the  produc- 
tion of  lumber  for  mining,  building,  and  railroad  purposes,  and 
to  the  finer  manufactures  of  wood  as  furniture,  etc.;  the  vast 
herds  of  cattle  and  the  great  quantities  of  hides  placed  upon  her 
market  led  to  the  establishment  of  tanneries  aod  to  the  produc- 
tion of  leather  for  harness,  saddles,  hunters'  trappings,  etc.,  a 
class  of  manufactures  very  greatly  to  tlie  taste  of  her  Hispano- 


6iO 


OUR    WESTEHU  EMPIRE. 


■    )     . 


American  population ;  and  her  vast  flocks  of  shetp  made  her 
chief  city  one  of  the  best  wool  markets  in  the  country  and  stimu- 
lated manufactures  of  several  classes  of  woollen  goods,  in  which 
she  has  attained  great  excellence.  Her  immense  production  of 
wheat  led  to  the  establishment  of  extensive  flouring  mills,  and 
the  San  Francisco  hour  has  a  great  reputation.  The  develop- 
ment of  grape  culture  naturally  led  to  the  manufacture  of  wine 
anil  brandy.  Carriages  and  wagons,  and  iron  manufactures  and 
iron  castings  were  the  outcome  of  the  production  of  mining 
machinery  and  miners'  supplies.  Of  other  manufactures,  most 
haVc  grown  out  of  her  commerce.  She  buys  largely  of  unmanu- 
factured tobacco,  which  is  made  up  there  into  cigars,  chewing 
and  smoking  tobacco.  The  raw  sugar  received  from  the  Sand- 
wich Islands  is  manufactured  into  refined  sugar,  syrup,  and  can- 
dies ;  and  the  bags  in  which  her  grain  is  exported  are  manufac- 
tured in  her  own  mills.  Gunpowder,  dynamite,  giant-powder, 
and  chemicals,  which  also  figure  among  her  products,  are  mostly 
in  demand  for  the  mining  districts  and  miners'  supplies.  What 
amount  of  capital  is  invested  in  her  manufactures,  and  what  is 
the  annual  value  of  the  products  now,  it  is  difficult  to  say.  In 
1870  the  amount  of  capital  reported  (and  very  much  under- 
stated) by  the  census  was  ^^39,7 28,202,  and  the  annual  product 
stated  was  $66,594,556.  It  would  undoubtedly  be  three  times 
the  amount,  if  not  more,  in  both  cases  at  the  present  time. 

Mining  Products. — The  official  statement  of  the  production  of 
gold  and  silver  in  California  in  1879  gives  $18,190,973  as  the 
amount,  but  this  does  not  include  considerable  sums  forwarded 
to  the  East  in  private  hands,  nor  the  amount  used  for  manufac- 
turing and  other  purposes  in  the  State,  nor  what  was  on  hand 
at  the  mines,  mills,  and  smelting  works  at  the  close  of  the  year, 
but  only  what  was  either  deposited  at  the  mint  or  passed  through 
the  express  companies.  There  is  to  be  added  to  this  also  about 
$1,000,000  worth  of  lead  (5.55  per  cent.),  parted  from  the  silver 
in  the  smelting  works.  Dr.  Rossiter  W.  Raymon  i,  late  United 
States  Mining  Commissioner,  and  now  editor  of  the  Mining 
Exchange  youmal,  the  highest  authority  on  this  subject,  esti- 
mates that,  throughout  all  these  mining  States  and  Territories, 


eop  made  her 
try  and  stimu- 
oods,  in  which 
production  of 
•inj;  mills,  and 
Ihe  develop- 
acture  of  wine 
lufactures  and 
-ion  of  mining 
ifactures,  most 
ly  of  unmanu- 
igars,  chewing 
rom  the  Sand- 
yrup,  and  can- 
are  manufac- 
giant-powder, 
cts,  are  mosdy 
pplies.     What 
2s,  and  what  is 
ult  to  say.     In 
much  under- 
nnual  product 
)e  three  times 
:nt  time, 
production  of 
190.973  as  the 
ims  forwarded 
1  for  manufac- 
t  was  on  hand 
;e  of  the  year, 
assed  through 
this  also  about 
from  the  silver 
:i,  late  United 
•f  the  Mining 
!  subject,  esti- 
id  Territories, 


RAILWAYS  IN  CALIFORNIA.  gg* 

and  esp'  -lially  in  California,  the  gold  and  silver  product  is  only 
about  on  -tenth  of  all  the  mineral  products  of  the  State;  that 
the  quir'  iilver,  platinum,  copper,  k:ad,  iron,  tin,  coal,  borax,  soda, 
salt,  sulphur,  gypsum,  marble,  granite  and  other  building  stone, 
mineral  waters,  etc.,  together  aggregate  nine  times  as  much  as 
the  precious  metals.  However  it  may  be  with  the  other  mining 
States  and  Territories,  this  estimate  probably  very  closely  ap- 
proximates the  truth  in  California  ;  so  that  we  may  put  the  entire 
amount  of  mining  and  mineral  products  for  the  year  1879  at 
about  $  1  ;i  1 ,900,000. 

Railways. — The  present  railway  system  of  California  is  very 
simple,  though  it  traverses  almost  the  entire  State.  The  Central 
Pacific  and  its  branches,  one  of  which  stretches  up  almost  to  the 
Oregon  boundary,  and  others  extend  to  Calistoga,  San  Jos^, 
Santa  Cruz,  Soledad,  and  Monterey;  and  the  Southern  Pacific, 
composed  mainly  of  the  same  stockholders  and  directors,  extend 
from  Redding  on  the  north  to  Fort  Yuma  in  the  southeast  and 
from  the  Nevada  line  to  a  dozen  places  on  or  near  the  coast. 
The  Central  Pacific  extends  to  Ogden,  where  it  joins  the  Union 
Pacific ;  and  the  Southern  Pacific,  crosiiing  the  Colorado  at  Yuma, 
has  nearly  traversed  Arizona,  and  is  making  its  way  as  rapidly 
as  possible  to  EI  Paso  on  the  Rio  Grande.  The  Southern 
Pacific  is  now  pressing  forward  its  construction  with  all  speed, 
irttending  by  arrangements  with  roads  already  built,  to  make  its 
eastern  terminus  within  a  twelvemonth  at  Galveston,  Texas, 
and  thus  find  an  outlet  for  the  rich  products  of  Southern  California, 
by  way  of  the  Mexican  gulf,  and  the  Atlantic.  Two  other  roads 
are  proposing  to  enter  California  at  the  south;  the  Atchison, 
Topeka,  and  Santa  F6,  or  its  extension,  the  St.  Louis  and  San 
Francisco,  already  beyond  Santa  Fe,  will  probably  cross  Arizona 
on  or  near  the  thirty-fifth  parallel,  and,  sending  one  branch 
through  the  rich  Mexican  State  of  Sonora,  make  one  terminus 
at  Guaymas  on  the  Gulf  of  California,  and  another  either  at 
Santa  Barbara  or  San  Diego ;  while  the  Texas  Pacific,  following 
the  valley  of  the  Gila  river,  will  also  make  its  western  terminus 
at  San  Diego.  With  the  exception  of  the  completion  of  the 
Oregon    Railway  and  the   extension  of  some    two  or  three 


ki<l 


61 S 


OUJt    iyP.ST/iRU   EMPIRE. 


branches  to  the  coast,  th<       seem  to  be  nearly  all  the  railways 
which  are  practicable  for  ti     State.  • 

Commerce  and  Navigation  of  the  State. — The  two  customs 
districts  of  San  Francisco  anil  San  l)iejj;o  (the  latter,  however, 
bein,:,'  of  only  small  account)  stand  third  in  the  United  States  in 
the  amount  of  their  imports,  which  in  1879  were  $35,105,639,  sixth 
in  the  amount  of  their  exports,  which  were  in  1879  $35,575,838, 
and  second  in  the  amount  of  foreign  exports,  which  were  the 
same  year  $4,117,886. 

The  number  of  vessels  entering  these  two  seaports  from  for- 
eign countries  in  1879  was  579,  having  a  tonnage  ol  645,26a 
tons ;  the  number  which  cleared  for  foreign  ports  was  676, 
having  a  tonnage  of  752.431  tons,  in  both  cases  about  equally 
divided  between  American  and  foreign  vessels. 

The  vessels  engaged  in  the  coasting  trade  and  fisheries  are 
not  reported  at  the  custom  houses,  except  when  they  have  for- 
eign goods  on  board,  so  that  ihe  greater  part  of  the  coasting 
I'ade  is  not  repo'-ted.  But  of  the  number  which  come  under 
the  conditions,  there  were  382  vessels  entered  of  417,992  tons, 
and  389  vessels  cleared  with  an  aggregate  of  378,627  tons.  The 
numb<  r  of  registered,  enrolled  and  licensed  vessels  in  the  two 
districts  was  918,  their  tonnage  200.319  tons. 
,  But  the  greatest  commerce  of  the  Slate  is  conducted  over  her 
railways.  We  have  no  returns  of  this  commerce  later  than  the 
close  of  1878,  and  these  only  over  the  Central  Pacific  and  its 
branches,  which,  however,  carries  the  greater  part  of  the  freight. 
The  freight  over  this  road  in  that  year  was  3,575,573,390  pounds 
=  i,787,786tVo'o  'ons — ^and  tlie  freight  received  therefor  was 
$10,802,27^. 

The  ocean  steamers  from  the  port  of  San  Francisco  ply  be- 
tween that  port  and  Panama,  between  that  port  and  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,  and  those  crossing  the  Pacific  go  to  Hong  Kong  and 
Yokohama.  There  is  also  an  indirect  steamer  trade,  and  a 
direct  one  with  sailing  vessels  with  the  South  American  ports  on 
the  west  coast,  and  with  Australia,  New  Zealand  and  the  islands 
of  the  southern  seas. 

B^nks. — ^There  are  seven  ruitional  banks  in  California,  all  re- 


the  railways 

two  customs 
tter,  liowcver, 
ited  States  in 
05,639,  sixth 

?  $35.575.«38. 
lich  were  the 

arts  from  for- 
ol  645.262 
•rts  was  676, 
about  equally 

1  fisheries  are 
hey  have  for- 
I  the  coasting 
come  under 
417,992  tons, 
27  tons.  The 
ih  in  the  two 

icted  over  her 
later  than  the 
*acific  and  its 
of  the  freight. 
73.390  pounds 
therefor  was 

ncisco  ply  be- 
ind  the  Sand- 
mg  Kong  and 
trade,  and  a 
rican  ports  on 
id  the  islands 


■;?- 


n  C""' 


ifornia,  a!!  re- 


CALtFORSiA  AS  A  UEAI.Tlt  RRS0R7.  (l^ 

deeming  their  own  notes  in  gold,  as  all  the  California  banks 
have  done  since  1861.  These  banks  have  a  capital  of  $4,ooo,cxx) 
and  a  circulation  of  J^i,534,cxx),  and  a  large  amount  of  deposits. 
There  are  besides  these  1 1 5  State  banks  and  trust  companies, 
private  banking  houses  and  savings  banks,  with  an  aggregate 
capital  of  $31,707,107,  and  deposits  in  December,  1879,  of 
1^81,019,951.  Some  of  the  private  banking  houses  do  an  im- 
mense business. 

California  as  a  Health  Resort. — The  data  which  we  have 
already  given  show  conclusively  that  the  coast  region  of  Cali- 
fornia from  San  Francisco  southward,  with  its  small  annual 
range  of  temperature,  and  the  very  slight  mean  difference  be- 
tween the  averages  of  the  winter  and  summer  months,  its  clear, 
dry  and  bracing  air,  and  its  abundant  nitrogenous  food  and  lus- 
cious fruits,  is  the  best  region  to  which  an  invalid  with  weak  lungs 
or  a  tendency  to  predominance  of  the  white  tissues  could  pos- 
sibly come.  What  has  been  deduced  theoretically  from  these 
|)remises  proves  to  be  true  in  practice ;  there  is  no  better  cli- 
mate for  consumptives,  scrofulous  persons,  or  those  of  aniemic 
tendency  than  the  coast  of  California  from  the  38th  parallel 
southward.  The  ocean  winds  may  be  a  little  harsh  at  San  Fran- 
cisco, though  the  temperature  is  otherwise  unobjectionable ;  but 
at  San  Jos6,  Santa  Cruz,  Monterey,  Soledad,  Santa  Barbara,  San 
Buenaventura,  Los  Angeles,  Florence,  Anaheim,  Wilmington, 
San  Bernardino  and  San  Diego,  the  climate  is  simply  perfect. 
Farther  north,  from  the  39th  to  the  42d  parallel,  the  mountains 
come  closer  to  the  coast,  the  shores  are  forbidding  and  very 
sparsely  inhabited,  and  the  rains  are  too  many  and  too  heavy  to 
make  it  pleasant.  The  valleys  between  the  Sierras  and  the  Coast 
Range  are  very  pleasant  in  winter,  but  the  summers  are  intensely 
hot  and  dry.  On  the  mountain  slopes  there  is  every  variety  of 
climate,  but  Lake  Tahoe,  the  Yosemite  and  the  Sequoia  groves, 
though  healthful  and  pleasant  summer  resorts,  are  not  spe- 
cially adapted  to  invalids  of  this  class.  Many  of  the  mineral 
springs  of  die  State  have  a  high  reputation  for  rheumatic  and 
cutaneous  diseases.  The  Warm  Springs  of  Calistoga,  in  Napa 
county,  and  the  Sulphur  Springs  and  waters  at  the  "Geysers," 
not  far  distant,  are  largely  visited  by  invalids. 


I:t**; 


630 


OUR    WF.STKKN  KstfP/JfK. 


K 


Population. — The  population  of  California  in  1870  was,  ex. 
eluding  tribal  Indians,  560,247  ;  with  those  Indians,  582,031.  Of 
these  499,424  were  whites,  4,272  colored  (/.  <r.,  of  African  de- 
scent), 49,310  Chinese  and  Japanese,  7,241  civilized,  and  21,784 
tribal  Indians.  Of  the  560,247  inhabitants  (exclusive  of  tribal 
Indians),  349,479  were  males,  and  210.768  were  females.  The 
census  of  1880  makes  the  population,  exclusive  of  tribal  In- 
dians,  864,686.  or  with  them,  about  875.350.  The  number  of 
persons  of  African  descent  has  probably  moderately  increased; 
the  Chinese  are  stated  by  the  cen.sus  as  only  51,000,  but  the 
largest  accessions  to  the  population  have  been  from  the  Eastern 
States  and  from  Great  Britain,  Germany,  the  Scandinavian  States, 
and  other  European  countries. 

Of  late  years  there  has  been  violent  opposition  on  the  part  of 
a  portion  of  the  workingmen  and  some  other  classes  in  the  State 
to  the  influx  of  Chinese  immigrants,  of  whom  considerable  num^ 
bers  had  come  into  California  as  house-servants,  mechanics,  rail- 
road laborers  and  miners.  The  Chinese  have  been  very  useful 
in  all  these  capacities,  and  have  unquestionably  added  materially 
to  the  wealth  of  the  State,  but  it  is  objectcil,  tha.;  they  work  for 
lower  wages  than  other  workingmen  ;  that  they  send  back  their 
money  and  their  bones  to  China,  and  many  of  them  return 
thither  themselves  carrying  their  earnings  with  them  ;  that  they 
are  addicted  to  opium-eating  and  other  vices;  that  the  Chinese 
women  do  not  migrate  hither,  and  that  their  habits  and  modes 
of  life  are  uncleanly.  Moreover  they  are  idolaters  or  at  least 
heathen,  and  are  under  the  control  of  the  six  Chinese  companies 
in  San  Francisco,  who  contract  for  their  labor,  and  govern  and 
rule  them  absolutely.  There  are,  undoubtedly,  valid  objections 
to  the  admission  of  a  class  of  laborers  in  a  community,  who  are 
wholly  foreign  to  our  religion.  lan/ruage,  customs  and  authority, 
who  are  really  the  subjects  of  a  fonign  and  irresponsible  power,  and 
especially  when  the  greater  part  of  them  are  coolies,  or  in  reality 
the  slaves  of  the  Chinese  companies,  who  exercise  over  them  a 
really  absolute  authority.  The  difficulty  is  enhanced  when  these 
foreigners  do  not,  and  cannot,  become  nor  seek  to  become 
citizens.    As  General  Garfield  has  well  said,  their  coming  "i§  too 


Rt.ifr'f/»>    jl\  Jv(|ijf;;,^    ?f:-)'jl'if  '''»f: 


<(^  ^I'^h 


THE  CIIINHSR  IN  CAl.tFOKS'lA. 


621 


f?7o  was,  ex. 
;S2.o3i.     Of 

African  tie- 
I,  and  21,784 
sivo  of  tribal 
^malcs.  The 
of  tribal  In* 

number  of 
ly  increased; 
,000,  but  the 
1  the  Eastern 
lavian  States, 

n  the  part  of 
>  in  the  State 
derablc  num- 
Lichanics,  rail- 
n  very  useful 
ed  materially 
hey  work  for 
nd  Ij.'irk  their 
them  return 
:m ;  that  they 
t  the  Chinese 
ts  and  modes 
s  or  at  least 
se  companies 
1  govern  and 
lid  objections 
nity,  who  are 
nd  authority, 
le  power,  and 
,  or  in  reality 
over  them  a 
J  when  these 
to  become 
ming  "  is  too 


much  like  an  importation  to  he  welcomed  without  restriction,  too 
much  like  an  invasion  to  be  looked  upon  without  solicitude. 
We  cannot  consent  to  allow  any  form  of  servile  labor  to  be 
introduced  among  us  under  the  guise  of  immigration. '  Still 
the  objections  urged  against  the  Chinese  as  a  race,  and  which 
have  led  to  serious  riots  and  great  injustice  against  them,  seem 
at  this  distance  trivial.  Our  country  boasts,  that  it  is  the  refuge 
and  home  of  the  oppressed  of  all  nations,  and  if  some  of  these 
objections  are  to  be  regarded  as  valid  against  the  Chinese,  it 
might  be  well  to  inquire  whether  most  of  them  might  not  be 
urged  with  the  same  propriety  against  other  nationalitie.s,  some 
of  which  are  now  the  bitterest  persecutors  of  the  Orientals. 

It  is  rather  because  of  the  danger  of  the  introduction  of 
a  servile  class  wholly  irresponsible  to  our  laws  and  institution; , 
than  from  any  regard  to  the  demonstrations  of  the  hoodlums  an<( 
dangerous  classes  of  the  Pacific  coast,  and  the  demagogue 
leaders  who  have  urged  them  on,  that  our  government,  recog- 
nizing its  duties  and  responsibilities  to  a  nation,  with  whom  all 
our  relations  have  been  as  friendly  as  they  have  been  with  China, 
have  sent  a  commission  composed  of  three  of  our  most  eminent 
citizens  to  treat  concerning  these  and  other  matters,  with  the 
Chinese  government,  and  while  preventing  this  coolie  immigration, 
to  encourage  the  coming  of  respectable  Chinese  citizens  and 
iheir  families.  We  must  admit  these,  and,  admitting  them,  we 
are  firmly  persuaded  that  the  dawn  of  the  twentieth  century  will 
see  a  population  of  not  less  than  ten  millions  of  Chinese  in 
"Our  Western  Empire." 

Education. — The  educational  position  of  California  is  worthy 
of  all  praise.  No  child  in  the  State  need  grow  up  in  ignorance. 
She  has  a  permanent  school-fund  of  about  )j^2,oc)0,ooo,  but  her 
annual  expenditures  for  her  public  schools  alone  exceed  ji5,ooo,- 
000,  and  include  a  tax  of  ten  cents  on  every  hundred  dollars  of 
taxable  property.  Her  teachers  are  well  paid,  and  somewhat 
more  than  $2,000,000  is  expended  annually  for  teachers'  wages. 
There  are,  besides  these  public  schools,  which  are  free  to  the 
children  of  the  whole  State,  a  great  number  of  private  and 
endowed  academies,  institutes  and  high  schools  for  secondary 


633 


OVR   WKSTRKN  KMP/KE. 


instruction  .  many  of  thrni  of  the  hi^est  character,  A  State 
university,  wril  cii^lowfd  lK)th  by  thr  Stat'*  and  United  Staiiti; 
a  *>latc  normal  school,  an  ajfricultiinii  college,  and  a  military 
aca<l»Mny,  all  w»'ll  and  rfficiendy  nmnagf-d,  and  ihirtren  other 
univtTsities  and  rnl|«'ge«,  mostly  siiJitalned  by  the  diffi  rent  reli- 
gious lUnominatio.is.  Thes«!  havr  iHo  professors  and  nl'out 
2,500  students,  and  property,  includinj^f  thfir  permanent  funds, 
to  the  amount  of  about  ;j^5, 500,000.  There  are  also  professional 
BchooU  of  law,  medicine,  theology  and  science,  nn«l  there  is  now 
building  an  observatory  in  an  eligible  site,  endowed  most  liber- 
ally l)\  a  former  citizen  of  California,  Mr.  James  Lick. 

C/ninhes, — Every  denomination  ^nown  in  the  United  Statflt 
has  its  representatives  in  California.  The  Roman  Carholtcs 
have  several  dioceses  and  one  arch-diocese  there,  nearly  200 
priests,  and  an  adherent  population  (estimated)  of  somewhat 
more  than  100,000  persons,  made  up  of  Mexicans,  Spanish,  Irish, 
Germans,  Italians  and  some  Americans.  The  Methodists  are 
probably  quite  as  numerous,  having  about  325  churches  and  a 
still  larger  number  of  preachers.  The  Presbyterian  churches 
have  somewhat  more  than  100  churches  and  ministers.  Tlie 
Baptists  about  ninety  churches.  The  "Christian"  connection 
and  the  Disciples  about  fifty  churches.  The  Protestant  Episco- 
pal about  fifty-five  churches;  the  Congrogationalists  about 
seventy  churches.  There  are  also  "  Friends,"  Jewish  Syna- 
gogues, "  E\'angelical  Association,"  Lutherans,  German  Re- 
formed "United  Brethren  in  Christ,"  Unitarians,  Universalists, 
New  Jerusalem  Church,  Second  Adventists,  Greek  Church,  six 
Spiritualist  organizations,  four  Mormon  churches,  seven  Chinese 
congregations  with  fve  ♦lemples,  etc.,  etc. 

Counties  and  Cities. — There  are  fifty-three  counties  in  the 
State,  some  of  them  of  great  extent,  but  sparsely  inhabited. 
The  most  populous  counties  (most  of  them  also  the  smallest  in 
area)  are  San  Francisco,  Alameda,  Sacramerrto,  Santa  Clara, 
Sonoma,  San  Joaquin,  Nevada,  Los  Angeles,  Solano,  Placer, 
Butte,  Humboldt,  Yuba,  Amador,  Napa,  Yolo,  Mendocino,  Mon- 
terey and  Contra  Costa.  Of  cities  and  towns  San  Francisco 
has,  by  the  census  of  1880,  233.956  inhabitants.     It  is  much  the 


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Tia.  FVTUXB.    Of  CALIFOKNIA.  ^2% 

largest  city  on  the  Pacific  coast  and  has  an  extensive  commerce 
and  a  large  amount  of  manufacturing.  Sacramento,  the  capital 
of  the  Statt-,  had  16,283  inhabitants  in  1870,  and  the  census  of 
18S0  ;^ivos  it  21,420.  Oakland,  across  the  bay  from  San  I'ran- 
cisco,  had  34,556  in  1880 ;  San  Jose,  1  2,567  ;  Los  Angelt^s,  1  1.31 1  ; 
and  Stockton  in  the  San  Joacpiin  valley  10,287  inhabitants;  Marys- 
ville,  Santa  Cruz,  San  Diego,  and  Santa  Barbara  are  ilu;  other 
towns  of  importance. 

California,  as  the  gateway  of  the  Pacific,  holds  a  tiiffcrent 
position  to  "Our  Western  Empire"  from  any  other  Slate  or 
Territory  in  it.  With  its  fine  climate,  its  vast  extent  ol  fertile 
soil,  its  rich  and  abundant  pasturage,  its  great  mineral  wealth, 
its  extensive  commerce,  and  its  growing  manufactures,  it  has  a 
career  before  it  much  like  that  of  the  State  of  New  York  on  the 
Atlantic  coast.  If  it  shall  shake  off  the  death-grapple  of  the 
horde  of  political  communists  and  demagogues,  the  miserable 
miscreants,  who  call  themselves  "  workingmen,"  but  most  of 
whom  never  did  an  honest  day's  work  in  their  lives,  who  aire 
now  trying  to  throttle  it,  it  will  have  a  great  and  glorious  future 
as  the  leading  State  of  this  great  Western  Empire ;  but  if  nat>-<- 


•'  '  CHAPTER  IV. 

:    '     .  COLORADO. 

Situation,  Boundaries,  Area — Topography — Mountains,  Valleys,  Plains, 
Parks,  Rivers,  Lakes,  Canons — Climate,  Soil,  and  Vkgetation— Geol- 
ogy, Mineralogy,  Animals — Mines  and  Mining  Industry — The  Extra- 
ordinary Development  of  Mining  in  the  Staie  since  1875 — Mining  Dis^ 
TRicTs  —  Farming  —  Stock-raising  —  Wool-growing  —  Railroads — Com* 
MERCE  —  Population  —  Increase  since  1870  —  Counties — Education — 
Churches — ^The  Future  of  Colorado. 


i  ri 


Colorado,  often  called  •'  the  Centennial  State,"  because  k  wa« 
admitted  to  the  Union  in  1876,  the  year  of  our  Centennial 
celebration  of  our  national  existence,  is  situated  very  nearly  in 
the  centre  of  "  Our  Western  Empire,"  the  distance  in  a  direct 


'imi^''. 


524  ^^"^    H^ESTERy  EMPIRE. 

line  being  abouk  the  same  to  St.  Louis  and  to  San  Francisco— 
to  the  frontier  of  Urilisii  America  and  to  that  of  Mexico.  It  lies 
between  the  thirty-seventh  and  the  forty-first  parallels  of  north 
latitude,  and  between  the  load  and  the  109th  meridians  of  longi- 
tude west  from  Greenwich.  Its  width  from  north  to  south  is 
about  280  miles,  and  its  length  from  east  to  west  about  370 
miles.     Its  area  is  104,500  square  miles,  or  66,880,000  acres. 

The  great  plains  which  stretch  from  the  Missouri  river  to  the 
foot-hills  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  rising  slowly  but  steadily  with 
each  mile  of  their  advance  westward,  have  attained,  when  they 
reach  the  mountains,  an  elevation  of  between  6,000  and  7,000 
feet  above  the  sea.  Eastern  Colorado,  for  about  three-sevenths 
of  its  extent,  from  east  to  west,  consists  of  the  most  elevated 
part  of  these  plains,  which  reach  as  far  as  Denver.  West  of  the 
105th  meridian  come  the  Rocky  Mountains,  which  here  attain 
their  greatest  breadth.  The  mountains  consist  of  several  prin- 
cipal ranges  (which,  however,  do  not  extend  continuously  from 
north  to  south,  but  are  broken  off  and  made  irregular  by  the 
great  parks  which  are  a  feature  of  the  mountains  in  Colorado), 
and  of  numerous  spurs  or  short  ranges  extending  westward, 
southwestward  and  northwestward,  and  terminating  usually  in 
broad  plateaux,  which  are  suddenly  broken  off  by  the  deep 
caftons  of  the  Green,  Grand,  and  other  tributaries  of  the  Colo- 
rado of  the  West.  It  is  a  feature  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and 
perhaps  of  all  mountain  chains  on  this  continent,  that  the  eastern 
slope  of  each  range  is  generally  much  more  gradual  than  the 
western,  and  that  the  ascent,  even  of  its  highest  summits,  is  less 
difficult  on  the  eastern  than  the  western  face.  The  western 
slope  of  each  range  is  generally  precipitous  and  sometimes  im- 
practicable. The  ranges  in  their  order,  beginning  with  the  east- 
ernmost, are  the  Colorado  Front  Range,  which,  though  adopting 
some  local  names  in  the  southern  part  of  its  course,  extends  from 
the  northern  to  the  southern  bounds  of  the  State.  It  has  several 
lofty  peaks,  among  which  are  Mount  Evans,  Mount  Rosalia,  Pike's 
Peak,  and  Cliief  Mountain.  The  first  three  are  over  14,000  feet 
in  height.  The  next  in  order  is  the  Northern  Colorado  or  Main 
Range,  which  joins  the  Front  Range  at  the  northern  face  of  the 


n  Francisco— 
exico.     It  lies 
|rullels  of  north 
idians  of  longi- 
th  to  south  in 
est  about  370 
1,000  acres, 
luri  river  to  the 
t  steadily  with 
led,  when  they 
>ooo  and  7,000 
three-sevenths 
most  elevated 
.     West  of  the 
ich  here  attain 
f  several  pnn- 
itinuously  from 
regular  by  the 
i  in  Colorado), 
ling  westward, 
ting  usually  in 
f  by  the  deep 
is  of  the  Colo- 
Mountains,  and 
hat  the  eastern 
ftdual  than  the 
ummits,  is  less 
The  western 
sometimes  im- 
with  the  east- 
ough  adopting 
,  extends  from 
It  has  several 
Rosalia,  Pike's 
'er  14,000  feet 
)rado  or  Main 
rn  face  of  the 


COlOftADO  MO    AfTAIAS.  (J^j 

South  Park.  It  has  throe  summits  above  14,000  feet,  and  three 
above  13,000;  the  first  three  are  Gray's  IVak,  Irwin's  Peak,  and 
Long's  Peak;  the  second  tiirec,  Arapahoe  Ptuik,  Mount  Guyot. 
and  James  Peak.  Uald  Mountain,  in  Gilpin  county,  10,332  feet, 
is  also  in  this  range.  The  Park  Range,  between  which  and  die 
preceding  are  situated  the  throe  great  parks,  North,  Middle  and 
Soutlv  extends  from  the  northern  border  of  the  State  nearly  to 
the  Arkansas  river,  in  latitude  38°  40'.  This  range  has  six  sum- 
mits of  14,000  feet  or  above,  vi«, :  Buckskin  Mountain,  Mount 
Cameron,  Horseshoe  Mountain,  Mount  Lincoln,  Quandary  Peak, 
Silverheels,  and  Sheep  Mountain,  )  3,589  feet. 

The  Sawatch  or  Saguache  Range,  which  is  reckoned  a  part  of 
the  Main  Range,  begins  at  the  Grand  river  and  extends  soutli  as 
far  as  the  Saguache  river,  where  it  sends  out  a  spur  to  the  south- 
west, known  as  the  Cochetopa  Hills— >has  ten  summits,  all  but 
one  of  them  over  14,000  feet ;  these  are :  Mount  Antero,  Mount 
Elbert,  Mount  Harvard,  Holy  Cross  Mountain,  La  Plata,  Mas- 
sive Mountain,  Mount  Princeton,  Sliavano  and  Mount  Yale, 
while  Mount  Grizzly  is  13.956  feet  in  height  ;, 

Between  the  Ss^guache  and  the  Park  ranges  is  interposed,  in 
Southern  Colorado,  the  Sangre  de  Christo  Range,  which  has 
four  summits  over  14.000  feet;  one  of  them,  Blanca  Peak,  the 
highest  in  Colorado,  and  the  highest,  except  one,  in  the  whole 
West  Besides  BJaiwa,  Baldy  Peak,  Culebra  and  Hunt's  Peak 
are  above  14.000  feet,  and  the  two  Spanish  Peaks  are  13,620 
and  12,720  feet  rcspeciiyely, .v!  .■m''-,!  in  ,••.•:■..;  iwn.  ...  -■'    -jl'  :-■  > 

In  Southwestern  Colorado  there  is  a  confused  group  of  moun 
tatns,  consisting  of  the  main  or  dividing  range  and  numerous 
spurs,  known  as  the  Uncompahgre  Mountains,  San  Miguel 
Mountains,  Dolores,  La  Plata,  etc.  There  are  thirteen  principal 
peaks  in  this  group,  deven  of  them  over  1 4,000  feet,  several  of 
which  are  within  a  few  feet  of  the  altitude  of  Blanca  Peak. 
These  summits  are,  Mount  vEolus,  Handie's  Peak,  Pyramid, 
Pridgeon's  San  Luis  Peak,  Simpson's,  Mount  Sneffles,  Stewart's 
Peak,  Uncon^pahgre,  Wetterhorn,  Mount  Wilson,  and  the  two 
lower  summits^  Blaine's  Peak,  1 3,905,  and  Engineer  Mountain, 
f  1:34076  feet.  Oa  the  wesit;  these  n^ountains  terminate  In  broad. 
40 


I 

f 


\-k'. 


^^ 


'•'k^i»mMm^'i,}!Mjf^M^^M^^S!^& 


636 


ova    WESTERN  EMflKE. 


and  elevated  plateaux  and  mesas,  which  extund  to  the  river  banks 
and  there  are  riven  by  the  deep  caHons  of  the  aftliients  of  the 
Colorado.  Amonj^j  these  plateaux  are  the  C.  .  nd  Mesa,  north  of 
Gunnison  river,  the  Uncompahjjre  Plateau,  between  the  Gunni- 
son and  the  Dolores,  and  extending  to  the  Grand  river ;  the 
Dolores  Plateau,  between  the  Dolores  and  the  San  Miguel 
river,  and  the  Soutiiwest  Plateau,  between  the  Dolores  and  the 
Rio  Mancos,  and  extending  to  the  San  Juan  river. 

In  Western  Colorado,  in  what  is  known  as  the  Gunnison 
country,  there  is  another  mass  of  mountains,  probably  spurs  from 
the  Saguache  or  Sawatch  range,  which  trend  northwestward, 
westward  and  southwcstward.  There  are  many  summits  in  this 
group  which  is  known  as  the  Elk  Mountains ;  more  than  twenty 
being  visible  from  the  summit  of  Castle  Peak,  but  only  four  rise 
to  1 4,000  feet,  and  one,  Teocalli,  is  but  1 3, 1 1 3.  ..  <      ■ 

Besides  those  which  we  have  named,  there  are  several  hun- 
dred peaks  in  the  State  ranging  from  10,000  to  12,000  feet  above 
the  sea,  which  would  be  noticeable  in  any  other  State,  but  rising 
from  elevated  table-lands  6,000  to  8,000  feet  above  the  sea,  they 
seem  much  less  lofty  than  they  otherwise  would.  Of  the  twenty 
most  famous  passes  over  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  this  State  only 
two  are  below  9,000  feet,  and  only  five,  of  which  the  noted  V'eta 
Pass  is  one,  are  below  10,000,  while  five  are  above  12,000  feet, 
and  one,  the  Argentine,  is  13,100  feet  above  the  sea,  and  is  only 
practicable  in  summer. 

Of  the  great  numbers  of  lakes  scattered  in  the  mountain  vaU 
leys,  only  one  group,  the  San  Luis  lakes,  situated  in  the  beauti- 
ful San  Luis  Park,  are  below  8,000  feet  in  altitude,  while  the 
Green  Lakes  are  10,000  feet,  and  the  Chicago  Lakes  11,500  feet 
above  the  .jea.  -♦■•  '-  ~-'  .   -.v-.w'-*  .^..ii.w...  ,iA 

Of  seventy-three  important  towns  of  locations  In  Colorado, 
only  twelve  are  below  5,000  feet,  and  ten  are  above  10,000  feet, 
the  Present  Help  Mine  on  Mount  Lincoln  being  14,000  feet. 

"  The  parks  of  Colorado  are  a  distinct  and  remarkable  feature 
of  this  mountain  system.  They  are  generally  composed  of  level 
or  rolling  lands,  covered  with  luxuriant  grasses,  and  dotted  here 
and  there  with  groves  of  tim'.}er.    They  are  walled  about  with 


to  thr  river  banks 

aftlueius  of  the 

nd  Mesa,  north  of 

wv.cn  the  Gunni- 

Grantl  river;  the 

the  San   Miguel 

Dolores  and  the 

vcr. 

as  the  (junnison 
obably  spurs  from 
d  northwestward, 
ly  summits  in  this 
more  than  twenty 
but  only  four  rise 

are  several  hun- 
1 2,<xx)  feet  above 
r  State,  but  rising 
bove  the  sea,  they 
d.  Of  the  twenty 
in  this  State  only 
ch  the  noted  V'eta 
ibove  i2,cxxD  feet, 
le  sea,  and  is  only 

the  mountain  val- 
:ed  in  the  beauti- 
altitude,  while  the 
Lakes  11,500  feet 

ions  in  Colorado, 
I  bove  10,000  feet, 
g  14,000  feet. 
:markable  feature 
composed  of  level 
,  and  dotted  here 
trailed  about  with 


n/£  PAKKS  OF  COLORADO,  (J27 

moimtains  grand  and  high,  and  are  watered  by  streams  of  the 
purest  character."* 

The  North,  Middle,  and  South  Parks,  and  the  San  I.uis  Park 
form  a:i  almost  continuous  belt  across  the  State  from  north  to 
south,  varying  in  width  from  thirty  to  fifty  miles,  and  only  sepa- 
rated from  each  other  by  mountain  chains.  The  North  Park 
has  a  diameter  of  about  thirty  miles,  an  area  of  somewhat  less 
than  1,000  square  miles,  or  over  600,000  acres,  and  an  average 
elevation  of  about  9,000  feet.  The  Middle  is  much  larger,  hav- 
ing a  length  of  sixty-five  miles  by  a  breadth  of  forty-five  miles, 
an  area  of  about  r,8oo  square  miles,  or  1,900,000  acres,  and  an 
altitude  of  about  8,000.  The  South  Park  is  closed  in  by  moun- 
tains on  all  sides,  except  the  east ;  its  elevation  is  nearly  9,000 
feet,  its  area  about  1,200,000  acres.  The  San  Luis  is  lower 
(about  7,000  feet  above  the  sea),  but  as  large  as  all  the  rest, 
having  an  area  of  about  4,000,000  acres.  The  North  Park  is 
drained  by  the  north  fork  of  the  Platte ;  the  Middle  by  tributa- 
ries of  the  Grand  river;  the  South  by  affluents  of  the  South 
Platte,  and  the  San  Luis  by  the  Rio  Grande  del  Norte,  and  its 
tributaries,  and  by  streams  flowing  into  the  San  Luis  lakes.   • 

Egeria,  Estes,  Animas,  and  Huerfano  Parks  are  also  of  con- 
siderable size  and  of  great  beauty.  Monument  Park  and  the 
Garden  of  the  Gods  adjacent,  are  not  so  much  parks  as  natural 
phenomena  illustrating  the  erosion  of  the  rocks.  It  is  the  opinion 
of  geologists  that  these  parks  were  ages  ago  the  beds  of  vast 
lakes,  but  that  by  some  volcanic  or  other  cosmical  convulsion 
tiiey  were  upheaved  and  drained  of  their  waters,  though  their 
relative  position  to  the  mountains  was  not  disturbed. 

The  mountains  of  Colorado  are  covered  witli  pine,  fir,  spruce, 
aspen,  and  other  forest  trees  up  to  elevations  varying  from 
10,800  to  12,800  feot.  Above  the  timber  line  all  is  bleak  and 
barren  rock,  varied  by  the  occasional  presence  of  grass  and 
Alpine  flowers.  ^^'^^^^  f'/iK  ,i.i.!.');)io  ;  ].■,  . /(/c^nw.j/   /  r-oH  ;>ifr  ,■ 

Rivers  and  Streams, — ^Though  within  the  meridians  of  longi- 
tude which  but  five  years  ago  were  declared  to  be  those  of  the 

"  Great  American  Desert "  par  excellence^  it  cannot  be  justly  sai</ 

■  ■  I      I    ■  .  .,  ■ .  .,,.,,     ■■■ . 

•  Frank  Fosseti's  "  Colorado." 


I 

i'i 


,'iujaa>aaaw<>ttaMftMM»ai^  wtfiATsak^M 


r>38 


OUK    WaXTHKN   KMPrUM, 


that  Colorado  Is  not  wrll  watftred.  \\%  hiphcr  land*  may  requfre 
some  irrij^'ation,  hut  th«'  strramH  arr  then-  to  irn>{atc  ihcm.  On 
tin-  p.'iHt  of  the  "  (irrat  Divide  "  the  South  Platte  river,  with  about 
twenty  tributarieH  on  each  HiU<>,  ritiCH  far  up  ainon^;  the  summit* 
of  th'-  Park  Kunj^e,  and  purHuin)^  a  north  northeast,  and  then  an 
piHterly  course,  drains  ten  of  the  central  and  nortlveast  counties; 
while  the  North  I'latte,  takinj{  its  rine  in  the  Kabbit  Idars  Range, 
drains  the  whole  of  the  North  Park.  Keturntnt;  to  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State  tlie  Republican  river,  an  abluent  of  tU*  Kansas, 
with  its  four  principal  tributaries  drain»  the  ciastern  portion  of 
Weld,  Arapahoe,  and  Elbert  counties.  But  the  royal  stream 
of  ICastern  Colorado  is  the  Arkaanas,  \vl;ich  rises  in  the  Saj^^achc 
or  Sa watch  range,  its  sources  interlacing  with  those  of  the  Grand 
river,  the  largest  affluent  of  the  Colorado  of  the  WcHt,  and  in 
its  passafi^e  downwards  to  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  Statu 
receives  more  than  sixty  tributary  streams.  It  i«  a  noble  river, 
and,  in  its  passage  through  the  mountain  chains,  cuts  deep  and 
frightful  canons  almost  to  the  base  of  the  mountains  themselves. 
Some  of  its  tributaries,  like  the  Purgatoire,  Big  Siindy  creek, 
Horse  creek,  Apinhapa,  Huerfano  river  and  Foniuine  qui  BouilU, 
are  themselves  rivers  of  considerable  magnitude.  The  Rio 
Grande  del  Norte  rises  in  the  San  Juan  Range,  where  it  inter- 
laces with  the  sources  of  the  Gunnison,  Dolores  and  San  Juan 
rivers,  and  flowing  east-southeast  receives  numcrc  js  tribu- 
taries from  San  Juan,  Hinsdale,  Rio  Grande,  Saguache,  Conejos, 
and  Costilla  counties,  turns  south  near  Alamosa  and  passes  oi|t 
of  the  State  very  nearly  midway  of  its  southern  border. 

The  western  slope  of  the  "  Great  Divide "  is  drained  wholly 
(except  for  some  small  streams  which  fall  into  the  San  Luis 
lakes)  by  the  principal  affluents  which  go  to  make  up  the  Rio 
Colorado  of  the  West  All  of  these  except  the  main  stream 
and  some  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Greea  river  havQ  their  sources 
in  the  Rocky  Mountains  of  Colorado,  and  most  of  them  either 
in  the  Park,  the  Saguache,  the  Elk  or  the  San  Juan  Mountains. 
The  tributaries  of  the  Green  river  are,  the  Yampah  or  Bear  river, 
Ikrith  its  brandies.  Elk  and  Elkhead  creeks,  Little  Snake  river 
and  Vermillion  creek,  and  the  White  river  with  its  numerous 


%.:. 


i(U  may  rcqm're 
ate  them.     On 
Ivrr,  with  about 
|njr  the  summit* 
-St,  and  then  an 
tlu^st  anir>tii:H; 
[bit  lUrn  Kanjj^c, 
^  to  the  eastern 
t  of  thr  Kansas, 
tern  portion  of 
|»c  royal  Ktrenm 
in  the:  Sajfuache 
)$c  of  the  Grand 
\e  West,  and  in- 
ry  of  the  State 
in  a  noble  river, 
8,  cuts  deep  and 
ins  themselves. 
i}^  Siindy  creek, 
fui'uf  qui  BouilU', 
tudc.     The   Rio 
r,  where  it  inter- 
ns and  San  Juan 
lumerc  js   tribu- 
fuache,  Conejos, 
I  and  passes  out 
border. 

drained  wholly 
x>  the  San  i.,uis 
lake  up  the  Rio 
lie  main  stream 
vp  their  sources 
of  them  either 
[uan  Mountains, 
ah  or  Bear  river, 
tie  Snake  river 
ti  its  numerous 


, 

,^ 

KP^''':^''! 

,         \  ■■■'              ^ 

.im 

i        •                                                            . 

• 

.^  ^ 

It 

t 

( 

^ 
1 

r" 

SS^BHI 

■KjBL                 ."p^'*                ,  ^^^^ '  ^"VHP^^Hka 

4j^      ^* ^""v*         y. 

,  -        .-,   ,:^...-^                    ■;• 

• 

1 

I.ARdN   OI'    rilK  C01.UKAU0. 


•-^•f'fiiiii^imiMi^AStmSISSMii'' 


V 


■^7 


» 


CMNom  Of  lOtottAOO.  Cay 

tributaries.  The  (ir«n«l  rivrr  hms  iin  wHjrcct.  in  ihr  North  Park, 
travertoH  with  itii  trihutari<TM  thr  Middle  And  l-'.^cria  I'arl.n,  ami 
li)'  itii  aflfltK^ntn,  Ka^de  rivrr  and  Ko.irin^  lurk,  diNtribulei  itn 
wutcrn  titroii^h  all  the  vallryHof  thr  northirn  Sanj^rr  dr  Chrintti 
Moiintainx  aiul  thr  hik  ran^c,  while  itn  two  ^reat  attUii-ntH,  thr 
(funniton  and  the  Kio  DolorcHand  thrir  numrrotiN  triliiitarii;*, 
the  Unc<)mpahj,re,  the  Sail  Mi^iirl  and  1  disappointment  creek, 
drain  all  lh<*  western  iilope  \y\\\\^  l>elween  40"  and  .^7"  yy'  north 
latitude.  In  the  extreme  nouthweHt  the  Kio  San  Juan  and  itn 
ntuneruuM  brandcH  drain  the  whole  oi  I.a  Plata,  San  Jinin,  IlinH- 
dale,  and  the  weit<;rn  part  ot  C'onejoN  rountirs.  All  these  river» 
have  HcoreH  of  creekn  and  Htrenms  tributary  to  them,  ho  tluit 
there  arc  but  few  ti]uare  ntiles  in  the  State  which  are  destitute 
of  one  or  more  livin);  Htrcnmi. 

Mr.  I'rank  t'osiett,  a  recent  able  writer  on  Colorado,  thuK 
ttpeaks  of  the  caAonH  of  these  rivers : 

"The  river  caAons,  or  deeply  cut  ravin<'s  that  are  found  in  all 
of  tl>e  more  elevated  portion*  of  Colorado,  couHtiUitcr  a  peculiar 
and  striking  feature  of  the  ^rcat  Rocky  Mountiiin  Nystem.  In 
the  countlcsn  ages  of  the  past,  the  waters  of  the  streann  have 
worn  channelH  deep  down  into  the  henrts  of  the  mountainh, 
leaving  the  perpendicular  prpanitc  or  sandstone  standing  on  either 
side  for  hu'-  Ireds,  and  in  seme  localities  for  thou^'indd  of  feet. 
Nowhere  are  the  grand  and  beautiful  in  Naturv.  more  eff  crually 
illustrated  t'lan  in  these  mountain  caHons.  The  glories  of 
Moulder,  Clear  Creek,  Cheyenne,  and  Platte  cartons,  and  the 
Grand  canon  of  the  Arkansas  all  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
Continental  Divide,  defy  description.  The  walls  of  the  Colorado, 
Gunnison,  and  Uncompahgre  rivers,  in  the  western  part  of  the 
State,  are  still  more  massive  and  wonderful.  In  many  sectitms 
they  rise  without  a  break  or  an  incline  to  heights  of  thousands 
of  feet,  and  along  the  Colorado  continue  in  that  way  with  hardly 
an  outlet  of  any  kind  for  hundreds  of  miles.  The  Grand  carton 
of  the  Gunnison  is  one  of  the  world's  wonders.  Its  walls  on 
eitlier  side  of  the  stream,  and  bordering  it  for  miles,  are 
usually  not  far  from  300  feet  in  width,  and  arc  composed  of 
stratified  rock.     In  places  these  perpendicular  sides,  rising  from 


W 


<')dJi^'4»«iiMHtf4;«{tfiMh^ft«att^»?tifiii.  ,*A'/*UtAt««itu^«4^4^ViW*M»4 


'.'.AiUw^A 


530  OUK    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

the  water  for  distances  of  from  one  to  thcee  thousand  feet,  ter- 
minate ?n  I(^vel  summits  surmounted  by  a  second  wall  of  pro- 
digious height,  thus  forming  a  cafton  within  a  carton.  Through 
the  chasm  between  these  giant  formations  and  huge  bastibns  and 
turrets  one  above  another,  dashes  the  river,  its  surface  ^vhite 
v/ith  foam.  The  heights  of  these  perpendicular  carton  walls  and 
their  elevations  witii  that  of  the  river  above  sea-level  at  several 
points,  are  as  follows:  Level  of  the  Gunnison  at  mouth  of 
Mountain  creek  above  sea-level,  7,200  feet;  of  top  of  wall  or 
plateau  on  north  side,  8,000  feet;  height  of  wall,  1,600  feet; 
lieight  of  wall  at  point  below  on  east  side,  i  ,900  feet ;  on  west 
side,  1 ,800  feet ;  height  of  wall  in  gneiss  rock,  900  feet.  Some 
distance  below,  the  carton  wall  rises  directly  from  the  river, 
3,000  feet,  of  which  the  1,800  feet  nearest  the  water  is  gneiss 
rock ;  total  elevation  of  top  of  wall  or  plateau  above  the  sea, 
0,800  feet."  r'livii   x.^^iii  !>>  .'(Ill, II.  1  -Mil   i"  .  .1)  Mj- 

Climate. — The  great  e'  'ation  of  most  of  the  places  of  resi- 
dence in  Colorado  insurv.  a  temperate  climate,  rather  too  cool 
tlian  too  hot.  The  mean  annual  temperature  of  most  of  the 
towns,  which  are  5,000  feet  or  thereabouts  above  the  sea,  is  not 
far  from  50° — perhaps  for  a  long  term  of  years  48.5°  t*^  49.3".  '"' 

The  cumm«^r  mean  ranges  from  64.6°  to  69.2°,  and  the  winter 
mean  from  31.3**  to  32.8°,  so  that  the  m«;an  difference  or  range 
does  not  exceed  37**  or  38''.  The  extremes  are  93°  to  99**  max- 
imum in  summer,  with  from  six  to  thirty  days,  according  to  the 
elevation,  above  90°,  and  the  minimum  in  winter  — 3°  to  — 1 2" 
with  an  average  of  six  to  ten  days  with  tj;ie  mercury  below  zero. 
There  is,  therefore,  an  extreme  range  in  the  whcJe  year  of  from 

96"*  to  IIO*4  rtf'vl.'V//  •M\\   iii  ..-'■(  ma/Ii    :»i'ifl(.i|fn(.t.jriU    I»rii.  .no-'idfiiir.) 

The  rainfall  averages  about  18.84  inches,  and  is  increasing.' 
The  dry  and  bracing  character  of  the  air  at  5,000  to  6,000  feet 
alxjve  the  sea  renders  the  climate  a  desirable  one  for  invalids 
with  weak  lungs,  where  the  disease  is  not  too  far  advanced, 
and  thousands  who  have  resorted  thither  have  been  temporarily, 
and  marty  of  them  permanently  benefitpd.  Generally' it  is  not 
safe  for  persons  who  are  suffering  from  pulmonary  diseases  to  re- 
turn to  the  East,  at  least  not  for  four  or  five  years,  however 


i 


ET, 


lousand  feet,  ter- 
ond  wall  of  pro- 
afion.  Through 
uge  bastibns  and 
ts  surface  ^vhite 
cafkon  walls  and 
a-level  at  several 
>n  at  mouth  of 
f  top  of  wall  or' 
wall,   1, 600  feet; 

00  feet ;  on  west 
900  feet.     Some' 
from  the  river, 

5  water  is  gneiss 

1  above  the  sea, 

e  places  of  resi- 
,  rather  too  cool 
of  most  of  the 
^e  the  sea,  is  not  ■ 
148.5°  t^  49-3'*-'"'' 
°,  and  the  winter ' 
ference  or  range 
;  93°  to  99"  max." 
according  to  the 
;er — 3°  to — 1 2*' 
cury  below  zero, 
lole  year  of  from 

i  Mil.   ,f)(  J  ■iiiiijir.) 

fid  l6  increasing;' 
XX)  to  6,000  feet' 
pne  for  invalids 
>o  far  advanced,^ 
)een  temporarily, 
jneraily'it  is  not 
ry  diseases  to  re- 
!  years,  however 


CLIMATE,  SOIL  AND    VEGETATION  OF  COLORADO.  gjj 

complete  may  seem  to  be  the  recovery,  as  the  return  of  the 
disease  at  the  East  is  almost  sure  to  follow  even  a  brief  visi* 
thither.  Those  whose  lungs  arc  diseased  should  also  avoid  the 
higiier  elevations.  An  altitude  exceeding  7,000  feet  is  danger- 
ous, because  the  rarefaction  of  the  atmosphere  makes  respira- 
tion more  difficult,  and  will  often  bring  on  hemorrhage  of  the 
lungs.  We  give  below  the  Signal  Service  reports — the  average 
from  three  points,  one  of  them  the  staiion  on  the  summit  of 
Pike's  Peak.  14,147  feet  above  the  sea,  for  the  sake  of  comparison  : 


rlACM. 


Denver... 

Cotortdo  Springt 

Pikc'i  Peak 


^5 


I 


5.i»7||. 
6.o«3  ft. 

MM7  ft 


47.8° 
18.  jO 


48.1° 
45.° 

13.60 


n 


60.  a  ^ 
«4.«'' 

35- 5° 


■06° 


U 

as 


5.03' 


a|< 


99« 

n" 

S(.aO 


■3  So' 

II 


■buve  50°. 
»5 


.9 


m 


-.3.6° 


86 


i 

I 


III" 
96.0 

(1.8° 


\ 


n 


«8.6V' 
i».4l' 

»7.8iO 


West  cf  the  mountains  the  snow  comes  earlier  and  lies  longer 
and  the  mean  temperature  of  winter  is  lower.  The  average 
elevation  of  the  towns  is  higher,  averaging  at  least  8,000  feet. 
These  towns  ar  so  new  that  we  have  not  statistics  of  their 
climate  which  can  be  depended  upon.  .J'li^ 'i'    'ii  ^  ■    ,   '■■      '   " 

The  quantity  of  the  snow-fall  is  not  great  except  on  the  moun- 
tain ranges  and  higher  elevations.  In  the  mountain  towns  it 
begins  early  and  lies  late,  blocking  the  trails  and  passes  over  the 
mountains,  and  requiring  often  a  circuitous  journey  to  reach 
them.  The  railways  now  building  will  be  protected  from  these 
heavy  snows  generally  by  snow  sheds.  The  snow  never  entirely 
disapppj»rs  from  altitudes  of  from  12,000  to  14,400  feet.  '  •- "'< 
y\  Soil  and  Vegetation.-'—Oi  x}c^t^  104,500  square  miles  which  con-t 
sUtute  the  area  of  Colorado,  it  is  difficult  to  estimate  very  accu- 
rately what  proportion  should  be  considered  as  arable  land,  for 
several  reasons.  But  a  small  portion,  comparatively,  of  the 
State  has  been  surveyed;  only  one-third  in  all,  including  the 
great  area  of  pasturage,  mining  and  timber  lands.  The  great 
amount  of  land  included  in  railroad  grants,  and  the  still  greater 
quantity  in  Indian  reservations,  most  of  which  are  now  in  process 


;i 


i1 


1 


■  ; 


;  s. 


i  !■ 


of  extinction,  the  uncertainty  wliether  Und  at  first  regarded  as 
desert,  or,  at  most,  as  sterile  grazing  lands,  may  not  prove  to  be 
arable  land  of  the  very  best  quality  when  irrigated;  and  the 
almost  daily  discovery  of  new  means  of  irrigation.  It  was  roughly 
estimated  m  187S  that  there  were  about  15,000  square  miles  of 
arable  lands,  or  lands  which  would  become  arable  with  irrigation, 
in  the  State.  With  the  great  increase  of  irrigating  canals  con- 
structed since  that  time,  and  the  large  body  of  good  lands  which 
will  be  thrown  on  the  market  by  the  treaty  with  the  Utes,  con- 
firmed  by  Congress  in  June,  1880,  which  sets  free  nearly 
1 1 ,400,000  acres,  and  the  cultivation  of  the  great  parks  which  is 
just  beginning,  there  can  hardly  be  less  than  25,000  square  miles 
entitled  to  that  designation  to-day, or  in  round  numbers,  1 6,ooo,ooa 
acres.  Probably  not  more  than  one-fifth  of  this  is  under  cultiva- 
tion, though  the  amount  is  rapidly  increasing.  "The  soil  at  the 
first  glance  does  not  look  promising.  It  is  composed  of  a  fine, 
dark-brown  mould  mixed  with  gravel,  very  compact,  but  at  the 
same  time  very  porous  and  friable.  When  the  gravel  has  been 
completely  decomposed,  or  the  soil  consists  of  fine  dust,  blown 
or  washed  from  the  higher  portions  of  the  plains  (called  bluifs), 
it  inclines  to  clay.  Near  the  surface  the  earth  is  darker  than 
lower  down,  but  the  quality  is  essentially  the  liame  and  very  uni- 
form throughout.  The  soil  is  indeed  so  rich  in  the  mineral  con- 
stituents of  plants,  and  its  depth  so  great,  that  with  a  proper 
»v<pply  of  water,  it  yields  larger  and  finer  crops  6f  whieat,  barley 
and  oats  than  any  other  State  in  America.  Water,  however,  is 
necessary,  except  in  the  blOttoms  6f  the  shallowier  valleys  trav- 
ersed by  streams ;  and  the  cultivable  land  is  thus  limited  to  the 
area  that  the  water  of  the  mountain  streams  will  suiifice  to  irri^ 
gate,  llie  agricultural  portion  of  the  State  is  now  mainly  the 
strip  of  land,  ten  to  thirty  miles  broad,  which  extends  from  north 
to  south,  the  whole  width  of  the  State,  along  the  plains  at  the 
base  of  the  foot-hills.  Owing  to  che  general  flatness  and  gradual 
sloping  character  of  the  ground  the  land  oan  be  irrigated  at  smaR 
cost.  Between  Denver  and  the  northern  boundary  of  Colorado, 
six  principal  streams,  besides  the  river  Platte,  ^w  from  the  foot* 
lulls  across  the  plains.    The  water  from  these  streams  is  conr 


;:.i;':. 


t  regarded  as 
ot  prove  to  be 
ted;  and  the 
It  was  roughly 
uare  miles  of 
with  irrigation, 
|ng  canals  con- 
lands  which 
the  Utes,  con- 
ts    free   nearly 
parks  which  is 
square  miles 
aers,  1 6,000,000 
s  under  cultiva- 
'  The  soil  at  the 
osed  of  a  fine, 
)act,  but  at  the 
ravel  has  been 
jfine  dust,  blown 
i  (called  bluffs), 
is  darker  than 
le  and  very  uni- 
lie  mineral  con- 
with  a  proper 
>f  whieat,  barley 
ter,  however,  is 
ier  valleys  trav- 
[s  limited  to  the 
i  suffice  to  irri^' 
now  mainly  the 
nds  from  north 
e  plains  at  the 
esB  and  gradual 
rigated  at  smaB 
ry  of  Colorado, 
/  from  the  foot* 
itreams  is  com 


IRKfCATIOS  IN  COLORADO.  5^3 

veyed  in  canals  or  ditches,  Which  arc  sometimes  as  much  as  fifty 
miles  long.  Some  of  the  smaller  canals  have  been  built  by  co- 
operation among  the  farmers.  In  other  cases  they  are  owned 
by  local  joint-stock  companies,  of  which  the  shares  arc  held  prin- 
cipally  by  the  farmers  themselves.  The  large.«it  of  all — the  Lari- 
mer and  Weld  Canal — is  the  property  of  the  Colorado  Mortgage 
Company  of  London.  It  is  fifty  miles  long,  from  twenty-five  lo 
thirty  feet  wide  at  the  bottom,  and  carries  water  to  irrigate  40,000 
acres.  The  company  itself  owns  20,000  acres,  which,  with  a  right 
in  perpetuity  to  sufficient  water  for  irrigation>  it  is  selling  at  $13 
to  $15  per  BiCre.  The  land  is  sold  in  quantities  of  eighty  acres 
and  upwards.  Ac  this  rate  the  land  is  freely  purchased,  payment 
being  taken  in  five  installments  for  the  convenience  of  buyers. 
Settlers  on  the  public  lands  can  buy  water  for  $5  per  acre.  By 
homfsteadihg  a  settler  can  become  owner  of  160  acres  for  a  few 
dollars,  but  he  must  reside  on  it  for  five  years  before  he  can  get 
a  title;  The  settler  may  choose  to  pre-empt,  in  which  case  resi- 
dence for  six  months,  together  with  the  execution  of  certain  im- 
provements,  gives  a  title.  By  pre-emption  the  land  inay  be 
obtained  for  %\i%^  aA  acre  if  distant  from  a  railway,  or  $3.50  an 
acre  if  in  the  vicinity  of  a  railway^  A  settler  can  only  homestead 
or  preempt  bnioe.  Railways  are  owners  of  land  along  their 
4ines,  in  square  miles  alternately  with  the  public  lands,  which  are 
subject  to  homeisteadirig  and  pre-emption.  Railways  sell  their 
l»hd  at  prices  varying  from  $3  to  $6  an  acre,  accordhfig  to  cir- 
'C'ttnistances.  'n'-v/j  oJ  ■(j.r;-'//j  nun!  ?\  iwr^f  to  <]ot»  •yiiws.'i:  v[ 
"  The  ulndtilatlon  of  tfe  plains  makes  plowing  and  irrigation 
very  easy.  The  water  id  supplikl  to  tihe  farmer,  not  directly 
from  the  main  canal,  but  from  a- pubsidiaky  ditch,  formed  with  a 
plow  dlong  the  surface  of  the  plain,  on  a  nearly  uniform  slope. 
The  farmer  excavates  with  his  plow  a  similar  smaller  trench 
along  the  top  of  the  land  he  intends  to  pilow,  arid  then,  making 
Ibr^aks  in  the  lower  side,  allows  the  water  to  (flow  over  the  whole 
«Yirftice  of  the  field.  After  twb  or  three  days  the  land  is  ready 
■for  plowing,  and  the  water  is  turrted  5ffi  '  After  irrigation,  a  pair 
of  light  horses  will  turn  over  thi  soil  it  the  rate  of  an  acre  a 
iday,  or  a  gaiig*plow,  drawn  by  four  or  six  hokrses,  will  break  up 


1 


V 


534  ^^^    WKSTBillf  £MI'IR£^\ 

ten  acres  in  the  same  time.  Cereals  require  to  bti  watered  once 
or  twice  in  the  season.  The  custom  is  to  break  new  land  in 
August,  September,  and  October,  turning  the  sod  two  or  three 
inches  deep,  and  the  winter  frost  pulverizes  it,  and  makes  it  into 
a  good  seed-bed  by  spring.  Old  stubble-land  is  irrigated  in  a 
similar  manner  before  being  plowed,  either  in  autumn  or  spring, 
and  the  seed  is  sown  as  soon  after  plowing  as  possible^  The 
soil,  once  thoroughly  wet,  is  very  retentive  of  moisture,  and  no 
more  irrigation  is  necessary  till  June,  when  the  water  is  again 
turned  over  the  crops  for  a  day  or  two.  The  land  is  very  easily 
tilled  and  cleaned,  and  irrigation  is  a  simple  process,  as  may  be 
easily  understood  from  the  fact  that  one  man  alone  (exchanging, 
it  may  be,  help  with  a  neighbor  in  harvest)  can  cultivate  eighty 
adres  under  crops  in  rotation,  and  that,  too,  without  working  so 
hard  as  a  small  farmer  in  this  country  (England).  Self-binding 
reaping  machines  are  in  general  use,  and  give  complete  sati^v 
faction.  Threshing  machines,  driven  by  steam  or  hofse-power, 
are  driven  from  farm  to  farm  as  at  home.  - 

"  Colorado  produces  all  kinds  of  crops  and  vegetables  grown  in 
England,  with  the  addition  of  many  that  flourish  only  in  a 
warmer  climate,  such  as  Indian  corn,  sugar-beet,  tomatoes,  etc. 
Grapes  and  peaches  ripen  in  the  open  air,  and  in  the  southern 
parts  of  the  State  grapes  and  plums  grow  >lvild.  Flax  is  also 
occasionally  met  with,  growing  wild.  The  wheat  and  barley 
raised  on  the  irrigated  lands  are  as  fine  as  any  in  the  world. 
The  average  crop  of  wheat  is  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  bushels 
per  acre;  of  barley,  about  thirty-five  bushels;  and  of < oats,  it  is 
aissertbd  that  in  the  uplands  the  yield  is  occasionally  as  high  as 
from  eighty  to  ninety  bushels  per  acre.  Specimens  of  cabbages, 
mangolds,  swedeis,  and  beet  root  of  enormous  size,  are  e;thibited 
at  the  State  fair ;  but  as  catde-feeding  is  not  yet  practised,  they 
are  raised  chiefly  for  domestic  use.  Biiit  the  Average  of  crops  is 
not  much  indication  of  what  the  soil,  in  the  hands  of  a  skillful 
farmer,  may  te  made  to  yield.  The  majority  of  those  who  have 
taken  to  farminjg  in  Colora*do,  knew  litde  or  nothing  of  the  busi- 
ness when  they  settled,  and  thiir  cul-tavation  would  geherally  be 
considered  slovenly  at  home,  i    When  the  soil  is  well  cleaned 


). 


watered  once 
fak  new  land  in 
»d  two  or  three 
id  makes  it  into 
rrigated  in  a 
Itumn  or  spring, 
possible^     The 
loisture,  and  no 
water  is  again 
id  is  very  easily 
S8,  as  may  be 
le  (exchanging, 
cultivate  eighty 
out  working  so 
Self-binding 
complete  satii- 
3r  horse-power, 
'  T>)  •>->n'j|» 
tables  grown  in 
irish  only  in  a 
t,  tomatoes,  etc. 
in  the  southern 
L'frFlax  is  also 
eat  and  barley 
ly  in  the  world 
nty-five  bushels 
nd  of/  oats,  it  is 
nally  as  high  as 
ns  of  cabbages, 
e,  are  e;thibited 
practised,  they 
age  of  crops  is 
ds  of  a  skillful 
h<we  who  have 
ing  of  the  busi^ 
d  generally  be 
5  fwgU  cleaned 


CttOPS  OF  COLORADO.  0j}; 

and  tilled,  and  the  supply  of  water  adequate,  a  return  of  thirty- 
five  and  forty  bushels  of  wheat  per  acre  may  be  reasonably  ex- 
pected; and  in  several  cases  last  season  (1879),  although  the 
crops  are  not  considered  generally  large,  over  forty-five  bushels 
of  wheat  have  teen  threshed  out.*  The  prices  to  be  obtained 
are,  and  must  continue  to  be,  tolerably  high.  The  quantity  of 
land  as  yet  under  cultivation  is  not  sufficient  to  supply  the  fast 
increasing  mining  population,  and  as  the  nearest  competitor  isf 
about  500  miles  away,  the  Colorado  farmer  has  the  cost  of  car- 
riage in  his  favor.  The  demand  for  poultry,  butter,  eggs,  and 
milk  is  great,  and  in  supplying  it  the  industrious  farmer's  wife 
can  add  very  materially  to  his  income.  Wheat  sells  at  from 
$8  to  $9  per  quarter  (eight  bushels) ;  barley,  from  %(i.2^  to 
$7.50 ;  oats  from  $4.38  to  $5  per  quarter.  Hay  is  sold  at  from 
$12.50  to  5J515  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds;  butter  from  25  to  3ft 
cents  per  pound,  and  eggs  from  25  to  31  cents  per  dozen. 
Farm  labor  of  satisfactory  quality  can,  without  difficulty,  be 
obtained.  Wages  are  about  $25  per  month,  with  board  and 
lodging,  which  cost  as  much  more.  The  laborer  is  engaged  by 
the  month,  and,  although  he  is  dispensed  with  from  October  to 
April,  he  finds  employment  at  the  stock-ranches  or  the  mines^ 
and  the  farmers  easily  get  hands  when  they  need  them.  As  a 
general  rule,  however,  farmers  in  Colorado  work  on  their  farms 
themselves ;  but  they  have  the  satisfaction  that  the  land  is  their 
own,  and  that  in  such  a  climate,  and  with  such  a  soil,  labor  i» 
much  lighter  and  more  agreeable  than  is  dreamed  of  in  this 
country  (Great  Britain).  For  the  same  reasons  the  cost  of  labor 
per  acre,  although  the  wages  paid  to  the  laborer  are  high,  is 
scarcely,  if  at  all,  greater  than  the  farmer  has  to  pay  in  Scotland^ 
and  by  those  who  have  capital,  farming  is  being  prosecuted  on  si 

~— . ' ^ 1 ; -(• 

*  Mr.  Barclay  is,  as  he  should  he,  wisely  conservative  in  his  statements  concerning  the  crop^ 
in  Colorado  as  affected  by  irrigation.  Where,  as  in  Greeley,  Evans,  Longmont,  etc.,  and  still 
more  in  the  south  of  the  State,  the  farmers  are  skillful,  and  apply  the  water  judiciously,  crops  of. 
wheat  of  eiijhly  or  one  hundred  acres  have  turned  out  sixty  to  seventy  bushels  of  wheat  to  the 
acre  for  the  whole  crop, and  in  some  instances  even  more;  while  Indian  com,  which  our  British 
friends  do  not  fully  nppreciate,  yields,  under  irrigation,  not  the  fifty  or  seventy  bushels  which  ar^ 
elsewhere  considered  a  good  crop,  but  two  hundred  bushels  and  more,  over  large  tracts  of  lan^a 
and  onts  yield  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  bushels.  Barley  is  not  so  largely  grown  in  Colorado 
•s  to  make  the  amount  raised  at  all  certain,  but  it  would  doubtless  do  quite  as  well  as  wheat 


-^imksMm^iiit^^    mim^^Api 


^.  OUH    WKSltUN    KMPJKE. 

large  scale  with  grcst  profits.  During  two  or  three  nioAths  in 
the  year  there  is  littk,  if  any,  work  to  Lx;  done  on  farmii,  but  a 
pushing  man  may  hire  out  his  team  and  make  a  good  bit  of 
money  in  the  winter  months."* 

In  1871  die  amount  of  woodland  and  forest  growths  in  Colo- 
rado wau  estimated,  by  the  United  States  Land  OfBce,  at 
6,667,000  acres,  or  one-tenth  of  the  area  of  the  State.  The  esti- 
mate wa3,  of  necessity,  a  mere  guess,  since  at  that  time  not  more 
than  one-sixth  of  the  area  of  the  State  had  been  surveyed,  and 
much  of  it  was  entirely  unexplored.  Very  large  quantities  of 
the  timber  have  since  been  sacrificed  for  railway  ties,  buildings, 
and  machinery,  for  raining  supports  and  machinery ;  for  dwell- 
ings and  fuel,  for  flumes,  aqueducts  and  bridges,  and  the  thou- 
sand uses  to  which  wood  ts  put.  It  is  Itardly  probable  that  the 
present  forest  area  of  the  State  exceeds  one-fifteenth  of  its  sur- 
face. Much  of  the  timber  on  the  mountains  is  large,  but  it 
ceases  before  the  snow-line  is  reached.  The  principal  forest 
trees  are  the  pines  of  six  or  eight  species,  including  the  white, 
the  yellow  (a  large  fine  tree,  much  like  the  Georgia),  the  nut- 
piaie,  and  some  others ;  several  species  of  fir  and  spruce,  large 
and  beautiful  trees,  the  cypress  in  Southern  Colorado,  several 
species  of  bak,  the  chestnut  and  the  chinquepin,  the  hickory, 
black  walnut,  horse-chestnut,  etc.,  etc.  ,n.i  .rw  r„o,i  .^liui 

The  g'reat  parks  in  the  spring  and  early  summer  bre  refplend- 
«nt  with  beautiful  wild  flowers. 

Geology  and  Mineralogy. — Within  the  limits  of  the  State,  on 
its  varied  surface,  down  the  precipitous  sides  of  its  lofty  moun- 
tains, and  on  the  deeply  eroded  sides  of  its  great  cafions  may 
be  fdund  every  geological  formation  known  on  this  continent, 
fai  igencral  it  may  be  said  that  tlie  plains  of  Eastern  Colorado 
are  tertiary  and  alluvial,  being  formed  largely  of  the  loess  which 
has  for  ages  washed  down  from  the  mountain  summits.  The 
axis  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  ranges  is  eozoic,  and  yet  it  has  been 
so  completely  upheaved  that  the  granite  strata  are  completely 
broken  and  reversed,  and  form  the  surface  rock  of  the  summits 
<if  the  highest  mountains.     In  the  valleys  between  the  ranges 

•Hon.  J.  W.  Barclay,  M.  P.,  in  iTit  Fortnightly  Unhw,  January,  1880. 


ir-e*  mcmths  in 

on  farnifi,  but  a 

n  good  bit  of 

owths  in  Co!o- 
and    Office,  at 
ate.     The  esii- 
time  not  more 
surveyed,  and 
:  quantities  of 
ties,  buildings, 
cry ;  for  dwell- 
and  the  thou- 
>babie  that  the 
enth  of  its  sur- 
s  large,  but  it 
irincipal  forest 
ding  the  white, 
Jrgia),  the  ««/- 
d  spruce,  large 
Jorado,  several 
n,  the  hickory, 

r  are  reRplend- 

JCl'f     Ji.ii,      •■•\tii, 

f  the  State,  on 
its  lofty  moun- 
it  caAons  may 
this  continent. 
Jtern  Colorado 
he  loess  which 
summits.  The 
►'et  it  has  been 
ire  completely 
f  the  summits 
en  the  ranges 

iry,  1880.     •• '  "■ 


run   NATURAL    WONDKKH  OF  COLOHADO.  63/ 

the  great  parks  are  tertiary.  At  numerous  points  on  the  moun- 
tain sides  and  in  the  canons  the  coal  crops  out,  sometimes  ter- 
tiary lignites,  but  as  often  from  the  upper  coal  measures,  and  in 
the  southwest  from  the  lower  coal  measures.  Sandstones,  lime- 
stones, slates  and  shales  of  every  geologic  age  crop  out,  espe- 
cially in  Western  Colorado,  and  triassic  and  Jurassic  rocks  appear 
lx)th  in  the  San  Juan  country  and  in  the  region  lying  between 
Pueblo  and  the  Spanish  peaks.  In  the  vicinity  of  many  of  the 
coal  beds  the  rocks  are  cretaceous ;  while  the  Devonian  and 
Silurian  systems  are  largely  represented  in  the  south  and  south- 
west. In  the  upper  valleys  of  the  Rio  Grande  del  Norte,  and  in 
the  vicinity  of  some  of  the  affluents  of  the  Grand  river,  there 
are  evidences  of  extensive  volcanic  action.        "  '    '        ' 

The  erosive  action  of  large  streams  having  a  rapid  descent 
and  perhaps  also  of  glaciers  (though  this  is  not  quite  settled) 
has  nowhere  produced  such  remarkable  results  as  in  Colorado. 
It  is  not  only  manifest  in  those  deep  caftons  which  are  only 
rivalled  in  Arizona,  but  in  such  wonderful  productions  as  the 
"  City  of  the  Gods,"  in  the  White  river  region,  in  the  northwest 
part  of  Summit  county,  where  a  tract  large  enough  for  a  ciur  is 
cut  into  the  semblance  cf  cathedrals,  castles,  towers,  and  dwell- 
ings, in  ruins  indeed,  but  glorious  in  their  ruin — the  spires,  domes, 
terraces  and  many  storied  temples  set  in  such  regular  order  and 
with  such  broad  avenues  between  that  it  seems  impossible  that 
it  should  be  other  than  the  work  of  human  hands ;  or  the  similar 
though  less  extensive  wonders  of  Monument  Park,  Talhott  Hill 
and  the  Bottle  Rocks ;  or  ihe  remarkable  arrangement  of  the 
rocks  (which  may  or  may  not  have  been  the  result  of  erosion) 
in  the  "  Garden  of  the  Gods ;"  or  the  Royal  Gorg^e,  or  the  Grape 
Ct*eek  and  Temple  caftons,  or  the  Grand  caflon  of  the  Arkansas, 
and  farther  west  the  Great  cafton  of  the  Gunnison. 

For  an  interesting  account  of  some  of  these  wonders,  especially 
those  of  Fremont  county,  as  well  as  of  the  remarkable  bones  of 
the  gigantic  Camarasuras  and  other  fossils,  reptiles  and  mam- 
mals of  the  Jurassic  period  which,  in  size  as  well  as  geologic  ag^e, 
surpass  all  previous  discoveries,  we  are  indebted  to  Mr,  J.  G. 
Pangborn,  author  of  the  "  N«w  Rocky  Mountain  Tourist,"  a  part 


.  ,jM%ii^M»«k«Ui«i&-^;aMtjlAf«^M.£ 


' 


5^8  0^'^    H'HiiTliKN  EMPIRR. 

of  whose  very  vivid  description  of  a  tour  through  this  true  won- 
derland we  here  introduce  to  our  readers.  ,  i  ,,  i  ,u  1  ^.  ,.  . 
,,^  ♦'Ratiliiij^  over  the  hridj^e  spannit»^j  the  Arkansas  at  the  city's* 
feet,  we  speed  on  through  clumps  of  richly  foliated  trees,  and  in 
a  few  moments  arc  at  the  entrance  of  the  canon,  catching  a 
glimpse,  just  as  we  enter  between  its  towcrin^^  walln,  of  the 
Grand  caAon  of  the  Arkansas  and  the  cosy-looking  l>ath-houses 
at  the  springs  near  by.  A  quick  word  of  wonder  at  the  height 
and  the  closeness  of  the  walls,  a  sharp  turn  of  the  road,  and  look- 
ing back,  the  way  is  lost  by  which  we  came.  Here  in  die  solitary 
mountains  we  are  alone.  No  world  behind ;  no  world  before. 
Turn  upon  turn,  and  new  walls  rise  up  so  abruptly  before  us  as 
to  cause  an  involuntary  cry  of  terror,  soon  relieved,  however,  as 
our  excited  senses  become  more  familiar  with  the  new  tension 
upon  them.  Awe  still  holds  us  bonden  slaves,  but  the  eye  drinks 
in  such  beauty  as  fairly  intoxicates  the  soul.  On  either  hand  the 
walls  loom  up  until  only  the  slender  opal  of  a  narrow  strip  of 
sky  forms  exquisite  contrast  with  the  pine-covered  heights. 
RiHed  boulders  every  now  and  then  wall  in  the  road  on  the 
river  side,  their  base  washed  by  the  creek,  wild  and  beautiful 
in  Its  whirl  and  roar.  Here  the  perpendicular  piles  of  rock  are 
covered  with  growths  of  trees  that  ascend  in  exact  line  with  the 
wall  and  cast  their  shadows  on  the  road  below.  Nature's  grape- 
vines trail  along  the  ground  and  cling  around  the  trunks  of  the 
trees,  hanging  like  Arcadian  curtains  and  making  bowers  of  the 
most  exquisite  character  imaginable.  Between  these,  we  catch 
bewitching  glances  of  the  creek  on  its  merry,  tempestuous  way 
to  the  Arkansas,  its  sparkling  surface  throwing  back  rapid  re- 
flections of  masses  of  green  foliage  and  trailing  vines.  Deep 
pools  give  back  the  blue  of  the  cloudless  sky,  and  as  base  accom- 
paniments come  in  the  dark  shadows  of  the  caflon  walls  with  their 
sharply  drawn  ridges  and  truncated  cones.  Here  and  there,  all 
along  the  wild  way,  are  rushing  cascades,  tortuous  twists  of  the 
stream,  gayly  lichened  or  dark  beetling  rocks,  mossy  nooks  or 
glowing  lawns,  and  overhead  the  cottonwoods  mingling  their 
rare  autumnal  splendors  of  red  and  gold  with  the  sombre  green 
.     .f.GKtMiCidi..'        


this  true  won- 

as  at  the  city's* 
(*d  trees,  and  in 
fton,  catchini^  a 
if  walln,  of   the 
ing  lath-houses 
Lir  at  the  height 
road,  and  look- 
e  in  the  solitary 
o  world  l)eforc. 
tly  before  us  as 
t'ed,  however,  as 
the  new  tension 
Jt  the  eye  drinks 
either  hand  the 
narrow  strip  of 
lovered   heights, 
he  road  on  the 
Id  and  beautiful 
)iles  of  rock  are 
act  line  with  the 
Nature's  grape- 
le  trunks  of  the 
g  bowers  of  the 
these,  we  catch 
empestuous  way 
;  back  rapid  re- 
g  vines.     Deep 
i  as  base  accom- 
1  walls  with  their 
re  and  there,  all 
as  twists  of  the 
mossy  nooks  or 
mingling  their 
e  sombre  green 


i 


GItAPii   CMUMk'  CANON.  ^ 

of  pine  and  cedar.  The  caflon  is  beyond  question  the  most 
b<'iKitiful  in  marvellous  coloring,  wondrous  H|)U:ndor  of  foliage, 
picturesque  caHcadrs  and  winding  streams  ol  any  in  Colorailo. 
The  Grand  carton  of  the  Arkansas  is  deef>cr,  but  it  is  awful  as 
seen  from  the  only  point  di  view,  that  from  the  top,  and  the  sen- 
sations caused  in  strongest  of  contrast  with  those  expcricnc(d  in 
Grape  Creek  canon.  The  walls  of  the  latter  are  so  gorgtous  a 
variety  of  colors  as  to  fairly  bewilder  with  their  splendor :  rt  tl— 
from  the  darkest  tinge  of  blood  to  the  most  delicate  shades  of 
pink ;  green — from  the  richest  depths  to  the  rarest  hues  of  the 
emerald ;  blue-— from  the  opal  to  the  deepest  sea,  variegated 
until  almost  defyin,  the  rainbow  to  excel  in  cxciuisitc  blending. 
These  glorious  transiuons  of  color  meet  one  at  every  turn,  and 
the  contrast  formed  every  now  and  then  by  tremendous  walls  of 
bare,  black  rock,  or  broad  seams  of  iron  ore  set  in  red  or  green, 
render  all  the  more  striking  the  singular  beauty  of  the  carton. 
Over  the  walls  on  either  side,  the  grapevine,  from  which  tlie 
carton  takes  its  name,  climbs  in  wonderfully  rich  profusion,  and 
in  autumn,  when  the  leaves  become  so  delicately  tinted  and  the 
vines  hang  thick  with  their  purple  fruit,  the  effect  is  something  to 
call  to  mind  but  never  to  describe.  Added  to  the  indescribable 
beauty  of  the  vines  are  the  many-colored  mosses  which  paint  the 
rocks  in  infinite  varietyofhue.ofttimes  growing  so  high  and  rank  as 
to  reach  to  the  very  pinnacle  of  the  topmost  rocks  and  fringe  their 
craggy  brows  so  lavishly  as  to  render  them  almost  symmetrical 
in  appearance  as  seen  below.  At  different  points  these  moss- 
covered  walls  rise  to  the  height  of  i,ooo  feel,  and  so  completely 
do  they  hem  one  in  on  all  sides  that  with  but  slight  stretch  of  im- 
agin^ition  the  place  could  be  viewed  from  below  as  a  gigantic, 
moss-covered  bucket,  but  one  that  never  'hung  in  the  well.' 
Just  above  Temple  carton,  and  where  Grape  creek  enters  the 
carton  of  its  name,  the  walls  are  exceedingly  high  and  precipitous, 
and  in  the  coolest  nook  of  their  shadows,  where  sunlight  can 
never  reach,  is  a  quiet,  placid  pool  of  water  clearer  than  a  crys- 
tal, and  so  faithfully  reflecting  back  the  curiously  and  brilliantly 
colored  rocks  overhanging  it,  as  to  have  gained  the  name  of 
Painted  Rock  Pool.     It  is  a  very  gem  in  itself,  and  its  setting 


I' 


»- 


w..:.i%l>!afM(ilhi«(lMP«.Wj*iaM>if.ji*ia,H.. 


■^■JH^SSMmSRl 


640 


OUn   WgMM/tN  MMPfJUt. 


'inU  ihr  rare  );ranci(*ur  of  tlu)  nurruunUinK'^.  tH  well  in  kocpini^, 
Thoiic  viMtiiiK  the  cafiun  kliouM  iii^t  iiiil  lu  iolluvv  u|>  the  cuurM< 
of  the  creek  from  the  puint  where  it  (kbuiuheii  into  the  cuAon. 
It  will  liMVC  to  be  ilonc  on  foot,  but  the  wholly  unexpected  kvir- 
priscM  of  the  hour  or  two's  rumble  will  more  than  repay  tiic  ex* 
ertion.  The  walls  of  the  iiiiJctt  of  the  parent  tanun  are  fully 
1 ,500  feet  in  height,  and  so  narrow  that  the  tall  (>ineH  and  cot^ 
tonwoodtt  keep  the  gor^e  in  a  teinler  lutlf-li^ht,  broken  at  miii" 
day  by  ^1^'*^"^  ^^^^  ^'^'  K>^*'  <>  tnauiuil  charm  to  the  hiMnt.  On 
all  nideit  from  points  in  the  waJU  ot  rotk,  tuftH  of  ({raH»  and  blue- 
belU  K''<3^>  forming;,  witii  the  (grapevines,  most  plcatiin^  pictures 
in  contrast  with  many-tinted  rocks,  in  the  crevices  of  which  tlK'ir 
roots  have  found  nourishment  Tlie  walls  are  of  almost  as  many 
colors  as  there  are  sharp  turna  in  the  creek's  <;ourse,  and  rarr 
and  perfect  in  beauty  is  tJic  amphitheatre  of  black  rock  with 
pearly-white  veins  runniii|(  in  every  direction,  the  whole  ove^*- 
hung  by  climbing  vines  and  tlieir  pendant  berries.  Just  at  the 
entrance  to  Temple  cafion  is  a  little  grove  of  cottonwoodtt. 
Their  pendant  swinging  boughs  meet  in  perfect  arches  over- 
head,  and  the  profusion  of  their  polislKd.  brilliant  leaves  renders 
complete  the  most  charming  of  bowers  in  which  t(^take  the  noon- 
day lunch  and  prepare  for  the  climb  into  Temple  caAon.  which 
must  be  done  on  foot.  Temple  is  a  side  caAon,  with  entrance 
from  Grape  Creek  caflon,  some  four  and  a  lialf  miles  from  CaAon 
City,  and  was  discovered  but  a  year  or  two  ago. 

"  The  climb  is  pot  steep,  though  rather  rough,  especially  to 
e6fect  an  entrance  into  the  Temple  proper,  which  is  to  tlte  right 
of  the  little  caAou,  and  can  ooly  be  accomplished  by  clambering 
over  several-huge  boulders,  which,  '*i.  removed,  would  render  the 
illusion  of  a  temple  and  stairway  all  the  more  striking.  Once 
passing  in  through  the  great  rifts  of  rock,  (or  all  the  world  like 
the  stairway  to  some  grand  place  of  amusement,  the  body  of  the 
,  Temple  is  reached,  aod  to  the  tourist's  astonislwneut,  before  him 
is  a  stage  with  overhaiigmg  arch,  with  'Hats'  and  'Hies/  with 
dressing-rooms  on  either  side,  aind  a  scene  alri^fidy  set  as  if  for 
some  grand  tableau.  If  so  intensely  realistic  from  the  parquet, 
ja  the  broad  circling  floor  oiight  aptly  be  t;ei:i|ie<),  or  frqii^  ^h^ 


rUMfLM  CASON  AND    IMK    IMMri.K. 


64* 


cll  in  koeiMMff. 
(i|>  ihc  cuurk« 
iiuo  the  caAon. 

)  repay  the  ex* 

iiWon  arc  fully 

[>lncH  and  i:u^ 

broken  at  mid- 

the  ftcune.    On 

K'raHsi  and  bluer 

cuKin};  picture* 

s  of  wiiich  tiK'ir 

almuHt  UH  many 

Qur-ic,  and  rarr 

>Uck   rock  with 

\vt   whole    UVtiV- 

:$.  JuHt  at  the 
:ii  cottonwuodtt. 
ct  arches  ovet- 
t  leaviifH  renders 
^take  the  noon- 
le  caAon,  which 
%  with  entrance 

ilttM  froiD  CaAon 

.. ., I . 

l\\  especiaJly  to 
h  is  to  die  right 

I  by  clambering 
'ould  render  the 
striking.    Once 

II  the  world  like 
tlie  body  of  the 

(lent,  before  him 
and  'flies,,'  with 
idy  set  as  if  for 
om  the  parquejt, 
ed,  or  frpw  the 


par(iuc!t  or  dress-circlea.  aa  the  hif{ltrr  ledges  woidd  itugKCHt,  the 
dumber  up  to  the  Htage  itself  rRndcm  it  ail  the  mure  ho,  ior 
tiicre  is  fouml  ample  room  iot  a  full  dramatic  ur  operatic  com 
pany  to  dinpurt  upon,  while  in  the  pcrpettdicL  lar  ledges  and 
caves  on  eiUmr  side,  twenty-five  to  diirty  people  might  retire  und 
not  bo  observed  from  the  body  uf  the  liall.  The  stage  is  at  tht; 
least  thit'ty  feet  deep,  and  some  sixty  to  seventy  broad ;  the  arrh 
abtive  fully  one  hundred  lect  from  the  floor  of  the  canon,  the 
stage  itself  being  nlxiut  forty  feet  ui)Ove  the  lluor.  The  arch  is 
a  most  as  smooth  and  perfectly  proportioned  aa  if  fashioned  by 
the  hand  of  man,  and  during  the  wet  season  the  water  from  a 
stream  above  (ails  in  a  great  broad  sheet  over  its  face  to  the 
lloor  of  the  caAon  below.  At  such  times  the  eiifect  from  the 
atage  of  the  Temple  is,  aa  can  be  imagined,  exceedingly  fasci- 
nating, for  there,  onUrcly  protected  from  the  water,  one  looks 
through  the  silvery  sheen  out  upon  tlie  scene  below.  Upon  the 
rear  wall  of  the  sta|^  quite  an  aperture  has  l>ecn  hewn  out  by 
some  action,  and  the  shape  it  ia  left  in  is  peculiarly  auggestive 
of  tableaux  preparation.  Away  up  in  the  very  higltcst  crevice 
under  the  arch  a  pair  of  eagles  have  mated  for  years,  and  though 
most  daring  efforts  have  been  made  to  reach  the  nest  none  have 
succeeded.  The  coming  of  visitora  is  almost  invariably  the 
occasion  of  a  flight  from  the  nest,  and  breaking  in  so  suddenly 
upon  the  supernatural  atillaesa  of  the  place  is  apt  to  cause  a 
shock  to  the  timid  not  readily  forgotten.  There  is  absolutely 
not  a  solitary  sign  of  vegetation  about  the  Temple ;  all  is  bleak, 
bare  and  towering  wialla,  and  a  more  weird  spot  to  visit  cannot 
possibly  be  imagined.  Coming  out  from  the  Temple  itaeli*  tlie 
touriat  ahould  by  all  meana  clamber  up  to  one  of  the  lofty  pinna> 
cles  in  the  adjoining  caAoa»  for  the  sight  from  them  down  upon 
the  mighty  masses  of  rock  below,  the  cottonwoods,  the  stream 
in  Grape  Creek  caAon  and  the  lofty  walls  beyond  ia  on«  lobe 
treasured  up  amongp  the  bnghteat  recollectioaa  of  the  tour. 

"  One  could  spend  days  in  Grape  Creek  and  Temple  caAons 
alone,  but  our  week  demands  that  we  should  spend  the  second 
day  in  Oak  Creek  oaAoo,  witk  its  wonderful  formations  of  aroheai 
deep  tints  of  evergreens  and  wealth  of  wild  flowers. 

4i 


V 

i 


s 


e^i  0V»    UrgSTMtS  MMtiMM. 

"OaV.  Creek  CAAon  U  left  with  unfri^'ncil  rr^rrt,  ami  an  wc 
toil  u|)  tlw!  aiicent  un  thr  return  trip  we  cant  many  };lanir«  tiock  to 
ftiil  iiitrmory  in  fixing;  it»  l)cautic*»  upon  the  mind.  A  couple  of 
mili-H  over  a  road  the  tame»t  itna^inablt*,  after  the  thr(!e  niilen 
of  iluwn  ^raile,  hriH^H  uh  to  the  Ikixo  of  CurioHiiy  Hill,  well 
naiMcil,  a»  in  upeedily  proven  by  the  diHCovery  of  all  Ncrtx  ol Odd 
and  Ixrautiful  little  Hpeiimen»  of  ribbon  inotm  and  linear  a(,;ate 
cryytaU  and  the  like.  'I he  Hurface  of  the  hill  Ih  onr  vast  tuld  of 
curionitics.  and  ho  plentiful  and  varied  arc  they  that  even  thoHC 
UHually  wholly  indifferent  to  Nurh  thin^n  toon  find  tlieniitclvet 
vyin^  with  the  moHt  cnthuitiasitic  in  v.xclamationH  of  deli^dtt  upon 
findin^[  Home  particularly  attractive  specimen.  Hy  blantin^, 
lar^'c^  iKxIicH  of  the  mont  perfect  crystaU  arc  obtained,  inv.iriably 
iH'ddcd  in  riblK)n  a^ate  of  the  moHt  beautiful  colorn  ami  t.hapett, 
and  polinhin^  readily,  they  form  beyond  all  comparison  th*!  love- 
lifHt  of  cabinet  attractions.  Many  very  valuable  ipecimens  of 
blood  n^atc  have  In^en  found  on  Curiosity  Mill,  and  for  ay;atcs 
of  all  hues  and  formn  it  Ih  possibly  the  most  satisfactory  furld  for 
the  specimen-HJ'ckrr  in  Southern  Colorado.  Troltinjj  homeward 
we  watch  the  blazing  splendor  of  the  sunset  upon  the  lofty  heads 
of  the  rocky  monarchs  around  uh,  while  the  cool  twilight  of  the 
open  park  between  us  and  CaAon  City  envelops  all  about  our 
road.  -'  lii  '/>■  k'  '  (If.  .;.  tri  i  i  moil  i\\  aW  j  ^>  :\*ki.t.\>* 
'  "  Next  morning  we  are  off  for  Oil  Creek  caAon,  which  is  wholly 
different  from  others  seen  thus  far.  The  windings  of  tht;  road 
in  following  the  heavily-wooded  stream  are  decidedly  of  a  ro- 
mantic character,  running  now  through  a  bewitching  little  ^rovc. 
and  the  next  moment  joining  with  the  merry  waters  and  k<:eping 
them  close  company  until  another  cluster  of  aspens  or  firs  causes 
a  separation  of  sight  only,  for  the  music  of  the  foaming  stream 
comes  to  us  through  the  leaven,  thus  rendering  the  meeting  all 
the  more  delightful.  A  half  mile  from  the  mouth  of  the  caAon 
we  come  upou  the  oil  wells  from  which  the  stream  ta<es  its 
name,  and  about  which  its  perfect  purity  is  polluted  Ly  :he  pe- 
troleum that  lies  thick  upon  its  surface.  Some  coni;idcrable 
•urface  work  has  been  done  at  the  wells  in  the  way  of  tubing 
and  the  like,  and  they  have  been  yielding  more  or  less  oil  for 


ilTft,  ami  UH  wc; 

y  ^'lant  CM  Ikic  k  to 

il.     A  couplt;  of 

the  thrtrc;  mile* 

riuNity  Mill,  well 

full  NortH  u( Dclil 

irxl  lirifar  u^'uiu 

otw  vast  (iclil  of 

that  rvcri  thuHC 

tind   th<:inM('lvc:« 

of  delight  u|)()i) 

n.      By  hluHiinj;. 

tainrd,  invariahty 

oUirn  and  (hapcti, 

iparison  the  iovt:- 

Ac  i()ccim(rnH  of 

II,  and  for  a^'atcs 

tisfattory  fi«'ld  for 

Irotting  homeward 

on  the  lofty  heads 

ol  twili^'ht  of  the 

^ps  all  about  our 

>n,  which  is  wholly 
lings  of  th<;  road 
decidedly  of  a  ro> 
ching  little  ?rovc, 
atersand  keeping 
>ens  or  firs  causes 
iC  foaming  stream 
g  the  meeting  all 
>uth  of  the  canon 
stream  ta<es  its 
Diluted  Ly  ':he  pe- 
)me  coniiidcrable 
he  way  of  tubing 
re  or  less  oil  for 


1 


7ff«    /M/iV  /OA/J.  ^1 

the  pant  fifteen  yean.  PreiMirations  «rc  now  luring  made,  how 
cvrr,  for  \htf\nji  for  flowing  wclU,  and  the  prot)al>ilitieH  an  that 
more  oil  will  Ik*  taken  frcun  thcin  thiH  yrar  than  rvtr  Ixfor"  ^'mtc 
the  fimt  dincovery.  Hcyond  thr  wclU  the  road  windn  aroiirul  atul 
about  in  <:nticing  proximity  to  the  stream,  and  thrn  leaving  it, 
wintls  high  alMvc,  crosHing  picturotquc  bridges,  anti  finally 
emerges  into  the  open  known  as  Oil  Creek  Park,  hemmed  in  on 
all  HidcH  by  ranges  of  Handntone  that  ^h()W  a  lOiintleHS  succession 
of  rock  sculptures,  the  effect  heightcneil  by  the  briliiatu  y  an<l  va 
riety  of  the  coloring.  High  up  on  the  ridges  arr  the  (riunbliiig 
ruins  of  castellated  latileuientH,  formidable  kiHtionH  suggestive 
of  frowning  guns,  lofty  and  imposing  sail)  -ports,  portt  ullis,  moats 
and  drawbridges,  (jrcat  cliffs  have?  fallen,  and  avalanches  of 
rock  have  plunged  their  way  down  the  hillsides;  yet  here  and 
there  and  everywhere  upon  the  walls  stand  the  grim  battlements, 
as  if  defying  wind,  storm  and  time.  The  most  imposmg  of 
these  trtrinendous  ruins  are  tlur  Twin  I'orts,  standing  upon  the 
very  verge  of  a  precipitous  wall  of  500  feet  of  alternate  layers 
of  creamy  yellow  and  brilliant  red.  One  looms  up  a  liundred 
feet  or  more  alx)vc  the  wall,  but  the  other  is  sadly  battered  and 
rapidly  crumbling  away.  Along  the  wail  arc  numberless 
towers  of  rock  worn  by  the  action  of  the  elements  into  fantastic 
shapes,  and  many  of  them  looking  as  if  the  breath  of  a  child 
would  topple  them  over.  Progressing  on  through  the  [)ark  we 
fancy  in  each  transformation  of  rock  some  familiar  thing,  while 
the  mighty  tiers  extending  toward  us  ofttimes  call  vividly  to  mind 
the  bulwarks  of  great  ships  of  the  sea  stranded  here  to  be  worn 
away  to  dust.  Directly  ahead  of  us,  as  we  near  the  centre  of 
the  park,  we  catch  full  glimpsesof  new  and  singular  rock  sculpture, 
the  entire  south  end  of  the  park  showing  tier  upon  tier  of  rock 
so  striking  in  resemblance  to  stockades  and  oudying  fortifica 
tions  as  to  cause  one  to  involuntarily  seek  not  only  for  the  colors, 
but  the  soldiers  defending  them.  Back  of  the  stockades,  stern, 
dark  and  cold,  rises  Signal  Mountain,  and  still  back  of  it  the  long, 
wave-like  lines  and  great  snowy  domes  of  the  ISangre  de  Christo 
range,  their  stupendous  proportions  dwarfing  all  below  into  little- 
ness. 


r 

» » 


mt;:. 


--.^jMlM'irt  it Wj»  Hi  I  k'iw<»M*.*f.»i.^t«vaHg»atit '»«<>!«»;<■.    ,»>w»8,iViWia*»     »»v.iu.v 


m 


\ 


i 


\ 


'  ! 


^  OLX    IVESrEXff  UMPIRE. 

**  The  road,  as  it  nears  the  head  of  the  park,  abruptly  dashes 
into  a  thickly  grown  grove  of  pifton  trees.  We  halt  for  a  mo- 
ment to  get  a  full  view  of  the  largest  piAon  tree  in  Colorado, 
^nd  probably  in  the  country,  and  after  entertaining  something  of 
a  contempt  for  the  scraggy  little  trunk  of  the  average  pifton 
tree,  it  is  quite  refreshing  to  behold  one  fully  three  feet  in  di- 
^imeter,  though  all  the  more  uncouth  and  ugly  for  its  unwonted 
circumference.  The  piAons  bear  extraordinary  quantities  of  the 
sweetest  little  nuts,  but  outside  of  this  they  are  of  no  possible 
worth.  Around  the  sharpest  and  steepest  of  curves,  a  dash 
across  the  madly-surging  stream,  and  a  heher-skelter  scramble 
up  a  low  but  exceedingly  rocky  ascent,  and  we  are  at  the  mouth 
of  Marble  Cave,  so  near  in  fact  as  to  barely  escape  falling  into  it 
ff\  looking  for  it.  The  ragged,  jagged  crevice  by  which  the  cav<; 
is  entered  is  anything  but  enticing,  and  the  sensation  experienced 
^s  one's  head  is  all  there  is  left  above  ground  is  far  from  the 
pluasantest. 

"  The  descent  is  almost  perpendicular  for  a  hundred  feet  or 
inore»,  and  the  staircase  formed  by  the  broken  ledges  on  eithei* 
f  ide  of  the  chasm  far  from  soothiug  to  one's  nerves,  especially  as 
all  tlie  lights  obtained  are  th^.  meagre  glintings  which  steal 
through  the  three-cornered  opening  above  and  struggle  faintly 
|)alf  way  to  the  bottom  of  the  rift  of  rocks.  Stumbling  over  un- 
seen' boulders,  and  barely  escaping  serious  contact  with  the  en- 
compassing walls,  we  grope  to  the  point  where  our  guide  has 
l^indled  a  fire,  £^nd  6nd  it  the  intersection  of  the  two  main  halls 
pf  ti>e  cave.  The  ghastly  fkre  thrown  upon  the  wialls  by  the 
l>urning  pine  cljiUls  us  to  the,  bone,  and  a  tremulous  inspection 
of  the  situatipn  adds  no  warnath.  We  are  in  a  strange  and 
awful  rif(  in  SiPioite  buried  mountain,  thewt^jlf  so  narrow  that  our 
elbows  touch  on  either  side,  and  sq  wei^d  and  terrific  in  height, 
as  seen  thropg^x  the,  heavily-roljing  si^pke,  as  to  Ipok ,  ten  times 
the  159  feet  our  guide  infic»;ms  us  is, t^  distance  toi  the  roof. 
The  pine  burns  brighter,  th^smQkCfgi?9lvs:diicker,  but  we  press 
on,  now  crawling  on  all-fours  into  sonif?  wondrous  chamber  of 
^lactite  apd;  s^lagmite,.  and  anon  tugging  up  a  strand  of  rape 
over  frightful  bouloers  that  have  fallen  from  the  dizzy  height 


1 


abruptly  dashes 

;  halt  for  a  mo- 

ee  in  Colorado, 

ig  something  of 

average  piflon 

hree  feet  in  di- 

br  its  unwonted 

quantities  of  the 

of  no  possible 

curves,  a  dash 

kelter  scramble 

are  at  the  mouth 

ipe  falling  into  if. 

y  which  the  c&vi: 

tlon  experienced 

,  is  fyK  fr,9;n.  tl>e 

hundred  feet  or 
ledges  on  eithei* 
'ves,  especially  as 
ings  which  steal 
struggle  faindy 
iimbling  over  un- 
itact  with  the  en- 
e  our  guide  has 
e  two  main  halls 
tjie  w!alls  by  the 
lulous  inspection 
I  a  strange  and 
•  narrow  fhat  our 
te^rrii^c  in  height, 
0  Ipok.tea  times 
pc^  tQ  the  roof. 
ser,  but  we  press 
'ous  chamber  of 
a  strand  of  rope 
the  dizzy  height 


MARBLE  CAVE  AND    TALBOTT  HILL.  (J^j 

above,  to  obstruct  nun  in  learning  the  secrets  of  this  awful  con- 
vulsion of  nature.  We  penetrate  into  Satan's  Bower,  we  look 
ghudderingly  into  his  Punch  Bowl,  and  gasp  as  we  throw  our- 
selves into  his  Arm-Ch^ir.  We  draw  longest  of  breaths  in 
Queen's  Grotto,  and  the  shortest  when  thoughts  of  the  way  back 
over  those  fearful  rocks  crow^l  in  and  demand  consideration. 
Certainly  the  clear  blue  sky  never  was  half  so  Icveiy  as  when  wq 
fmaliy  stand  under  it  again.  The  cave  is,  as  its  name  implies, 
encompassed  by  marble  walls,  and  the  specimens  of  marbhi 
brought  from  its  innermost  recesses,  as  seen  in  the  fuM  glare  of 
the  sun,  are  exceedingly  beautiful  in  their  mottled  surface  of  red 
and  white.  The  marble  is  susceptible  of  the  highest  and  ridiest 
polish,  and  parties  in  CaAon  City  use  it  for  artistic  as  well  as 
practical  purposes.  All  about  the  hill,  from  the  low  crest  of 
which  the  cave  is  entered,  are  the  finest  specimens  of  jasperi 
agate  and  shell  rock,  and  not  far  distant  are  immense  treefi 
petrified  to  solid  rock,  and  where  broken  often  showing  beauti'- 
ful  veins  of  agate  and  crystals.  On  the  return  trip  we  take 
more  notice  of  the  cos;  pnd  comfortable  farm*houses  scattered 
throughout  the  park,  and  become  much  interested  in  the  details 
of  the  yield  of  grain — principally  wheat — secured  through  tha 
system  of  irrigation  practised  so  extensively  in  the  State ;  in  fact, 
no  grain  whatever  can  be  successfully  cultivated  in  Colorado 
without  irrigation.  Midway  in  the  park  we  pull  up  at  the  pleas* 
ant  home  of  the  gentleman  who  is  to  show  us  to  the  top  of  TaU 
tjott  Hill,  where  Professor  Marsh,  of  Yale  College,  and  Professor 
Cope,  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia,  hav« 
parties  at  work  exhuming  the  recently  discovered  bones  of  anj< 
mals,  compared  to  which  in  proportions  and  importance  the 
mastodon  sinks  to  insignificance.  We  at  once  leave  the  road 
anji  make  direct  for  the  wall  of  blood-red  rock  on  the  west  side 
of  the  park,  and  a  short  drive  bringing  us  to  its  base,  we  alight. 
Reaching-  the  sumfmit,  the  long-drawn  breath  of  relief  is  half 
choked  by  tiie  indescribable  magnifk^nce  of  the  view,  and  for 
the  first  dme  we  appreciate  the  sublimity  and  grandeur  of  the 
.Sangre  de  Christo  range.  A  few  more  steps  and  we  are  at  the 
tent  of  Professor  Cope's  party,  and  all  within  and  without  is 


i 


K-  V 


^^  OUR    WESTERN  EMPJRE. 

heaped -up  bonen,  rocks  now,  and  many  of  them  !vo  perfectly 
agatized  that  at  a  casual  glance  it  would  stagger  any  but  a 
scientist's  belief  that  they  were  ever  covered  with  flesh.  As 
teen,  here,  however,  it  is  so  palpably  apparent  that  the  seeming 
rock  and  agate  are  bone  as  to  leave  no  room  for  shadow  of 
doubt.  Before  us  are  perfect  parts  of  skeletons  so  huge  as  to 
prepare  one  for  the  belief  that  Noah's  Ark  was  a  myth ;  sections 
of  vertebrae  three  feet  in  width ;  ribs  fifteen  fret  long ;  thigh-bones 
over  six  feet  in  length — and  the  five  or  six  tons  of  bones  thus 
&r  shipped  East  comprising  only  the  parts  of  three  animals.  In 
one  pit  the  diameter  of  the  socket  of  the  vertebrae  measured  fif> 
teen  inches,  width  of  spinal  process  forty-one  inches,  and  depth 
of  vertebra:  twenty-nine  inches.  In  another  place  there  was  a 
thigh-bone  six  feet  and  two  inches  in  length ;  a  section  of  back* 
bone  lying  just  as  the  monster  rolled  over  and  died,  with  eleven 
ribs  attached,  the  back-bone  twenty  feet  long  and  from  sixteen 
to  thirty  inches  deep,  and  the  ribs  6ve  to  eight  feet  in  length  and 
six  inches  broad.  Just  showing  upon  the  surface  was  a  part  of 
H  thigh-bone  twenty-two  inches  in  width  and  thirty  in  length,  and 
near  it  a  nine-foot  rib  four  inches  in  diameter,  a  foot  wide  at  six 
feet,  and  where  it  articulated  with  the  vertebrae,  twenty-three 
and  a  half  inches  in  width.  The  entire  rib  was  fifteen  feet  in 
length.  All  over  the  hill  we  come  upon  little  piles  of  broken 
bones  which  will  require  days  of  patient  labor  and  skillful  hand- 
ling to  properly  set  in  place.  The  first  discovery  of  the  (ossils 
was  made  in  April  last  by  a  young  graduate  of  Oberlin  College, 
who,  teaching  a  country  school  in  the  park  five  days  in  the  week, 
spent  his  Saturdays  about  the  hills  hunting  deer,  and  occasion- 
i^lly  getting  a  shot  at  a  grizzly.  Immediately  upon  satisfying 
fiimself  of  the  character  of  the  discovery,  the  young  man  wrote 
to  his  old  Professor  in  Ohio,  and  subsequently  to  Professor  Cope, 
of  Philadelphia.  Hardly  had  the  latter  organized  his  party  of 
exploration  before  Professor  Marsh  had  his,  under  the  leadership 
of  Professor  Mudge^  of  Kansas,  duly  equipped,  and  by  the  mid- 
dle of  May  both  parties  were  actively  engaged  excavating, 
setting  up  and  preparing  for  shipment  the  bones  which  Professor 
J^Iarsh  declares  are  seven  million  years  old.  j.,,-M^.r>o>^-i\  ^'^^■■'ti^Bi 


n  so  perfectly 

ger  any  but  a 

vith  flesh.     As 

at  the  seeming 

for  shadow  of 

i  so  huge  as  to 

myth ;  sections 

^S '  thigh-bones 

of  bones  thus 

ee  animals.     In 

X  measured  fif- 

ches,  and  depth 

ice  there  was  a 

lection  of  back- 

ied,  with  eleven 

id  from  sixteen 

:t  in  length  and 

e  was  a  part  of 

y  in  length,  and 

foot  wide  at  six 

ae,  twenty-three 

i  fifteen  feet  in 

piles  of  broken 

id  skillful  hand- 

ry  of  the  lussils 

Dberlin  College, 

lys  in  the  week, 

r,  and  occasion- 

upon  satisfying 

ung  man  wrote 

Professor  Cope, 

ed  his  party  of 

r  the  leadership 

)nd  by  the  itiid- 

:ed   excavating, 

which  Professor 

■....4 


GIGANTIC  CHARACTER   OF  FOSSILS.  647 

"The  first  animal  discovered  was  of  entirely  new  genus  and 
species  in  scientific  circles,  and  was  named  the  camarasuras  su- 
premus,  from  the  chamber  of  caverns  in  the  centres  of  the 
vertebrje.  Of  the  first  petrifactions  exlnimed  was  a  femur  or 
thigh-bone  six  feet  in  length,  scapular  or  shoulder-blade  five  and 
a  half  feet  long,  sacrum,  or  the  part  of  the  backbone  over  the 
hips — corresponding  to  four  vertebrae  united  in  one — forty  inches. 
Vertebrae  immediately  in  front  of  this  measured  in  elevation 
two  feet  six  inches,  and  the  spread  of  the  diapophyses  was  three 
feet.  Professor  Hayden,  the  widely-known  chief  of  the  United 
States  Geological  Survey,  upon  visiting  this  place  and  inspecting 
these  and  other  parts  of  the  animal,  declared  it  his  conviction 
that  the  beast  must  have  been  fully  a  hundred  feet  in  length. 
The  thigh-bone,  measuring  some  six  feet,  stood  over  the  hips 
eighteen  to  twenty  feet.  The  animal  was  undoubtedly  shorter  of 
front  than  of  hind  legs,  and  Professor  Marsh  thinks  it  had  the 
power  to  raise  up  like  a  kangaroo  on  its  hind  legs  and  browse 
off  the  leaves  of  the  trees  from  sixty  to  eighty  feet  in  height. 
The  professor  also  gives  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  'critter'  fed 
entirely  upon  grass  and  leaves,  the  vertebrae  of  the  neck  being 
some  twenty-one  inches  in  length,  and  the  spread  of  the 
diapophyses  three  feet,  this  being  understood  of  cervical  vertebrae. 
The  skeleton  is  not  completely  exhumed,  though  between  7,500 
and  8,000  pounds  of  bone  have  been  shipped  to  Professor  Cope. 
A  part  of  the  jaw  of  a  laelaps  trihedrodon,  ten  inches  long,  and 
containing  eight  teeth  varying  from  five  to  eight  inches  in  length, 
has  also  been  shipped.  Recently  a  leg  bone  of  this  same  animal 
was  exhumed  and  found  to  measure  a  little  over  four  feet,  and 
with  a  portion  of  the  head  all  crushed  into  small  pieces,  sent  on 
to  ihe  professor.  A  part  of  the  femur  of  another  animal  has 
been  found,  measuring  six  feet,  but  somewhat  lighter  than  the 
others.  The  vertebrae  are  three  feet  six  inches  in  eleavtion, 
showing  a  very  tall  brute,  but  not  so  heavy  as  the  camarasuras. 
When  found,  it  was  lying  on  the  right  side  with  vertebrie  and 
ribs  of  that  side  in  place,  the  ribs  measuring  over  six  feet  in 
length,  and  the  prongs  where  they  join  the  back  fifteen  inches  in 
width.     Many  of  the  bones  of  the  camarasuras  are  misplaced 


i 


j^|8  OVR   WESTERN  EMPtKE. 

and  broken  up,  quite  a  pile  being  found  at  the  spot  where 
several  of  the  teeth  of  the  trihedrodon  >*fere  discovered,  thus  indi- 
cating the  preying  of  the  one  upon  the  other.  While  the  general 
estimate  of  the  age  of  these  huge  fossils  among  American  geol- 
ogists is  sev'en  million  years,  English  scientists  declare  them 
fourteen  million  years  old.  Both  the  camarasuras  and  the 
trihedrodon  were  of  the  Jurassic  period,  being  found  in  beds, 
which,  according  to  Professor  Marsh,  correspond  with  the 
Wealden  beds  of  England.  All  this  section  of  the  country  must 
have  been  a  plain  when  so  much  of  Colorado  was  covered  by  an 
ocean,  and  before  the  mountains  were  formed.  The  fossils  are 
found  in  rock  long  upheaved,  its  character  now  a  sort  of  shale  or 
marlite,  which  upon  being  dug  out  and  exposed  to  the  air  crumbles 
to  pieces.  In  most  instances  it  is  free  from  bone  decay,  the  parts 
of  animals  taken  out  being  remarkable  for  their  clean  and  per- 
fect solidity.  Marsh  and  Cope  agree  that  the  camarasuras  was 
the  largest  and  most  bulky  animal  capable  of  progress  on  land 
of  which  we  have  any  knowledge,  it  being  very  much  larger  than 
the  mastodon,  which  was  of  a  much  later  period. 

''Professor  Mudge,  with  his  party,  is  working  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  distant  from  Professor  Cope's  camp,  and  very 
recently  discovered  portions  of  an  animal  of  even  more  monstrous 
proportions  than  those  already  referred  to,  and  of  entirely  di(^ 
ferent  genus  and  species  from  either.  The  explorations  of  the 
Marsh  and  Cope  parties  will  be  pushed  with  all  possible  vigor, 
the  entire  scientific  world  being  intensely  interested  not  only  in 
the  work  here  on  Talbott  Hill,  but  in  the  setting  up  of  the  gi- 
gantic skeletons  at  Yale  College  and  tlie  Academy  of  Natural 
Sciencesat  Philadelphia.  Excursions  from  several  of  the  leading 
colleges  to  the  scene  of  the  discoveries  are  [Planned  for  the  sum- 
mer, and  the  season's  work  promises  to  add  to  the  lively  in- 
terest in  sdlendAc  drdes. 

"  The  next  morning  our  way  is  coudiward  ten  miles  or  more  to 
the  coal  mines,  stopping  at  the  iron  spring  a  little  over  three  mHes 
from  town.  It  is  up  a  short,  dry  gulch  ksa^ding  off  from  the  road, 
and  quite  peculiar,  inasmuch  as  the  water  springs  from  and  has 
worn  its  tiny  channel  up  the  very  edge  of  a  long,  thin  ridge  that 


M 


he  spot  where 

krcrecl,  thus  indi- 

lile  the  general 

American  geol- 

decbre  them 

isuras    and    the 

found  in  beds, 

pond   with    the 

le  country  must 

covered  by  an 

The  fossils  are 

sort  of  shale  or 

the  air  crumbles 

decay,  the  parts 

■  clean  and  per- 

amarasuras  was 

rogress  on  land 

luch  larger  than 

ig  about  three- 
camp,  and  very 
more  monstrous 
1  of  entirely  dif- 
slorations  of  the 
1  possible  vigor, 
•ted  not  only  in 
g  up  of  the  gi- 
cmy  of  Natural 
al  of  the  leading 
red  for  the  sum- 
to  the  lively  in- 

niies  or  more  to 
over  three  mles 
RT  from  the  road, 
s  from  and  has 
<;,  thin  ridge  that 


co^/.  DF.iOsns  OF  CA^oy  cnv.  6^q 

juts  out  into  the  gulch.  Over  the  face  of  the  ridge  the  water 
has  scattered  its  iron  sediment  with  lavish  freedom,  but  only  in 
this  is  there  anything  that  to  the  eye  indicates  aught  but  spotless 
purity  in  the  wonderful  clearness  of  the  spring.  To  the  taste, 
however,  the  iron  at  once  asserts  itself,  and  the  water  is  so 
strongly  charged  with  it  as  to  render  it  the  healthiest  of  bever- 
ages. We  drink  our  fill,  and  arc  off  for  the  coal  mines.  An 
hour,  and  we  are  bowling  along  in  a  coal  truck  attached  to  a 
blind  mule,  through  a  vein  of  solid  coal  something  over  five  feet 
in  diameter.  It  is  a  weird  ride,  this  mile  or  more  into  the  inky 
bowels  of  the  earth,  the  faint  shadows  from  our  diminutive  lamps 
causing  a  ghastly  effect  not  ut  all  lessened  by  the  blackness  of 
the  coal  on  eitlier  side  and  overhead.  Every  few  feet  we  peer 
into  the  dusky  depths  of  the  apparently  unending  series  of  side 
chambers,  catching  quick  glimpse  of  the  little  fire-bugs,  as  the 
miners  look  to  be,  as  we  pass  so  swiftly  on.  We  see  not  the 
forms  of  the  men,  their  faces,  nor  their  hands,  only  the  lamp- 
wicks'  sickly  flaring  from  the  unseen  hats.  Every  now  and  then 
piles  of  powder  in  canisters  almost  block  up  the  entrance  to  the 
chambers,  and  at  one  point  we  are  shown  the  very  fuse  that  sent 
a  poor  miner  to  his  death  but  a  day  or  two  before.  But  still  the 
old,  blind  miile  trots  on,  and  the  passing  through  and  rapid 
closing  behind  us  of  the  heavy,  oaken  door,  that  preserves  the 
little  of  wholesome  air  left  in  the  drift,  is  as  if  it  barred  us  for- 
cvermore  from  the  world  behind.  The  ride  in  appears  an  age ; 
rtic  ride  out  but  of  a  moment's  time  in  comparison.  There  are 
eighty-six  side  cliambers,  or  rooms,  as  the  miners  know  them,  in 
the  main  entry,  fifty-seven  in  another  entry,  and  in  all,  four  miles 
of  track  upon  which  the  coal  is  carried  to  the  outer  world.  The 
veins  average  five  feet  two  inches,  and  run  three  and  one-half 
miles  east  and  west,  and  ten  miles  north  and  south.  A  hundred 
miners  are  at  work,  and  the  yield  averages  400  tons  per  day. 
The  gigantic  solid  lump  of  coal  eight  feet  nine  inches  long,  six 
feet  across  and  four  feet  four  inches  high,  that  attracted  sutfh 
great  attention  at  tjse  Cemteonlal,  being  b^opd  all  comparison 
the  greatest  single  piece  of  coal  on  exhibition,  was  taken  from 
this  mine.     It  weighed  seven  tons,  and  was  cut  and  brought  out 


i 


I      I 

;  i 


-^t^lk^Aamt'a 


0ro  OUR    WESTERS   EMPIRE. 

of  the  mine  in  tl^ee  days.  Canon  City  coal  is  probably  the  finest 
bituminous  coal  in  the  world,  and  is  so  extensively  used  through* 
out  the  West  as  to  require  the  running  of  special  trains  for  coal 
alone,  on  the  Denver  and  Rio  Grande  road,  which  has  its  own 
track  to  the  mines.  The  supply  is  beyond  all  human  calculation, 
for  the  valley  of  the  Arkansas  is  one  vast  coal  bed  for  mile  upon 
mile.  •  I'juc."  )■:  ' '  ''  •"     I- 

••  On  the  return  trip  we  make  quite  a  detour  to  the  east,  to 
spend  a  litde  time  at  the  gypsum  beds,  which  are  twelve  feet  in 
thickness. 

"  Leaving  the  hotel  immediately  following  an  early  breakfast, 
next  morning,  a  drive  of  twelve  miles  brings  us  to  the  Grand 
Canon  of  the  Arkansas.  Disappointment  is  bitter,  and  feelings 
of  resentment  almost  beyond  control,  as  nowhere  cait  the  eye 
discover  the  cafion.  In  the  immediate  foreground  the  piAon 
growth  is  rank  and  dense  ;  just  beyond,  great,  bleak  ridges  of 
bare,  cold  rock  contrast  strongly  with  the  profusion  of  foliage 
hiding  everything  beneath  from  sight,  while  away  in  the  dim  dis- 
tance the  snow-crowned  peaks  of  the  continental  divide  are  out- 
lined sharp  and  clear  against  the  solid  blue  of  the  morning  sky. 
Though  grand  beyond  anything  we  have  seen  in  amazing  extent 
of  vision,  the  mind  is  so  wrapped  up  in  the  anticipation  of  full 
realization  of  thegloorn,  and  vastness,  and  solemn  grandeur  of  the 
Grand  Cafion,  as  to  resent  almost  angrily  their  apparent  absence. 
A  half  dozen  steps  from  the  clump  of  piflon  trees  where  the 
horses  have  been  fastened,  and  all  thoughts  of  resentment,  of 
disappointment  and  chagrin  vanish,  and  a  very  cry  of  absolute 
terror  escapes  us.  At  our  very  feet  is  the  cafion — another  step 
would  hurl  us  into  eternity.  Shuddering,  we  peer  down  the 
awful  slopes ;  fascinated  we  steal  a  little  nearer  to  circumvent  a 
very  mountain  that  has  rolled  into  the  chasm,  and  at  last  the  eye 
reaches  down  the  sharp  incline  3,000  feet  to  the  bed  of  the  river, 
the  impetuous  Arkansas,  forty  to  sixty  feet  in  width,  yet  to  us  a 
mere  ribbon  of  molten  silver.  Though  surging  madly  against 
its  rocky  sides,  leaping  wildly  over  gigantic  masses  of  rock  and 
hoarsely  murmuring  against  its  imprisonment  within  these  lofty 
walls,  it  finds  no  avenue  of  escape.     Every  portion  of  these  marble 


1 


bably  the  finest 
'  used  through- 
trains  for  coal 
h  has  its  own 
nan  calculation, 
d  for  mile  tipon 

to  the  cast,  to 

L"  twelve  feet  in 

. ,   i  '      ' 

arly  breakfast, 
to  the  Grand 
er,  and  feelings 
re  carf  the  eye 
und  the  pifton 
)leak  ridges  of 
ision  of  foliage 
in  the  dim  dis- 
divide  are  out- 
le  morning  sky. 
amazing  extent 
icipation  of  full 
grandeur  of  the 
parent  absence, 
rees  where  the 
resentment,  of 
cry  of  absolute 
— another  step 
peer  down  the 

0  circumvent  a 

1  at  last  the  eye 
»ed  of  the  river, 
Ith,  yet  to  us  a 

madly  against 
js  of  rock  and 
thin  these  lofty 
of  these  marble 


THE  KOYAL   GORGR.  %^\ 

bastions  is  as  smooth  as  if  polished,  and  ns  stationary  as  the 
mighty  walls  that  look  down  upon  them  from  such  fearful  height. 
"  Fairly  awed  into  a  bravado  as  reckless  as  it  is  strange  to  us, 
we  crawl  out  upon  tottering  ledges  to  peer  into  sheer  depths  of 
untold  ruggedncss ;  we  f»rasp  with  death-like  clutch  some  over- 
hanging limb  and  swing  out  upon  a  promontory  beside  which  the 
apex  of  the  highest  cathedral  spire  in  the  v/orld  would  be  as  a 
sapling  in  height.  We  crawl  where  at  home  we  would  hardly 
dare  look  with  telescope,  and  in  the  mad  excitement  of  the  hour 
tread,  with  perfect  abandon,  brinks,  the  bare  thoughts  of  which, 
in  after  recollection,  make  us  faint  of  heart  and  dizzy  of  head. 
Eager  now  for  still  greater  horrors  of  depth,  blind  to  every- 
thing but  an  intolerable  desire  to  behold  the  most  savage  of 
nature's  upheavals,  the  short  ride  to  the  Royal  Gorge  is  made 
with  ill-concealed  impatience.  If  our  first  experience  upon  the 
brink  of  the  Grand  Caflon  was  startling,  this  is  absolutely  terrify- 
ing, and  the  bravest  at  one  point  become  the  most  abject  of 
cowards  in  comparison  at  the  other.  At  the  first  point  of  obser- 
vation the  walls,  though  frightfully  steep,  are  nevertheless  sloping 
to  more  or  less  extent ;  here  at  the  Royal  Gorge  they  are  sheer 
precipices,  as  perpendicular  as  the  tallest  house,  as  straight  as 
if  built  by  line.  So  narrow  is  the  Gorge  that  one  would  think 
the  throwing  of  a  stone  from  side  to  side  the  easiest  of  accom- 
plishments, yet  no  living  man  has  ever  done  it,  or  succeeded  in 
throwing  any  object  so  that  it  would  fall  into  the  water  below. 
Many  tourists  are  content  with  the  appalling  view  from  the  main 
walls,  but  others,  more  venturesome,  work  their  way  600  to  a 
1,000  feet  down  the  ragged  edges  of  a  mountain,  that  has  parted 
and  actually  slid  into  the  chasm,  and  as  we  have  come  to  see  it 
all,  the  clamber  down  must  be  accomplished.  For  some  distance 
we  scramble  over  and  between  monstrous  boulders,  and  then 
reach  the  narrow  and  almost  absolutely  perpendicular  crevice  of 
a  gigantic  mass  of  rock,  down  which  we  must  let  ourselves  100 
feet  or  more.  As  we  reach  the  shelf  or  ledge  of  rock  upon  which 
the  great  rock  has  fallen  and  been  sundered,  we  glance  back, 
but  only  for  a  second,  the  thought  of  our  daring  making  us  grow 
sick  and  dizzy      But  a  step  or  two  more,  and  the  descent  just 


r 


(}p  oim  ir^.fr/ix\  B.vrmn. 

made  sinks  Into  utt^r  tnfti{;f)ificiinr«  romparwl  to  what  is  brfofe 
us.  Then  we  had  the  hugt!  walls  of  the  part^Mi  rock  as  the  rails 
of  a  staircase :  now  wc  have  naught  but  the  smooth,  rounded 
surface  of  the  stonn-washed  boulders  to  clin^  to,  and  on  either 
side  of  our  narrow  way,  depths,  at  the  bottom  of  which  a  man's 
body  could  never  be  discovered  with  human  eye.  Behind  us 
the  precipitous  rocks,  over  and  through  which  wc  came ;  ahead 
of  us  the  slender  barrier  of  rock  overlionginj»  the  appalling 
chasm,  and  all  there  exists  between  us  and  it.  Cowards  at  heart, 
pale  of  face  and  with  painful  breath,  we  slowly  crnwl  on  hands 
and  knees  to  the  ledge,  and  as  the  fated  murderer  feels  the 
knotted  noose  fall  down  over  his  head,  so  feel  we  as  our  eyes 
extend  beyond  the  rocks  to  catch  one  awful  glimpse  of  the  eter- 
nity of  space.  Few  dare  to  look  more  than  once,  and  one  glance 
suffices  for  a  comprehension  of  the  meaning  of  the  word  depth 
never  before  even  dreamed  of,  and  never  afterward  forgotten. 
The  Gorge  is  2,008  feet  sheer  depth,  the  most  precipitous  and 
sublime  in  its  proport'ons  of  any  chasm  on  the  continent.  The 
c;)posite  wall  towers  hundreds  of  feet  above  us,  and  If  possible 
to  imagine  anything  more  terrifying  than  the  position  on  this 
side,  that  upon  the  other  would  be,  were  its  brink  safe  to  ap- 
proach. Overhanging  crags,  black  and  blasted  at  their  summits 
or  bristling  with  stark  and  gnarled  pines,  reach  up  into  pro- 
foundly dizzy  heights,  while  lower  down  monstrous  rocks  threaten 
to  topple  and  carry  to  destruction  any  foolhardy  climber  who 
would  venture  upon  them.  Among  all  the  thousands  who  have 
visited  the  Grand  Carton  and  the  Royal  Gorge  harm  has  befallen 
none,  for,  despite  the  seeming  horror  of  the  situation,  the  appall- 
ing depths  and  rugged  paths,  the  fascination  of  the  danger 
appears  to  give  birth  to  greatest  caution.  Tlie  Cafton,  except  in 
the  dead  of  winter,  is  approachable  only  from  the  top,  the  walls 
below  being  so  precipitous,  and  the  river  sueh  a  torrent,  as  to 
defy  all  access.  When  frozen,  as  the  waters  are  for  brief  periods 
during  the  coldest  months,  the  way  up  tJie  caflon  may  be  accom- 
pli^ed,  but  otAy  at  the  rislk  of  personal  comfort  and  not  a  fittir 
dan^r.  Mr.  Talbott,  the  photographer  at  Carton  Qty,  vent«re<l 
into  the  carton  last  winter  with  his  apparatus,  and,  »ft«r  infinite 


i., 

I 


what  is  brfore 
)ck  an  the  ralU 
looth,  n)un(lc(l 
and  on  either 
which  a  man's 
Behind  ua 
|c  came ;  ahead 
the  appalling 
wards  at  heart, 
awl  on  hands 
ercr  feels  the 
we  as  oiir  eyes 
)Ke  of  the  eter- 
md  one  glance 
he  word  depth 
k^ard  forgotten. 
)recipitous  and 
ontinent.     The 
and  if  possible 
osition  on  this 
lk  safe  to  ap- 
t  their  summits 
h  up  into  pro- 
rocks  threaten 
ly  climber  who 
lands  v'ho  have 
rm  has  befallen 
ion,  the  appall- 
of  the  danger 
aflon,  except  in 
5  top,  the  wallfs 
I  torrent,  as  to 
)r  brief  periods 
may  be  accom- 
ind  not  a  Uttle 
City,  ventorefl 
d,  after  infinite 


7///r    M'AZ   NOUSIAIS   VAII.KY.  6$J 

trouble,  secured  the  excellent  view»  which  afftinl  us  some  con- 
ception of  the  grandeur  of  the  gorge  from  the  lM)ttom. 

"Keturtting  to  CaAon  City,  we  conclude  to  remain  about  the 
hotel  for  a  day  resting,  and  deciding  upon  the  route  of  a 
tour  through  Southern  Colorado,  taking  in  the  San  Juan  country, 
Chalk  Creek,  California  (iulch.  Twin  lakes.  South  Park,  etc. 
We  have  enjoyed  to  the  fullest  the  jaunts  of  a  day,  and  now  long 
for  a  month  on  the  road  with  headquarters  wherever  ni^ht  may 
overtake  us.  The  reader  may  be  inclined  to  ask  if  there  are  no 
more  comparatively  short  trips,  with  CaAon  City  as  the  base, 
and  the  reply  would  be,  there  are,  and  so  many  in  fact  as  to  be 
almost  beyond  enumeration.  A  most  enjoyable  four  to  five 
days'  tour  is  that  from  CaAon  City  to  the  wilil  and  pictunrsque 
region  of  the  Sierra  Mojada,  or  Wet  Mountains,  tliirty  miles  via 
Oak  Creek  CaAon  to  Rosita.  altitude  8,600  feet,  and  return  via 
Wet  Mount^ain  valley  and  Grape  Creek  caAon.  This  is  a  '  tim- 
ber liner,'  as  an  old  prospector  would  denominate  so  wide  and 
high  a  range  of  altitude,  and  affords  capital  opportunities  for  the 
enjoyment  of  life  ofttimes  above  the  clouds.  Near  Rosita  are 
several  distinct  craters,  and  in  the  very  accessible  grass-covered, 
cone-shaped  hills  that  rise  500  feet  or  more  above  the  town 
are  innun^erable  mines.  About  them  are  found  the  most  beau- 
tiful specimens  of  crystallization,  different  kinds  of  spar  and 
pyrites  of  most  brilliant  hues.  The  ride  down  the  little  gra'isy 
gulch  or  glade  to  obtain  a  nearer  view  of  the  Wet  Mountain 
valley,  and  the  Sangre  de  Christo  range  beyond  its  western  limit, 
is  a  very  delightful  one,  looking  at  sunset  time  like  some  grand 
painting  with  the  point  of  view  at  the  small  end  of  the  vista,  and 
the  eye,  ranging  down  the  timber-girted  glade  to  mountains 
13.500  feet  in  altitude,  beholds  the  massive  and  majestic  peaks 
rolling  and  swelling  against  the  clearest  sky  ever  mortal  eye  was 
gladdened  with.  Many  EngKshmen  have  made  homes  in  the 
valley,  often  called  '  The  Britons'  Paradise,'  a  name  which  seems 
appropriate  to  the  tourist,  after  leaving  the  grayish  green  of  the 
foot-hills  and  reaching  its  bright  green  meadows,  starting  up 
here  a  prairie  dog  and  there  a  rabbit,  and  crossing  and  recross- 
ing  its  trout-filled  silvery  streams.     In  the  valley  is  the  famous 


r 


I-ake  of  the  Clouiln.  The  fourth  night  ends  at  Caflon  City,  ami 
the  cxpcnHC  of  the  trip  hardly  avoraj^fs  ;j^5  per  ihiy.  including 
everything.  Another  exceedingly  pleasant  trip  from  Carton  City 
in  to  I'oncho  Springs,  sixty-five  mile?  up  the  Arkansan  river,  for 
which  a  running  deHcription  of  the  drive  through  the  Upper 
Arkansas  caOon  will  suffice,  ^-ngaging  a  neat  in  the  regular 
buckboard  line  leaving  Caflon  City  every  other  clay,  the  start  isi 
made  immediately  after  early  breakfast,  and  the  sun  is  hardly 
over  the  mountains  before  the  sublimely  grand  confines  of  (irapc 
Creek  t  irton  arc  reached.  A  word  as  to  the  bucklxiard,  for 
beyond  all  comparison  the  most  comfortable  and  enjoyable  of 
all  vehicles  for  mountain  travel,  it  deserves  at  the  least  a  passing 
mention.  Built  expressly  for  Harlow  ik  Sanderson,  the  great 
stage  men  of  Colorado,  the  buckboard  of  their  lines  is  a  roomy, 
double-seated,  open  vehicle,  the  slatted  bed  lying  directly  upon 
the  axles,  and  the  seats  set  well  up  on  fish-plate  springs,  the  jar 
consequent  upon  striking  rock  or  stone  is  almost  lost  before  it 
readies  the  scat.  There  is  none  of  the  rolling,  swaying  motion 
of  the  bulky  coach,  or  of  the  short,  jerky  action  of  the  aptly 
named  '  Jerkec'  There  being  no  top,  the  eye  ranges  at  will, 
and  the  bed  of  the  conveyance  is  so  near  the  ground  one  can 
readily  spring  out  and  walk  when  so  inclined,  many  preferring 

so  to  do  when  climbing  long  hills.  J  ..,,.,     ,,.. 

•'Emerging  from  Grape  Creek  caflon  the  road  winds  through 
Webster  Park,  thence  into  Copper  Gulch,  at  the  head  of  which 
is  a  towering  gateway  of  solid  rock,  and  passing  through  it  to 
the  top  of  the  divide  the  scene  is  grand  beyond  all  conception. 
Directly  ahead  is  the  snowy  range,  with  its  white-capped  crests 
looming  high  above  the  clouds,  which  hang  about  the  rocky 
breasts  below  as  if  loth  to  leave  their  ample  resting-place.  To 
the  left  is  the  Greenhorn  range,  to  the  right  the  great  conti- 
nental divide,  and  imagination  could  not  picture  sight  more  sub 
lime.  Through  Seven-mile  Gulch  the  road  enters  Pleasant  Park, 
with  its  rugged  rock  sculptures,  its  densely- wooded  slopes  and 
grassy  lawns.  On  every  side  are  most  curious  monuments 
formed  of  monster  boulders  one  atop  the  other,  and  holding 
position,  by  apparently  so  frail  a  thread,  that  the  gust  of  a  mo- 


Tilt.   CI.  Iff  HOUSKS  Of   THK  SAN  JUAtf. 


u  Carton  City,  ami 
prr  ilay,  including 
|)  from  Carton  City 
^rkansan  river,  for 
rough   the   IJpprr 
at  in  the  rrgnJar 
i<r  (lay,  the  start  is 
the  sun  is  hardly 
confines  of  (i rape 
ie  buckboard,  for 
and  enjoyable  of 
le  least  a  passing 
iderson,  the  great 
ir  lines  is  a  roomy, 
ying  directly  upon 
ite  springs,  the  jar 
nost  lost  before  it 
K:.  swaying  motion 
:tion  of  the  aptly 
•ye  ranges  at  will, 
B  ground  one  can 
J,  many  preferring 

sad  winds  through 
the  head  of  which 
iing  through  it  to 
nd  all  conception, 
lite-capped  crests 
about  the  rocky 
esting-place.     To 
:  the  great  conti- 
e  sight  more  sub 
crs  Pleasant  Park, 
>oded  slopes  and 
'ious  monuments 
her,  and  holding 
le  gust  of  a  mo- 


65  J 


tutnts  iluration  would  hurl  thrm  from  tli/zy  heights  to  ilu-  |rv»| 
of  tlu:  park.  Wlule  in  tlif  park,  tuagnidcmt  views  ar«'  obtaitx  d 
of  Mount  lUanca  and  Pike's  Peak,  either  of  them  not  Iish  tl  an 
eighty  miles  away,  and  at  the  siunmit  of  the  divide  Ixtween 
Pleasant  Park  and  the  South  Arkansas — altitude  7,800  feet — the 
view  in  all  directions  is  beyond  description.  From  this  the 
detce.nt  is  commenced  ;  at  nightfall  the  solid,  comfortable  and 
roomy  old  stone  house,  known,  Colorado  over,  as  Pales',  is  rrached, 
ami  with  it  the  South  Arkansas.  Twenty  miles  farther  is  tlu! 
Chalk  Creek  region,  with  its  hot  springs,  fishing  and  hunting, 
and  thirty  miles  beyond  are  the  noteil  Twin  Lakers.  I''ifteen 
miles  from  the  lakes  is  California  (iulch,  with  the  wondtrrful 
Mount  of  the  Holy  Cross  to  the  north." 

There  are,  in  th«!  southwestern  part  of  the  State,  in  La  Plata, 
Conejos,  anil  San  Juan  counti<;s,  and  around  the  head-waters  of 
the  sources  of  the  .San  Juan  river,  many  of  those  ruins  of  houses 
cut  in  tho  rocks  of  the  perpendicular  cliffs,  or  on  the  summits  of 
the  isolated  mesas  or  table-rocks,  of  which  there  are  so  many 
hundreds  of  examples  in  Nc»v  Mexico,  Arizona  and  Southern 
Utah.  This  whole  region  was  densely  populated  ages  ago,  and 
by  races  far  superior  to  the  existing  tribes  of  Indians.  The 
Moquis,  already  described  in  our  account  of  Arizona,  may  possi- 
bly belong  to  the  same  race  with  these  cliflf-dwellers,  for  they 
have  similar  ideas  in  regard  to  their  dwellings  and  languages, 
customs,  habits  and  religion,  entirely  diverse  from  any  of  the 
other  Indian  tribes,  but  some  of  these  ruins  are  many  centuries 
old.  They  were  in  their  present  condition  of  ruins  when  the 
Spaniards  first  penetrated  here,  330  or  340  years  ago.  That 
they  had  formidable  enemies,  whose  attacks  they  evaded  by 
their  fortified  dwelling-places,  seems  evident ;  but  whether  those 
enemies  were  Apaches,  Aztecs,  or  other  tribes  or  nations,  now, 
like  themselves,  extinct,  does  not  clearly  appear.  The  extent 
of  these  ruins,  often  2  jo  by  600  or  700  feet,  the  massive  blocks 
of  stone  of  which  some  of  them  are  constructed,  and  the  vast 
labor  by  which  others  were  hewn  out  of  the  solid  rock,  are  well 
fitted  to  excite  our  admiration.  The  Estufas  or  chapels,  for 
their  worship  of  the  sun  in  these  buildings,  were  very  large  and 


'\ 


.'■«»  ■«tijtifa«>3«a«fe;r'ifcaMit*'iMB«i  wgslwlfe- 


n 


gj(^  OlM    tt^AMfAAAf   AM/'/AX. 

claboratrly  con»lriu  tr<l.     It  \%  lirllcvrtl  that  llu:y  wrrr  no  un-Aar 
lik(!  at  to  luvu  no  olfciiHive  wc'M|iut)N.      llicy  prubttbly  buriicil 
l))t!  l>t>(li(!»  of  their  clc;ul.     (Sc*c  Ahuona.) 

The  mineral  wealth  of  ColuraUo  tltMH  not  conniHt  alone  in  the 
anioutu  of  the  precious  inetaU  containeil  in  it»  bruiKl  mineral 
IktU,  thoii|(h  thJH  will  eventually  be  roiuul,  we  think,  y^reater  than 
that  of  any  other  State,  hut  inchulcs  al»o  copper,  leail.  zinc, 
platina,  tellurium,  iron  in  vaHt  quantiticit  and  of  all  kind*  of  ores, 
coal,  );y|>Hum,  salt,  kaolin,  and  pottery  clayi,  etc.,  etc. 

The  coal  of  Colorado  h  worthy  of  Hp'.'cial  r-jmark.  It  In  widely 
distributed,  being  found  and  worked  in  Weld,  Boulder,  JefTrmon, 
Kl  I'aso,  I''r<'*mont,  Huerfano,  \a»  Animas,  and  La  i'lata  coun* 
ties,  and  is  known  aUo  to  exist  in  San  Juan,  Ouray,  Gunnison 
and  Summit  countitii.  It  is  of  very  different  c|ualitiet  and  cf 
different  ^eolo^ic  ages.  In  the  nortli  it  in  a  lit{nite  of  the  terti- 
ary period,  of  very  good  quality.  Toward  the  centre  of  the 
State  it  is  a  lignite  of  the  cretaceous  period,  but  of  still  betlei 
quality.  In  the  aouth,  in  the  vicinity  of  Trinidad,  I<as  Animas 
county,  the  true  coal  measures  have  been  reached,  and  the  cool 
is  a  bituminous  coking  coal  of  great  value.  West,  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  in  l^  Plata  county,  it  is  from  the  true  coal  mrasures, 
semi-bituminous  or  semi-anthracite.  Volcanic  action  in  Las 
Animas  and  La  Plata  coumi' s  has  probaUy  aiifected  the  (pialiiy 
of  the  coals,  much  as  it  has  in  some  parts  of  New  Mexico,  mak« 
ing,  what  would  otherwise  have  been  a  sefi^  Utuminoiis  coal,  a 
hard  and  dense  anthracite.  It  is  believed  that  tke  coal  mines  of 
Gunnison  county,  which  ajre  known  to  be  anthracite,  have  been 
changed  in  the  same  way»  but  the  qtiaiity  is  not  inferier  to  that  of 
Pennsylvania  aivd  a  coking  coal  of  the  best  quaiity.  The  area 
in  this  county  i»  about  600  square  milto,  and  tlie  beds  are  from 
ten  to  .My  feet  or  more  in  thickness.  Tliere  are  two  distinct 
b(.ds,  ^<  I  arated  oaly  by  four  feet  of  iron  shale.  Some  of  it  is 
said  to  ue  a  true  anthracite  of  excellent  qMality«  whether  afiected 
by  volcanic  action  or  not  is  not  fully  settled.  The  coal  mines  of 
Colorado  will  eventually  be  sufficient  W  supply  the  entire  West. 

Zoology. — The  wild  animals  of  Colorado  are  usuaUy  those  of 
the  plains,  though  there  are  a  few  not  found  in  any  considerftble 


lariiiiiifcii 


I 


wen?  M)  uMwur- 
>ruLibly  Lurncil 

t 

uiKt  aluiio  in  the 
U  bruHtl  ininrral 
ink,  urtiUcr  than 
pptr,  Itatl,  zinc, 
all  kindt  of  ores, 

cic. 

ark.    It  in  widely 
ouldir,  JcflirrHon, 
I -a  llttta  roun- 
)uray,  C«unniHon 
<)uulities  and  cf 
nitc  of  the  tcri> 
ie  centre  of  the 
it  of  still  betlt  I 
lad,  I^ft  Animav 
led,  and  the  coal 
:«t  of  the  Rocky 
e  coal  ineasiireM, 
:    action   in  Las 
ected  the  quality 
!W  Mexico,  mak- 
luminous  coal,  a 
lt«  coal  mines  of 
acite,  have  been 
:if<wi«r  to  that  of 
aii4y.    The  area 
«  beds  ore  from 
are  two  distinct 
Some  of  it  is 
ivhether  aflected 
m  coaJ  mines  of 
be  entire  West. 
wuaUy  ihos«  of 
ny  coDsidemble 


numbers  on  the  plains  or  ritcwhcrc  in  tltr  Kut  k>  Mounnvins. 
The  Mark  and  brown  iM-.ir  occur  in  run ttidi* ruble  nunibiint 
both  in  liastem  ami  Western  Lolurado.  and  urr  hunted  to  Mime 
cjitcnt.  The  \if\tt\y  bear  is  not  common  cvrn  west  oi  the  KtKky 
Mountains  and  is  unknown  in  I'l^intcrn  Coloratk).  lb!  in  a  for- 
midable cuntomer  in  a  clo»c  h^^ht,  but  is  caHily  fri^hicnnl  away 
by  HhoutH  or  yrlU,  when  uniujun-d.  The  (>unKi,  (ou^ar  or  ^lauihcr 
is  somewhat  rare,  except  in  the  northwv^t  ol  the  ^tatc,  but  his 
con^^cner,  the  jatfuar,  American  or  mouniain  lion,  in  found 
west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  in  tJic  San  Juan  couoir),  tliouj^^h 
his  habitat  has  brrn  ^'rnrraiiy  supposed  to  !>«;  limited  to  Texas 
and  Arizona.  The  |;ray  or  biaik  wolf  i«  foiuul  wesit  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  antl.  pe.rhaps,  cant  of  them  ,  the  prairie  wolf, 
usually,  thuut^h  perhapn  incorrectly,  called  ioyoti\  in  fretpicnt 
enough  in  iviHtern  Colorado,  but  not  plenty  in  the  west.  I'Ik: 
lynx,  ocelot,  wild  cat,  iiurtin,  Hshcr,  and  !»kunk  are  her",  an  clsf* 
where,  in  considerable  numbers.  The  buffalo  still  frecpieniit, 
thoutfh  in  greatly  decreased  numbers,  the  c|(;vatt:il  plains  of 
Eastern  Colorado,  but  never  appears  in  the  muuntaina  or  west 
of  them.  His  rare  congener,  the  mountain  or  wood  buffalo,  is 
occasionally  found,  solitary,  in  tlu;  Rocky  Mountains.  The  elk 
{tvapiti),  the  fmcst  game  animal  of  the  West,  has  b4*cn  thus  Tar 
very  abundant  in  the  West  and  especially  in  the  great  parks; 
but  it  has  been  so  destructively  hunted  that  its  numbers  arc  fast 
diminishing.  The  Virginia  and  mule-deer  are  numerous,  and 
the  antelope  is  found  on  the  plains,  while  in  the  mountains  the 
bighorn,  or  Rocky  Moimtnin  sheep  and,  more  rarely,  the  Rocky 
Mountain  goat,  are  plenty  enough  to  make  hunting  of  them  rare 
sport.  The  smaller  rodents  and  munchers,  squirrt  I ,  of  many 
species,  beavers,  minks,  muskrats,  rats,  mice,  moles,  gophers, 
marmots,  rabbits,  sage,  and  jackass  hares,  etc.,  etc.,  are,  in  the 

agricultural  district.s,  more  plentiful  than  desirable.     .„,    ,    

Birds,  though  not  as  numerous  as  in  California,  are  yet 
abundant  and  of  many  genera  and  species.  Of  birds  of  prey, 
there  are  two,  possibly  three,  species  of  the  eagle,  several  of  the 
vulture,  and  hawks  and  owls  in  abundance.  In  and  around  the 
lakes,  in  the  parks  and  elsewhere,  and  on  the  plains,  arc  a  great 

4'» 


j!iiai,i,ktau^.»fU>,*f^wiatMS,l&im*!-%MtiU»%'iaiiieKttt-n\}. 


u 


i  ' 


i  I 


t. 


5jg  Ol/X    WESTEXN  EMPIRE. 

abundance  of  game  birds,  the  wild  goose  migrating  southward, 
ducks,  brant,  teal,  and  other  water  and  marsh  birds,  including 
cranes,  ibises  and  English  and  jack-snipe.  The  prairie-hens  and 
other  species  of  grouse,  partridges,  ptarmigan,  quail,  and,  more 
rarely,  the  wild  turkey  and  pheasant,  are  found  in  countless 
numbers  on  the  plains  and  in  the  parks.  In  the  mountains  arc 
many  song  birds.***    "">i  vn  <    ,<->  ■\K\y\m>  ii  iwu  ,.v;ii.,^  m    iU'^iU-  .m 

Reptiles  are  not  very  numerous  lior  formidable.  There  are 
lizards,  horned  toads  and  frogs,  terrapins  and  turtles  of  the 
smaller  kinds,  one  species  of  rattlesnake,  and  many  harmless 
snakes. 

'Fish  abound  in  the  rivers  and  lakes,  most  of  them  edible. 
Trout  are  plentiful,  and  of  large  size  in  all  the  mountain  streams, 
and  grayling,  black  bass,  pickerel,  etc.  <>re  found  in  the  lakes 
and  larger  streams.  Many  of  the  streams  have  been  stocked 
with  fish  from  the  United  States  Fish  Commission.  The  insect 
tribes,  though  numerous  enough,  arc  not  as  annoying  as  in 
some  sections.  Even  the  fly,  which,  in  the  West,  accompanies 
civilization,  has  been  known  to  the  hunters  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains  less  than  ten  years.  The  mosquito  does  not  "  pipe 
his  soft  note,"  nor  present  his  formidable  bill  as  ferociously  as  in 
Arkansas,  nor  are  the  other  insect  pests  troublesome.  The 
Rocky  Mountain  locust,  rather  contemptuously  called  "grass- 
hopper," and  the  ten-lined  spearman,  generally  known  as  the 
"  Colorado  beetle  "  or  potato-bug,  are  bNOth  popularly  supposed 
to  be  natives  of  Colorado.  We  doubt  whether  the  State  is  en- 
titled to  the  honor  or  the  reproach.     Many  circumstances  seem 

*  Mr.  S.  Nugent  Townshend,  an  eminent  English  sportsman  and  correspondent  of  The  FitlJ 
(London),  thus  spealis  of  some  of  the  rarer  game  bird-",  and  animals  he  had  shot  in  Northern 
Colorado : 

"  A  few  of  ihe  rare  species  we  have  seen  in  the  Rockies,  all  of  whioh  are  worth  preserving;, 
are  the  blue  hares  (white  in  winter) ;  the  gray-crowned  finch,  supposed  to  be  the  rarest  lurd  in 
America,  because  he  is  alwnys  above  timber-line,  where  few  go  to  !dok  for  him ;  Clarke's  crow, 
4>r  the  noisy  chatterer,  also  living  only  at  great  altitudes ;  the  pine  grosbeak,  also  found  only  at 
high,  elevations,  red  in  summer,  in  winter  gray,  with  yellow  bead;  long^crested  jay,  black  head 
and  crest,  blue  and  black  transverse,  ribbed  wings  and  tail ;  red-shafted  woodpecker,  rather 
rare  and  a  beauty,  body  cackdo-marked,  with  regular  gray  woodpecker  head  and  breast,  red  under 
the  wings.  Great  homed  owls  are,  though  handsome,  very  common,  ai^  is  the  towhee  finch. 
The  crou-bred.  foxes,,  bet  ween  red  and  gray^  are  large,  abundant,  b.id  ve^  V^^^y.   wiic« 


I 


U/ATXS  AND  MFNiNG   IN  COLORADO. 


659 


grating  southward, 
sli  birds,  including 
he  prairie-hens  and 
n,  quail,  and,  more 
bund  in  countless 
the  mountains  arc 

idable.  There  are 
and  turtles  of  the 
nd  many  harmless 

i   n,tl  \v»\;Vj,'A  ,  irl 

St  of  them  edible, 
mountain  streams, 
found  in  the  lakes 
lave  been  stocked 
ission.  The  insect 
as  annoying  as  in 
West,  accompanies 
:rs  in  the  Rocky 
to  does  not  "pipe 
as  ferociously  as  in 
troublesome.  The 
jsly  called  "grass- 
ally  known  as  the 
popularly  supposed 
ler  the  State  is  en- 
ircumstances  seem 

correspondent  of  751*  /)>/«/ 
tis  he  had  shot  in  Northern 

which  are  worth  pretervinR, 
>sed  to  be  the  rarest  Itird  in 
)ok  for  him ;  Clarke's  croW, 
groibcak,  also  found  only  at 
ong'crested  jay,  black  head 
shafted  woodpecker,  rather 
ET  head  and  breast,  red  under 
on,  a&  is  the  towhce  fincb. 
nt,  b.id  veqr  pretty  when 


to  indicate  the  origin  of  the  latter  from  some  part  of  the  Great 
Basin,  possibly  in  Western  Utah;  while  the  locust,  according 
to  its  usual  habit  of  making  its  original  home  in  the  desert,  prob- 
ably made  its  way  into  Colorado  from  the  arid  plains  and 
mesas  of  Southern  Utah  and  Southern  Nevada,  or  possibly  from 
Arizona.  At  all  events,  they  have  never  proved  as  destructive 
to  the  crops  in  Colorado  as  they  have  in  Slates  farther  east  and 
northeast. 

Mines  and  Mining  Industry. — Though  Colorado  is  likely  to 
achieve  some  distinction  and  reputation  for  her  agricultural  and 
horticultural  productions,  and  a  much  larger  measure  for  her  large 
stock-raising  and  wool-growing  interests,  which  are  now  attaining 
such  a  wonderful  development:  yet  she  is  and  will  h^partxctl- 
ienc^z  mining  State.  About  100,000  mining  claims  have  been  en- 
tered upon  her  county  records,  more  than  80,000  of  which  have 
been  filed  since  1875.   Of  these,  of  course,  a  considerable  propor- 
tion have  lapsed  from  not  being  worked  during  the  time  prescribed 
by  law,  and  others  perhaps  from  the  poverty  of  the  veins  or 
lodes ;  while  of  the  placers  some  are  exhausted,  and  others  have 
been  turned  into  hydraulic  mines.     But  every  day  adds  largely 
to  the  recorded  claims.     Those  of  Lake  county,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Leadville,  are  many  of  them  in  litigation,  claims  having  been 
abandoned   or  forfeited,  or  jumped  and   re-entered  over  and 
over  again.     Just  now  the  drift  of  the   mining   population   is 
mainly  to  Western  and  Southwestern  Colorado,  the  San  Juan 
and  the  Gunnison  regions  in  the  mountains  and  basins,  and  the 
streams   having  their .  sources  in  the  Elk,  Uncompahgre,  San 
Miguel,  San  Juan,  Dolores  and  La  Plata  Mountains.     Most  of 
the  streams  in  these  mountains — all  of  them,  indeed,  except  the 
highest  sources  of  the  Rio  Grande  del   Norte,  and   the  Sag- 
uache, which   falls   into  the  San    Luis   lakes — flow  westward; 
here  are  found  the  Roaring  Fork,  the  Gunnison,  the  Uncom- 
pahgre, the  San  Miguel,  the  Dolores,  and  numerous  affluents  of 
each,  all  tributaries  of  the  Grand  river,  one  of  the  two  constit- 
uents of  the  Rio  Colorado  of  the  West,  and  in  the  extreme 
southwest,  the  Rio  Navajo,  Rio  Blanca,  Rio  Piedra,  Rio  de  los 
^u?°^'  ?'?  ?'^"^^-  ^'°  ^^  '^s  Animas  (a  large  stream),  Rio  la 


v«KM»»i®.--- 


Vi 

.■i ,: 
ill 


■■■;, 


1i!: 


GxD 


oirjf  fVEsrEKi^  EMPritE. 


Plata,  Rio  Mancos  (also  an  important  river),  McEImo,  HoveO' 
weep  and  East  Montezuma  creeks — all  tributaries  of  the  San 
Juan  river,  another  of  the  principal  affluents  of  the  Rio  Colorado. 
This  whole  region  of  Western  and  Southwestern  Colorado,  com- 
posed of  the  spurs  and  outlying  ridges  of  the  westernmost  range 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  is  full  of  veins  and  lodes  of  gold  and 
silver,  and  unless  portions  of  Arizona  may  be  excepted,  there  is 
no  richer  region  for  the  precious  metals  in  the  whole  West.  '  ' ' 
'  But  let  us  go  into  the  mining  history  of  the  State  somewhat 
niore  in  detail.  Gold  was  discovered  in  the  Colorado  Territory, 
not  far  from  Pike's  Peak,  in  1 859 ;  it  was  in  refractory  forms, 
mostly  sulphurets  of  iron  and  gold,  a  pyrites  of  iron  and  gold 
reduced  with  great  difficulty,  though  in  the  placers  there  was 
some  free  gold.  The  production  for  ten  years  after  1859  was 
dn  an  average  about  ^^3,000,000  per  annum,  exceeding  that 
amount  by  $300,000  or  $400,000  each  year  of  the  first  five,  and 
falling  short  of  it  by  about  the  same  nniof  r^  in  the  last  five.. 
All  of  this  product  was  gold  except  about  $330,000  of  silver 
arid  $40,000  in  copper,  both  parted  from  the  gold. 

The  entire  production  of  the  Colorado  mines  and  placers  up 
to  the  close  of  1869  was  estimated  at  $27,583,081,  and  as  it  was 
apparently  diminishing  and  was  difficult  of  reduction,  while  that 
of  Nevada  and  California  was  increasing,  the  population  did  not 
greatly  increase  and  many  of  the  miners  migrated  to  Nevada 
and  elsewhere.  Thus  far  all  the  gold  and  silver  had  been  pro- 
duced either  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  or  at 
kast  on  the  slopes  of  the  front  or  lower  range  and  east  of  the 
Main,  Park,  or  Sangre  de  Christo  range.  But  irt  1870  the  silver 
product  began  to  increase,  moderately  at  first,  bi'.  •-oon  more 
largely.  Lake  county  had  been  among  the  earM^  ;  )!'!  pro- 
ducing counties,  and  its  placers,  though  yielding  from  f  .00,000 
to  $230,000,  yet  seemed  to  be  gradually  dimini$hing,  tilljn  1876, 
they  yielded  but  about  $91,000;  then  came  the  wonderful  dis- 
coveries of  silver  at  Leadville  and  its  vicinity,  arid  the  large  silver 
and  gold  developments  elsewhere.  The  following  tables  show 
first  the  metallic  prodliction  of  the  !$tate  up  to  the  close  of  1879, 
classed  first  as  gold,  silver,  copper  and  lead,  and  total  for  each 


STATISTICS  OF  MINING   TRO DUCTS. 


6t)I 


ktcElmo,  Hoven- 
ries  of  the  San 
le  Rio  Colorado. 
\  Colorado,  com- 
isternmost  range 
Jes  of  gold  and 
ncepted,  there  is 
irhole  West. 
State  somewhat 
lorado  Territory, 
refractory  forms, 
of  iron  and  gold 
lacers  there  was 
s  after  1859  was 
exceeding  that 
the  first  five,  and. 
in  the  last  five. 
j30,ooo  of  silver 
Id. 

s  and  placers  up 
18 1 ,  and  as  it  was 
iction,  while  that 
}pulation  did  not 
rated  to  Nevada 
er  had  been  pro- 
Mountains  or  at 
:  and  east  of  the 
irt  1870  the  silver 
:,  bv'i  soon  more 
lifirMesi;  '  oH  pro- 
igC  from  "  00,000^ 
ihing,  tltUin  1876, 
be  wonderful  dis- 
id  the  large  silver 
wring  tables  show 
the  close  of  1879, 
nd  total  for  each 


year;  and  second  by  counties  in  each  year  since  1870,  so  far  as 
they  have  been  officially  reported. 

COLORADO'S  MINIMG  PRODUCT  PRIOR  TO  1880. 


Ymr. 

Gold. 

SlLVM. 

CuPfMI. 

Lbad. 

Total. 

PrrvioiM  10  laTo  .... 

#97.9i],o8i  00 
i-.fioafiao  00 
9,000,000  00 
1,795,000  00 
l,7)tvoaa  oo 
9,009,487  00 
9,161,475  09 
9,796,315  89 

3.148.707  S« 

3.490.3*4  3« 
5,700,000  00 

|j30,ooo  00 
650^000  00 
1,099,046  34 
1,015,000  00 
t,i85/xio  00 
3,096,093  00 

3,I99«I9  00 

3.3>5,59*  00 
3.7»«.379  33 
6.341. I07  ll 
13,100,000  oo 

f40,o(»  00 

90,000  00 

30.000  oo 
«/JOO  00 

65,000  00 
90,197  00 

90,000  00 

70,000  00 

93.79664 

l9,ouo  00 
150,000  oo 

15,000  00 
98,000  00 

73.67600 

On,ooo  00 
Bo,ooo  00 

947,400  00 

«36«J4  73 
899.584  61 

>»7.5*3.o8>  00 
9,670,000  00 
3.059.046  34 
3.790,000  00 
4,098,000  00 
5,969,383  00 
5. 134.387  o« 
6,191,907  8:1 
7.»'6,98t  J3 
10,558,116  oo 

•9.679,584  «l 

'Sn 

Mfl 

1894    

;gJ:::-:::::::::::: 

ig;;;;--;;::;;;: 

Tolol 

IS3«>7.4SO  7* 

f 38,91 1,760  43 

#789^93  64 

y  1,960,584  34 

#95.47».79o  99 

!;. 


..,1.   ) 


.111 


COLORADO'S  MINING  PRODUCT  BY  COUNTIES.  1870-71-72-73. 


Namis. 


Gilpin 

Clear  Creek 

I^ke 

Park 

Boulder 

Summit 

Other  Products.. .. 

Total  of  Colorado 


1870. 


Si.5 


,5S«.o 
481,3 


,ocm  00 

35408 
1 35,000  00 
60,000  oo 
130,000  00 
I5o,«oo  00 
171,645  92 


^2,670,645  9a 


1871. 


#1,400,000  00 
869/>46  34 
100,000  00 
100.000  00 
250,000  00 
66/100  00 
274,000  00 


I3.0S9/J46  34 


•873. 


11,389,289  00 

1,503.29'  00 
133,000  00 
250,000  00 
346,540  00 
135.000  00 
50,000  00 


f  3,790/x»  00 


1873. 


11,340,502  00 
1,205,761  00 
230,000  00 
459,000  00 
390,000  00 
106,000  00 
2^.737  00 


$4,028fioo  oo 


jiU  liii':  ,r.oij  jHiK  tMt>^^  |^k>  i'muu^xi-x-;  K-.nu   :.w  t.^  ■    .i^      ...» 
COLORADO'S  MINING  PRODUCT  BY  COUNTIES,  1874-'7B-'76. 


"        ^  COUHTIIS. 

-  5     f 
1  I  I  'I      >""     '         ■.!■«■       )li|.i»»—   «i.    '     i 

Clear  CTeek,..a,.^Lf,4..4...3*Mr^', 

Gilpin ...v.. ;.... 

JPwk , 

boulder 

Lakie., 

Summit 

fVCmont.. 

The  San  Juan  Region, 

Other  sources  and  unaccounted  for. 

.''-i-i'-^t^iBlk...' 


«874- 


#8,903.047  «> 

«.53».863  00 
S96,39«oo 
539,870  00 
323,503  00 

.  I36,ic»  00 


40,620  00 


I5.362.383  00 


1875. 


f  1 ,780,054  3» 
1,520,677  13 
716,258  63 
6or  "^  .'>  00 
u  «58  63 
122413  7« 
294,827  58 
90,517  24 
200,380  55 


»S.434.387  02 


1876. 


11,983,548  28 

2.105,544  78 

550,044  84 

547,085  20 

90,900  00 

350,000  00 

251,121  06 

244,663  66 

70,000  00 


16,191,907  82 


I 


Kfc&tf.iS£L3U!i.:&bfO&VJi?«<%fiSgaitfP 


■■  -acS^'-" 


..  Miitft  rtM|-  irili'  ri  'i' 


U' 


5(53  OUJf    H'ESTEJt!^  EMP/KK. 

COLORADO'S  MINING  PRODUCT  BY  COUNTIES,  1877 -'78-79. 


(.nfurillH. 

( — __ 

I   l.-iUe 

(jilptn 

Clcitr  deck 

I   Houlder 

I  ('u»Ier 

Hnrk 

Gunniaon 

I  Summit 

I  Chaffee 

The  San  Juan  Region, 

Oiher  sources 

Totals 


1877. 


»5SS.33o  30 
a,3o8,oj7  09 
a,ao6,577  91 

593.3*5  35 
354,081  34 

6i'>459  32 
190,000  00 

377^72  5» 
118,000  00 


17,216,383  53 


1I71. 


I3>IS'>9>5  44 

8,JB0,90I    II 

a,5ii,ios  85 
679,133  50 
453,500  00 
436,698  00 

330,774  00 

534,089  00 
300,000  00 


110,558,116  90 


i«79. 


113,033,808  61 
3,608,055  00 

1,913410  OC 

800,000  00 
730,000  00 

434,749  00 
300,000  00 
295.7 « 7  00 

71,240  00 
483,500  00 

13,940  00 


*  1 9.679.5*4  61 


i 


The  firsi  of  these  tables  is  remarkable  as  showing  the  won- 
derful development  of  silver  production  in  the  last  ten  years, 
and  especially  in  the  last  five  or  six  years.  The  carbonate  silver 
lodes  of  Leadville  and  its  vicinity,  and  the  silver  production  in 
other  counties  in  1879  brought  the  aggregate  of  silver  product 
to  $13,100,000,  and  will  probably  bring  it  to  j^  17,000,000  or 
$18,000,000  the  present  year.  Meanwhile,  the  production  of 
gold  is  not  only  not  diminishing,  but  last  year  was  almost  double 
what  it  had  previously  been,  and  the  present  year  will  probably 
advance  still  more  rapidly.  Gold  production  has  passed  through 
three  successive  stages  ia  Colorado.  From  1859  to  1869  it  was 
obtained  very  largely  from  placer  deposits;  and  later  from 
hydraulic  mining,  which  is  only  placer  mining  on  a  larger  scale ; ' 
then  came  the  era  of  the  sulphurets  of  gold  and  iron,  and  the 
tellurides,  refractory  ores,  but  rich  in  gold  ;  now  the  mines  of  the 
San  Juan  region  (the  counties  of  Hinsdale,  San  Juan,  Ouray,  and 
La  Plata)  as  well  as  those  of  the  Gunnison,  so  far  as  they  are 
gold,  are  mostly  free-milling  gold,  easily  extracted,  and  yielding 
large  amounts  to  the  ton  of  ore ;  the  mines  of  Silver  Cliff  and 
Rosita,  in  Custer  county,  so  far  as  they  yield  gold,  which  many 
of  them  do,  differ  from  all  the  other  gold  mines  of  the  State,  but 
are  not  specially  difficult  of  reduction.  The  mining  product  of 
Colorado  seems  likely  to  be,  when  it  shall  be  well  developed,  of 
nearly  equal  values  of  gold  and  silver ;  while  its  mines  of  copper, 
lead,  zinc,  iron,  and  coal  are  of  great  and  constantly  increasing 


■MM 


,  I877-'7S.79. 

•  «79 

5  44 

112,032,808  61 

1  II 

2,608,055  00 

5  85 

1,913410  OC 

3  50 

800,000  00 

0  00 

720,000  00 

8  00 

434.749  00 
300,000  00 

4  00 

295,717  00 
71,240  00 

9  00 

483.500  00 

0  00 

12,940  00 

6  90 

*  •9.679.5*4  61 

aauirM,^.tMti' 


ihowing  the  won- 
le  last  ten  years, 
e  carbonate  silver 
/er  production  in 
of  silver  product 
3  $17,000,000  or 
le  production  of; 
i'as  almost  double 
ear  will  probably 
IS  passed  through 
59  to  1869  it  was 
and  later  from 
on  a  larger  scale  ; ' 
ind  iron,  and  the 
V  the  mines  of  the 
Juan,  Ou!ray,  and 
;o  far  as  they  are 
:ted,  and  yielding 
r  Silver  Cliff  and 
gold,  which  many 
>  of  the  State,  but 
nining  product  of  ! 
^ell  developed,  of  ' 
s  mines  of  copper, 
stantly  increasing 


M/AT/XG    TOPOGRAPHY.  ($53 

vblue.  Nevada,  a  much  older  Stat6.  has  produced  much  more 
nilvcr  thus  far,  but,  with  her  rapid  and  scientific  development, 
and  hor  wide  diffusion  of  the  precious  metals  (the  western  half 
of  the  State  being  a  vast  series  of  ore  beds),  Colorado  bids  fair 
within  twenty  years  to  pass  her  sister  of  the  "  snowy  plume."  / 
■  The  Gunnison  region,  though  but  little  explored  as  yet,  gives 
promise  of  immense  mineral  wealth,  as  does  also  the  whole  of 
the  San  Juan  country,  and,  when  the  Ute  reservation  is  opened 
to  settlers  under  the  new  treaty,  there  will  be  such  an  abundance 
of  mineral  wealth  that  the  old  story  will  be  revived,  "  that  the 
miners  are  completely  discouraged,  because  they  have  to  dig 
through  four  feet  of  solid  silver  to  get  down  to  the  gold."  < 

Let  us  take  another  glance  at  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  State 
from  the  topographical  point  of  view.  The  only  part  of  the 
State  which  has  noL,  up  to  the  present  time,  given  indications  of 
deposits  of  the  precious  metals,  is  the  region  lying  east  of  the 
meridian  of  105®  west  from  Greenwich,  and  extending  eastward 
to  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  State  on  the  lozd  meridian. 
This  embraces  the  large  grazing  and,  to  some  extent,  farming 
counties  of  Weld,  Arapahoe,  Elbert,  Bent  and  Las  Animas,  as 
well  as  parts  of  Huerfano,  Pueblo,  El  Paso  and  Douglas,  and 
small  fractions  of  Fremont  and  Larimer.  It  is  about  three- 
sevenths  of  the  State,  and  is  a  part  of  the  great  plateau  or  plain 
which  extends  with  a  very  gradual  slope  to  the  Missouri  river, 
and  includes  the  whole  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  There  are 
not  as  yet  any  manifestations  of  mineral  wealth  in  Costilla 
county,  which  includes  the  great  San  Luis  Park,  and  is  largely 
inhabited  by  Mexicans,  nor  very  much  in  Conejos,  both  counties 
being  largely  inhabited  by  Mexicans.  But  the  whole  region 
west  of  the  105th  parallel,  except  the  two  counties  named,  is  « 
congeries  of  mountains,  all  or  nearly  all  of  which  are  rich  In  golci 
silver,  copper  and  lead.  -  .v»«,,  .  r,Tr-.„  *,».  ^r  .,vtv.  \t^.,-,^A-...A 
fK,"A  belt,"  says  Mr.  Fo6sett,  "showing  but  slight  interruptkmst 
has  been  traced  from  the  North  Park  and  the  northern  part  of 
Boulder  county,  south  through  Gilpin  and  Clear  Creek,  thence 
southwesterly  through  Summit,  Park,  Lake  Chaffee,  and  into 
Gunnison  county.      It  approaches  the  point  where  the  great 


% 
% 


''^IS&viiUs«-^fc*flWAi«»«wa'»*^'^" 


J 


5- 

r 


t  ( 


5S^  OUk    WBSTSMJV  EMNME. 

Sawatdh  (Saguache)  or  main  range  divides  into  the  Sangre  de 
Christo  on  the  southeast,  and  the  San  Juan  Mountains  on  the 
southwest.  The  belt  appears  at  intervals  in  each  of  these  moun- 
tain systems  or  their  outlying  spurs  and  valleys  down  to  the 
New  Mexico  boundary,  and  across  it. 

'  "In  the  San  Juan  Mountains,  which  form  the  Continental 
Divide  in  the  south,  it  is  rich  in  silver  veins,  extending  all 
through  the  counties  of  Hinsdale,  San  Juan  and  Ouray.  Gold 
is  also  found  there,  as  well  as  in  Rio  Grande  county.  The  gold 
and  silver  bearing  deposits  of  the  Sierra  Mojada  and  of  the  hills 
and  valleys  skirting  the  Sangre  de  Christo  range  are  fast  bring- 
ing Custer  county  into  notoriety. 

"  The  Sawatrh  (Saguache)  range  extends  from  the  point  of 
union  of  the  more  southerly  mountain  systems  northward  to  the 
Mount  of  the  Holy  Cross  and  the  headwaters  of  the  Arkansas, 
and  IS  but  another  name  for  a  portion  of  the  main  Rocky  Moun- 
tain divide.  It  forms  the  dividing  line  between  Gunnison  county 
and  Chaffee  and  Lake  counties,  and  also  separates  Summit  from 
the  latter.  Rich  mineral  discoveries  have  been  and  are  still 
being  made  on  both  its  eastern  and  western  slopes,  silver  being 
the  predominating  metal.      .olrHu'l  ,oni5h->ufl  u>   '^^r.^  ^'/i  lf>v/ 

•9  « East  of  this,  and  of  the  upper  Arkansas  valley,  is  the  Park 
range  of  mountains,  separating  the  latter  from  South  Park,  and 
uniting  with  the  main  range  at  Mount  Lincoln.  This,  with  its 
fiiot-hills,  is  enormously  productive.  On  the  western  slope  are 
tltte  world-renowned  carbonate  deposits  and  veins  of  Leadville, 
immeasurably  rich  in  silver  and  lead,  and  the  gold  veins  and 
aHuvial  deposits  of  California  Gulch.  On  the  range  itself  and 
its  eastern'  slopes  are  vast  numbers  of  deposits  and  veins.  Sil- 
ver predominates  ther«,  %mx.  gold,  copper  and  lead  are  mined. 
Down  in  the  park  are  gold  placer  mines."  ^-y--^ ' 

Northward  extends  the  main  range  which,  all  along  its  cdO^i! 
between  Summit  and  Crand  cduntite  on  t!he  western  slope  and 
l^rk.  Clear  Creek,  Gilpin,  and  Soulder  on  the  east,  is  more  or 
less  rich  in  silver  veins.  Its  extending  fdot-hills  possess  veins 
and  alluvial  deposits  rich  in  gold.  The  oii^lying  mountain  spurs, 
hills  and  gulches  are  also  ribbed  with  hidtalliferous  veins,  some 


,(y«.-..vi/V.  t^--  'i^BJ'Vm.  ..;<>f^.... 


the  Sangre  de 

untains  on  thr 

of  these  moun- 

yrs  down  to  the 

:he  Continental 
extending    all 

d  Ouray.  Gold 
nty.  The  gold 
and  of  the  hilU 

e  are  fast  bring- 

m  rti*  pbffft  of 
lorthward  to  the 
>f  the  Arkansas, 
in  Rocky  Moun- 
jiunnison  county 
:es  Summit  from 
:n  and  are  still 
5es,  silver  being 

illey,  is  the  Park 
South  Park,  and 
I.  This,  with  its 
estern  slope  are 
ins  of  Leadville, 

gold  veins  and 
range  itself  and 

and  veins.  Sil- 
lead  are  mined. 

along  its  course 

stern  slope  and 

east,  is  more  or 

Is  possess  veins 

mountain  sptrrs, 

rous  veins,  sotne 


MOUNTAINS  FULL   OF  GOLD  AND  SIL  VKK.  (J^J 

producing  silver  and  copper,  others  silver  and  lead,  and  others 
gold  and  silver,  with  one  or  both  of  the  baser  metals.  Close 
beside  each  other,  on  tiiis  eastern  slope,  are  the  famous  mining 
districts  of  Clear  Creek  and  Gilpin.  The  latter  has  produced 
most  of  Colorado's  gold,  and  the  former  gave  mucii  the  larger 
part  of  its  silver  for  years,  up  to  the  time  when  Leadville  came 
to  the  front.  Both  counties,  however,  have  gold  and  silver 
mines,  and  so  has  Boulder,  whose  telluride  veins,  carrying  the 
precious  metals,  are  something  rarely  encountered  elsewhere. 
Ouray,  and  indeed  all  the  San  juan  counties,  and  Gunnison, 
possess  rich  deposits  of  botli  metals,  and  will  henceforth  take  a 
prominent  place  among  the  gold  and  silver  producing  counties. 

Westward,  over  among  the  mountains  and  valleys  of  Summit, 
Grand,  and  Routt  counties,  are  numerous  argentiferous  and 
galena  veins  and  gold-producing  gulches  and  placers.  Some  of 
these  have  been  worked  for  years,  and  others  are  of  recent  dis- 
covery, such  as  those  of  the  "Ten  Mile  Range."  Some  are  in- 
cluded in  the  great  Ute  Reservation,  and  cannot  be  explored  or 
wrought  until  the  recent  treaty,  which  will  open  this  vast  tract 
to  the  market,  is  fully  setded. 

The  great  central  mineral  belt  of  Colorado  has  a  width  of 
from  twenty  to  eighty  miles,  but  often  branches  off  to  the  right  or 
loft,  and  again  contracts,  so  that  the  breadth  is  by  no  means  uni- 
form. Continued  discoveries  indicate  that  its  extent  is  not  yet 
ascertained.  It  is  impossible  to  make  anything  like  a  close  esti- 
jriate  of  the  wealth  that  lies  imbedded  in  these  mountains,  where 
constant  developments  show  that  only  the  beginning  of  it  has  yet 
been  found. 

Let  us  then  briefly  pass  in  review  the  mining  counties,  and 
classify  as  far  as  we  mi^y  tHeir  mifieital  wealth. 

We  begin  with    -;!:   •■■r-  h-'v-.V'  f-vf  m/;;:^ '--rv ■!''  " -r*'-! 

Boulder  county,  as  the  first  in  which  gold  was  discovered  as 
early  as  185S.  Boulder  county  is  not  Only  rich  in  mineral  wealth 
but  possesses  a  large  amount  of  fertile  lands  under  a  high  state 
of,  cultivation.  Its  combination  of  mountain,  valley  and  plain 
renders  it  admirably  adapted  to  farming  and  horticulture  as  well 
as  to  mining,  while  its  mineral  deposits  are  of  great  extent  and 


"iu 


I 


^i 


mmmimmmtm 


666 


OVM    tFESTMJtJV   EMriRE. 


W 


11..'     - 


variety.  Flourishing  towns  and  beautiful  Tarnis  dot  its  surface, 
and  mines  and  mills  are  profitably  operatt^d  all  over  the  moun- 
tain sections,  from  the  sunny  plains  at  Houldcr  back  to  the  snow- 
barren  summit  of  the  snowy  range.  On  the  plains  are  extensive 
coal  measures,  and  on  hill-slope  and  in  valley  are  rich  and  pleas- 
ant farms.  The  mineral  deposits  of  Uouldcr  arc  very  extensive, 
and  embrace  a  wonderful  variety.  First,  there  are  alluvial 
deposits  in  creeks  and  gulches,  but  these  are  of  limited  extent 
and  mosdy  worked  out.  The  gold  anu  silver  lode  veins  and 
the  coal  measures  are  the  main  sources  of  mineral  wealth.  The 
former  are  located  on  the  mountains  and  the  latter  on  the  nlain.s. 
The  lode  veins  may  be  classed  under  three  heads :  silver,  gold 
and  telluride;  the  latter  carrying  both  metals.  They  are  gen- 
erally of  the  kind  denominated  true  fissure  veins,  very  many  oii' 
them  having  well-defined  walls,  and  seemingly  unending  depth. 
They  commonly  occur  either  in  gneiss  or  granite  rock  or  between 
the  two.  There  are  exceptions,  however,  in  regard  to  forma- 
tion, regularity  and  continuity.  Several  thousands  of  locations 
have  been  recorded,  and  the  number  profitably  worked  is  large. 
Here,  as  in  California,  the  placer  deposits  were  first  worked,  but 
some  large  gold-bearing  lodes  were  discovered  as  early  as 
1859-60,  and  the  quartz  mills  for  several  years  turned  out  a 
great  deal  of  bullion.  After  a  time  more  difficulty  was  experi- 
enced in  reducing  the  ores  and  extracting  the  gold  than  was 
usua^  with  free  gold  ores  in  other  counties.  Many  processes 
were  devised  of  reducing  these  refractory  ores,  but  none  of  them 
were  very  successful.  In  1869  silver  ores  were  discovered  near 
Arapahoe  peak,  in  and  about  what  has  since  bieen  known  as  the 
Caribou  mine.  This  has  proved  one  of  the  most  uniformly  pro- 
ductive silver  mines  in  Colorado  for  the  past  ten  years.  Many 
other  silver  mines  have  been  opened  on  the  same  or  adjacent 
veins. 

The  prospectors  searching  for  new  gold  or  silver  lodes  in 
1871,  1872  and  1873  often  encountered  mineral  of  great  weighi 
but  of  a  peculiar  appearance,  which  they  passed  over  as  worth-> 
less.  In  1873  Professor  J.  Alden  Smith  and  others  began  to 
test  this  mineral  and  found  it  to  be  tellurides  of  gold  and  silver, 


■i« 


t  .ipVttCC^f  ^  •«.  4i*K4*  A»«  ■ 


clot  its  surface, 
over  the  moiin- 
ck  to  the  snow- 
ns  are  extenHive 
rich  and  pleas- 
very  exLensive, 
lerc   are   alluvial 
■  limited  extent 
lode  veins  and 
■al  wealth.    The 
r  on  the  nlains. 
ids :  silver,  gold 
They  are  gen  ■ 
s,  very  many  oii* 
unending  depth, 
rock  or  between 
egard  to  forma- 
nds  of  locations 
worked  is  large, 
first  worked,  but 
■ed   as   early  as 
rs  turned  out  a 
ulty  was  experi- 
z  gold  tlian  was 
Many  processes 
)ut  none  of  them 
discovered  near 
en  known  as  the 
it  uniformly  pro- 
n  years.     Many 
ime  or  adjacent 

silver  lodes  in 
of  great  weight 

over  as  worth- 
>thers  began  to 
gold  and  silver, 


GOLD  ASli  Xtl.  VKK  IN  GlLriN  COUNTY.  ||» 

and  especially  the  former,  and  that  it  was  renuirkalily  rich  In 
gold.  The  combination  of  tellurium  with  gold  prevented  Its 
yielding  well  in  the  stamp  mills,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to 
smelt  the  ores.  Hy  smelting  they  were  found  ver)-  profitabie^ 
With  the  exception  of  one  mine  each  in  Calitbmia,  Mf)ntana  and 
North  Carolina,  the  telluridc  compounds  oi  the  precious  mrtalt 
are  only  found  in  Boulder  county.  They  are  somewhat  difficult 
to  reduce,  and  only  in  Colorado  and  in  Uoulder  county  ha'i  their 
working  been  found  profitable.  The  tellurium  itself  has  no 
economic  value,  and  many  of  its  compounds  are  intensely  poison- 
ous and  fcetid.  The  silver  mines  have  proved  profitable.  The 
amounts  of  gold  and  silver  taken  iron  the  mines  of  Boulder  are: 
of  gold  about  two-thirds,  silver  one-third,  in  value.  There  are 
eight  mining  districts,  viz. .  Caribou  or  Nederland,  Boulder, 
Ward,  Gold  Hill,  Central,  Orodelfan,  Salina  and  Sugar  Loaf. 
The  actual  production  of  gold  and  silver  in  the  county  in  1878, 
was  $704,123.50;  that  of  1879  about  ;|^8cx),ooo.  The  coal  mines 
of  Boulder  county  are  lignites  of  the  tertiary  period,  but  are  of 
excellent  quality  though  not  coking  coals. 

Gilpin  county  is  the  smallest  county  in  the  State,  and  is  mainly 
important  for  its  mines,  though  it  has  some  good  farming  and 
grazing  lands,  and  some  which  arc  of  very  litde  value.  It  lies 
directly  south  of  Boulder,  and  is  bounded  by  that  county,  Jef- 
ferson, Clear  Creek  and  Grand.  Most  f  its  population  is  con- 
centrated in  Central  City,  Black  Hawk  an  i  Nevadaville,  while  a 
few  are  gathered  in  Smith's  Hill,  Empire  City  and  Lawson's. 
The  remainder  of  the  county  consists  of  farms  and  scattering 
mining  camps.  The  gold  belt  of  Gilpin  county  is  a  continuation 
of  that  in  Boulder,  and  extends  into  Clear  Creek  county  south 
of  it,  crossing  the  county  diagonally.  Its  greatest  development 
and  most  valuable  deposits  are  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
almost  continuous  city  known  under  the  names  of  Black  Hawk, 
Central  City  and  Nevadaville,  though  there  are  some  valuable 
gold  lodes  outside  of  this.  These  mines  have  proved  very  rich, 
though  owing  to  the  combination  of  iron  and  sulphur  with  the 
gold,  there  lias  until  within  a  few  years  been  a  difficulty  in 
reducing  them.    The  new  silver  belt  in  the  county  extends  to  the 


I 


I 

i 


iiaiik* 


M« 


WhSlMlfi^   f-MfiitM. 


'\1 


north  and  northwent  of  RIack  Hawk,  acroM  North  Clear  Crnek 
ami  uthci  hilU  (i.m  York  (*uldi  to  the  {)'A'^  Milt.  Some  uf  tiic 
•iJvcr  iuiick  here  rank  with  the  iK'ot  in  tin*  State.  1  he  pruUuctiun 
oC  Um:  preciouk  metaU  U'^^an  in  (Wlpin  county  in  1859,  and  has 
atcaciiJy  increaHcil  in  v;ilue,  except  in  1K61  and  1866,  to  tint 
pruncnt  time.  More  than  $yji,ooo,ooo  of  |{old  and  tiilvor  Iwve 
been  producf.il  in  ilie  county  in  that  timt;.  'I'lu:  yield  in  1H78 
wan  $3,280,871.  and  in  1879,  $2,608,159.  Of  tliit  ahuut  nine- 
tcntha  is  |;old,  ei^ht  per  cent,  silver,  and  tiie  remainder  copper 
and  lead.  The  ores  are  not  rich,  but  for  tlu;  most  part  arc  now 
easily  reduced.  Most  of  them  are  treated  by  the  stamp  mill 
processes,  though  a  few  of  them  arc  more  readily  and  protitaUy 
reduced  by  the  smelter,  tilt;  urn  i^/i;.,  .^-ImiJi  ..//i  jLif«Ii.  l.lfs>  ii 
,  No  other  county  in  the  State  has  ^ivcn  so  uniform  and  ample 
returns  in  gold  mining  as  Gilpin,  and  recent  developments,  both 
in  gold  and  silver  lodeti,  give  good  reason  to  believe  that  its 
past  production  will  very  80on  be  doubled  and  perhaps  quad- 
rupled. The  richest  gold  lock's  on  Quartz  Hill  and  elsewhere 
are  being  consolidated,  and  contrary  to  usual  experience  are 
found  to  yitild  more  largely  the  deeper  they  go.  At  a  thousand 
feet  depth  the  ore  is  very  rich.  ThciC  arr  now  in  the  county 
over  1,000  stamps  and  all  are  kept  busy.  Th(;  mines  arc  splen- 
didly equipped,  have  a  large  capital,  and  the  universal  practice 
luivi  is,  to  have  large  reserves  of  ore  constantly  on  the  dump,  so 
as  to  avoid  stripping  the  miae  at  any  time  of  ore.  In  1878  and 
A  879,  new  discoveries  of  silver  ore  were  made  of  exceptional 
richness,  yielding  %t  the  rate  of  several  thoKsand  dollars  to 
the  ton.  ao  1;  »».i  yifintoj  niqlii )  k>  ll'xJ  bloj  oilT  .ftnai/i)  vninin; 
i\yPear  Cr0«k  icouuty  includes  the  region  drained  by  South  Gear 
creek,  south  and  southwest  of  Gilpin,  and  bounded  by  that 
county  on  tlxe  north,  Jefferson  county  on  the  east.  Park  on  tlv; 
south,  and  Summit  and  Grand  on  the  west.  The  western  part 
of  the  county  is  covered  with  lofty  mountains  rising  to  a  height 
of  I  i/xw  to  14,000  feet.  There  are  twelve  or  fifteen  of  thes«: 
summits,  spurs  of  the  Colorado  Front  Range,  and  the  streams 
whigh  descend  from  their  snowiclad  heights  cut  deep  cafions 
and  long:  narrow  valleys  and  ravines,  which  are  ribbed  with  veins 


MMMMH 


.st*-x' 


til  Clear  Crrck 
Sonif  uf  Ui« 
1  he  prtKluction 
>K59,  and  has 
i  1866.  to  tli<^ 
Aiui  silver  lutve 
yii.Ul  in  1S78 
lit  ahuut  ninc- 
naindcr  copper 
St  part  arc  now 
the  Ntamp  mill 
and  profitably 

orm  and  ample 

.lopmenis,  both 

believe  tluit  its 

perhaps  quad- 

and  elncwhere 

experience  are 

At  a  thouHand 

V  in  the  county 

nines  are  splcn- 

liversal  practice 

:>n  the  dump,  so 

i.     In  1878  and 

I  of  exceptional 

land  dollars  to 

by  South  Clear 
mnded  by  that 
it.  Park  on  tht^ 
he  western  part 
injf  to  a  height 
fifteen  of  thes*; 
nd  the  streams 
It  deep  canons 
bbeU  with  veins 


s/irMM  m  an  AH  ckmmk  county.  Mp 

of  ailvrr.  In  thrnr  valleys  m()%t  of  thr  inliabitint*  of  the  county 
httv*  their  dwcllin^-plut  rs.  C  li'4r  C  retk  county,  until  thn  recent 
womlrrful  dis(()v«ri(*!i  at  l.radviile,  was  conhidcrrd  die  licHt 
known  and  licnt  (loveU)(K;d  mlver  district  in  CoUirudo.  Mining 
for  ^old  commenced  there  in  1KJ9,  and  the  firiit  silver  discovtry 
was  madi'  late  in  1H64  on  McClcllan  Mountain.  At  first  tlic  Hil- 
ver  ores  could  not  be  re  Uieed  in  the  county,  and  it  was  not  till 
1K6H  that  smelting  was  carried  on  to  any  ^rvi^<  exti:nt  in  the 
county.  Since  1H71  the  annual  prmluct  has  avera^^ed  f  2,cxx).ooo, 
reachiny^  1^2,306,578  in  1S77  ;  $2.51 1,106  in  187H,  and  falling  '>(f 
to  $1,913,410  in  1H79.  About  nine-tenths  of  this  was  silver  and 
tl>e  remainder  gold,  lead,  and  copper,  die  value  of  the  two  base 
metals  nearly  equalling  that  of  die  ^Kl.  There  is  a  probability 
of  an  increase  in  the  gold  production  in  the  future,  as  the  I'Veo 
land,  I  lukill  and  some  other  lodes,  carrying  gold,  silver  and  cop- 
per in  nearly  equal  quantities,  have  now  come  into  the  posses- 
sion of  an  energetic  and  wealthy  California  company  which  is 
driving  them  forward  to  their  utmost  limit  of  production.  Many 
of  the  silver  mines,  especially  those  on  Sherman,  Republican, 
Democrat  and  Brown  Mountains,  arc  yielding  very  large  quan- 
tities of  silver  ores  which  arc  easily  reduced.  Tht-re  are  eight 
extensive  reduction  mills  and  works  in  the  county,  six  of  them 
in  Georgetown.  ( 

Lake  County  and  LiadvilU. — I^ke  county  is  not  new  as  a  gold- 
producing  region.  In  i860  Gilpin  county  miners  had  penetrated 
there  and  found  rich  gold  placers  in  a  ravine  which  they  i^med 
California  Gulch.  So  abundant  was  the  yield  of  gold  and  so 
easily  and  rapidly  was  it  washed  out  that  claims  were  staked 
out  in  a  continuous  line  for  the  whole  length  of  the  gulch,  about 
33,000  feet  or  six  miles.  At  one  point  the  hills  which  bordered 
the  ravine  partially  broke  away,  and  the  trade  of  the  mining  vil* 
lage,  which  soon  had  about  5,000  inhabitants,  partly  concentrated 
at  this  point,  which  was  called  Old  Oro.  This  is  partly  on  the 
site  of  the  Leadville  of  to-day.  Another  centre  of  trade  was 
two  and  a  half  miles  farther  up  the  gulch  and  is  still  known  as 
Oro.  The  water  supply  was  limited,  and  the  site  was  so  ele- 
vated, over  10,000  feet  above  the  sea,  that  little  could  be  done 


MM 


i«»KS«arwir8i»,-^Vi»' 


i*i 


I  I 


\ 


\ 


5^  OVA    tfMMIMI/^   MMfiMg, 

in  placer  mininf;  from  the  micldlt*  of  OctotMr  to  May  or  June. 
The  {(reaier  ynxn  of  the  inincrit  went  to  Diiivcr  or  to  tlu-  SiatcN 
on  thr  approach  ol  winter,  and  »ta)u«t  till  tiur  next  Huiiinicr,  iiiott 
uf  them  nquantlcrioK  their  gninn  before  their  return. 

Hut  the  placer*  were  very  rich.  Some  claim*  yieidcti  over  A 
thouHand  doilarn  a  day,  ami  one  firm  wax  Haid  to  have  taken  out 
$\oofioo  in  xixty  days.  Careful  CMtintaten  )(ivc  |; i ,cxx),(xx)  nn 
the  yield  of  tite  first  «ummrr,  and  |i4,ooo,ocx}  as  the  production 
of  the  Hix  yearn  ending;  with  December,  1S65.  SubHctpient  to 
that  date  the  production  wuk  li^ht — |iicx),ooo  or  so  for  a  year 
or  two— dwindling  to  %to,oao  in  1H69,  and  to  flao,cxx>  in  1876. 

Meantime  placer  and  lode  mines  had  lieen  duv(;loped  in  other 
partH  of  the  county,  and  some  gold  lodm  were  discovered  near 
Old  Oro.  At  Ctranitc,  seventeen  inilen  away,  and  now  the 
county-seat  of  Chaffee  county,  somr  ^'old  was  discovered,  and  at 
Homestake,  thirty  miles  nortli,  on  the  Tennessee  fork  of  the 
Arkansas  river,  mines  were  opened,  which  were  at  first  rich  it 
lead  but  poor  in  silver.  In  all  up  to  1873  the  mines  and  placers 
of  Lake  county  had  yielded  about  $6,400,000,  almost  entirely 
Ifold.  After  that  time,  for  three  years  tKo  yield  was  li^ht.  a  part 
of  it  silver,  and  up  to  the  close  or  76  only  amounted  to 
$343,200.  I. 

Some  time  in  1874  Messrs.  VV.  H.  Stevens  and  A.  B.  Wood, 
practical  men  and  experienced  miners,  had  bought  up  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  California  Gulch  placer  claims,  which 
had  been  carelessly  and  imperfectly  worked,  and  commenced 
building  a  twelve-mile  ditch  from  the  headwaters  of  the  Arkansas, 
to  re-work  them  by  the  hydraulic  process,  i  his  required  con- 
siderable time,  and  the  ditches  and  hydraulic  apparatus  were 
not  ready  till  1878.  But  Messrs.  Stevens  and  Wood  were  too 
shrewd  to  let  any  chances  of  bettering  themselves  pass.  The 
placer  miners  had  from  the  beginning  complained  of  the  great 
weight  of  the  boulders  they  were  obliged  to  move  over  and 
over  in  the  creek,  but  it  had  never  occurred  to  them  that  these 
boulders  might  owe  their  weight  to  their  metallic  constituents. 
Messrs.  Stevens  and  Wood  ascertained  that  these  boulders  con* 
ouned  a  large  amount  of  carbonate  of  lead  carrying  silver,  and 


'  i 


to  May  or  June. 

or  to  ilu-  SiatcN 

xt  HutnnK:r,  inott 

turn. 

yielded  over  a 

Imvr  taken  out 

V  |l  I  ,cKX),(xx)  an 

the  production 

SuhHe<|uent  to 

or  so  for  a  year 

ao.cxx)  in  1876. 

v(!lo|)cd  in  other 

discovered  near 

y,  and    now  the 

incovered,  and  at 

s»ec  fork  of  the 

re  at  first  rich  it 

nines  and  placers 

3,  almost  entirely 

1  waH  li^ht,  a  part 

nly  amounted  to 

and  A.  B.  Wood, 
)ought  up  a  con- 
cer  claimH,  which 

and  commenced 
s  of  the  Arkansas, 
his  reciuired  con- 
:  apparatus  were 
1  Wood  were  too 
elves  pass.  The 
incd  of  the  great 

move  over  and 
0  them  that  these 
allic  constituents, 
ese  boulders  con* 
rrying  silver,  and 


Iff  A  aiOMi  Of  iAAPy/LLi(.  ^1 

very  quietly  secured  government  titles  to  nlni!  rlaimii,  earh  com- 
prising i,S(X)  iect  l>y  3(X),  or  in  all  alxiut  hx)  uitch,  truNsing 
Califontu  (iulih  and  extemling  high  up  011  the  liilU.  The  names 
of  the  princi|>al  loraiiomt  made  by  them  \«<rc-  the  Dome,  the 
Rock,  htcme,  l.ime,  Hull's  ICyc  ami  Iron,  ihe  "Kock"  claim 
was  first  worked,  and  proved  to  Ik?  rich  in  lead  but  poor  in  siN 
ver.  Soon  others  located  claims,  and  considerable,  activity  in 
mining  began. 

As  yt,  however,  there  were  no  great  di»roveries  of  silver 
to  attract  people  to  the  as  yet  unnamed  site  of  the  great  sib'cr 
city.  I'hc  agent  of  tiie  .St.  Louis  Smelting  and  Ketining  Com- 
pany  in  April,  1877,  commenced  the  establishment  of  sampling 
works  in  wliat  is  now  l.cadville,  and  in  May  began  the  erection  of  a 
smelter,  and  by  October  had  a  blast  furnace  in  o|ieration.  .So 
doubtful  was  hu  of  success,  that  he  mtule  a  contract  before 
the  smelter  was  completed  with  Messrs,  Stevens  and  Wood  for 
the  delivery  of  a  thousand  tons  of  their  lead  on:  from  the  Roc  k 
mine.  Before  this  was  entirely  delivered,  so  many  discoveries 
had  been  made,  and  such  development  of  mines  had  taken  place, 
that  the  only  difficulty  experienced  in  both  the  sampling  and 
smelting  work  was  that  of  handling  the  rich  ores  which  were 
forced  upon  them.  In  the  summer  of  1877,  the  now  growing 
village  received  its  name  of  Leadville  from  what  seemed  thus 
far  to  be  the  staple  ore  of  its  mines. 

It  was  during  this  summer  that  Mr.  A.  B.  Wood,  the  partner 
of  Mr.  Stevens,  despondent  perhaps  at  the  small  yield  of  silver 
in  his  nine  claims,  sold  his  half  interest  in  them  to  L.  Z.  Leitcr,  of 
the  great  Chicago  firm  of  Field,  Leiter  &  Co.,  for  the  sum  of 
$40,000.  At  that  time  the  "  Iron"  mine,  one  of  the  best  in  Lead- 
ville, was  undeveloped,  and  Mr.  Leiter  was  thought  to  have  paid 
all  the  claims  were  worth.  A  year  later  he  refused  a  million 
dollars  for  his  property,  and  now  it  is  said  that  five  millions 
would  not  purchase  his  Leadville  interests,  which,  however, 
include  other  mines  as  well  as  these,     u,  ,  .;'■/  1.,,      irr.i.,  ,, 

Discovery  and  development  went  forward  with  a  constandy 
accelerating  force.  The  Iron  mine  yielded  its  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  dollars  of  silver,  and  scores  of  others  in  the  same 


i.*Mki*><aM»irftii*.«i|l>Wla*»JI«aM 


k'«*''-^^ltU4«».JA>t^t.    .    Mk. 


I 


I  I 


>i  r 


wm 


■m 


^j2  ^^ff   WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

vicinity  were  equally  prolific.  The  town  had  grown  to  bq  morr 
than  a  mere  mining  camp  by  January,  1878,  and  its  produ4:tion 
for  the  previous  year  was  $555,cxx>.  In  April,  1878,  George  W. 
Fryer  began  to  sink  a  shaft  on  the  hill  east  of  Stray  Horse  Gulch, 
now  known  as  Fryer's  Hill.  His  shaft  struck  at  first  low  grade 
carbonates,  and  he  gave  his  mine  the  name  of  New  Discovery. 
A  month  later  August  Rische  and  George  T.  Hook,  two  pros- 
pectors without  money,  persuaded  Mr.  H.  A.  W.  Tabor  to  fur- 
nish them  what  are  called  in  Colorado  "  the  grub  stakes; "  /.  «.,  the 
necessary  money  outfit  on  the  chance  of  a  third  interest  in  whatever 
they  might  discover.  Ih  this  case  the  "grub  stakes"  amounted 
to  $17.  They  struck  ore  very  near  the  surface,  sold  their  first 
wagon  load  for  between  $200  and  $300,  and  found  it  growing 
richer  as  they  went  down.  They  named  the  mine  the  Little 
Pittsburgh.  In  September  of  the  same  year,  Tabor  and  Rische 
bought  out  Hook,  paying  him  $98,000  for  his  one-third  in- 
terest in  the  mine.  This  mine  was  ncyw  consolidated  with  d<e 
New  Discovery,  the  Winnemucca  and  the  Dives,  and  Rische's  in- 
terest was  bought  about  the  first  of  November,  1878,  by  j.  U. 
Chaffee  and  Moffat  for  5262,500.  In  the  next  seven  and  a  half 
months  the  consolidated  mines  yielded  of  ores  actually  sold 
$2,184,586.  Other  mines  on  the  same  hill,  the  Litde  Chief,  the 
Chrysolite,  Vulture,  Colorado  Chief,  Amie,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  proved 
nearly  as  rich.  The  production  of  the  Leadville  mines  in  1878 
was  $3,152,925. 

The  process  of  development  went  on  still  more  rapid?y  in 
1S79,  and  what  was  originally  a  mere  mining  camp  became  a 
city  of  no  mean  pretensions,  having  in  June,  1 880,  a  population 
of  over  30,000  inhabitants.  Its  yield  of  silver  and  gold  for  1879 
exceeded  $12,060,000.  It  has  sixteen  smeldng  establishments 
and  two  samplihg  vorks,  which  together  in  1879  produced 
$10,500,000.  Besides  this  was  the  amount  sent  by  private  par- 
ties to  foreign  smelters,  and  the  large  yield  of  gold  from  places 
worked  by  hydraulic  mining — making  in  all  between  $1 2,000,000 
and  $13,000,600  for  Leadville  alone. 

*  As  we  have  said  elsewhere,  trie  silver  at  Leadville  is  a  car- 
bonate of  lead  and  silver,  and  does  not  occur  in  placers  nor  in 


UiOtKl 


own  to  bq  niorf 
)  its  production 
878,  George  H. 
■ay  Horse  Gulch, 
t  first  low  grade 
New  Discovery, 
^oolc,  two  pros- 
V.  Tabor  to  fur- 
stakes;"!.  «.,  the 
erest  in  whatever 
akes  "  amounted 
i,  sold  their  first 
bund  it  growing 
mine   the  Little 
'abor  and  Rische 
lis   one-third   ii»* 
olidated  with  tlie 
vand  Rische's  iu* 
er,  1878,  by  j.  ». 
seven  and  a  half 
res  actually  sold 
I  Little  Chief,  the 
,  etc.,  etc^  proved 
le  mines  in  1878 
:  ^fihub  ai;«  iT 
more   rapidly  in 
camp  became  a 
880,  a  population 
ind  gold  for  1879 
tg^  establishments 
1879   produced 
t  by  private  par- 
gold  from  places 
iveen  ^i  2,ocx>,coo 

eadville  is  a  ear- 
in  placers  nor  in 


I 


CHAFFER  ASn   PARK  COUJVTIES.  •Mm» 

fissure  veins,  but  in  broad  strata  of  ore  between  strata  of  rocik^ 
which  have  received  the  name  of  "  contact  lodes."       >i   •   m!' 

The  "Eagte  River  country"  and  the  "Ten  Mil«  District," 
north  and  northwest  of  LeadviUe  from  fifteen  to  twenty-five 
nuies,  are  also  engaging  the  attention  of  miners  as  exceptionally 
rich  in  the  carbonates.  They  may  prove  formidable  ri>vals  lo 
Leadville.  The  completion  of  railroad  oommunkatton  with 
Leadville  by  two  routes,  will  gvve  that  wonderful  city  a  stiU  more 
tapid  develofmaent     <    '  O":    "   iii>.iiiii<>iri    ii'i  to -iloiJw     H 

There  are,  oi  course,  seasons  of  depression  in  all  these  mining 
interests.  The  Corastook  Lode  in  Nevada,  after  years  of  un- 
rivalled prosperity,  has  coaie  to  a  ttm»  when  the  yield  of  its 
mines  does  not  pay  expenses,  and  the  Little  Pittsburgh  and 
Amie  have  had  a  somewhat  similar,  though  fortunately  a  less 
protracted,  experience  of  the  same  kind ;  but  the  prosperous 
days  will  return,  and  the  we^th,  hoarded  up  for  geologic  a^es  in 
these  mountains,  will  be  put  ax  the  service  of  man.  <>  !  !<:'  )     ' 

CItuffee  'tountyt  a  new  county  set  ofT  from  Lake,  and  includ- 
ing the  southern  part  of  that  county,  has  some  mining  impor- 
tance and  will  have  more.  Granite  is  its  coi.nty-seat.  The  Ar- 
fkansas  river  traverses  it  from  north  to  south.  The  Park  range 
Ibrms  its  eastern  wall,  and  the  Sawatch  or  Saguache  its  western 
tOundary,  and  from  the  latter  the  bold  and  lofty  peaks.  La  Plata, 
Mount  Harvard,  Mount  Yale^  Mount  Princeton,  Mount  Anterb, 
and  Itlount  Skavano  stand  forth  as  sentinels  of  the  main  range. 
Both  ranges  are  silver'-bearing,  and  the  county,  which  in  1879 
|>rodoced  $7i.,DODof  the  precious  metals,  may  be  relied  upon  to 
do  much  better  in  1^0. 

Park>couniy^  enclosfng-asit  diocis  the  great  South  Park,  with 
lan  area  of  neartiy  r2^aoo  square  miles,  ean^  jnore  appropriately 
as  a  grafi^g  than  a  mining  dounty ;  but  a  county  which  in  twenty 
years  has  lamislhed  more  lium  $i6,5ocmk)0  of  gold  tind  silver 
prodociB  "has  4sof|u^  claim  ^o  be  r^rded  as  a  mining  region  also. 
The  South  Park  is  between  9,000  ami  .10,000  feet  above  the  sea; 
'but  the  Mosqaitn  vange,  iwhioh  connects  lihe  Colorado  Front 
range  with  the  Paric  or  Main  ran^e,  has  several  .summits  in  its 
.main  line  and  spunt  iwhich  are  between  4,000  and  5/000  feft 

4S 


1 
1 


it'': 


WMW«itin>n»«fffliLii« 


it 


OUJt    WESTHRAf   EMPIRE. 


igher.  Mount  Lincoln,  Mount  Evans,  and  Mount  Rosalie,  three 
of  these  peaks,  are  only  a  few  feet  lower  than  Blanca  Peak,  the 
^  .11^  of  the  Colorado  Mountains,  their  highest  summits  measur- 
ing 14.297»  141330,  and  14,340  feet  respectively;  while  at  the 
south  and  louthwest  of  the  Park,  but  still  in  this  county,  the 
Bufialo  Peaks,  Thirty-nine  Mile  Mount,  and  Black  Mpuntain 
rear  their  lofty  heads.  The  climate  her^  is  cool  but  pleasant  in 
summer,  while  the  winters  are  long  and  severe.  '>iuvi)fi  >.} 

The  whole  of  this  mountain  region  is  rich  in  gold  and  silver. 
The  mineral  belt  is  about  thirty-Fve  miles  long  and  fourteen 
wide.  The  gold  mines  are  mostiy  high  up  (above  the  timber 
line  on  Mount  Lincoln  and  Mount  Bross),  and  are  very  produc- 
tive. There  are  very  many  of  these  mines  near  the  summit  of 
Mount  Lincoln,  one  of  them  (the  Present  Help  mine)  being 
14,200  feet  above  the  sea,  and  said  to  be  the  highest  mine  in 
North  America.  The  Phillips  mine,  in  the  Buckskin  district,  is  the 
great  gold  mine  of  this  section.  It  was  discovered  in  1 862,  and  in 
four  or  five  years  yielded  over  $300,000.  Then  the  ore  began  to 
be  largely  mixed  with  pyrites,  and  the  miners  not  understanding 
how  to  work  it  abandoned  it  for  a  time,  but  it  is  now  worked 
again  with  great  success.  There  are  some  placers  in  the  county 
which  have  yielded  largely,  and  are  ^gain  doing  well  under  the 
hydraulic  process.  Nearly  all  the  silver  mines  and  some  of  the 
gold  mines  of  Park  county  are,  like  those  in  Leadville  and  its 
vicinity,  contact  lodes  or  level  deposits  and  not  fissure  veins. 
Since  1862  Park  county  has  yielded  $6,559,601  in  gold  and  sil- 
ver, ^bout  equal  quantities  of  each.  There  are  more  than  fifty 
silver  mines  actively  employed  and  the  number  is  increasing. 
The  production  averages  about  1^500,000  a  year.  With  the 
advent  of  the  railways  and  the  Leadville  branch  of  die  Denver 
and  Rio  Grande,  the  county  is  well  supplied  with  railway  com- 
munication^  and  its  mining  products  will  be  lai^ely  increased. 
Fair  Play  and  Alma — the  latter  far  up  the  slope  of  Mount  Lin- 
coln-»^re  its  principal  towns. 

u  F^imont  county  is  a  region  containing  much  arable  land  and 
fine  orchards  of  fruit.  So  far  as  we!  are  a^ivare,  there  have  not 
yet  been  any  discovjsries  ofr  gold  or  silver  within  its  boundariisa ; 


r* 


MKit:a£&t::ails.;a:i-. 


nt  Rosalie,  three 
ilanca  Peak,  the 
ummits  measur- 
y;  while  at  the 
this  county,  the 
31ack  Mpuntain 
but  pleasant  in 

gold  and  silver. 

ig  and  fourteen 

bove  the  timber 

are  very  produc- 

ir  the  summit  of 

elp  mine)  beitl^ 

highest  mine  in 

kin  district,  is  the 

sdin  1 862,  and  in 

the  ore  began  to 

ot  understanding 

t  is  now  worked 

ers  in  the  county 

g  well  under  the 

and  some  of  the 

Leadville  and  its 

lot  fissure  veins. 

I  in  gold  and  sil- 

:  more  than  fifty 

>er  is  increasing. 

year.     With  the 

:h  of  die  Denver 

rith  railway  com- 

argely  increased. 

>e  of  Mount  Lin- 

arabh!  larid  and 
!,  there  have  not 
n  its  boundaries; 


FRFMO.WT  AND  CUSTER  COUNTIES.  6^$ 

but  it  is  rich  in  bituminous  coal  of  excellent  quality,  in  iron, 
marble,  gypsum,  lime,  alum,  and  petroleum,  and  has  the  most 
remarkable  fossils  and  the  greatest  natural  wonders  in  the  whole 
western  country. ' I      iii[i'-iiif;    •  'M.rtiM  •,  .•  i.   ,  ,,.,| 

Here  are  those  gigantic  skeletons  of  extinct  animals  dis- 
covered by  Professors  March  and  Cope ;  in  this  county  also  are 
the  Grand  caAon  of  the  Arkansas,  Temple  and  Grape  Creek 
caAons,  Oil  Creek  cafton,  and  the  Oil  Springs,  and  numerous 
mineral  and  medicinal  springs.  The  Atchison,  Topeka  and 
Santa  F6  Railway  bisects  the  county.  Cafion  City  is  its  prin- 
cipal town.  >''> 'u  :»,fn  i-nr  .•■I'.Hf  n'*rf,r  <f'jf:-,(n/  n  >  ><(  ^(.r[  •■;  i.'f' 
Custer  county  has  for  its  western  boundary  the  summits  of  the 
Sangre  de  Christo  Range,  which  is  in  this  part  of  Colorado  the 
main  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  In  the  eastern  part  of  the 
county  is  the  Wet  Mountain  range,  running  parallel  to  the  Sangre 
de  Christo,  and  between  them  is  the  Wet  Mountain  valley,  a 
beautiful  meadow-like  stretch,  surrounded  by  dome-like  hills  on 
one  side,  covered  with  Verdure,  and  on  the  other  with  sombre  but 
graceful  pines.  The  county  has  much  arable  and  grazing  land, 
but  it  has  been  found  within  the  last  five  or  eight  years  that  it 
possessed  very  remarkable  and  varied  mineral  deposits. 

The  Senator  gold  lode  at  Rosita,  now  the  capital  of  the  county, 
was  discovered  in  1872  by  Messrs.  Irwin,  Robinson,  and  Pringl:, 
but 'was  hot  much  worked  before  1874.  The  site  of  Rosita 
{SpamsA,  "Little  Rose"),  in  the  Wet  Mountain  valley,  is  very 
beautiful,  and  'ts  mines  have  been  very  productive.  In  1874  the 
Pocahontas,  Humboldt,  and  other  lodes  began  to  produce  silver, 
and  have  since  yielded  some  1^750,000. 

In  18^7  and  1878  cait\e  new  developments.  Mr.  E.  C.  Bas- 
sick,  then  working  at  a  tunnel  at  Tyndall  Hill,  noticed  some 

I  blossom  rock  on  his  way  which  had  a  peculiar  appearance.  He 
had  it  iissayed,'  and  finally  took  some  of  the  material  to  the  re- 

'  duction  works,  and  soon  found  that  he  had  a  mine  of  cMorodized 
gold  and  stiver  of  great  vdilue.    This  Mias  new  in  Colorado, 

'though  it  had  been  found  in  California,  and  was  subsequently 
discovered  in  Utah^  Within,  twelve  months  after  the  first  ship- 
ment $425,608  was  received  for  ore  shipped,  and  large  amours 


mm 


J  ^fff«'«S»«liM«*««»«tl  !»*»»"«».. " 


remained  on  the  dufmp.  In  August,  1878,  anrother  ditcovtvy 
^as  made  about  seven  mllen  west  of  Rosita,  on  the  eastern  slope 
of  Wet  Mountain  valley,  at  Silver  Cliff:  a  long,  sloping  mountain 
rising  from  the  plain,  terminates  abruptly  at  its  farther  end, 
which  Vas  ktidwn  as  the  CM  A  miner,  named  Edwards,  broke 
off  a  pi^ce  of  the  dift'and  had  it  assayed.  It  yielded  ^2j  silyer 
to  the  ton.  Thts  would  not  pay.  Some  four  mionths  later  he  re*- 
turned  thither  With  a  fellow- workman  and  broke  bfi*  anotAier 
^iece  whidi  assayed  $1,700  to  the  ton.  They  began  wor^  and 
found  it  profitable.  S6on  others  came  in ;  it  was  <9iscbvet-ed  that 
there  had  been  volcanic  action  there,  and  that  in  the  lava  <here 
was  hofn  i^ver  j(chtoi4de  of  silver),  assaying  from  ^lo.'ooo  to 
ijo,ooo  to  the  toh,  and  the  Racine  Boy,  Silver  CKff,  Plata  Verde, 
and  Horn  snlver  mines  Were  started.  The  yield  was  enormous. 
The  ores  can  easily  be  redu<:ed  by  the  wet  Amalg^amation  fro- 
cess,  and  at  a  very  lo4ir  rate.  The  Bassick,  or  main  ihkte,  aind 
the  Silver  Cliff  mitiels  liave  flow  passed  into  the  hands  df  capital- 
ists, the  fifst  <Mi  a  basis  df  f  i,500»ooo  and  the  others  at  equally 
liberal  term*. 

A  recent  visitor  to  these  mrnes,  Mr.  Zhnri  L.  White,  (the  ac- 
complished coirespdrtdtfnt  of  the  New  York  Tribuke,  has,  in 
MM\e  letters  to  'that  paper  in  July,  tSSo,  described  more  fully  the 
peCtiKar  cihaHacter  of  these  mines,  ^iil4lieh  are,  as  hb  says,  th^  most 
'ihterestiilg  if  not  the  itadst  impordarilt  ih  the  West.  We  subjoih 
rsbme  paragraphs  6f  this  description  whkh  kre  very  dear  ^d 
^tiislactdiy : 

"The  botrMdari^s  df  <the  ri^h  tfiifveral  belt  a^  vbiy  shaoffty  de- 
fined, not  by  the  formation  df  tite  rweks,  for,  as  I  shaH  prrek^ntly 
stniw,  'that  M  not  lift nbt<in.  but  >by  the  'dt^reldpimeka  ai^d  tixpibra- 
'tibhis  ^at  htt/eib^eti  made  i^poh  (l!4ft  miites  and'  tprospedt  bdles. 
t^e  W^t  M«i(i<i¥talA  ^^aHey  at  tlhib  poiivt  «x(tehds  lioithwest  anld 
sdutH^a^t,  and  %he  t#b  toifitn^  ekm|)S  i^f  Sili^er  ClMf  and  Rdsita, 
sevM  M^s  apflft,  ^k  »k(dt«d  iftbdttt  iiqua)IyidiataiA  from  Crat>e 
6rfe^,  ^hftih  fldws  thrdu^  it ;  ^  latter,  tdirch  5»  the  further 
sdi^h,  bi^iligf  a  liitle  IbfChdr  ut>  upbn  the  fo6t4iiHs  than  the 
ibkm^i*.  the  ilHittide  df  SJlKwr  QM  )/a  7,960  fbet,  and  that  of 
IRd^iIU  8rt^  !^Mt  abexte  the  ^a.    No  valuable  bodiea  df  ore 


•ther  discovery 
e  eastern  slope 
yping  mountain 
ts  farther  end, 
idwards,  br6ke 
ilded  f,37  silrer 
ths  later  hfe  r6- 
ke  6K  anotlier 
egan  wor^  and 
(9isctovet-ed  that 
the  lava  (here 
Om  |io,ooo  to 
ifr,  Plata  Verde, 
was  enormous. 
ilg[amation  fnro- 
maia  ihioife,  artd 
lands  df  oapital- 
diers  at 'equally 

Whito,  ithb  a<!- 
Trifiuke,  has,  in 
d  more  fully  the 
lb  say^,  th^  most 
fst.    We  sufajojh 

very  dear  '^d 

vfely  Bharfflyrffe- 
I  shaH  |yrekdmiy 
iM»  af|d  tixplbra- 
I'  (prospeiit  boles. 
is  liotthiweflt  airtd 
Cliff  and  Rdsitk, 
ttant  from  Gra|>e 
^  $s  the  fiii^her 
^t^hiHs  than  t!he 
^et,  smd  that  of 
le  bodies  of  «ore 


iHNES  AT  ROSiTA  AND  SILVBM  CLIFF.  (^j 

have  been  found  south  (that  is,  on  the  valley  side)  of  a  liae  con- 
necting these  two  camps.  As  the  valley  is  approached,  what 
miners  call  '  the  wash,'  that  is,  the  deposit  of  sand,  gravel,  broken 
rock  and  soil  that^has  been  brought  down  from  the  neighboring 
hills,  becomes  deeper,  and  the  '  bed  rock '  or  '  rock  im  place,' 
which  lies  beneath,  is  more  difficult  to  reach.  The  soutliero  or 
southwestern  boundary  of  the  mineral  belt  may  b^  said,  there- 
fore, to  lie  along  the  edge  of  the  foot-hills  and  about  two  mile% 
above  the  creek.  The  northern  or  northwestern  boui>dary  is  a 
line  drawn  from  the  Bull-Domingo  to  the  Ba^sick  mine,  which 
are  respectively  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of  Silver  Cliff  and 
Rosita.  A  rectangle,  therefore,  of  which  the  BulUDomingo  and 
Basstck  mines,  Silver  Cliff  and  Rosita  form  the  four  corners,  ex- 
tending in  its  longest  direction  northwest  and  southeast,  being 
seven  miles  long  and  two  and  a  half  wide,  includes  within  it^ 
boundaries  all  the  best  mines  of  this  rt^gion. 

"  The  geological  formation  of  this  rich  mineral  belt  is  peculiar 
and  very  interesting.  Resting  upon  and  against  the  granite  o( 
the  Wet  Mountain  Range  and  its  higher  foot-hills,  and  extending 
down  into  the  valley  beyond  the  southern  line  of  the  belt,  lies  am 
enormous  deposit  of  porphyry  or  trachyte,  a  volcanic  rock,  which* 
according  to  Professor  Newberry,  who  visited  the  district  last 
autumn,,  yi^sk  poure^  out  and  cqn^li(^te4  during  t^  tertiary 
period'  ^  i'-^"    ^.,3, in'^.jt'A,  ii^'  i.i  i'.^ttv , •«<\.  .t  i  fTi  wifi  M.,'jii'i^  II  ,.\r\  .  I jii 

"  How  great  the  extent  Qf  this  deposit  from  northwest  to  southr 
east  is,  I  do  not  know,  but  its  width  is  at  least  five  miles  and  it» 
length  is  probably  fifteen  or  twenty.  Extending  into  the  trachyte 
formation  from  the  southwest  and  following  its  general  direction 
is  a  tongue-shaped  mass  of  granite  about  three-lburths  of  a  mil« 
wide  and  at  least  sev^n  or  eight  miles  long.  When  the  trachyte 
was  poured  out,  this  granite  apparently  formed  a  ridge  which  ros« 
above  the  level  of  the  flluid  nuss  of  the  surrounding  volcanic  rock, 
and  therefore  was  not  covered  by  it.  That  it  does  not  now  stand 
higher  than  the  surrounding  country  does  not  disprove  this  theory, 
because  there  are  everywhere  to  be  fonnd  evidences  of  terrible 
convulsions  since  the  trachyte  was  deposited  which  l^\e  com- 
pletely changed  the  fswe  of  this  entire  region.    The  mines  hc^r* 


MUM 


,\.  \ 


OUR    WESTERN  EMr/RR. 


c- 


are  found  both  in  the  granite,  and  also  in  the  trachyte.  Winding 
through  the  porphyry  in  a  serpentine  course,  there  is  also  a  stream 
of  obsidian,  as  it  is  called  here,  or  volcanic  glass,  mixed  with 
trachyte  and  quartz  boulders.  This  stream,  where  it  has  been 
examioed,  varies  from  a  few  feet  to  many  rods  in  width,  and  in 
crevices  of  the  boulders  which  form  the  mass  of  it  were  found 
last  week,  on  the  Hecla  claim,  some  very  rich  specimens  of  horn 

silver.    '"^  jikmu.   yiu*  i^lU'i  >yy>%    Mil    JO  r>j^»j »    'ill    ;.;iniii.    ui  t'l  .-^  m  . 

"  The  natural  color  of  the  trachyte  is  a  yeflbwish-white.  When 
it  contains  silver  it  is  also  generally  stained  with  black  oxide  of 
manganese  and  red  oxide  of  iron.  This  rock  in  many  places 
seems  to  me  to  have  been  subjected  to  the  action  of  water  be- 
tween the  time  it  was  thrown  out  by  volcanic  action  and  the 
period  when  it  was  broken  up  and  impregnated  with  mineral 
solutions.  I  am  led  to  this  conclusion  by  the  fact  that  in  several 
mines  and  prospect  holes  which  I  have  visited,  I  have  found  por- 
tions of  the  rock  as  distinctly  stratified  as  any  clay  slate  I  ever 
saw.  The  layers  of  rock  came  apart  one  from  another,  in  the 
hand,  and  presented  smooth  faces  of  stratification.  I  have  never 
seen  this  foct  mentioned  in  any  report  I  have  read  about  the 
mines  of  this  region,  and  it  may  not  be  important,  though  it  cer- 
tainly is  interesting.  !♦*»>'  <*iiw  ',y>t;Kii/yVi*io*:mm>T'\  »a  <(iut;.!U)  ». 

"At  Silver  Cliff  and  north  of  here,  especially,  the  trachyte  rock 
has  been  shaken  up  and  fractured  in  all  directions,  and  in  many 
places  the  crevices  have  been  filled  with  iron  and  manganese, 
which  had  become  oxidized,  and  with  chloride  of  silver.  This  is 
the  free  milling  ore  which  is  found  in  the  Racine  Boy  and  Silver 
Gliff  mines,  owned  by  the  Silver  Cliff  Company,  in  the  Plata 
Verde,  and  in  all  the  mines  that  lie  directly  north  of  this  town  and 
adjoining  it.  I  shall  write  detailed  descriptions  of  several  of  the 
more  Important  of  them  in  letters  that  are  to  follow.  Generally 
the  chloride  of  silver  is  so  widely  distributed  through  the  rock 
and  is  so  small  in  quantity  that  it  cannot  be  seen  with  the  naked 
eye,  nor  even  with  a  powerful  magnifying  glass.  That  it  is  there, 
however,  is  conclusively  proved  by  assays.  Captain  Turner,  of 
OaIve<>ton,  Texas,  an  old  California  miner,  who  has  spent  several 
months  here  superintending  the  development  of  a  mine  for  a 


ytff.  Winding 
s  also  a  stream 
ss,  mixed  with 
re  it  has  been 
i  width,  and  in 
It  were  found 
icimens  of  horn 

-white.  When 
>lack  oxide  of 
in  many  places 
n  of  water  be- 
action  and  the 
d  with  mineral 

that  in  several 
lave  found  por- 
ay  slate  I  ever 
another,  in  the 
I  have  never 
read  about  the 
t,  though  it  cer- 

^e  trachyte  rock 

IS,  and  in  many 

md  manganese, 

silver.     This  is 

Boy  and  Silver 

ly,  in  the  Plata 

of  this  town  and 

>f  several  of  the 

low.     Generally 

rough  the  rock 

with  the  naked 

That  it  is  there, 

tain  Turner,  of 

as  spent  several 

>f  a  mine  for  a 


TRACHYTE  ORES  OF  CUSTER   COUNTY.  6^9 

Gnlv(;ston  company,  told  me  the  other  day  that  he  had  caused 
assays  to  be  made  of  at  least  one  hundred  samples  of  the  trachyte 
rock  found  in  what  is  known  here  as  the  'chloride  belt,'  and 
never  failed  to  fitui  that  it  contained  some  silver.  He  selected 
some  of  the  most  barren-looking  pieces  of  rock  he  could  6nd, 
material  that  no  miner  would  think  of  saving,  and  which  showed 
no  metallic  stain  of  any  kind,  and  even  this  was  found  to  carry 
from  two  ounces  upward  of  silver,  to  a  ton.  / 

"  Where  the  rock  is  stained  with  oxide  of  iron  and  manganese, 
it  is  invariably  rich  in  silver,  which  can  frequently  be  seen  upon 
the  surface  of  a  fracture  in  the  form  of  a  green  scale,  which  on 
being  rubbed  with  a  knife-blade  shows  a  metallic  lustre.  Occa- 
sionally the  mass  of  chloride  of  silver  is  so  great  that  it  appears 
in  little  globules  of  horn  silver,  and  I  found  in  the  workings  of 
the  Racine  Boy  mine  an  accretion  of  this  horn  silver,  in  a  cavity 
two  or  three  inches  long  and  half  an  inch  wide,  that,  if  collected 
together  in  one  mass,  would  be  as  large  as  a  lady's  thimble. 
This  mass,  if  broken  off  from  the  rock  to  which  it  is  attached  and 
assayed  by  itself,  would  'run,'  as  the  miners  say,  more  than 
twenty  thousand  ounces  of  silver  to  a  ton,  and  a  ton  of  it  at  the 
current  rates  for  silver  bars  would  be  worth  about  ^23,000.  Such 
specimens  are  very  frequently  found  in  the  Racine  Boy  and  other 
mines  on  the  chloride  belt.  While  the  rich  ore  is  discovered  in 
large  masses  surrounded  by  leaner  or  less  valuable  rock,  there  is 
nowhere  in  the  chloride  belt  anything  that  looks  like  a  vein. 
The  rock  just  covers  the  entire  face  of  the  country,  over  an  area 
two  miles  long  and  half  a  mile  wide,  and  the  whole  mass  of  if. 
is  ore ;  that  is,  all  of  it  contains  at  least  a  small  quantity  of  silver. 
The  ore  in  only  a  small  portion  of  it  has  yet  been  proved  to 
be  rich  enough  to  make  the  mining  and  reduction  of  it  profitable, 
but  this  portion  covers  a  great  many  mines  which  I  believe  will 
become  very  valuable  properties,     iruni  ro  v:<:-.jv}  >  ^  jrliwtiti  litj**'.  ' 

"  The  theory  of  the  geologists,  and  the  one  generally  accepted 
by  the  miners  here,  is  that  the  trachyte,  after  it  became  solidified, 
was  shaken  and  broken  up  by  some  great  convulsion,  and  that 
simultaneously  or  afterward,  silver,  iron,  manganese  and  the  other 
ihetals  of  which  traces  are  found  in  the  rock  were  disseminated 


■I, 


OVk    WESTERN  MMF/ltM. 


tfirough  th^  cf^lcea  either  in  water  solutionA  or  volatilized— in 
the  form  of  gases.  These  solutions  or  ^a.scs  are  supposed  to 
have  comr  up  through  cracks  in  the  earth's  crust.  Such  a  de- 
posit is  called  in  the  oKl  world  *  stockwork,'  and  Professur  New- 
berry, in  writing  recently  of  '  The  Origin  and  Classitication  of 
Ore  Deposits,'  mentions  this  as  one  of  the  two  most  important 
examples  of  this  kind  of  deposit  that  have  come  under  his  obser- 
vation. The  other  is  the  gold  deposit  in  Bingham  caAon,  Utah. 
None  of  the  oldest  miners  ever  saw  before  any  ore  that  looked 
like  this  at  Silver  Cliff,  and  this  explains  their  failure  to  discover 
its  value  until  recently.  The  same  is  true  of  the  quartzite  gold 
ore  In  Bingham  caAon.  The  miners  worked  for  years  there  get- 
ting out  silver-lead  ores,  but  (hrcw  aside  the  gold  ore  as  waste, 
not  dreaming  of  its  value.  vi».;  r  khi^.j*  ^>w.uRii\'^  hum  itt 

"  But  the  mineral  belt  which  I  have  described  and  bounded  in 
the  earlier  part  of  this  letter  containv  other  classes  of  mines.  At 
Rosita  (this  beautiful  name  meanf,  '  Little  Rose ')  in  tlve  Poca- 
hontas-Humboldt lode,  the  trachyte,  instead  of  being  shattered 
and  impregnated,  so  that  the  entii^  mass  of  rock  may  be  mined 
out  and  reduced,  has  been  rent  asunder,  and  a  true  fissure 
formed  in  it  which  has  been  filled  with  gray  copper,  galena,  zinc 
blende,  iron  and  copper  pyrites  and  heavy  spar — all  carrying 
/sulphide  of  silver.  These  form  a  narrow  pay  streak  from  one 
to  eighteen  inches  wide,  and  the  remainder  is  Blled  with  a  gangue 
rock,  generally  of  a  trachytic  formation.  This  vein  is  a  re- 
markably  persistent  one — that  is,  it  extends  for  a  long  distance 
through  the  hills  and  across  the  gulches,  and  is  inclosed  by  walls 
that  are  as  clearly  defined  as  those  of  a  room.  Other  smaller 
veins  of  the  same  character  have  been  found  in  the  country 
north  of  Rosita,  and  on  some  of  them  valuable  mines  have  been 
located  and  developed. 

"  Still  another  class  of  mines  in  the  same  mineral  belt  remains 
to  be  mentioned.  These  are  what  Professor  Newberry  has 
called  the  '  mechanically-filled '  veins,  and  they  include  the  Basr- 
sick  and  the  Bult-Domii^^.  The  former  is  supposed  to  be  a 
tm^  fissure  vein  in  the  trachyte  rock,  the  cavity  of  which,  after  the 
rocks  were  rent  asunder,  was  filled  with  well-rounded  pebbles  and 


.  iiri^vlrrv- 


THE   UAKnXCMAimr.K  MIS  ISC,   DtSTKh'T. 


Oil 


volatilized— in 
V.  supposed  to 
Such  a  dc' 
'rofcHsor  Ncw- 

assitication  of 
neat  important 
nder  his  obsor- 
n  caAon,  Utah. 
re  that  looked 
Lire  to  discover 

quartzite  gold 
^rcars  there  gct- 
1  ore  as  waste, 

nd  bounded  in 
1  of  mines.     At 

')  in  tlic  Poca- 
being  shattered 

may  be  mined 

a  true  fissure 
»er,  galena,  zinc 
r — all  carrying 
trealc  from  one 
d  with  a  gangue 
I  vein  is  a  re- 
\  long  distance 
iclosed  by  walls 

Other  smaller 
in  the  country 
ines  have  been 
kwiat^m.-sw*^  Jtatf- 
ral  belt  remains 
Newberry  has 
iclude  the  Ba»- 
>posed  to  be  a 
which,  after  the 
led  pebbles,  and 


boulders,  generally  Himilar  in  constitution  to  the  country  rock. 
The  interstices  in  this  mass  have  been  rille<l  with  telluridcs  of 
gold  and  silver,  free  gold,  zinc  blende,  galena  and  the  pyrites  oT 
iron  and  copper  currying  silver.  I'hese  materials  surround  the 
stun<!s  in  thin  sh(;lls,  the  pcbblrs  and  boulders  forming  nuclei 
about  which  the  metallic  substances  crystalized.  In  thr  UullDo- 
mingo,  situated  in  the  granite  tongue  which  1  have  dcsi  riU'd, 
the  stones  are  generally  granite  o*  sienite,  and  iIm:  ccmtMiting 
substance  is  argentiferous  galena,  which  not  only  surrounds  tlx: 
stones,  but  in  many  cases  entirely  fills  up  the  irregular  spaces 
between  them.  In  both  of  these  cases  it  is  supposed  that  tho 
metallic  matter  came  up  from  below  in  the  form  of  a  hot 
solution. 

"  I'Vorn  this  bird's-eye  view  of  the  I  lardscrabble  mining  district, 
it  will  be  seen  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  interesting,  if  not  one 
of  the  most  important  regions  in  the  West.  We  have  here  three 
distinct  classes  of  mines,  two  of  which  are  almost  unique.  The 
ore  which  they  produce  is  in  some  respects  different  from  that 
found  elsewhere,  and  presents  questions  in  mining  and  reduction 
that  arc  to  some  degree  new.  On  the  successful  solution  of 
these  questions,  as  well  as  on  the  opening  up  of  the  large  ore 
bodies  that  are  believed  to  exis.t,  but  which  have  not  yet  been 
uncovered,  depends  the  foture  prosperity  of  these  camps  and 
of  the  companies  which  are  investing  their  capital  in  them."       ;-> 

The  production  of  the  Custer  county  mines  from  1874  to  Janu- 
ary, 1 880.  was  $2,1 1 2,530,  of  which  ^{720,000  was  the  production  of 
1879.  There  are  extensive  iron  deposits  on  Grape  creek  neap 
the  borders  of  Custer  and  Fr6mont  counties.  The  ores  are 
nnagnetic  and  contain  sixty-five  per  cent,  of  pure  iron  and  a  con- 
siderable percentage  of  platinum,  which  causes  difficulty  in  smelt- 
ing, but  renders  the  product  much  more  valuat^.     f,  .^,-MmM\c^i, 

Tfie  Scm  Juan  G^ftw/ry.— »This  general  name  fof  Southwestern 
Colorado  "includes,"  says  Mr.  Frank  Fossett,*  "the  moun- 
tainous counties  of  Hinsdale,  Rio  Grande,  San  Juan,  La  Plata. 
Conejos,  and  Ouray;  and  San  Luis  Park,  with  the  counties  of 
Saguache  and  Costilla,  are  often  classed  under  the  same  head. 

I      II  II    I         i  — .-■- — T "  ■    -g  ■  T      "    •  —        I  ■  I  -r        •  •  ^  ■ ■    II     ■     .1  ^  » 

» Colorado:  iu  Gold  and  Silver  Mines,  etc.,  New  York,  1879. 


i 


Ma 


ovM  wtsratts'  Mjurntii, 


kc.^ 


r'' 


Here  it  an  ar»A  6i  AMnt?  1 5,000  HqiiAfr  mtt^fi,  or  more  tei  r^iory 
than  '"•  inrludeci  in  any  one  of  tho  Stntes  of  New  Jrrsry,  Nrw 
HampHhire,  or  Vermont,  with  Delaware  thrown  in.  West  of 
San  LuiH  Park  is  ont*  maat  of  mountains  thrown  together  in  the 
moit  chaotic  con  fiiMion.  '  "'  >>i'''f -i  -t'l  ,  ^i  ''  '  '  •  •  J 
"These  mountainH  contain  thounands  of  silver  veins,  many  of 
them  of  huge  size  and  some  of  j^rrat  richness.  There  are  also 
jfold  lodes  and  placers.  The  Kocky  Moimtain  ran^^e  extends  to 
the  westward  in  this  region.  The  silver  b«'lt  is  from  twenty  to 
forty  miles  wide,  and  perhaps  eighty  miles  long  in  an  nir  line. 
The  rugged  and  almost  impassable  character  of  the  moimtains 
and  their  vast  extent,  and  the  heavy  snows  and  long  winters, 
have  acted  as  serious  drawt}acks  to  growth  and  development. 
.There  is  probably  more  country  standing'  on  edge  in  this  section 
riian  anywhere  else  beneath  the  sun.  Until  recently  no  work 
was  prosecuted  in  the  winter  seasons,  except  on  a  very  few 
mines  and  on  tunnels.  It  took  years  to  build  roads  to  the  most 
important  points — trails  or  foot-paths  being  the  only  thing  pre- 
viously afforded.  The  approach  of  the  railway  and  the  comple- 
tion of  many  smelting  workb  are  bringing  the  San  Juan  country 

forward."      '>'•'    '"'   411  ;.;i»ni  mjo    'fu    rK*  .Ji   iiv«  «i»  ,  H'Im  nij'    ^^■l  . 

A  Southern  adventurer  named  Baker  penetrated  into  this 
region  In  1858  prospecting  for  gold.  He  had  found  some  indi- 
cations of  it,  and  had  commenced  operations,  when,  in  i860,  he 
became  involved  in  difficulty  with  the  Navajo  Indians,  and  he 
had  some  bloody  conflicts  with  them.  Several  of  his  followers 
were  killed,  but  he  held  on  until  he  heard  of  the  civil  war  in  the 
spring  of  1 861,  when  he  returned  East  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erate army.  A  bold  and  desperate  man,  he  took  part  in  several 
severe  battles,  but  at  length,  at  the  close  of  the  conflict,  with  two 
associates,  one  of  them  named  White,  he  returned  to  South- 
western Colorado,  and,  after  several  sharp  fights  with  his  old 
enemies,  the  Navajos,  persuaded  his  comrades  to  go  with  him 
on  a  perilous  and  foolhardy  expedition  to  descend  the  unknown 
Colorado  of  the  West.  Just  as  they  were  ready  to  launch  their 
boat  on  those  unknown  waters  Baker  was  shot  by  an  Indian  and 
died  soon  after,  but  enjoined  upon  his  comrades  the  prosecution 


wmm- 


THE  MAH  yVAN  COUNTRY. 


«fl 


more  tnntory 

w  Jrrsry,  New 

in.     Went  of 

together  in  th<* 

vrins,  many  of 

Thcrr  are  also 

n^^e  extends  to 

Voin  twrnty  to 

in  an  air-line. 

the  mountains 

lon^'  winters, 

tievflopmcnt. 

in  this  section 

cently  no  work 

on  a  very  few 

ids  to  the  most 

only  thing  pre- 

id  the  comple- 

n  Juan  country 

rated  into  this 
und  Mome  indi- 
len,  in  i860,  he 
ndians,  and  he 
»f  his  followers 
civil  war  in  the 
:d  the  Con  fed- 
part  in  several 
nflict,  with  two 
ned  to  South' 
s  with  his  old 
o  go  with  him 
[  the  unknown 
\o  launch  their 
an  Indian  and 
le  prosecution 


of  the  voya)^e.  They  set  out  and  their  journey  has  becomr  hii- 
torical.  The  f)artnrr  of  White  was  lost  in  rtinning  one  of  tho 
cataracts,  and  White,  lashed  to  his  raft,  was  discovered  liy  In* 
dians,  unconscious  and  more  dead  than  alive,  a  short  dintanro 
abfiQ»ve  Callville,  near  where  the  river  cmergtrs  from  the  Grand 
canon.  After  his  e)i(-a|>e  from  this  perilous  voyage  it  in  Hai<l  that 
he  returned  to  the  Sun  Juan  country,  and  was  living  there  in 
1878. 

After  this  disastrous  ending  of  the  first  attempts  to  penetrate 
thin  region,  few  white  men  ventured  thither  for  several  years. 
Adnah  French,  or  J.  Cary  I*'rench,  and  two  others,  penetrated  up 
the  caOon  of  the  Las  Animas  river  anti  located  the  Little  (iiant 
gold  mine  in  1870.  '1  hey  then  returned  to  Santa  I<V*,  and,  in 
1871,  came  back  to  the  San  Juan  country,  and,  while  J'Vench 
worked  his  mine,  the  others  wi  iit  on  to  what  is  now  .Silverton. 
There  was  a  fair  production  from  the  Little  Ciiant  mine  for  sev- 
eral years,  but  others  have  since  overshadowed  it.  The  entire 
production  of  gold,  silver,  and  lead  in  the  San  Juan  country  up 
to  January,  1880,  is  reported  as  1^1,838,061.  In  1880,  they 
are  likely  to  largely  exceed  this  amount,  as  they  have  stamp- 
mills,  smelters,  and  reduction  works,  and  railways  penetrating 
far  into  the  region. 

Most  of  the  San  Juan  region  was  formerly  included  in  tho 
county  of  Conejos.  After  several  mining  districts  had  been 
located  .md  settled,  the  counties  of  La  Plata,  Rio  Grande,  and 
Hinsdale  were  created,  and  afterwards  those  of  San  Juan  and 
Ouray.     We  will  take  these  counties  in  their  order. 

"La  Plata  county"  says  Mr,  Frank  Fossett,  "is  the  extreme 
southwestern  division  of  Colorado,  bordering  on  New  Mexico 
and  Utah,  and  touching  the  corner  of  Arizona.  This  section  is 
rich  in  coal,  possesses  silver  veins,  gold  placers,  and  many  fme 
fertile  valleys;  farming  and  stock-growing  are  especially  suc- 
cessful. The  county  is  settling  up  rapidly ;  a  railway  is  expected 
frotii  the  East,  and  is  nearly  completed  to  Animas  City  on  the 
Animas  river,  about  west  longitude  107*  50*,  in  which  case  La 
Plata  would  be  the  smelting  depot  of  San  Juan  county  mines. 

"The  stock  and  agricultural  resources  and  advantages  of  La 


V 


PUta  county  aod  of  iu  v«tl«>yH  ak)»K  th«  San  Juan  rivtr  and 
tribiitarieR  have  already  burn  rrlvrrrtl  tu  in  fiurt  firm  of  thi* 
volume.  Ihn  coal  mcasurcH  arc  (lc!»crving  of  cipccial  mrntiun, 
on  account  of  their  quality  anU  ciiormouM  xiic.  1  lie  arta  of  tual 
land  i»  c^ttnmtod  at  over  <xx>  wfture  miles,  an<i  i^i  cut  or  inter> 
Kccted  by  the  I'inoM,  I'ioritK  Aaima»,  La  I'bta,  and  Mancos 
rivcns  which  (low  soutiiwurd  into  thu  Sui  Juun.  The  ihickm-tia 
of  thr  vein  ih  reported  at  from  ten  to  fifty  and  HJxty  feet  between 
(kiur  and  roof.  There  are  two  difttinct  lieds  of  cOiil,  »c|ittrait-d 
only  hy  four  fec-t  of  iron  Mhaie.  In  tuitne  plai:c<i  tite  two  beds  are 
Haid  to  a^'^rr^ute  from  cightyH^i^hc  to  ninety  ei^ht  feet  in  diirk* 
nr«».  These  who  have  tested  this  coal,  prurkjunce  it  of  a  tcim- 
bituminous  ( haracter,  and  of  a  better  coking'  quality  titan  any  in 
the  WcHt  except  the  Trinickd  I  *ds.  In  thie  name  county  are 
loden  carrying  gold,  silver,  lead,  cop|icr,  zinc,  iron  pyriten,  tcllu* 
num,  platina,  etc.  ».'  'i?-  *  •  ^i  cii.ii  «-.»ij  ■mp,"'  |  'u.i  i  /<#. i^  "-.-■■rj 
"/^io  GniHiit  cotmty  It  composed  partly  of  plain  and  partly  of 
mountain.  Del  Norte,  the*  main  town  and  county-seat,  vk  located 
on  the  Kio  (jrandc  where  it  leaves  the  mountaiiu  and  cntersi  the 
pkini  of  San  Luis  Park,  There  are  several  mining  districts,  but 
the  only  one  that  has  produced  much  is  the  gold«buartng  portion 
of  the  Summit  Mountains,  which  has  yielded  over  $400,000  to 

dale.  r  j'l,       Vi.  -fn  '•  TT' ">    mm  'ti'T'^mt    nfcfii     fi.- 

**  The  richest  gold  district  of  Southern  Colorado  is  tluit  of  South 
Mountain  in  the  Summit  Range,  twenty  six  miles  south  of  Del 
Norte  and  nearly  1 2,000  feet  above  sea-level.  The  great  draw- 
backs are  a  evere  climate,  heavy  snows,  and  ilu-  altitude — a 
divkle  of  13,000  feet  must  be  crossed  to  reach  Summit.  The 
summers  aro  short  and  the  roads  are  almost  impassable  from 
snow  or  mud  during  most  of  the  yoar.  But  die  gold  is  there, 
and  that  has  built  a  town  and  attracted  miners,  capitalists,  and 
stamp  mills. 

''These  mines  are  true  fissure  veins  and  prove  to  be  very  rich. 
There  are  now  several  stamp  mills,  and  one  of  the  minos,  the 
Little  Annie,  has  yielded  about  $350,000  in  six  years.     -  »<  '^i^^/^ 

"Nmsda/e  county  is  the  most  easterly  of  the  important  silver 
districts  of  San  Juan.     Its  metropoUs  is  Lake  City,  dating  from 


iian  rivtr  and 
I  Brnt  of  ihi» 

cIaI  mrntiun, 
ic  iixv»  of  loal 

cut  or  inter* 

and  Mum  OS 
il)c  ihickni-iMi 
y  ftHi  iMiwern 
oat,  sc'iHtratcil 
c  two  beds  ure 
t  feat  in  tlikk* 
c  it  of  a  scim- 
ty  than  any  in 
DC  rouniy  are 

pyrites  tcllu* 

anil  partly  of 
»eat,  in  located 
and  cntcrit  the 
IK  diittricta»  but 
caring  portion 
:r  $400,000  to 

ls  tluit  of  South 
Houtli  of  Del 
ie  great  draw- 
lie  altitude — a 
Summit.  The 
passable  from 
gold  is  there, 
capitaliiits,  and 

o  be  very  rich, 
the  mines,  the 
irs.  vi  fji^tftHii' 
iportant  sSvef 
y,  dating  from 


HISW4t.M  COVNTV  St H  Kit  MI/^MM,  ff} 

1I74-5.  loratrd  at  the  jimptlon  of  Hrn<<*n  ert'f  <  with  thr  t.ako 
Fork  of  the  (tunntHon.  lltTf  arr  two  Hrnrltinj;  works  in  opera- 
tion—-Crooke  A  Co.  an«l  thr  (><r(in  V\'4v<* — the  Cnxrkr  ron(«n 
tr.iting  worku  nnd  u  rhionnation  and  tixivintion  mill~-th«  latter 
not  run  stradily.  Thr  location  of  thr  town  in  grand  tit\i\  l)ruu- 
tiful,  and  rrnrmhim  ih;tt  of  ( i«»orgrtown,  Th'^rr  arr  numherlesii 
tilvcr  lodcti  in  thr  lofty  motuxninn  that  rine  almost  p»*r{K'ntlic\j- 
'briy  for  a  half  miU*  <«r  a  mile  on  rvcry  Hide— many  of  them 
worked  cxtennively. 

"  Fn>mi«it>g  at  were  the  numerotiK  <li*c!overl^»  of  the  San  Juan 
country  in  ih73-4-5,  thry  yttrt  generally  of  no  hnmediate  lirnc 
fit  to  their  ownerH,  on  accoimt  of  the  dintance  from  an  ore  mar- 
ket, wagon  roadn  and  r.-iilwny<i.  'lite  region  tnltored  tmder  pe- 
culiar disadvantages,  It  wan  made  t^)  of  almost  inaccessible 
mountain  ranges,  and  at  that  time  was  so  remote  from  railways 
that  capitaliHts  ;uul  mill  men  were  not  inclined  to  investigate  its 
mineral  wealth.  I'hu  pioneers  who  had  been  making  discoveries 
of  rich  veins  were  too  poor  to  build  works  for  the  extraction  of 
,«he  precious  mctaK  nnd  it  cost  too  much  to  g«t  ore  to  market  to 
Admit  of  k^'MmoMn^  :t,  unless  it  was  wonderfuify  rkh  and  money 
was  at  hand  to  drtfroy  shipping  expenses. 

"  This  was  the  comfition  of  affairs  when  the  Crooke  Brothers,  the 
.iirst  eastern  capitnliiils  that  showod  their  appreciation  of  the 
region  by  putting  their  money  into  it — began  to  buy  mines  artd 
,trect  mills.  Tliuy  were  conducting  a  smelting  business  in  New 
York  city,  and  inspection  and  contact  with  ks  ores  begat  thai 
confidence  in  its  worth  that  Hubnequent  experience  has  in  nowise 
■abated.  The  results  of  their  investments  in  the  Little  Annie  and 
Golden  Queen  mines  and  mills  in  the  Summit  Mountain  gokl 
district  induced  them  to  loolc  further. 

"An  inveatigation  of  the  Lake  City  silver  district  caused  them 
'to  erect  a  eontcntrating  mill  there.  This  separated  the  silver- 
<bearin^  mineral  from  the  gangue,  or  waste  rock  of  the  ore.  The 
miner  then  had  his  value  in  one  ton  of  concentrates  instead  of 
-liaving  it  distributed  among  five  or  ten  tons  as  before.  This  was 
an  important  item  where  it  cost  more  to  get  ore  to  a  market  than 
;4t  did  to  treat  it  after  It  reached  there. 


686 


OVU    WBSTRRN  EMPIRE. 


.-V: 


"  The  Utc  and  Ul6  mines  were  purchased  late  in  1876,  and  the 
new  owners  then  erected  quarters  for  workmen  and  shaft  and  ore 
houses  for  the  mine.  The  next  spring  contracts  were  let  for 
sinking  shafts  and  running  drifts,  and  for  the  construction  of 
works  for  the  treatment  of  the  ore.  The  stack  furnace  was  not 
completed  till  near  the  close  of  the  season,  but  2,000  tons  of  ore 
had  beei.  mined  and  concentrated,  and  the  dressed  ore  sent  to 
New  York.  !♦:  yielded  a  net  profit  of  twelve  dollars  per  ton. 
The  smelting  works  were  completed  so  that  reduction,  parting 
and  refining  began  in  July,  1878.  Up  to  this  time  Crooke&  Co. 
had  expended  over  $400,000  on  their  mines,  works,  and  other 
property  of  this  locality. 

"  The  Ute  mine  is  situated  well  up  on  a  mountain,  and  the  Ul^ 
is  located  at  the  foot  of  the  same.  The  patented  surface  ground 
of  each  is  1,500  feet  long  by  300  wide,  and  both  are  in  Galena 
mining  district  near  Lake  City.  There  are  now  several  smeltiiig 
works  doing  a  large  business  there,  but  as  yet  no  railway  nearer 
than  Del  Norte.  From  present  appearances  their  first  railway 
communication  may  be  from  the  north  by  way  of  Gunnison, 
though  this  is  not  certain.  The  silver  production  of  Hinsdale 
county,  in  1878,  was  $156,000,  and  in  1879,  considerably  more.' 
*'San  y UAH  county  \^  ^d[^  point  where  several  massive  i-iinges 
of  mountains  unite ;  among  them  the  San  Juan,  the  Uncompahgrc, 
the  La  Plata  and  the  Lais  Animas  mountains.  Isolated  summits, 
such  as  Sultan  Mountain,  Engineer's  Mountain,  Mount  Kendall, 
Pidgeon'a  Peak,  Rio  Grande  Pyramid  and  Henidie's  Peak  al'ie 
scattered  pVer  the  comparatively  small  territory  of  the  county. 
.Silverton,  its  capital  was  one  of  the  first  locations  where  mining 
;twas  attempted  to  1871  or  1872.  Its  production  is  almost  exclii- 
sively  silver,  and  it  has  many  hundreds  of  valuable  and  well' 

,  (developed  lodes,  and  is  destiiled  to  yield  immense  quantities  of 
,  silver  and  lead  when  it  becomes  more  accessible  by  railway,  and 
•  capital  is  led  to  invest  here.     It  has  several  reduction  and  two  or 

r  three  concent^ratijig  works  at  Silverton.     Several  extensive  tun- 

\jn«J  enterprises  are;  in  progress,  forcing  their  wky  to  the  silrd: 
,Oi:^,througlx  the  hearts  of  the  lofty  mountains.    One  of  these— 

'  the  Roedel  Tunnel,  owned  ly  th^.  Midland  Mining  Compariy— 4s 


■0i0imJKjatn4-^7-*SSi     ^•^ 


in  1876,  and  the 

nd  shaft  and  ore 

cts  were  let  for 

construction  of 

furnace  was  not 

t.ooo  tons  of  ore 

sed  ore  sent  to 

dollars  per  ton. 

duction,  parting 

ne  Crooke  &  Co. 

vorks,  and  other 

tain,  and  the  Uf^ 
;d  surface  ground 
h  are  in  Galena 
r  several  smeltiiig 
no  railway  nearer 
heir  first  railway 
ray  of  Gunnison, 
:tion  of  Hinsdale 
isiderably  more.' 
1  massive  iritnges 
the  Uncompahgrc, 
Isolated  summits, 
1,  Mount  Kendall, 
[ehdie's  Peak  al'e 
)ry  of  the  county, 
ons  where 'mining 
tn  is  almost  excIU- 
aluable  and  well' 
!nse  quantities  of 
le  by  railway,  and 
iuction  and  two  or 
ral  extensive  tun- 
wky  to  the  silr^ 
One  of  these — 
ting  Comparty-46 


SAJV  JUAN  COUNTY  SIL  VSR    VEINS. 


••7 


intended  to  intersect  six  or  eight  of  the  largest  lodes.  The  ores 
here  are  in  true  fissure  veins,  but  the  mountains  are  ribbed  with 
the  veins  of  silver  ore  and  adits ;  drifts,  tunnels  and  shafts  all 
penetrate  numerous  lodes  varying  in  width  from  three  inches  to 
forty  feet,  yielding  from  40  to  500  ounces  of  silver,  and  from  60 
to  62  per  cent,  of  lead.  There  is  also  considerable  free  gold  and 
chlorides.  The  formation  containing  the  lodes  is  chiefly  eruptive 
or  volcanic  porphyry,  with  granite  and  occasionally  trachyte  and 
sand- stone,  as  the  country  rock  and  vein  walls." 
,v;,The  most  remarkable  of  these  silver-ribbed  mountains  is 
king  Solomon  Mountain,  on  the  numerous  veins  of  •  .ii.  !•  ak-e 
situated  the  North  Star  mines.  The  Graham  Silv  r  I  lining 
Company's  (fifteen  mines),  the  Alaska,  Adelphi,  Acai-slco,  Vic- 
tory, Red  River  and  Saxon  are  all  valuable  mines  on  or  near  the 
head- waters  of  the  Uncompahgre  river.  Poughkeepsie  Gulch 
in  this  region  has  250  well-defined  lodes,  all  of  which  are  or 
have  been  worked  successfully.  Hazelton  Mountain  has  many 
profitable  mines  just  coming  into  notice.  The  ore  and  bullion 
yield  of  1878  was  over  $250,000,  and  that  of  1879  perhaps  more. 
The  Denver  and  Rio  Grande  Railway,  which  at  first  proposed  to 
extend  its  route  westward  from  Del  Norte  and  Wagon-Wheel 
Gap  to  Silverton,  has  since  changed  its  plans  and  goes  to  Ani- 
mas City,  seventy  or  eighty  miles  farther  south.  Both  Silverton 
and  Ouray  will,  however,  have  a  railway  connection  from  some 
quarter  before  long.  San  Juan  county  is  not  an  agricultural 
region,  and  most  of  its  vegetable  and  cereal  products  must  be 
brought  from  other  counties.  ..1 -i..u.  i/x:,.,^..... 

Ouray  county  is  on  the  Pacific  slope  of  the  range,  aikl  com- 
prises the  northwestern  portion  of  the  San  Juan  region.  Like 
its  neighbors,  it  is  almost  entirely  composed  of  rugged  and 
almost  perpendicular  mountains  and  deeply  cut  ravines  and 
river  gorges,  among  which  it  is  generally  an  impossibility  to 
build  roads.  The  inaccessibility  of  the  section  has  retarded 
rapid  growth,  but  reduction  works  having  at  last  been  estab- 
lished, future  advancement  will  be  much  more  rapid.  Two  rail- 
ways have  been  projected,  and  may  be  -built  within  two  yeam, 
from  Leadville,  or  the  Arkansas  river  throygh  Marshall  Pass,  or 


,:«CSw>»v*iMigM^-i»^UA;o^tttH*i«fc»J*K*«B'— *^;  C""- 


U8 


:<:i.,. 


OUR    WESTERN  £MJ*IRZ. 


\\ 


\ 


.  possibly  by  w£iy  of  Guniiison  and  Grand  river.  Heretofore  it  has 
cost  $25  a  ton  to  pau:k  the  ore  on  burros  from  the  mines  to  Sil- 
verton,  or  to  a  wagon  road,  and  as  much  more  to  get  it  to 
•Denver  or  Pueblo.  The  unusual  value  of  the  mineral  is  all  that 
enabled  the  miners  to  dispose  of  their  products  under  suCh 
disadvantages.      >  «i     ■  .o  u) 

:>/i The  county  is  full  of  mineral  veins  of  gold,  and  mineral  chan- 
nels or  lodes  from  ten  to  twenty  feet  wide,  and  of  every  known 
and  unknown  combination  of  the  precious  metals,  with  other 
.  metals  and  elements,  abound  in  almost  every  part  of  the  county. 
The  Saa  Miguel  river  has  also  immense  placer  deposits,  which 
are  now  worked  by  hydraulic  raining  on  a  large  scale. 

As  a  mining  county,  only  the  eastern  portion  of  Ouray  has 
ibeen  much  developed,  but  everywhere  the  prospector  has  been 
J  Intwarded  for  his  toil.    The  whole  rqgion^,  watered  by  the  sources 
of  the  Uncortipahgre,  the  Upper  San  Miguel,  the  Rio  del  Codo, 
And  the  headwaters  of  the  Dolores,  is  full  of  lodes  of  great  rich- 
.fiess  Und  of  a  most  peculiar  character.     They  are  believed  to  be 
.true  fissure  veins,  and  net  contact  lodes  like  those  of  Lake 
<  county;  but  many  of  the  lodes  are  very  wide,  from  three  to  forty 
:  iecit,  And  contain  pay  streaks  ruoiung  side  by  side,  and  only  sep- 
arated by  clay  or  thin  slate  partitions,  in  whidh  gold  and  silver 
in  various  and  imusuxl  forms  are  found,  separate  yet  in  the 
same  lode.     Sometimes  several  of  these  wide  and  multiform 
1  lodes  run  side  by  side.    Hie  "  Bsgole  Mineral  Farm,"  now  owned 
.tby  the  Norfolk  and  Ouray  Reduction  Works,  is  one  of  these 
singular  mineral  veins,  but  they  are  abundant  in  all  the  eastern 
■part  of  the  councy.     Mr>.  Frank  Possect  ihus  ^describes  the 
:ie|;ole  Mineral  Farm:    ?*rll  1**  no^tc^q  u1aJ«!T*iUi0rt  !>d3.^9i«i1v| 
ixixf'  The  Begole  '  Mineral  Farm '  iis  lint  «f  die  wonders  of  this 
Ipart  of  the  State,    h  is  near  tiie  itow»  of  Ouiiaiy,  <a:nd  at  about 
(^00  feet  greater  elevation.*    It  comprisfes  forty -aores  of  grdu-nd, 
rbeing  four  claims  1^500  feet  long  by  300  >wide,  ^and  was  at  first 
'^f^oaed  to  be  a  hoiiixontal  'deposit  of  8Hv«r4)Q&Hng  ore,  but 
•iuibseqiiient  developmenits  prove  it  to 'Contain  fouir  mineral  chan- 
,iieis  or  k)des,  from  teH  to  twenty  fedt  wide.    One  «>f  these  lodes 

*Otth^  U7I640  ieet  above  the  MS. 


mi>.i.<ii-..  ^i:.— wi-x. 


[eretofore  it  has 
le  mines  to  SiJ- 
Ire  to  get  it  to 
|n#?ral  is  all  that 
:ts   under  siith 

mineral  chan- 
f  every  known 
itals,  with  other 
^t  of  the  county, 
deposits,  which 
:ale. 

J  of  Ouray  has 
)ector  has  been 

1  by  the  sources 
B  Rio  del  Codo, 
as  of  great  rich- 

2  believed  to  be 
those  of  Lake 
m  three  to  forty 
B,  and  only  sep- 
gokl  and  silver 
rate  yet  in  ihe 

atid  multiform 
nm,"  now  owned 
is  one  of  these 
I  all  the  eastern 
r^tlescribes   the 

ivonders  of  this 
y,  «nd  at  about 
lores  of  ground, 
md  was  at  first 
e&ring  ore,  but 
r  muieral  chah- 
B  «>f  these  lo*des 


SAN  HtlGVRt  DtSTRICT.  ^ 

has  a  streak  of  bright,  fine  galena  widi  heafvy  spar — the  former 
carrying  over  loo  ounces  ot  silver,  and  forty  per  cent,  of  lead, 
and  another  streak  of  thirty-ounce  galena  with  much  aocimony. 
Another  lode  has  a  very  rich  gray  copper  vein  in  a  gangue  of 
quartzite,  and  often  milling  from  $400  to  $7cx>  a  ton.  A  third 
lode  carries  sulphurets,  and  in  places  chlorides.  Thifl  property 
was  discovered  and  located  in  1875  by  Augustus  iJegole,  an  old 
Arizona  miner,  and  John  Eckles.  They  had  worked  it  in  the 
summer  seasons  up  to  the  fall  of  1878,  when  they  sold  it  for* 
j;75,oco  to  the  Norfolk  and  Ouray  Reduction  Company,  who 
had  built  works  at  Ourtay." 

There  are  numerous  other  mines  of  perhaps  greater  promise 
than  this  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Ouray.  One  of  them — tlie 
Grand  View  mine — yields  from  $100  to  $150  to  the  ton  in  gold, 
and  from  j^io  to  $ao  in  silver.  The  Mount  SnefHes  District, 
west  of  Ouray,  has  no  superior  among  the  silver  regions  of 
Southwestern  Colorado.  It  has  many  hundreds  of  lodes  now 
actively  worked,  and  most  of  them  are  very  rich ;  some — ^like  the 
Chief  Deposit,  the  Yankee  Boy,  etc.— producing  ore  that  mills 
fr'^m  300  to  500  ounces  of  silver,  and  one  or  two,  more  than  that 
to  the  ton.  Most  of  the  Mount  Sneffles  veins  carry  large 
amounts  of  gray  copper  as  well  as  galena,  while  ruby  silver  atia 
silver  glance  often  occur.  Some  of  the  ores  of  this,  as  well  as 
the  San  Miguel  district^  have  heavy  galena  and  zinc  ores, 
which  carry  silver  to  the  extent  of  $300  to>  the  ton.  • '  uj.  n: 

The  San  Miguel  district  is  developing  a  body  of  ore*  even 
richer  and  more  promising  than  those  of  the  Mount  SneflSes  dis- 
trict. The  lodes  here  are  in  pay  streaks  of  alternate  gold  and 
sil 'er,  or  sometimes  of  both  combined,  and  in  all  possible  forms. 
'•>  O'ff  the  Upper  San  Miguel,  Turkey  Creek  and  Howard's  Fork, 
there  are  many  hundred  claims  already  recorded,  and  moot  of 
them  are  worked  with  profit  despite  the  difficulties  and  enormous 
expense  of  transportation.  In  the  summer  of  1880  two  or  three 
smelters  and  concentration  works  were  set  up  in  this  region. 
"  Ingham  Basin,"  near  Columbia,  one  of  the  new  towns  of  the 
Upper  San  Miguel,  is  remarkable  alike  for  its  mineral  wealth 
juid  its  natiuntl  wonders^  The  pkioer  deposits  of  the  San  Miguel 
44       ■       - 


(SpO  O^^    WESTERN  HAJPiKt. 

river  are  pronounced  by  California  experts  the  richest  that  ha\  <: 
ever  been  found  on  this  continent,  and  they  are  now  preparing 
to  work  them  with  the  largest  and  best  hydraulic  appliances. 

An  eminent  French  mining  engineer,  M.  Cuemeyngs,  after  a 
careful  examination  of  the  chief  mining  districts  of  Colorado,  has 
just  decided  to  purchase  for  his  principals,  a  Parisian  banking- 
house,  the  Pandora  mine,  near  San  Miguel  Park,  on  the  upper 
San  Miguel  river,  pronouncing  it  the  richest  and  most  favorably 
situated  mine  he  had  seen.  Another  mining  engineer,  Mr.  H. 
M.  Pearce,  says  of  the  San  Miguel  Park  region :  "  This  is  the 
very  heart  of  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  Rocky  Mountains." 

The  Dolores  country,  of  which  Rico,  the  chief  town,  is  not  y<t 
a  year  old,  is  situated  in  the  southern  part  of  Ouray  county,  and 
is  sixty-five  miles  from  Animas  City,  the  latest  terminus  of  the 
Denver  and  Rio  Grande  Railway.  This  is  destined  to  be  the 
great  attraction  of  Colorado  miners  for  1 880-1881,  rivalling  in 
richness  Eagle  river  or  the  Gunnison  country.  Rico  has  about 
1,500  inhabitants.  Senator  Jones,  of  Nevada,  and  his  associates, 
have  already  purchased  a  controlling  interest  in  some  of  its  rich 
mines. 

The  Dolores  Plateau  extends  over  most  of  Western  Ouray. 
Gold  and  silver  are  said  to  exist  there,  but  there  is  also  reason 
to  hope  that  with  irrigation  these  lands  may  prove  arable  and 
productive,  or  at  least  well  adapted  to  grazing.  The  ruins 
scattered  over  all  that  region  indicate  that  hundreds  of  years 
ago,  this  as  well  as  the  other  plateaux  of  Arizona,  Utah  and  New 
Mexico  were  densely  peopled.,,  by.  |n  intelligent,  agfictiltura) 
people.   ■  "'♦,?;■''"■'•''?{ ^"  '^■■•"j-,4';"-''!-  ■"^t''  •'—  -••...<■ -...m^.i  ■  •■.(>i  ■  ■'\\^    .V'\" 

With  the  possible  exception  of  the  great  county  of  Gunnison, 
whose  mineral  wealth  is  as  yet  but  slightly  developed,  Ouray 
county  gives  the  promise  of  a  greater  out-put  of  the  precious 
metals  in  the  near  future  than  any  other  county,  of  the  State  ; 
Lake  county  may  overshadow  it  for  a  time  from  the  great  con,- 
;oehtration  of  capital  in  and  around  Leadville,  but  when  the  con- 
^]^ct<  lodes  of  L«adville  begin  to  diminish  their  yield,  the  Ouray 
iiriines,  true  fissure  veins,  will  be  at  their  best  and  with  a  certainty 
!of  permanency;  while  the  rich  placer  deposits  will  yield  for  yi^rp 


richest  that  ha\ ': 

re  now  preparing 

ic  appliances. 

lemeyngs,  after  a 

of  Colorado,  has 

Parisian  banking- 

irk,  on  the  upper 

d  most  favorably 

engineer,  Mr.  T. 

Dn:   "This  is  the 

Mountains."  -,.1 

f  town,  is  not  yet 

)uray  county,  and 

it  terminus  of  the 

:stined  to  be  the 

-1 88 1,  rivalling  in 

Rico  has  about 

md  his  associates, 

n  some  of  its  rich 


;v.  .1 


Western  Ouray, 
lere  is  also  reason 
prove  arable  and 
zing.  The  ruins 
lundreds  of  years 
na,  Utah  and  New 
igent,  agricultural 

unty  of  Gunnison, 
developed,  Ouray 
ut  of  the  precious 
jnty,  of  the  State ; 
)m  the  great  con,- 
but  when  the  con- 
ir  yield,  the  Ouray 
nd  with  a  certainty 
will  yield  for  yf^:^^ 


■Mfln 


GUNNtSON  COUNTY.  te| 

to  come  their  millions  of  free  gold.  With  railway  communica- 
tion, and  a  possibility  of  large  agricultural  production  and  pas- 
toral wealth  on  the  western  plateaux,  the  county  has  a  magnifi- 
cent future  before  it.  •     • 

Gunnison  county  is  the  latest  of  the  mining  regions  of  the 
State  to  be  explored,  and  may  prove  to  be  the  wealthiest.  The 
county  is  very  large,  having  an  area  of  over  10,000  square  miles. 
Summit  county  forms  its  northern  boundary,  Lake,  Chaffee  and 
Saguache  bound  it  on  the  east,  Saguache,  Hinsdale  and  Ouray 
on  the  south,  and  Utah  on  the  west.  It  is  traversed  by  the 
Grand  river  and  its  numerous  affluents,  two  of  which,  the  Gunni- 
son and  the  Rio  Dolores,  are  themselves  large  and  important 
rivers.  The  Gunnison  has  more  than  a  hundred  tributaries, 
some  of  them  important  rivers,  and  the  Dolores  has  a  considera- 
ble number,  of  which  the  San  Miguel  is  the  largest.  In  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  county,  the  Roaring  Fork  of  the  Grand 
river,  with  a  score  of  affluents  having  its  sources  in  the  Sawatch 
(Saguache)  Range,  winds  its  way  among  the  interminable  group 
of  peaks  which  go  to  n\ake  up  the  mass  known  as  the  Elk  Moun- 
tains. Each  of  these  tributaries  of  the  Grand  river,  large  and 
small,  has,  like  the  parent  stream,  its  caflon,  sometimes  very  dark 
and  deep,  through  which  it  finds  its  way  to  join  the  waters  of  the 
larger  river.  The  Grand  caAon  of  the  Gunnison  rivals  some  of 
the  most  remarkable  caftons  of  the  Rio  Colorado  of  the  West. 

The  first  discoveries  of  silver  were  made  in  this  county  in 
1872,  though  there  had  probably  been  surface-diggings  there  in 
i860  or  1 861.  The  discoverers,  in  1872,  were  two  brothers, 
George  and  Lewis  Waite,  who  had  drifted  over  the  mountains 
from  Fair  Play  in  Park  county,  prospecting  for  minerals.  They 
wandered  into  the  Elk  Mountain  region,  and  there  found  a  vein 
of  silver  that  cropped  to  the  surface  above  the  bed  of  a  small 
creek.  They  carried  some  of  the  ore  to  Denver,  then  the  near- 
est point  where  a  satisfactory  assay  could  be  procured,  and  found 
that  it  contained  both  silver  and  gold  in  paying  quantities.  With 
very  little  means  they  set  about  constructing  a  tunnel  through' 
Whopper  Mountain,  the  location  of  their  mine.  Two  or  three 
times  they  were  obliged  to  leave  their  mine  for  several  months, 


u.t<iwviJifcfea».fi^<i»iicaaMt^twrftji£tifc^'.t*«  v;».mi  *y-v>u'  ^ 


and  go  to  Fairplay  and  work  as  miners  in  order  to  procure  th« 
means  (or  obtaining  supplies  for  the  cruelly  cold  winters  in  the 
mountains,  but  they  toiled  on  faithfully  for  seven  years,  when  the 
reward  came.  In  1878  and  1879  the  overflow  from  Leadville 
began  to  come  into  the  Elk  Mountain  region,  and  while  the 
brothers  had  secured  for  themselves  three  very  excellent  lodes, 
called  the  Whopper.  Index,  and  Teller,  very  many  new  claims 

'were  entered  in  their  immediate  vicinity  on  the  affluents 
of  Roaring  Fork ;  others  on  East  river,  a  branch  of  thtt  Gunni- 
s«)n  ;  Cooper  creek,  and  others  still  on  the  Crested  Buttes,  and 
on  Slate  creek.  It  was  computed  that  over  18,000  persons 
visited  tliese  mines  in  the  summer  of  1879,  and  50,000  or  more 
in  the  spring  and  early  summer  of  1880.  To  reach  the  head- 
waters of  the  Gunnison  from  Leadville,  fifty  miles  away,  it  was 
necessary  to  cross  a  lofty  range  of  mountains  where  the  passes 
were  filled  with  gigantic  snow-banks.  In  one  place  an  immense 
deposit  of  snow  was  tunnelled  and  cut  through  in  order  to  reach 
the  land  of  promise  ahead  of  those  who  would  come  with  the 
summer.  More  than  two  thousand  claims  were  recorded  in 
1879.  The  mines  are  all  high  up  on  the  mountains,  and  the 
winter  is  long  and  severe.  There  are  only  about  five  and  a  half 
months  in  which  work  can  be  done  in  the  open  air ;  but  in  the 
tunnels  work  is  carried  on  through  the  winter.  The  ore  is 
mosdy  silver,  with  a  moderate  amount  of  gold.  It  is  galena, 
ruby  silver,  horn  silver,  gray  copper  and  native  silver,  and 
ittnges  from  100  to  500  or  even  1,000  ounces  of  silver,  and  from 
one  to  six  ounces  of  gold  to  the  ton.  There  are  now  several 
smelters  in  the  mining  region,  where  numerous  mining  towns  have 
sprung  uji  within  a  year.  Gothic  City  has  about  2,000  inhabi- 
tants;   Gunnison,    the    county-seat,    perhaps    as    many,    while 

,  Crested  Buttes,  Irwin,  and  some  other  settlements  are  rapidly 
growing.  There  is  a  possibility  of  a  ratlway — an  extension  of 
die  Colorado  Central — to  Gunnison,  within  a  year.  The  mines 
thus  far  located  are  about  six  miles  east  of  the  bounds  of  the 
Ute  Reservadon.  If  that  reservation  reverts  to  the  United 
States  under  the  recent  trieaty,  t^  whole  course  of  the  Gunni' 
son  river  will  be  prospected>  and  probacy  valuable  mines  dis- 


.riMfM/r  COUNTY. 


693 


n 


to  procure  th« 

d  winters  in  tho 

years,  when  the 

from  Leadville 

and  while  the 

excellent  lodes, 

nany  new  claims 

the    affluents 

h  of  the  Gunni- 

lited  Ikittes,  and 

1 8,000   persons 

50,000  or  more 

reach  the  head* 

iles  away,  it  was 

krhere  the  passes 

lace  an  immense 

n  order  to  reach 

d  come  with  the 

ere  recorded    \t» 

mntains,  and  the 

It  five  and  a  half 

1  air ;  but  in  the 

er.     The   ore  19 

Id.     It  is  galena, 

ative   silver,  and 

r  silver,  and  from 

are  now  several 

lining  towns  have 

•ut  2,000  inhabi- 

as    many,    while 

lents  are  rapidly 

an  extension  of 

ear.     The  mines 

e  bounds  of  the 

3  to  the  United 

»e  of  the  Gunni' 

uable  mines  dis- 


covered. Gunnison  cm  nty  produced  jfijocooo,  mostly  silver,  in 
1879,  the  first  year  of  i;s  development. 

Summit  county  has  an  area  of  about  5,000  square  miles.  It 
extends  from  the  crest  of  the  Snowy  ran^e  westward  to  Utah, 
and  lies  entirely  on  the  Pacific  slope  of  the  mountains.  Clear 
Creek  and  Park  counti<.'s  hound  it  on  the  east.  Grand  and  Routt 
on  the  north,  and  Lake  and  (junnison  on  the  south.  It  embraces 
a  large  amount  of  country  adapted  to  farming  and  pastoral  pur- 
poses, and  is  rich  in  silver  lodes  and  gold  placers.  The  yield 
of  the  latter  has  been  very  great,  and  that  of  the  lode  veins  will 
evidently  be  immense  in  the  near  future.  In  the  western  por- 
tion are  coal  measures  of  excellent  quality. 

Its  scenery  is  grand  and  magnificent.  Mountain  ranges  bor- 
der and  intersect  it  in  almost  all  directions,  and  among  them  are 
noble  rivers,  and  hundreds  of  sparkling  streams  and  dashing 
waterfaHs.  Vast  forests  of  pine  and  spruce  extend  up  the  moun- 
tain sides,  and  here  and  there  are  broad  valleys,  green  as  emerald 
and  watered  by  the  purest  streams. 

The  first  silver  lode  opened  in  Colorado  was  the  Coaley,  in 
Summit  county.  Its  discovery  came  about  in  this  way :  Some 
gulch  miners  from  the  Blue  river  or  Georgia  gulch  were  hunt- 
ing for  deer  in  i86r,  and  getting  out  of  bullets  manufactured  a 
few  from  the  outcroppings  of  what  they  called  a  lead  vein.  A 
year  or  two  later  they  were  in  Nevada,  and  found  that  the  silver- 
bearing  galena  ores  of  that  section  very  much  resembled  the 
material  which  had  supplied  them  with  bullets  in  the  Colorado 
Mountains.  They  wrote  to  an  old  friend  in  Empire  and  advised 
him  to  go  over  and  locate  the  lode.  After  some  delay  he  did 
so,  but  never  made  a  fortune  from  it.  Yet  it  led  to  a  great 
silver  excitentent  and  to  the  development  of  the  Georgetown 
silver  district.      ''"  ^'"  "'*••'■'  '"'^  •'*^"'"''  *''  •'•"^'  .■'^".' "'^  '■■'•'  •    '• ' 

That  great  natural  barrier,  the  Snowy- range,  has  acted  as  a 
sei4ous  drawback  to  Summit  county's  progress  and  advance- 
ment. The  heavy  snows  blockaded  the  entire  region  from  the 
outside  world  in  the  winter  season,  and  the  difficulty  of  crossing 
mountains  from  1 2,000  to  1 3,000  feet  high  caused  freighting  and 
travelling  to  be  slow  and  very  expensive.    Matters  have  assumed 


■^t — 


pp 


6^4  OUK    M^AsrajtAT  MMPiKF.. 

a  diflcrent  shape  during  the  past  few  months.  New  wa^'on  roads 
have  boon  built  at  much  lower  elevations  and  on  better  gradrs, 
furnishing  connection  with  Georgetown  and  Leadviile.  Kail- 
ways  are  also  projected  and  surveyed  to  both  of  these  points. 
An  extension  of  the  Colorado  Central  Railroad  is  to  be  com- 
pleted to  Breckenridgc  and  Leadviile  this  year.  The  leading 
towns  of  Summit  are  Kokomo,  Carbonateviile,  and  .Summit  City 
in  the  Ten  Mile  section— all  founded  within  eighteen  months — 
Montezuma  and  .Saints  John  in  the  Snake  river  region,  and 
Breckenridge  in  the  Dlue  river  placer  country. 

The  total  mineral  production  of  Summit  county  from  1861  to 
January,  1880,  was  |>7,336,9i3,  of  which  $6,360,912  was  gold. 
$820,000  silver,  $130,000  lead.  In  the  early  years  of  Colorado 
mining,  the  tributaries  of  the  Blue  river  in  this  county  were 
among  the  most  productive  in  placer  gold  of  any  in  the  Terri- 
tory. The  Georgia,  French,  and  Humbug  gulches,  the  Blue 
and  Gold  Run,  the  Illinois,  McNulty,  and  other  placers  yielded 
large  amounts ;  for  several  successive  sea.Hons  a  million  a  season 
was  taken  out  The  yield  continued  to  be  large  for  several 
years,  and  has  been  continued  to  the  "^resent  time;  and  the 
great  enterprises  in  hydraulic  mining,  inaugurated  in  1878  by 
the  Fuller  Placer  Company,  and  by  L.  S.  Ballou,  are  on  a  more 
gigantic  scale  than  any  others  east  of  California.  The  first 
named  company  have  constructed  a  flume  or  flumes  thirty  miles 
in  length,  bringing  the  water  from  a  lake  on  the  eastern  slope 
of  the  "  Great  Continental  Divide,"  which  was  over  1 2,000  feet 
above  the  .sea,  through  a  pass  in  the  divide  1 1,810  feet  above  the 
sea,  and,  after  using  it  in  their  hydraulic  mining,  suffering  its 
waters  to  fall  into  a  tributary  of  the  Grand  river  and  thus  And 
their  way  into  the  Pacific.  The  product  of  these  placers,  in  1879, 
was  over  $100,000,  and,  in  1880,  will  reach  at  least  $500,000.  It 
is  estimated  that  from  $8,000,000  to  $12,000,000  will  be  realized 
from  these  placers.  They  can  only  be  worked  for  five  and 
a-half  months  in  the  year  on  account  of  the  great  elevation. 

There  are  several  important  mining  districts,  old  and  new, 
on  the  eastern  border  of  .Summit  countj-,  in  the  Blue  river  valley, 
that  are  attracting  much  attention.     Of  these  the  gold  placers 


cw  wa^'on  rodJs 
>n  better  gradrt, 
.cadvillc.  Rail- 
of  theiic  points, 
id  is  to  be  com- 
r.  The  leading 
nd  Summit  City 
hteen  nionthti — 
ver  region,  and 


I  I. 


ity  from  1861  to 
10,9 1  a  was  gold, 
ars  of  Colorado 
his  county  were 
iny  in  the  Terri- 
iilches,  the  Blue 
placers  yielded 
million  a  season 
arge  for  several 
t  time;  and  the 
cited  in  1878  by 
u,  are  on  a  more 
»rnia.     The   first 
imes  thirty  milts 
ie  eastern  slope 
3ver  I2,cx30  feet 
10  feet  above  the 
ng,  sufiering  its 
er  and  thus  find 
placers,  in  1879, 
ast  $500,000.    It 
>  will  be  realized 
sd  for  five  and 
it  elevation.       ,„! 
s,  old  and  new, 
ilue  river  valley, 
he  gold  placers 


SUMMIT  COUNTY,  (^^ 

of  alluvial  deponits  of  the  Blue  and  .Swan  rivrrs  and  their  tribu- 
taries arc  the  oldost.  Kxtending  north  from  tlx  -^c  among  the 
moimtams  is  a  belt  of  veins  carrying  silver  and  lead.  The  Snake 
river  region  contains  both  argentiferous  galena  and  nulphurct, 
and  copper-bearing  veins.  There  are  some  very  rich  veins  in 
the  vicinity  of  Montezuma,  Saints  John,  IVru,  (ieneva,  and  Mall 
Valley — all  located  on  the  main  range  or  some  of  its  spurs. 
Near  the  headwaters  of  the  Blue,  carbonates  have  lately  been 
found. 

The  Snake  river  mining  region  comprises  Peru  and  Monte- 
zuma districts,  and  lies  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Rocky  Moun 
tains.  Its  elevation  is  from  9,000  to  1 3,000  feet  above  sea-levt  1, 
and  its  distance  from  (leorgetown  and  Ten  Mile  is  from  twelve 
to  twenty  miles.  Ciray's  Peak  and  other  mountains  of  great 
height  overlook  and  partly  enclose  it,  and  with  its  magnificent 
forests  and  grassy  vales  presents  a  landscape  grand  and  pictur- 
esque in  the  extreme.  Snake  river  enters  the  Blue  from  the 
east  at  nearly  the  same  point  where  Ten  Mile  comes  in  from  the 
south.  East  of  the  Montezuma  section  are  the  Geneva  district 
mines,  located  on  the  crest  of  the  Continental  Divide,  and  on  the 
line  of  Clear  Creek  and  Summit. 

The  great  excitement,  however,  at  the  present  time  is  over 
the  Ten  Mile  district.  This  locality  has  become  famous  during 
the  past  seventeen  or  eighteen  months.  Rich  galena  veins  have 
been  opened  in  the  mountains  west  of  Ten  Mile  river,  and  sev- 
eral thousand  men  have  assembled  there.  The  indications  are 
good  for  one  of  the  leading  silver  districts  of  the  State.  Further 
west  valuable  mineral  discoveries  are  reported  in  the  Eagle 
river  region,  but  these  were  made  this  season,  and  of  course 
sufficient  time  has  not  yet  elapsed  for  their  development.  The 
,fame  of  Ten  Mile  has  brought  in  people  enough  to  prospect  the 
county  very  extensively,  and  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  its  min- 
eral wealth  is  of  the  first  order,  f"  ''fM   1  •    1.  >;      >  I    .1  n<T  .  ;/;  ' 

The  Ten  Mile  District  comprises  the  converging  slopes  of 
two  parallel  ranges  of  mountains  and  the  intervening  valley  of 
Ten  Mile  creek.  The  upper  and  settled  portion  of  this  valley 
is  a  mile  wide  and  11,000  feet  above  sea-level.     The  westerly 


■'«iinnr«»r'..^  -.w,T»— 


W\ 


5gg  Ol/if    ITMSrMMN  BMPIKR. 

ranfps,  containing^  mont  of  the*  mlnw,  h  from  i.ooo  to  1,500  fr«t 
hiffher,  is  called  tlu;  (lorc  rangr,  and  further  north  in  divided 
by  the  (irand  river.  ()u  the  east  IVn  Mile  ran^e  has  several 
(ivakn  from  i  VSoo  to  14,3CX)  feet  high.  The  creek  was  called 
IVn  Miic;  because  it  wan  !iiipno»cd  to  be  ten  miU  <i  luii)^,  but  it  is 
in  reality  seventeen  miles  in  length.  I'hc  two  ran^je**  Iwrdering 
Ten  Mile  valley  extend  northward  from  the  main  divid**  on 
either  side  of  a  duprenHion  calird  Arkatisa^i  I'as:..  This  is  (our* 
teen  miles  north  of  Lcadville,  anu  from  it,  waters  flow  towards 
either  ocean.  About  two  miles  hirther  west  die  Fagle  river 
starts  from  Tennessee  Pass. 

McNiilty  gulch  empties  into  Ten  Mile  creek  near  itH  source 
and  the  site  of  the  new  town  of  Carlxmatevillc.  It  gave  its  main 
^Id  proiluct  in  i860,  1861,  1862,  but  is  still  worked  by  Colonel 
James  McNassar,  and  turns  out  from  jl4,(joo  to  $7,otx>  a  summer. 
Its  total  yield  from  i860  is  estimated  by  old  miners  at  nearly 
1360,000.     Further  down  Ten   Mile  are  tho   FoUett  placer  dig- 

This  region  had  been  prospected  b)  sevf^ral  different  parties, 
but  Wi  high  de  ore  was  found  in  quantity.  In  the  summer 
of  1878,  George  B.  Robinson,  a  leading  Leadville  mercli.int,  out- 
(Mted  an  old  prospector  named  Charles  Jones,  uul  the  .'^cventy- 
cight.  Smuggler,  and  other  mines  of  the  lioblnson  group  were 
found,  and  subsequently  the  Wheel  of  Fot  Mine  and  Cirand  Union. 
Then  people  began  to  move  over  that  way,  and  to  stake  off 
daims  sometimes  on  top  of  the  snow  in  mid-wniter.  Ltiadviile 
and  Ten  Mile  have  afforded  a  rich  hurvest  for  surveyors.  '  '    • 

'In  this  elevated  region  snow  falls  deep  and  often,  and  there  is 
usually  five  or  six  feet  of  it  on  the  ground  from  January  to  late 
in  April,  but  nothing  could  stop  the  fever-heat  of  excitement 
that  set  in  with  the  year  1879.  Men  kept  coming  in  over  routes 
that  were  terrible  to  think  of;  trees  were  felled,  cabins  built, 
tents  pitched  on  top  of  the  snow,  and  prospecting  carried  on, 
irrespectiv*  of  tlie  difficulties  in  the  way.  The  lack  of  surface 
mdications  were  made  up  for  by  a  superabundance  of  faith. 
The  miner  would  seek  for  unclaimed  ground,  clear  away  the 
sftow  from  a  chosen  locality,  and  then   commenee   to  Hiok  in 


nnf  miM  4m»  dtokomv  yintMM, 


697 


«  to  1,500  fret 

orth   in  divided 

)ife  has  several 

revk  was  called 

>  lix)^,  but  it  is 

w/v.'i.  horderinjr 

main   ciivid'*   on 

Phis  is  foiir- 

rs  How  towards 

le  Fagle   river 


tl 


near  itB  nource 
It  ^avf  Its  main 
•kcd  by  Colonel 
7,000  a  Bummer. 
miners  at  nearly 
llett  placer  dig- 

lifferwit  parties, 
In  tlu;  summer 
e  mercli.uit,  out- 
uul  the  S(.'venty- 
ison  ^roup  were 
id  Grand  Union, 
nd  to  stake  off 
inter.  Leadville 
jrveyors, 
ten,  and  there  is 
1  January  to  late 
it  of  excitement 
ig  in  over  routes 
ed,  cabins  built, 
tin^  carried  on, 

lack  of  surface 
ndance   of  faith. 

clear  away  the 
t:nee   10  Htok  in 


tearch  of  depoKir  or  vein.  Thii  Laj(Ar(.k>UB  style  of  (>rosprciin(( 
wa.it  ucc.i»ional'  fiUccrHsful,  and  a  k'W  {(ood  tiirikc  were  re- 
ported on  Shee^j,  Mlk  imd  Jack  MounLiins,  all  oi  wlucli  j^rtAtly 
advrtijicJ  the  fame  ol  Trn  Mile,  i'own  site«i  were  utakf  d  oH 
for  a  dinttinvjc  of  nix  miles  dov  n  the  valley  and  the  dull  roar  of 
the  jiiner's  blast  or  the  eclm  of  the  woodman's  a.^c  cuuld  be 
heard  all  day  long  umonjif  the  ^tatcfv  forehts  ol  pint 

The  enibryo  cities  of  Kokomo,  Summit,  or  Ten  Mile,  iiid 
C  arbonateville  presi  nt'd  a  ulrai  yr  medley  r)f  loj(  cabins,  tents, 
and  primitive  habitationK,  and  the  puces  of  town  lots  compiired 
in  altitude  with  the  places  in  whiich  they  wer^'  located.  There 
were  Iron)  thirty  to  fifty  arrivals  daily  all  ihrough  tlu;  spring, 
when  the  melting  snows  made  the  imperfect  roads  almost  mi- 
passable.  With  the  opening  oi  the  sumn\cr  of  1879  Kokomo 
claimed  a  population  of  i,5tx>,  and  had  an  orgam/ed  city  govern- 
ment, a  bank,  hotels,  stores,  saloons,  saw-milK,  and  the  tele- 
graph,  where  ther;j  was  not  a  single  settler  a  few  numths  before. 
A  newspaper  and  several  smelters  have  been  sent  there,  and  are 
already  in  camp.  There  arc  over  3,500  people  in  the  entire 
district.  Smelting  works  and  a  home  market  for  the  mining 
product  was  the  great  necessity,  and  this  has  now  been  supplied. 
The  Robinson  consolidated  mines,  which  embrace  twelve  or 
more  distinct  claims,  all  on  the  same  incline  vein,  are  th<:  great 
mines  of  this  section,  and  are  yielding  immense  quantities  of 
•liver.  The  whole  mourtain  side  seems  to  be  interlaced  with 
these  rich  veins.  The  formation  of  this  part  of  the  mountain  is 
an  indefinite  amount  of  red  .andstone,  about  four  feet  of  shale, 
thirty  feet  or  less  of  micaceous  sandstone,  lime,  mineral,  crystal 
lime,  and  sandstone  formation  of  unknown  thickness.  In  places 
where  this  structure  maintained  the  usual  depth,  the  ore  is  forty 
or  fifty  feet  below  the  surface. 

On  Sheep  Mountain,  overlooking  the  valleys  of  Ten  Mile 
creek  and  Eagle  river,  vast  deposits  of  silver  ore,  mostly  car- 
bonates, and  probably,  like  those  of  Leadville,  "contact  lodes," 
have  been  discovered  and  worked.  Some  of  these  mi-^es  yield 
200  ounces  of  silver  or  more  to  the  ton. 

The  Eagle  river  starts  from  the  vicinity  of  Tennessee  Pass, 


u 


pi 


6ifH  CUM    l¥MSTMIH^  EMHUM. 

wcil  of  the  hrail  of  I'm  Mile,  and  (1«)wh  northwesterly  between 
the  Gore  and  a  more  wrntcrly  rani^e  of  mDiintainn  into  the 
(irand.  It  \%  the  newcHt  miiui)|;  distrit  t  of  thr  almost  i.ncxplored 
regiont  of  VV fstern  Colonulo.  The  inouiuain»  that  cocIdhu  it 
are  said  to  contain  many  silver  veins,  %o\\\%i  of  th<  in  antwiying 
from  one  to  eleven  hundrcil  ounces.  Many  prospectors  went  in 
there,  in  the  summer  of  1870,  and  in  a  Ixrautiiul  park  th<?  embryo 
mctro|)olis,  ICagIc  City,  was  located.  West  of  the:  hcudwatersof 
the  Eagle  is  the  Mountain  of  the  Moly  Cross,  whose  eastern  face 
always  shows  vast  beds  ol  snow,  which  have  tht;  form  of  a  cross. 
This  snow  tills  two  mammoth  ravines.  The  hci^dit  of  the  cross 
is  about  1.500  fret  and  the  arms  are  each  al)out  700  feet  lon^. 
The  climate  of  tlie  l^agle  river  country,  and  of  that  Ix^yond,  is 
fine.  The  river  valleys  form  e.xcellent  grazing  lands,  and  lowrr 
portions  are  adapted  to  farming.  The  country  is  full  of  wil<l 
game,  and  the  streams  abound  in  fish. 

Summit  county,  west  of  the  107th  meridian,  is  now  included  in 
the  Ute  Reservation ;  but  when,  as  is  now  confidently  expected, 
that  vast  tract  is  releasful  to  the  United  Slates  government,  a 
great  extent  of  arable  and  grazing  lands,  and  many  rich  deposits 
of  the  precious  metals  will  be  opened  to  the  settlers  who  will 
soon  fill  the  region,    (i/vt/.'     •     ut    i.  .fj  ' -fm  n.,     r  i'<(  '  l';!     !<  I 

Grand  county  includes  the  Middle  and  North  Parks,  and  the 
slopes  of  bordering  mountains,  together  with  the  Rabbit  Ears 
range.  Some  silver  veins  have  been  discovered  in  the  latter, 
but  are  generally  of  low  grade.  It  is  claimed  that  carbonates 
have  been  discovered  in  both  parks,  but  this  does  not  seem  to 
be  authenticated.  Placer  mining  is  carried  on  at  Willow  Creek 
in  Middle  Park,  and  in  several  localities  in  North  Park,  and  good 
returns  are  reported.       u>»fr   «ttT  r'*  nir,ifiK;(n 'iTf;n)inT;  ^',-ii    iti.:a' 

Routt  county  is  the  northwes»';rn  division  of  the  State.  It  Is 
composed  of  mountain  range",  i.id  spurs,  divided  by  rivers,  and 
bordering  vallf^ys  well  adapted  to  grazing,  and  sometimes  to 
farming.  There  are  extensive  placer  lands  on  the  headwaters 
of  the  Snake  and  IClk  rivers,  which  are  operated  by  several  com- 
panies and  individuals.  The  principal  of  these  is  the  Interna- 
tional  Company  of  Chicago,  near  Hantz's  Peak,  which  has  been 


/ 


!?«trrly  b<*twern 
itaioH  intu  th« 
«>Ht  uncx|)lurcd 
iliut  cntloHu  it 
ilicin  ukHaying 
JtHturs  wfiit  ill 
irk  ilj«'  embryo 

icatlw.ilcrH  of 
)sf  cuHttrn  face 
orin  ol  A  croftM. 
It  of  the  cross 

oo  feet  long, 
llut  l)<'yon<i,  is 
hkIs,  and  lowrr 
h  full  of  wild 

flow  included  in 
lently  expected, 
jjovernmcnt,  a 
ny  rich  deposits 
ctders  who  will 

Parks,  and  the 
ic  Rabbit  Ears 
d  in  the  latter, 
that  carbonates 
es  not  seem  to 
t  Willow  Creek 
Park,  and  good 

le  State.  It  is 
I  by  rivers,  and 
sometimes  to 
the  headwaters 
jy  several  com- 
is  the  Interna- 
vhich  has  been 


Mourr  cousTV.  ^ 

making  preparations  for  work  on  a  large  scale  for  several  sum- 
meru,  and  is  now  in  sha|)e  to  push  matters.  This  tract  of  land 
JBi  supplied  with  great  Miime«i  and  ilitches,  miles  in  length,  and 
with  hyilraulics,  which  command  an  immense  amount  of  paying 
gravel.  About  flio.ooo  wan  taken  out  in  a  few  weeks  in  th«! 
hummer  of  1H79.  The  ICIk  river  dilch  and  (lum«:  in  sevrnteen 
miles  long,  ami  two  other  dit(  hcs  combined  are  nix  and  a  hall 
miles  long.  Three  giant  hyilraulics  arc  used,  one  with  i,.vk> 
feet  of  iron  pipe,  and  another  with  500  feet.  A  bed-rock  tliime 
has  been  run.  In  drifting  and  washing,  a  dike  of  porphyry  and 
1 70  feet  of  slate  have  been  passetl  through. 

There  arc  over  1,000  acres  of  gravel  land  ;  and  from  forty  to 
sixty  men  were  employed,  and  over  f  60,000  of  gold  produced  in 
the  year  1S79.  A  branch  of  the  Colorado  Central  has  been 
projected  to  enter  the  county  from  Middle  Park  ami  extend 
through  Steamboat  Springs  anil  I  layden  to  Windsor,  at  the 
junction  of  Fortification  creek  and  Yampah,  or  Hear  river,  the 
largest  tributary  of  Green  river.  Steamboat  Springs,  and,  in  the 
southwest  part  of  the  county,  that  extraordinary  instance  of 
nature's  architecture,  the  "City  of  the  (iods,"  are  wonders  well 
worth  visiting. 

Part  of  Routt  county  is  included  in  the  Ute  Reservation.  The 
Green  river,  one  of  the  constituents  of  the  Colorado  of  the  West, 
and  its  two  great  tributaries,  the  Yamftah,  or  Bear  river,  and 
the  White  river,  with  their  afHuents,  drain  the  county,  and  ex- 
hibit canons  of  great  depth.  It  is  believed  that  the  coal  meas- 
ures so  largely  developed  in  Gunnison  and  Summit  coundes  arc 
found  in  Routt  county  also ;  but  the  county  is  at  present  almost 
wholly  unexplored,  so  far  as  its  mineral  wealth  is  concerned. 

Jefferson,  Huerfano,  and  Arapahoe  counties  have  considerable 
deposits  of  coal,  but  arc  classed  among  the  farming  and  grazing 
ties.         •        '  '         ■'     '  '^  "    '.  ','  '    .  I  . 

With  the  exception  of  Las  Anintas  county,  which  has  in  its 
western  section  large  beds  of  excellent  coking  coal  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Trinidad,  none  of  the  other  counties  of  the  State,  beside 
those  named  above,  arc  known  to  possess  important  mineral 
deposits.  The  remainder,  as  well  as  some  of  those  which  con- 
tain the  precious  metals,  are  either  farming  or  grazing  counties. 


709 


OVR    WESTMItN   EMVIRE. 


W^ 


V, 


The  arable  lands  of  Colorado  comprise  at  least  1 5*000  square 
miles  of  its  territoiry,  while  the  grazin^^  lands  are  at  least  lour, 
and  possibly  five  times  that  quantity.  All  or  nearly  all  the  ara- 
ble lands  require  irrigatior,  but  when  irrigated  they  yield  enor- 
mous crops,  and  the  deposits  from  the  canals  maintain  and 
iii»-rease  the  fertility  of  the  lands,  while  the  water  dissolves  the 
alkaline  and  other  ingredients  of  the  soil,  and  insures  large  crops 
every  year.  The  first  cost  of  these  canals  and  ditches  from  the 
mountains  is  considerable,  but  it  is  in  most  cases  borne  by  one 
or  more  communities  of  farmers,  and  the  expenditure  is  followed 
by  such  large  and  abundant  returns  that  it  is  not  seriously  felt. 
Of  late  incorporated  companies  have  been  constructing  these 
canals  and  renting  die  water,  and  in  some  cases  have  purchased 
large  tracts  of  land,  which  they  sell  in  farms  of  80  to  1 60  acres 
•with  the  water-right  at  from  ten  to  fifteen  dollars  per  acre. 
The  largest  of  these  companies  is  the  Weld  and  Larimer  Canal 
Company,  an  English  corporation.  It  has  a  canal,  as  we  have 
elsewhere  said,  fifty-four  miles  in  length  and  capable  of  irrigating 
40,000  to  50,000  acres.  The  Greeley  Canal  is  thirty-four  miles 
long,  and  waters  a  region  almost  as  large.  There  are  many  of 
these  canals  also  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State.  ^ 

"It  is,"  says  Mr.  Frank  Fossett,  "a  well-established  fact  that 
heavier  and  more  reliable  crops  can  be  obtained  by  tlie  aid  of 
artificial  irrigatbn,  taking  one  year  after  another,  than  where  the 
uncertain  natural  rainfall  is  depended  on.  .  .  .  The  prosperous, 
well-to-do  farmers  along  the  South  Platte,  the  Cache-la-Poudre, 
Saint  Vrain,  Boulder,  Ralston,  and  Clear  creeks,  the  Fountaine, 
Cucharas.  and  the  Arkansas  and  Las  Animas  or  Purgatoire 
rivers,  are  all  illustrative  of  the  truth  of  this  statement.  Rich 
waiving  fields  oi  grain  now  greet  the  eye  where  once  were  bar- 
ren, uninhabitable  wastes,  and  vegetables  of  such  prodigious  size, 
and  in  such  immense  quantities,  are  raised  as  would  astonish 
those  unaccustomed  to  the  crops  grown  on  Colorado  soil. 
Inarming  has  often  been  enormously  remunerative,  and  few  that 
have  followed  it  steadily  have  failed  to  accumulate  money  or 
property.  Many  men  have  well-stocked  farms  of  great  extent 
and  value,  the  result  of  a  few  years'  industry  and  effort.     We 


'!;!:  \h.\ 


( - ' .' 


-UBS&& 
^^^% 


ie  \ 


THE  FARMING  COUNTULS. 


ast  1 5,000  square 

are  at  least  lour, 

1  early  all  the  ara- 

they  yield  enor- 

als  maintain  and 

Iter  dissolves  the 

isures  large  crops 

ditches  from  the 

ses  borne  by  one 

iditure  is  followed 

not  seriously  felt. 

onstructing  these 

:s  have  purchased 

f  80  to  1 60  acres 

dollars  per  acre. 

id  Larimer  Canal 

canal,  as  we  have 

pable  of  irrigating 

i  thirty-four  miles 

lere  are  many  of 

ate. 

ablished  fact  that 
led  by  the  aid  of 
er,  than  where  the 
,  The  prosperous, 
Cache-la-Poudre, 
ks,  the  Fountaine, 
jas  or  Purgatoire 
statement.  Rich 
'e  once  were  bar- 
ch  prodigious  size, 
is  would  astonish 
n  Colorado  soil, 
tive,  and  few  that 
muiate  money  or 
IS  of  great  extent 
'  and  effort.     We 


701 


can  hardly  distinguish  critically  between  the  farming  and  the 
grazing  counties,  since  many  of  the  latter,  under  the  influence 
of  irrigation,  are  largely  productive  of  grains  and  root  crops— 
but  in  general  it  may  be  said  that  Larimer,  Weld,  Arapahoe, 
Douglas,  Boulder,  Jefferson,  El  Paso,  Pueblo,  Las  Animas, 
Saguache  and  Costilla,  as  well  as  Conejos,  Rio  Grande  and  La 
Plata  have  large  quantities  of  arable  land,  and  some  of  the 
western  counties  are  probably  not  deficient  in  this  respect. 
Some  of  these  counties  have  also  a  reputation  as  grazing  or 
sheep-growing  counties — El  Paso  and  Las  Animas  in  particular 
being  noted  for  their  sheep  farms  and  catde  ranches,  and  WeW 
and  Arapahoe  having  some  reputation  in  the  same  line.  The 
grazing  and  sheep-raising  counties,  par  excellence,  are  Bent, 
Weld,  Elbert,  Arapahoe,  El  Paso,  Las  Animas,  Pueblo,  Douglas, 
Huerfano,  and  Saguache. 

"The  annual  farm  products  of  Colorado  are  steadily  increas- 
ing in  quantity  and  value.  Correct  data  of  a  detailed  character 
have  been  difficult  to  gain,  and  reports  from  various  sources  are 
often  conflicting.  The  farmers  are  not  always  willing  to  have 
the  full  extent  of  the  wheat  crop  known,  lest  prices  fall  to  a 
lower  figure  than  might  otherwise  be  obtained.  Consequently, 
it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  get  correct  estimates.  Millers  and 
speculators  always  figure  out  a  much  larger  crop  than  the 
farmers  are  willing  to  acknowledge,  The  former  are  the 
buyers,  and  work  for  low  prices,  while  the  latter  are  the  sellers, 
and,  of  course,  want  as  much  money  for  their  products  as  it  is 
possible  to  get  ■■■^"  /i>m  ,^qf.i-i:j..M,?  .rbtriVA  ri.t;-f/v>  :>'!'  ;'  .-f!  ;'.■'; 
*  'The  farming  product  of  1877  was  fkr  ahead  of  that  of  any 
preceding  year.  The  season  was  a  remarkably  favorable  one, 
and  the  acreage  of  land  sown  or  planted  was  much  greater  than 
ever  before.  The  result  was  that  a  large  portion  of  the  farmers, 
who  had  previously  suffered  losses  from  grasshoppers  and  from 
other  causes,  came  out  with  a  handsome  cash  balance  in  their 
favor,  as  did  those  who  had  newly  embarked  in  the  business. 
The  good  fortune  attending  the  season  of  1877  caused  an 
increase  of  tillfcd  land  in  1878  of  at  least  twenty-five  per  cent. 
In  some  sections  the  acreage  in  wheat  was  one-third  greater,  and 


I 


MNJVNMMHMMiwi 


»'Cterat£rft.iKg>C'tat^^»«WK''Triy<M«w^t^'iaj^ift  iMi  aMin^utn/m  ■l':»4t:^i^Miux^ix*^-^ 


-ift^i-''"(ir  M'" 


Mm. 


702  ^^^    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

in  Other  fifty  or  sixty  per  cent.  The  harvest  was  not  as  boun- 
tiful, however,  as  in  the  preceding  year.  While  the  aggregate  • 
may  have  been  somewhat  greater  for  the  entire  State,  tht:  return 
of  grain  and  some  other  crops  per  acre  was  considerably  less. 
In  the  northern  counties  this  was  partly  due  to  frequent  rains 
just  before  the  harvest  time,  causing  wheat  to  '  rust.'  In  South- 
ern Colorado  no  sucli  misfortune  was  reported. 

"The  total  agricultural  productions  of  Colorado,  for  1878,  ex- 
clusive of  stock,  may  be  summed  up,  as  follows: 

Wheat  ,,,,.  ^;,H'Ht.>   '^n«     \.\\\   rft;*.,i.     1,310.000  bush.        |i, 310,000 

Co™  •  ,:^ll•,■^..''^    •    •    '.IT,;.?.,?,  '..a  300,000     ",^,,1     ;  310,000 

Oats 250,000     "  I  135,000 

Barley 150,000  '  *'       '    .  80,000 

Rye    .    \    l^^'.''  .*   'iJ'";''V'    .  ■'■.^  <i''V  ' .'  '      50,000      "  ''  *  '  30,000 

Potatoes 450,000      "Ml       I  350,000 

Hay 1     .,    .,,.     .     'i*..^  •.!,.      50,000  ton(^,(i,i.  800,000 

Garden  produce r  .  ' ,.,    ., i,, 250,000 

Butter,  cheese  and  eggs,  milk — dairy  pi oduct    .     .     •     ,     r\,»\        '  350,000 

[y/Bii  I    Totil  v<  is^i^A-k^  it  )*  :;.tu«  <-rjfH«'(«t   ''f'i    •  .'.|'i'^'      <l3iS'5>ooo 
a  111  UtiS  Hiohq  }<h     .'//(^o>»  iiorj  iis-^dw  .■ueU  io  in  UA-i'%dl  -Hli 
^i.The  year  1879  was  one  of  Igirger  production  as  well  as  of 

much  more  e'  tended  acreage.  In  every  agricultural  product 
named  above  there  was  a  marked  advance  ;  while  the  vast  influx 
of  settlers,  capitalists,  speculators  and  tourists  furnished  a  ready 
market  fc  all  that  the  farmers  of  the  State  could  produce,  and 
at  prices  which  were  satisfactory  to  the  producer.  While  the 
returns  of  the  census  which,  perhaps,  may  not  prove  very  accu- 
rate, are  not  yet  at  hand,  there  are  sufficient  data  to  make  it  cer- 
tain that  the  product  of  the  nine  items  named  above  exceeded  in 
1879  5(i6,500,ooo,  and  would  have  found  a  ready  market  had  they^ 
reached  three  times  that  sum. 

,,■  The  average  yield  of  wheat  has  been  from  twenty  to  twenty- 
five;  bushels.  Possibly  twenty-two  bushels  come  nearer  ihe 
truth,  taking  one  year  with  another.  There  are  many  farms  and 
belts  of  land  that  yield  thirty,  forty,  and  occasionally  fifty  bushels 
to  the  a^re.  This,  of  coui^e,  is  (ar  above  average  returns  of  the 
State.     Colorado  flour  is  the  fipest  in.  the  world.     Quantities  of 


.-_r-  _.:,s 


.  liuU'^.-»;L;vt»: 


s  not  as  boun- 
the  aggregate 
State,  the  return 
jnsiderably  less, 
frequent  rains 
ust.'     In  South- 

lo,  for  1878,  ex- 

iJ       ti'      ■    (ll    •(■, 
(' '  •  I  J   i|   •  -Uf 

I 

$1,310,000 
310,000 
135,000 
80,000 
30,000 
350,000 
800,000 
350,000 
350,000 


ush. 


•')'' 


*3.5'5.ooo 

n  as  well  as  of 
cultural  product 
le  the  vast  influx 
rnished  a  ready 
Id  produce,  and 
cer.  While  the 
rove  very  accu- 
i  to  make  it  cer- 
ove  exceeded  in 
market  had  they^ 

i^enty  to  twenty- 
me  nearer  me 
many  farms  and 
illy  fifty  bushels 
e  returns  of  the 
Quantities  of 


WHEAT,  ETC,,   BY  IRRIGATION. 


703 


it  are  shipped  to  Illinois  and  other  States.  Oats,  rye,  barley  and 
other  cereals  do  as  well  proportionally  as  wheat.  Potatoes 
return  all  the  way  from  icx)  to  500,  and,  rarely,  700  and  800 
bushels  to  the  acre.  The  average  runs  from  100  to  200.  Vege- 
tables of  nearly  all  descriptions  grow  to  prodigious  size  both  on 
mountain  and  plain.  The  comparatively  inexpensive  system  of 
irrigation  constandy  replenishes  the  soil.  The  water  is  let  into 
the  ditches  and  on  to  the  land  in  June,  when  the  streams  are  full  I 
of  mineral  and  vegetable  matter  borne  down  from  the  mountains. 
The  water  goes  down  into  the  ground  and  leaves  the  mineral 
and  vegetable  substances  on  the  surface,  adding  to  the  soil.  The 
ground  continues  productive  after  years  of  cultivation,  because 
the  irrigation  brings  in  new  material.  Corn  does  not  thrive  as 
well  in  the  northern  counties  as  small  grains,  owing  to  the  chilly 
night  atmosphere,  yet  the  yield  is  considerable  and  steadily  get- 
ting larger.  South  of  the  "  Divide "  it  does  much  better  and 
large  crops  are  raised — sometimes  seventy-five  or  eighty  bushels 
to  the  acre.  Large  quantities  of  hay  are  cut  and  cured  in  the 
parks  and  in  most  of  the  larger  plains  and  mountain  valleys. 
The  good  prices  prevailing  in  the  mining  camps  make  this  an 
important  article  to  the  farmer  and  stock-owner. 

For  a  long  time  fruit  culture  in  Colorado  was  deemed  imprac- 
ticable. The  experiments  and  experiences  of  the  past  few  years 
show  that  fruit  of  various  kinds  can  be  raised  successfully,  and 
in  some  of  the  southern  coundes  profitably  and  extensively. 
There  are  thrifty  orchards  of  apple  and  peach  trees  at  and  near 
Cafton  City.  North  of  the  "  Divide"  much  more  difficulty  has  been 
experienced  ;  but  apple  trees  are  made  to  grow  and  bear  fruit 
when  protected  from  the  winds  by  other  trees.  Several  very 
fair  crops  of  apples  have  been  obtained  in  Jefferson,  Boulder, 
Larimer  and  other  counties,  t  rvii-.ji  vnijar/ii. '  .ms  .h  t.  ,, 
!  The  dairy  has  become  an  interest  of  no  litde  importance  within 
the  past  few  years.  Owing  to  the  nutritious  character  of  Colo- 
rado grasses,  the  milk,  butter  and  cheese  are  of  unrivaled  ex- 
cellence. Large  quantities  of  these  articles  are  sold  in  the 
numerous  towns  and  camps.  Several  cheese  manufactories  have 
recenrij^  been  established  in  El  Paso,  Boulder  and  Larimer  cown- 


'  r.v»i  J»irM^  »(»»a*>  ■^■ 


asfliai  :;;.*  lYtaJK'.Kw.i 


I 


-04  OUR    WESTERN   EMPIRE, 

ties.  There,  and  in  Arapahoe  and  Jefferson,  more  tha»)  else- 
where, are  remarkably  large  numbers  of  superior  cattle,  niany  of 
them  of  the  best  blooded  stock,  and  valued  at  very  high  ngures. 
Some  of  the  finest  cows  and  bulls  of  eastern  localities  have  been 
purchased  and  impcried  by  these  enterprising  farmers  of  the 
far-away  Colorado  border.  There  are  finely-stocked  dairy-farms 
in  other  sections  beside  the  counties  enumerated,  including 
Douglas,  Fremont,  Lake  and  Saguache,  but  those  named  first 
take  the  lead.  At  the  State  and  county  fairs  the  displays  of 
Durham,  Alderney,  Hereford,  Shorthorns,  Jersey  and  Swiss  cat- 
tle, and  of  stock  crossed  therewith,  are  very  fine. 

There  is  a  remarkably  large  amount  of  money  invested  in 
horse-flesh  in  Colorado,  and  the  average  quality  of  stock  is  very 
high  in  some  quarters.  The  liveries  and  private  stables  (espe- 
cially the  latter)  of  such  cities  as  Denver,  Leadville  and  Colorado 
Springs  are  of  a  very  high  order.  On  the  farms  are  large  num- 
bers of  horses,  some  of  them  splendid  draft,  work  or  saddle 
animals.  Good  blood  is  as  manifest  there  as  among  the  fast 
tro:ters  of  die  towns. 

Colorado  can  make  no  such  showing  in  amount  of  farming 
products  as  the  Mississippi  valley  States,  where  farming  is  the 
main  Industry;  but  in  the  yield  per  acre,  or  in  quality  of  wheat 
and  beef  cattle,  and  extent  of  stock-farms,  she  far  surpasses  them. 
With  little  care  or  trouble  these  Colorado  uplands  and  river 
bottoms  turn  out  nearly  or  quite  double  what  an  equal  area  gives 
in  Illinois  or  Iowa,  and  far  more  than  is  known  in  Minnesota  or 
Kansas. 

t.;  Wages  of  farm  bands  usually  range  from  $15  to  $20  per 
month,  with  board,  for  the  entire  y^ar  or  season,  or  about  the 
same  as  female  domestic  servants  receive.  Laborers  hired 
especially  for  harvesting  receive  from  two  to  three  dolhrs  per 
*  day  and  board.  T'.iere  is  qu»le  a  difference  in  the  prices  received 
for  farming  prodi  cts,  according  to  locality.  No  country  has  a 
better  market,  and  one  beauty  of  this  is,  that  it  is  right  at  hcHne. 
Kay  ij  "sually  from  |20  to  J530  per  ton  in  the  mountain  mining 
camps,  and  about  half  that  sum  on  the  farms  of  the  plains  and 
parks.     By  the  cental,  or  hundred  pounds,  potatoes  ranged  dur- 


st^ 


•«*  : 


:.ft. 


PROFITAfiLK    WHEAT    GROWING. 


705 


lore  thai)  dse- 
cattle,  nianyof 
ry  high  rigures. 
ities  have  been 
farmers  of  the 
ied  dairy-farms 
ated,  including 
)se  named  first 
he  displays  of 
and  Swiss  cat- 


iVl'i 


ley  invested  in 
of  stock  is  very 
e  stables  (espe- 
e  and  Colorado 
are  large  num- 
vork  or  saddle 
among  the  fast 

lunt  of  farming 
farming  is  the 
quality  of  wheat 
surpasses  them, 
lands  and  river 
squal  area  gives 
in  Minnesota  or 

Si  5  to  |20  per 
m,  or  about  the 
Laborers  hired 
iree  dolhrs  per 
;  prices  received 
o  country  has  a 
s  right  at  home, 
lountain  mining 
'  the  plains  and 
DCS  ranged  dur- 


ing the  past  year  or  two  from  $1.50  to  11175  :  corn  from  $1.50 
to  $1.75;  wheat,  $\  to  $1.70,  or  from  seventy  cents  to  $1  per 
bushel;  flour,  $2.20  to  $3  per  hundred  ;  oats,  $1.75  to  $2.50, 

Before  the  railways  reached  Colorado  there  were  occasional 
scarcities  of  articles  of  food.  A  single  potato  crop  of  a  moun- 
tain farm  near  Central  cleared  for  its  owner  $17,000  one  year 
when  potatoes  did  not  do  well  on  the  plains.  Many  years  ago 
receipts  were  often  very  large,  from  the  sale  of  crops  on  such 
large  ranches  or  estates  as  those  of  Colonel  Craig  and  others. 
A  leading  farmer  near  Denver,  who,  from  his  penchant  for 
potato  culture,  has  been  called  the  Potato  King,  usually  raises 
from  40,000  to  60,000  bushels  annually  from  200  to  300  acres 
of  land,  and  has  received  for  his  crops  all  the  way  from  $40,000 
to  $70,000.  He  plants  those  varieties  that  are  found  to  do  best, 
and,  as  in  most  parts  of  the  State,  many  grow  to  prodigious  size. 
The  highest  reported  yields  of  any  extensive  potato  crops  run 
from  500  to  800  bushels  per  acre.  These  are  exceptional  cases; 
but  200  and  300  bushels  to  the  acre  are  common  returns. 

Magnificent  crops  of  the  finest  quality  of  wheat  ever  grown 
are  usually  harvested  in  the  fertile  and  beautiful  valleys  of  the 
Boulder  creek,  and  of  Ralston,  St.  Vrain,  Poudre,  Clear,  Bear, 
and  Saguache  creeks,  and  in  parts  of  the  Las  Animas,  and  Ar- 
kansas and  Platte  valleys.  The  profits  of  a  farm  in  those  locali- 
ties are  dftert  many  thousands  of  dollars  annually.  Some  far- 
rtiers  have  hundreds  of  acres  in  wheat,  and  harvest  from  5,000 
to  1 5,000  bushel's  per  annum.  From  three  to  six  times  as  much 
land  is  usually  scH«m  in  wheat  as  in  oats  or  corn.  The  most 
approved  sowing,  planting,  attd  harvesting  machinery  are  used, 
and  steam  threshing-machines  aire  mbved  from  one  place  tb 
another,  as  theif  services  are  required.  These  machines  handle 
from  40,000  to  96,«dOo  btrshcils  each  iri  the  more  populous  dis- 
tricts. In  July,  1877,  over  $75,000  vrorth  of  farming  mschinery 
was  sold  in  Boulder  county  alone.      ,  ;..    ,>      ,t,u,!!/; 

Greeley  colorty  hits  oVer  35,000  alcfcs  of  land  lift'def  ditch, 

lAbst  of  it  ih  a  high  Stale  of  dultivation.    Some  fifty  or  sixty 

square  miles  of  territory  Were  made  available  for  agriculture  by 

the  recent  completion  of  a  section  of  twenty  miles  of  the  Larimer 

45 


■  jl*(W!'J4<.M*"n>'^t'*»»'-==V."-»"*.Vtfj«  - 


706  OUR   WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

and  Weld  Canal.  The  total  '  ngth  will  be  fifty-four  miles,  ami 
a  tract  of  country  thirty-six  n  les  long,  and  from  throe  to  ten 
miles  wide,  will  be  irrigated.  iii<  canal  starts  from  the  Cache- 
la-Poudre  river,  at  the  Colorado  Central  Railway  crossing,  and 
continues  eastward  until  the  Denver  Pacific  is  crossed.  A  part 
of  this  land  was  pre-empted,  and  some  i»  being  sold  at  from  $^ 
to  $io  per  acre.  i     ./  ..  .  i  ,  n    .,/t  i.  . 

Western  Colorado  is  beginning  to  be  settled  up  by  miners 
and  farmers.  For  many  years  the  great  Sierra  Madre  acted  as 
a  barrier  to  immigration  and  advancement ;  but  population  is 
moving  in  that  direction  at  last.  Beside  the  wonderful  mining 
discoveries  of  that  region,  the  farming  and  pastoral  resources 
are  considerable.  There  are  fine  parks  and  numberless  valleys 
enclosing  the  streams.  These  are  extremely  fertile,  and  will 
prove  very  serviceable  and  valuable  now  tliat  a  demand  has 
arisen  for  their  products.  The  Gunni.son  river  alone  has  from 
50,000  to  100,000  acres  of  farming  land  available  for  irrigation 
thai  bj  lower  ' :\an  San  Luis  Park,  and  which  yielded  20,000  tons 
of  hay  last  season. 

We  have  devotee'  considerable  space  in  Parts  1.  and  II.  to  the 
advantages  and  disadvantages  of  stock-raising  and  sheep-farm- 
ing in  Colorado.  Both  pursuits  are  carried  on  with  greater  suc- 
cess and  in  a  more  thoroughly  satisfactory  way  in  that  State  than 
in  any  other.  It  is  not  necessary  for  us  to  recapitulate  what  we 
have  said  there;  but  we  give  below  the  statements  of  a  thor- 
oughly intelligent  English  gentleman,  Hon.  J.  W.  Barclay,  M.  P., 
himself  interested  at  home  in  the  cattle  business,  and  who  has 
spent  many  months  in  the  last  four  years  in  Colorado,  returning 
thence  to  England  in  November,  1879.  Mr.  Barclay  has  no 
motive  for  over-coloring  his  account  of  stock-raising  in  the  State, 
and  his  views  will  be  interesting  to  our  readers  as  those  of  a 
competent  foreign  observer.    .,  j    ^      ,        ^  ,.     „  ,     .     .  ,_ 

Mr.  Barclay  says; 

"  But  although  a  great  future  undoubtedly  awaits  the  farming 
interest  in  Colorado,  the  present  profit  is  greatest  for  the  stock- 
keepers.  There  is,  indeed,  probably  no  part  of  the  world  where 
a  young  man  with  a  few  thousands  can  employ  himself  more 


<*• 


MR.  BARCLAY  ON  UTOCK  RA/S/\G. 


70| 


^-foiir  miles,  ami 
om  throe  to  ten 
from  the  Cache- 
vay  crossing,  and 
crossed.  A  part 
I  sold  at  from  $3 

.  •  ■  .  ■  t 
ed  up  by  miners 
a  Madre  acted  as 
)ut  po|)ulation  is 
vonderfiil  mining 
astoral  resources 
umburless  valleys 
r  fertile,  and  will 
X  a  demand  has 
\r  alone  has  from 
ible  for  irrigation 
elded  20,000  tons 

ts  1.  and  II.  to  the 
;  and  sheep-farm- 
I  with  greater  suc- 
in  that  State  than 
rapitulate  what  we 
;ments  of  a  thor- 
\N.  Barclay,  MR. 
ness,  and  who  has 
olorado,  returning 
r.  Barclay  has  no 
aising  in  the  State, 
lers  as  those  of  a 
li  .fi':\-  ni      ,.  J  >}■  j 

iwaits  the  farming 
itest  for  the  stock- 
)f  the  world  where 
)loy  himself  more 


agreeably  or  profitably  than  in  rearing  cattle  on  the  plains  of 
Colorado  or  Wyoming,  or  in  the  Parks  of  the  Rocky  Mountain 
ranges.  A  couple  of  thousand  dollars,  expended  on  houses  and 
the  erection  of  corrals  in  the  ntighborhood  of  a  permanent 
stream,  will  form  a  basis  of  operations,  and  he  can  graze  his 
flocks  of  sheep  or  herds  of  cattle  on  the  public  lands  around 
without  rent.  The  outlay  is  for  the  food  and  wages  of  his  *  cow- 
boys ; '  and  after  providing  for  that  expense,  he  may  devote  the 
whole  remainder  of  his  capital  to  the  purchase  of  graded  heifers 
and  good  shorthorn  bulls,  (jraded  heifers  may  be  got  across 
the  mountains  in  Montana,  California,  or  in  Oregon,  at  a  cost  of 
$15  each.  Shorthorn  bulls,  fairly  bred,  and  suitable  for  tho 
country,  can  be  purchased  at  from  f,$o  to  $100.  Sheep  of  satis* 
factory  quality  are  driven,  or  rather  cat  their  way,  from  Califor- 
nia, and  can  occasionally  be  bought  in  Colorado  or  Wyoming  at 
%^.  When  crossed  with  a  better  class  of  sheep  they  soon  im- 
prove, and  yield  fleeces  of  five  to  six  pounds.  '  ' 

"  If  the  stockman  has  the  faculty  to  select  good  men — and  such 
are  to  be  had  out  in  the  West — he  need  not  make  himself  a 
prisoner  in  his  ranch,  but  may  treat  himself  to  a  month's  hunting 
in  the  mountains,  or  even  to  a  trip  to  England,  without  imperil- 
ing his  interests.  How  long  the  present  system  will  last,  of  pas- 
turing on  the  public  lands,  is  uncertain.  Last  summer  a  Com- 
mission of  Congress  was  engaged  on  an  inquiry  into  the  best 
system  to  be  adopted  with  regard  to  the  public  lands,  and  aif 
idea  is  entertained  that  the  government  will  sell  land  suitable  for 
grazing,  but  too  dry  for  cultivation,  in  lots  of  eight  square  miles, 
about  4,000  acres,  at  a  low  figure.  Should  this  policy  be  adopted, 
the  ranches  will  be  fenced  in,  and  a  much  higher  type  of  cattle 
can  then  be  advantageously  introduced  than  would  pay  when,  as 
at  present,  the  cattle  of  different  owners  roam  together  on  the 
plains.  The  profits  of  the  present  system  are  enormous,  not- 
withstanding the  low  price  of  catde.  A  three-year-old  steer, 
weighing  alive  about  1,200  pounds,  fetches  only  $20.  The  in- 
tr^Af*  of  the  stock,  after  deducting  deaths,  is  about  eighty  per 
cent,  on  the  number  of  the  cows,  if  the  cattle  are  fairly  wei 
attended  lo.     The  attention  required  is  not  much.     To  cut  th^ 


-  1  III    II  iiii >rtii "  ■■r-- 


.Ji 


OVK   WaSTJtXif  RMPtHE. 


grasa  with  a  mowings-machine  in  some  of  the  meadows,  and  to 
•AVQ  the  hay  for  the  <;mer)^ency  of  a  snow-storm  severe  cnou}(l) 
to  debar  the  cattle  from  their  food,  is  all  that  is  necessary.  Hut 
even  that  sli^^ht  precaution  is,  1  fear,  rather  the  exception  than 
llie  rule  in  the  Colorado  ranches, 

'  '•'The  ease  with  which  meat  may  be  grown  out  in  the  West 
was  forcibly  impressed  on  my  attention  by  an  incident  1  observed 
in  the  North  Hark.  The  North  Park  is  a  great  undulating  plain 
within  the  Rocky  Mountains,  at  an  elevation  of  7,000  or  8,000 
fcet  The  drove  1  saw  consisted  of  3,000  cattle,  of  a  size  and 
quality  that  would  have  attracted  favorable  notice  in  any  of  ou/ 
markets  at  home.  They  had  been  feeding  on  very  nutritious 
grass  in  the  Park  all  summer,  and  were  expected  to  weigh  1,400 
pounds.  They  were  born  on  the  Pacific  slope,  and  were  fieedtng 
'here,  as  a  resting-point  in  their  journey  from  California  east- 
wards. They  were  part  of  a  lot  sold  to  Chicago  dealers  at  1*37.50 
a  head,  and  were  going  to  Illinois  to  he  fattened  for  the  English 
oiarket,  and  would  reach  Liverpool,  ready  for  the  butcher,  early 
in  1880.  Thus  cattle  that  first  see  the  light  on  the  shores  of  the 
l^acific  arc  driven  slowly,  at  the  rate  of  about  ten  miles  a  day,  as 
ftir  as  the  centre  of  America,  and  after  grazing  there  for  a  year, 
are  rarried  by  railway  to  the  maize-growing  .States,  whence,  after 
a  stay  of  a  few  months,  they  make  their  final  journey  to  Liver- 
pool. These  are  facts  that  lead  to  reflection.  Only  ten  years 
agOi  cattle  from  the  Last(;rn  and  Middle  States  were  taken  west- 
ward across  the  mountains  to  California,  but  the  tables  are  now 
turned.  Cattle-breeding  has  developed  so  rapidly  in  the  Pacific 
States,  as  not  merely  tx>  supply  the  demand  there,  but  to  pour 
ks  surplus  of  tlie  improved  Ajneriran  cattle  back  to  the  East,  and 
thus  to  supplant  the  inferior  lexas  brwttd,  which. in  a  few  years 
tiiay  be  expected  to  disapfiear  altogether.  It  is  computed  that 
during  the  present  year  50^000  cattle  havn  made  the  journey 
(eastwards  across  the  plains. 

"  Looking  at  the  capacity-  for  devdopment  shown  by  facts  lik« 
these,  it  is  idle  to  imagine  that  the  supply  of  American  cattle  will 
l)0Qome  exhausted  within  any  time  that  can  be  mentioned  in  the 
y)roximate  future.     These  plains,  covering  thousands  of  square 


adowH,  and  tn 
evcrc  enouj(!i 
•cessary.  Hul 
:xception  than 

t  in  the  West 
cnt  I  observed 
tdidatin^  plain 
7,000  or  8,000 
of  a  size  and 
in  any  of  011/ 
very  nutritious 
to  weigh  1,400 
(I  were  feuding 
California  cast- 
alors  at  1*37.50 
or  the  F)nglish 
:  butcher,  early 
c  shores  of  the 
miles  a  day,  as 
icr(!  for  a  year, 
s,  whence,  after 
urncy  to  Liver- 
Only  ten  years 
ere  taken  west- 
tables  are  now 
ly  in  the  Pacific 
re,  but  to  pour 
o  the  East,  and 
.in  a  few  years 
computed  that 
le  the  journey 

vn  by  facts  like 
rtcan  cattle  will 
entioned  in  the 
inds  c^  square 


RXI'OKTATION  OF  urode-'CATrfK. 

miles,  are  specially  adapted  for  rearing  cattle.  Hut  thfre  is 
one  direction  in  which  a  government,  even  moderately  ac- 
quainted with  the  interests  of  lieef-producers,  might  confer  a 
benefit  upon  the  farming  interest.  We  cannot  compete  with  the 
American  stock-keeper  in  the  earlier  stages  of  meat  |)rodurtion, 
but  in  the  last  stage  of  all — the  fattening  for  the  market,  which 
is  at  present  done  in  Illinois  and  other  maize-growing  States 
— the  farmer  in  this  country  has  facilities  which  would  enable 
him  to  distance  his  American  competitor.  The  cattle  1  saw  were 
to  be  transported  by  rail  to  Illinois  at  a  cost  of  $6.25  or  $7.50 
per  head;  for  other  ^35  a  head  those  cattle  could  be  landej 
at  Liverpool.  The  store  cattle  sold  in  Colorado  for  ^^37.50. 
These  would  be  sold  at  a  profit  to  all  concerned  in  Liverpool  at 
^•j^  a  head,  and  when  fattened,  could  be  sold  readily,  even  m 
these  bad  times,  for  ;jlioo  a  head.  But  this  profit  of  $25  a. 
head  is  forced  into  the  pockets  of  Illinois  farmers  by  the  wisdom 
of  our  government,  which  prohibits  the  importation  of  store 
catde  for  the  farmer,  and  admits  only  fat  cattle  for  the  butcher. 
Such  conduct  from  the  *  farmers'  friends '  is  not  kindly.* 

"  Those  who  say  that  there  is  disease  among  American  cattle^ 
and  that  what  the  farmer  wants  above  all  things  is  protecliotn 
ftrom  disease,  betray  a  want  of  acquaintance  with  the  facts  of  the 
case.  The  real  opposition  comes  from  a  few  bret;ders  of  cattNt 
who  have  the  ear  of  the  government,  and  who  object  to  any  stord 

•Mr.  Barclay's  argument  that  the  Briiish  graziers  ihould  import  American  "store  collie,'* 
in»(c-i^(l  or  nllowiiig  the  butciier*  to  import  Amcric«n  Tat  tattle,  is  adnuroble  from  his  stan<)poiiii. 
It  is,  iiiilci--i|,  their  only  hope  of  making;  an/ profit,  from  their  agricultural  pro<lucts  while  ihejp 
remain  there;  but  we  draw  from  it  two  very  diffprenl  lessonn,  viz.:  1st.  That  the  Itriiish  grazier 
will  do  very  much  better  to  sell  his  lands  or  hilt  lease,  and  come  over  here,  and  raise  cattle,  wherrf 
he  can  do  It  at  an  umloubted  profit,  mid  bocohie  ibe  proprietor  of  broad  lands  which  would  fern* 
ivduoal  estate  at  home  |  and  hccoikI,  ih.  t  "ur  siock-rniMTs  in  Colorado  and  other  States  ami 
Territories  of  "  Our  Western  Empire  "  may  just  as  well  fatten  their  own  cattle  and  sheep,  which 
they  can  do  at  small  cost,  and  thun  command  iinta  Igo  to  fioo  for  them  In  the  Liverpiiuf 
iiiarl<ct  aa  to  sell  Ikem  to  Illinois  speoulaurt  at  I37-50  per  head,  and  let  them  make  al)  thn 
pr.pfit.  Corn,  l>arley,  rye,  millet,  Egyptian  rice  corn,  sorghum  seed,  and  the  fattening  root  cro^ 
can  be  raised  in  Colorado,  Kansas,  Wyoming,  Montana  or  Dakota  at  half  the  cost  of  then* 
^ihluctioit  in  Illinoit,  and  containing  a  larger  measure  ef  carbonined  or  fattening  food  !•  th4 
laMhel ;  and  with  the  present  .'aoiKties  for  shipment,  they  will  be  able  to  place  their  finest  beevi* 
(  ml  there  are  no  better  anywhere)  in  Liverpool,  at  a  net  cost  to  them  of  not  over  I40  or  I4S  ,^ 
Head,  while  they  will  command  on  landing  from  I90  to  |ilo  per  head.  The  Montana  cattle,- 
\\t')A  t«id,  fatten  almost  too  well  on  the  nutritious  bunch  grass  alone. 


*'  ', 


^10  OiyJt    WKSTKKN   RMPiMM. 

cattle  bdnjj  imported,  whether  in  health  or  disrane ;  but  the  ^nmX 
body  of  farmrr^  want  cheap  store  (,utl<r,  ami  thry  can  have  them 
both  ch«*ap  and  htralihy  fi  om  the  natural  breeding,  j^rounds  of  the 
West,  if  only  the  f^tivfrnment  w  nild  put  itMcIf  to  a  little  trouble 
and  exercise  a  little  care  and  common  sense.  There  never  has 
been  any  diseaHe  in  the  Western  States,  or  in  Illinois,  Iowa,  or 
Michigan.  The  direct  route  for  cattle  is  through  those  States 
on  the  main  lines  of  railway,  and.  crossing  into  Canada  at 
Detroit  or  Port  Huron,  they  could  be  shipped  from  Canadian 
fiorts.  Cattle  could  thus  Ix:  carried  to  lui^laml  without  evrr  ap- 
proaching at  any  point  within  hundreds  of  miles  of  any  place 
where  disease  has  existed.  Those  acquainted  with  the  system 
of  transport  know  that  simple  and  effectiv  arrangements  could 
be  made  insuring  that  only  western  cattle  should  pass  into 
Canada,  and  the  only  hope  I  see  for  the  British  graztrr  is  in  get- 
l»ng  these  cattle.  The  attention  of  the  department  was  called  to 
this  suggestion  by  a  question  put  in  the  House  of  Commons  last 
session,  but  the  mouthpiece  of  the  governmcint  would  not  conde- 
scend so  far  as  even  to  promise  an  inquiry.  Such  neglect  we 
arc  unfortunately  but  too  familiar  with,  and  there  seems  little 
hope  of  a  change,  until  farmers  or  mercantile  men  insist  on  having 
•ome  men  in  the  government  of  this  commercial  and  agricultural 
country,  who  know  practically  something  of  the  country's  interests. 
I  cannot  but  think  that  we  should  be  better  off  if  we  interfered 
less  111  our  neighbors'  affairs,  and  paid  some  attention  to  our  own." 
Dairy- Fanning. — Though  so  new  a  country,  Colorado  has 
many  remarkable  advantages  f<M  dairy-farming.  The  small 
parks  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  divide,  where  the  valleys  of  the 
streams  are  not  ravines  or  canons — parks  which  contain  from 
tcx)  to  1,000  acres  each — form  the  best  pasture  grounds  for  a 
^airy-farm  to  be  found  anywhere;  the  grass  is  rich  and  nutri- 
tious ;  the  water  is  abundant,  cold,  and  pure ;  and  the  soil  is  so 
fertile  that  it  yields  in  profusion,  the  roots,  grains,  and  forage 
plants  necessary  to  produce  the  greatest  quantity  of  rich  milk. 
Good  cows  of  the  Alderney,  Jersey,  and  Holstein  breeds  are  to 
%&  had  at  reasonable  prices  in  tin-  State,  and  the  dairy-farmer, 
selecting  cows  which  will  yield  at  least  fourteen  pounds  of  butter 


[i.,!ftY^,IK.Ui\C  AV  COLORADO. 


711 


hut  the  f;n<at 

an  \\A\v  them 

rounds  of  the 

httle  trouhle 

ere  never  has 

nois,  Iowa,  or 

tliose  States 

o   Canada   at 

'otn  Canadian 

thout  ev(  r  ap- 

of  any  place 

i\\  the  Hystem 

[emcnts  could 

uld   pass    into 

i/irr  is  in  ^et- 

was  called  to 

Commons  last 

uld  not  conde* 

ch  ne^flect  wc 

e  seemH  little 

isist  on  having 

id  agricultural 

itry's  interesUi. 

we  interfered 

)n  to  our  own." 

Colorado   has 

The   small 

valleys  of  the 

contain  from 

grounds  for  a 

Ich  and  nutri- 

the  soil  is  so 

IS,  and  forage 

r  of  rich  milk. 

breeds  are  to 

dairy-farmer, 

unds  of  butter 


A  week  (I  I  ling  thr  season,  and  selling  or  rearing  his  calves,  can 
make  a  v  ry  handsonu*  i>rofit  on  a  tTKKlcratc  investment.  Good 
Itdtter  always  commands  it  gcnnl  price  in  Colorado-^lront  twenty- 
five  to  forty.five  cents  a  poiirul,  and  the  supply  \%  never  e<|ual  to 
tlu*  demand. 

Mr,  H  Straiten,  the  leadincj  dairy  farmer  of  the  Cache  la 
Poudre  valley,  Larimer  county,  makes  the  following  staK-nR-nt  ^4 
the  profits  of  ilairy -farming,  as  the  result  of  his  own  observotiiwn  ; 

"  Wc  will  suppose  eij.'hty  acres  to  have  been  tilled  as  a  grain 
farm;  the  dairyman  will  put  in  forty  acres  to  a  mixed  crop  nf 
corn,  potatoes,  oats,  and  barley  for  general  crop,  and  seed  down 
the  remaining  forty  to  Alfalfa.  This  will  take  8o<>  lbs.  of  seed, 
which,  at  14  rents  per  lb  ,  will  cofit  |^i  13.  As  the  fust  blossoms 
appear  on  the  AlfalCi,  the  crop  must  be  cut,  which  ordinarily  will 
just  aU)ut  pay  for  rotting ;  the  si .  ')iul  cutting,  (juiie  late  in  the 
fall,  wdl,  under  favorable  circumstances,  v  'it  one  ton  per  acre. 
This  forty  tons  of  Alialfa,  with  the  straw  .  fodder  raised  on  the 
forty  acres  set  apart  for  the  general  'top,  with  the  addition  of 
such  grain  feed  as  the  cows  retjuire,  will  be  sufficient  to  keep  a 
twenty-cow  dairy  in  full  feed  until  the  first  cutting  of  the  Alfalfa 
the  second  year.  We  will  svipposc  the  farmer  has  made  ^us  se- 
lection of  twenty  good  butter  cows,  about  the  first  of  October, 
and  made  the  necessary  preparations  to  keep  them  in  comforta- 
ble quarters,  putting  the  cows  at  one  e  on  full  feed  ;  we  will  figure 
what  the  result  will  be.  f  wenty  cows  fid  as  above  will  produce 
two  hundred  pounds  eacn  of  gilt-edge  butter,  which  properly 
HAarketed  in  Denver  and  the  mining  cnr ips,  will  net  35  cents  per 
pound;  and  4,000  lbs.  of  butter  at  35  c<  nts  equals  ^^1,400. 
Twenty  calves  properly  raised  and  fed,  will,  at  one  year  old, 
bring  $250;  chickens  raised  on  the  surplus  milk  and  refuse 
grain  will  net  $200  more,  which  makes  a  total  of  $1,850,  or  an 
average  of  $92.50  per  cow.  The  first  cost  of  cows  will  be  about 
$35  each.  By  making  a  good  selection  of  native  cows,  then 
grading  up  with  some  good  butter-making  breed,  the  farmer  will 
in  a  few  years  have  a  fine  herd  of  dairy  cows,  worth  at  the  lowest 
figure  $50  per  head." 

We  have  devoted  considerable  space  already  in  Parts  I.  and 


iJ>U 


;l» 


OVU   WSi.\TKKS   t.MriKg, 


II.  to  $k«<p  farming  in  Colorado,  in  connection  with  other  .StatcM ; 
it  only  rrmuinit  to  it|K-4k  oi  the  extent  and  HiicceHM  of  the  ithccp- 
(arming  intercut  in  the  State.  In  1870,  Colorado  had  not  niciw 
titan  30.UOO  »hcep.  In  1880,  Mhe  han  not  Car  from  3,500,00c. 
The  increane  in  the  niinilK-r  of  (lockii  ol'  Nhcep  in  without  any 
precedent  in  the  history  of  the  rapidly  ^rowinj;  Staten  of  the 
West.  The  cuuntieH  which  are  nu>Ht  largely  cii^a^ed  in  Hhecp- 
farmin)(  are  \\\  I 'a  ho,  Las  Animas,  Huerfano,  Conejos,  I'luhlo, 
I'ilhert,  hent,  Arapahor,  Larimer,  and  Weld.  The  hheep  in  ilw 
•o-called  Mexican  counties,  Conejos,  Las  Anima'.,  and  Huerfano, 
are  mosttly  Mexican  HJieep,  thou}{h  a  few  of  tlient  Iwwc  lx:en  im- 
proved hy  crossing  with  a  superior  breed  ;  but  in  th>  other  coun- 
ties thry  are  almost  entirely  of  improved  breeds.  The  Mexican 
sheep  yields  but  three  or  four  pounils  of  wool,  while  it  costs  ns 
much  to  keep  and  care  for  it  as  the  improved  Merino  or  Cots- 
wold  grade,  which  yields  from  six  to  twelve  poutuls.  As  ^ockI 
Merino  wwil  is  worth  on  an  average  twenty-five  cents  per  pound 
or  more,  this  difference  in  yield  makes  a  great  difference  in  tiu: 
value  of  the  sheep. 

In  1879.  Colorado  is  said  to  have  marketed  7,000,000  pounds 
of  wool,  worth  $1,400,000;  reared  over  1,000,000  lambs,  worth 
at  the  lowest  estimate  $150  each,  or  $1,500,000,  and  sent  to 
market  or  consumed  at  home  300,000  sheep  worth  $2.50  each, 
or  $500,000  more.  In  1880,  she  will  sell  10,000,000  pounds  of 
wool,  worth  $3,500,000 ;  rear  3,000,000  lambs,  worth  $3,000,000 ; 
and  sell  or  consume  300,000  sheep,  for  which  she  will  receive 
$900,000,  an  aggregate  of  $6,400,000.  :  ,m.  )     ■   '»    ' 

"Thus  far,"  says  Mr.  Frank  I-'ossett,  "the  business  of  sheep- 
raising  in  Colorado  has  been  very  profitable.  A  flock  of  i.Soo 
ewes,  CO  ting  $4,500,  were  placed  on  a  ranchc  in  Southern  Col- 
orado. In  eight  years,  1,600  sheep  were  killed  for  mutton  and 
consumed  on  the  ranchc,  and  7,740  were  sold  for  $29,680. 
There  are  14,800  head  on  hand,  worth  $3  per  head,  $44,400. 
The  clips  of  wool  paid  for  the  shepherds'  hire  and  all  9^rrent 
expenses.  The  result  shows  a  net  profit  over  the  original  in< 
vestment  of  $69,520,  equal  to  193  per  cent,  per  annum  for  eight 
years  in  succession.     Per  contra,  out  of  a  flock  of  1,300  very  fine 


M^l 


ifilh  other  SutcH ; 
CHS  of  {\\v.  kiiccp- 
du  haii  not  turn. 
'  fruin  j,5(X>,ocic. 
■|)  in  without  any 
w^  StatcH  of  the 
nj;aj;«;d  in  nhpfp- 
Conejos,  Piuhio, 
\\u     h\\VV.\)  in    the 

i\  and  i  lucrlano, 

m  I  ;we  Ixitin  im- 

I)  th<   othrr  coun- 

».     The  Mexican 

,  while  it  coHtH  an 

Merino  or  Cots- 

III  mis.     As  ^ood 

cents  per  pound 

difference  in  tlu: 

'.cxxj.ooo  pounds 
XX)  lambs,  worth 
300,  and  sent  to 
rorth  $2.50  each, 
0,000  pountis  of 
orth  j; 3. 000,000 ; 
she  will  receive 

isiness  of  shcep- 
A  flock  of  r.Xoo 
in  Southern  Col- 
1  for  mutton  and 
)ld  for  $29,680. 
:r  head,  $44,400. 
and  all  (^rrent 
the  original  in- 
annum  for  ei>;ht 
)f  1,200  very  fine 


% 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  .'UIN  STRBET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)872-4503 


A^ 


CIHM/iCMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  institute  for  Historical  l\«icroreproduction8  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


u.. 


SHEEP  FARMING  IN  COLORADO.  ^|| 

selected  ewes,  worth  $4  per  head,  8cx;  died  during  a  storm  of 
two  days  in  March,  1878.  The  400  that  survived  raised  in  the 
summer  of  that  year  more  than  that  number  of  lambs. 

"  Many  of  the  sheep  men  have  two  ranges  for  their  herds — one 
for  summer  aud  the  other  for  winter.  The  herder  usually  col- 
lects the  sheep  at  night  on  a  side  hill,  and  sleeps  by  them.  They 
lie  quietly  unless  disturbed  by  wolves,  who  are  the  most  trouble- 
some in  stormy  weather.  Shepherd  dogs  are  very  useful  in  the 
protection  and  herding  of  sheep,  and  are  born  and  raised,  and 
die  with  them.  Lambs  are  weaned  about  the  first  of  October. 
Sheep  will  travel  about  three  miles  out  on  to  the  range  and  back 
to  water  or  the  herding  grounds  each  day.  Those  coming  to 
Colorado  to  engage  in  the  sheep  business  should  engage  on  a 
sheep  ranche,  and  stay  there  long  enough  to  understand  all 
aboi:t  the  methods  of  conducting  the  business.  In  selecting  or 
taking  up  land  for  sheep-growing,  plenty  of  range  or  room,  with 
hay  land  and  a  water  supply,  are  requisites  for  successful  opera- 
tions. Good  sheep  should  be  purchased  to  begin  with,  as  they 
are  the  cheapest  in  the  long  run,  and  close  attention  must  be 
given  to  the  business  in  order  to  make  money  and  build  up  a 
fortune. 

"  While  Is^rge  numbers  of  the  sheep  of  Colorado  are  of  American 
breeds,  hosts  of  them  are  native  Mexican  sheep.  Still  larger 
numbers  are  of  mixed  blood,  obtained  by  crossing  the  long- 
legged,  gaunt,  coarse,  light-wool  Mexicans  with  Merino  rams. 
The  Cotswold  has  not  been  crossed  so  successfully  with  the  full- 
blood  Mexican,  but  makes  fine  stock  when  crossed  with  the 
three-quarter  Merino.  This  brings  siz;:  to  the  sheep,  weight  to 
tJie  fleeqe,  and  length  of  staple.  Since  Colorado  has  been  found 
to  be  the  ^heep-growing  State  of  the  West,  large  herds  have 
beei>  driven  into  her  borders  from  other  sections.  California 
has  beep  a  heavy  contributor,  on  account  of  the  small  expenses 
and  large  profits  attei^dipg  sheep-raising  here  2&  compared  \vith 
the  Pacifiq  s^ope.  Thirty  thousand  sheep  were  drive^i  in  frpm 
tl»t  St^te  in  the  spring  of  1879."  (ji  xhJh^j  • 

The  number  of  horses,  asses  and  mules  in  the  St^te  is  lafge 
in  prpportion  to  the  population,  and  is  rapidly  increasing  in  two 


k;;, 


jri^  OUR    WESTLKN   EMriRE. 

directions:  the  number  of  wealthy  mine-owners  has  greatly 
multiplied  within  two  or  three  years,  and  these  men  all  crave  the 
best  horses  to  be  procured  for  money,  and  have  already  brought 
into  the  State  very  many  choice  animals ;  the  mines  and  the  rail- 
roads, as  well  as  the  immense  freighting  business,  require  a  large 
and  constantly  increasing  suppiy  of  horses  and  mules  larger  and 
heavier  than  either  the  broncho  or  mustang.  To  meet  this  lattir 
demand,  and  to  some  extent  the  former  also,  such  great  corpora- 
tions as  the  Colorado  Catde  Company,  of  the  Hermofiillo  ICstau*, 
have  undertaken  the  rearing  of  many  thousands  of  horses  and 
mules,  and  find  the  enterprise  largely  profitable,  even  more  so 
than  cattle-breeding.  ;'>i         •      '. 

It  is  impossible  to  estimate  with  any  Vi^ry  close  approximation 
to  accuracy,  the  present  value  of  the  live-stock  interest  of  Colo 
rado.  So  rapid  is  its  growth ;  so  sudden  the  transition  from  a 
"  waste,  howling  wilderness  "  to  a  compact  and  populous  State  ; 
from  the  sage  brush,  the  alkaline  plains,  and  the  frightful  preci- 
pices and  cafions,  to  the  fields  green  with  future  harvests  and 
dotted  all  over  with  thousands  of  cattle,  sheep,  horses  and  mules, 
that  figures  which  frighten  us  by  their  enormous  amount  prove 
strangely  and  ridiculously  inadequate  to  express  the  enormous 
strides  which  every  material  interest  is  making  in  this  land  of 
wonders. 

It  is  known  that  the  increased  valuation  of  the  live-stock 
interest  in  1878  (not  the  total  value,  that  was  many  times  more) 
over  the  previous  year  was  ^6,200,ocx>.  It  is  known  also  that  the 
increase  of  the  same  interest  in  1879  more  than  doubled  these 
figures.  In  1880,  from  the  various  causes  we  have  specified, 
they  must  have  doubled  again,  and,  possibly,  much  more  than 
doubled.  When  we  add  to  this  the  receipts,  gains  and  profits 
of  the  farming  industry  for  the  same  three  years,  which  mounted 
in  that  time  from  $4,ooo,ocx)  to  more  than  5^13,000,000,  we  have 
an  aggregate  which  for  so  young  a  State  is  astounding. 

Railroads. — No  State  west  of  the  Missouri  river  is  so  thor- 
oughly interlaced  with  railways  now  completed,  or  soon  to  be 
completed,  as  Colorado.  '-"'  •  •  •■  '^  j  "  i  ■     uxijuu  wj 

At  the  northeast  the  Union  Pacific  enters  the  corner  of  the 


THE  RAILWAYS  OP  COLORADO. 


rs   has  greatly 
en  all  crave  the 
1  ready  brought 
es  and  the  rail- 
require  a  large 
ules  larger  and 
meet  this  lan<  r 
1  great  corpora- 
nioyillo  I-lstaio, 
of  horses  and 
even  more  so 

approximation 
iterest  of  Colo 
insition  from  a 
opulous  State ; 

frightful  preci- 
e  harvests  and 
rses  and  mules, 

amount  prove 

the  enormous 
in  this  land  of 

the  live-stock 
ny  times  more) 
ivn  also  that  the 

doubled  these 
have  specified, 
uch  more  than 
ins  and  profits 
which  mounted 
0,000,  we  have 
riding,  'i  '*^ii»^ 
/er  is  so  thor- 
or  soon  to  be 

corner  of  the 


7i5 


State  at  Julesburg,  on  the  North  Platte,  but  soon  passes  north 
into  Wyoming  ;  at  Cheyenne,  Wyoming,  it  controls  the  Colorado 
Central,  which  extends  from  Cheyenne  through  Larimer,  Boulder, 
and  Jefferson  counties  to  Golden,  and  thence  over  another  line  to 
Denver ;  this  road  has  also  its  extensions  in  progress  through 
Western  Boulder,  Grand  (traversing  the  Middle  Park)  and  Routt 
counties,  to  Steamboat  Springs,  and  Hayden  to  Windsor,  on 
Fortification  creek,  as  well  as  through  Gilpin  county  to  Black 
Hawk,  and  through  Clear  Creek  county  to  Georgetown,  and 
is  now  building  a  further  extension  through  Summit  county 
to  Leadville.  The  Union  Pacific  also  controls  the  Denver 
Pacific,  wliich  extends  through  Weld  and  Arapahoe  counties  to 
Denver. 

Under  the  same  general  control  is  the  Kansas  Pacific,  and 
the  newly  reorganized  Missouri  Pacific,  which,  starting  from 
Kansas  City,  Missouri,  crosses  Kansas  from  east  to  west,  and 
passes  through  Bent,  Elbert  and  Arapahoe  counties  to  Denver. 

The  Denver,  South  Park  and  Pacific,  which,  starting  from 
Denver,  had  its  western  terminus  in  1878  at  Webster,  in  Hall's 
Valley,  pushed  on,  in  1879,  to  Breckenridge  and  Leadville, 
reaching  the  latter  city  early  in  1880,  and  following  the  west  side 
of  the  Arkansas  river  valley,  crossed  the  main  divide  (the 
Saguache  range)  at  Cottonwood  Pass,  reached  Gunnison  in 
August,  and  is  now  pushing  on  for  Lake  City  (Hinsdale  county), 
125  miles  distant,  which  it  will  probably  enter  by  January,  1881. 
From  Buena  Vista,  in  Chaffee  county,  to  Leadville,  its  train:*  and 
those  of  the  Denver  and  Rio  Grande  Railway  run  over  the  same 
track.  i  :  .K-  '■  •  ,    .       J.:.      ...  J 

From  Denver,  the  Denver  and  Rio  Grande  goes  southward 
to  El  Moro,  extending  a  branch  along  the  Arkansas  river  to  its 
source,  reaching  Leadville;  also  westward  from  Cuchuras,  in 
Huerfano  county,  as  hereafter  described,  across  Costilla  to  Ala- 
mosa, whence  one  branch  goes  to  Del  Norte  in  Rio  Grande, 
and  another  through  Conejos  to  Anemas  City,  in  Plata  county. 

But  the  great  railroad  of  Kansas,  Colorado  and  New  Mexico 
is  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  Fe  Railway.  This  railway, 
starting  from  Kansas  City  and  Atchison,  crosses  the  State  of 


m 


;« 


^|6  OLNt    WBSrtkN  KUPmE. 

Kansas  on  the  line  uf  the  valley  of  the  Arkansas  riv:^r,  which  it 
follows  in  Colorado,  ihrougii  Bent  and  Pueblo,  where  it  connects 
witli  tile  Denver  aiul  Kio  Grande,  en  route  lor  Leadville,  and  at 
La  Junta,  in  Uent  county,  sending  an  arm  southwestward  and 
southward  through  Las  Animas  county,  past  the  great  coal  fields 
and  mines  of  Trinidad,  reached  Las  Vegas,  and  crossing  the 
main  chain  of  die  RucKy  Mounuins,  paused  for  a  litUe  at  Santa 
Fe,  and  is  continuing  its  southern  route  down  the  valley  of  thti 
Rio  Grande  to  Mcbilla,  New  Mexico,  and  LI  Paso,  Texas,  and 
stretciiing  thence  across  Chihuahua  and  Sonora — Mexican 
States — will  make  its  southern  terminus  at  Guaymas,  on  the 
Californian  Gulf  Uy  its  connection  with  die  St.  Louis  and  San 
Francisco  Railway,  and  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  to  all  whose 
privileges  it  has  fallen  heir,  it  proposes  also  to  strike  westward 
from  Santa  P'e  along  the  route  of  the  Fla'c  river,  one  of  the 
affluents  of  the  Rio  Colorado  of  the  West,  cross  Arizona,  bridge 
the  Grand  Carbon  of  the  Colorado  with  a  single  span  of  400  feet, 
1,600  feet  above  die  water,  and  make  a  western  terminus  at  San 
Diego  or  Los  Angeles. 

Neither  the  Union  Pacific,  tlic  Northern,  the  Southern  or  the 
Texas  Pacific  has  conceived  a  grander  scheme  for  crossing  the 
continent,  or  prosecuted  it  with  such  unfaltering  energy  and  such 
audacity  of  enterprise  and  engineering  skill.  Its  crossing  of  the 
Raton  Mountains  in  Southern  Colorado;  its  passage  carved 
along  die  perpendicular  precipices  of  the  Grand  Cafton  of  the 
Arkansas,  and  its  other  engineering  feats,  have  excited  the  ad- 
miration of  the  greatest  engineers  in  the  world.  In  Colorado 
it  has  made  a  close  alliance  with  its  former  rival,  the  Denver  and 
Rio  Grande,  and  the  two  having  divided  Southern  Colorado  and 
New  Mexico  between  them,  the  latter  has  extended  a  line  through 
Huerfano,  crossing  the  Sangre  de  Christo  range  at  Veta  Pass,  at 
the  height  of  9,339  feet,  through  Costilla  county  and  the  San 
Luis  Park,  to  Alamosa,  whence  one  branch  traverses  Coaejos  and 
La  Plata  counties,  and  is  now  completed  to  the  Las  Anima.s 
river,,  with  an  eventual  terminus,  perhaps,  on  the  San  Juan 
liver;  the  other,  branch  folliows  the  Rio  Grandie  on  the  line  be- 
tween Kio  Grande  and  Saguache  counties,  to  the  famous  mineral 


f"*! 


EDUCATION  IN  CO  top  ADO. 


7^7 


riv;:r,  which  it 

ure  it  connuctN 

aclvillc,  and  at 

)westward  and 

;rcat  coal  fields 

d  crossing  the 

I  little  at  Santa 

f  valley  of  th»; 

ISO,  Texas,  and 

jora — Mexican 

aymas,  on  the 

Louis  and  San 

:,  to  all  whose 

trike  westward 

.er,  one  of  the 

(\rizona,  bridge 

jan  of  400  feet, 

erminus  at  San 

Quthern  or  the 
)r  crossing  the 
nergy  and  such 
crossing  of  the 
lassage  carved 
Caflon  of  the 
excited  the  ad- 
In  Colorado 
he  Denver  and 
1  Colorado  and 
i  a  line  through 
it  Veta  Pass,  at 
y  and  the  San 
es  Coaejos  and 
e  Las  Animas 
the  San  Juan 
on  the  line  be- 
kmous  mineral 


sprinj^s  of  Wagon-Wheel  dap,  and  then  turns  westward  thronjTh 
Hinsilale  and  San  jiian  coimties  to  Silverton,  where  it  is  to  meet 
an  extension  of  the  Las  Animas  branch  to  and  through  Oxiray,  and 
up  the  valleys  of  the  Uncompahgre  and  Cinnnison  rivers  to  the 
Grant!  rivur,  and  thrnce  into  Utah.  Another  important  branrh 
of  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  Fe  east  of  the  Ciroat  Divide 
is  now  in  process  of  construction  from  Cafton  City  into  Custer 
county  to  Rosita  and  .Silver  Cliff,  the  region  of  the  new  chloride 
mines.  Within  three  years,  and  possibly  less,  there  will  be  no 
county  in  the  State  untra\ersed  by  some  of  the  lines  of  the  Colo 
rado  Central,  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  V6,  the  Denver 
and  Rio  Grande,  or  some  of  the  roads  with  which  these  are 
affiliated,  and  the  State  will  have  more  than  2,000  miles  of 
railway.  In  January,  1880,  there  were  1,326  miles  in  operation. 
There  are  now  more  than  1,450  miles. 

The  wagon  foads,  sometimes  built  at  great  expense,  are  foi* 
the  most  part,  excellent  and  safe.  The  ascents  and  descents  are 
sometimes  frightful,  but  the*  drivers  are  cool,  courageous,  and 
thoroughly  skillfi.l  men,  and  accidents  are  very  rare. 

These  remarkable  facilities  for  travel  and  transportation,  so 
speedily  created,  have  aided  greatly  in  the  development  of  the 
State,  and  have  helped  to  place  it  at  once  on  an  equality  with 
much  older  States  in  commerce  and  in  all  the  appliances  of  the 
highest  civilization.  California,  at  the  end  of  twenty  years  after 
her  admission  into  the  Union,  even  with  her  wonderful  growth, 
had  not  the  facilities  already  possessed  by  Colorado  in  the  fourth 
year  since  her  reception  by  Congress. 

Education. — Colorado  has  an  excellent  public  school  system, 
modeled  after  the  best  systems  of  the  Western  States,  and  its 
public  school  law  of  1876,  amended  slightly  by  later  legislatures, 
is  enforced  with  an  enterprise  and  ability  characteristic  of  every- 
thing undertaken  by  the  State.  It  is  fast  accumulating  a  mag- 
nificent school  fund,  and  its  citizens  pay  no  taxes  so  willingly  as 
those  for  educational  purposes.  Its  scattered  population,  espe- 
cially in  the  grazing  districts,  has  i^endered  the  maintenance  of 
public  schools  difficult  in  some  of  the  counties;  but  wherever 
towns,  villages,  farming  and  mining  districts  and  camps  have 


1; 


:  i^(i«r-4>JiiK^lk< 


been  established,  there  are  good  schools  orj^^ini/td  without 
delay.  Denver  is  noted  for  its  public  schools,  which  are  of 
the  hiji;hest  character.  Leadville,  the  same  month  (July, 
1877)  that  it  assumed  its  corporate  character,  thoujjh  then  a 
small  mining  camp,  established  a  public  school,  and  has  since 
multiplied  its  schools  as  rapidly  as  they  were  needed.  Greeley, 
Evans.  Longmont,  Colorado  Springs,  Pueblo,  Carton  City,  Rosita, 
Silver  Cliff,  and  all  the  rest,  have  made  haste  to  establish  schools. 

There  is  a  State  University  at  Boulder  endowed  with  lands  by 
the  government  and  supported  by  the  State.  It  has  a  prepara- 
tory ami  a  normal  school  department,  and  is  about  organ-zing 
its  full  course  of  university  study.  There  is  a  college  at  Col- 
orado Springs  which  has  four  courses  of  instruction — prepara- 
tory, normal,  collegiate,  and  mining  and  metallurgy.  The  terms 
for  tuition  are  only  $25  a  year,  so  that  it  is  practically  free.  At 
Colorado  Springs  there  is  also  a  State  Deaf  Mute  Institution, 
not  yet,  we  believe,  fully  organized.  There  is  a  State  Agricul- 
tural College  at  Fort  Collins  in  aclive  operation,  and  Farmers' 
Institutes  are  held  in  connection  with  it  every  winter.      '     '   "''' 

Aside  from  these  there  are  several  private  or  denominational 
institutions  of  collegiate  character  already  founded,  and  others 
Ml  prospect.  The  education  of  the  young  in  Colorado  will  be 
amply  provided  for. 

Churches  and  Religious  Denominations. — When  we  consider 
that  Colorado  is  but  four  years  old  as  a  State,  and  that  many  of 
its  larger  towns  and  cities  have  not  been  in  existence  more  than' 
three  or  four  years,  we  shall  find  that  the  religious  progress  of 
the  State  has  been  very  commendable.     The  Roman  Catholics 
have  a  large  diocese,  a  considerable  number  of  their  adherents 
being  Mexicans,  of  whom  there  are  many  in  the  southern  coun-' 
ties,  and  many  also  of  other  nationalities  in  the  central  and 
northern  counties.     There  is  also  a  Protestant  Episcopal  diocese' 
with  a  smaller  number  of  adherents,  but  very  active  and  efficient.' 
The    Methodists,    Congregationalists,    Baptists,    Presbyterians,' 
Lutherans,  German  Reformed,  and  many  of  the  minor  sects  are' 
also  represented  iii  the  Sta^;e  by  numerous  congregations.  "^^ 

*rPoptdaiion.-^ln  1870  Colorado  had   but  39,864  inhabitant^;- 


)r^^nni/t!(l    wltliout 
lols.  whkli  arc  of 
e    month    (July, 
r,  though  then  a 
ol,  and  has  since 
nrecled.     Grcf'Icy, 
'arton  City,  Rosita, 
establish  schools, 
wed  with  lanils  by 
It  has  a  prcpara- 
aboiit  ory;an'zing 
a  colleije  at  Col- 
truction — prepara- 
lnrgy.     The  terms 
radically  free.     At 
Mute  Institution, 
is  a  State  Agricul- 
tion,  and  Farmers' 
winter. 

or  denominational 
)unded,  and  others 
1  Colorado  will  be 


r  •' 


A^hen  we  consider 
,  and  that  many  of 
xistence  more  than 
igious  progress  of 

Roman  Catholics 
of  their  adherents 
he  southern  coun- 
1  the  central  ahd 

Episcopal  diocese' 
ctive  and  efficient.' 
ts,    Presbyterians, 
lie  minor  sects  are 
igregations.      "^ 
9*864  inhabitant^ 


fOrVt.ATfOy,   COUNTIES  AND  CtTIKS  OF  COLORADO, 


7«y 


about  what  Denver  and  Leadville  each  have  to-duy.  Wlu  n 
admitted  to  the  Union,  in  1876,  it  was  consid«;rfd  doubtful 
whfther  she  had  more  tli;in  75,cxx>.  'I'o  tlay  she  iiati,  int hiding 
tribal  Indians  (2,530),  197,179. 

Counties. — The  State  has  thirty-one  counties,  viz. : 


County. 


h  r 

R  HiliWr     . . . 

ChitffM 

CUur  Cruslt.. 
ijuiivju*... ,.  , 

Cu'ilillt 

Cutiiir 

D  III  |U« 

ElWri  

Kl   I'ano 

I'rimuni 

Olt^ii    

Oriiiid 

Uiinnlvm. ,  , 
Hinti'nl"  ... 
Hiitrfi  no  .. . 

I    flt.T.UJI  .  ,     . 

\*V«  

\jk  Plau.... 
(.urimtr.  ... 
\»s  Animat . 
Ouray.   .   . . . 

Park   

Pi'chlii  ..  . 
Km)  Grand*. 

K  Hill 

'^ui|ii(ich«,. . , 
Sun  Juan  ... 

S'lmmii 

Wtid 


Coumy  S4«l. 


r>«Rv«r ,,, 

\as  Animw 

Hoiilikr 

(iruiiiu    

Cicur^viown  

('t>nr)«i« 

Sun  l.ui* 

KiMiU 

('.»ik  Kock  ... 

Kiuwa  

Coloruilu  Kpring* 

(Jannn    

Cciiinil 

Hill  Sulphur  Spring* 

i.iiiiiiiHtin 

I,jliu  (!ity 

W..l-.anburi|    . . . 

(;oliL-n     

I.euilvill<l     .... 

PiirmllCIty 

Kurt  Collin* 

TrinHlad 

Oiiiny  . 

^airplay 

Pii.Ho 

UclNort* 

Mayden  ..  • 

SaKiiachi 

Rilvenon 

Hrei'k  nrldga. . .. 

GrmI  y    

Total 


Vkluailen,  iIt*. 


fii,'>7A,74(  an 
•  .»W.17*  'w 
J."V7.J»«  oi 

'.9J'.9V'  1' 

t44,j4«  «) 

JI9,    71  If 

(011.054  ^ 

911, 7IJ  <xi 

l,jua,<i}t  St 

J."7*.W5  '»• 

!4«,j6j  00 
.  »7?97  ai 
Aj.bM  75 

Ai.oll    LKJ 

W*."J»  3* 

1,988, «ro  nri 

i"J>()t  9? 

•  M.447  00 

>>VI<il}<l  ou 

i.4»».»yi  00 

9>  >  tit    9) 

79«,»39  ao 
3,f,<!<),<l)<)  00 
5.11.874  en 
74  Ml  00 
6j7,6  7  00 
«5,)'8  00 
iA.),i6i  00 

lkj.051,419  ti" 


K*llm«l«4 

viilualiun, 
July,  i8»j. 


fji,aae,ma 

5,ualu,iJUi 
7,UU,»JU 

4,iHiil,l«li| 

7",ii/*», 
l,-*iii,<iiiii 
t,(jar),tiiiO 

i,4)i),(iiiii 

I.IUI.IOO 

),ft  0,1  uu 
>,v  Ofjoa 

•  ,8i«l,UIHI 
I   Kt,(«iO 

I  ,rjaii,f]no 

■  ,')0rl,C^JO 
1,6110,000 

3ii,'«n,aiu 
6  o,oao 

3,..IU(l,rXX> 

■  ,t)nn,(iao 

7^o,noo 
i,5uo,uoo 
7,000,(100 
1,000,000 

IOO,(XIO 

1,000,000 

850,000 

1 ,400,000 

7,000,000 

fta4,4)o,ooo 


Aroo, 

P'lpitUiiun,  > 

SqiMri  iniln 

.879 





«.loo 

Vf**> 

9ii''o 

1,'»»| 

Ti' 

|J,1IU1 

l,«4o 

V" 

1,1  «JO 

6,IJUU 

1.61] 

4,'»" 

llll-O 

5,oi« 

/'» 

3,(HIO 

6,010 

«,joa 

t,«.'R 

9,uoii 

i.itii 

4.!"i 

H« 

7.ioo 

4,t78 

*    500 

1 1  ,IIUi> 

1,5011 

i,5>» 

4,<«o 

•  ,jl4 

5, 000 

79» 

7.J"" 

4UO 

IJ.O0O 

<.o95 

I,5ca 

1,1  J} 

»>uo<i 

9.o7» 

l»/)0O 

».3J3 

3,(100 

%,m 

3,000 

t,4l> 

9,000 

1,3 1» 

J. 500 

5,0011 

300 

33" 

3.0110 

7.6 

3iOOo 
o,uou 

«,>89 

to.494 

7.J'« 

190,300 

Pnpllki|l««, 
JUIM,  ills, 


!«,«4J 

■  .654 
9  74« 
6,V" 
7.'4'* 
5.615 

8,'  8 J 
14^6 
1,7  9 

7,y.» 

4«7 

•  •17 
\,vn 

4.1  '4 

A. Km 

»j8»4 

1. 1 10 

4.f9» 
*.9<'4 
7,070 

3.'/7u 

7.''5 

■iV44 

140 

■  .97] 

I,..fl7 

5i4!9 
5646 

194  .«49 


Cities  and  Toivns, — The  following  are  the  principal  cities  and 
towns  of  Colorado  with  their  population,  so  far  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, in  1870,  1875,  1879,  and  1880:    '     •' 


Cilic*  and  Towns. 


Denver 

I^iadviile* 

v'cnlral,  ) 

niack  Hawk,V 

VcvjiHavill*.  ) 
Piiirhlo  &  South  Pueblo. 

C  lorado  Springs 

Cfcorvetown 

Koiilder    

Trinidad 

Golden 

Cireelev 

UkeClty 


Population, 

.07.. 

1I7J. 

1879. 

1880. 

4.759 
none 

l7,orx> 

none 

38,000 
11,000 

3J.«Jo 
14,810 

4,401 

5,000 

6,500 

7,100 

666 
non* 

5,000 
1,500 

tfioa 
5,000 

6.500 
6,000 

Boa 

3i' 

4.000 
1,800 

5,000 

3.»oo 

5.400 
4,000 

563 

1,000 

3iOoo 

3,100 

'1' 
480 

none 

1,000 

1,000 

400 

1,500 

1,5CX3 

1,100 

3,100 
i,8o3 
1,800 

Citlas  and  Towns 


Canon  City 

Del  Norte 

'i<o»lia 

Silver  Cliff..... 

Kokomo 

Silvirton 

Oiirav 

Ten  Mile  Ciiy. 
Brownvville  &  I 
Silver  Plume.  J 
Puma  Vi<iB  . . . 
Carbnnali:ville. . 
Alamosa 


Population, 
■870. 

i«7J 

1879. 

■  8«o. 

119 

8.» 

1,100 

;:c 

none 

l.luo 

1,500 

none 

l.tXKl 

1,0(X> 

4,ooij 

none 

none 

1,100 

5,000 

none 

mine 

1,500 

3,oc«, 

none 

50U 

l.uoo 

i,5(x. 

none 

none 

t,ooo 

l,l(XI 

none 

none 

500 

1,50.. 

150 

700 

900 

I  ,7CX)  ' 

none 

none 

500 

I.oroj 

none 

none 

150 

«,5"    1 

none 

none 

800 

I,oo(; 

*Thi!i  is  within  the  cily  limits  iilone.     Its  siihurhs,  which  belong  in  the  miner's  phra.se,  tu 
the  same  mining  camp,  contain  17,000  or  18,000  more. 


i-.i^.'  '.I'ii 


J-i* 


Of  course,  in  such  a  hctorojjrnrous  assemblage  of  all  creeds 
and  nationalitit!»,  tlu-re  arc  many  who  \\v.\rr  ait«;n(l  public  wor- 
ship, and  who  arc  pe-rhaps  open  scofftjrs  at  all  religion — skeptics 
and  inlidt'ls,  either  of  the  more  intj-llectnal  and  prolessedly  scien- 
tihc  sort,  or  of  the  coarse  brutal  class,  th«*  American  representa- 
tives of  the  Communists,  Nihilists  ami  Socialists  of  continental 
Kurop<'.  The  Mornmns,  too,  have  been  planting  their  missions 
in  Southwest  and  Southern  Colorado,  in  the  hope  of  at  least 
winning  a  sufficient  number  of  adherents  to  secure  the  vote  of 
the  representatives  of  Cc^lorado  in  Congress  in  favor  of  the 
admission  of  Utah,  as  a  Mormon  State,  into  the  Union.  ' 

But  it  is  a  very  gratifying  fact  that  none  of  our  newer  States 
have  come  into  the  Union  with  a  better  or  more  deserved  repu- 
tation for  good  order,  safety  of  person  and  property,  and  morality 
in  its  highest  and  be  .t  sense. 

From  its  central  position,  its  rapid  yet  healthy  development, 
its  extensive  and  constantly  increasing  facilities  of  railway  com- 
munication, its  immense  and  as  yet  only  partially  developed 
mineral  wealth,  its  productive  farming  and  grazing  lands,  and  its 
intense  enterprise,  we  may  safely  predict  that  Colorado  is  des- 
tined to  be  the  leading  State  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  region,  and 
not  improbably  the  leader  in  wealth  and  power  of  the  new 
"  Western  Empire."  Two  decades  of  such  growth  and  progress 
as  that  of  the  last  four  years  will  place  it  among  the  grandest  of 
American  States ;  the  peer  of  New  York  in  population  and  in 
wealth,  and  exerting  an  influence  over  all  the  sisterhood  of 
States  west  of  the  Mississippi  which  will  justify  its  claim  to  be 
the  Empire  State  of  the  West.     '      <       .    , 


■',(■':      ;    •'       ■■ 

I,  I     ;   %     :    1  ,     .  -J,    .  f 


■I 


ft. 


uyx: 


!  ,;;•».  "«"»  I'l     \>;  \i   .1-    .■■    .■»  t^,'   ! 
.;'^iV  t.i'.M  I  '     '1.,      '  :s     F    t^ .    t  i    • 


'I  I 


■fV. 


•   '  'i 

■i 


Hi:  'f- 


;c  of  nil  creeds 
ind  public  wor- 
ijiion — Hkeptics 
oleHseclly  scien- 
can  reprtstnta- 
of  continental 
;  their  missions 
)p(!  of  at  least 
ire  the  vote  of 
n  favor  of  the 
Jnion.  ' 

r  newer  States 
deserved  repu- 
ty,  and  morality 

y  development, 
)f  railway  com- 
[ally  developed 
g  lands,  and  its 
olorado  is  des- 
ain  region,  and 
er  of  the  new 
;h  and  progress 
:he  grandest  of 
pulation  and  in 
sisterhood  of 
its  claim  to  be 


■m 


5 
*■ 

I 

i 


I 

I 


»r   »./ 


'I    1 


t         • 


'.;  ,;   ,.;    ..  :'■(• 


m 


- 


-«-»—^—i»»»^w>  ■»!■■<  immr* 


..d 


«|IJ       «  |i  I  I  ^1  I  vf 


"•i^i^^  (i  iJMJii  j|i  ■  »^  III  JH    l^ii*LH|j|ii     »i«m«^^>^«^i|ij  ii|jj^iij|i|if     u  III 
'  t  t     •  t  '  I,    .■        ^ 


■  umi      u'l-iM  «  '.».JiJi  i|  I  g  ||' 


I      '     *. 


'•>ft' 


■■'%'i 


M44'-'[ 


^.jTi  ■"^■s5*'rVV><-'*^»vJ  IJ' 


,..,*..- 


m 


BOUNDARIES  OF  DAKOTA.  f^x 

CHAPTER  V.  ■ 

,1..  •;  ..iii  .!  DAKOTA. 

ROUNOARIGS,  ArKA    AND   ToPOGRAPHV   OK   DAKOTA — FiRST   SktIUP.MENTS — 0«« 

'  OANiZATiON  —  Rivers — Lakes — Dakota  Divided  into  Koi'r  Sections: 
Northern,  Centra!,,  Southeastern  and  Black  Him.s — CuAp.ArrHRiSTics 
OF  EACH — The  Bad  Lands— Fossils  there — Governor  Howard's  De- 
scription OF  THESK  sections— Governor  Howard's  Address — His  Report 
to  the  Skcretarv  of  the  Interior — Biographicai.  Notice  of  Governor 
Howard — The  Survevor-Generak's  Rf.port — Northern  Dakota — The 
Description  of  it  bv  Hon.  James  B.  Power— Charles  Carleton  Coffin's 
DEiiCRiPTioN  intheChicauo Tribune — Thk  Correspondent  of  the  Chicago 
Journal — Other  Testimony — Bishop  Peck,  Messrs.  Reed  and  Pell — Cen- 
tral Dakota — The  Account  of  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway 
Commission — Southeastern  Dakota — Rev.  Edward  Ellis's  Letter — Hon. 

•  W.  H.  H.  Beadle's  Description — His  Competency  as  a  Witness — Meteor- 

'  OLOCY  of  Southeastern  Dakota — The  Black  Hills — Mr.  Zimri  L.  White's 

Description  of  this  Region — Climate  and  Meteorology  of  the  Black 

•i  Hills— GoLD-MiNiNO    there— Four   Classes    of  Mines— Cheapness    of 

,  Mining  and  Milling — Altitudes  in  the  Black  Hills — Population  or 
Towns — Farming,  Grazing  and  Market-gardening  in  the  Black  Hills 

'  — Social  Life  and  Morals  there — Railroads  in  Dakota — Population 
OF  the  Territory  and  its  Character — The  Future  of  Dakota. 

Dakota  Territory  as  now  constituted  lies  between  the  parallels 
of  42°  30'  and  49°  north  latitude,  and  between  the  meridians  of 
96"  20'  and  104  west  longitude  from  Greenwich.  There  is  also 
a  small  tract  of  about  2,000  square  mites,  lying  between  Montana, 
Idaho  and  Wyoming,  of  an  irregular  and  partially  triangular  form, 
which  was  overlooked  when  Wyoming  was  organized,  which  be- 
longs to  Dakota,  though  no  jurisdiction  is  exercised  over  it  by 
the  Territory,  and  it  is  at  least  450  miles  from  its  nearest  bound- 
ary. This  little  tract  is  traversed  by  the  Utah  and  Northern 
Railway,  and  includes  a  small  slice  of  the  Yellowstone  Park. 
Dakota  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Northwest  British  Terri- 
tory and  Manitobsi,  east  by  Minnesota  and  Iowa,  south  by 
Nebraska  and  the  Missouri  river,  and  west  by  Wyoming  and 
Montana.  Its  area  i&  1^56,932  square  miles,  or  96,596,480  a^res. 
46 


'i 


'  <s«^jt!K^'iiiie6i»riMMte!>al^^ 


.M 


i 


'1 


rt« 


OUH    WdiHTLkN  JLAI^lkit, 


It  is  about  450  miles  in  length  from  north  to  south,  and  350 
miles  from  east  to  west. 

The  first  settlements  in  the  Territory  were  made  in  the  south- 
cast  in  1859  in  Yankton  and  vicinity,  but  were  very  few  and 
scattering.  It  was  first  organized  as  a  Territory  in  1 861,  con- 
taining tnen  a  vast  territory,  which  has  since  been  reduced  by 
the  organization  of  other  Territories  till,  in  i868,  it  was  reduced  to 
its  present  area.  The  Missouri  river  traverses  the  Territory 
from  Fort  Buford  in  the  northwest  to  Sioux  City  in  the  south- 
east, and  is  navigable  for  the  whole  distance.  Its  largest  afflu- 
ent, the  Yellowstone,  enters  it  opposite  Fort  Buford,  just  as  it 
enters  the  Territory.  The  Missouri  receives  eleven  or  twelve 
large  tributaries  on  the  south  side,  and  about  the  same  num- 
ber on  the  north  side,  within  the  limits  of  the  Territory.  The 
Red  river  of  the  North  rises  in  Lake  Traverse  (latitude  46"),  and 
flowing  due  north  forms  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  Territory 
for  more  than  200  miles  to  the  boundaries  of  Manitoba,  and 
eaters  Lake  Winnipeg  in  the  northern  part  of  that  province. 
The  Red  river  has  two  large  afiluents,  the  Pembina  and  tht 
Sheyenne,  and  several  smaller  ones.  The  Souris  or  Mouse 
river,  a  tributary  of  the  Assiniboine,  one  of  the  Canadian  rivers, 
drains  the  northwestern  part  of  tjie  Territory.  The  Minnesota 
river,  a  tributary  of  the  Mississippi,  has  its  source  in  Big  Stone 
lake,  and  several  of  its  affluents  rise  in  Southeastern  Dakota. 

Of  the  tributaries  of  the  Missouri  in  Dakota,  the  principal  on 
the  north  side  are  the  Big  Sioux,  and  the  Dakota  or  James.  The 
latter  is  nearly  400  miles  in  length,  a  river  of  considerable  vol- 
ume, but  is  not  navigable  in  any  part  of  its  course.  On  the  south 
side  of  the  Missouri,  the  principal  affluents  are :  the  Niobrara, 
which  forms  the  boundary  between  Nebraska  and  Dakota  for  a 
considerable  distance,  and  its  tributary,  the  Keyapaha;  the  White 
river,  the  B^  Cheyenne,  with  its  north  and  south  forks  (the  for- 
mer bearing  also  the  name  of  La  Belle  Fourche),  the  Owl  river, 
the  Grand  river,  and  the  north  and  south  forks  of  the  Cannonball 
fiver,  the  Heart  river,  the  Big  Knife  rivwr  and  the  Little  Missouri 
tChe  wJMle  Territory  is  well  watef«d.!o.'-.'i{/.  •>df  iurc  f.^ir-Kic^*/! 
.^■^kata  has  very  many  lakea^  some  of  them,  like  Lakes  Mimw- 


I 


■M 


south,  and  350 

de  in  the  south- 
e  very  few  and 
ry  in  1861,  con 
:en  reduced  by 
t  was  reduced  to 
s  the  Territory 
y  in  the  sou th- 
is largest  afflu- 
u ford,  just  as  it 
even  or  twelve 
the  same  nuin- 
Territory.    The 
atitude46°),and 
af  the  Territory 
Manitoba,  and 
F  that  province. 
;mbina  and  tht 
)uris  or  Mouse 
Canadian  rivers, 
The  Minnesota 
ce  in  Big  Stone 
tern  Daicota. 
the  principal  on 
or  James.    The 
onsiderable  vol- 
On  the  south 
:  the  Niobrara, 
d  Dakota  for  a 
>aha;  the  Wiiite 
1  forks  (the  for- 
,  the  Owl  river, 
the  CannonbaD 
Little  Missouri 

:  Lakes  Mtnne- 


r:i 


COy/iAWOJf   iiOWAKD'S   kHfOKT  OF  1878. 


m 


Waukan,  Traverse,  Big  Stone,  James,  Kampeska,  etc,  of  large 
size,  and  all  of  remarkable  beauty. 

Dakota  was  formerly  divided  into  two  or  three  distinct  sec- 
tions, and  since  the  cession  of  the  reservations  of  the  Sioux 
and  other  Indian  tribes  a  fourth  has  been  added.  Northeastern, 
or  perhaps  more  properly  Northern  Dakota,  extends  across  the 
State  hfty  miles  or  more  on  either  side  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railway,  from  the  Red  River  valley  to  the  bounds  of  Montana. 
It  is,  for  the  most  part,  a  very  fine  wheat  region.  The  soil  is 
rich,  deep  and  easily  tilled,  and  yiekls  large  crops  of  the  cereals, 
and  of  potatoes  and  other  root  crops.  Central  Dakota,  the  new 
division,  includes  much  of  the  former  Sioux  reservation.  This 
is  also  good  land  for  the  cereals,  for  Indian  corn,  the  root  crops, 
and  some  portions  of  it  for  grazing.  The  third  Section,  South- 
east Dakota,  is  almost  wholly  farming  land,  and  along  the  river 
valleys  and  the  plains,  which  extend  back  from  them,  there  is  no 
better  land  anywhere  on  the  continent  The  so-called  Bad  Lands 
{mauvaises  terres)  of  Southern  Dakota  are  of  much  less  extent 
than  has  generally  been  supposed.  They  are  entirely  in  this 
section,  and  there  are  but  75,000  acres  (about  three  townships 
in  all)  of  them.  There  is  said  to  be  another  small  tract  in  the 
northwest,  but  not  much  is  known  of  them.  The  adjacent  lands, 
though  not  so  good  for  farming,  are  yet  superior  for  grazing ; 
and  the  Bad  Lands  themselves  yield  at  least  an  ample  crop  of 
fossils.* 

The  late  Hon.  William  A.  Howard,  Governor  of  Dakota  and 
previously  Governor  of  Michigan,  in  his  report  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Interior,  under  date  of  December  i6th,  1878,  thus  de- 
scribed three  of  these  sections : 

"The  Territory  of  Dakota  is  very  large,  being  nearly  400 
miles  square,  or  more  than  four  times  as  large  as  the  State  of 
Ohio.  The  settle;Tients  are  principally  confined  to  three  distinct; 
localities  as  remote  from  each  other  as  possible,  and  of  very 

difficult  and  expensive  communication  with  each  other. 

'      1 1 1 1  I  ■■   I I    1 1  - 1    I      ■   ' '  I  '  ■  ■  I ' 

*In  these  Bad  LAnds  kav«  ^en  diKovered  some  of  the  mest  remarkable  fossils  yet  found  in 
America.  The  ii^o1«  regioa  is  the  cemetery  of  the  extinct  monsters  of  the  crataceous  ami 
earlitrgeOlogicagM.         >f;.t-..i    >',,  „    ,.i,.,  ;■  '       .,  ^..j.,    .,.,.. -^     ■'  •« 


I 
% 


A^i£ii^|{ig^;g^a«^.^)^  1^ii^'^iis/>^i^t^k:a^'- 


724 


OVR    WESTERS  EMPIRE. 


"  The  settkments  of  Southeastern  Dakota,  in  which  is  located 
the  present  capital,  extend  from  Northeastern  Nebraska  mainly 
in  a  northern  direction  up  the  Big  Sioux,  the  Vermilion,  and 
the  James  rivers.  These  settlements  are  extending  north  along 
the  border  of  Northwestern  Iowa  and  Southwestern  Minnesota 
as  far  as  I^ke  Kampeska,  and  as  far  west  as  the  James  river. 
Although  the  population  is  sparse  at  present  it  is  rapidly  filling 
up.  Southeastern  Dakota  has  a  population  at  the  present  time 
of  not  less  than  50,ocx),  and  probably  60,000.    «,  orn    n')    i'>l     ■  ti 

"Northern  Dakota  is  settled,  or  rather  settling,  along  the 
west  bank  of  the  Red  river  of  the  North,  from  Richland  county, 
opposite  Breckinridge,  down  to  Pembina,  on  the  line  of  the 
British  possessions,  crossing  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  at 
Fargo,  and  extending  west  along  the  line  of  that  road  to  Bis- 
marck.    Population,  perhaps  40,000.      t  .1  .wrM''-, -'-   ( i..J,  ( I  t- 1.  > 

"The  other  settlement  is  in  the  Black  Hills,  occupied  mainly 
by  a  mining  population,  and  containing  a  population  at  the 
present  time  of  10,000  at  least,  and  probably  1 2,000. 

"  I  suppose  it  is  about  350  miles  in  a  straight  line  from  Yank- 
ton to  Deadwood.  But  the  only  feasible  way  of  getting  there 
involves  travel  of  at  least  900  miles,  and  an  expense  greater 
than  the  journey  from  Yankton  to  Washington,  and  requiring 
more  time  to  perform  it.  The  distance  from  Yankton  to  Pem- 
bina as  the  'crow  flies'  is  at  least  400  miles,  and  requires  more 
time  and  expense  than  a  visit  to  the  capital  of  the  nation.      l.r^^ul 

"  The  three  sections  are  not  only  remote  from  each  other  fahd 
of  difficult  access,  but  their  interests  are  separate  and  no6 
identical.  t  w, 

"  In  a  commercial  point  of  view,  Saint  Paul  and  Duluth  are 
the  objective  points  of  Northern  Dakota,  while  Chicago  and 
Milwaukee  will  naturally  drain  Soutlieastern  Dakota.  Mean- 
while the  vast  wealdi  of  the  Black  Hills  will  swing  to  the  right 
or  left  as  it  may  best  force  itself  outj  or  as  railroad  enterprise 
shall  open  a  more  direct  way  over  which  it  may  move.  The 
great  Indian  reservation  west  of  the  Missouri  river  contains 
56,600  s^uar^  mil^s,  about  the  sizp^of  ajl  Mjchlgao^  inf:luding 
both  peninsulas.     Of  course  this  will  prevent  settlement,  and  > 


L 


)ich  is  located 
)raBka  mainly 
eriuition,  and 
[^  north  along 
rn  Minnesota 
James  river, 
rapidly  filling 
present  time 


g,  along  the 
hland  county, 
i  line  of  the 
c  Railroad  ut 
:  road  to  His- 
>i  j;li',l*.'  i  I.  1.' 
:itpied  mainly 
ilation  at  the 
o. 

le  from  Yank- 
getting  there 
jense  greater  i 
and  requiring' 
ikton  to  Pern-  < 
requires  more 
nation.  ^ 

ach  other  und 
rate  and    nut; 

id  Duluth  are  • 
Chicago  and 
ikota.  Mean.'! 
g  to  the  right  > 
>ad  enterprise! 
r  move.  The'  > 
river  contains 
yao^  injcludlng, 
:ttkment,  and ' 


GENERAL  PROGRESS  OF  DAKOTA.  ^'5 

tend  to  turn  the  business  of  the  Black  Hills  to  the  south  or 
north  of  itself."        .   , 

At  this  time  the  treaty  with  the  Sioux,  which  resulted  in  their 
relinquishing  the  greater  part  of  their  n-servation  in  Central 
Dakota,  had  not  been  consummated,  and  tiiat  reservation  was 
necessarily  a  barrier  to  any  ready  or  easy  communication  with 
the  black  Hills  through  Dakota. 

Governor  Howard  added :        ' 

"The  resources  of  this  Territory  are  both  agricultural  and 
mineral,  and  of  vast  extent,  only  partially  developed  as  yet ;  but 
enough  has  been  done  to  demonstrate  the  fact  that  Dakota,  con- 
sidering her  vast  extent  of  territory,  has  agricultural  resources 
scarcely  second  to  those  of  any  State  in  the  Union.  Dakota  has 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Missouri  river  at  least  60,000  square 
miles  of  land  fit  for  the  plow.  It  is  believed  that  at  least  1 5,000,000 
bushels  of  wheat  will  be  produced  next  year."* 


*  In  an  address  delivered  by  Governor  Howard  at  Yankton,  before  the  Confp'egational  Aiio- 
cifttion,  November  ut,  1879,  he  said,  among  other  things; 

"  In  1858,  when  it  was  proposed  to  admit  Minnesota  to  the  Union  ai  a  State,  it  was  strongly 
opposed  on  the  ground  that  such  a  region  could  never  sustain  the  permanent  population  of  a 
Slate.  It  was  said  that  when  the  fur  trade  was  exhausted  and  some  pine  lumber  cut,  in  a  few 
years,  the  region  would  be  abandoned  as  it  could  not  sustain  animal  life,  especially  that  of  mnn- 
kind.  But  look  now,  after  only  twenty  years,  at  the  great  Stale  of  Minnesota  with  its  thirty  or 
forty  millions  of  bushels  of  wheat,  and  filling  up  to  its  utmost  borders  with  a  thrifty  population. 
Here  now  is  Dakota  Territory,  nearly  400  miles  square,  ahd  it  has  more  acres  of  arable  land 
than  any  State  in  the  Union  except  possibly  Texas,  It  is  more  than  three  times  as  large  as  New 
Vo;'k  and  about  four  times  the  area  of  Ohio.  It  has  met  the  same  objections  as  Minnesota,  and 
is  now  overcoming  them  in  the  same  way.  Lines  of  railroad  are  rapidfy  building  across  our 
rich  plains,  and  new  communities  are  forming  on  every  hand.  I  was  told  that  on  that  part  of 
our  eastern  border  between  Eden  and  Big  Stone  lake  there  was  for  some  time  last  summer  an 
aver.ige  of  300  teams  and  wagons  per  day  entering  Dakota.  The  same  is  true  of  Northern 
Dakota,  where  the  marvellous  growth  of  country  and  towns  is  a  constant  surprise.  The  Gover- 
nor alluded  to  Fargo  and  its  growth  and  to  that  of  Grand  Forks  as  about  equal  to  it.  He  then 
touched  upon  the  population,  wealth  and  development  of  the  Black  Hills.  He  was  there  just 
after  the  fire  at  Deadwood,  and  spoke  with  eloquence  and  high  respect  for  the  sterling  manhood 
and  self-reliance  of  the  people  under  that  misfortune.  He  noted  special  instances  of  manly 
traits  shown,  of  the  fair  play  exhibited  in  respect  to  disputed  titles  where  so  much  de|>en(le<l  on 
possession.  He  described  the  great  mines  and  the  new  discoveries  and  developments  steadily 
progressing.  His  general  summary  of  the  advantages  and  resources  of  all  Dakota  was  masterly 
nnd  strong.  He  declared  that  we  now  had  at  least  150,000  population  and  many  thought  more, 
or  these  one-third  had  come  in  the  last  eight  months  and  one-half  in  eighteen  months.  The 
rnjlroads  are  going  forward,  more  people  are  coming,  new  centres  of  population  are  forming 
and  the  future  is  assured.  The  Governor  then  declared  that  if  every  church  would  quadruple 
its  eflforts  in  Dakota,  it  would  only  fairly  fill  the  present  needs  of  new  forming  communities.  He 


I 


i 


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>it»'i4(rH»AA«^<^)A>J*i'^Qrih'>iCi:M«tibiU«^  i.-mtiii^"' 


7a6  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE,  • 

Hon.  Henry  Espersen,  United  State*  Surveyor-General  of 
Dakota,  in  his  report  to  the  United  States  Land  Office,  in  No- 
vcmbcr,  1879,  thus  states  the  conditions  of  soil,  climate,  agricul- 
ture and  minerals  of  the»Territory :  •  1         '  > 

"  The  soil  of  tlip.t  portion  of  Dakota  lying  east  of  the  Missouri 
river  is  {generally  a  rich  clay  or  sandy  loam,  very  little  rating 
below  second-class.  In  the  valleys  of  the  Missouri,  Big  Sioux, 
Dakota,  Vermilion,  Cheyenne,  Red  river,  and  other  streams,  the 
soil  is  exceptionally  rich,  producing  large  crops  of  grain  and 
grass.  In  this  region  diere  are  no  extensive  areas  of  marsh  or 
sand.  The  country  is  fairly  watered  by  the  streams  named  and 
their  tributaries,  and  by  numerous  lakes  in  the  northern  and 
eastern  portions.  I  have  yet  to  hear  of  the  point  in  the  Terri- 
tory where  water  cannot  be  had  at  a  reasonable  depth  by  dig- 
ging. West  of  the  Missouri  rivpr  the  character  of  the  soil  is  not 
so  fully  determined,  most  of  that  section  having  been  included  in 
Indian  reservations,  but  as  far  as  known  it  is  generally  good. 
The  district  west  of  the  Missouri  river,  prominendy  shown  upon 
early  maps  as  the  '  bad  lands,'  might  be  compressed  into  a  few 
townships.  It  may  be  said,  in  fact,  that  the  proportion  of  waste 
land  in  the  Territory,  owing  to  the  absence  of  swamps,  mountain 
ranges,  overflowed  and  sandy  tracts,  is  less  than  in  any  other 
State  or  Territory  in  the  Union.  In  the  valleys  and  foot-hills  of 
the  Black  Hills  the  soil  is  rich  and  producdve,  and  the  rainfall 
abundant  the  past  season.  It  is  expected  that,  in  an  agricultural 
way,  that  region  will  be  self-sustaining  without  irrigation.    ...v^ ,  ■ . 

"Owing  to  the  dryness  of  the  atmosphere  and  general  even- 
ness of  temperature,  the  climate  of  Dakota  is  very  salubrious, 
and  well  adapted  to  agricultural  pursuits.  The  average  tem- 
perature of  Southern  Dakota  may  be  compared  to  that  of  South- 
ern Illinois,  Northern  Indiana,  and  Ohio.  In  the  northern  por- 
tions the  winters  are  somewhat  more  severe.     In  the  southern 

hnped  they  would  do  so.  Not  only  this  church  but  all  evangelical  churches.  He  spoke  of  the 
iraportance  of  occupying  strategic  points,  of  doing  this  early  and  keeping  up  the  communica* 
lions  like  an  army  in  its  campaign.  He  alluded  also  to  education  and  the  munificent  provision 
made  by  the  United  Slates  for  our  future  schools,  declaring  that  if  properly  handled  it  would 
ultimately  produce  |a5,ooo,ooo.  He  called  for  suth  a  public  sentiment  as  would  paralyze  any 
xwrilegious  hand  that  should  wrongly  touch  that  fund." 


THE  SUKVKYOR.GRNERAVS  ACCOUNT, 


7V 


yor-General  of 
Office,  in  No- 
dimatp,  agricul- 

of  the  Missouri 
jry  little  rating 
juri,  Big  Sioux, 
»er  streams,  the 
s  of  grain  and 
as  of  marsh  or 
iros  named  and 
e  northern  and 
It  in  the  Terri- 
;  depth  by  dig- 
)f  the  suil  is  not 
teen  included  in 
generally  good, 
tly  shown  upon 
ised  into  a  few 
ortion  of  waste 
amps,  mountain 
n  in  any  other 
ind  foot-hills  of 
ind  the  rainfall 
an  agricultural 
rigation.       <>, - 
I  general  even- 
i^ery  salubrious, 
B  average  tem- 
>  that  of  South- 
northern  por- 
n  the  southern 

hes.  He  spoke  of  the 
ng  up  the  communica- 
te munificent  provision 
>erly  handled  it  would 
AS  would  paralyze  any 


jPttrt  early  froHtl  arc  very  rare  and  the  wrathcr  very  fine  down  to 
the  first  of  November.  Little  snow  falls  in  the  winter,  and 
sleighs  are  almost  unknown. 

"The  agricultural  products  of  the  Territory  include  the  whcle 
range  of  those  common  to  the  Northern  States.  Small  grains 
and  vegetables  grow  in  the  greatest  perfection.  Northern  Da- 
kota, particularly  the  Red  river  valley,  is  destined  to  become  one 
of  the  greatest  wheat-producing  regions  in  the  country.  No  sys- 
tematic effort  has  yet  been  made  in  pomology,  but,  from  what 
has  been  done,  there  is  no  doubt  that  when  the  varieties  best 
suited  to  the  soil  and  climate  are  settled  upon,  fruit-growing  will 
become  a  pro6table  occupation.  At  present,  next  to  grain, 
stock-raising  is  the  most  growing  industry.  The  excellent 
grasses  and  mild  climate  have  given  this  occupation  a  great 
impetus,  and  within  the  past  two  years  large  sums  have  been 
invested  in  young  stock.  ,  m 

"  Deputy  surveyors  employed  this  season,  west  of  Bismarck 
and  near  the  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  report  coal 
croppings  at  various  points  near  the  Sweet  Brier  river,  and 
between  that  and  the  Big  Heart  river.  One  vein  in  that  vicinity 
is  being  worked  to  a  limited  extent,  but  the  coal  taken  out  so  far, 
from  near  the  surface,  is  of  a  somewhat  inferior  quality.  Bitu- 
minous coal  has  also  been  found  in  the  Black  Hills»  but  the  vein 
has  not  been  sufficiently  developed  to  determine  its  economic 

value.  .1'//    'i:;..'.-     «.'       'PV.  ^-i.'ilri     ,:     }■       .•^■.r.l      ,     ' 

"  No  metals  have  been  found  in  any  quandty  outside  of  the 
Black  Hills.  In  that  district  gold,  silver,  lead,  and  mica  have 
been  found  in  quantiues  of  commercial  value.  A  fine  bed  of 
the  latter  is  now  being  worked. 

"Of  the  gold  and  silver  product,  it  can  only  be  said  in  the 
limits  of  this  report  that  it  is  steadily  increaung.  Daily  more 
capital  and  refined  methods  are  employed  in  the  various  mines 
now  open,  and  new  discoveries  are  constantly  being  made.  The 
ease  with  which  the  auriferous  ores  are  worked  makes  profitable 
the  mining  of  very  low-grade  ores.  There  is  said,  by  persons 
competent  to  judge,  to  be  enough  gold  and  silver  ore  'in  sight* 
in  the  Black  Hills  to  employ  the  present  mining  facilities  for  iJm 
next  ten  years." 


['A 


F 


,«rfi*i«».: :  *jAtti&*tv<«a*iia^^ 


B 


^28  ^^If    H'KSrF.Xy   F.MFIKK.        " 

In  his  annual  report  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  bearing 
date  September  13,  1879,  Governor  Moward  u»ed  the  following 
language : 

•'  "The  mineral  product  of  the  Black  Hills  must  be  at  least 
three  millions  of  dollars  for  the  year,  and  is  rapidly  increasing. 
A  large  number  of  stamps,  for  crushing  the  ore,  and  machinery 
of  every  kind,  have  been  added,  and  it  is  believed  the  product 
of  gold  will  be  more  than  doubled  the  coming  year.  The  mines 
are  proving  rich,  and  the  systematic  working  of  them  is  proving 
remunerative.  The  rapid  development  of  the  agricultural  re- 
sources of  the  Black  Hills  and  the  large  immigration  going  in 
and  producing  food  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mines,  must  lessen  thr 
cost  of  living  and  stimulate  production  and  insure  the  reward  of 
all  classes  of  labor. 

"  Immigration  this  year  has  been  large,  far  greater  than  in  any 
former  year,  and  this  large  increase  extends  to  all  parts  of  tht 
settled  portion  of  the  Territory — perhaps  about  the  same  per- 
centage of  increase  in  each  of  the  three  divisions.  Southeastern 
Dakota  has  had  a  very  large  increase  of  population.  I  am  toM 
by  persons  in  whom  I  have  confidence  that  as  many  as  thrtM* 
hundred  teams,  immigrant  wagons,  have  passed  into  the  south- 
eastern part  of  the  Territory  daily  through  the  summer.  Quite 
as  large  a  percentage  has  come  into  Northern  Dakota.  The 
same  may  be  said  of  the  increase  in' the  Black  Hills.  In  the  ab- 
sence of  census  returns  it  is  impossible  to  state  with  accuracy 
our  present  population.  The  swelling  tide  of  immigration  spread 
over  so  vast  a  territory,  much  of  it  in  unorganized  counties, 
makes  satisfactory  estimates  difiRcult  if  not  impossible.  Well- 
informed  persons  have  estimated  our  population  at  160,000, 
others  at  170,000,  and  some  as  high  as  180,000.  At  the  present 
time  I  think  it  is  at  least  1 50,000,  probably  more  than  that.  The 
immigration  to  the  Black  Hills  has  been  large  and  of  a  very 
satisfactory  character.  They  claim  to  have,  and  I  think  with 
good  reason,  from  25,000  to  30,000  inhabitants.      .(t{«  fitivv  ?>kx:> 

"Railroad  facilities  are  being  largely  increased  in  Dakota. 
We  have  of  completed  railroad  in  the  Territory  about  400 
miles ;  this  will  be  increased  before  January  next  to  over  500 


] 


RDVCATION  /A'  DAKOTA. 


fVi 


nterior,  bearing 
td  the  followinjiji; 

list  be  at  least 

)i(lly  incrcasin^r. 

and  machinery 
k'cd  the  product 

ar.     The  mines 

them  is  provinj; 

agricultural  rt!- 
jration  poing  in 

must  lessen  the 
re  the  reward  of 

I  I.  M.     I'  I,'  < 

;ater  than  in  any 
all  parts  of  tht 
t  the  same  per- 
Southeastern 
Ltion.  I  am  toM 
s  many  as  thrcM- 
into  the  sourh- 
summer,  Quito 
n  Dakota.  Th«; 
-{ills.  In  the  ab- 
te  with  accuracy 
migration  spread 
ranized  counties, 
ipossible.  Well- 
Ltion  at  160,000, 
At  the  present 
;  than  that.  The 
e  and  of  a  very 
ind  I  think  with 

ased  in  Dakota, 
itory  about  400 
ext  to  over  500 


miles.  5><'vcral  strong  corporationH  are  pushing  their  trunk 
lines  into  this  Territory  at  various  places,  as  well  to  carry  the 
products  of  our  rich  soil  as  ultimately  to  reach  thtr  lilack  Hills. 

"  It  is  but  a  short  time  siiu c  vast  herd«i  of  buffalo  roamed  un- 
disturbed over  llK.'se  prairies  ;  now  farms  stocked  with  t.aitl<'  and 
sheep  everywhere  abound.  It  is  not  long  since  we  were  taught 
in  our  Ivastcrn  homes,  and  in  our  schools,  and  learned  from  our 
geographies  the  story  of  the  Bad  Lands,  the  '  Cjreat  American 
Desert,'  and  were  left  \m  believe  that  Dakota  for  barrenness  was 
only  ecjiialled  by  the  I  )esert  of  Sahara,  and  whose  chilling  blasts 
were  c(iiial  to  the  cold  of  (Ircenland;  but  since  it  has  been 
demonstrated  that  t)akota  has  a  soil  exceedingly  rich,  has  more 
arable  and  less  waste  land  in  proportion  to  its  size  than  any 
State  or  Territory  in  the  whole  Union,  and  since  millions  of 
bushels  of  grain  are  already  waiting  transportation  to  the  mar- 
kets of  the  world,  capital,  proverbially  timid,  is  stretching  out  its 
arms  and  with  hooks  of  steel  is  drawing  to  itself  the  carrying 
trade  of  an  empire. 

"The  interest  our  people  take  in  education  and  the  moral  im- 
provements is  steadily  increasing.  Schools  are  increased  in 
number  and  improved  in  character ;  churches  are  multiplied  ; 
greater  respect  for  law  than  formerly  is  apparent.  If  we  con- 
sider the  richness  and  extent  of  our  school  lands,  it  will  be  found 
that  Congress  has  provided  for  us  a  school  fund  that,  when  de- 
veloped, will  be  equal  to  that  of  any  State  in  the  Union.  If  no 
sacrilegious  hand  shall  be  permitted  to  squander  any  portion  of 
this  rich  inheritance,  Dakota  will  have  a  population  second  to  no 
State  for  intelligence  and  virtue."  * 

It  is  due  to  this  growing  and  enterprising  young  Territory,  so 
soon  to  become  a  State,  and  possibly  to  be  carved  into  two  or 
more,  that  we  should  go  somewhat  more  into  detail  in  regard  to 
the  topography,  soil  and  productions  of  these  different  sections 
of  Dakota,  and  through  the  kindness  of  the  late  Governor  How- 
ard and  the  officers  of  the  Territory,  as  well  as  personal  friends 

•  It  wa5  a  great  misrortune  to  Dakota  Territory,  that  in  the  time  of  her  most  rapid  growth 
and  development,  the  should  have  lut  by  detth  the  firm  guiding  hand  of  btr  wise,  ihougbtful, 

genercus  and  eloquent  Govemqr.  ;.^         r;';,   •;         j 


.,«;5<il«»4«<»rt4«M«4*MC^i-*Ui;«»l«««y«ii^ 


J 


730 


OVK    WKSTRRN   K  MP  I  KM. 


I- 


whom  he  inierMtcd  in  the  m«tt«T,  wc  ar«!  t'nahUd  to  lay  brfore 
our  rcadtirn  a  much  more  tompUrte  description  of  rat  h  Hcction 
than  has  cvrr  been  puWishcd.  We  begin  with  Northern  Dakota, 
and  give  a  carefully  written  |>ap<'r,  prrpariil  for  the  writer  by 
lion.  James  II.  Power,  of  St.  Paul,  Minne»ota,  now  the  accom- 
plished and  thoroughly  informed  Land  Commissioner  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railway.  Mr.  Power's  opportunities  of  being 
fully  informed  in  regard  to  Northern  Dakota  have  been  excep- 
tional, and  he  has  given  our  readers  the  full  benefit  of  his  re* 
searches. 

'     ,         I      "NOKTIIKKN     DAKOTA.  • 

"  The  development  of  Northern  Dakota  in  the  past  few  years 
has  been  perfectly  marvellous,  and  the  vast  plains  which  were 
once  considered  sterile  and  worthless  have  become  populated 
with  thousands  of  successful  husbandmen  who«e  labors  on  the 
soil,  which  is  discovered  to  be  as  fertile  as  any  in  the  world,  add 
millions  of  dollars  to  the  common  wealth  of  the  nation. 

"The  building  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  is,  without 
doubt,  the  greatest  project  of  the  character  ever  undertaken, 
and  it  is,  as  a  well-known  writer  recently  said,  '  of  all  the  pro- 
jected railroads  to  the  western  ocean,  the  one  which  must  be  of 
the  greatest  value  and  importance  to  the  American  people.  It 
is  the  one  which  will  open  to  settlement  by  far  the  most  exten- 
sive, most  fertile  and  in  every  way  most  desirable  regions.' 

"  The  practical  history  of  Northern  Dakota  dates  by  the  logic 
of  events,  from  the  advent  of  the  railroad  within  its  boundaries, 
as  before  that  time  the  great  plains  had  been  almost  unknown 
to  man.  Single  trails  extended  !n  direct  lines  to  the  immense 
northern  regions  from  whose  forests  came  vast  stores  of  valuable 
skins,  and  occasionally  trappers  and  hunters  made  expeditions 
along  the  wooded  streams  which,  with  difficulty,  find  courses 
through  the  level  land. 

"  Thousands  of  b'lfifalo  roamed  at  will,  finding  rich  nourishment 
in  the  succulent  grasses,  and  deer,  elk  and  wolves  aided  in 
swelling  the  wild  population  of  the  region,  and  furnished  game 
£or  the  tribes  of  Indians  who  made  frequent  hunting  sallies  from 
the  north  and  south.      Explorers   returned  with  discouraging 


to  lay  before 
f  farh  M'ction 
rthrrn  Dakota, 

tlu?  writer  by 
)w  the  nccom- 
tsionrr  of  the 
niiies  of  being 
/e  been  cxcc|>« 
inefit  of  his  re- 


past few  years 
ins  which  were 
nm»!  populated 
;  labors  on  the 

the  world,  add 
ation. 

oad  is,  without 
er  undertaken, 
of  all  the  pro- 
lich  must  be  of 
can  people.  It 
the  most  exten- 
2  regions.' 
tcs  by  the  logic 

its  boundaries, 
(most  unknown 
to  the  immense 
sres  of  valuable 
ide  expeditions 
y,  find  courses 

ch  nourishment 
trolves  aided  in 
furnished  game 
ing  sallies  from 
h  discouraging 


MM.   J.  M.   H>WKM   W  NVKtirKltN  DAKOTA.  •t| 

Stories  of  the  utter  u»ele»Nness  of  the  iMiil  and  the  unfitnms  of 
the  region  for  human  luibiiation,  so  tiiat  it  waH  looked  uiKin  as  % 
great  l>arren  desert. 

"  The  building  of  a  railroad  through  such  a  wanle  was  pro- 
nouncetl  absurd,  and  the  proj«ct  of  spending  millions  of  dollars 
in  laying  a  track  through  so  extended  an  unproductive  region, 
although  a  rich  country  might  Ix:  reached  farther  west,  was 
scotfi:d  at,  as  the  wildest  extravagance.  • 

"  It  was  known  that  the  immediate  valley  of  the  Red  river  was 
fertile,  for,  fully  twenty-five  years  before,  fine  crops  hud  been 
raiHeil  at  a  trading-poHt  of  the  Hudson  Hay  Company,  located 
twenty  niilts  north,  or  down  river,  from  the  point  at  which  the 
railroad  now  crosses. 

"Several  land  companies  had  been  formed  about  1856,  for  the 
purpose  of  bringing  the  lanils  of  the  valley  into  market,  but  the 
panic  of  1857  demoralized  them.  Of  course  but  few  of  the 
original  settlers  remain  on  the  land  about  the  old  trading-post, 
but  one,  who  is  now  postmaster  at  Georgetown,  twenty  miles 
north  of  I'^argo,  has,  for  twenty-two  years,  cropped  land  plowed 
by  the  company,  and  he  avers  that  it  is  still  too  rich. 

"The  railroad  had  done  a  great  work  in  developing  Northern 
Minntrsota,  but,  when  the  operation  of  building  was  coi*imenced 
in  Dakota,  much  hesitation  was  displayed  about  undertaking  the 
cultivation  of  die  prairies  beyond  the  Red  River  valley.  Some 
far-seeing  men,  however,  were  satisfied  that  the  soil  was  admir- 
ably adapted  for  wheat-raising,  and,  in  1875,  the  first  cxi>eriment 
of  importance  was  commenced.  George  W.  Cass,  Esq.,  of 
Boston,  and  B.  P.  Cheney,  Esq.,  of  Pittsburgh,  both  directors  in  the 
railroad  company  and  heavy  capitalists,  decided,  for  the  benefit 
of  the  road  and  themselves,  to  test  the  capacity  of  the  land,  and, 
with  that  end  in  view,  bought  7,680  acres  of  railroad  lands  and 
3,560  acres  of  government  lands,  and  caused  two  sections  or 
1,280  acres  to  be  broken  and  prepared  for  wheat.  They  selected 
land  about  twenty  miles  west  of  Fargo,  near  the  present  station 
of  Casselton.  Their  experiment  was  thoroughly  successful,  their 
first  harvest  yielding  an  average  of  twenty-eight  bushels  of  the 
finest  wheat  per  acre.    The  intrinsic  value  of  the  soil  having 


1 


.  .-t>iX^d««iMI>:aM<Ui>MM'><»iM<'-' 


A 
■I 


a 


J 


I 


;ja 


.»•» 


OVM   WBSTKKS'   g.W/M/C, 


.M'. 


been  thuft  provrd,  ih«  uiurc  of  Norclirrn  hakoia  m\%  a««urrtl, 
and,  4»  lh»?  brilliuni  rmuU  of  Uw  iri«l  Iwtame  known,  immigra- 
tion to  the  j{oltlfr»  wheat  ^'anle-ni  commnu  t-il  in  rurnrat.  TheiM! 
gentlcm'rn  liave  continiirtl  and  cxinnded  llmir  op»Tjiti«»nn  nincc, 
and  U»i!»  year  from  «,45H  .uren  thty  have*  lurvrst»<l  i4'>..15* 
buHltcls  uf  wheat,  i  S.Ho;  biuheU  ot  uatn,  and  0,049  buHhcU  of 

barley. 

"ThcHC  fertile  land*  extend  northwanl  to  the  JMMindary  line 
anil  Houthward  beyond  the  line  n(  the  land  jjrant  to  the  railroacl, 
which  rcnchen,  with  its  indemnity  limit,  fifty  miU-s.  '1  he  HotI  in  in 
many  rc»pcctH  peculiar.  l*ir»l  in  a  rich,  black,  clayey  loam,  vary- 
ing; front  filiecn  to  thirty-six  inches  in  depth.  possenHiii^;  huIk 
Htance  ami  compactness,  and,  at  tiu*  same  time,  a  <legre<'  ol  mel- 
lowness. Beneath  are  several  strata  of  clay  of  difterent  varieties, 
ikome  containing;  an  imprcj^nation  of  lime,  which  neutralizes  the 
acids  and  givcH  vitality  to  the  land.  The  clay  sid)-soil  serrven  to 
retain  the  moistunr.  In  n.:e  crops  would  suffer  little  from  ilrouj^ht. 
Secdinj{  is  a)mmcnced  in  March  as  soon  as  the  frost  is  out  of 
the  ground  to  the  depth  of  two  or  three  inches,  when  the  earth 
becomcjs  dry.  The  gradual  evaporation  of  the  frost,  which  ex- 
tends to  the  depth  of  from  two  to  three  feet,  keeps  the  soil  in  a 
good,  moist  condition,  forcing  the  crops  rapidly.  This  is  the 
character  of  the  land  from  the  Red  River  valley  »o  the  bottom 
lands  of  the  MiKsouri  river,  with  the  exception  of  a  narrow  strip 
running  from  north  to  south  on  the  divide  between  the  James 
and  Missouri  rivers,  where  a  convulsion  of  nature  has  thrown 
gravel  and  rocks  to  the  surface;  but  the  land,  even  in  that  sec- 
tion, is,  with  little  exception,  good  for  cultivation  and  excellent 
for  grazlrig. 

*  *•  Wheat — the  most  profitable  crop  on  account  of  its  being  a 
cash  article,  and  the  proximity  of  a  great  shipping  point,  Duluth, 
but  250  miles  ''rom  Fargo — is  the  staple  of  the  country;  although 
corn,  oats,  barley,  flax,  and  all  root  crops  reach  a  remarkable 
degree  of  perfection.  The  average  yield  of  wheat  is  twenty-two 
bushels  to  the  acre,  but  in  many  cases  thirty  bushels  are  raised, 
and  instances  are  not  rare  where  forty  bushels  and  over  have 
been  produced.     Corn  yields  from  seveiity^five  bushels  upward. 


1^ 


THU  CMOn  Of   hVHlkkHN  HAkOtA, 


731 


>t.i  \vn«  aMurMl, 
nowii,  immi^'ra- 
'•.ii'n**;if.  IhriM: 
>|»«r.»ti<>nn  »incc, 
ivcHt.tl  140,35a 
/)4<y  Ititithc'lH  of 

lM)iin<lary  lin** 
t  to  the*  railroad, 
riir  Hoil  in  in 
lyry  loam,  vnry- 

pOsSrSHin^    HU^>- 

I  «l«jrrcT  ol  mfl- 

iffi'mu  varij'ticH, 

I  n(*iitrali/('H  the 

il>-Hoil  s<?rvcn  to 

l«*  from  tlroiij^ht. 

«  frost  is  out  of 

when  thr  rarth 

frost,  which  ex- 

cps  the  soil  in  a 

ly.     This  is  the 

cy  ♦o  the  bottom 

Df  a  narrow  strip 

wcon  the  James 

ture  has  thrown 

even  in  that  sec- 

)n  and  excellent 

U'lfflM)    l/i,.  I'M*.-; 

U  of  Its  being  a 
1}?  point,  Duluth, 
oiintry;  althoujfh 
:h  a  remarkable 
iat  is  twenty-two 
sheis  are  raised, 
i  and  over  have 
bushels  upward, 


and  oat*  from  <iUty  to  %fS9x\^-tsf>.  NmhrU  10  ihf  iicr«».     For 

Inith  of  tluM!  ^'rain«  th»*rr  in  nlwnyn  a  sure  markrt.  Irom  300 
to  OcHJ  bu->hrlH  of  potatorn  f)  an  ut  re  reward  tlic  larmrr,  and 
other  root  cropn  ^tow  r(|iially  well,  while  all  arc  of  drliuoua 
tiavor  and  of  cnormouA  hIm.  ;     i.i  >  ,. 

"  In  Apeakin};  of  the  value*  of  crops,  the  prirrn  j^ivrn  hrre  arc 
thosf  paid  irtwiir'diatt'ly  after  harveMt,  and  ui  t  oiirNc  they  advance 
with  thi;  neason, 

"  Wiu-at  this  yrar  (1S70)  has  vnrirci  in  price  fr.im  ci){hty-five 
to  nin«'ly  live  crnts  prr  hiishi-l,  ami,  of  thr  »*ntir»'  crop  harvcslrd 
in  Northern  Dakota,  but  little  has  |;raded  No,  3,  while  No.  3, 
No.  4,  and  Rfjr(  ted  are  unknown  j;ra<les.  The  working  of  a 
merciful  clecrec  of  Provid'-nce  appears  in  thr  drvelopiiient  of 
these  grrat  wheat  gardens  at  a  tijnr  whrn  disaster  and  distresi 
has  ovfrtakrn  ICngland  and  othrr  nations  of  the  old  world 
through  the  failure  of  successive  crops. 

"C'orii  brings  from  fifty  to  sixty  cents,  oats  from  thirty-fivc  to 
fifty  crnts,  and  potatoes  from  tjiirty-fivc  to  forty-five  cents  per 
bushel. 

"  Experiments  extending  over  five  years  have  <lemonstratrd 
the  fact  that  hardy  apples  of  northern  varieties  can  be  grown  in 
perfection,  while  native  plums,  berries,  and  grapes  thrive  remark- 
ably well  under  cultivation. 

"As  was  before  intimated,  little  or  no  ground  was  broken  in 
Dakota  on  the  Northern  Pacific  line  prior  to  the  year  1875.  In 
1878,  we  find  344,340  acres  under  cultivation,  and,  in  1879, 
375,97a  acres.  This  year  266,618  acres  were  devoted  to  wheat, 
giving  a  yield  of  5,332.360  bushels,  calculating  only  twenty 
bushels  to  the  acre.  The  new  breaking  this  year  (1879)  amounts 
to  173,000  acres,  giving  us  548.973  acres  which  will  be  cultivated 
in  1880.  It  is  safe  to  predict  that  the  wheat  crop  on  the  line  of 
the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  next  year  (1880)  will  be  at  least 
8,500,000  bushels.  Two-thirds  of  the  area  of  which  we  have 
written  is  capable  o{  yielding  256,000,000  bushels.  Some  timid 
people  aver  that  the  business  of  wheat-raising  is  being  overdone, 
a  groundless  supposition  when  the  entire  wheat  crop  of  the 
world  in  1879  does  not  exceed  1,540,000,000  bushels,  or  only 
about  one  bushel  to  every  human  being  existing. 


. ♦»«W^ irtWIli** Iti      ^--J>-'^.»^'i~Vi/:^  .  ■^iiAfiiiUjM'  i>yif»ri'l'-»     ....-».... .^  J. ..ar^- .■■.-       M<»..4Wl*-- 


734 


OVn   WESTERN  EMPIKE. 


■"  "In  1870  the  portion  of  Dakota  of  which  we  write  could  not 
boast  of  a  single  permanent  resident.  In  1877  the  population 
was  8,700,  with  a  cultivated  area  of  67,900  acres.  In  1878,  popu- 
lation 14,560;  cultivated  area  90,950  acres,  7 1,740  acres  in  wheat 
and  80,340  acres  of  new  breaking.  In  1879  we  find  a  population 
r^  31,500:  179,020  acres  under  cultivation,  142,500  acres  in 
wheat,  and  1 1 4,000  acres  of  new  breaking. 

"  The  following  are  the  most  important  statistics  of  the  counties 
tributary  to  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad :  ''         ' /' 


-- 

Popuhlloii, 

population. 

Aera  cnlil- 

Acm  In 

Acre*  nawly 

Couimm. 

I«7o. 

.ia,. 

vatcd. 

wh«w. 

broken. 

Cass,      D.  T. .     .     . 

None. 

is, 000 

lOJ.OOO 

90,000 

1 
50,000 

T«iH,       "... 

6,000 

32,950 

18,000 

15,000 

Richland,"      .     .     . 

3.3»-'' 

S'.Soo 

25.500 

18,000    { 

Barnes,     "... 

3,00c 

13,000 

7.500 

14,000    i 

Stutsman,"     .     .     . 

600 

3.770 

1,500 

10,000    1 

Kidder,    "... 

100 

1,500 

2,500    ' 

Burleigh,  "     ... 

6,500 

4.300 

4.500    1 

3».5oo 

179,020 

142.500 

114,000 

'•  The  raising  of  wheat  has  not  yet  been  commenced  in  Kidder 
and  Burleigh  counties,  as  the  demand  for  oats  northwest  of  Bis- 
marck has  been  very  great,  and  tliey  have  been  grown  at  a  fine 
profit.  Next  year,  however,  a  large  area  will  be  devoted  to 
wheat,  ap  sn  extensive  flouring-mill,  which  has  just  been  com- 
pleted at  Biamarck,  will  consume  upwards  of  300,000  bushels. 

"  The  important  towns  at  present  on  the  line  of  the  railroad  are 
Fargo,  at  the  railroad  crossing  on  the  Red  river,  and  Bismarck, 
1^  the  Missouri  river.  Both  are  organized  cities,  and  are  quite 
oietropolitan  in  character. 

"h  "  Fargo  contains  a  population  of  3,500,  has  excellent  church  and 
school  buildings,  county  buiildings,  and  many  fine  brick  and 
Wooden  buainteiss  blocks,  and  handsomie  residences.  Excellent 
brick  are  aianufawtured  within  the  city  limits.      iv<rri;  >  v.k  .-^  c^^ 

"  Bismarck  has  a  population  of  at  least  2,5CKi^  'and  is  almost 
equally  favoned  with  Fargo  in  the  number  and  substantial  ex* 
oellenGe  of  its  buildings. 

V  t  ^'  Many  other  places  are  i^idly  developing,  amon^r  th   r  being 
.^njjgixy  ^fu?kf  nf.rnuil  '{tj/:*  oi  IjiUiud  'jfio  UkhJij 


^itmMmm-tnmmmmmim 


write  could  not 

the  population 

In  1878,  popu- 

o  acres  in  wheat 

ind  a  population 

42,500  acres  in 

:Rof  the  counties 


Acm  in 

Acm  iMwIy 

wham. 

broken. 

90,000 

50,000 

18,000 

15,000 

aS.Soo 

18,000 

7.500 

14,000 

1,500 

10,000 

2,500 

4.500    1 

143,500 

114,000 

enced  in  Kidder 
orthwest  of  Bis- 
grown  at  a  fine 
be  devoted  to 
just  been  com- 
3,ooo  bushels. 
r  the  railroad  are 
',  and  Bismarck, 
:s,  and  are  quite 

client  church  and 

fine   brick  and 

ices.     Excellent 

3,  and  is  almost 
substantial  ex> 

I?.   i'^'Al  •Ilium}   £, 
ong  th   n  being 


MR.  7.  B.  POWhR'S   Tt.S1iM0NY. 


735 


Casselton,  twenty-two  miles  west  of  Fargo.  From  here  a  branch 
of  the  railroad  is  being  extended  northward.  This  town  has 
already  500  inhabitants,  and  over  ^20,000  has  been  expended 
this  fall  (1879)  in  buildings. 

"  Valley  City,  the  county-seat  of  Barnes  county,  on  the  Shey- 
enne  river,  has  a  population  of  600  and  is  growing  rapidly. 
Next  spring  (1880)  at  least  jj^7  5.000  will  be  expended  there  in 
the  erection  of  county  buildings,  brick  block.:  for  bank  and 
stores,  a  hotel,  and  other  edifices. 

"Jamestown,  county-seat  of  Stutsman  county,  on  the  James 
river,  gives  promise  of  a  most  vigorous  advance  in  188  j.  It  has 
now  about  400  inhabitants,  a  good  county-house,  a  school-house 
and  a  fine  hotel.  Among  the  contemplated  improvements  are 
a  bank  and  store  buildings,  a  flouring-mill  and  a  large  elevator. 
The  James,  or  Dakota  river,  is  a  very  long  stream,  and  it  is 
claimed  to  be  navigable,  commencing  at  a  point  some  miles 
below  the  town.* 

"  Besides  the  Red  and  Missouri  rivers,  the  James  and  Sheyenne 
flow  through  Northern  Dakota,  and  with  their  numberless  ford- 
ing creeks  supply  the  best  possible  drainage  to  the  vast  arable 
territory.  These  streams  are  well  wooded  in  many  places,  the 
principal  growth  being  oak,  elm,  ash,  soft  maple,  box-elder  and 
Cottonwood.  Their  waters  are  pure  and  palatable,  and,  on  the 
prairies,  excellent  water  is  found  by  digging  from  twelve  to 
twenty-five  feet. 

"  It  has  been  urged  that  these  great  northwestern  prairies  were 
uninhabitable,  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  fuel.  A  wise  Provi- 
dence has  provided  for  this  want,  howevei',  as  from  the  bound- 
less forests  of  Northern  Minnesota  wood  can  be  obtained  in  any 
quantity  at  a  low  price,  while  the  inexhaustible  coal  mines  now 
being  opened  just  beyond  the  Missouri  river,  will  afford  a  limit- 
less supply  of  excellent  soft  coal.  Near  the  river  the  coal  is  a 
.soft  and  inferior  lignite,  but  it  hardens  and  improves  further 
west,  there  being,  undoubtedly,  in  the  Yellowstone  valley,  some 
of  the  finest  bituminous  coal  ever  discovered.  ,  ,     ,.^ 

*  lit  aavigableness  is  Teijr  doabtAil,  and  at  moat  only  for  a  very  short  time. 

frfjnori'  Mil  li! 


7> 
tI 


10 


% 


-««fc-:ia**k«Si<Sws«iiiteMMi5fe^iS«fciiiJ^ 


! 


•j5  i  '  OVR    WESTERN   EMPIRE.      ' 

"  The  Red  river,  at  Fargo,  is  807  feet  above  the  sca-level ; 
Valley  City,  1,218;  Jamestown,  1.405;  Missouri  river,  1,609  feet. 

"  It  has  been  alleged  that  no  rain  ever  fell  upon  these  plains — 
whatever  may  have  been  the  case  before  civilization  gained  a 
foothold  in  the  Territory,  it  is  sure  that  the  fact  no  longer  exists, 
for  the  rainfall  along  the  line  of  the  railroad  for  this  year,  10  the 
middle  of  October,  averaged  21.07  inches.  The  largest  amount 
of  precipitation  was  in  the  growing  months  of  May,  June,  July 
and  early  August,  when  over  1 5  inches  of  rain  fell,  while  during 
the  harvest  month,  September,  but  .07  inch  fell.  From  the  state- 
ment of  the  Signal  Service  officer,  at-Fort  Buford,  in  the  extreme 
northwesterly  part  of  the  Territory,  it  is  found  that  the  precipita- 
tion was  4  inches  less  in  the  same  time,  the  greatest  fall  being  in 
the  months  of  April,  May,  June  and  July,  and  the  smallest  in 
August  and  September.  It  will  be  seen,  by  the  appended  table, 
that  the  rigor  of  the  low  temperature  in  winter  is  offset  by  the 
small  amount  of  precipitation  and  the  rarity  of  disagreeable 
winter  thaws,     .'ini.l  ••rir  .?;i  'vit  jtuiv;>il/i  I.n^J   •>!  ,)(ij  -v.Au  id  " 


.-i. 


Unimry. . . 
February . . 
March .... 
April..... 
May 

June 
«iy 

August... . 
September. 
October . . . 


I'aMraHATV'HB. 

Humidity.  { 

St.  Paul, 
Minn, 

Breckenr'ge 
Minn. 

Bivmarck, 
t).  T. 

Fort  Biiford 
U.  T. 

Si 

.!fi 

L«l.  44''54' 

Ui.  ifi'vi 

Lai.  46>)o' 

Lat.^go 

Max. 

Min. 

Max. 

Min. 

Max 

Mill. 

Max. 

Min. 

0 

0, 

«> 

0 

0, 

0 

0 

0 

pr.  ct 

pr.  cl 

49 

-2b 

3« 

-21 

40 

-29 

45 

-'7 

84.7 

77-4 

.IS 

-22 

52 

-2 

44 

-26 

44 

-35 

«S.5 

81.6 

68 

0 

61 

'9 

68 

-21 

70 

-22 

76.3 

70.6 

81 

'.1 

74 

25 

75 

II 

81 

24 

71.0 

61.8 

86 

35 

7« 

29 

76 

7P 

55 

3? 

65.2 

£ 

9»S 

44 

«9 

4? 

9« 

36 

89 

3» 

75-2 

92 

54 

90 

44 

95 

4» 

95 

44 

71' 

63.6 

92 

48 

90 

4' 

90 

4' 

98 

41 

711.2 

54.4 

% 

36 

92 

?l 

81 

as 

95 

20 

^:i 

47' 

17 

70 

.1.    , 

88 

10 

95 

II 

64.4 

RAIMrALL. 


3 


in. 

.11 

1. 12 

•97 

•45 

7.18 

1.76 

932 
2.78 
2.26 
2.56 


& 


\ 


III.    I    III. 

•05I    .IS 
.40I    .82 

.2SI      •58 

I. P.!  .i.Oo 
54-2  .$-67 
i.hi,,  4.97 

3^78  4-27 
2.04  2.69 


2.36 
•79 


.07 
1.27 


t 


I 


in. 
.02 
•59 
•03 
^•75 
S.56 

335 

'% 

.00 

»5S 


''*'We  ai^d,  ko  lar  ^s'St.  t^siut  and  Disrriai^k  sii-e' cdnderft'ed,  the 
following  comparispn  of  raipfall  in  the  two  places  for  1875,  1876 
and  1877.  We  have  not  the  particulars  of  days  for  1 83^8,  but 
the  results  ar^  about  the  same.  "  '•':n>')5'liior.r,„  ^v^  :,r.,ftj  ;i^» 

"The  following  tiible,  for  the  years  1875,  '^7^  and  1877,  sHoWs' 
the  number  of^ys  in  each  month  tbrpugh  the  growing  ^season 
in  which  there  was  rain,  and  the  amount  of  rainfall  in  each  month, 


RAItfFALL  AT  BISMARCK  AND  ST.   PAUL. 


the  sca-level ; 
ver,  1 ,609  feet, 
these  plains — 
tion  gained  a 

longer  exists, 
IS  year,  10  the 
argest  amount 
'lay,  June,  July 
I,  while  during 

rom  the  state- 
in  the  extreme 

the  precipita- 
;st  fall  being  in 
he  smallest  in 
ppended  table, 
s  offset  by  the 
>f  disagreeable 


m 


■'■' 

...,!, 

.,.,.!» 

Rainfall.              1 

t 

1 

1 

t 

\ 

S 

Of) 

oa 

n 

h 

in. 

ill.  1   in. 

in. 

.11 

•05I    -IS 

.02 

1. 13 

.40!     .S2 

•S9 

•97'    .^Si    •»« 

•03 

.45    1.'".!   i<JO 

2.7s 

7.1 8|  5.4.!    $.67 

S.S6 

1.76,2.6^,4.97 

.r.-?5 

9.321  3.78  4.27 

'% 

2.78  2.04  2.69 

3. 26    2.36 

•07 

.00 

256     -79 

1.27 

^*>i 

concerned,  the 

for  1875.  1876 

;  for  183^8,  but 

M  1877,  shoW^' 
rowing  ^season 
in  each  month, 


at  Bismarck  and  St.  Paul.  The  data,  having  been  compil»^d  from 
the  records  of  the  United  States  Signal  Service  Office,  can  be 
relied  upon  as  correct  in  every  particular : 


1875. 


Bismarck. 

St. 

I'AUL. 

Month.    // 

No.  of  (lays  in 

which  thore 

Wbj  rain. 

Depth  of  rainfall 

in  inchet  and 

looths. 

No.  uf  (layit  in 

which  there 

wnK  rain. 

Depth  of  rainfall 

in  inchei  and 

iooth«. 

March 
April  . 
May    . 

June    . 
July    . 
August 
Septeinbei 

14 

9 
t6 

14 
8 

TO 

7 

a. 06 
4.aa 
340 
5.0a 

^%3 
a. 89 

1.85 

>3 
«3 
»3 
17 
6 

17 
16 

a.  19 

a.a7 
3.01 

4  33 

.8a 

8.74 
a. 16 

T 

eta 

Is.     .      1 

76 

ao.97 

95 

a3S7 

1876. 


March      .... 

April 

May    .....    , 
June 

July 

Ai^st      .... 
September     .     .     . 

Totals  .     . 

14 

8 

9 

3 

10 

16 

10 

3-30 
a.  77 
5  74 
i.a4 
1. 48 

6-55 
5.61 

14 
14 
itt 

14 
II 

14 
14 

I  43 
a.  83 

3»S 

a.oa 

2-73 
5.a8 
a.99 

70 

36.09 

93 

19.83 

,           „    .          .        .    .-.,            ,\     m        -.-.    ..     V..-. 

1877. 


March      .... 

ao 

0.77 

15 

*-57 

April  ..... 

«3 

i.3» 

10 

1.93 

May 

a7 

4.  IS 

13 

5-43 

June 

90 

7.60 

»3 

713 

Juir 

iO 

3.53 

10 

0.5a 

August     .... 

»9 

0-35 

II 

2.83 

September     .     .     . 
Totals  .     . 

6 

O.II 

II 

a.56 

"S 

16.83 

83 

21.96 

jj^,,      St.  Paul,  Minw.,  ) 
.,.     Oct.  3d,  1877.     I 


J.  O.  BARNES, 
Sergt.  Signal  Service,  U.  S.  A. 


"  The  climate  is  similar  to  that  of  the  New  England  States* 
except  that  the  atmosphere  is  always  clear  and  dry,  having  none 
47 


I 

•1; 

"I 


% 


W  I 


I      N 


■  ,3  OUR    WESTERN   EMPIRE,  .      . 

of  that  penetrating  saline  moisture  so  deleterious  to  health. 
The  average  annual  temperature  may  be  placed  at  about  42®, 
and  the  statistics  of  several  years  place  the  maximum  mean  at 
68°  5',  and  the  minimum  mean  at  4°  3'.  The  table  given  will 
afford  opportunity  for  comparison.  The  snowfall  is  less  than 
in  the  eastern  and  northern  portions  of  the  Middle  States,  and 
the  thermometer  rarely  falls  to  zero. 

"  The  Red  river  is  navigable  from  Fargo  to  Winnipeg,  even 
at  low  water,  the  government  having  during  the  past  season 
caused  all  of  the  shallow  portions  to  be  dredged.  The  opera- 
tions are  to  be  continued  next  year,  and  the  river  will  be  greatly 
improved  for  navigation.  Duriivg  this  winter  (1879- -So),  when 
the  ice  is  strong  enough,  the  overhanging  trees  will  be  removed 
from  the  upper  portion  of  the  river,  and  the  stream  rendered 
navigable  for  flat  boats  from  or  near  Breckenridge.  As  there  is 
a  large  amount  of  wheat  which  seeks  an  outlet  at  Fargo,  this  im- 
provement will  prove  of  great  benefit.  It  can  be  safely  estimated 
that  not  less  than  one  and  one-half  million  bushels  of  wheat  will 
be  moved  on  the  river  next  year. 

"A  large  amount  of  goods  is  transported  by  steamers  from 
Fargo  to  Winnipeg. 

"  The  Missouri  river  is  a  very  important  factor  in  the  transpor- 
tation business  of  this  country,  and  navigation  by  it  and  its  tribu- 
taries extends  over  1,500  miles  into  the  northwestern  regions. 
By  this  river  immense  freights  are  carried  to  Bismarck,  and  it  is 
not  unusual  to  find  from  fifteen  to  twenty  staunch  steamers  at  the 
levee  there.  The  principal  articles  of  merchandise  brought  down 
are  wool,  skins,  ores  and  cattle,  while  immense  quantities  of 
provisions  and  goods  of  all  descriptions  find  their  way  to  the 
many  military  posts  and  settlements  ia  the  still  undeveloped 
regions.  '  '■"■■'       ^i"'-  .  ■.'  ■■     -  ;  r  •        „..,^^.^*i:i7Li'j;*'V 

.  "  The  country  thus  far  spoken  of  in  this  article  has  been  only 
that  on  the  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  and  within  the 
limit  of  its  land  grant.  Down  the  Red  river,  between  Fargo  and  , 
Winnipeg,  in  the  rich  valley,  the  country  is  filled  with  settlers, 
and  two  important  towns.  Grand  Forks  and  Pembina,  in  counties 
bearing  the  same  names,  are  tl^riving  river  settlements,  with  a 


crious  to  health, 
ed  at  about  42^ 
ixitnum  mean  at 
table  given  will 
ivt'all  is  less  than 
iddle  States,  and 

t 

Winnipeg,  even 

the  past  season 

fed.     The  opera- 

cr  will  be  greatly 

(1879.  .80),  when 

will  be  removed 

stream  rendered 

dge.     As  there  is 

at  Fargo,  this  im- 

e  safely  estimated 

lels  of  wheat  will 

jy  steamers  from 

3r  in  the  transpor- 
jy  it  and  its  tribu- 
liwestern  regions, 
ismarck,  and  it  is 
:h  steamers  at  the 
iise  brought  down 
use  quantities  of 
their  way  to  the 
still  undeveloped 

:le  has  beeh  only 
Ld  and  within  the 
:tween  Fargo  and  , 
lied  with  settlers, 
nbina,  in  counties 

;tdements,  with  a 

'•  -. J......  ^_ 


JVOA'TI/EA'JV  PACIFli.    /'.  R.    WEST  OF   THE   MISSOURI. 


739 


large  trade  from  the  surrounding  country.     There  is  undoubtedly 
a  population  of  10,000  in  Grand  F'orks  and  Pembina  c(> unties. 

"BEYOND   THE    MISSOURI    KIVKK. 

"  Great  interest  is  being  displayed  in  regard  to  the  character 
of  the  country  which  the  railroad  is  now  penetrating,  and  hence 
a  little  space  will  be  devoted  to  it — as  far  as  the  Yellowstone 
river,  to  which  point  the  road  will  probably  be  completed  in  the 
autumn  of  1880. 

"  For  1 38  miles  the  road  runs  through  the  valleys  of  the 
Heart,  Sweet  Brier,  Beaver,  Foot,  Curlew  and  Upper  Heart 
rivers,  a'.l  small  streams  and  somewhat  wooded.  The  valley  of 
the  Curlew  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  the 
world.  All  of  the  lands  in  the  river  bottoms  are  exceedingly 
rich.  Back  from  the  valleys,  both  north  and  south,  rich,  rolling 
prairies  stretch  away,  a  lofty  butte  occasionally  rising  from  the 
plain.  There  is  clear  water  in  every  direction,  running  streams 
and  pure  flowing  springs. 

"Coal  in  paying  veins  is  found  within  forty  miles  of  the  river, 
and  extends  westward  as  far  as  surveys  have  been  perfected.  A 
valuable  quality  of  stone  for  building  purposes  is  found  in  the 
bluffs  and  buttes. 

"  The  next  thirteen  miles  of  road  passes  through  bad  lands,  or 
'  Pyramid  Park,'  a  most  wonderful  formation.  The  pyramids  are 
in  every  conceivable  form  and  are  composed  of  different  varie- 
ties of  clay,  argillaceous  limestones,  friable  sandstones  and  lignite, 
lying  in  successive  strata.  The  Little  Missouri  river  flows  through 
Pyramid  Park  at  about  the  centre,  and  in  high  water  is  over  1 50 
yards  wide.  The  water  is  excellent.  Considerable  timber  is 
found  on  its  banks,  and  the  government  has  just  built  a  canton- 
ment in  a  fine  ash  grove,  near  where  the  railroad  crosses  the 
river. 

"  For  forty-five  miles  west  of  the  Little  Missouri,  the  railroad 
traverses  a  beautiful  prairie  plateau — the  soil  and  general  char- 
acter of  which  resembles  the  Red  River  valley  district.  Many 
small  running  streams  flow  through  this  fertile  region.      •<•>.     0, ,1 

"After  passing  through  six  miles  of  broken  country,  being  the 


\ 


I 


if 


% 


.iititiiajt^- 


*»i<mt«MJ^iei^»iiUM»miiiuimla&^^ 


740 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


'\ 


divide  between  ihe  Little  Missouri  and  Yellowstone  rivers,  the 
road  descends  the  lovely  valley  of  Glendive  creek  for  eleven 
miles,  thus  reaching  the  Yellowstone  river  at  a  point  not  yet  de- 
cided upon.  The  country  about  here  is  beautiful  in  the  ext/eme, 
and  itB  fertility  has  been  amply  tested  by  setders,  who  for  a 
number  of  years  have  raised  fine  crops,  producing  wheat,  oats, 
corn,  melons,  tomatoes,  beets,  cabliage,  turnips,  lettuce,  peas,  and 
particularly  fine  potatoes  and  onions.  '    * 

"  For  stock-raising,  no  country  in  the  world  excels  this,  the 
grasses  and  the  climate  being  particularly  adapted  to  such 
bu&Jness." 

It  niay  be  urged  that  the  foregoing  statements  in  regard  to 
Northern  Dakota  are  from  the  pen  of  a  Railroad  Land  Commis- 
sioner, and  so  are  liable  to  be  somewhat  highly  colored.  Mr. 
Power  is  not  liable  to  this  charge,  for  his  tendency  is  rather  to 
understate  than  overstate  the  wonderful  growth  of  the  region 
\\p:  represents,  but,  to  avoid  even  the  suspicion  of  exaggeration, 
we  append  in  notes  the  testimony  of  competent  observers  who 

have  no  possible  interest  to  misstate  the  facts.* 

■     — —  '"III         1 1  1 1  .^ 

*  The  lint  witneu  we  call  ii  Charles  Carleton  Coffin,  Esq.,  belter  known  by  his  pen-name  of 
**  Carleton,"  an  eminent  author  and  <>bKTver,  the  correspondent  of  the  Chicago  Tribune.  In 
August,  1879,  he  wrote  as  folio  's  to  the  Chicago  Tribune: 

"  K^n  RiVKR  Valley,  August  4. — In  Dakota,  700  miles  northwest  of  Cbici^o,  in  the  valley 
of  the  Red  river  of  the  North,  during  the  present  week  there  is  a  harvest  scene,  the  counterpart 
of  which  cannot  be  (bund  on  the  Cace  ei  the  earth.  It  is  a  scene  where  science,  invention, 
capital,  and  system  have  reduced  the  cost  of  wheat-culture  to  its  minimum.  Nor  is  there  seem- 
ingly any  place  on  the  face  of  the  earth  where  it  can  be  duplicated :  for  there  is  no  other  loca- 
tion where  the  soil,  climate,  location,  4rith  other  conditions,  combine  as  in  that  region. 

"  Having  been  one  of  a  party  of  journalists  to  visit  that  section  during  the  past  week,  I  shall 
speak  of  what  we  have  seen. 

"  There  are  larger  fields  of  wheat  in  Califomia  than  in  Dakota,  but  California  sows  its  wheat 
in  the  fall,  while  (he  cereals  of  Dakota  are  all  sown  in  the  spring.  California  has  no  rainfall  in 
summer,  but  is  dependent  wholly  upon  the  rainy  season  in  winf|r.  In  Dakota  the  summer  rain> 
fall  is  sufficient  for  the  production  of  crops  in  perfection.     But  of  this  more  by-and-by. 

•*  A  few  words  of  history  are  needed  at  the  outset.  In  1870  and  1871,  at  the  time  the  construe- 
tion  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  was  begun,  the  newspapers  contained  descriptions  6f  the 
country  along  its  line,  which  were  generally  discredited  and  ridiculed.  The  country  was  sar- 
castically called  'Jay  Cooke's  Paradise.*  The  map  issued  by  him  represented  the  isothermal  of 
Chicago  as  bending  northward  to  the  British  boundary,  and  that  of  St.  Paul  as  reaching  far 
away  to  ^he  Upp^r  Saskatchewan.  The  country  was  declared  to  be  the  future  wheat-field  of  the 
continent.  Proctor  Knott  ridiculed  the  idea  in  Congress.  After  Mr.  Cooke's  failure,  ip  Sep- 
temlier,  .873,  and  the  collapse  of  the  Northern  Pacific,  those  who  had  given  such  glowing 
dvijf  ipiMii)i|  «f  th««»yi^iy  VQip  hfiliMjp  (•Aoorn  oad  ndic«IC(-«Che  writer  of  this  aitidt  being 


)ne  rivers,  the 
:ek  for  eleven 
int  not  yet  de- 
n  the  ext/eme, 
:r8,  who  for  a 
ig  wheat,  oats, 
tuce,  peas,  and 

xcels  this,  the 
ipted   to  such 

s  in  regard  to 
^nd  Commis- 
colored.  Mr. 
iCy  is  rather  to 
of  the  region 
exaggeration, 
observers  who 


n  by  his  pen-name  of 
hicago  Tritune.     In 

'hicm;o,  in  the  valley 
icene,  the  counterpart 
re  science,  invention. 
Nor  it  there  Meni- 
[here  is  no  other  locn- 
that  region, 
he  put  week,  I  shall 

Ifornia  sows  its  wheat 
mia  has  no  rainfall  in 
(Ola  the  summer  rain- 
:  by-and-by. 
:he  time  the  construe- 
:d  descriptions  6(  the 
The  country  was  sar- 
ted  the  isothermal  of 
Paul  as  reaching  far 
ure  wheat-field  of  the 
oke's  failure,  ifi  Sep- 
given  such  glowing 
'  of  thia  aidcl*  being 


Of  Central  Dakota,  which  lies  between  the  parnllels  of  43* 
50'  and  46^  and  extends  from  the  eastern   boundary  of  the 

uii«  of  the  number.  The  January  number  of  the  Aforik  Amtrutim  KtfHtw  tor  January  cimtoinH 
n  crushing  article  by  Ucuerat  William  H.  Il.ifcn,  wliu  had  Urvn  ilulimieil  at  Fori  itufuril,  iil  ihr 
liuicliim  (if  the  Vellowstune  and  Miitiiouri,  and  who,  of  course,  Itiirw  all  uliuul  Ihe  couniryt  ami, 
iicing  a  graduate  of  West  Folnt,  his  testimony  could  not  \m  guinMiul.  lie  admitted  that  the  Knl 
Kiver  valley  was  fertile,  but  beyond  (hn  the  cuuiilry  was  in  ihc  main  wuiihless.     1  <]uot<:: 

"  ■  doing  west  from  the  Ked  river  to  the  Juuic*  there  is  Mune  fair  land,  Imt  much  thai  is 
worthless;  and  thence  to  the  Missouri,  litllo  or  no  avaiUbIc  land,  excr|>t  narrow  valleys  of  the 
small  streams.     (I'aje  II.) 

•••  Ueyond  the  Ked  river  the  country  is  not  susceptible  of  cultivation.     (Page  a5  ) 

" '  The  country,  with  the  exception  hitherto  mentioned,  is  practically  worthless.'  " 

"  I'his  was  a  crushing  statement.  The  men  and  women  who  had  invested  in  the  bonds  of 
the  Northern  Pacific  were  informed  that  not  only  the  bonds  were  worthless,  but  the  lands  abo. 
(ieneral  Haien  fortified  his  statements  by  copious  citations  from  the  reports  of  other  army  offi- 
cers, graduates  of  West  Point,  and  the  accumulated  evidence  sent  the  bonds  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  down  to  f  lO. 

"  But,  while  General  Hazen  was  writing  that  crushing  article,  Mr.  J.  ll.  Power,  Land  Com- 
missioner of  the  company,  was  turning  the  sods  on  a  quarter-section  atiout  ten  miles  west  of  the 
Ked  river — the  company  being  determined  to  let  the  world  know  that  the  Ked  Kiver  valley,  at 
least,  was  not  a  worthless  region.  That  breaking  was  done  in  June,  1874,  and  sown  to  wheat 
in  1875,  producing  a  good  crop. 

"  Oliver  Dalrymple,  of  Cottage  Grove,  near  St.  Paul,  had  made  •  fortune  in  raising  wheat ; 
but,  through  unfortunate  investments,  had  seen  it  slip  away.  In  March,  1875,  he  pnoapccted  (he 
country  west  of  the  Red  river,  and  made  up  his  mind  that  Nature  had  given  to  that  locality— 
the  statements  of  army  officers  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding — superior  conditions  for  (he  pro- 
duction of  all  small  grains. 

"  Meanwhile,  two  Directors  of  the  Northern  Pacific — the  Hon.  G.  W.  Cass,  of  Pittsburgh, 
and  B.  P.  Cheney,  of  Boston — believing  that  the  lands  were  valuable,  had  changed  their  hondi 
into  lands,  and  had  purchased  the  intervening  government  sections  with  Indian  scrip— thini 
giving  them  compact  farms  of  large  area.  Mr.  Dalrymple,  having  made  an  arrangement  with 
them,  turned  his  first  furrow  in  June,  1875,  plowing  1,380  acres,  harvesting  his  first  crop  in  1876. 
Next  yc.r  '.e  increased  the  acreage,  and  has  gone  on  till  he  has  this  year  ao.ooo  acres  in  crnpe, 
i8,(xx>  being  wheat,  and  the  remainder  oats  and  barley,  used  on  the  farm.  He  has  broken 
5,000  acres  additional  for  next  year. 

"This  does  not  all  lie  in  one  body;  but  a  portion^the  Grandin  farm,  owned  by  the  Gr.-indin 
brothers,  of  Tidioute,  Pa. — lies  in  Trail  county,  thirty  miles  north.  The  territory  contained  in  the 
Cass,  Cheney,  and  Grandin  tracts  is  75,000  acres,  of  which  Mr.  Dalrymple,  liy  the  fulfilment 
of  his  part  of  the  contract,  will  own  one-half,  or  37,500  acres,  all  earned  since  June,  1874. 

"  I  do  not  propose  to  give  the  statistics  of  Mr.  Dalrymple's  system  of  farming  ;  for  your  read-  •■ 
ers  doubtless  are  familiar  with  them.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  his  wheat  crop  this  year  will  ng^'i'e- 
gate  between  400,000  and  500,000  bushels;  that  the  cost  of  production  is  about  thirty-five  ceniw 
per  bushel;  and  that  the  net  profit  will  l>e  from  forty  to  forty-five  cents  per  bushel.  Hu  cku 
mates  the  average  yield  at  from  twenty-three  to  twenty-five  bushels  per  acre.  The  net  profits  i>ii 
the  crop  this  year  will  not  be  less  than  |f  180,000!  Talk  about  Leadvillel  Here  is  a  iKinaiti^a 
which  win  be  profitable  next  year,  and  the  next,  and  the  next. 

"  Here  let  me  say  that  Mr.  Dalrymple  is  too  good  a  former  to  exhaust  his  lands.  He  does 
not  burn  the  manure  of  hisstalls,  but  piles  it  in  the  field,  and,  when  it  is  well  rotted,  will  rt;(um 
it  to  the  soil ;  and  propose!  to  keep  his  land  in  heart  by  plowing  in  clover  and  letting  it  lie 
fallow. 


i! 


f 


_  WMoiU:!***-'./'  ■MtSiiTf- 


74« 


OVM    WRSTEKX   RMfiRR. 


Territory  to  the  Missouri   river,  there  is  not  so  much  to  be 
said,  simply  because  it  ii  not  as  yet  much  developed,  most  of  it 

"B«huUt  iha  leaiMl  )utt  think  of  •  *••  of  whtkl  contilning  Iwtniy  iquarc  mlt«v-ij,oc» 
•crei — rich,  ripe,  goUUn — the  wind*  ripnling  over  it.  A*  fur  m  the  eye  can  «ee  there  is  the 
Mnie  golden  rueiet  hue.  Far  away  on  the  horUon  you  hehoUl  an  army  twtiijiiig  along  In  grand 
proceanlon.  Riding  on  to  meet  it,  yuu  tee  a  major-general  un  hortelMuk — (he  luperlntendenl, 
two  brigadier!  on  honeback — repalren.  No  iwords  fl.ish  In  the  lunlight,  but  their  weapon*  are 
monkey-wrtnchet  and  hammer*.  No  bra**  hand,  no  drumlxral  or  ahrill  n»le  of  (he  nfe;  but  the 
army  move*  on— a  tolld  phalanx  of  twenty-four  Nelfblnding  reapem  — to  the  muiiic  ul  a*  own 
machinery.  At  one  sweep,  in  a  twinkling,  a  twoth  of  19J  fret  ha*  been  cut  and  bound — the 
reapers  to«»lng  the  bundle*  almost  disdainfully  Into  the  air— «ach  binder  doing  the  work  of  six 
men.  In  all  there  are  115  self-binding  rea|ter*  at  work.  During  the  harve*t  about  400  men  art 
employed,  and  during  threshing  600— their  wage*  being  %t  a  dny  with  Iward. 

"  It  U  ••timalcd  that  this  combination  of  capital,  with  a  rigid  system,  adds  about  %\  |)cr  acre 
to  Mr.  Dalrympie's  profit  over  those  who  farm  in  a  small  way. 

"  In  the  month  of  March,  1875,  when  the  article  of  General  Ilazen  was  having  ii*  full  force, 
Mr.  Dalrymple  was  walking  over  these  lands,  and  saying  to  himself,  as  he  beheld  the  quality  of 
the  soil,  •  Intrinsically,  these  lands  are  worth  %t%  per  acre.'  He  believed  it,  and  has  demon- 
strated that  they  are  worth  far  more  than  that ;  that,  at  that  figure,  they  will  pay  fur  themselvva 
in  three  years. 

"The  acres  owned  by  Mr.  Dalrymple  are  not  one  whit  belter  than  the  aver.ige  through  th« 
entire  length  and  breadth  of  'his  valley,  which  is  400  miles  lung  and  70  wide,  and  which  is  fast 
filling  with  hardy  settlers.  Not  only  the  lands  of  the  valley,  but  the  entire  section  between  the 
Red  river  and  the  Missouri— a  territory  containing  80,000  square  miles,  in  Northern  Dakota 
alone,  saying  nothing  of  Montana  and  Manitoba — is  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of  wheat,  oata 
and  barley,  at  will  be  shown  in  another  letter. 

"  The  reason  why  whent  can  be  produced  more  cheaply  and  to  greater  profit  here  than  anjr* 
where  else,  it  due  to  several  causes : 

"  I.  The  soil  is  admirably  adapted  to  its  production. 

"  a.  The  climatic  conditions.  General  Hazen  showed  that  the  rainfall  over  all  this  section 
for  the  year  was  very  much  less  than  on  the  Atlantic  coast ;  but  he  did  not  inform  the  public 
that  nearly  all  the  rainfall  it  in  the  months  of  May,  June  and  July— just  when  it  is  needed ;  that 
there  it  very  little  in  August ;  that  the  days  are  hot  and  the  nights  cool  \  that,  coniequently,  rust, 
blight,  mildew,  sprouting  of  grain  in  the  shock,  nre  almost  unknown. 

"  3.  The  nearness  of  this  section  to  the  markets  of  the  world.  It  is  350  miles  from  the  ReU 
river  to  Lake  Superior.  The  tariff  ado|)ted  by  the  Northern  Tacific  is  fifteen  cents  per  bushel 
from  any  point  east  of  the  Missouri  river.  It  costs  from  twenty  to  thirty  cents  to  transport  a 
bushel  from  Bismarck  to  New  York.  This  low  tariff,  and  the  cheapness  of  water-carriage,  give 
the  farmer  at  present  pricet  about  ninety  cenu  per  bushel,  leaving  him  a  clear  profit  of  about 
forty  cents. 

"  It  it  a  wonder  that  a  great  tide  of  immigration  is  setting  in  this  direction ;  that  the  railroad  . 
trains  are  crowded  with  new-comers;  that  hotels  are  running  over;  that  the  Land  Office  at 
Fargo  is  crowded  with  applicants  for  pre-emption  and  homestead  claims  ?     There  are  millionf 
of  acres,  just  as  fertile  as  those  under  cultivation,  awaiting  the  ever-increasing  multitude."  , 

"Carlkton."       ^ 

The  correspondent  of  the  Chicago yomrnal,  who  has  a  high  reputation  for  fairness  nnd  ju(1icia4 

accuracy  in  his  statements,  writing  at  about  the  same  lime  from  Bismarck,  thus  describes  North-  ^' 

em  Dakota:  ' 

"Tk*  Hill  country.    The  wheat-growing  region  Is  not,  however,  limited  to  the  Red  RSvei  '' 


1 


THE  CIllCAQO   JOVKNAL'S  CdtHBiPONDhNT, 


743 


o  much  to  be 
>pr(J,  most  of  it 

•i|uar«  mile*— ij,oao 
e  can  ie«  Ihcra  U  the 
rt.  ,iin|{  Rlonit  in  Kr^nd 
I — ihr  «uperintenit«nl, 

itit  their  weapon*  are 
io(c  uf  the  fife  i  tmt  the 
o  the  munic  o(  it*  nwit 

cut  and  bound — thf 

liiinK  ''<'  woric  uf  *ik 

ve«t  about  400  men  art 

)ard. 

idda  about  1 1  |>cr  acre 

having  iin  full  force, 

e  beheld  the  qunlity  of 

ed  it,  and  ha*  demon- 

ill  pay  fur  themiclvv* 

e  avernge  through  (he 
wide,  and  which  i»  fa»t 
re  lection  between  the 
I,  in  Northern  Dakota 
tivation  of  wheal,  oats 

-  profit  here  than  Mijr- 


ill  over  all  thix  tection 
not  inform  the  public 
vhen  it  ii  needed ;  (hat 
hat,  coniequentiy,  ru*t, 

50  milen  from  the  ReU 
fifteen  centK  per  bushel 
r(y  cents  to  transport  a 
of  water-carriage,  give 
•  clear  profit  of  about 

;tion ;  thnt  the  milroad 
lat  the  Land  Office  at 
?  There  are  millioiu 
»ing  multitude." 
"  Carleton 


«.)« 


or  fairness  nnd  judicial 
,  thus  describes  North- 

ted  to  the  Red  Kivei 


havinjf  brrn  until  Jamiary,  1880,  covered  by  Indian  rrscrvations, 
the   title   to  which   was   not  fully  clearrd.     It  is  now  oprn    to 

valley,  though  in  th««»  rich  bottom  land*  It  reaches  |)rrhn|Hi  lit  Krentetl  d-'vtlopmenl,  and  wheal- 
l{r»wtng  hail  ihuK  far  been  more  exteiitlvely  and  sucotsfully  carried  oniluiv  than  eUrwhere. 
Caoaing  Itrvonil  ihio  valley  in  I)akota  Territory,  we  reach  a  hl|{li,  rolling  counliy,  which  fur- 
nt«hr(  a  •Inking  conlraM  to  the  level  region  we  have  left.  Thi«  rolling  country  riirnds  fr'nn 
ihe  Ked  Klver  valley  pro|>cr  to  the  MiMouri  river,  a  distance  of  more  than  150  miles  i  and  yet 
so  diversified  is  it  by  a  constantly  changing  formation  and  an  infinite  variety  of  land»ca|M  thai 
the  viewer  is  in  a  constant  stale  of  kurprlae  and  delight.  Many  pretty  lakes  n«<tle  among  the 
hills,  and  there  are  numerous  little  fertile  valleys  through  which  wind  small  oirr. mm,  everywhere 
fringed  with  ilmlier.  It  Is  not  easy  to  descrilie  (he  formation  of  (his  country,  whose  high,  rolling 
charac(cr  i*  •ome(hing  peculiar  (o  itself.  It  is  not  like  the  rolling  prairies  of  Iowa  or  Illiiiuis, 
whose  gentle  undulations  are  here  multiplied  a  thousand  times.  It  is  like,  nnd  yel  not  like, 
Kansas  and  Nebraska,  whose  swells  are  here  reproduced  on  a  far  grander  icale,  but  without  any 
of  the  sameness  which  characteriies  Ihe  rolling  prairies  of  ihoHe  Slates.  It  suggests,  nnd  some- 
limes  almost  resembles,  Ihe  sloping  hill-sides  along  the  valleys  of  the  Mohawk  and  t'oniiectlcnl  t 
only  there  is  here  a  vastness,  an  expanse,  a  sente  of  almost  infinite  distance  and  variety,  wbich 
makes  those  regions,  lovely  as  they  are,  lame  and  narrow  in  comparison.  Looking  from  the 
car  window  across  some  pretty  valley  or  swelling  prairie,  Ihe  traveller  sees,  s  doien  miles  or 
more  uway,  a  lin»  of  dark  green  hills,  sometimes  continuous  and  sotnptiiiies  broken  Into  pc.iks 
and  knolls,  with  here  and  there  an  intersecting  valley  and  slender  fringe  of  timber;  and  when 
Iheae  hills  are  reached  he  finds  beyond  them  still  olber  ranges,  broken  like  the  first,  and  teach- 
ing on  and  on  in  endless  luccesslon,  until  their  outlines  are  lost  in  Ihe  distance  and  blend  wiih 
the  blue  of  the  horison. 

"  There  have  been  many  disputes  regarding  the  productiveness  o?  this  region  of  country,  many 
of  the  statements  of  its  earlier  explorers  having  lieen  looked  upon  as  too  extravagAiii  or  inten- 
tionally deceptive.  But  whatever  may  t>e  Ihe  speculations  •:  ••>  the  climatology  of  this  region — 
%  topic  which  has  probably  not  yet  been  quite  mastered  i>y  any  of  those  who  have  attempted  to 
dlacusa  it — Ihe  practical  fact  has  been  established  that  the  .-egion  along  the  line  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  road  will  not  only  pro<luce  good  grain,  but  that  it  is  esrepiionally  well  adapted  for  that 
purpooe.  Good  crops  of  wheat  nnd  oats  have  been  produced  all  along  Ihe  line  from  the  Red 
River  valley  to  the  Missouri ;  and  in  the  yield  per  acre,  as  well  as  in  quality  of  grain,  the  resulta 
have  been  all  that  could  be  desired.  This  year  will  (irobably  be  the  most  succensful  one  in  Ihe 
history  of  the  region,  and  the  result,  so  far  as  it  can  be  determined,  will  powerfully  reinforce  the 
experience  of  other  year*.  In  Ihe  vicinity  of  Bismarck  oats  are  apparently  the  favorite  crop,  on 
account  of  the  fine  local  market  for  government  purposes  and  for  the  subsistence  of  teams  used 
for  the  1,000  freight  wagons  employed  in  the  carrying-trade  between  Bismarck  nnd  the  Black 
Hills  and  other  points.  A  g<KMl  local  market  is  thus  furnished,  and  oats  here  are  worth  from  fifty 
to  sixty  cents  per  bushel.  On  the  .Stark  farm,  a  few  miles  from  this  place — (he  scene  of  a  fsnous 
Indian  battle,  in  186a,  between  General  Sibley  and  the  Indians  who  perpetrated  the  Indian 
massacres  in  Minnesota  that  year— your  correspondent  saw  a  magnificent  field  of  oats,  500  acrct 
in  extent,  of  which  the  yield  is  estimated  at  fifty  bushels  to  the  acre.  There  is  another  smaller 
field  near  by,  the  yield  uf  which,  it  is  thought,  will  reach  seventy  bushels  to  the  acre.  On  the 
Steele  farm  of  over  6,000  acres,  forty  miles  east  of  Bismarck,  we  saw  a  still  finer  500-ncre  ont- 
field,  the  yield  of  which  It  expected  to  reach  serenty  bushels  per  acre — worth  on  the  track  forty- 
five  cents  per  bushel.  Fifteen  thousand  dollars  it  not  a  bad  result  from  a  single  grain-patch  ! 
Potatoes  are  also  largely  raised  here  for  the  frontier  market,  and  pay  a  fine  profit.  The 
completion  of  a  flonring-mill  at  this  place,  now  nearly  ready  for  Ihe  machinery,  will  furnish  a 
home  morket  for  wheat,  and  will  doubtless  lead  to  (he  cultivation  of  this  crop  after  this  year. 

"Farther  east,  away  from  Ihe  immediate  market  at  Binmarck,  wheat  is  the  principal  crop.  The 


I 


..i<>ns««g»e<tw»^'>»fit«»--. 


744 


0UK    ITAJTVr^VV   RMrtKR. 


Mtttlement,  and  its  30,000,000  ocrrti  of  arabln  lands  are  noC 
encumbered  by  land  ^rantM  to  railroads  or  wa^^on  roads.     The 

■vtr*g«  ytiM  ihU  year  it  ^UlkI  by  iha  m<M(  cartful  tiiinuiff*  at  frum  Iwanly  tu  Iwanljr  mvmi 
bttihaU  par  acrt.  Tha  tirti  whaal  crup  rataail  waa  tn  1M74,  wliaii  iha  atillra  |)ru<lu«l  fctr  iIm 
whula  Itngih  cif  (ha  Una  waa  but  J)o,ooo  liuahrli.  Thta  yaar  a  tlngla  coi'iiiy  (Cau  county,  Da- 
kota) ia  8«()act«i|  lupriMluca  1,640,1x10  btithal*,  aalluutiiig  but  (wanly  l>u»h«l*  to  lh«  aert,  Tk« 
whral  wilt  Im  worth  aliuut  nlnaiy  lanti  (lar  bu»hai  at  any  |Hi«iit  u|ii>n  tha  railruati,  aa  Iha  rata  cil 
tfan<|Hiri^iioii  i<  uniform  alun|{  th<*  wbola  Una.  Mui  h  of  iha  whaat  gu«»  to  Duluih,  whara  It  la 
worth  alMtui  iha  aama  «•  at  Chkagai  tha  whaal  frumthU  MCtiun  btlnK  aaiwcially  in  damaml,  on 
•coMiil  of  U«  tin*  i|iiality,  for  graiUiig  up  Nu.  *  whaal.  A  graiU  daal  U  tha  wheat  goaa  to  .St. 
I'aul  an>l  Minn  >|k)Ii»  fur  mAiiafiu:tura  Into  flour.  Wiih  lh«  cun>|>l*tlon  of  ih«  large  mill*  baing 
trcctail  lit  Minne«|toll»  ihU  year,  that  ally  alona  will  manufactura  10,000  barraU  of  Hoar  par 
(lay,  or  j,noo,ooo  Itarrali  |>ar  year.  Sach  U  the  "Mirprlting  (l«valo|>a»ant  uf  Ihia  naw  ami  aa  yat 
almoal  unUiiowit  wheat  cuunlry,  arul  auah  ara  tha  facililiaa  fur  dlapuaing  of  ita  prutlucla.  Tha 
IramcnM  mill*  at  Miiincii|M>lik  are  Iha  aurollary  uf  iha  vait  whaatlialUa  of  tha  naw  Northwaai, 
■nH  Iha  two  agancia*  iiu|>plemcnt  and  ralnforca  each  other. 

"A  ptculiarity  of  whaat-growing  In  Ihia  region  li  tha  large  tcala  upoa  which  it  ia  fraqaanllf 
conduclad.  Capitallnl*  have  gone  into  It  aa  aytlematioally  a*  into  manufacturing  ;  and  farming 
operalion«  here  aMunic  proportion*  aInuNt  inrradibla  to  thua*  fantiliar  only  wiih  *he  mcihiMli  of 
•ha  older  and  more  *el(led  St(te«.  On  tha  fnrm  of  Mr.  Dalrympla — who  la  well  called  ih«  •  boaa 
granger*  of  tha  region— naar  Faigo,  in  tha  Kad  River  valley,  i»  a  wheat-field  of  ao.ooo  acre*, 
tha  yield  of  which  thi*  year  ia  a«|ieclad  to  be  »omathing  like  500,000  buaheli.  On  ihi»  gigantic 
form,  which  ia  managed  aa  tyKtamaticaJly  aa  a  railroail,  400  man  are  employrd  in  harvetling,  and 
500  lo  600  in  Ihreihiiig.  They  u»e  150  pairs  of  hortp*  and  mule*,  200  gang  plow*,  115  lelf- 
binding  reaperi,  and  ao  »team-lhrakben.  Tha  man,  anlnutta  and  machinery  are  organiied  into 
iteparalc  dlvi»ioii*,  with  a  *U|)erintendent  for  each.  Nothing  could  b«  grander  ihan  n  tlKhl  of 
the*a  iromcnae  wheat-fialds,  ilratching  away  farther  than  lk«  eye  can  rcmth,  tn  one  unbroken 
Ijplden  tea,  while  a  lung  proocsiion  of  reaping  machinea,  in  tekt/o.),  lUta  a  baltery  of  artillery, 
itiiivea  tiaadily  agitlnM  the  thick  tat  rank*  of  grain.  Each  machine  it  drawn  by  ihrca  mulea  or 
horac*.  and  betldrt  (be  driver*  a  lupcrintcndenl  of  each  g»ng  ridea  along  on  hornelMick,  like  (he 
eaptnin  of  a  battery.  There  are  alto  machinitU,  mounted,  nnd  carrying  with  them  Uxilt  for  re- 
pairing any  break  or  diaarrangemcnt  of  the  machinery.  When  a  machine  faiU  to  work,  one  of 
(lie»#  repalrera  It  benide  it  in«(aiiily,  ditmouniing  and  examining  the  machinery,  and  unleia  (he 
break  it  aerioui,  having  it  in  running  order  again  before  an  unfamiliar  obterver  could  reallte 
what  had  taken  place.  Tbui  everything  goaa  on  orderly  and  eflftictively.  Travelling  together, 
these  115  macbinet  would  cut  a  Mwatb  one-fiAh  of  a  mile  In  width;  and  they  wontd  lay  low 
Iwwnlyi  milet  of  thia  mighty  twath  in  a^  tingle  day. 

"  The  profita  of  farming  on  thia  eateiuive  tcale  can  bt  very  cloaely  eitlmaled.  Mr.  Dalrym- 
ple  find*  that,  for  the  first  crop,  the  coat  of  preparing  the  ground,  seed-sowing  and  harvmdng. 
wear  and  (tar  of  machinery,  and  intereit  on  machinery  and  land,  amounts  to  ||  i  per  acre  j  and 
for  lubtequent  crop*.  tE  per  acre.  A  crop  yMdt,  in  wheat  or  oata,  frani  |l8  to  $io  |)er  acie. 
which  gives  a  vary  handsome  profit.  It  ia  not  unutual  for  the  firtt  cmp  to  pay  all  expentei  and 
leave  enough  to  cover  the  ooat  of  tha  land.  While  whcnt-growing  can  be  thui  advan(ai;eoualy 
carried  on  upon  a  large  tcale,  it  can  douUleat  be  followed  successfully  and  profitably  in  a  more 
moderate  way  5  but  a  small  amount  of  oapiul  is  nfaaolutely  essential.  Betides  ihe  purchase  of 
the  land,  the  settler  must  be  able  10  piU  up  buildings  buy  the'  necessary  machinery,  seed,  e(c., 
and  alto  mutt  have  the  means  of  living  for  a  year  or  more,  until  hit  first  crop  It  harvested.  For 
thota  who  can  do  this,  the  low  price  at  which  lands  can  be  obtained  ofTert  a  desirable  opportu- 
nity for  iovcalment  to  the  capiuUst  or  to  then  who  s«ek  new  homea  in  this  gixmlng  and  fertile 


■->.- 


1 


lands  are  not 
>n  roadn.     The 

vtnly  to  Iwanljr  mtwi 
•iilii*  |trutlttcl  far  Iha 
Illy  ((Mt  cutinly,  Da- 
iwl*  to  ib«  »Mn.  TIm 
ilUiMtl,  M  ih«  rata  ol 
to  Diiluih,  wh«r«  It  U 
wcUlljr  In  damanrf,  on 
lh«  wheal  gu««  lo  Ml. 
i  lh«  Urge  mill*  lialng 
>  b«rtcl»  iif  (lour  p«r 
f  Ihit  new  and  m  )r«{ 
uf  lU  pruduvla.  Th« 
f  lh«  n«w  Nurthwaii, 

which  II  I*  frtqutnllf 
iCturiiigt  and  rarming 
y  with  )he  meihixli  of 
la  wrilcallrti  the  •  bcwa 

(i«IU  itt  ao.ooo  acre*, 
i«l*.  On  ihU  gigantie 
tyed  In  harvetiing,  and 

gang  plow*,  115  leir. 
•ry  arc  urganliad  Into 
inder  than  n  light  of 
■wh,  In  one  unbroken' 

a  battery  of  artillery, 
iwn  hy  three  mule*  or 
on  horMlwck,  like  the 
wllh  them  looli  for  re- 
I  fklU  to  work,  one  of 
liincry,  ami  unleta  the 
Dbxcrver  could  reallte 
Travelling  together, 
td  they  would  lay  low 

in»aled.  Mr.  Dalrym- 
twing  and  harvesting, 
•  to  |l  I  per  acre ;  and 
fi8  to  fao  |)er  aae, 
)  pay  all  expenaei  and 
e  ihui  odvanlageouily 
id  profilahiy  In  a  more 
!»ide»  the  ptirchnae  of 
'machinery,  need,  etc., 
rop  U  harvested.  For 
r  a  desirable  oppoitu- 
>U  growing  and  fcitila 


LIBtlMAl    LASDI^Wt, 


74S 


quality  of  lhe»c  laniU  in  iiaid  to  he.  {generally  not  infrrior  to  thunc 
of  the  R«*d  River  valU'y.  'V\u'y  yitld  irnnurnnt!  cropn  of  wheat, 
oats,  barley,  corn  and  potatocn.  Thf  land  Ih  mostly  prnirie, 
though  the  bordern  of  th«;  Htreamt  urv  ht-avily  wimhI««I.  I  ht^rc 
is  coal  ntrar  the  MisHUuri  and  of  very  fair  (piuliiy.  '\hr.  rr\^\on 
in  well  watered.  The  landn  are  inoHtly  an  ytt  unMirveyed,  but 
can  be  procured  undttr  Soldiers'  and  Siiilors'  tluinestead  Law  by 
soldiers  or  their  familieM,  under  the  (ieneral  HomcHtead  Act,  the 
'I'imber'Culture  Act  or  by  preemption. 

The  very  liberal  timber-culture  law  of  the  government,  pro- 
tecting forest  tree  culture  on  the  western  prairies,  is  supplemented 
by  a  law  of  Dakota,  which  provides  that  for  every  five  acres 
of  timl)er  in  cultivation,  forty  acres,  with  all  the  improvem<;nts 
thereon,  not  exceeding  $ifioo  in  value,  shall  be  exempt  from 
taxation  for  a  period  of  ten  years  from  the  time  of  planting. 
Another  law  of  the  Territory  provides  that  no  land  shall  be 
deemed  increased  in  value  for  assessment  purposes  by  reason  of 
such  timber  culture,  no  matter  how  much  its  real  value  may  be 
enhanced  thereby;  so  tlut  any  industrious  man,  00  matter  how 
poor,  can  come  here,  and  in  eight  years  be  the  owner  of  240  or 
320  acres  of  bnd,  with  an  abundant  supply  of  timber  just  where 
he  wants  it,  and  be  entirely  exempt  from  taxation  the  entire  time, 
unless  he  should  put  more  than  $4,000  wortli  of  improvements 
upon  his  land  during  that  time. 

The  Chicago  and  Nortiiwestern  Railway,  which  is  building 
railways  in  Central  Dakota,  though  it  has  no  land  grants  there, 

We  might  add  almost  Imlennilely  to  this  icstlmony,  from  unprejudiced  olmvrvers.  Kt.  Rev. 
U.  W.  reck,  one  of  the  fiialiopa  of  ib«  MetbodiM  E|iic}pil  Church,  «fiting  in  Ovtober,  1879, 
of  this  region,  saya  i 

"  Imagine  a  vast  plain,  somewhat  undulating,  and  yourself  in  the  midst  of  it,  and  splendid 
farms  and  immensely  larger  unbroken  farming  Innds  extcmllng  to  the  horiton  in  all  directions ; 
and  then  think  two  thousand  miles  on  beyond — nearly  every  acrc'Sandy  loam,  vegetable  mould  or 
alluvial  deposits  from  two  to  six  ''•set  deep  [deeper  than  that,  liishop,]  the  greater  proportion  of 
the  whole  richer  and  finer  than  t.ra  gardens  of  the  Bast — and  yuu  will  begin  lo  have  some  idea 
of  this  northern  Northwest." 

Rev.  H.  J.  Van  Dyke,  Jr.,  Newport,  R.  I.,  contributed  lo  /farmer's  Atagatmi  for  January, 
1880,  an  account  of  his  visit  there  in  September,  1879,  and  confirms  the  testimony  of  the  others 
lit  the  foilast  Aogrt*.  Mcttr*.  Rtcd'aiul  Ml,  menibmra  of  Parliament,  sent  as  commissioners  to 
ascertain  the  causes  uf  England's  agricultural  depression,, and  the  adrantagea  o^red  to  ag/icul- 
tural  emigrants  from  Great  Britain  by  Manitoba  and  British  America,  returned  home  with  a  high 
estimate  of  the  su]>eriurity  of  Dakota  lands  and  fanning,  to  that  of  Manitoba. 


is 


1* 


i 


i 


II, 

t 


f^  OUM    WKXTKHN  KMtflfK. 

has  Itnucd  a  pnmphlnt  rnrmirn^ini;  immif^ratinn  to  that  rrj^ion 
for  thr  Hakr  of  hrin^in^  hiisinrsi  to  its  linrt,  which  it  proponm 
to  extend  to  tht!  HUi  k  IlilU.  Some  of  itN  ntAtrmcnt)!  are 
intercHting,  and,  on  thr  Iwst  of  tp^itimony,  truthful.     '\'\\vy  nay; 

"  It  nhoulil  Ik:  understood,  by  the  pr«)!ipcctlvc  nettlcr,  that  the 
land?*  of  thin  rrntral  fx*U  consiiit  almont  cxcUinively  of  prairie, 
there  being  no  tim!)«*r,  save  fringes  along  thr  water  courHc*. 
The  Western  farmer  does  not  need  to  be  told  of  the  ease  with 
which  a  prairie  farm  <  an  be  brought  under  cultivation  ;  but  the 
farmer  from  the  mort;  Tlastfrn  States  may  be  tnformetl,  that  all 
that  it  I*  necessary  to  do  to  bring  the  prairie  under  cultivation,  is 
to  plow  under  the  prairie  grasses  in  the  same  way  as  he  plowi 
the  meadow  at  home ;  and  at  once  he  has  a  fiehl  that  is  fit  for 
the  reception  of  any  kind  of  seed,  thus  getting  the  lanil  intf)  as 
good  shape  for  farming  purposes  as  he  could  do  if  it  had  hcvv, 
covered  with  timber  (as  all  of  the  Kastcrn  States  have  been), 
after  he  had  expended  twenty  to  forty  years'  labor  in  getting  rid 
of  the  timber  and  the  always-following  stumps. 

"  To  give  the  Kastern  farmer  some  idea  of  the  cost  of  making 
a  productive  farm  in  Central  Dakota,  we  quote  fmm  a  very 
readable  article,  recently  published  in  the  Atlantic  Moftthly,  from 
the  pen  of  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  in  the  '  New  Northwest.' 
'  The  Territory  appeals  more  directly  to  the  man  who  desires  a 
farm  of  1 60  or  320  acres,  than  to  him  who  aims  to  emulate  the 
Grandins,  Dalrymples  and  Casses  of  the  more  northern  part  of 
the  Territory,  who  have  their  ten,  twenty,  or  even  forty  thousand 
acres  in  a  farm.'  As  uur  estimate  gives  the  cost  of  producing 
one  acre  of  wheat,  with  hired  labor,  we  will  first  say,  that  good 
men  a**  plenty  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  at  the  following  wages: 
'•om  Ni  /ember  ist  to  April  ist,  $15  per  month;  from  April  ist 
to  Ma;  1st,  $18  ;  from  May  ist  to  August  ist,  $16;  from  August 
1st  to  August  15th,  %2  per  day  ;  from  August  15th  to  September 
15th,  $1.50  per  day;  from  September  15th  to  November  ist, 
$18  per  month.    *  •■'^' '     .•••■'     ••  -  '■■     ^^ 

"The  following  is  a  careful  estimate  of  the  cost  of  raising 
wheat,  furnishing  everything:   ^  ,     ,       ,.^ 


■>'  'h 


t     . 


.)i»--i«l»f/   '     >'■!  /',"  f**-'  ' 


"  \ 


to  that  rrjjion 

i(  h  it  propone* 
it.urtmnt!*   ore 

rh»7  «ay : 
sftilrr,  that  the 
vrly  of  prairie, 

wat^-r  roiirset. 
f  th<r  rase  with 
vation  ;  hut  the 
formed,  that  all 

r  cultivation,  in 
k-ay  as  he  pIowB 

(I  that  is  fit  for 
the  land  into  an 

0  if  it  had  been 
tes  have  been), 
)r  in  gcttinjf  rid 

cost  of  making 
te  from  a  very 
c  Mottthly,  from 
ilew  Northwest.' 
n  who  desires  a 

1  to  emulate  the 
lorthern  part  of 
fi  forty  thousand 
St  of  producing; 
t  say,  that  good 
'oUowing  wages: 
;  from  April  ist 
i6;  from  August 
th  to  September 

November  ist, 

cost  of  raising 

•ij-  ,    rt  >*:.     •ty-  1,1  •  '•  -r   •• 


COST  OP  HAtllffC   WHK4T.  j^ 

Plowing  t^  %nr%  prr  day,  |te  p«r  month  wtgw,  77  ctnt*  \»x  ilajr.  |  «•  a, 

IVr  A<  r«* \\ 

Iniereti  on  icain  |J75,  hurncw  %%%,  plow  |SO— ■|4S0.     H«r  acrt    .     .  oa  • 

Wr4r  4n(l  iMr,  15  ptr  ctnt.  on  uiilAl.     IVriur* n  • 

lUunl  man  |)rr  il«y,  10  <  rnl«  ;  Irnni  45  i-«n(«.     fVr  iirrt •# 

Sublr  nirn'*  litUtr  itnil  lK)ari|      IVr  arrv to 

(>(>»l(l('  iiini,  w«iir  iinti  tear  mmX  int«mt  on  (MR)  and  horncM  for  on« 

ytar  int  Imtetl. ) 
SowiiiK  .15  di  rc«  |)cr  diiy,  wft„>  '.  ||ao  fwr  month,  77  rentt  per  rUy. 

IVr  u(  re ot  ■ 

Hoard,  man  10  icnta,  learn  43  lenu  |)cr  ddy.     I'er  orre 019 

Wrar  ami  tear  on  ireder,  135,  13  |»rr  cent.     Per  orrt oj  9 

IntvrcHt  at  10  per  c  ent.     I'er  a«  re 01 

iliirve«iini(  (wire  or  turd  bindrr)  for  wire  or  cord.     Per  acre    ...  30 

13  ac:rr»  per  day,  wagen  |io  |)cr  month,  77  i:entii  |)cr  day.     Per  acre  .  03  1 

nuard  of  m.in  t^  1  rnti,  team  30  icntH  |)cr  day.     Per  lu  re     ....  03 
Intcrent  on  re4|>cr,  IJ30,  lU  10  per  cent.,  130  acres  (jcr  nuu:hint.     Per 

acre 16 

W(':tr  and  trur  on  rrajter,  1130,  at  13  {wr  rent.,  $61.30,  130  acrcn  |)cr 

nuihinr.     Per  m  re 41  6 

SluM  king  man,  77  cciua  |>er  day,  10  acre*  per  day,  and  iNMird  at  13 

cent*.     Per  acre 10  a 

'rhrc*liiiiK,  as  men  at  |a  [wrr  d.ny,  40  .vrc«.     Per  acre i  a.', 

Ikmrd,  15  men  at  aj  <  entN  \kx  day,  40  a<  tch.     Per  acre iij  6 

interest  uiul  wear  and  tear  un  thrcnhcr  and  engine.      Per  acre   ...  10 
Marketing  man,  77  centi ;  board  ao  cents;  board  of  team,  43  centa; 

4  a(  reH.     Per  acre \*  % 

Freight,  13  ccntM  |)er  bushel.     Per  ao  Imrthels a  60 

InciilentaU,  including  interest  and  wear  and  tear  on  |)ermancnt  in- 
vestment.    Per  acre a  00 

.        .  Total  cost  |)cr  acre J|8  69  6 

"  This  estimate  makes  the  cost  of  an  acre  of  wheat,  yielding 
twenty  bushels,  placed  in  Chicago,  with  an  allowance  of  te.i  per 
cent,  interest  on  the  whole  investment  for  land,  improvements, 
machinery,  tools,  and  stock,  and  also  of  twenty-five  per  cent,  for 
wear  and  tear  of  tools,  machinery,  and  stock,  to  be  1(^8.70,  not 
including  seed.  Allowing  %\  for  the  seed  will  make  the  cost  of 
one  acre  of  wheat,  yielding  twenty  bushels,  laid  down  in  Chicago, 
and  paying  an  ordinary  interest,  or  profit,  of  ten  per  cent,  on 
the  entire  investment,  $9.70,  or  forty-eight  cents  a  bushel.  With 
wheat  at  eighty-five  cents  a  bushel  in  Chicago,  this  would  give 


\ 


.'H> i«^.W>*.i «iw mi  11, ..-W'  ,><«i<«'«w.i.-  uOuiMM»iM»<XV'<.i«uiJM«:'.A'.'.<>'"'«..^-w 


MiiJ*A^*'y^'i0^> 


«;«..^£■■..i^^-. 


-.^  OUR    WESTEMK  RMrTRE. 

an  aduitional  profit  of  thirty-seven  cents  a  bushel,  ox  ff  40  per 
aci^. 

"  *From  this  calculation,  the  profit  of  a  greater  or  less  yield  can 
readily  be  computed,  die  cost  of  raisinjj  remaining  the  same." 

la  regard  to  climate  they  give  the  following  table,  the  result 
of  the  obacrvations,  we  believe,  of  United  States  officers  at  Fort 
Sully:* 


Ruin  anrt  Snow. 

TcnipeimiUM. 

inehn. 

Wet 

Prevailing 

Month 

f. 

days. 

winda. 

Maximum. 

Minimum. 

Rain. 

Snow, 

January 

53° 

—  16' 

IJ^ 

1% 

3 

N.  VV. 

February 

55° 

—ioYt? 

H 

SH 

'% 

N.  VV. 

March 

.     .            69» 

-4° 

5^ 

4H 

7 

W.  N.  W 

April  .     , 

77° 

8° 

VA 

0 

»'A 

S.  E. 

May   .     . 

89° 

39° 

4K 

0 

4^ 

S. 

June  .     . 

97° 

69° 

4H 

0 

6 

S.  S.  W. 

July    .     . 

^^zV^ 

7a° 

1% 

0 

8 

S.  VV. 

August 

r    .     1      93^ 

(>%" 

67/i 

0 

7 

s. 

Septembe 

41* 

3}i 

0 

$!4 

s. 

October  . 

84° 

19° 

aH 

H 

nyi 

N.  VV. 

November    .     |       67° 

29° 

Ya 

^ 

3 

N.  VV. 

Decembei 
Tota 

•    .             49° 
I     . 

—18^ 

•  •• 

sV^ 

5 

N.  VV. 

47-75 

24 

695 

T^ 

.1  •     •.      -ii   \ 

•^1.    • 

^\        i»  - 

•  1 

.1 

it  ts  in  Illinois,  Northern  Indiana,  Ohio,  New  York,  or  any  part 
of  New  England. 

The  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway  has  two  lines  pene- 
trating Central  Dakota — one  from  Tracy,  Minnesota,  northwest 
to  Watertown,  and  to  be  extended  westward  to  the  James  or 
Dakota  river;  the  other  from  Tracy  westward  to  Hiuron,  and  to 
be  extended  to  the  Missouri  river  the  present  season,  and 
eventually  to  the  Black  Hills ;  it  is  hardly  probable  that  any  other 
railway  (except  possibly  a  branch  of  the  Northern  Pacific  to  the 
Black  Hills)  will  for  some  years  to  come  traverse  this  part  of 
the  Territory,  and  their  rates  for  freight  and  transportation  of 
emigrant  movables  and  crops  are  therefore  of  interest.      We 


'*'It  is  not' st&tfcd' whether  this  table*  was  for  a  single  year  or  an  average  of  several  years. 
It  was  prtbAbly  thKiiannei,, as  >the  rainfall  isievce^iunaiUy^lhi^e  for  tUe  lalitadb. 


U*A'"~^- 


lel,  or  $7  40  per 

5r  less  yield  can 
ig  the  same." 
table,  the  result 
officers  at  Fort 


Wet 

Prevailing 

■"     ' 

(lay>. 

wlndt. 

^ 

N.  W. 

2V2 

N.  W. 

7 

W.  N.  W 

^% 

S.  E. 

aM 

S. 

6 

S.  S.  W. 

8 

S.  W. 

7 

S. 

S. 
N.  W. 

.1 

N.  W. 

5 

N.  VV. 

695 

ess  severe  than 
Drk,  or  any  part 

two  lines  pene- 
2sota,  northwest 
o  the  James  or 
)  Huron,  and  to 
nt  season,  and 
e  that  any  other 
rn  Pacific  to  the 
rse  this  part  of 
-ansportation  of 
interest.      We 

:rage  of  several  yeais. 
latitudiB. 


/ 

COST  OF  EMIGRANT  FREIGHT.  m^ 

therefore  give  them  the  benefit  of  the  following  declamtiori  of 
their  terms  and  reasons  for  them : 

FREIGHT   RATES. 

EntlrirtM*.  Mrvtble^ 
p«f  CA\.         luo  Ibt. 

Chicago  to  Volga,  Dak., l4r,.oo    $1.2$ 

"        "  Tracy,  Minn ^5^00       i.io 

"        "  Marshall,"        »^,oo       i.io 

"  These  special  rates  are  open  to  all,  whether  setctr-rs  on  com- 
pany's land  or  not. 

"  The  term  emigrant  movables  applies  to  all  hoinehold  goods, 
farm  machinery,  wagons,  live-stock,  trees  and  shrubbery,  prop- 
erly included  in  the  outfit  of  intending  settlers,  but  does  not 
include  general  merchandise,  lumber,  provisions,  or  grain  (unless 
intended  for  seed,  or  for  feeding  animals  in  transit).  When  a 
car  contains  live-stock  (whether  horses,  mules,  or  cattle),  one  man 
zvill  be  passed  free  to  take  care  of  it.  Those  who  live  along  the 
lines  of  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway,  and  desire  to 
reach  the  Free  Land  District  of  Central  Dakota,  should  apply  to 
the  nearest  agent  of  the  Northwestern  Railway,  who,  if  he  is  not 
already  supplied  with  rates  to  Tracy,  Marshall,  and  Volga,  will, 
on  application,  be  furnished  them,  as  it  is  the  intention  of  this 
company  to  do  all  that  it  possibly  can,  by  the  most  favorable 
rates,  to  have  this  fertile  belt  made  as  accessible  to  its  patrons 
as  are  any  other  lands  in  the  West.  As  these  lands  are  owned 
entirely  by  the  United  States,  and  are  not,  in  any  manner  or 
form,  controlled  by  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway,  or 
by  any  other  railway  or  corporation,  no  person  or  corporation, 
except  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway,  will  be  in  any 
way  interested  in  their  setdement ;  and  the  only  interest  that  the 
Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway  has,  or  will  have  in  tht;  set- 
tlement of  these  lands,  is  merely  that  accruing  out  of  the  fact 
that  after  they  are  settled,  it  will  reap  some  benefit  from  the 
shipments  of  the  products  of  the  farms  along  the  line  to  Chicago 
or  Milwaukee,  which,  as  will  be  seen,  He  almost  at  their  doors. 
It  may  not  be  necessary  to  suggest  to  the  prospective  settler  ot 
'these  lands,  that  the  earlier  settlers  in  this  tract  will  have  a  great 
advantage  over  those  who  come  later,  as  the  first  will,  for  many 


SI" 


•i 


,«<>>W*'>«tJs^jiJ«»iWuiua;;(*jfc.ti'«U3«»Vi.i»a%iW8«tfBS)^^  -><■•'•  *""  'i**ii>-'n.-«-**W«»'-='-<>>'W«'^' 


I 


■—    taA*"*!:  L*  l^ttfcM*<W 


iw»wm. '»  miw'  n  ■  Hi  I  ■>■ 


\[ 


\ 


;5o 


Cf/^    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


years,  have  to  provide  for  the  recent  comer,  who  thus  will  fur- 
nish a  home  market  for  many  of  the  products  that  will  be  grown 
in  the  next  five  years.  Besides,  as  will  be  noticed  by  our  map, 
these  lands  lie  directly  in  the  course  of  the  traveller  to  the  min- 
ing camps  of  the  Black  Hills,  which,  being,  in  no  sense  of  the 
word,  an  agricultural  district,  will  always  have  to  be  provided  by 
the  nearest  farming  lands,  not  only  with  provisions,  but  also  with 
horses,  mules,'  live-stock  of  all  sorts,  and  forage  for  them,  thus 
offering  another  and  very  valuable  market  for  those  who  occupy 
this  Free  La^d  district.  A  third  market  for  the  products  of 
these  lands  will,  for  many  years  to  come,  be  found  along  the 
Missouri  river;  and  as  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway 
will  very  certainly  reach  the  Missouri  river  during  the  year  1880, 
there  is  no  doubt  that  steamboat  lines  will  be  established  from 
the  point  where  the  road  reaches  the  river  to  all  points  on  the 
upper  Missouri,  Yellowstone,  Big  Horn,  and  other  navigable 
streams  in  the  far  Northwest. 

"  The  passenger  rates  announceo  arc :  from  Chicago  to  Mar- 
shall, Minn.,  round  trip,  $21.85,  single  trip,  $13.65  ;  from  Chicago 
to  Volga,  Dak.,  round  trip,  $24,  single  trip,  $15.  At  Marshall, 
round  trip  tickets  can  be  purchased  for  any  points  on  either 
of  the  company's  roads  in  Central  Dakota  at  two  cents  a  mile 
each  way." 

We  come  next  to  Southeastern  Dakota,  the  section   which 
has  been  longest  settled,  or  rather  the  longest  known  to  the 
public,  for,  with  the  exception  of  Yankton,  Sioux  City,  and  Sioux 
Falls,  there  are  very  few  towns  in  this  section  that  have  been 
settled  more  than  half  a  dozen  years.    The  region  is  well  waterec 
and  the  soil  is  of  the  very  best.     The  railways  r  ..\'  built  or  build 
ing  in  this  section  make  it  very  accessible,  and  ^'):.<.  [' Missouri,  Bi 
Sioux^  and  White  rivers  add  to  the  means  of  travc.s'  g  it.    The 
railways  are  from  Sioux  City  to  Yankton,  Sioux  Ciiy  to  Siou> 
Falls,  and  from  the  latter  town  to  Fire-Steel  on  the  James  river 
already  completed,  and  soon  to  be  finished  to  Brule  City,  on  the 
Missouri.     The  Rev.  Edward  Ellis,  who  has  explored  all  part: 
of  Dakota  within  the  last  two  years,  writing  to  New  York,  ii 
Afjay.  1880,  says:    .^^j  .^^  ^.^w  >iw»tr  i'»tv*<  •.(-Miii  jjvo  s.i^rfr.iUi.,. 


SOUTHEASTERN  DAKOTA. 


751 


who  thus  will  fur- 
that  will  be  grown 
Dticed  by  our  map, 
raveller  to  the  min- 
in  no  sense  of  the 
J  to  be  provided  by 
isions,  but  also  with 
age  for  them,  thus 
r  those  who  occupy 
Dr  the  products  of 
>e  found  along  the 
rthwestern  Railway 
iring  the  year  i88o» 
be  established  from 
to  all  points  on  the 
nd  other  navigable 

3m  Chicago  to  Mar- 
:3.65 ;  from  Chicago 
$15.  At  Marshall, 
ny  points  on  either 
at  two  cents  a  mile 

!,  the  section  which 
ngest  known  to  the 
ioux  City,  and  Sioux 
tion  that  have  been 
egion  is  well  watered 
IS  I  >■'  tuiltor  build- 
no  ' i.-  ''iissouri,  Big 
f  travt  .s'  g  it  The 
Sioux  City  to  Sioux 
on  the  James  river, 
:o  Brule  City,  on  the 
is  explored  all  parts 
ng  to  New  York,  in 


"The  most  desirable  part  of  the  Territory  for  a  permanent 
home  is  the  southeastern — first  of  all,  because  of  its  climate.  It 
is  milder  and  more  seasonable,  better  adapted  for  fruit  and  all 
kinds  of  garden  sauce.  The  water  supply  is  also  more  alxindant. 
Nearly  all  the  rivers  of  Dakota  converge  in  the  southeast  cor- 
ner. The  geographical  position  of  .Southeastern  Dakota  will 
always  maintain  a  decided  advantage  over  the  more  northern 
positions.  There  is  any  amount  of  government  land  that  can 
be  secured  now,  near  the  lines  of  these  new  railroads  which  are 
opening  up  this  section.  Counties  where  desirable  land  can  be 
found  are  Kingsbury,  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Thompson  ;  Miner, 
Bramble,  and  Davidson,  in  the  valleys  of  the  Vermilicn  and  the 
James ;  also  McCook,  Turner,  and  Lake,  but  these  last-named 
counties  are  n>ore  thoroughly  settled.  Brule  county,  on  the 
Missouri,  is  reported  to  be  one  of  the  finest  counties  in  the  Ter- 
ritory, and  the  railroad  running  through  the  centre  of  it  makes 
it  a  desirable  point  for  location." 

The  following  communication,  prepared  for  the  writer  by  Hon. 
W.  H.  H.  Beadle,  for  several  years  United  States  Surveyor- 
General  of  Dakota  Territory,  and  now  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction  for  the  Territory,  and  Private  Secretary  (until  his 
death)  for  the  late  Governor  Howard,  gives  much  information 
not  easily  attainable  concerning  the  whole  Territory,  but  is 
specially  full  in  regard  to  the  southeastern  portion.  Mr.  Beadle 
is  probably  more  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  whole  Territory 
than  any  other  man  living,  and  is  not,  and  has  not  been,  con- 
nected with  any  railroad  company  or  colonisation  scheme  which 
might  warp  his  judgment      I'^t-  ir,-.  ^    >{?5  .'n^/.it  11  .1 

"  Dakota  Territory  contains  1 50,000  square  miles  or  96,000,000 
acres,  which  is  nearly  all  prairie.  Southern  Dakota  will  contain 
78,000  square  miles.*  There  are  erroneous  impressions  con- 
cerning it  which  are  sorhetimes  favorable,  generally  unfavorable. 
To  understand  it  properly,  its  general  p'^  ^ical  features  are  of 
_. 1 _f 

*  It  was  a  favorite  idea  of  Governor  Howard,  toward  the  close  of  his  life,  that  the  Territory 
should  be  divided  into  Northern  and  Southern  Dakota ;  the  two  divisions,  or  future  .  tates,  having 
•  nearly  equal  area.  The  sonthem  half  would  include  the  Black  Hills,  which  would  soon  b« 
reached  by  railroad  linos  A^oa  the  East,     tyj    mU'   i'>i'Y:>Miw  n«iji  'Iuhiw  ■      .-i  i 


[i 


tI 


•■% 


■  -.*..iit^«JiWtri- 


;53 


OUJt    IVESTEKN  EMPIRE. 


the  first  importance.  In  the  first  place  but  a  very  small  part  of 
it  is  mountainous,  and  this  part  is  the  Black  Hills,  which  arc  hlTlK, 
rather  than  mountains.  Dakota  does  not  lie  among  or  upon  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  If  one  will  begin  in  New  Mexico  and  follow 
along  the  Rocky  Mountains,  it  will  be  found  that  they  run  nearly 
due  north,  through  New  Mexico,  Colorado  and  into  Wyoming, 
where  they  turn  decidedly  westward  and  then  northwestward, 
leaving  outlying  lower  ranges,  spurs  and  hills  to  the  north  and 
northeast  as  far  as  the  Black  Hills.  The  traveler  upon  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad  observes  this.  He  ascends  along  the 
Platte  and  the  Lodge  Pole  to  or  a  little  beyond  Cheyenne,  and 
finds  himscir  upon  the  elevated  mountain  plateaux;  and  thence 
westward  he  follows  a  mountain  divide,  from  which  the  country 
is  generally  lower  toward  the  Yellowstone  and  Missouri,  and 
also  southward  toward  the  Bear,  Grand  and  Green  rivers,  of  the 
Colorado.  He  commences  to  descend  into  the  Utah  basin,  and 
the  mountain  range  goes  north-northwest  through  Idaho  and 
Montana  (including  part  of  Western  Wyoming).  '  "'  * 
.  "Ascending  the  Missouri  river  from  Omaha,  the  course  is 
nearly  north,  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Dakota,  where  it  bends 
decidedly  west  for  over  icxd  miles,  and  then  north  and  northwest 
for  3CX)  miles,  where  it  turns  westward  and  heads  far  toward  the 
Pacific  ocean,  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  Yellowstone  coming 


hijiL-, 


WJa 


in  from  the  west-southwest.       '  ^  '^f^'  ''• 

.li"  These  features,  in  physical  geography,  materially  affect  the 
character  of  the  surface,  soil,  climate  and  agricultural  products 
of  Dakota.  For  instance,  one  would  naturally  expect  that  the 
heavy  bend  toward  the  west  of  the  Missouri  river  would  bear 
with  it  westward,  the  extent  of  fertile  lands,  etc.,  which  are  found 
in  Eastern  Nebraska.  Then,  too,  the  elevation  above  the  sea  at 
Yankton  is  only  about  i,ioo  feet,  but  from  this  on  the  ascent 

'  is  more  and  more  rapid.  it  «»/&r3f i««»*'.  !3tyrrt  ariw  *«  s^mnm 

"  The  general  elevation  of  the  plains  about  the  foot-hills  around 
the  Black  Hills  is  from  2,500  to  3,000  feet,  and  this  is  the  highest 
part  of  the  Territory.  ^^ 

,  "  No  mountains  lie  to  the  north  or  northwest 

**  The  Continental  valleys  of  the  MisMssippi  (and  Missouri)  pass 


k*.:.; '•*.'— ;^-.'.  .■'.■',*■ 


1 


M/i.   BF.ADI.R   ON  SOUTHEAST  DAKOTA. 


7Si 


ry  small  part  of 

I,  which  are  hifls, 

ong  or  upon  the 

exico  and  follow 

they  run  nearly 

into  Wyoming, 

northwestward, 

I  the  north  and 

veler  upon  the 

«nds  along  the 

I  Cheyenne,  and 

lUx;  and  thence 

lich  the  country 

id  Missouri,  and 

Jen  rivers,  of  the 

Utah  basin,  and 

3ugh  Idaho  and 

I,  the  course  is 
,  where  it  bends 
h  and  northwest 
s  far  toward  the 
owstone  coming 

irially  affect  the 
ultural  products 
expect  that  the 
iver  would  bear 
which  are  found 
above  the  sea  at 
s  on  the  ascent 

foot-hills  around 
lis  is  the  highest 


J  Missouri)  pass 


on  to  those  of  the  Red  river  of  the  North,  the  Saskatchewan  and 
the  McKenzie — to  the  Arctic  ocean.  These  streams,  or  their 
tributaries,  interlock  in  Minnesota  and  Dakota,  and  from  St. 
Paul  to  the  Missouri  river  westward  or  a  little  north  of  that, 
is  the  line  of  greatest  elevation  east  of  the  Missouri  river  in 
Dakota,  being  1,500  feet  at  highest  points.  It  is  a  general 
plain  or  prairie,  with  few  hills  even,  except  the  so-called  '  co- 
teaus,'  which  are  nine-tenths  rich  agricultural  or  grazing  lands, 
and  are  not  mountains  at  all ;  merely  regions  of  land  more  ele- 
vated than  the  intervening  great  valleys. 

'*  Most  people  understand  what  is  meant  by  the  '  Great  Plains ' 
of  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Colorado,  etc.  They  lie  in  an  almost  per- 
fect inclined  plain  from  the  foot  of  the  mountains  eastward  to  the 
Missouri  river,  and,  down  this  incline,  the  rivers  are  cut  like 
grooves.  The  general  surface  is  quite  uniform.  Take  this  ex- 
ample to  understand  Southern  Dakota.  It  is  composed  of  two 
such  inclined  plains  upon  a  smaller  plan.  All  that  east  of  the 
Missouri  river  and  up  to  about  the  forty-sixth  parallel  is  a  general 
inclined  plane,  sloping  to  the  south,  down  and  across  which  flow 
the  Big  Sioux,  the  Vermilion  and  the  Dakota  (or  James)  rivers, 
and  the  Missouri  itself.  The  northern  border  is  about  400  feet 
higher  than  the  southern.  That  part  of  the  south  half  of  Dakota 
lying  west  of  the  Missouri  is  another //a«^  inclined  to  the  east — 
properly  a  part  of  the  '  Great  Plains '  of  the  west  extended  up 
there.  Its  highest  part  is  about  4,000  feet  (mountains)  and 
average  lower  part  about  1,400  feet  Down  across  it  flow  the 
Keya  Paha  and  Niobrara  (near  it  in  Nebraska),  the  White,  Chey- 
enne, Moreau,  Grand  and  Cannon  Ball  rivers.  This  region  in- 
clines more  sharply,  the  streams  are  more  swift,  and  the  country 
is  a  little  more  though  than  further  south.  The  so-called  Bad 
Lands  occupy  a  small  part  only — not  ovier  75,000  acres — ^which  is 
not  good  grazing  lands.  We  will  now  briefly  refer  again  to 
each  one  of  these  regions. 

"  The  western  part  has,  especially  in  its  southeastern  quarter, 

and  along  the  Missouri  river,  a  fine  body  of  agricultural  lands, 

suited  to  wheat,  rye,  barley,  oats  and  corn.     As  one  passes  west 

it  becomes  more  suited  to  grazing,  and  is  covered  with  a  rich 

48 


i 


Hiik'-m 


.;d^ilMi#ciMM(<*''MS<«i.a-<«^.Aui£i..«biaMfi^^ 


714 


OUK   WESTERN  KMP/XE. 


growth  of  the  best  grasses~i-especially  those  which,  curing  upon 
the  ground,  alTord  winter  grazing.  This  lias  been  amply  irxrA 
for  many  years  by  the  herd*  kept  by,  and  for  feeding,  the 
Indians.  When  we  reach  the  valleys  of  the  Cheyenne  and 
Belle  Fourche,  the  agricultural  character  again  decidedly  im- 
proves, and  tlie  plains  between  these  streams  and  the  Ulau:k 
Hills  are  being  rapidly  occupied  as  farms,  Sitock-ranches,  vegeta- 
ble gardens,  dairy  farms,  etc.,  as  seems  most  profitable,  to  supply 
the  people  in  the  Hills  with  food.  The  valley  of  the  belle 
Fourche  and  its  larger  tributaries,  is  very  delightful  and  fertile, 
one  of  the  loveliest  summer  views  in  the  West,  wide,  snvooth 
and  beautiful.  The  French  criled  it  '  La  Belle  Fourche ' — the 
beautiful  branch — /.  e.,  of  the  Cheyenne.  The  Hills  themselves 
are  a  real  wonder-land.  I  have  travelled  through  them  and 
been  in  the  principal  mine&.  The  examination  changed  my 
opinion.  I  Iqok  upon  them  as  surpassingly  rich  in  gold.  They 
are  peculiar — different  from  other  gold  regions.  The  same  rule 
of  expectation  does  not  apply.  They  disappoint  every  one — but 
favorably.  They  are  in  gold  somewhat  as  Leadville,  Colorado, 
is  in  silver.  Within  five  years  everybody  will  recognize  this,  and 
within  ten  years  that  region  will:  be  a  constant  winder  in  its  gold 
product.  I  do  not  own  a  cent  of  interest  there,  directly  or  indi- 
rectly. Railroads  will  be  lh«re  in  two  years  or  less,  and  then 
machinery,  supplies  and  all  conveniences  will  be  cheaper,  so  that 
the  mines  can  b^  opened  and  worked  extensively,  and  ic  will  be- 
come motie  than  ever  a  wonder-tland,  because  it  is  koown,  and  not 
because  it  is  not  knowa. 

"  Southeastern  Dakota  has  an  area  of  35,000  square  miles,  nearly 
«very  square  foot  of  which  is  rich.  It  is  generally  well  watered, 
has  a  deep  dark  prairie  loam  aotl,  mixed  in  plaoes  wiith  a  very 
small  pef  cent,  of  sandy  loam.  It  nearly  all  slopes  slightly  to  the 
soudu  ^d  ffeceix^e&  the  spring  rains  and  »inshine,  making  its 
seasons  early  and  its  soil  warm  to  germinate  the  spring  seed. 
Its  great  crops  arc  wheat  and  corn,  me^  being  divided  as  to 
which  i^  the  more  profkaitle  oi  the  twp.  Its  third  great  interest 
is  oattle-va^singi  These  three,  represe|»t,  ^bout  equally  the  re- 
sources, of  the  farmers.    lKs^\m  go  farther  north,  wheat  domi- 


ich,  curing  upon 
[been  amply  trifld 
for  feedini^,  the 
Cheyenne  and 
in  decidedly  im- 
s  and  the  Black 
ranch(;8,  vegeta- 
taWe,  to  supply 
ley  of  the  Belle 
htful  and  fertile, 
9t,  wide,  smooth 
e  Fourche ' — tl»e 
Hills  themselves 
rough  them  and 
ion  changed  my 
I  in  gold.     They 
The  same  rule 
It  every  one — but 
adville,  Colorado, 
ecogniaq  this,  and 
krander  in  its  gold 
,  directly  or  indi- 
or  less,  and  then 
8  cheaper,  so  that 
iy,  and  it  will  b^ 
is  kftown,  and  noc 

uare  miles,  nearly, 
Uly  well  watered, 
laces  mth  a  very 
)es  slightly  to  thq 
hine,  making  its 
thQ  spring  seed, 
ig  divided  as  to 
Vd  great  interest 
eqMally  the  re- 


SOUTtiBASTEK^V  DAKOTA. 


755 


nates,  as  the  country  is  n<;wer,  and  this  crop  can  be  more  quickly 
turned.  Farther  south,  corn  equals  wlieat  in  importance,  and  in 
some  counties  stock-raising  is  chief.  Take  Yankton,  Clay  and 
Union  counties,  and  during  the  laK't  year  they  have  sold  about 
2,000  head  of  cattle  each,  mainly  ready  for  beef  or  to  be  fed  tem- 
porarily in  Iowa.  They  have  sold  aibout  3,000  head  of  hogs  ea^h, 
and  about  one  and  a-half  millioA  bushels  of  wheat.  These  are 
the  three  oldest  counties.       ( 1  ,  ,  r  ,  mj  li ,    i  /  . 

"  Southeastern  Dakota  has  twenty-thj^ee  organized  counties,  a 
population  of  90,000  people,  with  430  miles  of  railroad  in  opera- 
tion— perhaps  460  nearly  so.  It  will  have  700  miles  by  Novem- 
ber I,  1880.  It  has  an  excellent  advance  in  schools,  churches 
and  all  social  organizations.  Its  population  is  consolidated  and 
continuous,  and  it  is  law-abiding  and  enterprising.  Its  villages 
and  towns  are  marked  by  newspapers^  chui^ch  edifices  and 
school-houses.  ^'^^'^ '«      "•''   '^'     !'  '•        •(-iuMif...> ,  , ,  ,  .,,     ;  ,. 

"  The  climate  is  warmer  than  would  be  expetted.  Its  summer 
is  long,  and  corn  matures  and  fully  ripens  every  year.  In  win- 
ter there  are  Occasional  stormy  days,  which  ahe  sometimes 
severe ;  but  usually  the  winters  are  fair,  sunny  and  dfy.  The 
United  States  Signal  Service  reports  will  show  temperature  for 
a  series  of  years  at  Yankton  and  Fort  Sully — fciir  tests,  except 
that  Sully  is  on  the  west  edge  of  the  best  agricultural  landa 

"  Did  you  ever  observe  the  disappointments  that  meet  people 
>vho  go  by  rail  to  California,  Nevada  and  Utah  in  the  hope  of  a 
cuf'e  for  lung  and  other  diseases  }  I  have  seen  them  come  back 
suffering  greatly.  The  trouble  is,  the  too  great  and  too  sudden 
change  from  the  more  damp  sea-coast  and  lake  climates,  to  that 
vel-y  dry  air.  But  the  men  of  '49,  the  early  overland  immigrants 
and  travellers  to  Califomiai  were  Celebrated  for  robust  health. 
The!^  jO'irney  improved  and  cured  weak  lungs,  bronchial, 
catarrhal,  and  like  diseases.  Why  P  They  went  slowly  from  one 
Xb  the  other.  They  travelled  by-  horses  or  with  oxen  across 
Iowa,  Nebraska,  Dakota,  Wyoimng,  etc.  They  took  a  long 
period  of  out^door  summer  life  in'  thiS'  intermediate  region.  The 
same  treatment  will  produce  the  same  results  now.  The  region 
of  tiie  MissoluH  vall^  in' Dakota  is  the  best  in  the  worid  for*  such 


'Ii«rfv,vJf'i/jl»"..-i:ia^,.i!,;#.,;^;,,B.i^v!-<:w  i/,?;-.-,. 


n  ?.M  , f^lt-.S*. ,- i  AK.rtC.'TfVlJWWfai' 


m 


>■ 


^|0  ouK  trasrajty  amp/ax, 

summer  travel  and  iiojourn,  and  should  be  taken  before  the 
transfer  even  to  Colorado,  though  that  is  better  tlian  Calirornia 
at  first.  I  do  not  extend  this  idea.  Its  statement  will  be  under- 
stood, as  the  history  of  the  early  days  gave  the  best  proof  of  its 

value."  '"!  .n!  t<l  no  ")  vhI  IcO  .Ii:   .1     'ruiint  .i{>i.  •  ..Itu   .  \,,  !■...!  fv^rt 

We  add,  on  the  opposite  page,  the  meteorology  of  the  two  su- 
tions  of  the  Signal  Service  Bureau  in  Southeastern  Dakota,  and  as 
Fort  Sully  station  was  changed  to  Dead  wood  in  Dccemljcr,  1877, 
we  have  completed  the  year  from  the  Dcadwood  report,  the  lati- 
tude being  nearly  the  same,  though  the  altitude  of  Deadw^od  is 
considerably  higher.  We  give  a  later  meteorological  report 
from  Deadwood  and  Lead  City  farther  on.    ,(,<  <[     /.(''^<  ,«  •>.,.. 

We  come  next  to  the  smallest,  but,  in  some  respects,  the  most 
important  section  of  Dakota,  the  mineral  region  known  as  "  The 
Black  Hills."  Let  Mr.  Zimri  L.  White,  the  accomplished  and 
judicious  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Tributu,  who  visited 
and  explored  the  Hills  in  the  summer  of  1879,  describe  for  us 
the  topography  and  history  of  the  region.  We  may  say  in  pass- 
ing, that  the  Black  Hills  extend  westward  into  Wyoming  Terri 
tory,  and  are  between  the  43d  and  45th  parallels  of  latitude  and 
the  103d  and  105th  meridians  of  longitude,  l^nj^i,^.  ^  ;i£;^,  bvji«  ;j 

"The  Black  Hills,  or  Cheyenne  Mountains,  are  a  detached 
spur  of  the  Rockies  lying  between  the  two  forks  of  the  Cheyenne 
river  (one  of  the  largest  tributaries  of  the  Missouri),  whose  con- 
fluence is  near  their  eastern  boundary.  The  North  Cheyenne, 
or  Belle  Fourche,  flowing  from  a  point  in  Wyoming  Territory 
west  of  and  nearly  opposite  the  centre  of  the  Hills,  bears  off  to 
the  northeast  and  then  to  the  southeast,  forming  a  sort  of  an  ox- 
bow, while  the  South  Cheyenne  separates  the  Hills  from  the 
Southern  plains.  The  area  thus  embraced  is  about  5,000  square 
miles,  and  may  be  divided  into  three  parts — rugged  mountains 
containing  mineral  veins  and  deposits,  grass-covered  foot-hills 
and  prairies,  capable  of  s^upporting  enormous  herds  of  cattle,  and 
fertile  valleys  which,  with  or  without  irrigation,  will  produce  all 
the  grain,  hay,  potatoes  and  other  vegetables  that  the  future 
population  of  Ae  Black  Hills  can  consume.  \[,  a  u\:miit.'}-\i  -jm^ 
.:.'.<' The  mountains  proper,  as  distinguished  from  the  foot-htus, 


MMTSOMOLOGY. 


717 


en  before  the 

lian  California 

will  be  under- 

:Kt  proof  of  its 

of  the  two  sta* 
Dakota,  and  as 
)cceml>cr,  1877, 
report,  the  lati- 
Doadw'>od  in 
ological   report 

ipects,  the  most 
known  as  "  The 
complished  and 
un€,  who  visited 
describe  for  us 
nay  say  in  pass- 
Vyoming  Terri 
of  latitude  and 

are  a  detached 
of  the  Cheyenne 
uri),  whose  con- 
forth  Cheyenne, 
^ming  Territory 
[ills,  bears  off  to 
a  sort  of  an  ox- 
'■  Hills  from  the 
)ut  5,000  square 
gged  mountains 
>vered  foot-hills 
rds  of  cattle,  and 
will  produce  all 
that  the  future 

m  the  foot-hills, 


Foft  wKUft 


Otftdwood. 


%  t^  a  5  I  «  a  JT  85  !g  X  5 

»  8  =  i.  I 

u   f  £ 


w  ::  i^  t  t;  S4  *« 


III 


t*      V>      i     %t     tt 

>?    ^    V    v    "f 


wt     vn 


MaalMUM 

Mlnltmim 
Tamyarsiur*. 

Mmii 


s<   ifl   f« 

'^  r  r 


T  T  T  T 

'A  Y'  Y  a 


!3S3a<ya"*^^ffy  ff^"i» 


i  J, 


o    o 


■Ss  t  ii  &  ij  2  u< 


•8   "? 


•4 


w  r 

b     OB 
it 


rr^••^y•ppp^■• 

On    .;«» '*'..*      *      Crt      -M      9      Vj 


?:  s  J  . 

«      ^      ^      >0       0>      O 


^  ^  S  ZH  }i   ^ 


as 
'^   ?! 

CA 


?5 


M 


Vt 

."  M  < 

5"  ^  W 

pj  -  - 

•  f«  f«    M 

M  •  -       J 

'  ^  ^    ¥* 


v/l 


25    2    1^ 

»3 


^      ^ 

J 


i^  V>  v>  1^ 

•         *         *  •  6 


^   «   a!   P>  ' 


Barain«lric(l 
fmcun. 


Hualdlty. 


•I 


f 


MMtlnium 
Timp«fB(ura. 

Mlnimuai 
T«mpc»iur«. 


Mmh 
Ttmpcnwn. 


Kaio&U. 


Barnmetrlcil 
PrMMM. 


HumMlly. 


ili      ;j 


I 


IF 


^ 


r 


1 


i 


5 


c/> 


! 
f 


') 


I 


,f.r 


'«k«»i«:M,. .. .  «<iwva^3icw::ssMBt'4 


Ifc. 


cover  nbout  t  '-third*  of  th«  area  to  which  the  name  DIack  Hills 
appliet.  These  arc  grnrrally  sleep,  covered  with  pine  fortrsts 
or  the  bare  trunks  of  trees  that  have  been  killed  by  fircg,  and 
R'-parated  from  »'.i<h  other  by  gulches  and  caAons  through  which 
small  streams  How.  These  mountains  are  remarkably  rich  in 
minerals,  although  they  have  not  been  sufficittntly  explored  to 
make  it  possible  to  estimate  tlie  value  of  their  deposits.  The 
gold  mines  are  most  developed,  but  there  are  silver  mines  rich 
enough,  in  promise,  at  leant,  to  induce  men  who  have  capital  anil 
experience  to  purchase  them  and  to  invest  their  money  in  ex- 
pensive mills  for  reducing;  the  or«"s.  Specimens  of  very  rich  cop- 
per ore  have  also  been  found,  but  !  have  heard  of  no  mines  being 
worketl.  Salt  deposits  have  been  uncovered,  and  machinery  is 
now  on  the  way  to  the  Hills  to  enable  the  owner  of  one  mine  to 
try  the  experiment  of  manufacturing  salt  from  the  rock.  Pctro- 
l(Him  of  excellent  quality  and  in  inexliausttbic  quantities  has  also 
been  discovered,  and  many  wells  are  already  worked.  Coal  has 
beqn  found  in  considerable  quantities,  and  is  now  being  tested  in 
the  gold  mills  near  Deadwood.  The  gold  mines  exceed  all  others 
in  value,  and  will  probably  continue  iu  do  so  as  long  as  there  is 
mining  in  the  Black  Hills,  but  some  of  the  other  mineral  deposits 
are  of  such  character  and  promise  as  to  invite  capital  and  enter- 
prise In  their  development.  ~  -  ■  "  •  "  ,  '  ^^  '' !^^, 
;2t**  The  footrhills  are  covered  with  the  richest  and  most  nutri- 
tious grasses.  Unlike  the  plains,  where  the  grass-roots  stand 
apart,  leaving  small  spots  of  bare  ground  between  them,  the 
carpet  is  close  and  thick  at  the  bottom,  like  the  tame  grass  of  a 
meadow  in  the  East,  and  when  cut  sho^Ys  a  heavy  swath,  and 
cures  either  standing  or  as  hay,  retaining  its  bright,  green  color 
and  its  rich  juices.  These  foot-hills,  where  the  land  is  too  dry 
for  cultivation,  and  water  for  irrigation  is  not  available,  are  ex- 
cellently adapted  for  grazing.  The  grass  furnishes  good  feed 
all  winter,  and  the  winds  blow  the  snow  off  from  the  hills  while  it 
lies  in  the  valleys,  and  the  numerous  caAons  and  blufife  afford 
shelter  for  the  catde  during  storms.  No  one  now  feedl  or 
shelters  his  cattle  in  the  winter ;  the  value  of  individual  animals 
that  may  die  from  exposure  not  being  great  enough  to  warrant 


ir 


kine  DIack  Hills 
th  pine  forrsts 
1  by  fircB,  aiul 
through  which 
larkably  rich  in 
tly  explored  to 
deposits.     The 
ver  mines  rich 
lave  capital  and 
money  in  cx- 
vcry  rich  cop- 
U)  mines  being 
id  machinery  is 
of  one  mine  to 
<:  rock.     Pctro- 
iintiiies  has  also 
rkcd.     Coal  has 
'  being  tested  in 
xcced  all  others 
long  as  there  is 
mineral  deposits 
pital  and  enter- 

and  most  nutri- 
ass-roots  stand 
ween  them,  the 
;ame  gras8  of  a 
:avy  swath,  and 
jht,  green  color 
land  is  too  dry 
ailable,  are  ex- 
shes  good  feed 
the  hills  while  it 
id  bluffs  afford 
now  feed*  or 
ividual  animals 
ugh  to  warrant 


srou^  C14/MS  ro  BtJtc/r  mits. 


m 


the  extra  expense  of  such  care.  At  the  tame  time  I  am  inclined 
to  think  that  m  the  end  a  little  feeding  ami  shelter  would  pay  in 
the  Intter  condition  the  rattle  would  Iw  in  in  the  npring  and  the 
better  pricrs  that  wouUI  he  realize<l.  It  in  estimated  that  there 
are  now  1 00,000  head  of  cattle  in  the  hilU,  but  the  grasn  seems 
hardly  to  have  been  t  uclied.  Stock-raising  will  eventually 
become  one  of  the  most  important  indust"ie«»  in  ..»e  region. 

"The  arable  lands  of  the  Black  Hills  are  from  500  to  600 
square  miles  in  extent,  and  consist  of  bottom  lands  along  >he 
streams  and  prairies  and  lower  slopes  of  the  foot-hills  between 
the  water-courses.  The  former  generally  need  ho  artificial  irri- 
gation, but  the  latter  require  more  water  than  the  rains  furnish 
and  that  is  available  in  sufficient  quantity  in  the  brooks  and 
creeks.     The  agricultural  lands  are  of  marvellous  richness. 

"The  Black  Hills  were  in  the  heart  of  the  .Sioux  country  until 
February,  1877,  and  were  so  jealously  gutirded  by  the  Indians 
that  whiti  people  who  visited  them  did  so  at  the  peHI  of  their 
lives.  The  Indians  did  not  live  in  the  Hills.  They  had  a  super- 
stition that  the  Great  Spirit  never  intended  these  mountains  for 
the  habitation  of  man.  The  terrific  thimder  storms  which  are 
frequent  here,  perhaps  had  something  to  do  with  this  belief. 
They  said  that  the  Great  Spirit  had  covered  the  Hllh  with  trees 
to  furnish  the  Indians  with  tepee  poles,  and  filled  the  foot-hills 
with  antelope  and  deer  to  supply  him  with  food  when  the  buffalo 
were  scarce ;  and  they  frequently  made  excursions  here,  but 
never  remained  long.  From  one  end  of  the  Hills  to  the  other,  I 
am  told,  there  are  nowhere  to  be  found  the  evidences  of  a  long 
encampment  of  Indians.  The  Sioux  have  known  of  the  existence 
of  gold  in  the  Black  Hills  for  many  years.  A  third  of  a  century 
ago,  it  is  said,  they  showed  to  Father  De  Smet,  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic missionary,  who  spent  his  life  amongst  them,  and  in  whom 
they  had  the  most  iitipiieit  confidende,  large  nuggets  which  they 
had  picked  up  in  the  gulches.  He  warned  them  not  to  show 
these  nuggets  to  white  men,  as  it  would  arouse  thtW  cupidity 
and  cause  the  Indians  to  be  driven  out  of  the  country.  Never- 
theless, rumors  of  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  Hills  did  get  abroad, 
and  evidences  have  been  found  that  a  few  adventurers  came  hero 


I  .->  »!■'..•»    «  '—>tttif 


MvawaWMMjahkMUMiUlkiiMSMI 


IT 


fc 


^  OVM   WBSTMMS  HUH  UK, 

in  tcAixh  of  gold  many  year*  ago,  and  actually  began  to  work 
the  placers.     They  werr  probably  all  maHHacrcd  by  the  Iruliatit.* 

"  Several  government  cxpetlitiuns  were  made  into  ilu-  litack 
HilU  before  that  of  Ciencral  Ciixter,  in  the  summer  of  1874,  and 
tite  refiori  of  each  showed  the  prcHcncc  of  gold  and  oilu-r  inin* 
erals.  I'he  first  of  these  was  that  of  Captain  lU)nncvillc,  in  1H34. 
General  Harney  came  in  here  in  1855,  and  the  highest  peak  in 
the  Hills  was  named  in  hin  honor.  Other  expeditions  led  by 
Warren  visited  the  Hills  in  i856-'57,  by  Dr.  Huyden  in  1858-59, 
and  by  General  Sully  in  1864.  The  dates  of  these  visits  1  give 
on  the  authority  of  a  resident  of  this  city,  as  I  have  access  to  no 
records  by  which  I  can  verify  them.  I  have  said  that  the  rxplor* 
ations  of  each  of  these  {Mrtics  proved  the  presence  of  gold  in 
these  mountains ;  but  no  excitement  was  caused  by  their  reports, 
because  no  one  supposed  that  the  precious  metal  existed  here 
in  sufficient  quantities  for  profitable  working,  (jencrnl  Custer's 
expedition  in  1874  is  still  remembered  by  most  newspaper 
readers.  The  practical  miners  who  accompanied  him  reported 
excellent '  prospects,'  that  is,  that  in  washing  out  the  gravel  of 
the  streams  in  pans  they  obtained  go'  ^  sufficient  quantities 
to  make  it  pay  for  working.  The  rep<  .1  these  miners  were 
received  with  incredulity  in  the  ICast ;  and,  during  the  winter  of 
i874-'75,  the  question  was  widely  discussed  whether  there  was 
gold  in  the  Black  Hills  or  not 

"  So  great  was  the  public  interest  in  the  discoveries  reported 
by  those  who  accompanied  General  Custer  that,  in  the  summer 
of  1875,  the  Interior  Department  sent  out  an  <jxploring  expedi- 
tion in  charge  of  Professor  Jcnney,  a  young  geologist.  He  came 
into  the  Hills  with  a  train  and  escort,  went  pretty  well  over 
them,  and  made  a  map  of  the  country.  He  discovered  gold  in 
many  places,  and  more  than  confirmed  Custer's  reports  of  the 
previous  year.  Professor  Jenney  did  not  visit  Deadwood  and 
Whitewood  gulches,  the  timber  being  so  thick  that  he  could  not 
get  to  them  with  his  train.  But  the  adventurous  placer-miners 
of  the  West  did  not  wait  for  a  scientific  report  upon  tlie  country, 

*  \\x.  Robert-  E.  Strahorn,  in  hb  "  New  Wett  Illuttrated,"  hmi  traced  ehe  hiMory  of  some  of  Ihw* 
fwrtic*  wSo  fell  victknu  to  their  kdventuroua  »pirit.  Soiuc  of  them  commenced  operation!  In 
placer-miniag  u  e«rly  m  185a. 


^M0FK9M0M  ygff^MV  i  MJf/'lOM^rfOy. 


761 


began  tu  work 

)y  the  Iiuliant.* 

into  iltc  lilack 

cr  of  1H7.}.  and 

and  oilier  inin- 

ncvillc,  in  1H34. 

lighcKt  |)cak  in 

cditionH  led  by 

Icnin  1 858-59, 

!ic  vinits  1  give 

vc  acctrHH  to  no 

that  the  L*x|)lor- 

ence  of  gold  in 

jy  their  rerports, 

a!  existed  here 

icncral  Custer's 

lost  miwspiipcr 

d  him  reported 

the  gravel  of 

cient  quantities 

se  miners  were 

g  the  winter  of 

ether  there  was 

►veries  reported 
,  in  the  summer 
cploring  expedi- 
tgist.  Me  came 
retty  well  over 
covered  gold  in 
I  reports  of  the 
Deadwood  and 
lat  he  could  not 
s  placer-miners 
>on  tlie  country, 

filfiory  of  tome  of  Ihme 
naMMtd  operslioM  in 


but  braving  the  hostility  of  the  Indians  and  o:h«r  dangers,  they 
began  to  settle  along  the  strcamtt  in  the  iiilli  in  the  summer  of 
1875,  and  tu  wash  out  the  gold  dust.  The  government  iorlMdu 
all  persoHH  to  enter  this  country,  and  the  President,  I  l)elieve, 
itiHiieil  a  proclamation  wanting  people  against  invading  th*:  ter- 
ritory that  had  lM:cn  set  a|>art  for  the  Indians.  Hut  it  is  im|K>s- 
•Ible  tc  keep  an  oKl  placer-miner  out  of  gulches  where  there  are 
'  pay  streaks ; '  he  will  go  through  fire  ti.id  water  to  reach  new 
diggings.  Hundreds  of  men  came  in  here  in  spite  of  the  pcK* 
lamation  and  in  spite  of  the  orders  to  military  commanders  to 
arrest  people  found  on  the  road  or  in  the  Hills.  'I'he  soldiers 
even  came  to  the  Black  Hills,  and  going  up  and  down  the 
gulches,  gathered  up  the  miners,  confiscated  their  provisions, 
and  took  them  to  I'ort  Laramie  or  tu  the  military  posts  on  the 
Upper  Missouri.  Uut  the  adventurers  came  in  here  faster  than 
the  soldiers  cuuld  take  them  oui,  and  most  of  those  arrested, 
even,  as  soon  as  they  were  released,  as  they  all  were  when  a 
military  station  was  reached,  came  directly  back  if  tliey  had 
money  enough  -  >  procure  provisions.  The  government,  having 
told  the  peopl  through  its  exploring  expeditions  that  there  was 
gold  in  the  Black  Hills,  could  not  keep  them  out  without  8<rnd- 
ing  its  whole  army  to  guard  the  avenues  of  approach,  and  the 
policy  of  forcible  removal  was  abandoned  about  the  middle  of 
November,,^,  ioii;p>'.    ..  »»    u.'  1  j»/i"n'  i. 

"The  men  who  came  to  the  Hills  In  1875  and  the  following 
winter  settled  principally  in  the  .southern  part,  on  Spring  and 
French  creeks.  Custer  City  was  the  most  important  town,  and 
Rockcrvillc  also  became  the  centre  of  rich  placer  diggings.  The 
mines  In  that  region  were  all  in  the  gulches,  and  during  the  first 
year  considerable  quantities  of  gold  dust  were  taken  out.  I 
have  not  visited  that  region,  but  I  have  been  told  by  a  gentleman 
whose  experience  and  scientific  attainments  cause  one  to  have 
great  confidence  in  him,  that  there  are  on  Spring  and  French 
creeks  the  largest  placer  deposits  in  the  world.  He  saw  a  man 
dig  up  a  wagon-load  of  the  gravel  and  haul  it  to  a  small  creek 
where  he  washed  out  $46  worth  of  gold  from  it.  This  deposit, 
this  gendeman  says,  he  has  examined  for  a  distance  of  fifteen 


.! 


w 


,^,r^,..;^.:.   .L^  J„w-.A£:.-..      ,.....i      ■■    ^.«    ..    ,i,-,A.ir 


tJ»^*<JMW«W>»  '■«• 


w ; 


I 


I 


11 
It 


pr62  OVX    WESTEKK  SMP/KE.         ^ 

miles  in  length  and  twelve  miles  in  width.  It  is  not  all  as  rich, 
by  any  means,  as  the  wagon-load  of  which  he  spoke.  Gold 
always  runs  in  streaks,  but  the  extent  of  it  is  very  great.  It  is 
not  now  available  for  the  want  of  water. 

'•  When  the  discoveries  of  gold  in  Deadwood  and  Whitewood 
gulches,  on  the  site  ot  this  city,  and  above  and  below  it,  were 
made,  the  first  workings  were  very  rich,  and  the  fame  of  them 
soon  attracted  the  people  here  froru  all  parts  of  the  Hills.  Cus- 
ter City  was  almost  deserted,  and  for  a  year  or  so  Deadwood 
was  one  o^  the  liveliest  mining  camps  in  the  country.  But, 
although  the  placer-mines  in  these  two  gulches  and  their  tribu" 
taries  paid  well  for  a  time,  the  prosperity  they  brought  was  only 
temporary,  and,  if  quart2  mines  had  not  been  discovered  and 
opened,  Deadwood  would  now  be  a  deserted  Village.  Out  of 
fifty  placer  claims,,  a  dozen  or  so  are  now  being  worked,  chiefly 
by  Chinamen  who  pay  to  the  owneis  fitiy  cents  a  day  royalty 
for  each  man  who  works.  By  carefully  washing  over  the  tail- 
ings and  the  gravel  wb<ch  was  left  because  it  was  '  lean,'  these 
Chinamen  are  able  to  earn  from  $\  to  $1.50  a  day,  and  with  that 
they  are  contented. 

'•  1  he  existence  of  veins  of  quartz  in  the  hills  above  Dead- 
wood  was  known  to  the  eariy  miners  here,  but  none  of  them 
seem  to  have  appreciate.^  their  value.  When  they  '  prospected ' 
them  they  showed  only  from  %2  to  $15  worth  of  gold  to  a  ton 
of  ore,  and  nobody  seemed  to  think  that  ore  of  that  grade  would 
pay  for  mining  and  milling.  And  the  first  attempts  to  reduce 
the  quartz  here  were  failures  pecuniarily,  and  rtone  of  them  cart 
be  said  to  have  been  reaUy  profitable  until  the  California  capi< 
talists  came  here,  developed  the  mines,  and  bsgan  to  take  out 
and  reduce  the  ore  on  a  large  scale. 

«.  "Very  few  vakable  quartz  gold  mines,  or  mines  which  by 
sufficient  development  Itave  been  pnd>ved  to  be  valuable,  have 
yet  been  discovered  outskle  of  fbe  great  belt  abovfe  t^s  town. 
One  or  two  minds  which  promise  well  are  salid  to  have  been 
opened  in  the  Rockfonl  District^  about  twenty-fhF«  miles  south 
of  here.  I  shall  visit  that  re^'it  and  probably  write  a  ktter 
fiiom  there.    A  new  mine  has  atoo  been  discovered  neat  Custer 


mtmnxMNmmmwm  win.. 


r>  not  all  as  rich, 

He  spoke.     Gold 

ery  great.     It  is 

and  Whitewood 
d  below  it,  were 
le  fame  of  them 

the  Hills.  Cus- 
►r  so  Dead  wood 

country.      But, 

and  their  tribu- 
irought  was  only 

discovered  and 
tillage.  Out  of 
*  worked,  chiefly 
ts  a  day  royalty 
g  over  the  tail- 
was  •  lean,'  these 
ay,  and  with  that 

lis  above  Dead- 
it  none  o(  them 
ley  •  prospected  * 
of  gold  to  a  ton 
ihat  grade  would 
tempts  to  reduce 
one  of  them  can 
California  capi^ 
(gan  to  take  out 

mines  whith  by 
e  Vctluable,  have 
ibwne  this  town, 
d  to  have  been 
-fiv«  miles  south 
y  write  a  litter 
r6d  rteaf  Custer 


CLIMAn  OF  TttE  BLACK  MILLS.  ^j 

City,  from  which  some  astonishingly  rich  ore  has  been  taken. 
The  reduction  of  about  800  pounds  of  that  ore,  and  the  obtain- 
ing from  it  of  gold  at  the  rate  of  ^5147  a  ton,  has  caused  con- 
siderable excitement  in  Deadwood. 

'•  In  closing  this  general  description  of  the  Black  Hills,  I  ..tay 
say  thr»f  the  country  looks  as  though  it  had  been  setded  ten  years 
instead  of  three.  In  the  mines  it  is  difficult  to  realize  the  pos- 
sibility of  accomplishing  as  much  as  has  been  done  in  two 
years.  The  farms  that  are  cultivated  have  already  lost  their 
appearance  of  newness,  if  they  ever  had  it.  Good  roads  have 
been  built  in  every  direction  over  and  around  the  Hills,  and 
travel  is  as  safe  upon  them  as  upon  a  New  England  or  New 
York  turnpike.  Two  years  ago  (in  1877)  camping  equipage  was 
a  necessity  for  the  traveller,  now  there  are  comfortable  wayside 
inns  every  twenty-five  miles,  and  frequently  at  shorter  intervals. 
The  game  that  abounded  in  the  hills  has  disappeared,  and  civiliza- 
tion has  already  gained  the  mastery. 

"  The  climate  of  the  Black  Hills  is,  on  the  whole,  delightful. 
The  elevation  is  sufficient  (from  4,000  to  6,000  feet)  to  make  the 
air  pleasant  without  being  too  much  rarefied  for  health  or  com- 
fort.    The  midday  sun  is  sometimes  hot,  but  on  no  one  of  the 

•past  ten  days  (in  the  middle  of  July)  has  the  heat  been  oppres- 
iive,  and  the  nig^its  are  delightfully  cool.  I  have  slept  xinder 
blankets  every  night  since  I  came  to  Deadwood,  and  one  or  two 
tivenings  I  found  a  light  overcoat  comfortable  when  going  out 
upon  the  street.  The  winters  here  are  rather  long,  the  latitude 
being  a^ut  that  of  St.  Paul.  Minnesota;  but  the  towns  are  all 
situated  in  the  caAons  and  surrounded  by  high  mountains,  which 
shield  them  from  the  cold  winds  and  temper  the  rigor  of  the 
climate.  During  the  last  three  years  the  summers  have  been 
long  enough  to  ripen  all  kinds  of  grain  and  vegetables.  During 
the  first  year  after  the  settiement  of  Deadwood  ther?^  was  con- 
siderable sickness  here^  the  prevailing  disease  being  mountain 

.  (over.  This  was  probably  caused  by  digging  up  the  gulches,  the! 
banks  of  which  in  many  places  were  covered  with  a  rank  growth 
of  vegetation.  There  is  now  probacy  no  more  heakhflil  place 
in  the  United  States  than  thii  city,  and  I  know  of  few  more  com- 
fortable ones  in  summer,  if  the  climate  alone  is  considered." 


"■ 


r;AaiiM^ia^aij*iiiiifaMii^itS!tiiU!tvsxm!mermiSB^ 


it*.t.jLi*^-.m'*^----'»'i-*f'- 


i''-^«fc.-~«;'«i— MiVi>^.'.i..-to'.»aJgt.tJi.ifc>.Ti."'-.>A:f.>..  J.V.— .»-M.  I... 


^  .  >,   Ot/Jf    WESTER  ft  ENPIRB,       •> 

Sergeant  J.  O'Dowd,  of  the  United  States  Signal  Service  at 
Deadwood,  furnishes  the  following  summary  of  the  meteorology 
of  that  city  for  the  year  ending  June  30th,  1 879.  The  observations 
fiom  July  I  St  to  December,  1878,  were  taken  at  Lead  City,  two 
miles  from  Dea,4wood,.  apd  at  several  hundred  feet  higher  altitude* 


July 

August 

September  .  •  t.  • 
October  .  .  S'  *  . 
November  . '  .  .  -  . 
December  .... 
1879. 

January  

February 

March 

April 

iivj 

June 

Totals  for  year  .     . 


1 


67.14 
65.85 
49- >  5 

39.58 
36.73 
18.36 

31. 76 

84.45 
34.80 

45.50 
5380 
61.30 


43.19 


jf 


63.  »5 
63.80 
63.16 
60.50 
63.67 
73.47 

65.85 
68.80 
63.00 

53.00 
63.30 

5740 


63.01 


93 

85 
86 

7a 
66 

54 

56 
53 
7» 
7» 
81 
93 


93 


41 
46 

37 

6 

3 
-35 

—34 

—13 

—5 
30 

«9 
37 


-»5 


S. 

S. 

S. 

N.W. 

S. 

N. 

S.W. 
S.W. 
S.W. 

N.E. 

N.E. 

S. 


I' 


5.77 
3.61 

3. 06 
I.81 
0.75 
363 

0.58 
0.73 

0.51 
7.69 

5.03 
4.67 


■9  J 


16 

9 
8 

»3 

3 

II 

3 

5 
9 
8 

»3 
18 


35.83 


116 


It  will  be  observed  that  the  heaviest  rainfall,  23.16  inches  of 
the  35.83,  of  the  year  was  in  the  months  of  April,  May,  June  and 
July — the  months  in  which  the  crops  would  be  most  benefited.    ' 

The  mines  of  the  Black  Hills  yield  both  gold  and  silver,  though 
the  silver  deposits  were  not  discovered  till  some  time  after  active 
mining  for  gold  had  made  the  region  widely  known.  The  gold 
mines  may  be  included  in  four  classes:  i.  Placers.  2.  Quartz 
veins  between  slate  walls.  3.  Quartz  veins  between  porphyry 
walls.    4.  Cement  deposits.       oji.ii  i^.cl  ■hIi  '.(ihu^  inii 

41  The  placers  in  the  Black  Hills  are  of  great  extent,  and  some 
of  them  have  yielded  very  large  sums.  Elsewhere  in  this  work 
we  have  described  the  methods  of  placer  mining,  the  use  of  the 
pan,  the  rocker^  the  Tom,  the  sluice  and  the  hydraulic  pipe, 
flume  and  sluice,  and,  as  placer  mining  is  much  the  same  in  the 
Blade  Hills  as*  elsewhere,  it  h  not  necessary  for  us  to  repeat 
what  we  have  said  of  these  processes.  Two  points,  however, 
'l!>tm)bl«(too>i  uflolfi  -^/cmtb  orb  it  ,T%'nmiy<  ni  f'yno  aidrj-jui 


jnal  Service  at 

he  meteorology 

he  observations 

Lead  City,  two 

higher  altitude' 


a  Jt 

h 

— 

i' 

^0 

5-77 

16 

3.61 

9 

3.06 

8 

V. 

1.81 

»3 

©•7S 

3 

363 

II 

V. 

0.58 

3 

V. 

0.73 

5 

V. 

0-5I 

9 

5^ 

7.69 

8 

E. 

S-03 

»3 

4.67 

18 

3583 

116 

3.16  inches  of* 
,  May,  June  and 
lost  benefited, 
id  silver,  though 
time  after  active 
)wn.  The  gold 
ers.  2.  Quartz 
ween  porphyry 

ctent,  and  some 
ere  in  this  work 
:,  the  use  of  the 
hydraulic  pipe, 
he  same  in  the 
>r  us  to  repeat 
>oints,  however, 


DJiy  GULCHES  IN  THE  BLACK  HILLS.  765 

may  be  noticed :  i  st.  That  dry  placers  or  gulches — that  is,  beds 
of  clay  or  gravel  containing  a  considerable  amount  of  free  gold, 
but  at  such  a  distance  from  water  having  sufficient  head  to  wash 
the  gold,  and  consequently  requiring  that  the  dirt  should  be 
brought  to  the  water,  or  the  water  to  the  placer  at  considerable 
cost — are  not  usually  considered  very  profitable  to  work  unless 
the  amount  of  gold  is  large,  in  the  Black  Hills  these  dry  placers 
or  gulches  have  proved  so  rich  that  the  dirt  has  been  brought 
from  some  of  them  by  wagon  loads  to  the  water,  and  where  they 
were  more  extensive,  it  has  been  found  profitable  to  construct 
ditches  or  flumes  of  several  miles'  length,  to  bring  a  mountain 
stream  to  supply  the  pipes  for  hydraulic  mining.  These  placers 
seem  to  be  distributed  all  over  the  hills.  The  first  were  discov- 
ered near  the  southern  border,  on  Spring  and  French  creeks, 
near  the  present  sites  of  Custer  City  and  Rockerville.  Others  still 
more  profitable  have  been  discovered  near  Deadwood;  and 
nearly  all  the  gulches  between  the  two  points,  a  distance  of  fifty 
or  sixty  miles,  yield  rich  pay-dirt,  and  most  of  them  are  profit- 
ably worked.  These  placers  are  so  rich,  and  there  are  so  many 
of  them  yet  undeveloped,  that  placer  mining  will  probably  be 
conducted  with  profit  here  for  many  years  to  come.  But  second, 
it  is  the  natural  law  of  placers,  that  after  a  period  of  time, 
which  may  be  longer  or  shorter  according  to  their  extent  antl 
depth,  and  the  thoroughness  with  which  they  are  explored,  they 
are  worked  out  and  become  worthless.  To  the  penniless  miner 
they  offer  the  chance  of  acquiring  a  fortune ;  but  no  man  should 
buy  into  a  placer  mine,  with  the  impression  that  he  has  a  per- 
manent property.  It  is  good  so  long  as  it  lasts,  and  how  long 
that  may  be  it  is  hard  to  say.  A  placer  claim  in  the  Black  Hills 
extends  300  feet  along  the  gulch,  and  from  rim  to  rim.  '  i^'^Ko 
"The  second  class  of  gold  mines  found  in  the  Black  Hills- 
quartz  in  slatfc,  or  between  slate  walls — is  represented  by  the 
great '  belt '  above  Deadwood,  on  which  the  mammoth  mines  of 
the  Hills  are  situated.  The  country  rock,  that  is  the  rock  of 
whidi  the  mountains  are  formed,  is  micaceous  slate  which  has 
been  thrown  up  at  an  angle  of  about  50**.  Between  the  walls 
of  this  slate  is  a  vein  of  brown  quartz  containing  free  gold  in 


■\ 


] 
\ 


\ 


i 


\ 


.'■«^u.w^*iiid)WMJMrKMDp:3vn#JeJ^^nc^.''%&Pf^^ 


;^V  .>»«Uim'>i»«^ 


jS6  OUR    WESTERtf  EMPIRE. 

small  quantities,  and  separated  from  the  country  rock  on  each 
side  by  a  layer  of  chloritic  slate  often  containing  more  ^old  than 
the  quartz  itself.  The  vein  is  of  enormous  width — from  40  to 
1 50  feet — but  is  frequently  divided  by  '  horses '  of  slate,  or  large 
bodies  of  that  substance  extending  into  or  across  the  vein.  The 
rock  in  these  '  horses '  is  sometimes  rich  enough  to  work,  but 
generally  is  quite  barren.  m  >  , 

"  There  are  two  theories  of  the  formation  of  these  veiAs';  and 
while  there  seems  to  be  sufficient  ore  in  all  the  large  mines  for 
present  purposes,  the  future  of  these  properties  may  depend  in 
great  degree  upon  which  of  these  theories  proves  to  be  the  cor- 
rect one.    The  first  is  that  advanced  by  Professor  Jenney,  the 
young  geologist  who  was  sent  to  explore  the  Black  Hills  in  1875 
for  the  Interior  Department,  and  who  is  now  a  resident  of  Dead- 
wood.     He  holds  that  these  ledges  of  gold-bearing  rock  are  true 
fissure  veins — '  interlaminated  fissures,'  he  calls  them,  tJiat  is, 
fissures  opened  between  the  layers  of  the  slate  rock,  and  not 
across  the  line  of  stratification.     The  auriferous  quartz,  he  says, 
has  been  formed  by  the  water  solutions  which  have  come  up 
from  below.     He  accounts  for  the  '  horses '  of  slate  in  the  vein' 
by  likening  the  cleaving  of  the  rock  to  the  splitting  of  a  piece 
of  oak  wood.     When  a  wedge  is  driven  into  it,  particles  of  the 
wood  cling  from  side  to  side  across  the  opening  made  by  the 
wedge.     So,  he  thinks,  when  the  rock  was  opened,  bodies  of 
slate  extended  across  from  one  wall  to  the  other,  and  remained 
in  that  position  when  the  aqueous  solution  from  below  came  up, 
surrounded  them,  and  deposited  the  gold-bearing  quartz.     He' 
explains  the  fact  that  the  slate  walls  and  horses  contain  gold  by' 
saying  that  the  slate,  which  haid  minute  spaces  between  its  lay ers,' 
soaked  up  the  mineral-bearing  fluid,  which  in  some  cases  re-' 
placed  the  partkles  of  slate.     As  a  rule,  the  impregnation  of  the 
slate  becomes  less  as  the  distance  from  the  wall  of  the  vein 
increasesi     Believing  the  veins  to  be  true  fissures,  Professor 
Jenney  supposes  that  they  extend  into  the  earth  for  an  indefinite' 
distance,  and  probably  grow  richer  in  their  lower  portions.    Pro>- 
feasor  Jenney  beKeves  that  after  these  veins  were  formed  the' 
ocfsan  covered  wihat  ave  now  the  Black  Hills,  and  tiiat  by'itb* 


K 


—-^smt 


y  rock  on  each 
more  gold  than 
th — from  40  to 

•f  slate,  or  large 
the  vein.    The 

j[h  to  work,  but 

hese  veins ;  and 

arge  mines  for 

may  depend  in 

18  to  be  the  cor- 

ssor  Jenney,  the 

ck  Hills  in  1875 

jsident  of  Dead- 

ng  rock  are  true 

s  them,  diat  is, 

«  rock,  and  not 

quartz,  he  says, 

have  come  up- 

slate  in  the  vein' 

itting  of  a  piece 

I,  partieles  of  the 

mg  made  by  thef 

»ened,  bodies  of 

»r,  and  remained 

I  below  came  up, 

Ing  quartz.     He* 

contain  gold  by> 

itween  its  layers,' 

some  cases  re-' 

>regnation  of  the 

Mrall  of  the  vein> 

isufcs,  Professor' 

for  an  indefinite' 

P  portions.    Pro-' 

irere  forrned  the^ 

and  that  by  itb> 


DIVEXSX  THEORIES  ABOUT  THE  LODES.  ^^ 

action  it  tore  down  the  surface,  scattering  fragments  of  the  vein 
all  over  the  country.  Evidences  of  marine  action  are  easily  to 
be  found  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mines. 

"  The  other  theory  held  by  several  geologists  of  much  learn- 
ing and  experience  is  that  the  vein  matter  was  precipitated  from 
an  aqueous  solution  that  covered  it.  Their  explanation  and 
argument  is  this :  The  foot-wall  of  these  veins  is  slatt;,  a  forma- 
tion which  everybody  knows  is  of  aqueous  origin.  The  vein  of 
quartz  is  deposited  on  this  slate  parallel  with  its  line  of  stratifica« 
tion,  just  as  one  layer  of  rock  is  deposited  on  another.  Above 
the  vein  we  also  find  slate,  and  above  that,  where  it  has  not  been 
carried  away  by  the  action  of  the  elements,  a  cement  formation 
also  of  aqueous  origin.  These  facts  point  conclusively  to  a  hori- 
zontal deposit  of  the  vein  matter  on  a  slate  bed.  The  precipi- 
tant was  probably  oxide  of  iron,  and  it  is  therefore  very  natural 
that  those  ores  containing  the  largest  proportion  of  oxide  of  iron 
should  be  the  richest  in  gold,  as  they  are.  After  all  these  de- 
posits had  been  made,  the  hills  were  gradually  thrown  up  in 
their  present  forms  under  water. 

"If  the  true  fissure  vein  theory  is  correct  (and  it  is  the  one 
most  generally  accepted  by  the  most  experienced  miners),  then 
there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  ore  extends  far  into  the 
bowels  of  the  earth.  And  even  if  the  theory  of  an  aqueous 
deposit  or  precipitation  is  accepted,  the  fields  over  which  these 
deposits  took  place  may  have  been  so  great  that  when  turned 
up  upon  their  edges  they  may  be  practically  inexhaustible. 
These  quartz  veins  between  slate  strata  seem  to  be,  in  many 
respects,  the  analogues  of  the  '  contact  lodes '  of:  silver  in  Col- 
orado, and  may  have  had  a  similar  origin.   )J  '>(kiI>  ynrr  7/  'uU  jik} 

"The I  quartz  veins  between  porphyry  walls  have  not  been 
sufiliciently  developed  to  i^ake  it  sat«  to  give  an  opinion  in' 
regard  to  them.  Some  of  the  best  mines  of  this  class  are  situ- 
ated in  Strawberry  gulch,  about  seven  miles  east  of  Deadwood, 
and  in  some  of  them  considerable  bodies  of  ore  have  been  found. 
In  another  year,  when  a  few  mills  shall  have  been  erected  near 
them  for  the  purpose  of  working  their  ores>  and  development 
ha&  been  pushed  further,  more  will  be  knoAMn  of  their  value.     It' 


] 


A 


K 


<  .yW'iatayaft.-jiMfcj*  ^■.:*.'f*.i<.»<-tf«»i'-*wt/j*i»r.<i'»'r»« wa-".'':j 


I 


'& 


768  OUX    WESTF.KM   EMPIRE,  ,     > 

is  an  interesting  fact  that  they  have  already  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  the  rich  California  miners  and  capitalists  who  have  de- 
veloped the  great '  belt '  above  Dcadwood,  and  that  it  is  possible 
that  they  may  purchase  one  of  the  most  promising  of  them  and 
see  what  it  contains.  >ii    1  < 

"  In  many  of  the  placer  mines,  a  little  below  the  bed  of  the 
stream  but  considerably  above  bed  rock,  a  layer  of  hard  cement, 
consisting  of  sand,  gravel,  and  boulders,  and  carrying  free  gold 
held  together  in  one  hard,  conglomerate  mass  by  oxide  of  iron, 
has  been  found.  This  substance  has  been  a  great  obstacle  to 
gulch  miners  on  some  claims.  They  had  no  means  of  crushing 
it  to  free  the  gold,  and  to  remove  it  in  order  to  get  at  the  aurif- 
erous gravel  beneath  was  very  expensive.  On  the  hill-tops, 
which  have  withstood  best  the  action  of  the  elements,  similar 
cement  deposits  have  also  been  found,  varying  from  one  and 
a-half  to  twelve  and  eighteen  feet  in  thickness.  Some  of  these 
are  very  rich  in  gold  and  others  very  lean.  A  number  of  mines 
have  been  opened  on  the  cement  beds  and  are  now  working 
successfully,  while  others  have  already  worked  out  their  pay  ore. 
The  rock  is  reduced  in  the  same  manner  as  quartz,  by  stamping 
and  amalgamating.  A  cement  deposit  may  be  very  valuable  as 
long  as  it  lasts,  and  may  bring  to  its  owners  large  profits,  but  its 
value  depends  entirely  upon  its  extent  and  character.  Like  a 
placer  (and  it  is,  in  fact,  nothing  but  a  solidified  placer),  it  will 
some  day  be  worked  out  and  become  worthless.  Attempts  have 
been  made  to  sell  these  cement  beds  and  the  mines  opened  on 
them  as  true  fissure  veins,  which  diey  are  not.  Very  possibly 
the  ore  '  prospects '  ?nd  '  mills '  as  high  as  it  is  represented ; 
but  the  wrong  done  to  the  proposed  purchaser  consists  in  giving 
the  impression  that  it  is  a  true  fissure  vein,  when  it  is  in  reality 
only  a  solidified  (^cer  and  may  and  probably  will  soon  become 
exhausted."  I  •  ;-•''»  ^^  >»'?}rr<  »•"  d  ""^'t  V>  >.fffo^  .fn'"!i  '^"«  !>■"" 
;  The  gold  mines,  aside  from  the  placers  and  cement  deposits, 
in  the  Blark  Hills,  have  been  agaiA  classified  by  t]|e  mining  men 
as  those  on  the  Bonanza  Belt  in  the  neighborhood  of  Deadwood, 
and  those  not  on  the  belt.  The  mines  on  the  belt  which  have 
attained  the  greatest  reputation  are  the  Father  De  Smet,  the 


I  V 


■acted  the  atten- 

ts  who  have  dc- 

that  it  is  possible 

ing  of  them  and 

V  the  bed  of  the 

of  hard  cement, 

arrying  free  gold 

by  oxide  of  iron, 

reat  obstacle  to 

eans  of  crushing 

)  get  at  the  aurif- 

On  the  hill'tops, 

elements,  similar 

ig  from  one  and 

Some  of  these 

number  of  mines 

are  now  working 

out  their  pay  ore. 

artz,  by  stamping 

:  very  valuable  as 

■ge  profits,  but  its 

laracter.     Like  a 

ed  placer),  it  will 

.    Attempts  have 

mines  opened  on 

t.     Very  possibly 

t  is  represented; 

consists  in  giving 

len  it  is  in  reality 

will  soon  become 

cement  deposits, 
r  t]|e  mining  men 
•od  of  Deadwood, 
belt  which  have 
er  De  Smet,  the 


LOty  GKADK  GOLD  OX  AS  PROFITABLE  HERE.  j^ 

Deadwood,  the  Golden  Terra,  the  Highland,  the  Homcstake,  the 
Grant  and  the  Old  Abe  mines.  The  Roderick  I.)hu  and  thi- 
Pierce  are  also  believed  to  be  on  continuations  of  this  belt. 
The  belt  is  about  two  mile»  in  Icngtli  and  fruni  looto  200  feet 
in  width. 

The  mines  not  on  the  belt,  in  the  vicinity  of  Deadwood,  are 
the  Caledonia,  which  comprises  four  claims,  and  covers  in  all 
territory  1,500  feet  long  and  1,100  in  width,  though  in  two  parcels. 
Several  deposit  mines  are  also  included  in  diis  class,  and  u  num> 
ber  of  smaller  mines.  There  are  also  new  mines  of  gre.it  promise 
at  Rockford,  about  twenty-five  miles  east  of  Deadwood,  and  at 
Custer  City  and  Rockerville,  in  the  southern  part  of  the  Black 

HillS^x^-'t       .,..,•!        rl  ..... 

The  silver  mining  thus  far  has  been  mostly  at  Galena,  on  Bear 
Butte  creek,  about  twelve  miles  east  of  Deadwood.  There  are 
other  silver  deposits,  but  these  are  the  most  promising.  The 
ores  ar6  chiefly  sulphurets  and  chlorides,  mixed  with  quartz, 
oxide  of  iron  and  manganese,  antimony  and  arsenic.  There  are 
some  riqh  carbonates,  but  they  do  not  appear  in  very  large  quan- 
tities ;  there  are  also  some  specimens  of  horn  silver  and  a  little 
free  silver.  The  ores  average  from  30  to  1 50  ounces  of  silver  to 
a  ton,  the  low-grade  ores  being  most  abundant.  The  immense 
cost  of  transportation  ($40  a  ton)  has  prevented  the  mining  ot 
low  grade  ores,  and  a  small  smelter,  working  imperfectly,  has 
charged  $75  per  ton  for  reduction.  These  difficulties  will  soon 
cease,  as  railroads,  and  larger  and  better  smelters  come  in. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  gold  veins  produce  an  ore  which 
elsewhere  would  be  regarded  as  of  low  grade ;  many  of  them 
running  at  from  $g  or  <jJio  to  $i^  or  $15  per  ton.  But  they  are 
so  favorably  situated,  that  they  can  be  run  by  chutes  directly 
into  the  mill,  without  being  handled  at  all.  The  large  mills  of 
120  stamps  or  more  are  also  run  at  much  less  proportional  ex- 
pense than  the  smaller  ones,  while  they  do  ten  times  as  much 
work.  Gold  can  be  mined  and  milled  at  these  mines  and  mills 
at  from  $2  to  ^^5  per  ton,  and  the  mines  are  so  situated  that  the 
expense  is  not  likely  to  increase  for  a  long  time  to  come.  While 
the  grade  of  the  ores  i^  low,  the  quantity  seems  to  be  inexhauisti- 


I 


:| 


■  '.;i-4imi'.axj6f.Mi53a^M»^<fieM/^''int-y**i'*''':  —MofJi 


i 


J 


IJ 


ifi 


k 


■-A 
.      \ 


yyo  '        OUJt    l¥KSrEit/\/   XMfJMB. 

blc,  and  the  quality  improves  slightly  as  thr  depth  increases. 
Thus  it  comes  to  pass  that  ores  yielding  from  f<)  to  $15  per  ton 
pay  a  better  profit,  as  well  an  a  steadier  one,  than  ores  of  much 
richer  grade,  which  are  more  difficult  to  mine,  less  easily  milled 
and  which  must  be  carried  to  greater  distances  tu  be  marketed 
successfully.  Mr.  White  states  the  yield  of  the  Black  Hills  mines 
in  1878  as  $3,5oo.ocx>;  in  1879  as  about  $4,500,000,  and  in  1880 
as  probably  $6,000,000. 

The  Black  Hills  form  the  most  elevated  portion  of  Dakota, 
indeed  the  only  portion  which  rises  above  2,000  feet,  or  generally 
above  1,500  to  1,800  feet.  '    {'  •• 

The  following  table  gives  the  altitude  of  the  principal  summits 
and  towns  of  this  region,  though  some  of  the  points  named  arc 
in  the  Wyoming  portion  cf  the  Hills: 


.  Inyan  Kara  Peak 6,500 

Bare  Butte 4,800 

•  Floral  Valley, 6,1  )6 

Crook's  Monument  ....  7,60 

Terry's  Peak 7,aoo 

Custer's  Peak 6,750 

Devil's  Tower 5,100 

Rapid  City 3,175 

Crook  City 3,725 

Rochford  (estimated)     .     .     .  4*500 


Harney's  Peak 7>44o 

Belle  Fourche .     .     .     ...     .  3,734 

Castle  Creek  Valley .     .     .     .  6,136 

Dodge's  Peak  ....;.  7,300 

Warren's  Peak 6,900 

Crow  Peaks 6,200 

Deadwood 4,4>5 

Rockerville 4*125 

Pactola  (estimated)   *     .     .     .  4,000 

Custer  City    " 4*200 


The  present  population  of  the  cities  and  settlements  of  the 
Black  Hills  is  hardly  less  than  30,000,  and  may  exceed  that.  A 
year  and  a  half  since  (in  January  or  February,  1879),  it  was  esti- 
mated at  18,000,  and  was  probably  divided  very  much  as  follows 


Deadwood 6,000 

Golden  Gate 

Lead  City 

Rockerville 

Rochford 

Sturgis  City 

Sheridan 

Tigerville  .  .  i  i  *  . 
Central  City  .  •  •  '>  » 
<>ayviik , 


700 
2,500 
600 
600 
300 
200 
200 
9,000 
&)o 


Rapid  City      .     .     .     .     »    •       500 
Crook  City      .     .     .     .     .'    '.'      500 


Custer  City 

Spearfish  City 

Hill  City 

Galena 

Pactola,  Hayward  and  other 
settlements  .    t  •  %    ,  't 


400 
250 
aoo 
250 

■,500 


)  .NiM   Total 18,000 


depth  increases. 
fg  to  f  15  per  ton 
han  ores  of  much 
,  less  t-asily  milled 
;s  lo  be  marketed 
L'  Black  Hills  mines 
XD.ooo,  and  in  1880 

K)rtion  of  Dakota, 
X)  feet,  or  generally 

e  principal  summits 
:  points  named  are 


BLACK  HILLS  MOTH  AUItlCULTVIiAL   AS'U  MIS'ING. 


771 


The  Ulack  I  lilU  region  is  priuiarily,  then,  a  mining  region  ; 
one  which  has  been  very  largely  taken  poHHession  of  by  capital- 
JHis,  and  its  mining  operations  con'luctcd  on  a  Hcale  which  has 
been  hardly  equalled  elsewhere  in  the  West ;  its  stamp-mills 
aggregating  more  than  1,500  stamps,  and  these  generally  of  the 
largest  and  most  powerful  character,  and  its  gold  production 
larger  than  in  the  same  number  of  'nines  elsewhere.  This  char- 
acter of  the  region  will  be  likely  to  continue  and  increase,  for 
years  to  come,  but  it  would  be  a  great  mistake  to  suppose,  as 
some  have  supposed,  that  the  Black  Mills  must  be  dependent 
wholly  or  mainly  upon  other  regions  for  its  supplies  of  food, 
clothing  or  manufactures.  The  valleys  and  foot-hills,  as  well  as 
much  of  the  hill  country  itself,  are  covered  to  a  great  depth  with 
an  exceedingly  rich  soil,  and  its  production  of  grains,  root  cropti 
and  market  garden  vegetables  and  fruits  will  be  ample  ere  long 
for  the  supply  of  the  50,000  or  75,000  people  who  will  gather 
there.  Those  portions  of  the  Hills  and  adjacent  country  which 
are  not  suited  to  mining  or  farming  are  admirably  adapted  to 
^  uing,  and  even  portions  of  the  much  berated  "  Bad  Lands  " 
ur.:  covered  with  rich  and  nutritious  grasses.  It  is  just  the 
region  for  dairy-farming,  and  the  mining  towns  will  furnish  a 
ready  and  profitable  market  for  the  milk,  butter  and  cheese 
which  can  be  produced.  Sheep-farming  will  also  prove  profit- 
able here,  though  perhaps  the  Cotswolds,  Leicesters,  Southdowns 
and  Lincolns  would  pay  better  than  the  smaller  wool  sheep ;  for 
tlie  market  for  mutton  will  be  close  at  hand,  and  the  combing 
wools  will  bring  as  good  prices  as  the  felting  wools,  though  for 
other  purposes.  We  see  no  reason  why  this  may  not  become 
the  region  for  the  production  of  the  best  quality  of  mutton. 

The  fine  water-powers  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  coal  mines  which 
are  readily  accessible,  as  well  as  the  large  deposits  of  copper, 
lead  and  iron  which  are  awaiting  development,  must  ere  long 
make  it  an  important  manufacturing  region,  and  in  a  few  years 
we  may  expect  to  see  the  immense  quantities  of  mining  and 
agricultural  machinery  which  are  needed,  as  well  as  all  the  mani- 
fold manufactures  of  wool  and  iron  which  are  needed  there,  pro- 
duced on  the  spot  instead  of  being,  as  now,  brought  from  Chi- 


t 


7^ 


OUH    WKarUKff  HMftHM. 


cAfifo,  the  capital  of  a  trcet«ii»  r^.^\on,  acro«i  Roo  or  1,000  miles 
ol  prairi<r,  to  a  rc^^ion  of  fureat  ^rowthH. 

I'ur  HO  ru;wa  country,  thfM:ilucational  unci  reli^iouH  inHtitiition» 
of  this  aH  of  other  NuctiooM  of  I  )jikota  art;  of  a  hi^h  onJrr.  Not 
Dcudwooil  alone,  but  all  the  new  townu  i»f  the  Hhuk  Hills  have 
excellent  Kchuuls  ami  good  churchen.  For  these  the  whole  Ter- 
ritory is  largely  indebteil  to  the  active  exertions  ami  excellent  in- 
fluence of  die  late  Governor  I  loward  ami  his  efficient  coadjiitorn. 
'I'Ue  social  cx>ndition  of  all  parts  of  the  Territory  is  ^^really  hijjh«rr 
than  that  of  mo«t  new  scttlementN.  Mr.  White  writes  of  the 
towns  of  the  Black  Hills:  "  Dead  wood  is  a  remarkably  quiet, 
orderly,  law-abiding^'  town.  This  ift  the  more  remarkable  when 
it  is  remembered  ihat  at  the  time  it  was  first  settled  this  was  an 
Indian  reservation,  over  which  the  Territorial  authorities  had  no 
jurisdiction. 

"The  people  who  came  here  organized  a  temporary  govern- 
ment of  dieir  own,  the  only  sanction  of  which  was  comr^on  con- 
sent, but  its  laws  were  recotnu^ed  and  obeyed  for  about  a  year 
and  a  half.  When  the  treaty  with  the  Sioux  was  completed  in 
February,  1877,  opening  the  hills  to  settlement,  the  government 
that  had  been  improvised  was  dissolved,  but  the  Territorial 
officers  did  not  arrive  here  until  forty  days  later,  and  in  the 
meantime  there  was  not  even  the  semblance  of  a  government, 
and  yet  order  was  preserved. 

"There  are  public  gambling-houses  in  Deadwood,  but  they 
are  not  numerous,  nor  do  they  thrust  themselves  upon  the  atten- 
tion of  the  stranger  by  open  doors  or  bands  of  music.  The 
gambling  is  almost  without  exception  conducted  in  back  and 
second-story  rooms,  and  the  proprietors  of  the  houses  are  not 
apparently  having  a  prosperous  time  of  it.  There  is  one  variety 
,  theatre  here,  and  although  I  have  not  attended  one  of  its  per- 
formances, its  programme  contains  nothing  that  seems  to  be 
objectionable  as  variety  shows  go.  Its  performances  close  at  a 
seasonable  hour.  There  is  also  one  dance-house  on  Main  street. 
Of  drinking-saloons  there  are  of  course  an  abundancei"""'-'"'*^ 
1)1'' On  the  other  hand,  Deadwood  is  a  city  of  home«.  Small  but 
tflistofuUy  built  cottages  are  springing  up  by  scores  on  all  the 


■I 


KAIL  no  ADS  tS  DAKOTA. 


77  i 


or  tjooo  miles 

niH  institutions 

;li  onJrr.     Not 

(uk  tiills  have 

the  wh()(e  Icr- 

1(1  excellent  in- 

eiu  coadjutors. 

^^reatly  hijjher 

•  writes  of  the 

narkably  quiet, 

markable  when 

led  this  was  an 

ihorittes  had  no 

()orary  govern- 
is  comr-on  Con- 
or about  a  yeai 
IS  completed  in 
the  government 
the  Territorial 
kter,  and  in  the 
f  a  government, 

^<IHI|||  ,?l  III   r;*Mi. 

I  wood,  but  they 
i  upon  the  atten- 
of  music.  The 
ed  in  back  and 

houses  are  not 
re  is  one  variety 

one  of  its  per- 
lat  seems  to  be 
ances  close  at  a 

on  Main  street. 
dance. 

)mes.  Small  but 
cores  on  all  the 


residence  streets,  and  people  who  are  in  hiiHinens  here  have 
brought  their  f.imilics.  Any  newcomer  will  (ind  intrltigt'nt, 
refined,  cultivated  Hocirty  here  fur  hiniHcif  iuul  family.  Keligiou^ 
organizations  have  h'-cn  eKtablinlird,  uhooU  founded;  and 
remotr  as  the  Hlack  Kills  ar«>,  and  diffuuit  of  aarsH,  n«)  onr 
nrt'il  heniutc  to  make  his  home  h«  rr  thmuj^'h  f«ar  that  Iw  will 
not  fmd  good  society.  Kvn  the  ptople  who  art-  sci-king  their 
fortuneH  in  the  remote  gulches  are  by  no  means  l)arl>arians. 
Many  of  them  are  well  educated,  and  are  res|)ecl«'d  in  the  dis' 
tanl  homes  they  have  Uh,  although  ihey  may  now  have  to  rough 
it  and  put  up  with  miiny  ['rivations.  .Straws  show  which  way  the 
winil  blows,  and  here  is  one :  I  dined  the  otiur  day  with  a  miner 
who  thinks  he  Itas  made  a  '  great  strike.'  i  le  lives  in  a  log-l\ouse, 
milt  ^  out  of  town,  but  in  one  corner  of  the  room,  which  serven 
as  parlor  and  dining-room,  stood  a  piano  on  which  was  u  largi; 
pile  of  popular  music,  and  I  saw  ort  the  tabhr  the  latest  nuntbtrs 
of  some  of  the  popular  magazines  and  illustrated  journals." 

We  have  spoken  of  the  means  of  railroad  communication  in 
different  sections  of  the  Territory.  These  arc  constantly  increas- 
ing in  numbers  and  nuleage  till  the  Territory  promises  soon  to  be 
traversed  by  them  in  nearly  all  directions.  The  following  list, 
prepared  by  Hon.  Henry  Kspersen,  United  States  Surveyor- 
General  for  Dakota,  gives  their  condition  in  November,  1879, 
and  we  havo  added  the  facts  so  far  as  they  can  be  ascertained 
of  tlieir  present  condition: 

There  is  a  very  complete  system  of  railways,  built  or  building, 
into  or  through  the  Territory. 

The  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  extending  from  Farj^'o,  on  the 
eastern  boundary,  to  the  Little  Missouri,  351  miles,  and  to  be 
extended  to  the  Yellowstone  by  January  i,  1881. 

The  Winona  and  Saint  Peter's  Railroad  (Chicago  and  North- 
west* 11),  now  running  to  Watertown,  near  Lake  Kampeska,  and 
located  west  to  Dakota  river. 

The  Dakota  Southern  Railroad,  from  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  to 
Yankton,  and  projected  northward  up  the  vallpy  of  the  Dakota 
river,  completed  to  Bruld,  on  the  James. 

The  Milwaukee  and  Saint  Faal  Railroad,  with  some  eighty  miles 


.> 


KUMMlf^nKt/ 


I  l«l||W>"MXimil-4>V-i^c-*WMI'g"W^ 


774 


OVK   WKSTKHS  KMHIHt. 


Iniih  of  n  linr  from  Canton  to  thf  MiMoiiri  river;  completed  In 
1M80  to  the  Ntinnouri.  '  •       ,,;  •  . 

AlfW)  A  line-  ii|M>n  which  work  U  now  in  proprenji  from  Fcfrn  to 
Yartktr)n. 

The  Sioux  FalU  and  PrmMna  Railroad,  up  the  Mijj  Sioux 
Rivrr  valley,  of  which  nonir*  nrvfrity  tnilen  arc  in  operation. 

Thr  Dakota  Central  Railroad,  locatrti  from  (larey  to  the 
Dakota  river,  upon  which  work  is  now  progressing;  completed 
to  Huron,  on  Dakota  river.  ■■  ..  .  .- 

The  Worthinj^ton  and  Sioux  FalU  Railroad  (Saint  Paul  and 
Sioux  City),  of  which  about  forty  miles  are  built,  h«)vin)(  Yank- 
ton for  its  objective  point ;  jind 

The  Southern  Minnesota  Railroad,  building  from  Flandreau 
to  Sioux  I'alls. 

I'he  total  length  of  road  now  in  operation  in  the  Territory  is 
almost  i.aoo  miles.       ;**  ' "«  ""  "''  '  "»'••  .'"«^  im    '».;    •/   •    j 

Jhdian  Tribts  and  Reservatimx, — The  Indian  reservations  in 
Dakota,  in  January,  18H0,  still  comprised  alxjut  43,000,000  acres, 
al)OUt  seven-sixteenths  of  the  entire  area  of  the  Territory. 
Phis  vast  area  is  cut  up  into  several  reservations  in  different 
parts  of  the  Territory.  As  it  is  largely  in  excess  of  the  needs 
of  the  Indians,  arrangements  are  making  by  the  government  to 
purchase  considerable  portions  of  it,  and  to  distribute  the 
remainder  in  severalty  to  the  Indians,  giving  them  also  the 
interest  of  '  le  purchase-money  of  the  lands  which  the  govern- 
ment buys  from  them,  as  annuities.  There  were  on  these 
reservations  in  January,  1880,  26,530  Indians  of  all  ages.  Of 
these  25,237  were  Sioux  or  Dakotas,  of  twenty-one  different 
bands  or  sub-tribes;  1,393  (the  Indians  at  the  Fort  Berthold 
Agency)  were  the  remnant  of  other  tribes  formerly  hostile  to 
the  Sioux,  and  were  divided  as  follows:  Arickarces,  720;  Gros 
Ventres,  448 ;  Mandans,  225.  Since  the  severe  punishment  of 
Sitting  Bull  and  his  band  for  their  massacre  of  General  Custer 
and  his  troops,  and  their  escape  into  British  America,  the 
remaining  bands  of.  Sioux  have  been  peaceful  and  friendly  to  the 
whites.  They  are,  for  the  most  part,  making  decided  progress 
in  civilization.     With  the  almost  complete  destruction  of  the 


rorvt-ATiOH  Of  Dakota, 


;;$ 


' ;  romplctpt!  In 
H  I  ruin  liUen  to 

ihr    lijjr  Sioux 
opr  ration. 

(larey  to  the 
linjj ;  complrtn! 

(Saint  Paul  and 
t,  hiiving  Yank* 

from  FlandreMu 

the  Territory  ifi 

reservations  it> 
p.ooo.ooo  acres, 

the  Territory, 
tions  in  different 
ess  of  the  needs 
e  jjovernmpnt  to  ' 

0  distribute    the  ' 

1  thrm  also  the 
lich  the  govern- 

werc   on   these 
3f  all  ajres.     Of  ' 
ity-one  different 
e  Fort  Berthold  ' 
rmerly  hostile  to  * 
irees,  720;  Gros 
e  punishment  of  ' 
'General  Custer  ' 
ih   America,   the 
id  friendly  to  the 
decided  progress  * 
:stniction  of  the 


tuifbln.  they  have  very  geiirrally  ahandonrd  the  chase,  except  a 
rtuxleratc  amount  uf  hunting  and  trapping  of  tht*  fur  bearing 
aniinaU,  and  with  each  year  an  incrraiting  niinibrr  of  tlum  are 
turning  thrir  attention  to  the  raising  of  cattle  and  horHen.  to 
drawing  freight,  and  to  the  nimpler  form*i  of  agrii  ulturc.  Very 
inuny  of  thnn  liave  built  for  thcmftrlvcs  comforubU*  log-rabins 
in  tilt*  place  uf  the  tepeti*  or  lodges  of  %V.\x\%  in  wliidt  they  for- 
merly ilwclt.  Of  the  Sioux  10,1 6a,  or  more  than  two-fiftlu, 
have  asNunted  and  constantly  wear  citizens'  dreM.  Of  tlu:  I'ort 
licrthold  Indians,  only  one  twentieth  have  ilone  this,  but  thf  niinv 
ber  ift  increasing  every  year.  Keligiou*  instruction  as  wi.'ll  as 
secular  education  it  imparted  to  the  Indians  at  each  of  the  ten 
agencies,  and  the  more  promising  Indian  children  are  now  in  <  on- 
siderablc  numbers  sent  I'last  to  receive  higher  instruction,  and 
on  their  return  become  not  only  teachers  but  leaders  of  their 
people  in  their  progress  towaH  civilii^ation. 

The  present  population  of  the  Territory,  including  26,148  tribal 
Indians,  is  f  64,338:  of  which  Northern  Dakota  has  about  ^6,ixx>, 
Central  Dakota  io,ocxd,  Southeastern  Dakota  74,(xx),  HIack 
llills  i6,cxx>.  The  inhabitants  of  Northern  Dakota  are  very 
largely  of  European  birth,  though  there  is  a  sufficient  American 
element,  mainly  from  New  Kngland,  New  York,  Pennsylvania, 
and  Ohio,  to  maintain  American  institutions.  The  Mennonites, 
Russians  who  have  been  associated  with  them  in  Russia,  and 
who  have  come  here  for  the  religious  and  civil  lib<.-rty  they  can- 
not enjoy  there,  Norwegians  and  Swedes,  and  some  (jermans; 
the  Catholic  colonies  from  Belgium,  France,  and  Ireland,  which 
have  come  over  under  the  direction  of  the  Catholic  Immigration 
Societies — these  make  up  the  bulk  of  the  settlers  of  the  northern 
section.  Considerable  numbers  liave  come  from  Manitoba,  dis- 
satisfied with  the  homestead  laws  there  and  with  the  lack  of 
enterprise  and  push  in  that  colony.  The  inhabitants  of  this 
section  arc  not,  for  the  most  part,  of  the  poorer  class  of  emi- 
grants. One  company  of  Russians  recently  brought  with  them 
$490,000 ;  and  the  Mennonites  are  usually  men  of  property.  In 
several  cases  they  have  bought  large  blocks  of  land,  sometimes 
100,000  to  300,000  acres,  and  settle  on  them  so  as  to  have  entire 
communities  of  their  own  faith. 


: 


s 


^^6  ^^^   USSTEKJ^  EMPIRE, 

In  Central  Dakota  the  emigration  is  largely  European,  Nor- 
wegian, Swedish,  and  German,  with  a  considerable  admixture  of 
American  families.  In  Southeastern  Dakota  the  American  fami- 
lies predominate,  though  there  are  here  also  Mennonite,  Bel- 
gian, German,  and  Irish  colonies.  The  farming  lands  of  this 
region  are  more  generally  in  small  holdings,  and  the  class  of 
immigra.-<ts  who  are  occupying  them  are  of  a  character  superior 
to  those  who  are  settling  in  many  other  regions.  It  is  a  very 
desirable  region  for  the  best  class  of  farming  immigrants. 

The  character  of  the  population  of  the  Black  Hills  has  been 
already  described.  They  are,  as  a  rule,  superior  to  most  mining 
populations.  When  the  division  of  this  Territory  is  accom- 
plished, as  it  will  be  when  railroad  communication  is  established 
from  the  East  with  the  Black  Hills,  the  southern  part  will  prob- 
ably have  for  its  northern  boundary  the  forty-fifth  parallel  as  a 
continuation  of  the  line  of  Wyoming,  and  the  new  State  may 
also  have  that  portion  of  Wyoming  which  contains  the  western 
half  of  the  Black  Hills,  as  it  will  be  desirable  to  have  that  region 
under  one  government.  This  region  will  have  a  sufficient  popu- 
lation for  admission  into  the  Union  as  a  State  by  that  time.  The 
northern  part  of  the  Territory,  while  the  largest,  will  probably 
have  no  mineral  products  except  coal,  and  possibly  lead ;  but  it 
will  be  a  rich  farming  and  grazing  country,  and  accessible  both 
by  its  rivers  and  railways  to  the  best  markets. 

Churches  and  Religious  Teachings. — The  population  of  Dakota, 
though  drawn  from  such  diverse  sources,  has  more  of  the 
celigious  element  in  it  than  is  found  in  most  of  the  States  or 
Territories  of  the  West.  Several  of  the  colonies,  of  which  there 
are  a  considerable  number  in  the  Territory,  are  founded  in  part 
on  religious  principles.  This  is  especially  the  case  with  the 
Mennonite  setdements,  in  which  there  are  from  10,000  to  20,000 
people,  and  the  Roman  Catholic  colonies,  which  are  rapidly 
increasing  in  numbers  and  already  give  full  employment  to  an 
active  and  energetic  bishop.  The  Scandinavian  immigrants  are 
mostly  Lutherans,  and  they  bring  their  clergymen  with  them,  and 
establish  churches  at  once.  The  Germans,  when  not  Catholics, 
are  mostly  rationalists,  and  not  favorably  disposed  toward  religion, 


l^XOSPECTS   OF  DAKOTA. 


m 


European,  Nor- 
)le  admixture  of 
;  American  fami- 
Mennonite,  Bel- 
\g  lands  of  this 
nd  the  class  of 
laracter  superior 
ns.  It  is  a  very 
nmigrants. 

Hills  has  been 

r  to  most  mining 

ritory  is  accom- 

ion  is  established 

n  part  will  prob- 

fifth  parallel  as  a 

e  new  State  may 

tains  the  western 

»  have  that  region 

a  sufificient  popu- 

>y  that  time.    The 

est,  will  probably 

ssibly  lead ;  but  it 

id  accessible  both 

ulation  of  Dakota, 
has  more  of  the 
I  of  the  States  or 
ies,  of  which  there 
'e  founded  in  part 
he  case  with  the 
1  10,000  to  20,000 
which  are  rapidly 
employment  to  an 
an  immigrants  are 
len  with  them,  and 
hen  not  Catholics, 
;d  toward  religion, 


though  some  of  them  are  very  earnest  in  their  Christian  zeal. 
But  the  large  numbers  of  immigrants  from  the  Kastcrn  States 
were  mostly  from  Christian  homes,  and  they  iiianifcst  their 
remembrance  of  their  early  associations  by  rearing  schools  and 
churches  at  once  in  these  new  villages,  even  while  they  them- 
sdves  may  be  living  in  a  dug-out  or  a  sod-house.  All  of  the 
Protestant  denominations  seem  to  be  very  fairly  represented,  and 
all  manifest  much  zeal  in  organizing  churches  and  gathering 
congregations.  The  irreligious  element  is  stronger  in  the  Clack 
Hills  than  elsewhere  in  the  Territory,  but  from  Mr.  White's 
testimony  already  quoted,  it  seems  that  there  is  less  .^-^hbath- 
breakinf  and  open,  unblushing  vice  there,  than  in  m  .:i  ruling 
districts. 

Taking  it  all  in  all,  there  is  not  at  the  present  time  i  lietter 
region  for  the  farmer  or  stock-raiser  than  Dakota,  and  those 
who  prefer  a  mining  region  can  be  as  well  accommodc ;nd  in  the 
Black  Hills  as  in  any  part  of  the  West,  especially  if  they  do  not 
propose  to  engage  personally  in  mining. 

Other  States  and  Territories  may  boast  of  greater  natural 
wonders  and  more  grand  and  delightful  scenery,  though,  in  both 
these  particulars,  Dakota  has  much  to  produce  emotions  of  sur- 
prise, awe,  and  delight ;  but  what  gives  this  Territory  its  peculiar 
charm  is  its  thorough  adaptation  for  quiet  and  beautiful  homes. 
The  sun  shines  on  no  fairer  land,  and  on  none  where  so  many 
circumstances  combine  to  make  a  residence  so  home-like  and 
delightful. 

,     •      ,  ;     I  .'.■.]■.'.■>'-'  ■'>,'■  r\  .         J.'  ■  ■.       I    I    i 

-('i  .7   '.  1  <•:  f  :'i' ::'•/■•.',•  •     ""  >7r!     '  i/-'i  •,■'     ,.■.!'   .  ■ '      '     .  •   ■  '     (..  ' 

/i-;.iiii!    I    .    Jlj'l:.!     i.':     ill.    I    I     .•;'        '.  ';w;-.     j     ;       ,     J    ■ 

'iUlill  :■      i    -1  .'.   '       >■'.>;•■  ;,'.  ,',       /      ,•'      ..i;(  I,  ■         '      »  }/V:     '  •  .. 

i.i/li,    h.,.'     it','-    I'l'"//;.!:     .-    '     V    '■.'!(;■>]       ,1.         .>'.: 

fij      ;  ;    I-;!,     h'  .   '  :!.    1.      >;/.'.'-..     ;.'.i.!    ■.!;•..  -■'■■     ,  .  .  ■    .^    . 

0:1     j'jii^!'     ,i    J.'  ■!.','!>  I  >  I*  '    ii;-;.,    ,;•'     ••-      l^.'.'i;..'         ■     .- •  1 

'  t.:-i[.u  I.-.J.  :,,■'!    .■■■        ./i!:.;  ;    ' ll-i/.    -M   ;:n(  .■   :•  .  ,     '■    ^      • 

:y  iin  •  [iu:,]  ■>i\    ,1.,    ;     n-:-   ■■■:    '.''H'  ■'>■       .1:  hi.u-;  .!•-:'!  :•-      '     ;..     i  ■ -v 
/■[;>'/   M')..     i->fi  •       .r-.r  J,   V  M.>  I ,  ■.     ,-.,     n     ,••■  ■  !       ■';:,-.;'      .:  1:     ■'•'     •• 


I 


i 


/ 


,-S*t«(?»5P«W»»TWi5Ssr!lCW«csr-rr!r'3^ 


77« 


OVM    WESrXRU  RMPIRB. 


'tr.,.;-  Ml 


p!.;': 


■^- 


CHAPTER  VI. 
IHAHQ  TERRITORY. 


Topography — Boundarifs — Length  and  Breadth — Arka — ij\-nrvvt  and 
Longitude — Distribution  of  Area — Arable  Lands— Grazing  Lands — 
Timber  Lands— Mining  Lands— Desert  Lands— Mountains— Lakes- 
Rivers— Climate— Meteorology  or  Boise  City— Geology  and  Miner- 
alogy—The Precious  Metals— Other  Metals  and  Minerals— Mineral 
Springs— Natural  Wonders — Sulphur  Lake  and  Deposits — Salt  Springs 
— Soil  and  Vegetable  Productions— Forest  Trees— Zoology— Mines 
and  Mining— Production  of  Gold  and  Silver  since  1862— Present 
Falling  off— Great  Mineral  Wealth— Stock-Raising— Sheep-Farming 
— The  Culture  of  Arable  Lands— Obstacles  to  the  Progress  of  Growth 
or  Idaho — The  Lack  of  Railroads  and  of  Wagon-roads — The  Lack  or 
Capital — Mormon  Influence  the  Greatest  Obstacle  of  all. 

Idaho  Territory  is  one  of  the  central  or  interior  Territories 
of  the  northern  tier,  in  form  much  like  a  huge  chair.  Its  northern 
and  very  narrow  boundary  (at  the  top  of  the  onair)  is  British 
America,  while  the  seat  of  the  chair  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Montana.  The  Bitter  Root  Mountains,  one  of  the  principal 
ranges  -of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  form  the  eastern  boundary 
between  Idaho  and  Montana,  and  between  it  and  Wyoming  the 
boundar)'  follows  the  in th  meridian  west  from  Greenwich.  On 
the  south,  following  the  42d  parallel,  it  is  bounded  by  Utah  and 
Nevada ;  on  the  west  it  is  bounded  by  Oregon  and  Washington 
Territory,  the  line  being  the  1 1 7th  meridian  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Boise  river,  thence  along  the  Snake  river  for  350  miles  to  Lewis- 
ton,  and  thence  northward  along  the  1 1 7th  meridian  to  British 
America.  The  southwest  corner  of  Yellowstone  Park  is  within 
the  bounds  of  Idaho.  The  Territory  lies  between  the  42d  and 
49th  parallels  of  north  latitude,  and  between  the  1 1  ith  and  1 1 7th 
meridians  of  longitude  west  from  Greenwich.  It  is  about  410 
miles  long  from  north  to  south,  and  a  little  less  than  300  miles 
wide  at  its  widest  portion.  Its  area  as  stated  at  the  Land  Office 
is  86,294  square  miles,  or  55,228,160  acres.  There  are  very 
diverse  estimates  of  the  proportions  of  this  area  in  arable,  graz- 


■~1W| 


•*'■'"   ft 


— Latttudk  and 
rRAZiNu  Lands — 
NTAiNS — Lakes — 
OGY  AND  Miner- 
'lERALS — Mineral 
Ts — Salt  Springs 
•Zoology — Mines 
K  1862 — Present 
— Sheep-Farming 
k;ress  of  Growth 
DS — The  Lack  of 

F  ALL. 

"ior  Territories 
r.  Its  northern 
nair)  is  British 
)n  the  north  by 
f  the  principal 
tern  boundary 
I  Wyoming  the 
reenwich.  On 
d  by  Utah  and 
id  Washington 
e  mouth  of  the 
miles  to  Lewis- 
idian  to  British 
Park  is  within 
en  the  42d  and 
nth  and  117th 
X  is  about  410 
than  300  miles 
:he  Land  Office 
rhere  are  very 
in  arable,  graz- 


■  i^ii^i^iiw'fv^m^vfp,'^^ 


->k!a««'iS-t' 


fTfyrtyU  6r  »nt/^t\-  "h  /S8f       r, , 


i     i 

L' 


|iH .1 1^  I  iinVlliiiLiliW  . iit%ij:[l^i|^ag^|j^iw'    . 'f "ftfliljl      ■  ii^iitniilr  ,1  ,,0 


f    <' 


t 

f    ■ 


o,a>^ 


AKAtr.K   t.AHDS   IN  WAHO. 


in 


ingf,  timber  and  mining  lands,  and  desert  or  worthless  lands. 
Governor  Brayman,  v/ith  a  somewhat  imperfect  acquaintance 
with  the  Territory,  of  which  only  on^-ci^'hth  has  yet  been  sur- 
veyed, makes  the  following  estimate  which  those  more  familiar 
with  the  Territory  regard  as  absurd:  "An  approximate  estimate 
of  the  quality  of  these  lands  will  afford,  suitable  for  cultivation 
in  their  natural  state,  15,000,000  acres;  capable  of  reclamation 
by  irrigation,  1 2,000,000  acres ;  grazing  lands,  5,000,000  acres ; 
timber  lands,  10,000,000  acres;  mining  tracts,  8.000,000  acres; 
the  4,228,160  acres  of  desert  are  destitute  of  timber  and  min- 
erals, and  beyond  the  reach  of  irrigation.  Large  portions  of  the 
mining  tracts  bear  timber  also." 

The  Surveyor-General,  Hon.  W.  P.  Chandler,  with  a  some- 
what wider  knowledge,  writes  at  about  the  same  time  to  the 
Land  Ofifice :  "Anv  estimate  of  the  number  of  acres  of  the  vari- 
ous  classes  of  land  in  this  Territory,  so  broken  in  its  surface  and 
varied  in  its  climate  and  altitude,  can  be  only  approximate.  Of 
its  total  area  of  55,228,160  acres,  I  believe  1 2,000,000  acres  to  be 
agricultural  either  in  its  natural  state  or  as  it  may  be  reclaimed 
by  irrigation  with  the  available  water  now  flowing  in  the  streams; 
25,000,000 acres  pasture  lands;  10,000,000  acres  timber  lands; 
and  the  remainder,  8,228,160  acres,  may  be  considered  worthless, 
consisting  of  inaccessible  mountain  peaks  and  lava  beds." 

The  surveyor-general  would  probably  include  the  supposed 
8,000,000  acres,  or  thereabout,  of  mining-lands  in  the  25,000,000 
grazing  and  the  10,000,000  acres  of  timber  lands.  This  last 
estimate  is  undoubtedly  nearer  the  truth  than  the  governor's, 
but  in  the  amount  of  grazing  lands  which  require  always  some 
water,  it  would  seem  to  be  somewhat  excessive.  A  Territory 
whose  average  rainfall  does  not  exceed  twelve  inches,  and  more 
than  three-fourths  of  that  in  the  winter  and  spring,  leaving  the 
entire  summer  and  autumn  parched  and  rainless,  cannot  well 
have  more  than  one-fourth  of  its  area  arable  land  without  irriga- 
tion. There  are  undoubtedly  fertile  valleys  in  Idahai  wherewith, 
and  in  some  years,  without  irrigation,  large  crops  can  be  raised, 
but  these  are  the  exception,  not  the  rule.  The  Territory  might 
become  a  moderately  good  grazing  country,  if  its  neighbors, 


.,lK^'l**B«js^^!«^*^«i«5«(lI^»:^wi?»'aM■;'■■»' 


'*it\ *'-*.*j  *.w.<T.'>a.b.^>"'U^-'' ii'v.-.-! 


-'>v  Jm  -  jai:«M:yw'ienHM>«Ma«i»'«*iJ»rfciw<irs<Bij(!-;,  ffnw>>-— *:^MUMuct«>Ctea4.i  .^.a^^afc . 


Montana,  Wyomir>}y,  Oregon  and  WaHhir>g(on,  were  nol  $/>  much 
better  adapted  to  grazing. 

.  It  is  primarily  a  mining  country,  and  when  tin;  railroads  now 
projected  or  in  progress  have  given  it  access  to  a  market  at 
pvasonabU:  rates  it  may,  if  the  Mormons  and  Indians  will  refrain 
from  killing  the  immigrants,  yield  a  large  amount  of  the  precious 
metals,  and  raise  enough  grain  and  root  crops,  beef  and  mutton 
to  supply  its  own  inhabitants,  but  there  will  be  little  of  either  to 
export,  at  least  for  some  years  to  come. 

Topography,  Mountains,  Lakts,  Rivers,  etc, — Idaho  is  a  moun- 
tainous Territory,  more  so,  perhaps,  than  any  other  of  the  States 
or  Territories  of  "Our  Western  Kmpire,"  although  there  are  no 
summits  as  lofty  as  those  in  Colorado,  California,  Oregon,  Wash> 
ingtoji  or  Arizona.  The  altitudes  range  from  3,000  feet  above 
the  sea  in  the  Snake  River  valley  to  nearly  10,000  feet  at  the 
summit  of  some  of  its  loftiest  peaks.  Its  general  average  of 
elevatbn  is  above  4,000  feet.  On  its  northeast  border  from 
Lake  Pend  d'Oreille  and  Clark's  fork  of  the  Columbia  river 
down  to  the  Lewis  or  Snake  river  at  the  Wyoming  boundary, 
the  Bitter  Root  Mountains,  one  of  the  main  ranges,  though  not 
the  highest  range,  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  separate  it  from 
Montana  ;  almost  parallel  with  these  is  an  irregular  range  trend- 
ing in  general  from  northwest  to  southeast,  known  as  the  Salmon 
River  Mountains,  one  of  tlie  ouUying  ranges  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. These  traverse  the  central  portion  of  the  State.  On  the 
west,  near  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Snake  river,  from  the  Weiser 
to  the  Salmon  river,  is  a  range  of  hills  5,000  or  6,000  feet  in 
height.  The  southern  part  of  the  Territory,  south  of  the  Snake 
river,  is  aa  elevated  plateau,  and  in  the  southwest  an  alkaline 
desert. 

There  are  many  valleys  between  these  ranges  of  mountains 
and  these  elevated  plateaux,  some  of  them  of  considerable  breadth 
and  fertility ;  others  broad  but  barren  ;  others  still  narrow  and 
fertile,  and  j^thers  yet  mere  rocky  defiles  and  cafions.  There 
are  about  twenty  lakes  of  considerable  size,  and  a  great  number 
of  small  lakes  or  ponds  in  the  Territory.  The  largest  are  Lakes 
Pead  d'Oreille,  Coeur  d'Alene  and  Kaniksu  in  the  north,  the  Pay- 


re  not  u>  much 

!?  railroads  now 
o  a  market  at 
lans  will  refrain 
of  the  precious 
■ef  and  mutton 
tie  of  either  to 

aho  is  a  moun- 
t:r  of  the  States 
ijh  there  are  no 
Oregon,  Wash- 

000  feet  above 
XX)  feet  at  the 
ral  average  of 
St  border  from 
Columbia  river 
ning  boundary, 
jes,  though  not 
;parate  it  from 
ar  range  trend- 

1  as  the  Salmon 
e  Rocky  Moun- 
State.  On  the 
•om  the  Weiser 
•r  6,ocKD  feet  in 
li  of  the  Snake 
est  an  alkaline 

5  of  mountains 
Jerable  breadth 
till  narrow  and 
afions.  There 
i  great  number 
gest  are  Lakes 
north,  the  Pay- 


r//A   SMIA'ff   K/yKK  Af/ti  ITS    TRtHrTAK IRi.  •(, 

ettc  and  Weiser  lakes  in  the  centre,  Rocky,  Uar.  Market,  Dc  I^ey 
and  Jackson's  lakes  in  the  cast,  and  Hear  lake  in  the  Houthcast. 

The  whole  of  Idaho,  except  a  very  small  tract  m  the  southeast, 
b<?longs  to  the  river  system  of  the  Columbia  river  and  drains  into 
the  Pacific  ocean.  The  exception  is  Bear  river  and  lake  in  the 
southeast,  the  waters  of  i^hich  are  discharged  into  the  Great 
Salt  lake.  There  is  also  a  bare  possibility  that  some  one  of  the 
sources  of  the  Cireen  river,  one  of  the  constituents  of  the  ^ Colorado 
of  the  West,  may  rise  in  the  mountains  of  the  southeast,  interlac- 
ing there  with  the  .sources  of  the  Snake  river  or  Lewis'  fork. 
But  more  than  8o,ooo  of  the  86,000  s(}uare  miles  of  the  Terri- 
tory are  drained  by  the  great  tributaries  of  the  Columbia  and 
their  affluents,  and  five-sixtlvs  of  the  80,000  miles  by  the  Lewis' 
fork  or  Snake  river  and  its  branches.  The  northeast  corner  is 
drained  by  the  Kootenai,  an  affluent  of  the  Columbia,  which 
joins  it  in  British  Columbia,  and  the  Fend  d'Oreille  or  Clark's 
fork  crosses  the  Territory  a  litde  above  the  forty-eighth  parallel. 
The  Spokane  river,  another  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Columbia, 
which  Hows  through  Lake  Coeur  d'Alenc,  drains  a  plateau  thirty 
or  forty  miles  in  width,  and  below  this  the  Snake  river,  the  largest 
constituent  of  the  Columbia,  occupies  the  whole  Territory.  The 
Palouse,  one  of  its  principal  affluents,  in  Washington  Territory, 
drains  a  plateau  south  of  the  Spokane,  and  the  Snake  river  itself, 
rising  by  several  sources  in  Wyoming  Territory,  flows  northwest, 
then  southwest,  west,  northwest  and  north,  having  a  course  of 
about  1,100  miles  in  this  Territory,  receiving  during  its  course 
between  thirty  and  forty  tributaries,  some  of  them,  like  the 
Salmon,  Bois6,  Owyhee,  Bruneau,  Wood  and  Weiser,  being 
themselves  large  rivers.  The  Salmon  river  drains  the  central 
part  of  the  Territory.  The  Snake  river,  owing  to  its  numerous 
falls  and  rapids,  is  not  navigable  in  Idaho,  but.  becomes  navigable 
at  Lewiston,  the  point  where  it  leaves  the  Territory.  At  its 
headwaters,  and  for  a  considerable  distance  below,  there  are 
rich  bottom  lands,  which,  though  5,000  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  sea,  will,  it  is  thought,  prove  productive.  For  1 50  miles 
below  these,  it  flows  through  a  broad  valley  of  moderately  rich 
and  fertile  land.     At  or  near  the  mouth  of  Bannack  river  it 


.aua**i*.'-B«w«*iSkilw«B*iiitww.«ji.»ui;.-  ..j^.-.  ta«i!»B->«aTr<-w-s;^i' 


•^Ma 


MMMita 


•kb. — 


I 


h 


j%2  OUM    WESrtMN   UMIUHIH. 

enters  a  deep,  rocky  caHon,  throu^rh  which  it  passes  for  seventy- 
five  miles.  In  this  caAun  are  t  rveral  very  lar^c  falU.  ov\*i  of 
them  tht:  celebrated  Shushune  (alls,  I'xctriiin^  Niagara  in  hti);ht 
(b<!in{;  200  feet),  and  rivalling'  it  in  tlie  volume  of  water  and  the 
grandeur  of  its  surroundings. 

C/iWtf//.— The  meteorology  o(  Ida^o  is  somew'>al  meagre.  The 
Signal  Service  Department  has  l.ut  une  station  in  the  Tctritor)', 
tlwt  at  ftois^  City,  and  their  dtrhci<  ncy  has  not  b<rn,  so  far  as  we 
are  aware,  made  up  by  private  observations.  Hois^  City  is  cen- 
trally situated,  but  its  elevation  is  only  3.S77  feei,  and  it  gives  but 
an  indefinite  idea  of  tlie  temperatui",  rainfall,  etc.,  of  the  more 
elevated  tracts  where  nearly  all  the  mines  and  many  of  the  agri- 
cultural districts  are  situated,  'i'he  following  table  and  the 
appended  note  give  all  the  particulars  furnished  by  the  Signal 
Service  office:  .  . 

METEOROLOGY  OF  BOIsi  CITY,  IDAHO  TERRITORY. 

Latilude  43°  40^.     Longitude  Il6*  6'.     Klevaniii  above  tea  level  3,877  f"*^- 


Mom  HI. 


1877. 

J«iy 

Aujiusl .... 
Jieptcmber. . 
Ofiober  , . . , 
November . . 
December . , 

1878. 

January  . . .. 
February . . , 
March  ,  , , . . 

April 

May 

June 

Kar 


1.1 

6 

'"1 

1 

If 

X 

1% 

n 

P*r 

J 
( 

0 

ccni 

»n 

106 

44 

749 

63 

36.8 

035 

98 

43 

739 

55 

Hi 

0.09 

91 

3» 

61,0 

59 

0.37 

I* 

il 

49.0 

53 

S7« 

0S5 

«.« 

18 

41.1 

45 

69.6 

305 

54 

8 

JO-9 

4(. 

67.9 

0.01 

55 

A 

343 

4K  !  66.3 

3.18 

57 

397 

»9 

67.5 

75 

36 

48.0 

49 

63.0 

1 03 

U 

»3 

«i-2 

54 

5'7 

037 

iq 

58.8 

57 

499     '"S 
38.9 1  086 

96 

4.) 

73-3 

S3 

106 

7 

52.9 

99 

54  « 

"•57| 

DireclloR  of  Wla4l 

in  tht 
'<rd«r  of  frtqumsy. 


39.509 
29.573 
-9653 
29.79J 
29934 
30.074 


N.  E..  N..S.  W. 

N    K...  S.,  N.,  N.  W. 

S.,  Calm.  N.  W..  N..  N.  £. 

S,.  Calm,  W..  N. 

S.,  Calm,  N.  E.,  N. 

Calm,  W.,  N.,  S.  W. 


^0.081  S  .  Calm,  W.,  N. 

399?!  N  E.,  E.,  S.,  W.,  Calm, 

39.997  S  ,  Calm,  W.,  N.  E.,  E. 

39.914  W.,  ralm,  N.  W.,  N.,  S.  W.,  8. 

39  )6>  N.  W.,  N.,  N.  E.,  W.,  S.  E..  E. 
39.975  N.  W..  N.  E..  S..  N.  E. 

39.866  ,  S.,  Calm,  N.,  N.  E„  W.,  N.  W. 


The  Signal  Service  Report  for  1878-9  varie*  but  very  little  from  the  above.  The  maximum 
temperature  of  the  year  waa  103°,  and  ihe  minimum  5°,  the  range,  98°,  varying  only  one  degree 
from  the  previous  year,  while  the  mean  was  53.7°.  The  rainfall  was  for  th'-  autumn  of  1878 
1. 10  inches;  for  the  winter  of  1878-9,  5.37  inches;  for  the  apring  of  1879,  4,38  Inches,  and  for 
the  summer  •<(  1879,  1.46  inches,  makinK  13.31  inches  in  all,  or  .74  of  an  inch  more  than  the 
previous  year.  It  is  noticeable  that  9.75  inches  of  lh<s,  or  nearly  four-fifths,  IcU  in  the  winter 
and  spring,  and  the  proportion  waa  about  the  same  as  iix  year  before. 


Isscs  for  seventy' 
|r^c  fallH,  one  of 
I  ij^'ara  in  lui^^ht 
lof  water  and  the 

pat  mcugre.    1  he 

in  the  Tcrrilor)-, 

►ern,  so  far  us  we 

Hl(>is6  City  is  ccn- 

ind  it  (;ive»  but 

til .,  of  th«;  more 

Iniany  of  the  ayri- 

S   table  and  the 

ed  by  the  Signal 

'RHITORY. 

Jeytl  a,877  f«««- 


Direction  of  Wind* 
m  ihi 
[tirr  orfrtqudwy. 


N.  E.,  N.S.  W. 
I.  K.,  S.,  N,.  N.  W. 
ittim,  N.  W..  N..  N.  £. 

S..  Calm,  W.,  N. 
»..  Calm,  N.  E.,  N. 
aim,  W.,  N.,  ;,.  W. 


S  ,  C»\m,  W,.  N. 
E..  E..  S.,  W..  Oilm, 
Calm,  W.,  N.  E.,  E. 
lin,  N.  W.,  N.,  S.  W.,  K. 
N.,  N.  E..  W.,  S.  E.,  E. 
W..  N   K.,  S.,  N.  E. 
n,  N.,  N.  E.,  W.,  N.  W. 
I 

s  •bove.  The  maximum 
',  ♦trying  only  one  degree 
for  thf-  autumn  of  1878 
1879,  4.ji$  inches,  and  for 
r  an  inch  more  than  the 
r-fifths,  tell  in  the  wmler 


GBOlOiiV  AND  UlN'  KALoQY.  ^g] 

Gtology  and  At  -rtUogy. — The  jfcology  of  the  Territory  has 
been  only  [>artially  iuvetti^atcd.  The  mountains,  lik*-  thr  Rocky 
Mounta'nM  ^"nerally,  arc  at  th'ir  ujmmitH  and  on  thrir  went*  rn 
h1o|)ch,  granitic  or  feldnpathic,  wi.ii,  perhaps,  me  nutani(»tphir 
rockn  on  their  nidcs.  The  valU.yH  are  on  lh«ir  siiirlacc  alluvial 
or  diluvial — th*-  result  of  the  con.ntani  wtar  an«l  erosu/n  of  the 
tteep  mountain  slopcu.  Oftcncr  p«'rhap<»  than  in  (»ther  Statei  and 
Terntories,  this  d^^bris  tnjin  the  nn  untains  is  a  very«fine  dust — 
eipecially  in  the  valleys  of  the  Salinon  and  Snake  rivers.  The 
jjold  washed  out  of  the  veins  or  Uh1«s  in  the  nvnii  tains  hit^  b>een 
jjround  by  attrition  to  the  tin*  st  Hour,  so  fine  thai  although  all 
the  sand  and  the  Doil  along  those  river  v;»lle;ys  for  many  inilen 
contain  large  quantities  of  it,  it  could  not  be  separated  by 
washing,  and  was  only  to  be  secured  by  running  it  very  slowly 
over  electro-plated  silver  plates,  tovered  with  mercury. 

In  the  centre  of  the  southern  half  of  the  IVrritory  there  is  an 
extensive  volcanic  plateau,  inaccessible  and  unexplored,  destitute 
of  soil  or  vegetation.  Tlif*  Hear  river  region,  in  Southeastern 
Idaho,  as  well  as  that  bordering  on  the  Yellowstone  Park,  is  vol- 
canic in  its  character.  Amon^T  its  minerals  gold  has  l^'cn  found 
in  the  fine  impalpable  powder  already  mentioned,  in  large  grains 
and  nuggets,  and  in  gold  veins  and  lodes  along  nearly  the  whole 
course  of  the  Snake  and  Salmon  rivers,  in  the  .Sawtooth  or  Sal- 
mon river  range  of  mountain  >  at  almost  all  points,  and  at  many 
points  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Bitter  Root  mountains.  On 
the  east  fork  of  Salmon  river  and  about  the  sources,  and  indeed 
in  nearly  the  whole  length  of  Wood  river  and  at  the  s  >uthern 
termination  of  tlie  Sawtooth  range,  siher  is  very  plentitul,  and 
silver  mining  would  be  conducted  with  great  success  were  the 
facilities  of  transportation  of  the  rich  ores  less  ditticult.*  Copper 
is  found  in  very  rich  ores — sixty-hvc  to  seventy  per  cent,,  and  also 
native  copper  of  great  purity  in  Bear  Lake  county,  and  in  the 


*Thii>  Wood  river  region,  •  diitrict  about  eighty  milei  long  and  forty  niile!i  wido  it  juHt 
now  the  xcene  of  great  excitement  from  the  diicovery  ol  a  number  of  rich  lilver  lodct  on  Inlh 
(idea  of  Wood  river.  It  is  declared  by  some  to  be  a  second  Leadville,  and  hundreds  and  per- 
hapt  thousands  are  flockinfT  thither  from  Utnh,  Nevada,  California  and  some  from  Northern 
Colorado     Whether  they  will  come  to  stay  remains  to  be  seen. 


..  Wi  mt'\<m.»»fmMminm  ■ .  -  Wf «■  j<  in  n.i  ri«..~.  «i«j.a. . .»  »>».»'  a!i-»»u^r^>M,  ■ 


»j-.'»  ^r,,mm^*t^ml^'*^^  ■  .m 


- 


i<-    < 


^g^  Ol'Jt    WMSrMMN   KMnMM. 

Snake  rivrr  rop{)rr  mining;  dittrirt.     It  m  aUo  i  omhincd  w>idt  »iU 
vcr  in  thr  Sawtooth  ranj^r  aixl  thr  VVtMut  rivrr  tiiKtrict. 

I.rad  in  the  form  ofiralrna  or  sulphurrt  and  curlNMmtc  of  trail 
\%  found  in  all  thr  ^ilvcr  mint'*,  and  an  ore  yielding  ulK>iit  iMrventy- 
ei^[ht  prr  crnt.  of  purr  li'a<l  '\%  found  in  the  Hear  river.  Iron  in 
ahundant  and  in  all  forms.  Coal  iit  found  in  ^tvai  (|uantitirH 
ami  of  rxcrllrnt  quality  (ur  coking  and  furnacr  pur{)OHrH  alon^^ 
Bear  lake,  and  iH  also  mined  at  Smith'*  fork  and  on  Irvin 
crc«'k.  I  hr  Mammoth  mine  i)rre  mIiows  a  vein  nrvrnty  (crt 
thick  of  dear  coal,  and  with  adjacent  veinn,  separated  l>y  thin  veins 
of  clay,  will  a^^^'rr^rate  200  feet  in  thickncHS.  The  Utah  and 
Northern  Kailroa<l.  which  paHiieH  near,  will  H(M)n  open  this  ^reul 
mine  to  a  market.  I  here  is  aUo  a  kirge  bed  of  very  j;oo<.l  cort\ 
in  Northern  Idaho  near  Lewinton,  and  another  in  Moise  county, 
al)out  twenty-five  n>il«'H  north  of  Uois^;  City.  Antimony,  arxnir 
and  surphur  are  found  \i\  considerable  quantities,  the  lattei* 
eKpecially  in  the  volrnnir  districta.  In  Bear  Lake  county,  nea.* 
the  Bear  river,  there  is  a  nulphur  lake  very  heavily  encrusted  with 
sulphur,  and  a  mountain  ei^dity-livc  per  cent,  of  which  is  pun: 
sulphur.  The  "Soda  Springs,"  now  becoming  a  |>opular  renort 
from  Salt  l^ike  City,  are  in  the  same  vicinity,  near  the  Hear 
river  and  the  Utah  and  Northern  Railroad. 

Mr.  Robert  E.  Strahorn,  who  has  nxently  explored  this  won- 
derful region  which  gives  so  many  evidences  of  volcanic  action, 
past  and  present,  thus  writes  of  it  in  the  Nttv  H'esi  Illuitraitd 
of  December,  1879:  (lu. -1  i7;i  i-'iMJii;.  '-i     ,   >  t  \.'%  ■^v\ 

"  Soda  Springs,  a  hamlet  of  probably  one  hundred  souts,  is 
located  within  a  stone's  throw  of  Bear  river,  near  the  latter's  '  big 
bend'  in  Sonthe;istern  Idzho,  and  thirty-five  miles  east  of  Oneida 
Station,  Utah  and  Northern  ailway.  It  takes  its  name  from  a 
<  group  of  notcwurtlty  springs  in  the  vicinity,  and  thrives  mainly 
upon  the  latter's  last-increasing  popularity,     t  s\<~s  rxfifi-*  tviiftn 

"One  spring  is  graced  with  a  lively  steam  vent  which  finds 
'  Its  way  upward  through  a  massive  boulder.     Fremont  named  it 
'  Steamboat  Spring,'  on  account  of  its  measured  pufT  which  resem- 
bles that  of  an  engine.     The  waters  of  this  spring  are  utilized  in 
a  comfortable  bath-house  near  by,   A  group  of  four  of  the  other 


[)  combined  with  ii|. 
r  ilJHtrii  t, 

I  carlNtnatr  cifleacl 
liuj{  aUxit  iK-'vcniy 
llrar  rivrr.     Iron  in 
in  >fr«i4t  quantitirH 
ic«"  |uir|K)Hr«i  nliin^r 
|fork   anil   on   Irvin 
vein  nrvrnty  feet 
iraU'd  hy  thii)  vrins 
The   Utah  and 
Jon  open  this  j;rcui 
ii  vury  j;o<xi  coal 
r  in   Hoisc  county, 
Antimony,  arsenic 
niuities,  the  latter 
Lake  county,  nca,- 
vily  encrusted  with 
.  of  which  is  pun: 
If  a  iMjpulur  rcHort 
ity,  near  the  iJcar 

explored  thin  won- 
of  volcanic  action, 
w  li'es/  niustrattd 

hundred  souls,  is 
ar  the  lattcr's  '  big 
iles  east  of  Oneida 
8  its  name  from  a 
nd  thrives  mainly 

I  vent  which  finds 
"r^mont  named  it 
puff  which  resem- 
ing  are  utilized  in 
four  of  the  other 


r//A  XOtXA  AfiP  0TH*K  SfMfSOX 


;i5 


«(»rm|j;t  have  atlrattvil  particular  Attention  on  actwunt  of  the 
Oigrauvo  prupcrticn  o^  *hu  vy4tur.».  The  Ktron^ly  nunt  rali/til  iiuid 
isaUo  evt!r  bubhlin|{  up  from  the  dipUt*  of  prniy  lanutn  in  U^ar 
river,  in  Soda  creek,  ,\\o\\^  the  HtreetM  <>l  the  village — in  fact, 
everywhere  in  the  vicinity — and  i»  an  pleanant  us  a  lK:veM);c,  as 
it  \\a^  been  found  exhilarating  and  NtrenKlhenint;  M..A  tonic. 
Invalids  with  some  of  the  nioHt  deep-set  and  liMithsome  blooti 
diseaMen  claim  to  have  loimil  a  perfect  cure  in  these  (outitains. 
A  mile  distant  are  other  and  not  less  interestin);  Hprin^s,  the 
waters  of  which  are  so  tht>r<iii^hty  charged  with  calcareous 
matter  as  to  cpiickly  form  a  coatiu);  of  liincstA^ne  u|>on  any  object 
immersed  in  them. 

'••V.  do  V.'  thus  luimorously  writes  of  the  j^reat  Hooper 
Sprin{( :  '  1  looper  Spring,  one  milc!  from  the  main  town,  is  not 
»urpahsed  in  the  world.  i'JKht  or  ten  spring's  all  bubble  up 
within  a  radius  of  ten  or  twelve  feet,  and  all  unite  in  one  and 
flow  off  into  Soda  creek,  in  a  stream  nix  feet  wide  and  four  feet 
deep.  This  is  the  most  |)owerful  sprin);  in  the  world.  Its  water 
is  very  highly  charj^ed.  It  is  surprising  how  much  people  drink. 
Five  pints  is  the  usual  draught ;  ten  will  blow  a  man  up ;  and 
then,  if  you  can  find  his  mouth,  twenty  more  will  reunite  du 
fragments,  free  him  from  disease  and  set  him  on  his  foet,  regen 
erated  and  born  again.  The  water  from  Uus  spring  is  botUcd 
and  sold.  It  will  when  known  become  famous  the  world  over. 
No  mincFftl  water  I  ever  drank  has  such  a  delicious  taste ;  none 
causes  such  an>appetite.  The  men  that  drink  it  can't  do  with- 
out it;  children  cry  for  it;  old  people  renew  their  yQUth  at  this 
.fountain.'      nt'\--.'  /iui '•i/m?*.    .1  /■>       tl  I   • 

)  "The  Octagon  Spring  has  received  some  attention  from  Cap- 
tain Moopcr,  who  has  a  handsome  summer  villa  near  by,  and  in 
summer  wo  find  scores  of  visitors  seateci  under  the  rustic  shade, 
drinking,  the  liftt'saving  fluid  from  <;arly  morn  until  late  at  night. 
We  meet  here  the  lame,iithc  halt,  and  even  some  that  are  nearly 
blind,  all  tcstifyiqg.  to  the  wonderful  benefits  they  derive  from 
these  ^waters.  Thei  mineral  constituents  of  these  springs  rqnder 
them  the  best  4>f  alteratives,  and  very  efficacious  in  scrofulous 
and  glandular  difficulties,  and  for  all  diseases  of  the  skin.     They 


K\ui.UaUlkt^K^^kik^iM*ii*\^  <  i«<^k,*t<.v«-  ,rjr. 


fps 


:„,,...:.  :.iii'i5i'!tj»'*:."'s' 


786  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

are  also  an  excellent  diuretic,  and  contain  enough  iron  to  mak 
them  of  value  as  a  tonic.  One  quart  of  the  water  from  th 
•  Octagon  Spring '  contains : 

„  ','1 

,   .  (•  Onlnt.  ^ 

Sulphate  of  magnesia  .     ...........  la.  10 

Sulphate  of  lime j.i, 

'    Carbonate  of  lime ,.86 

!;  Carbonate  of  magnesia ,,32 

I    ^,  Chloride  of  calcium i  ,, 

Chloride  of  magnesium na 

'  Chloride  of  soduim j.j^ 

'  '  '  Vegetable  matter g*      ; 

"  There  is  sufficient  carbonic  acid  gas  to  give  the  whole  1 
power  over  disease.  As  a  beverage  these  waters  resemble  ii 
tapfe  the  famed  Saratoga.  A  few  minutes'  walk  away  is  a  beau 
tiful  spring  called  the  Ninety  Per  Cent.  It  is  all  soda  save  tei 
per  cent.     The  water  is  delicious.     It  contains  no  iron. 

"  Four  miles  southeast  of  Soda  Springs  is  Swan  lake,  one  o: 
thr  loveliest  natural  gems  in  the  Wasatch  chain.  It  reclines  in  ai 
oval  basin,  whose  rim  is  ten  feet  above  the  surrounding  coimtry 
The  shores  are  densely  covered  with  trees,  shrubs,  and  the  luxu 
riant  undergrowth  native  to  that  country.  The  outlet  is  a  serie 
of  small  moss-covered  basins,  symmetrically  arranged,  the  clea 
water  overflowing  the  banks,  trickling  in>u  the  nearest  emeralc 
tub,  then  successively  into  others,  until  it  forms  a  sparkling 
stream  and  dances  away  to  a  confluence  with  the  Bear  river  ii 
the  valley  below.  •,    .n<:.i  ;:.i.j-v,o  hlo.  f^i-i-A  ■  ,  4  J;,.i,.;  .  .?*.,., 

'The  rim  is  apparently  formed  by  petrifaction,  and  extend! 
down  as  far  as  the  eye  can  penetrate  the  clear  crystal  water 
Timber  and  bodies  of  trees  ojated  with  a  calcareous  substancj 
can  be  seen  in  the  depths,  but  no  bottom  has  yet  been  reachec 
in  the  centre,  and  it  is  supposed  that  it  is  fed  by  subterranear 
springs  fix>m  the  base  of  the  mountain. 

"Adjacent  to  this  fit  abode  for  water  nymphs  is  the  singulai 
sulphur  lake,  out  of  whose  centre  liquid  sulphur  incessantly  boih 
and  coats  the  shores  v/ith  thick  deposits,  looking  as  though  ii 
might  be  a  direct  out-cropping  of  Plutonian  regions.     Near  b) 


MiMiwiWiwgiPTiii^^ 


iiii 


J . 


enough 

iron  to  make 

the  water  from   the 

- 

Onina. 

la.to 

a.ia 

.      3-86 

•        3-29 

'•33 

i.ia 

2.24 

•85 

to  give  the  whole  a 
5  waters  resemble  in 

walk  away  is  a  beau- 
It  is  all  soda  save  ten 
tins  no  iron.      ,  / .  /' 
is  Swan  lake,  one  of 
lain.    It  reclines  in  an 
surrounding  country, 
shrubs,  and  the  luxu- 
The  outlet  is  a  series 
y  arranged,  the  clear 
^  the  nearest  emerald 
it  forms  a  sparkling 
ith  the  Bear  river  in 

■  i  .( ■.;'  I. 

ifaction,  and  extends 
clear  crystal  water. 
:alcareous  substance 
as  yet  been  reached 
fed  by  subterranean 

nphs  is  the  singular 

hur  incessantly  boils 

3oking  as  though  it 

regions.     Near  by 


r//£   ICE   CAVES  OF  IDAHO.  787 

Is  a  mountain,  eighty-five  per  cent,  of  which  is  pure  sulphur. 
Mr.  Williams  is  now  hauling  several  tons  of  it  to  Oneida  Station 
for  shipment  to  Mr.  G.  Y.  Wallace,  of  Salt  Lake,  who  will  experi- 
ment with  it  to  ascertain  whether  it  will  pay  to  make  it  an  article 
of  commerce.     The  great  sulphur  deposit  extends  from  the  base 
of  the  mountain  to  an  unknown  depth,  width  and  breadth.     Re- 
move the  top  crust  anywhere  near  where  it  crops  out  and  you 
find  almost  pure  sulphur.     The  bed  must  be  of  immense  area. 
You  can  load  a  wagon  with  your  hands  without  pick  or  shovel 
as  quickly  as  you  could  fill  it  with  corn.     You  can  take  up  a  rock 
and  touch  a  match  to  it  and  it  will  burn  up,  leaving  a  black  sub- 
stance which  probably  represents  the  impurity.     A  piece  that 
weighs  a  pound  will  leave  a  lump  of  this  about  as  large  as  a  pea. 
"  Four  TTiiles  from  the  village  is  the  great  ice  cave,  which  a 
recent  visitor  describes  as  follows :  ♦  This  cave  is  situated  very 
close  to  the  roadside,  on  a  level  stretch  of  prairie  about  midway 
between  the  two  crossings  of  the  Bear  river.     We  commenced 
the  descent  just  as  the  heavens  were  reverberating  with  deep- 
rolling  thunder  and  the  rain  pouring  down  in  a  perfectly  reckless 
manner,  thereby  making  us  feel  that  it  was  an  opportune  time 
to  shelter  ourselves  beneath  the  arching  rocky  cavern.     Follow- 
ing our  guide,  we  descended  a  rocky  stairway  some  twenty  feet 
to  a  level  grassy  rotunda  some  hundreds  of  feet  in  circumference, 
walled  in  by  solid  lava  rocks.     From  this  we  descended  still  fur- 
ther over  a  rugged,  rocky  pathwr",  about  twenty  feet,  when  we 
found  ourselves  on  the  congealetl  floor  of  the  immense  ice  cave, 
where  ice  can  be  found  all  the  year  round.    While  our  guide 
was  lighting  our  tallow  dips,  we  surveyed  the  rocky  walls  which 
surrounded  us.     The  roof,  some  ten  feet  above  our  heads,  was 
filled  with  little  niches  or  pockets,  which  had  been  utilized  by 
cave  swallows,  while  the  side  walls  were  as  perpendicular  and 
solid  as  though  hewn  by  the  hand  of  man  out  of  solid  rock. 
Coursing  our  way  over  the  ice,  which  was  apparently  firm  and 
solid  foi"  a  distance  of  about  loo  yards,  we  came  to  a  huge  pile 
of  lava  rock  which  had  rolled  from  the  roof  and  almost  choked 
/up  the  passage-way.     Our  guide  bade  us  follow  him,  and  we 
soon  found  ourselves  once  again  in  a  clear  open  way,  wide  and 


/ 


1 '.S^iAfe-W-Wililll « W '.ttXfkiSxi  a iHK^H^K,*  SBMXimivSii'A  .AW>i-f VT  fe*  il',T*'j:  -  -■ 


,¥i  ^w.'as'iu 


,^i.,...iiri3.,^'7iigv^i^nai^:i& 


rt--'«H~'  >.it'r»it..,i  j^iXjU •^.i^.tiiliUlC^^^^ 


«^  OUX    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

high  enough  to  drive  a  six-horse  stage-coach  comfortably.  This 
amooth  tunnd  we  follow  for  probably  lOO  yards,  when  we  again 
■descend  a  rocky  stairway,  some  ten  feet  or  more,  and  stand  upon 
isfrhat  apparently  was  once  the  bed  of  a  large  river,  with  a  per- 
fectly solid  sandy  floor.  The  roof  and  side  walls  are  here  found 
-to  be  covered  with  minute  stalactites  which,  reflecting  the  light 
lof  our  candles,  lend  a  weird  aspect  to  the  surroundings.  We 
.now  proceed  onwatid  several  hundred  feet  through  this  perfecdy 
isymmetrical  tunnel  tathe  end,  or  what  appears  to  be  the  end.' 

"About  two  miles  to  the  northwest  of  (the  ice  cave  is'a  slum- 
■bering  volcano,  out  of  iwhich  came  part  of  the  immense  bodies 
lof  lava  that  cover  this  i  plain  for  miles  around.  The  rim  of  the 
.crater  is  almost  circular,  and  stands  up  about  200  feet  above  the 
/level  of  the  plateau  below.  In  the  cooling  process,  the  heart  of 
vthe  crater  settled  down  iibout  icx)  feet  below  the  rim,  leaving  a 
vperfect  representation  to  the  student  of  nature  of  an  immense 
[extinct  volcano.  We  have  been  able,  during  our  short  sojourn 
■in  this  wonderland,  to  olearly  trrce  nearly- fifty  immense  extinct 
'^volcanoes,  which  appear,  from  the  apparent  ^ge  of  the  lava  beds, 
.  to;  have  been  flowin  g  about  the  same  time. 
•  /*r1<All  kindo.<jf.  game  tiorhmon  to  the  western  mountains  can  be 
t  found  in y the  region  surrotwiiding  Soda  Springs.  Bear,  deer,  elk, 
moMntain'  Itons^'  nwunrtain  aheep;  »»ge  hens,  and  ducks  areespe- 
ciiilly  plentif' !.  Trout iifishing  In  Soda  creek,  Eight  Mile  creek. 
jBear  rvver,  and'Blackfoot  river,  is  of  that  character  which  can  be 
•jappredated  1  even  by  the  novice.  Cast  your  hook  in  almost  any 
of! these  wdteus,  anid  prepare  for  a  two  or  three  pound  trout  as 
analHioBfr  mitont>riasifrlt.  1:1;.^  aw. 

■>;-7r"  The ^ititadets)f -Soda  Springs  is  5738  feiet.  The  warmth  of 
summeristem^elred  by  ;the  cooltieasQf  the  mights.  fBJankets  are 
not  tincomfootafele.  ever  in  th'=: -warmest liiigllMs  of  Awguet.  The 
atmosphere  is  di?y,FHke  all  nwwttitartliiows  i?egiohs,-and  is  therefore 
very  favorable  to  consumptives ^it  th<Ke  afflicted  with  pulmonary 
diseases.  This  was  ©nce>  the  fevorite  iresort  of  Brtgham  Young, 
and  is  still  liihe  regular  stlmm^ring  place!  of  numerous  Sah  Lake 
>  City;  merdliants,!<^ho!haVeHbmlti  appropriate  residences. 
'rm  "Salt  is  also  one  of  the  Idaho  minerals.    The  Sailt  Springs 


V.W 


fortably.     This 

when  we  again 
and  stand  upon 
ver,  with  a  per- 

are  here  found 
ecting  the  light 
oundings.     We 

h  this,  perfectly 
o  be  the  end.' 

cave  is'a  slum- 
tnjTiense  bodies 
The  rim  of  the 
D  feet  above  the 
;ss,  the  heart  of 
e  rim,  leaving  a 
of  an  immense 
ir  short  sojourn 
mmense  extinct 
5f  the  lava  beds, 

lountains  can  be 
Bear,  deer,  elk. 
ducks  arei  espe- 
ight  Mile  creek, 
ter  which  can  be 
)k  in  almost  an)- 
pound  trout  as 

The  warmth  of 
s.  fBtenkets  are 
f  Awgu^t.  The 
and  is  therefore 
with  pulmonary 
3righam  Young, 
erous  Salt  Lake 
lences. 
ie  iSftlt  Springs 


THE   ONEIDA  SALT  rKODUCTlON.  -j^^ 

wl>ich  have  been  utilized  since  1866,  are  in  Oneida  county,  near< 
tli«  Wyoming  border,  about  fifty  miles  northeast  of  the  Soda 
Springs,  on  the  Old  Lander  emigrant  road  leading  from  Soulh*^ 
Pass  to  Oregon.     The  road  passes  directly  along  the  Hat  below 
the  spring,  where,  before  being  concentrated  in  pipes,  the  water 
had  spread  out  and,  evaporating  in  the  sun,  formed  largp  masses 
of  salt  crystals  which  attracted  the  attention  of  passerB^hy  and 
led  to  the  discovery  of  the  spring  Hewing  from  the  hillside  above. 
It  is  clear  and  sparkling  as  the  purest  spring  water,  and  never 
v/ould  be  suspected  of  containing  mineral.     Tlie  valley,  in  which 
it  is  situated  is  known  now  as  Salt  Spring  valley,  and  is  about  ten</ 
miles  long  by  an  average  of  one  mile  wide;  through  it  flows  a:, 
rapid. stream  well  filled  with  mountain  trout. 

"  The  Salt  Springs  were  first  taken  up  by  B.  F.  White,  Esq,  (th«> 
present  owner),  and  partner,  in  June,  1866,  and  works  have  since, 
been  in  constant  operation,  every  year  witnessing  an  increase  in.-, 
the  demand,  until  almost  the  entire  stream  flowing  from  the 
spring  has  been  utilized.     The  salt  is  made  by  boiling  the  water 
in  large  galvanized  iron  pans,  into  which  it  is  led  by  wooden 
pipes  leading  direct  from  the  spring,  thus  insuring  perfect  clean-* 
liness,  and  a  uniformly  white,  clean  and .  beautiful  product.     The 
water  is  kept  constandy  running  into  tjie  boilers,  andiis  kept  ati 
a  boiling  heat  all  the  time.     The  salt  is  shoveled  1  out.  once  in. 
every  thirty  minutes,  and  after  draining  twenty-five  hours  is 
thence  thrown    into    the    drying-hour.o,  there  to  remain  until, 
sacked  and  prepared  for  shipping.     7  he  most  scrupulous  cleanr 
liness  is  observed  in  every  operation,  and  when  the  immense, 
banks  of  salt  lie  piled  up  in  the  drying-house,  they  resemble  huge  i 
snow-banks  more  than  anything  one  could  imagine.     It.takes^ 
from  two  to  four  months  for  salt  made  inthis  manner  to  dry.and 
ripe^i,  and  for  this  reason  it  becomes  necessary  to  keep  on  hand* 
a  large  supply,  so  that  at  any  time  a  thousand  tons  of  the  purest] 
and  whitest  salt  in  the  world  may  be  seen- here  in  these  far  west- 
'  Oneida  salt  works.' 

"Following  is  an  analysis  of.  the  Oneida  salt,  made  by  Dn. 
Kggot^  the  well-known  analytical  chemist,  of  Baltiaiore.  It  .shows; 
a  Wgher  percentage  of-  pure  salt  than  the  celebrated  Onondagai 


^w.ffii«s<iW'5Bi*«*W*»ej»&l(il«!sl»;ia(K»«.4V,  iw.---»<,va..i.  v-y-JAia-  vv;^- 


ii'f  .r'tiftaa-i 


.*2t 


rtU'l^-ttiiii 


ii 


•QO  ^^^    WESTERN   EMPIRE. 

brand,  manufactured  at  Syracuse,  while  neither  '  Live;'fK>ol,* 
'Turk's  Island  '  or  'Saginaw'  salt  approach  it  in  purity,  or  are  as 
white,  clear  or  soluble  in  liquids : 

Chloride  of  sodium  (pu:e  salt) 97.79 

Sulph.  soda 1.54 

Chloride  of  calcium .67 

Sulph.  magnesia Trace 

.    ^       Total 100.00 

"Tn  1866  only  15,000  pounds  of  salt  were  here  manufactured; 
but  the  demand  in  Idaho,  Utah  and  Montana  has  so  steadily  in- 
creased that  the  product  has  averaged  about  600,000  pounds  per 
annum  up  to  1877.  In  1878  it  ran  up  to  1,500,000  pounds, and 
in  1879  to  nearly  2,000,000  pounds,  much  of  the  production  of 
the  last  two  years  having  been  consumed  in  Montana  smelting 
works.  It  is  sacked  in  5,  10,  25,  50  and  100  pound  bags,  and  is 
laid  down  at  points  200  miles  distant  by  wagon  transportation  at 
from  three  to  four  cents  per  pound."  ,1  ;  n  ,< 

Soil  and  Vegetable  Productions. — ^We  have  already  stated  our 
conviction  that  the  amount  of  arable  land  in  Idaho  did  not  greatly 
exceed  one-fifth  of  its  surface,  even  including  those  lands  ca- 
pable of  successful  irrigation.  Of  course  in  a  Territory  of  which 
not  one-seventh,  including  mining  lands,  has  been  surveyed, 
such  a  conviction  must  rest  partly  on  general  principles.  Our 
reasons  are  these :  The  Rocky  Mountains,  which  form  the  east- 
ern boundary  of  the  Territory,  present  only  their  western  face  to 
it ;  and  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  other 
high  mountain  ranges  on  this  continent  having  a  general  di- 
rection from  north  to  south,  the  western  face  or  slope  is  precip- 
itous, and  has  very  little  arable  land,  though  portions  of  the 
mountain  below  the  snow-line  may  be  covered  with  timber.  But 
it  is  precisely  these  rjrecipitoub  mountain  sides  which  are  oftenest 
the  places  of  deposit  of  the  precious  metals.  In  Idaho  we  have  not 
only  the  western  face  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  but  the  long  and 
bold  spur  of  that  range  known  as  the  Salmon  River  and  Sawtooth 
Mountains,  the  latter  name  being  given  as  characteristic  of  tlieir 
precipitous  faces.    There  is  j^so  a  rocky  wall  overlooking  the  yal- 


-Vhiil 


THE  BARREN    LANDS  OF  IDAHO. 


791 


sr   '  Live  'fwol/ 
urity,  or  »re  as 


97.79 

»S4 

.67 

Trace 


100.00 


manufactured; 

so  steadily  in- 
000  pounds  per 
XX)  pounds,  and 

production  of 
>ntana  smelting 
nd  bags,  and  is 
ansportation  at 

;ady  stated  our 
» did  not  greatly 
those  lands  ca- 
rritory  of  which 
)een  surveyed, 
•rinciples.  Our 
form  the  east- 
western  face  to 
/ada  and  other 
I  a  general  di- 
slope  is  precip- 
•ortions  of  the 
th  timber.  But 
ich  are  oftenest 
iho  we  have  not 
Jt  the  long  and 
r  and  Sawtooth 
:teristic  of  their 
ooking  the  val- 


ley of  the  Snake  river  for  a  long  stretch  of  its  course,  and  the  deep, 
dark  cafion  through  which  it  flows  for  seventy-five  miles  in  tlu:  lava 
lands.  There  are  furthermore  the  alkaline  lands,  a  desert  and 
dreary  waste,  the  lofty  mesas  and  plains,  not  irrigable,  and  unfit 
even  for  grazing  without  it,  and  the  hillsides  and  foothills  facing 
the  east,  which,  though  affording  good  pasture  grounds  in  many 
instances  for  herds  of  cattle  and  flocks  of  sheep,  are  not  adapted 
to  cultivation.  In  short,  it  is  only  the  river  valley  and  bottom 
land,  and  not  all  of  these,  which  can  properly  be  called  arable 
lands,  and  with  an  average  rainfall  of  only  twelve  inches,  more 
than  three-fourths  of  it  between  November  and  April,  even  these 
must  often,  perhaps  not  always,  be  irrigated. 

The  soil,  when  irrigated,  is  generally  fertile ;  perhaps  not  so 
rich  as  that  of  Montana,  or  California,  or  the  Willamette  valley, 
but  it  yields  for  a  first  crop  from  twenty-five  to  forty  bushels  of 
wheat,  fifty  bushels  or  thereabouts  of  barley,  and  fifty-five  of  oats. 
Corn  does  not  do  well,  except  in  the  river  bottoms,  the  season 
being  too  short  for  it.  Fruits  are  said  to  be  raised  with  gieat 
success,  especially  in  Northern  Idaho. 

The  forest  trees  of  Idaho  are  mainly  those  of  the  Pacific  slope, 
but  rather  of  Oregon  and  Washington,  than  of  California.  The 
various  species  of  pine,  including  the  pifton  or  nut  pine,  the  P. 
potiderosa  or  yellow  pine,  and  several  other  species  of  fir,  spruce, 
tamarack  and  cypress,  the  red  cedar,  though  not  the  "Redwood," 
the  white  cedar,  the  juniper,  and  some  of  the  hardwood  trees,  as 
the  oak  of  three  or  four  species,  chinquapin,  hickory,  etc.,  etc., 
are  the  principal  frees  of  its  forests;  At  full  age,  the  pines,  firs 
and  cedars  attain  a  height  of  about  1 50  feet.  Like  the  Pacific 
States  generally,  it  has  very  little  sod,  though  the  bunch  grass  is 
found  on  most  of  the  grazing  lands,  and  is  so  nutritious  that  cat- 
tle fatten  upon  it  very  readily.  Wild  flowers  abound  in  the 
valleys,  and  many  of  them  are  of  remarkable  beauty.  Lands 
upon  which  are  found  in  luxuriant  growth  the  bunch  grass, 
larkspur  and  the  wild  sunflower  of  the  Pacific  coast,  are  well 
adapted  to  the  growth  of  cereals,  and  these  are  the  most  com- 
mon products  of  the  plateaux  of  Northern  Idaho.  Wild  fruits 
abound   in   Northern  and  Central  Idaho,  especially  the  wild 


-  ■j^'iity*^H»1jiKaK?itrkt.^ii&^'^ti>tfrAvtmit^^mt^^  ^ 


\i-*ft^'w.'¥;^!^f.' 


ts. 


II  f-f  fuVl'fetiii.ir.l  iil'imil.,^lt>M.^ 


BK- 


y^\  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRB. 

berries  and  >f«fld  cherries,  thou^  tlir  wild  cherry  of  thr  Pacific 
coast  is  a  shnib,  and  not  a  tree  Its  fruit  is,  I'.owrvtr,  more 
edible  and  pleasant  than  that  of  the  East. 

Zo5iOj*j>.--^'t\\fi  wild  animals  of  the  Territory  are,  in  ji^eneralj 
those  of  Oregon  and  California.    The  grizzly  bear  is  seldom 
seen,  but  hAs'bein  found  in  the  Territory.     The  black  and  cin- 
namon beAr  arc  common  ;  the  piima,  cougar,  panther  or  moun* 
ta^in  lionl  (the  beaut  is  known  by  all  four  names)  is  troublesome, 
e^.pecially  in  the  grazing  lands ;  the  gray  wolf  and  the  western 
coyote,  all  the  fur-bearing  animals,  the  martin,  fisher,  lynx,  pos- 
sibly the  ocelot,  the  otter,  mink,  musk  rat  and  beaver,  as  well  as 
the  smaller  rodents ;  the  marmot  or  gopl>er,  sewellel  and  other 
species  of  mole  are  abundant.     Moose  {Aiccs  Americanus)  are 
found  occasionally  in  Northern  Idaho.     Naturalists   insist  thai' 
the  moose  and  true  elk  are  identical ;  but  the  animal  generally 
known  as  the  elk  or  Wapiti  {Cenms  Canadensis)  diff^-rs  materially 
from  the  moose  and  is  fhe  largtrst  of  the  deer  family  in  An>erica; 
it  roam ;^  over  the  whole  Territory ;  two  other  species  of  deer  are' 
distinguished  by  the  hunters;  the  bighorn  or  Rocky  Mountain 
sheep  is  found  in  considerable  numbers  on  the  mountains  andin 
the  lofty  valleys,  and  occasionally  the  Rocky  Mountain  goat  or 
goat  antelope  is  seen.     The  antelope  of  the  fi^ains  is  rare,  if  seen 
at  all,  west  of  the  mountains,  and  the  buffalo  is  not  now,  we  believe, 
seen  in  thife  Territory,  though  said  formerly  to  have  bf-on  found 
here  in  vast  herds.     Of  birds,  there  are  considerable  numbcrs,i 
the  raplores  or  birds  of  prey  predominating,  though  the  grouse,i 
pheasant  and  ptarmigan  families  are  abi  ndant.     Song-birds  are 
not  as  abundant  as  in  more  southern  climes.     There  are  a  few- 
reptiles  attd  s^rpefnts.     The  rivers  and  lakes  abound  with  fishi- 
.Salmon  trout,  brook  and  lake  trout  and  many  other  species  of^ 
edible  fishi' among  which  tHe  Red  fish,  found  only  in  four  lakes  iriJ 
the  world;  of'  which  tWD  are  in  Idaho,  is  the  special  boast  of  the^ 
people  of  the  TerHtory,  are  abundant  in  the  lakes  and  streams  of ' 
the  Terwtdry;  ■        ■  >«'*  mn  .la  'mifm:in\m.A)\m.  tm^^  ^uu&  tM<|«m*.i 
■i  Mines  and  Miifik^-.-^this  product  of  the  mines  of^  Idaho  fro*n 
thfe  first  attempt  at' itiining  there  to  the  present  time,  a  period  of 
about  tvWentyi  yeai^,  is  somewhat  more  than  $70,000,000.     More 


7  of  th<;  Pacific 
!;f>w<'v<r,  more 

.ire,  in  gonoral, 
bear  is  se-ldom 
black  and  cin- 
nther  or  moun* 
is  troublesome, 
and  the  western 
fisher,  lynx,  pos- 
?aver,  as  well  as 
wdlel  and  other 
4mericanus)  are 
ilists   insist  that 
inimal  generally 
iJiff-rs  materially 
nilyin  An>erioa; 
-'cies  of  deer  are 
Wky  Mountain 
lountains  and' in 
ountftin  goat  or 
9  is  rare,  if  seen 
now,  we  believe, 
have  bf  en  found 
erable  numbers, 
)ugh  the  grouse,- 
Song-birds  are 
There  are  a  few 
bound  with  fish; 
)ther  species  of 
'  in  four  lakes  iri- 
:ial'  boast  of  the 
and  streams  of 

s  of'  Idaho  fr6*n" 
me,  a  period  of 
300,000.    More 


GOID  AND  sn.VEK  mKiNG  IN  IDAHO.  M| 

than  three-fourthH  of  this  ha:s  been  from  plrcer  mining,  and  has 
been,  of  course,  gold.  Tlie  placers  yielded,  from  i866  to  1870 
or  1872,  from  $7,t)Ob,ooo  to  )J^io,ooo,ooo  per  annum.  In  1868 
and  1869  thert!  had  been  signs  of  the  exhaustion  or  unprofitable 
working  of  the  placers,  and  att^tion  began  to  be  turned  to 
(lurirtz  and  lode  mining.  It  should  be  said  that  the  success  of 
the  placer  nf»ining[  on  the  Snake  river  was  greatly  impeded  by 
the  fineness  of  the  gold  dust ;  it  was,  in  the  miner's  language; 
flour  gold,  and  pan,  rocker  and  "Tom"  could  not  separate  it' 
from  the  finely  powdered  clay  in  which  it  was  found.  A  htindred- 
pounds  of  pay  dirt  might  contain,  and  often  did,  two  or  thretf 
pounds  of  gold  or  even  more ;  but  the  old  process  of  washing 
would  hardly  gain  a  quarter  of  an  ounce.  Of  late  new  and 
better  processes  have  enabled  the  miners  at  some  points  to 
secure  the  greater  part  of  this  gold  previously  wasted; 

The  gradual  ftiilure'of  the  placers  stimulated  the  prospecting 
for  lod^s  of  gold  and  silver,  and  from  1867  to  thfe  present  time 
the  discoveries^  of  Valuable  mine's  Have  been  very  ff-equent,  and 
some  of  them  of  veins  wHich  yiel^efd  rematkable  quantities  of 
gold  and  silver.  Owyhee  county,  which  had,  in  1869,  ten  mines 
actively  at  work,  and  thirty  or  forty  mining  claims,  and  which 
WAs  producing  from  $1,000,000  to  |i, 400,000  per  annum,  is  now 
apparently  almost  deserted,  very  little  having  been  done  there 
since  1876,  in  consequence  of  the  bad  management  and  frauds 
of  the  officers  of  the  largest  mines  and  the  failure  of  the  Bank  of 
Califbrnia;  while  the  greater  attractions  of  the  Salmon  river  gold 
fields,  the  Snake  river  gold  fields,  the  gold  and  silver  mines  of 
the  Sawtooth  range  and  the  Wood  river  district,  the  Yellow 
Jacket  district,  Yankee  Fork,  East  Fork,  Bay  Horse,  Custer 
City,  ChalHs,  Silver  Star  and  other  districts  and  mines  have  com- 
pletely^ overshadowed  them,  A  few  minfcs  are  still  worked  in  a 
small  way  in  Owyhee  county ;  a  larger  number  in  Alturas  county,, 
though  not  very  profitably ;  most  of  these  are  silver  and  will  be 
moCf*  profitable  when  trarifeportation  is  cheapi^r.  Bois^  county 
has  many  mines,  both  of  gold  and  silver,  in  course  of  develop* 
ment,  the  mines' of  the  south' part  of  the  county  being  gold.  While 
those  of  the  northern  part  are  both  gold  and' silver.    The  Swake 


-  ««u  ji— tfCfictr'mraa»v;<Bpi>irf^uTr.p.;^>'  '^  it^^-^rttv-  ,'  i.-';//*(>ti:j*,(i«j- 


■^■i  M 


794 


OUR    Wl-:S7t:KJ\r   A/V/VA'A. 


river  jjoKl  fields  lu-Iong  to  placer  mininf;;.  Lemhi  county,  in 
which  is  the  Yank«!c  lork  mininjf  district,  and  the  remarkable 
Charles  Dickens,  Challis  antl  Custer  Mountain  lodes,  gives  prom- 
ise of  j^reat  productiveness  for  the  next  few  years.  In  Idaho 
county,  Northern  Idaho,  there  are  a  larj^'e  number  of  gold  and 
silver-bearing  veins,  but  no  roads  to  bring  in  the  machinery,  no 
mills  to  work  the  ore,  and  nothing  but  pack-mules  to  carry  the 
ore  some  hundreds  of  miles  to  poitUs  where  it  can  be  reduced. 
It  requires  ore  of  very  high  grade  to  pay  sutli  heavy  expenses. 
Ada  county,  in  which  the  capital,  Bois^;  City,  is  situated,  has 
many  excellent  silver  lodes,  but  very  poor  facilities  for  reducing 
them  cheaply.  The  production  of  gold  and  silver  in  1878  was 
estimated  at  jj*!, 878,000,  and  for  1879  at  over  $i,(X»,ooo. 

There  vvould  be,  if  there  were  good  roads  to  drive  cattle  to 
market,  excellent  opportunities  to  extend  the  grazing  interest 
greatly  in  this  Territory,  for  some  of  its  grazing-lands  an;  equal 
to  those  to  be  found  anywhere,  and  a  market  could  be  found  for 
them  from  Northern  Idaho  by  the  Northern  Pacific,  and  from 
Central  and  Southern  Idaho  by  the  Utah  and  Northern  and 
Union  Pacific  Railroads.  There  are  perhaps  20,000  cattle  sent 
out  of  the  Territory  yearly,  but  the  business  is  not  prosecuted 
with  any  energy,  and  amounts  at  the  utmost  to  not  more  than 
$400,000  per  annum.  The  wild  animals  are  too  numerous  and 
fierce  to  make  sheep-farming  profitable  at  present. 

The  farming  crops  are  limited  by  want  of  a  farming  population, 
good  roads  and  good  and  easily  accessible  markets,  and  small  as 
is  the  population  of  consumers,  the  production  of  grains  and  root 
crops  does  not  more  than  consume  it. 

Indians. — There  were  formerly  a  considerable  number  of 
hostile  and  warlike  Indians  in  this  Territory,  but  by  wars  and 
outbreaks  they  have  been  reduced  until  there  were  in  1880  only 
4,020  Indians  in  all  in  the  Territory,  viz.:  460  Bannocks,  1,040 
Shoshones,  1,208  Nez  Perces,  712  mixed  Shoshone  Bannock  and 
Sheep-eater,  600  Pend  d'Oreille  and  Kootenai.  Their  reserva- 
tions amount  to  2,748,981  acres,  or  more  than  a  square  mile  to 
an  Indian.  About  one-fifth  of  them  have  adopted  citizen's  dress 
and  are  partially  civilized.  „       ,,  ,    ^,.._j 


ttlNDRANCKS  TO  IDAHO'S  FKOSrEKlTY, 


795 


hi  county,  in 
\v  rnnarkahk* 
s,  j{ives  prom- 
rs.  In  Idaho 
of  jroUl  and 
machinery,  no 
to  carry  the 
\  be  reduced, 
ivy  expenses, 
situated,  has 
for  reducing 
in  1878  was 

)0,OCX). 

Irive  cattle  to 
azing  interest 
nds  an;  equal 
be  found  foi' 
:ific,  and  from 
Morthern  and 
)00  cattle  sent 
ot  prosecuted 
ot  more  than 
numerous  and 

'1    '  \.  1'  ■ 

ng  population, 
I,  and  small  as 
rains  and  root 

::  number  of 
by  wars  and 
:  in  1880  only 
in  nocks,  1,040 
Han  nock  and 
Pheir  reserva- 
quare  mile  to 
cUi2«n>  AfSim 


Surrounded  on  all  sides  by  Territories  in  which  the  most  in- 
tense activity  and  energy  prevail.s,  Idahf)  may  be;  compared  to  a 
Sea  of  Sargasso,  whose  tranquil  surface  is  ruftled  by  no  wind,  and 
over  which  are  gath«!red  vast  masses  of  sea-weed  and  drift-wood, 
the  home  of  foul  birds  of  prey. 

There  is  undoubtedly  great  mineral  wealth  in  Idaho  territory, 
but  with  the  exceedingly  imperfect  facilities  now  existing  or 
likely  to  exist  for  some  time  to  come,  for  reilucing  the  ores,  or 
sending  the  bullion  to  market,  there  can  be  very  little  imluce- 
ment  for  capitalists  to  enga};e  in  mining  operations.  Tlurre  is 
hardly  a  good  wagon  road  in  the;  Territory ;  most  of  the  trans- 
portation of  ores,  machinery,  farming  implements,  furniture,  etc., 
is  on  the  backs  of  pack-mules.  The  two  railroads — the  Utah  and 
Northern,  which  passes  near  the  eastern  boundary  into  Montana, 
and  the  Northern  Pacific,  now  beiii;.;  constructed  across  the  ex- 
treme northern  portion  of  the  Territory — the  Pend  d'Oreille 
country — however  much  they  may  benefit  other  interests,  are  not 
so  situated  as  to  render  any  material  aid  to  the  mining  interests 
of  the  Territory,  or  to  diminish,  except  very  slightly,  the  cost  of 
transportation  to  reduction  works  and  markets.  If  the  projected 
Oregon  division  of  the  Utah  and  Northern  Railroad,  extending 
from  Portneuf  to  Bois6  City,  and  thence  west  into  Oregon,  were 
likely  to  be  built,  it  would  afford  prospective  relief;  but  it  was 
project(ul  to  prevent  the  progress  and  completion  of  the  North- 
ern Pacific,  and  having  failed  in  that,  it  will  prove  too  unprofita- 
ble and  too  costly  an  experiment  to  be  undertaken  by  so  con- 
servative an  institution  as  the  Union  Pacific  Railway. 

There  are,  indeed,  two  projected  branches  of  the  proposed 
road  of  the  Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation  Company  from 
Wallula,  on  the  Columbia,  northeastward,  to  reach  eventually 
Moscow,  in  Northwestern  Idaho,  near  Lake  CcEur  d'Alene,  and 
southeastward  to  Baker  City  in  Oregon,  a  continuation  of  which 
might  strike  the  mouth  of  Weiser  river ;  but  these  will  not  be 
built  for  some  years,  if  ever,  and  without  connections  in  the  Ter- 
ritory, would  be  of  little  or  no  value. 

Meanwhile,  all  the  interests  of  the  Territory  are  suffering  and 
are  likely  to  suffer.    She  has  not  only  the  products  of  her  mines. 


■T^W*ii«iai«»*»«lta».w«^«'ti»»^Ani*t«titf*Ji«iei***r^*JJ*-A*^^  *»*Ai.-,n-ina.rttff.; 


mk 


but  might  huve  a\fto  consulemhlc  nmounts  of  ^mln  to  sell  to  her 
own  pcofilf,  if  it  couUl  h<  tran'*|H>rt<d,  and  if  tht-re  were  induc#« 
mentH  in  the  markot,  which  wcukl  bo  afforclecl  by  a  rapitJly  in- 
crea«inyj  population,  th<»  amount  mij(ht  br  greatly  incrras'-d. 
She  mi^ht  enj^age  largrly  in  stocks raihing  ami  <lalry-farming, 
but  she  has  no  roads  ovrr  which  lu^r  agricultural  and  paslornl 
product*  could  be  sent  to  markets  eithrr  within  hvr  own  bouncU 
or  without  tlu;m.  It  may  Ik  ankrd  M4iy  i\fnH  f»h<'  not  build  wagon 
roads,  which  would  at  \emt  farilltut(!  intr-r-communication,  and 
would  in  time  Itrad  to  railroads?  There  arc  sevt-ral  reasons. 
The  construction  of  wagon  roads  over  so  rough  a  country,  if  not 
Impracticable,  is  very  difficult  and  expensive.  If  application  had 
been  made  in  season  probably  tlu?  general  government  would* 
have  made  some  grants  of  I  vnds  for  their  construction j  though 
that  would  not  perhapf  have  <:flrecteil  its  object ;  but  the  policy  of 
the  govurnment  has  been  for  several  years  past  dciithdiy 
opposed  to  land  grants  for  crither  railroads  or  wagon  roads. 
Private  or  corporate  capital  might  do  this,  as  it  has  In  other 
States,  but  the  obstacles  are  many,  and  capital  is  timid.  The  In- 
dian tribes  have  been,  until  recently,  more  or  less  hostile.  But 
perli.^ps  a  still  stronger  objection  to  the  free  imnyigration  which 
would  have  forced  the  construction  of  these  roads,  has  been  the 
fact  that  for  the  last  ten  years  it  has  been  the  settled  purpose  of 
the  Mormon  leaders  in  Utah  to  take  possession  of  Idaho  and  of 
other  adjacent  Territories  also,  if  possible.  They  have  planted 
their  colonies  in  every  eligible  position  in  Southern  and  Central 
Idaho,  and  have  driven  away,  as  far  as  possible,  other  immigrants, 
unless  they  would  submit  to  their  authority  and  dictation. 

The  result  has  been  disastrous.  The  Mbrmon  authority  is  an 
autocracy  or  an  oligarch^' ;  and  free  and  independent  men  could 
not  and  would  not  submit  to  it.  The  Territory  was  settled  much' 
earlier  than  Montana  or  Dakota,  but  whereas  it  had  in  1870  a 
population  of  15,000,  exclusive  of  Indians,  it  has  now  only 
32;6iii,  and  this'  increase  is  very  largely  of  Miormon  colonists 
sent  by  the  central  authority  at  Salt  Lake  Gty  to  establish  them* 
selves- tirere.  There  is  no  enterprise,  no  progress,  and  the  Tt- 
ritonyv  withi it©  g)reat<^mineral  wealth' and  its  favorable  position,  is 


'TNM  JNiiux  Ttumrrotty. 


fW 


n  to  sell  to  her 
e  were  induce* 
>y  a  rapitlly  in- 
atly  incrcaHcd. 

tlalry-farmin^, 
I  and  pastorni 
t-r  own  boiMuU 
ot  build  wagon 
lunication,  and 
?vt?ral  reasons. 

country,  if  not 
ippliration  had 
prnment  would* 
ructioO)  though 
Lit  the  policy  of 
)ast    dcritlcdiy 

wagon  roads. 
t  has  in  other 
:imid.  The  In- 
i  hostile.  But 
Hgration  which 
4,  has  been  the 
led  purpose  of 
f  Idaho  and  of 
^  have  planted 
'n  and  Central 
»er  immigrants, 
ictation. 
authority  is  an 
lent  men  could' 
18  settled  much 
had  in  1870  a 
has  now  only 
rmon  colonists 
establish  them* 
»,  and  the  Tt- 
ible  position,  is 


'|i|k*'ly  to  renuiin  undevrlopftl  and  largely  unpeopled  as  a  t'onsc 
quence  of  Mormon  gp  i-d  and  evil  intlucnre.     In  Huch  a  Tt^rri- 
lory  W"  t.at»not  invite  immigrants  10  setUc. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
tHF.  INDIAN  TERRITORY. 

MlMlTU  DRTAn-l  ( oNiKKWNf    THK  INDIAN  TK.HivirORY    NOT  HECI&MRY   AT  TM 

ruESENT  TIME  IN  riu»  Wok*— Whv? — A  KEw  Gknf.rai.  I'oiwTs  IN  VIEW  or 

THF  Ul.rtMATE  ff)SHIhll.l'^V      K  A  niAMi.K,  WMKH    MAY    I'EHMIT    ImMIOHATION— 
TOPCKIHAPHV    -I.ENOTI'    AKR  BkKA!»TH       1  ,A  1111  I»K  ANC  I    «N{;|Tin>K— ARtA  — 

6o\m»Aiu»»^DivtHi(>M  INTO  Indian  ki  'Kkvations  or  Nations — Areai  or 
MOST  or  TiiE»E — Tkacts  not  vr.i  Ai-uvrTKD,  AN\r  Indian  IUhi'**  not  pkrma- 

NENTLV  UX:ATEU— NUMIIEK  OK  INDIANS  IN  T«F     I     iiJUTOKVIN  1878— I'KIWI.  \  r 

NUMDKR  -The  rivE  i.eadinc  'I'ribi  ,,  Chfsc  kees.  Chu:kasa*s,  Choctaws, 
Ckmks  and  Seminoi.es-  Their  Progress  in  Civilization — The  Capitmj* 
or  THEIR  REtpiicnvr.  Nations — Their  Farm  Phodults  in  iSyy— Their 
LivEST«<t:K — Vai-itation  or  Real  and  Pl:K^oNAL  frVrATE — Sttuxii>, 
, Churches,  Brnkvolest  Imstitutions— N ewsi'apers — Poeir-OmiKs  -The 
Smaller  Triees  AND  Bands  lesh  Civilized —SunrACE  <.>v  the  Countev— 
Mountains,  Rivers,  Lakes- -Climate  -MfiEoRoujdv  or  Forts  Gibson 
and  Sill — Geology  a.nd  Mineralogy— Soil  and  Ve(ietatii>n— i'oREsrs  — 
Railroads  -The  Chara<tbr  of  the  Poih/lation— Rev.  Iimothy  Hill's 
Account  or  the  TERRiTtjuy  The  Inpiav  Ti  i  i.e  to  iiik  Tkrkitory— His- 
tory of  the  Removal  OFTMB  Five  iRiBtH  and  other  Indians — RE'PUR- 
chabk  or  SOME  or  thkir  Lands  by  the  Oovrrnment — Efforts  to  drive 

them  fKOM  THIS  TERRITORY — ThE   OuTLOOK    FOR   TME   FUTURE-    POSSESSION 

or  THEIR  Lands  in  severalty  thkjr  only  hope— Indian  Annuity  Funds. 

A  Though  comprised  within  the  limits  of  "Our  Western  Em- 
pire," and  probably  destined  eventually  to  form  one  of  its  vStates, 
MWhen  the  Indians  shall  have  become  citizens,  and  the  aggressive 
spirit  ot    the  Western   settlers  shall  have  ceased  to  covet  their 
lands,  or  to  propound  the  atrocious  sertiment  '*that  the  only 
good  Indian  is  a  dead  one " — yet,  in  the  present  condition  of 
aifiatrs,  we  should  not  be  justified  in  going  into  minute  details 
.respecting  the  Indian  Territory,  inasmuch  as  it  is 'by  solemn 
-  tireaties  the  exclusive  home  of  the  red  man,  and  all  explorations 


•««Sl>»««;.«-9<««»<*ai»*ir«l*«M*»t- 


:---  ^,«i.6«..*«:''-->t5*»'*' 


I 


in 


I, 


■     «*    M 


J 


OVM    WKXTKUff  KM/^fUK. 


798 

or  tirsrrlptlonn  of  It,  liAvin{(  in  vi«'w  thr  promotion  of  white  emi 
gration  tluthrr,  arr  Mtrinly  forlmldcn.  Wr  Hh;^ll  tlwrrfore  or  ly 
<|rM  rilx'  it ;  hrirtly  give  an  account  of  its  Inilian  inli.ihitantt, 
their  locations,  t-ondition,  property  and  pnuhutioiii,  and  their 
prol).il>l<-  fuiiirt',  anci  p.ts>«  on  to  other  States  and  Icrrituric*  to 
whi<  h  the  inimi^'rant  nay  have  free  arcr»«. 

The  Imlian  Territory  it  Hituatcd  hetwrcn  the  paralteU  of  33* 
35'  and  37"  north  latitude,  anti  between  the  meriil'inn  of  94*  2d 
and  103"  went  lon;;i(ude  from  (irernwich.  The  ^triwvr  |>art  of 
the  Territory  in  l>ctween  94°  acy  and  100*  went;  I  iit  a  narrow 
•trip  thirty-five  mih'H  in  width,  and  cxtendinjj  from  the  irxjth  to 
the  ro^^d  dejirrcr  of  lonj;itiuUr,  separal«s  Northwesterri  Texas 
from  Kansas  ami  Colorailo,  ami  that  ntrip  watered  by  the 
Cimarron  and  Canadian  rivers,  forms  a  part  of  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory. Its  length  from  east  to  west  alon^j  the  northern  lK)rdcr  is 
470  miles,  and  south  of  latitude;  36"  30',  3 10  miles.  Its  breadth 
east  of  the  tooth  meridian  averages  about  3 10  miles.  Its  area 
is  now  stated  as  69,304  square  miles,  or  44,154,340  acres.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Kansas  and  Colorado ;  on  the  east  by 
Missouri  an  J  Arkansas;  on  the  south  by  Texas,  from  which  it  is 
separated  as  far  west  as  the  looth  meridian  by  the  Red  river; 
west  of  that  meridian  by  the  parallel  of  36"  30*.  Its  western 
boundaries  are  Texas  and  New  Mexico.  Not  quite  one-thir- 
teenth of  its  surface  is  in  forests;  the  remainder  is  prairie,  deep 
ravines,  or  wider  valleys,  and  pleasant  mountain  slopes. 

Besides  a  considerable  portion  still  unassiyned,  the  Territory 
contains  eighteen  or  twenty  Indian  reservations.  The  Chero- 
kcos  have  two  tracts :  one  of  5,960  square  miles  in  the  north- 
cast,  east  of  the  96th  meridian,  and  bordering  on  Kansas  and  Ar- 
kansas. They  also  own  a  strip  containing  about  8,500  square 
miles,  about  fifty  miles  wide  along  the  Kansas  border  from  the 
Arkansas  river,  west  to  the  lOoth  meridian.  The  Choctaw  res- 
ervation, 10,450  square  miles,  is  in  the  southeast,  bordering  on 
Arkansas  and  Texas.  The  Chickasaw  reservation,  6,840  scjuare 
miles,  joins  this  on  the  west,  and  is  separated  from  Texas  by 
the  Red  river.  The  Creek  reservation,  5,024  square  miles,  is 
in  the  eastern  central  part  of  the  territory,  between  the  Chero- 


I*  .  ■*■  mH^iwMhi  m* 


ion  of  white  em! 
;^ll  tlu'rrfnrr  or  ly 
iiititn   inh.ihitantn, 
iitioiif,  and  tlu'ir 
ml   Icrrilorics  lo 


:  parallrln  of  jj^ 
riili.»n»  of  94^*  jcf 
e  grmilfr  part  of 
St ;  I  lit  a  narrow 
•om  the  Kwlh  to 
rlhwcstern  Texas 
watered  by  the 
the  Imhan  Terri- 
orthcrn  border  is 
liles.  Its  breadth 
)  miles.  Its  area 
^,340  iicrcH.  It  is 
) ;  on  the  east  by 
s,  from  which  it  is 
)y  the  Red  river ; 
30/.  Its  western 
ot  quite  one-thir- 
er  is  prairie,  deep 
in  slopes, 
ned,  the  Territory 
>ns.  The  Chero- 
liles  in  the  north- 
n  Kansas  and  Ar- 
lx)ut  8,500  square 
s  border  from  the 
The  Choctaw  res- 
;ast,  bordering  on 
ition,  6,840  scjuare 
d  from  Texas  by 
4  square  miles,  is 
itween  the  Chero- 


r    1 


ALLOTMENTS  OF  TERRITORY  TO  DIFFERENT  TRIHES. 


799 


kees  and  Choctaws.  The  Seminole  reservation,  312.5  square 
miles,  lies  southwest  of  the  Creeks,  and  north  of  this  that  of  the 
Sacs  and  Foxes,  756  square  miles.  A  tract  of  900  square  miles, 
lyin(.if  west  of  the  Seminole  reservation,  ii  set  apart  for  the 
citizen  Pottawatomies  and  the  Absentee  Shawnees.  West  of  the 
Cherokees'  second  reservation,  and  bounded  north  by  Kansas, 
and  southwest  by  the  Arkansas  river,  is  the  Osage  reservation 
of  2,^45  square  miles;  and  northwest  of  this  is  the  little  reserva- 
tion of  the  Kaws,  156  square  miles  in  extent.  These  are  late 
comers,  though  not  the  latest,  having  been  removed  from 
Kansas  in  1873,  The  Kio>vas,  Comanches  and  Apaches  occupy 
a  tract  of  5,546  square  miles  in  the  southwest,  bounded  on  the 
east  by  the  Chickasaw  reservation.  North  of  these  the  Arapahoes 
and  Cheyennes  have  a  tract  of  6,205  square  miles.  Fragments 
of  ten  tribes,  viz.:  the  Quapaws,  the  Confederated  Peorias, 
Kaskaskias,  Weas,  Piankashaws  and  Miamies,  the  Ottawas, 
the  Shawnees,  the  Wyandots  and  the  Senecas,  severally,  have 
reservations,  aggregating  in  all  297  square  miles,  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  Territory,  east  of  the  Neosho  river.  There 
are  eight  affiliated  bands  of  Wichitas,  Keechies,  Wacoes, 
Tawacanies,  Caddoes,  lonies,  Delawares  and  Penetethka 
Comanches,  who  are  gathered  around  an  agency  on  the 
Washita  river,  west  of  the  Creek  country,  but  they  have  no 
reservation.  The  Modocs,  the  remnant  of  Captain  Jack's  band, 
and  about  400  Kickapcos  and  Pottawatomies,  were  sent  to  the 
Indian  Territory  in  1873,  and  the  Modocs  were  placed  tem- 
porarily on  the  Shawnee  reservation,  and  the  latter  settled  on  a 
tract  on  the  Kansas  border  west  of  the  Arkansas  river.  The 
Poncas  and  i.ome  bands  of  the  Sioux  were  sent  into  the  Terri- 
tory in  1876  and  1877;  some  of  the  Arizona  Indians  about 
the  same  time,  and  some  bands  of  Utes  still  later.  ''•' 

In  1878  the  Indian  office  reported  the  whole  number  of  In- 
dians in  the  Indian  Territory  as  75,479.  The  increase  by  births, 
and  the  additional  bands  which  have  been  sent  in  since  that  time, 
may  have  increased  the  total  number  to  78,000.  These  are  for 
the  most  part  recognized  as  civilized  or  partly  civilized  Indians. 
The  greater  part  of  them  wear  citizen's  dress,  and  a  fair  proper- 


I 


2> 


v; 


h 


y  t^'  ~:>.-:j^ 


i^Sii?)^iHj)^^S^^^®^-i^ife?^^^^ 


-1 


8oo 


.OUa    WRSTRI^N  BMPIR^, 


ticn  have  farms  or  herds  ot  r£,ttle  or  sheep,  and  can  read  or 
write  at  least  in  their  own  language.  This  is  especially  true  of 
the  five  leading  tribes,  the  Cherokees,  Choctaws,  Creeks^  Chicka- 
saws  an,d  Seminolus.  The}'  are  capable  now  of  becoming  citizens. 
They  have  churches  and  schools,  legislatures  of  their  o.vn,  and 
have  for  many  years  maintained  self-goverpwvent  with  perhaps 
no  more  failuics  dian  some  of  the  States  of  the  Union.  The 
capital  of  the  Cherokee  natbn  is  Tah-le-quah ;  of  the  Chicka- 
.saws,  Tishemingo ;  of  the  Choctaws,  Armstrong  Academy ;  of  the 
Creeks,  Ok-muUkee  ;  of  the  Seminoles,  We->wo-ka. 
,  In  1878-9  these  five  civilized  tribes  cultivated  237,000  acres 
of  land,  and  raised  565,400  bushels  of  wheat,  2,015,000  bushels 
of  corn,/ 200,500  bushels  of  oats  and  barley,  336,700  bushels  of 
vegetables,  and  176,520  tons  of  hay.  They  own  45,500  horses, 
5,500  mules,  272,000  head  of  cattle,  190,000  swine,  and  32,400 
sheep.  Amor>g,;other  products  of  Indian,  labor  during  the  same 
year  were  8, 100,360, feet  pf  Iwi»l^er,»wed,  1 32,886  cords  of  wood 
cut,  200;6oo  shi|)gjes  made,  387,000  pounds  of  maple  sugar  made, 
1 64*000  .pounds  of  wild  rice  gathered,  1 7^000  iwoollen  blankets 
and  shawls  woven,  2,530  ,willo!W  baskets  ma<4PM3,8oo  qords  of 
hemlock' ibafk  peeled,  21  i/xx)  poinds  of  >W)0(9l' clipped  for  sale, 
and  ,3^6oo  barrels  of  fish  ,SDld.  These  tribes  ;wwe  .much  broken 
up  during  the  late,  civil,  war,  many  of  then^  Jiaving  jtaken  partin 
it,  ai  majority  probably  on,  the  side  of  theSputh,  yet  in)  1872  they 
had  ^a.far  recovered  from  itS' effects  jthat,their'prQperty,,.real  and 
^ersa>ttal,r,was,valued,iat!v$i5,357<7/oo,-«id  \&  now  estimated  at 
over  ,jjtao,QOQ,OQO.  .The  rpopul»tion  of  these  tribes  is  aJ?oufi  3 5,000. 
,.Iji  1 8^3,ri^ey,nMiin|tainedi  1^4  schools  with  j82(t€^h«8iis,  aAd.4^300 
i^qhplars  in  average  attewdaoce.  The  nunnber  Qfchwdbes  istnot 
,koown,nbMt. in,  1^72 /there  were  7,090  Indian- rme^nbers- of  the 
diflTerent  churches.  The  Cherokees  have  1  an  SNPphani asylum 
with,  ninety  .inmr^tfls.  ,The  Greeks  have  also  lan  otphs^n  asylum. 
.There  ^artre  thresjweqkly  papers  published  linilhe  Territoryy  one 
.English,  and  Cherokee, atrTahrle-iquah,  one  EngH»h  alid  Choctaw 
,  at  .Isjew  Bpgy ,  and,  ©ne  \  English ,  at  ^  Caddo.  .There  i  arej  twcMy- 
j^ght;^rpo(st-offi<:Qs.jn,  the  ,Territqiy. 
^^ytOi  course,! many. -^f  the  smaller  bands? of  Indians^ reflfiecidiUy 


m  rwid  or 
Uy  true  of 
s^  Chlcka- 
iig  citizens, 
r  o.vn,  and 
th  perhaps 
■nion.  The 
le  Chicka- 
my ;  of  the 

,cxx>  acres 
oo  bushels 

bushels  of 
500  horses, 
and  32,400 
^  the  same 
"ds  of  wood 
ugarinade, 
:n  blankets 
D  Gords  of 
ed  for  sale, 
uch'  broken 
ken  part/in 
M872  they 
ty,!  real  and 
(tjmatedat 
■out  35,000. 
1,  »Qd  4^300 
'dhes  is<not 
lers;of^the 
an  I  asylum 
^n  asylum, 
rritoryy  one 
d  Choctaw 
irejiw^niy- 

■t..-/jfrr      -iijj 


SURFACE  AND  CLIMATE  OF  INDIAN  TERRITORY. 


8ai 


those  more  recently  sent  there,  have  not  attained  to  this  measure 
of  civilization,  but  for  the  most  part  they  arc  improving  and  will 
continue  to  improve  if  under  favorable  influences. 

Surface,  Mountains,  Rivers,  Lakes. — The  surface  of  the  Terri- 
tory, like  that  of  Kansas,  at  the  north  of  it,  has  a  general  declina- 
tion toward  the  East  In  the  southwest  the  Wichita  Mountains 
attain  to  a  moderate  elevation,  and  in  the  east  there  is  a  continu- 
ation of  the  Ozark  and  Washita  hills  from  Arkansas ;  beyond 
these  the  country  spreads  out  into  rolling  prairie  lands  rising 
gradually  to  the  west,  and  in  the  north  there  are  table  lands 
rising  from  3,500  to  4,500  feet  above  the  sea.  The  Territory  is 
well  watered.  The  Red  river,  which  forms  its  southern  boun- 
dary, receives  numerous  afHuents  great  and  small  on  its  northern 
bank :  the  Arkansas,  which  is  the  principal  river  of  the  Territory, 
has  for  its  largest  tributaries  the  Canadian,  the  north  fork  of  the 
Canadian,  the  Cimairon  or  Red  fork,  and  the  Little  Arkansas, 
on  its  south  bank,  and  the  Neosho,  Verdigris,  and  Illinois  on  the 
north,  and  is  itself  a  mighty  stream  where  it  enters  the  Territory 
from  Kansas.  Owing  to  the  falls  which  obstruct  it,  the  Arkansas 
is  only  navigable  in  the  Indian  Territory  as  far  is  Fort  Gibson, 
where  the  Missouri,  Kansas,  and  Texas  Railway  crosses  it.  The 
Red  river  is  navigable  for  nearly  the  whole  distance  along  the 
southern  border  of  the  Territory.  None  of  the  tributaries  of 
the  Arkansas  are  navigable  for  any  great  distance,  though  sev- 
eral of  them  are  large  streams  and  afford  permanent  water  power. 
The  Territory  is  well  watered,  surpassing  Kansas  in  that  respect. 

Climate. — The  climate  is  generally  mild  and  salubrious,  but 
inclined  to  be  dry  in  the  northwest.  In  th<.'  southwest  there  are 
tracts  of  marshy  lands  where  intermittent  and  remittent  fevers 
prevail.  The  mean  annual  temperature  in  the  southeast  is  60*, 
in  the  northwest  55°.  The  annual  rainfall,  which,  in  the  south- 
eastern extremity  of  the  Territory  is  fifty-two  inches,  decreases 
to  thirty-five  inches  in  the  central  region,  and  is  less  than  twenty 
inches  in  the  northwest  corner. 

The  following  table  gives  the  meteorological  statistics  of  Fort 
Gibson,  on  die  Arkansas  river ;  at  the  mouth  of  tbe  Neosho,  and 
at  Fort  Sill,  on  Cache  creek,, in  the  southwest  of  the  Territory.. 

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^'^  Geology  and  Mineral0gy.'-^T\ie  geology  of  the  Territory  has 
not  been  very  thoroughly  explored.  It  seems  to  partake  more 
of  the  chsiracteristics  of  Kansas  than  of  Arkansas>  and  some  of 


SOIL    AND    VEGETATION. 


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ferritory  has 
Eirtake  more 
.nd  some  of 


its  formations  extend  across  the  Red  river  into  Northern  Texas. 
Some  of  its  mountains  have  azoic  rocks  near  the  surface,  while 
in  others,  especially  those  of  tlie  central  part  of  the  Territory, 
the  cretaceous  period  seems  to  have  been  predominant.  There 
are  in  the  west  and  northwest  extensive  deposits  of  gypsum, 
and  in  the  Cherokee  country  are  found  coal,  iron,  good  brick  clay, 
marble  of  fine  quality,  and  a  yellow  sandstone  suitable  for  build- 
ing purposes.  It  is  probable  that  there  is  copper,  and  perhaps 
salt  in  the  southwest,  as  the  beds  of  copper  ores  come  to  the  Red 
river  in  Wichita  and  Clay  counties,  Texas,*  and  there  are  salt 
springs  in  the  same  vicinity.  Salt  also  abounds  in  the  northwest 
of  the  Territory,  and  many  of  the  springs  and  streams  are  very 
salt.  There  has  been  no  search  for  the  precious  metals  in  the 
Territory,  and  their  existence  is  not  known  with  certainty. 

The  coal  bed*  are  an  extension  of  the  coal  deposits  of  Mis- 
souri and  Arkansas.  At  McAllister,  in  the  Choctaw  country,  a 
mine  is  worked  by  a  large  force  of  white  men,  who  pay  a  royalty 
to  the  Choctaw  government;  and  near  Muscogee,  in  the  Creek 
Nation,  is  a  fine  mine  of  rich  coal.  All  the  coal  mined  in  the 
Territory  is  bituminous,  and  of  the  best  quality.  '  ■ 

Soi/  and  Vegetation. — The  valleys  of  the  Wichita  range  are 
fertile  and  have  good  timber,  water  and  grass,  and  generally  the 
region  south  of  the  Canadian  river  possesses  a  fertile  soil  and  is 
well  adapted  alike  to  cultivation  and  grazing.  There  are  exten- 
sive forests  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  Territory,  but 
about  three-fifths  of  the  Cherokee  country  is  rocky,  and  only  fit 
for  grazing.  Between  the  97th  and  98th  meridians  there  is  a  nar- 
row belt  of  timber  called  the  "  Cross  Timbers,"  extending  from 
the  Cimarron,  or  Red  fork  of  the  Arkansas,  to  and  beyond  the 
Texas  border.  The  region  west  of  this  and  north  of  the  Cana- 
dian river  is  reported  to  be  sterile,  without  trees  or  much  grass, 
with  only  a  few  sickly  shrubs  and  cacti,  and  the  soil  covered  with 
an  alkaline  or  saline  deposit.  This  land  will  produce  nothing 
without  irrigation,  and  may  require  also  a  plentiful  application 
of  gypsum,  but  with  these  measures  it  may  yield  abundant  crops. 
The  principal  forest  trees  arc  the  cottonwood,  oak  of  several 

.>j I ; I  i  *Cepp«r  IMS  bten  dhcove.ed,  but  not  mined,  at  several  points  iti  the  Ttrrilory. 


^^s^mmM^iMi^isms^^^^''' 


80^  OUK    IVESTERX  EMPIRB. 

species,  sycamore,  elm,  hickory,  ash,  yellow  pine,  osage  orange  or 
bois  d'an,  ptxan  and  hawtliorn.  Wild  grapes  of  erccellent  flavor 
abound.  The  arable  lands  of  the  Territory  are  well  adapted  to 
cereal  and  root  crops,  and  the  yield  per  acre  of  wheat,  Indian 
corn  and  oats  is  large.  In  the  hilly  and  broken  country  the 
fruits  of  the  temperate  zone  do  well.  Apples,  peaches,  pears, 
plums,  cherries,  and  small  fruits  of  good  quality  are  largely 
raised. 

Railroads,  etc. — Aside  from  the  river  navigation,  there  is  one 
railway  which  crosses  the  eastern  portion  of  the  Territory  from 
north  to  south,  viz. :  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  Railway, 
extending  from  Sedalia,  Missouri,  to  Denison,  Texas,  where  it 
joins  other  Texas  roads.  The  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Railway,  from 
Pacific,  Missouri,  also  enters  the  Territory  from  the  northeast, 
and  forms  a  junction  with  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  at 
Vinita,  in  the  extreme  northeast  of  the  Territory.  This  road,  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific,  had  projected  a  route  crossing  the  Indian 
Territory  from  east  to  west  along  the  valleys  of  the  Cimarron 
and  Canadian  rivers,  but  in  the  strife  of  the  different  transconti- 
nental routes  and  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  the  right  of  way 
through  the  Territory,  we  believe  this  project  has  been  given  up. 
.  T/ie  Oiaracter  of  the  Population. — Rev.  Timothy  Hill,  D.  D., 
long  a  missionary  in  the  Indian  Territory,  and  thoroughly  con- 
versant with  the  tribes  which  occupy  it,  thus  describes  them  in  a 
communication  to  the  New  York  Evangelist  in  the  summer  of 
1880: 

"  The  present  population  is  about  80,000.  I  have  conversed 
with  a  large  number  of  men,  native  and  long  resident  there,  and 
none  have  placed  it  less  than  the  number  given,  and  some  have 
placed  it  as  high  as  100,000.  There  can  be  but  little  doubt  of 
80,000.  Without  any  claim  to  absolute  accuracy,  I  place  the  pop- 
ulation as  Indians  and  people  of  Indian  extraction  about  62,000 ; 
colored,  8,000;  and  whites,  10,000.  The  Indians  are  well  classi- 
fied into  civilized  and  uncivilized.  In  the  former  class  come  the 
Cherokees,  Greeks,  Seminoles,  Choctaws,  Chickasaws,  a  remnant 
of  Delawares,  who  are  Cherokee  citizens ;  a  part  of  the  Shaw- 
nees,  Pottawatomies,  and  Senecas.    We  shall  gain  in  definite 


h 


m 


gc  orange  or 
cellent  flavor 
I  adapted  to 
n'htrat,  Indian 

country  the 
aches,  pears, 

are  largely 

there  is  one 
erritory  from 
xas  Railway, 
xas,  where  it 
Railway,  from 
he  northeast, 
ind  Texas  at 
This  road,  the 
g  the  Indian 
he  Cimarron 
U  transconti- 
right  of  way 
sen  given  up. 
y  Hill,  D.  D., 
)roughly  con- 
>es  them  in  a 
I  summer  of 

^e  conversed 
nt  there,  and 
i  some  have 
de  doubt  of 
tlace  the  pop- 
bout  62,cxx>; 
e  well  classi- 
iss  come  the 
s,  a  remnant 
►f  the  Shaw- 
n  in  definite 


MEV.  MR.  HILL    ON   THE  JNDIAS  TEKKITOKY. 


805 


impression  if  we  consider  each  of  these  tribes  and  classes  by 
themselves.     li  '    uif      1    1  I 

"  liasily  foremost  are  the  Cherokees.  They  occupy  the  north- 
east portion  of  the  Territory  (cxciipt  a  limited  portion  in  the  ex- 
treme northeast  corner),  with  only  one  district  or  county  south 
of  the  Arkansas  river.  The  Cherokee  government  has  a  popu- 
lation of  about  i8,cxxD,  but  ctnly  some  12,000  of  them  are  Indians, 
the  remainder  are  colored  and  white.  These  people  all  live  in 
houses,  some  of  them  large  and  well  furnished.  They  live  com- 
fortably, and  are  slowly  gaining  property  and  increasing  the  com- 
forts of  life  around  them.  The  war  stripped  them  bare,  and  they 
are  now  only  regaining  some  of  their  lost  property.  The  lan- 
guage of  the  Cherokees  is  extremely  difficult  to  acquire ;  but  a 
large  number  of  them  speak  English,  and  no  difficulty  would  be 
found  in  travelling  nearly  all  over  their  country  without  an  inter- 
preter. But  to  reach  the  full  bloods,  an  interpreter  will  fre- 
quently be  needed.   :, 

"  2.  The  C'eeks  occupy  a  region  directly  west  of  the  Chero- 
kees. They  are  a  lower  type  of  men,  less  attractive  in  personal 
appearance,  less  keen  in  intellect,  than  the  Cherokees ;  but  diey 
are  more  industrious  than  the  Cherokees,  and  are  probably 
making  more  rapid  advances  in  civilization.  The  Creeks  are 
greatly  intermingled  with  the  blacks.  The  Creek  government 
has  probably  a  population  of  about  13,000,  of  whom  some  2,000 
are  blacks.      <i  ■■:/.•  .m;'   .    1,  ji't  1;..; 

"  3.  Next  to  the  Creeks  are  the  Seminoles,  a  separate  tribe 
of  the  same  general  origin  as  the  Creeks,  and  speaking  nearly 
the  same  language,  but  with  a  separate  government.  They  are 
much  mingled  with  the  blacks,  but  are  gaining  in  civilization 
rapidly.  The  long  contest  which  they  kept  up  with  the  United 
States  in  Florida,  sufficieady  attests  their  courage  and  general 
skill.      ()fij,   c'I.iJmiu    !»i)j.   r.:ii,'((    \  'JS'\    \\',     ■  t'f  ii,- 

7  "4.  The  Choctaws  occupy  the  southeast  portion  of  the  Terri- 
tory. I  have  been  among  them  but  little,  and  from  personal 
observation  cannot  say  much.  They  are  the  strongest  in  numbers 
of  the  civilized  tribes,  numbering  about  16,000  Indians.  They 
refused  to  give  the  blacks — their  former  slaves — citizenship,  as 


I 


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They  arc  less  ad- 
Chcrokees,  but  are 


the  Cherokees,  Creeks  and  Scminolos  did. 
vanced  in  the  arts  of  civilized  life  than  the 
gaining  steadily. 

"  5.  The  Chickasaws  are  a  small  tribe  of  the  same  general 
origin  as  the  Choctaws,  and  speaking  nearly  the  same  language. 
They  are,  in  some  things,  in  advance  of  all  the  other  civilized 
tribes,  as  their  land  is  sectionized,  although  not  yet  allotted  in 
severalty,  as  they  cannot  do  that  without  consent  of  the  Choc- 
taws. There  arc  many  white  men  living  among  them,  probably 
a  larger  number  than  any  other  tribe,  many  of  them  intermarried 
with  the  half-breeds,  and  thus  citizens,  and  others  living  among 
them  as  renters  of  land,  mechanics,  or  hired  laborers,  of  the 
Indians  or  Indianizcd  whites.  i    .    .  ^      t 

"  6.  Besides  the  five  civilized  tribes  who  have  a  separate  gov- 
ernment, diere  are  others  quite  as  much  advanced  as  any  Indians. 
There  is  a  remnant  of  the  Delawares,  who  are  well  advanced  in 
all  the  arts  of  life.  They  are  more  quiet  and  orderly  than  any 
other  Indians  cultivating  their  land. 

i  "Added  to  the  Delawares  are  the  Ottawas,  not  long  since  resi- 
dent in  Kansa-i-— a  quiet  people,  supporting  themselves  by  culti- 
vating their  land.  The  Pottawatomies,  a  small  tribe  recently 
from  Kansas,  are  partially  civilized,  some  of  them  United  States 
citizens. 

"All  these  civilized  tribes  live  in  houses,  dress  like  other  peo- 
ple, and  many  of  them  speak  the  English  language  well.  I  never 
saw  a  blanket-Indian  among  any  of  these  people ;  and  perhaps 
the  only  peculiarity  that  would  be  noticed  in  the  dress,  is  a 
fondness  for  bright  colors  with  the  women,  and  a  disposition  to 
place  a  feather  or  plume  of  some  sort  in  the  hat  of  the  men. 
But  a  trader,  who  has  lived  among  them  many  years,  recently 
said  to  me,  '  The  change  in  the  character  of  goods  now  sold  is 
very  marked.  We  sell  fewer  beads  and  trinkets  and  cheap 
jewelry,  and  we  sell  in  the  place  of  these  a  much  better  quality 
of  cloth,  and  much  more  substantial  goods  for  woman's  wear. 
The  advance  in  these  things  has  been  quite  marked.'    ,  -h  /iMtip 

"The  uncivilized  Indians  are  t'le  remnants  of  a  large  number 
of  tribes  gathered  from  wide'/  different  regions,  and  greatly 


I 


are  less  ad- 
kees,  but  arc 

»amc  g;eneral 
me  lanjfuage. 
ther  civilized 
t  allotted  in 
of  the  Choc- 
leiTi,  probably 
intermarried 
living-  among 
orers,  of  the 

ieparate  gov- 

s  any  Indians. 

advanced  in 

erly  than  any 

ng  since  resi- 
:lvcs  by  culti- 
tribe  recently 
United  States 

:e  other  peo- 
veW.  I  never 
and  perhaps 
e  dress,  is  a 
lisposition  to 
of  the  men. 
;ars,  recently 
s  now  sold  is 
5  and  cheap 
etter  quality 
Oman's  wear. 

* 

irge  number 
and  greatly 


ClVll.ir.ED  AND  VNCIVILtlKD  IHDIASS.  807 

(JifTering  in  character.  I  suppose  them  to  amount  to  about 
13,000.  These  remnants  differ  greatly  in  personal  apfiearuncc 
and  prospective  importance.  The  Osagcs,  Ncz  Perces  and 
Modocs  are  fine-louking  people,  fair  size,  well  form<!d,  nnd  inter' 
esting  in  p«;rHonal  appearance — at  least  some  of  them.  The 
Poncas  arc  less  interesting  in  appearance,  and  the  Kaws  and 
Quapaws  are  vile  in  character,  and  far  gone  in  physical  ruin,  in 
consequence  of  the  diseases  of  crime  and  vice.  With  most  of 
these  bands  I  have  no  intimate  acquaintance,  but  I  have  seen  the 
Modocs,  Poncas  and  Nez  Perces,  and  have  been  in  the  Quaker 
school  of  the  Quapaws. 

"  In  looking  at  the  pr<»8ent  condition  of  the  Territory,  the 
negro  has  a  prominent  pluce.  The  civilized  Indians  were  all 
slaveholders  before  the  war,  and  some  of  them  held  large  num- 
bers. In  the  reconstruction  that  followed  the  war,  the  Chero- 
kees,  Creeks  and  Scminoles  admitted  their  former  slaves  to  citi- 
zenship ;  but  the  Choctaws  did  not,  and  I  think  also  the  Chicka- 
saws.  These  negroes  are  more  industrious,  as  a  class,  than  the 
Indians,  and  more  thievish. 

"  The  prejudices  of  the  Cherokees  against  the  blacks  are  as 
intense  as  any  white  man's  can  well  be,  but  the  Creeks  are  much 
less  prejudiced  than  the  whites.  I  never  saw  a  half-breed  Chero- 
kee and  negro,  but  some  of  the  most  prominent  families  of  the 
Creek  and  Seminole  nations  are  of  this  mixed  race,  and  it  is  not 
a  very  rare  thing  to  find  persons  whose  ancestry  will  be  found 
in  the  three.  A  former  politician  of  the  Creek  tribe,  a  man  of 
honor  and  influence,  possessed  the  general  features  and  personal 
appearance  of  an  Indian ;  but  his  African  relationship  was  appa- 
rent in  a  woolly  head,  which  he  shaved,  and  covered  widi  a  wig 
of  Indian  hair. 

"  The  white  population  is  an  element  of  great  importance,  and 
rapidly  gaining  in  numbers  and  influence.  This  class  consists  of 
missionaries  and  teachers,  and  their  families,  aggregating  quite  a 
number ;  railroad  employes,  licensed  traders,  mechanics,  and  a 
large  number  who  have  intermarried  in  the  Indian  tribes.  There 
is  a  large  force  of  coal-miners  at  McAlister.  The  government 
officials  are  not  numerous,  but  they  are  in  positions  where  their 


IS 


n 


I 


r 


^^^^iitii^SSSi^i^^ii^^^^S^I^^:^::^^^!^'.'':. 


•.CtL- 


•ol 


OUtt    WaSTKMN   AMr//tX. 


influence  \%  stronfj,  and  in  some  InsUncrs  extremrly  deleterious. 
The  licensetl  traders  are  a  numerouH  and  intluential  body.  The 
entire  trade  of  all  the  lerritory  is  in  the  hands  of  white  men  or 
half  breeds.  1  do  not  think  a  full-blood  can  be  found  U^hind  a 
counter  in  all  the  Territory.  These  men  remain  lon|j  in  the 
Territory,  have  their  families  there,  and  many  of  them  intermarry 
with  the  educated  half-breeds,  and  thus  become  citizens.  From 
the  contact  I  have  had  with  this  class  of  white  men,  I  should 
place  them  hiji[her  in  morals  and  influence  for  good  than  the 
average  government  officials.  Another  class  of  whiir  men  arc 
scattered  all  over  the  Territory — those  intermarried  with  the 
Indians.  Many  of  them  are  respectable,  honest  and  good  men ; 
but  many  others  of  them  are  abandoned  men,  outcasts  from 
society.  Wicked,  corrupt  and  criminal,  they  become  the  teachers 
of  crime  and  villainy,  and  the  source  of  unmitigated  evil  to  the 
Indians. 

"A  most  important  element  in  the  estimate  of  this  country,  is 
the  mixed  race,  commonly  known  as  half-breeds.  All  persons 
who  lay  claim  to  any  consanguinity  with  the  Indians,  are  popu- 
larly designated  half-breeds.  This  class  is  rapidly  increasing, 
both  by  the  frequent  intermarriage  of  new-coming  white  men, 
and  the  raising  of  larger  families  by  the  native  half-breeds  than 
are  usually  seen  among  the  full-bloods.  It  is  said  that  i..  a  given 
number  of  half-breed  families,  and  an  equal  number  of  full- 
bloods,  the  children  will  be  more  numerous  in  the  half  breed 
families.  The  number  of  births  in  the  two  classes  of  families 
would  probably  not  be  materially  different,  but  a  larger  propor- 
tion of  full-bloods  will  die  in  infancy  and  childhood.  The  full-  , 
blood  father  will  take  but  little  care  of  his  babe,  especially  if  it  is 
sick  ;  while  the  white  or  half-breed  father  will  have  more  knowl- 
edge, and  take  better  care  of  his  child,  so  that  the  death-rate 
will  be  less.  The  half-breeds  occupy  the  great  majority  of  all 
the  offices  in  the  native  governments ;  they  are  the  law-makers 
and  executive  officers  and  teachers  of  the  people.  Some  of  them 
are  well-educated  gentlemen,  and  occasionally  some  of  the  young 
ladies  possess  a  fair  share  of  personal  beauty."  '  'd  v  >  i  .  . 
ii  TAe  Indian  Title  to  this  Territory. — At  the  first  setdement  of 


I 


iS'DtAff  TITLE    TO   TEKK/TOKY. 


809 


(iricterious. 
:>oily.  The 
hite  men  or 
ul  Ixrhind  a 
on\r  in   the 

intermarry 
(•t)s.     From 

n,  I  nhoulrl 
><J  than  the 
t<'  men  arc 
with  the 
I  good  men ; 
I  leasts  from 
the  teachers 

evil  to  the 

s  country,  is 
All  persons 
s,  are  popii- 
{  increasing, 
\  white  men, 
-breeds  than 
at  i.<  a  given 
iber  of  fuU- 
e  half  breed 
j  of  families 
■ger  propor- 
1  The  full-  , 
jcially  if  it  is 
more  knowl- 
e  death-rate 
ajority  of  all 
law-makers 
ome  of  them 
Df  the  young 

ettlement  of 


thia  country  by  whiten,  they  found  tl  •  whole  continent  peopled, 
spuriicly  it  is  true,  by  tribcH  of  IndianH.  i'hey  wcTe  of  diverse 
origin,  and  were  not  thcniHelves  m  all  probability  ttu*  original 
inhabitants  of  the  laml.  Kvcry  year  brings  us  nrw  evidence  that 
one  or  two,  possibly  threr,  races  had  preceded  {\\vm  in  llu*  occu- 
pation of  this  vast  continent.  Ye!  at  that  time  they  hail  the 
right  of  possession,  and  had  held,  at  least  by  that  title,  imich  of 
it  for  some  hundreds  of  years.  The  whites,  coming  in  by  hun^ 
tireds  of  thousands,  puslu*d  the  Indian  tribes  westwanl  step  by 
step,  and  gained  possession  of  their  lands — sotneiiines  by  con- 
quest, oftener  by  treaty,  ami,  perhaps,  oftener  still  by  purchase. 
As  a  result  of  these  various  methods  there  were,  in  1825,  two 
centuries  after  the  advent  of  the  whites  in  what  is  now  the  United 
States,  east  of  the  Mississippi,  only  some  small  fragments  of 
tribes  in  New  England,  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  some 
larger  but  not  hostile  bands  in  Michigan  and  the  Northwest 
Territory  generally,  a  considerable  body  of  Indians  in  Wisconsin 
Territory,  and  the  partially  civilized  but  resolute  tribes  of  Chero- 
kees,  Choctaws,  Chickasaws,  Creeks  and  Seminoles  in  Northern 
Georgia,  Alabama,  Mississippi  and  Florida.  Thcs*?  tribes  had 
once  or  twice  been  at  war  with  our  people,  and  though  they  had 
been  defeated  after  a  long  and  vigorous  struggle,  their  defeat 
was  not  an  inglorious  one.  The  first  four  tribes  were  no  longer 
nomadic ;  they  occupied  their  own  farms  and  dwelling-houses, 
had  their  own  churches  and  schools,  and  were  in  many  respects 
as  fully  civilized  as  most  of  the  whites  around  them.  Hut  the 
white  people  of  these  States  had  looked  with  envious  and  greedy 
eyes  upon  their  lands,  and  were  determined  to  drive  them  out 
and  take  possession.  Some  of  the  streams  running  through 
these  lands  were  discovered  to  carry  gold  in  moderate  quanti- 
ties ;  the  land  in  these  mountain  farms  was  rich,  and  the  careful 
culture  of  the  Indians  put  to  shame  the  slovenly  farming  of  the 
whites ;  though  there  were  millions  of  acres  of  government 
lands  in  these  States  to  be  had  at  nominal  prices,  yet  they 
seemed  poor  by  comparison  with  these  Indian  farms,  and  it  was 
these  that  they  wanted  and  must  have.  Added  to  this  was  the 
argument  so  decisive  with  a  class  of  Southern  people:  "The 


'M 


u 


~^>fM.'^^<'>''-- 


ovM  itrKsrttty  Jt.wr/MM. 


ownem  of  thenr  laruU  wrrr  noihin^  but  Indiann,  nnyhow ;  and 
thrrf  tor<!  hail  no  ri^lttH  which  a  whiu*  nun  was  tK)utul  to  rc^iprct  " 
Thr  claim  of  the?  whites  to  thnur  luiul*.  it  lUiouKl  bo  miid  in  junticc 
to  the  State  i>f  (tcutgia,  hud  Irmmi  anticipatiul  an  curly  um  1801; 
for  in  thut  year  the  United  States  ^o\ernment  entered  into  a 
compuct  with  that  State,  cuvenantin^  lor  certain  (onsiderationi^ 
that  an  Hoon  as  it  could  bo  done  |K:HCtably  and  on  rr.iHonablc 
terms,  the  title  ot  the  Cherokii:  Inrliunx  to  land  within  tht!  limits 
of  ( icor^'ia  nhotild  be  extin^uiHhcd.  It  wuh  not  until  thr  udminiM* 
tration  ol  President  Monroe  (1817-1835),  that  die  Stale  of 
(feor^ia  bfcamcr  (lamorous  for  the  fulfilment  of  thin  covenant, 
and  very  soon  thereafter  the  other  States,  Alabama,  Misnis^ippi 
and  Tenn(*aHee,  though  they  had  no  ftucli  compuct  with  the 
United  States,  added  their  clamor  to  hers,  demandmf;;^,  under 
threats  of  forcible  duster,  the  prompt  removal  of  those  trilnrs 
from  their  limits.  In  conreciuence  of  their  perHistencc  Prositlent 
Monroe  sent  a  mestui^e  to  Congress,  we  think  in  1H34,  in  which 
he  submitted  a  proposition  for  the  removal  of  all  (lie  Indian 
tribes  from  the  lands  then  occupied  by  them  within  the  several 
States,  and  organized  lerritories  cast  of  the  Mississippi,  to  the 
country  west  of  that  river,  1.  #.,  to  Louisiana  Territory.  At  that 
time  neither  Texas  nor  any  part  of  the  re^^ion  west  of  the 
summits  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  ran^e,  below  latitude  43°  north 
belonged  to  us.  In  that  messa^re  President  Monroe  said,  thstt 
•'  experience  had  demonstrated  that  in  the  present  state  of  these 
Indian  tribes  it  is  impossible  to  incorporate  them,  in  such  masses, 
in  9ny  form  whatever,  into  our  system.  It  has  been  demonstrated 
with  equal  certainty,  that  without  a  timely  anticipation  of,  and 
provision  against  the  dangers  to  which  they  are  exposed,  under 
causes  which  it  will  be  difficult  it  not  impossible  to  control,  their 
degradation  and  extermination  will  be  inevitable.  The  great 
object  to  be  accomplished  is  the  removal  of  these  tribes  to  the 
country  designated,  on  conditions  which  shall  be  satisfactory  to 
themselves  and  honorable  to  the  United  States.  This  can  be 
done  by  conveying  to  each  tribe  a  good  title  to  an  adequate 
portion  of  land  to  which  it  may  consent  to  remove,  and  providing 
for  it  there  a  system  of  internal  government  which  shall  protect 


t  ^ 


PK1.4V  rn  thansfhhhino  thr  isnfAsx, 


III 


yhow;  and 
t«»  rj'Hprcl." 
in  juHtice 
ly  iU  I  Ho2  ; 
rrti  intu  a 
ttilcratidni, 
rr.iHoriahle 
n  tilt;  limits 
ir  acliniiiis* 
Staler    t)f 
covenant, 
MisHissippi 
ct  with   the 
lin^,  ut)(ler 
tlwHc  trilxit 
c  Prcsiilont 
24,  in  which 
i!ic   Indiitn 
thr  srvtiral 
sippi,  to  the 
•y.     At  that 
west  of  the 
le  43°  north 
DC'  said,  that 
ate  of  these 
luch  maHscu, 
smonstratcd 
tbn  of,  and 
osed,  under 
ontrol,  their 
The  great 
:ribes  to  the 
tisfactory  to 
Phis  can  be 
n  adequate 
d  providing 
hall  protect 


its  proiMTty  from  inv.tnion,  and  hv  regular  pro^^rrM  of  improve* 
ment  and  rivili/ation  prevent  that  degeneracy,  which  han  (gener- 
ally marked  the  tramiition  from  one  to  the  othc!r  Hiale,"  I'reiii* 
dent  Monroe  in  this  nu'SH.i^^'e  overliK>k(*d  two  diinj^H,  viz.,  that 
the  lands  to  wlu<h  lu*  proposed  tomovr  these  tribes  were  already 
held  by  other  trib<"«  whose  iiilc  to  them  was  U-tter  than  ourn; 
and  thai  in  our  onward  progrenn  ana  nation  the  time;  mi^du  come, 
BH  it  huH  within  little  more  than  half  a  century,  when  the  new 
land'i  to  which  he  proposed  to  remove  them  woidd  In-  demanded 
by  the  whiten,  and  efforts  made  to  drive  them  to  Mom<-  ollter 
r«*jjion.  Congress  was  not  reaily  to  act,  and  the  matter  went 
over  to  the  ailininisiration  of  {'resident  John  Ouincy  Ailains.  In 
I  Sao  the  Secrirliiry  of  War  made  a  full  and  exhaustive  report,  in 
which  he  Hugge.stt^d  many  difficulues  in  carrying  otit  Hiuh  a  pro< 
jeci  an  Presitlent  Monroe  had  ailvocated,  and  expressed  hi*  fears, 
"  that  should  the  removal  be  mad*;,  it  would  not  hv.  efl«ctivc,  hince 
It  waH  probable  the  name  propensity  which  had  conducted  the 
white  population  to  the  remote  regions  which  the  Indians  now 
occupy,  will  continue  to  propel  the  tide  of  inmiigration,  till  it  is 
arrested  only  by  the  distant  shores  ol  iJi«j  I'acitic.'* 

Notwithstanding  these  appr«:hensions,  the  Secretary  of  War 
felt  it  necessary  to  submit  a  plan  and  pre|)are  a  bill  for  the  con* 
hideraiioi.  of  Congress,  providing  for  this  removal.  Among  the 
provisions  of  this  bill  were:  that  the  country  to  the  w\st  of  the 
Mississippi,  to  which  tiie  tribes  should  W  removed,  shoultl  Ik;  set 
apart  for  the  exclusive  abode  of  the  Indians ;  that  they  hould 
be  remove;d  as  individuals  or  families,  and  not  as  tribes ;  and  if 
circumstances  should  justify  it,  the  trilial  relation  should  evt  ntu- 
ully  be  dissolved,  and  the  Indians  amalgamated  in  one  common 
nation,  with  a  distribution,  of  the  property  among  the  individuals. 

The  great  difficulty,  that  the  Indian  from  past  experience  could 
not  be  induced  to  trust  our  promises,  must  in  some  way  be  ob- 
viated. Notwithstanding  the  urgency  of  the  Southern  people 
and  the  excited  and  anxious  condition  of  the  Indian  tribes,  no  ac- 
tion was  taken  until  1830,  the  second  year  of  (ieneral  Jackson's 
administration,  when  Congress  passed  a  law  authorizing  the 
President  to  cause  the  territory  west  of  the  Mississippi,  to  which 


I  if 


►'I 


3ia 


OUX    lyESTEKl/  EMPIRE. 


the  origfinal  title  iiad  been  extinguished,  and  which  was  not 
included  within  the  limits  of  any  State  '^r  organized  Territor)',  to 
be  divided  into  a  suitable  number  of  districts  fur  the  reception 
of  such  tribes  or  nations  of  Indians  as  might  choose  to  exchange 
the  lands  on  which  they  then  resided,  and  to  remove  West. 
The  law  authorized  the  President  to  solemnly  assure  the  Indian 
tribes  with  whom  the  exchange  was  made,  that  the  United  States 
•would  forever  secure  and  guarantee  to  them  and  their  heirs  or  suc- 
cessors, the  country  so  exchanged  xuith  them. 

The  President,  in  pursuance  of  this  law,  offered  the  most  sol- 
emn guaranties,  on  the  faith  of  the  nation,  to  the  tribes  that  might 
be  willing  to  make  the  exchange,  and  offered  them  transportation 
and  certain  annuities  as  a  further  inducement.  Under  this  offer 
the  larger  part  of  the  Cherokees,  Creeks,  Choctaws,  Chickasaws, 
and  subsequently  the  Seminoles,  Delawares,  Shawnees,  Miamis, 
Kickapoos,  Pottawatomies  'hippewas  of  Roche  de  Bceuf,  Sacs 
and  Foxea,  Wees,  Piankasti^ws,  Kaskaskias,  Peorias,  and  other 
tribes,  made  the  exchange,  and  were  told  that  these  lands  should 
be  their  permanent  homes  forever.  Except  the  tracts  which  were 
granted  to  the  Cherokees,  Creeks,  Choctaws,  Chickasaws,  and 
Seminoles,  the  remainder  of  the  transplanted  tribes  were  allotted 
lands  within  the  boundaries  of  the  picsent  State  of  Kansas. 
Since  the  organization  of  that  State,  all  these  emigrant  tribes 
have,  notwithstanding  these  solemn  guaranties  and  pledges, 
been  removed  to  the  Indian  Territory,  and  their  permanent 
homes  taken  from  them. 

The  government  purchased  from  the  Creeks  in  1867  a  por- 
tion of  their  lands,  which  it  still  holds,  as  well  as  some  other 
lands  in  the  Territory,  with  the  intention  of  placing  other  small 
bands  of  Indians  there,  when  it  has  extinguished  the  titles  to 
their  lands  elsewhere,     'li  •.■ti,i>>i'i.  .m:  w^.;  ,,jii;  uiuu  \-.,  mis  r,x  > 

Efforts  to  Drive  the  Indians  frotn  their  Territory. — Meanwhile, 
there  has  been  a  very  strong  pressure  on  the  part  of  western 
adventurers,  to  enter  upon  these  lands  so'-^mnly  pledged  to  the 
Indians,  with  the  ultimate  purpose  of  crowding  them  out.  Dur- 
ing the  last  session  of  Congress,  in  May,  1 880,  a  bill  was  intro- 
duced and  strongly  urged,  for  the  organization  of  the  Indian  Ter- 


hR 


was  not 
erritor)',  to 
reception 
3  exchan-re 
ove  West, 
the  Indian 
'tiled  States 
\eirs  or  suc- 

most  sol- 

that  might 

iisportation 

jr  this  offer 

!^hickasaws, 

es,  Miamis, 

Bceuf,  Sacs 

and  other 

inds  should 

which  were 

:asaws,  and 

ere  allotted 

of  Kansas. 

g^rant  tribes 

nd  pledges, 

permanent 

867  a  por- 
some  other 
other  small 
iie  titles  to 

-Meanwhile, 
of  western 

Iged  to  the 
out.     Dur- 

1  was  intro- 
Indian  Ter- 


EFFORTS  TO  DRIVE  TUF.  INDIANS  FROM  TERRITORY.  g|j 

ritory  as  a  regular  Territory  under  government  control,  by  the 
name  of  Oklahoma.  Thus  far,  the  government  has  successfully 
resisted  the  encroachments  of  white  settlers  and  adventurers 
upon  this  Territory,  except  the  passage  of  one  or  two  railways, 
and  these,  it  is  said,  were  asked  for  by  the  Indians ;  but  the  pres« 
sure  is  growing  stronger  every  day,  and  unless  the  Indians  agree 
to  hold  their  lands  in  severalty  or  individually  (under  certain 
restrictions  in  regard  to  alienating  them),  it  may  require  the 
whole  military  power  of  the  nation  to  restrain  these  lawless 
adventurers  from  taking  it  by  force.  If  the  lands  are  allotted 
to  the  Indians  in  severalty,  and  they,  as  fast  as  they  become 
civilized,  become  citizens,  the  surplus  of  their  lands  may  be  sold 
by  the  government  as  their  guardian  for  their  account  and  the 
amount  received  funded,  furnishing  a  further  annuity  to  each 
member  of  the  tribes.  There  are  now  held  by  the  United 
States  Government  funds  invested  for  the  Indian  tribes  to  the 
amount  of  ;j55, 180,066.84,  besides  ^^84,000  abstracted  by  officials 
at  the  beginning  of  the  late  civil  war  and  not  yet  replaced.  Of 
this  amount  $1,768,175.30  is  held  for  the  Cherokees;  $1,308,' 
664.82  for  the  Chickasaws;  $513,161.70  for  the  Choctaws; 
$467,501.62  for  the  Delav.-ares;  $76,993.66  for  the  Creek 
orphans,  and  the  remainder  for  other  tribes,  some  of  them  those 
removed  from  Kansas  in  1867. 

If  these  measures  can  be  effected  without  injustice  and  wrong, 
the  time  may  come  when  a  part  of  this  great  Territory  may  be 
legitimately  opened  to  white  settlement,  and  the  Indian  farmers 
be  led,  by  the  sharp  competition  which  will  follow,  to  become  bet- 
ter agriculturists  and  better  citizens  than  they  would  under  any 
other  circumstances.  But  until  that  time  shall  come,  and  it  must, 
in  any  event,  be  several  years  hence,  we  cannot  consider  the 
Indian  Territory  as  either  a  legitimate  or  desirable  field  for 
immigration. 


*'•   ^iX- 


-i.;i.n! 


..rw.ih.;;;   .;! 


-.  \ ;. ! 


;   I 


H!   !  !,.;•;' 


■(()  ■>:!;    )"t;    ri  •.'. 


fo    '-ijriii-',  :   ••ri;    tr';',  ;    ' 


il 


:i 


ji^?'^^^y*i>J^^i^^^^S!!^>^^K!7*^^^^!i^^^^]^^r^-, 


-TT" 


8i* 

.li 


OUR    WESmHN  £AtPIKE. 


\ 


r 


i  '    '    '     '       CHAPTER  VIII.  '  ' 


■    v     r .  ,  ;  -  -.■. 


I  !■ 


1       \\\.\\<{\\ 


«M      .        /OWOI. 


M  ■     ,7    . 1  i  •  1 ,  1     i .    , 


I  ■  I : 


The  Situation  of  Iowa — Meaning  of  the  Name — Migration  or  the  Pau- 

HOO-CHEES  thither  IN  169O — CONTEMPORANEOUSLY  CLAIMED  BY  THE  FRENCH 

ON  Accx)UNT  or  Father  Hennepin's  Discxjvery — Wars  of  the  Pau-hoo- 

CHBEa,  OR  low AS>  with  THE  SlOUX— FRENCH  TrADINC-PoSTS  ON  THE  RiVER — 

Sale  OF  THE  Province  OF  Louisiana  TO  the  Spanish  in  1763 — Retroces- 
sion TO  France  in  1800 — Sale  to  the  United  States  in  1803 — Settle- 
ment OF  Julian  Dubuque — The  Wars  of  the  Iowas  and  Sioux — A  New 
Enemy — The  Sacs  and  Foxes  Attack  them,  and  drive  them  across  the 
Missouri,  about  1828 — Great  Reduction  in  Numbers  of  the  Iowas — 
White  Settlement  Commenced  in  1831 — Death  of  Biju:k  Hawk — The 
Events  in  Civil  History  of  Iowa  to  its  Organization  as  a  State  in 
1846 — Topography  and  Extent  of  Iowa — Its  Surface — Rivers- -Lakes- 
Prairie  AND  Timber  Lands — Black  Walnut  Shipped  to  England— Geol- 

"  ogy  and  Mineralogy — The  Drift,  Ix)ess  and  Alluvium — Cretaceous 
Rocks — Goal  Measures — The  ChaMACter  of  Iowa  Coal — Comparison 
with  European  and  other  Coals — No  Gold  or  Silver  in  the  State- 
Lead,  Iron,  Copper  and  Zinc — Lime — Building  Stone — Gypsum  Clays — • 
Soil — Mineral  Paint — Spring  and  Well-water— Natural  Curio-jities— 
Climate,  General  Remarks — Professor  Parvin's  Tables — The  Signal 
Service  Statistics  of  the  River  Cities — Zoology — Soil  and  Agricultu- 
ral Productions — Iowa  an  Agricultural  State — Statistics  of  its  Crops 

.  — Spring  and  Winter  Wheat^ — STocK-RAisiNa>~DAiRV  Farming — Popula- 
tion OF  Iowa  at  Different  Periods — Railroads  and  Steamboat  Lines— 
The  State  Easy  op  Access — Public  Lands — Railroad  Lands — State 
Lands — Partially  Improved  Farms — Manufactures — Iowa  as  a  Home 
you'  Immigrants — Education — Churches — Future    Prospects   or    the 


Sta^B.' 


•ij 


i ' .  /,' 


Iowa,  the  name; of  one  of  the  easternmost  of  the  central  belt 
of  States  and  Territories  composing  "Our  Wesflcrn  Empire," 
lying  between  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers..  The  name, 
which  was  that  of  a  river  within  its  bounds,  and  also  of  the 
Indian  tribe  which  dwelt  on  the  banks  of  that  river,  is  said  to 
mean,  in  the  Indian  tongue,  "  The  Btautiful  Land."  The  Indians 
who  gave  it  and  themselves  this  name  were  not  the  original  in- 
habitants of  this  region,  but  migrated  hither  from  the  country  of 


1^« 


;;  If: i: 


or  THE  Pau- 

^  THE  French 
iHE  Pau-hoo- 
I  THE  River — 
3 — Retroles- 
803 — Settle- 
oux — A  New 
m  across  the 
the  Iowas — 

Hawk— The 
,s  A  State  in 
ers-  -Lakes — 
;land— Geol- 
—Cretaceous 
—Comparison 

iHE  State— 
psuM  Clays— 
Curio-jIties — 
—The  Signal 
to  Acricultu- 
s  of  its  Crops 
«INO — PoPirLA- 
iboat  Lines — 
Lands— State 
A  AS  a  Home 
ECTS    of    the 


n: 


I|r> 


central  belt 

rn  Empire," 
The  name, 
also  of  the 

:r,  is  said  to 
The  Indians 
original  in- 

e  country  of 


11 


I 


4..  '.. 


THE   IOWA  INDIANS  OR  PAVIfOO  C/fKES.  g|j 

the  great  lakes  (perhaps  Michif^n)  where  they  had  borne  the 
name  of  the  Fau-hoo-chees,  about  1690.  'I'luy  incrrascd  in 
numbers  and  power  here  till  they  became  the  mont  formidable  of 
the  Indian  tribcH  of  the  Northwest  except  the  Sioux,  with  whom 
they  were  constantly  at  war.  That  portion  of  the  Slate  Ivinjr  on 
the  Mississippi  is  supposed  to  have  been  visited  by  l-'athcr  Hen- 
nepin in  1680,  and  it  was  probably  in  consequence  of  his  explo- 
rations that  the  French  government  soon  after  took  formal  pos- 
session of  It  and  erected  two  or  three  trading-posts  along  the 
river.  Their  occupation  of  the  Territory  was,  however,  of  so  tri- 
fling a  character  as  not  to  excite  the  displeasure  of  the  Iowa 
chief,  Mau-hau-gaw,  or  his  successors,  Mahaska  I.  and  II. 
Their  power  remained  undiminished,  though  the  French  title  to 
this  as  a  part  of  the  province  of  Louisiana  had  passed  to  Spain 
in  1763,  returned  to  France  in  1800,  and  been  purchased  as 
Louisiana  Territory  by  the  United  States  in  1803.  In  this  long 
interval,  two  or  three  French  families  had  settled  in  the  Terri- 
tory. Notable  among  these  was  Julian  Dubuque,  who,  in  1 788, 
settled  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  and  commenced  trading 
and  mining  lead  there.  Eleven  years  later  another  Frenchman, 
Louis  Honori,  established  himself  as  a  trader  at  the  head  of  the 
"  rapids  of  the  river  Des  Moines."  But  the  power  of  the  lowas 
was  beginning  to  wane.  They  had  fought  off  their  old  enemies, 
the  Sioux,  and  held  possession  of  most  of  the  Territory,  but  a  new 
enemy  now  came  upon  them.  The  Sacs  and  Foxes,  Illinois 
tribes,  finding  civilization  pressing  hard  upon  them,  crossed  the 
river  about  1824,  and  began  to  make  encroachments  upon  the 
hunting-grounds  of  the  Iowa&  Conflicts  followed,  and  finally, 
about  1828,  a  fierce  battle  was  fought  between  the  invaders  and 
the  invaded  near  the  present  village  of  lowaville,  in  Davis 
county,  in  which,  after  a  long  and  terrible  struggle,  the  lowas 
were  vanquished  and  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  occupied  their  hunting- 
groutids  along  the  Mississippi.  The  lowas  moved  sullenly 
westward,  and  finally  crossed  the  Missouri.  When  the  whites 
began  to  settle  west  of  the  Mississippi,  in  what  was  then  the 
Territory  of  Missouri,  in  1831  and  1832,  the  Sacs  and  Foxes 
ve^e  the  occupants  of  all  the  eastern  and  southern  portions  of 

'  a;//ol  io  .'Ti.tii-it  I  "  1)  . vDU.'.ii)  ,'iy/',.n    >i!.t  in 


} 


■  i  ii^^^U'w«vA''i^.'i^^^^'*'^'^~*'^'-' '  "■■'  ■-^^**^ii»^•'-^■-^'■•-^*>-'--'■*^■'>^'"'■ 


( 


8i6 


Ot/M    WESTERN  EMPIRE, 


the  Territory,  while  the  warlike  Sioux  held  undisputed  posscs- 
Hion  of  the  northern  portion,  about  the  hradwatcrx  of  the  i>cs 
Moines  and  the  lakes.  At  this  time  the  lowas,  once  so  powerful 
and  warlike  a  tribe,  had  been  reduced,  in  tli<!ir  new  home  beyond 
the  Missouri,  by  warB,  whiskey  and  small-pox  to  about   1,300 

BOuls.  1  ■.':..■  .:    I,  ,    ,  ,■    ,   ■  ....,,,.  .1 

After  the  close  of  the  "  Black  Hawk  War,"  in  1833,  the  power 
of  the  Sac  chief,  Black  Hawk,  waned,  and  his  rival,  Keokuk,  who 
had  favored  peace  with  the  whites,  was  recognized  as  the  chief 
of  the  Sacs  and  I''oxes.  Black  Hawk  died  in  October,  1838,  on 
the  I)es  Moines  river. 

Let  us  now  recapitulate  its  political  or  civil  history,  aside  from 
any  claim  of  Indian  proprietorship,  which  in  this  case,  as  we  have 
seen,  was  merely  the  right  of  the  strongest.         ;     '.1     .      :' 

I.  It  was  first  claimed  by  France  in  1682  or  1683,  by  virtue  of 
Hennepin's  discovery.  1  r.  i 

3.  In  1 763,  as  a  part  of  the  province  of  Louisiana,  it  was  ceded 
to  Spain. 

3.  October  1,  1800,  it  was  retroceded  with  the  same  bounda- 
ries by  Spain  to  France. 

4.  April  30,  1 803,  France  ceded  the  province  of  Louisiana  to 
the  United  States.       .  -wii      '  -    w.i.iv  ,.  .»  ;       ,,.    ,n' 

5.  October  31,  1803,  a  temporary  government  was  authorized 
by  Congress  for  the  newly  acquired  Territory. 

6.  October  i,  1804,  >'  ^^^  included  in  the  "  District  of  Louisi- 
ana," and  placed  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  territorial  gov- 
ernment of  Indiana. 

7.  July  4,  1 805,  it  was  included  as  a  part  of  the  "  Territory  of 
Louisiana,"  then  organized  with  a  separate  territorial  govern- 
ment. .'>iii/r.v/oi     lu    T'jr.iiiv    in'<-''-;fl      :fil    Mvn.    J/'»>i;vfii  ,;.;;» 

8.  June  4,  181 2,  it  was  embraced  in  what  was  then  made  the 
"Territory  of  Missouri." 

9.  June  28,  1834,  ''  became  part  of  the  "Territory  of  Michi- 
gan. 

10.  July  3,  1836,  it  was  included  as  a  part  of  the  newly  organ- 
ized "  Territory  of  Wisconsin."  .  \:'^A   ni  .nm-^f-.t^   U^   /t^jiit/I" 

!  II.  June  12,  1838,  it  was  included  in,  and  constituted  a  part 
of  the  newly  organized  "  Territory  of  Iowa." 


mtcd  pDHscs- 

•»  of  the  i)c9 

V.  so  powerful 

home  beyond 

about    1,300 

33,  the  power 

Keokuk,  who 

as  the  chief 

ober,  1838,  on 

)ry,  aside  from 
ise,  as  we  have 

J3,  by  virtue  of 

la,  it  was  ceded 

same  bounda- 

>f  Louisiana  to 

was  authorized 

Strict  of  Louisi- 
territorial  gov- 

;  "  Territory  of 
'itorial  govern- 

.  Lvl.iiiVfii  ,:>:\ 
then  made  the 

'"..•Jl>;      . 

itoi^  of  Michi- 
e  newly  organ- 
stituted  a  part 


MA/iA   ASD  AXIAAT  Of  JOWA.  I17 

1 3.  December  a8,  1 846,  it  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a 
State. 

An-a  and  Extent. — Iowa  is  about  300  miles  in  length,  east  and 
west,  and  a  little  over  200  miles  in  breadth,  north  and  south ; 
having  nearly  the  figure  of  a  rectangular  parallelogram.  Its 
northern  boundary  is  uie  parallel  of  43°  30*,  separating  it  from 
the  State  of  Minnesota.  Its  southern  limit  is  nearly  on  the  line 
of  40"  31'  from  the  point  where  this  parallel  crossej  tlic  Des 
Moines  river,  westward.  From  this  point  to  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  the  State,  a  distance  of  abc'ut  thirty  miles,  the  Des  Moines 
river  forms  the  bour.  ary  line  between  Iowa  and  Missouri.  The 
two  great  rivers  of  the  North  American  continent  form  the  east 
and  west  boundaries,  except  that  portion  of  the  western  boun- 
dary adjoining  the  Territory  of  Dakota.  The  Dig  Sioux  river 
from  its  mouth,  two  miles  abjve  Sioux  City,  forms  the  western 
boundary  up  to  the  point  where  it  intersects  the  parallel  of  43° 
30^.  These  limits  embrace  an  area  of  55t045  square  miles ;  or, 
35,228,800  acres.  When  it  is  understood  that  all  this  vast  ex- 
tent of  surface,  except  that  which  is  occupied  by  the  rivers,  lakes 
and  peat-beds  of  the  northern  counties,  is  susceptible  of  the 
highest  cultivation,  some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  immense 
agricultural  resources  of  the  State.  Iowa  is  nearly  as  large  as 
England,  and  twice  as  large  as  Scotland ;  but  when  we  consider 
the  relative  area  of  surface  which  may  be  made  to  yield  to  the 
wants  of  man,  those  countries  of  the  Old  World  will  bear  no 
comparison  wl:h  Iowa. 

Surface. — ^The  surface  of  the  State  is  remarkably  uniform, 
rising  to  nearly  the  same  general  altitude.  There  are  no  moun- 
tains, and  yet  but  litde  of  the  surface  is  level  or  flat.  The  whole 
State  presents  a  succession  of  gentle  elevations  and  depressions, 
with  some  bold  and  picturesque  bluffs  along  the  principal  streams. 
The  western  portion  of  the  State  is  generally  more  elevated  than 
the  eastern,  the  northwestern  part  being  the  highest.  Nature 
could  not  have  provided  a  more  perfect  system  of  drainage,  and 
at  the  same  time  leave  the  country  so  completely  adapted  to  all 
the  purposes  of  agriculture.  Looking  at  the  map  of  Iowa,  we 
see  two  systems  of  streams  or  rivers  running  nearly  at  righi 

5» 


I 


ill! 


!,  ■ 


-!^. 


«A| 


OVU    W$irhkN  MMP/gM. 


9i\^h»  wi<h  each  ether.  The  jttrt'ums  which  dUchar^c  their 
waterH  intu  the  Mississippi  lluw  fruiu  the;  northwrst  to  ihi;  aouth 
c^Ht,  while  thu-Hc  ol  the  uthcr  tyntcm  How  toward  the  Houthwcst, 
and  empty  into  the  MistitQuri.  The  former  drain  alMuit  threu- 
fourtlis  of  the  State,  and  the  latter  the  remaining'  one  fourth. 
The  water-»hed  dividing;  tiie  two  systems  of  stream:!  rcprenentit 
the  highest  portion  of  the  State,  and  i^radually  dcKcendii  as  you 
follow  its  coume  from  northwest  to  tioutheant.  i.,ow-wAt«r  mark 
in  the  Miimoviri  river  at  Council  Bluffs  is  alicut  435  feet  above 
low-water  mark  in  the  MisHisvippi  at  Davenport.  At  the  croitiv- 
injf  of  the  Hiimnjit,  or  water-shed,  345  miles  west  of  I  )aven()orl, 
the  elev9,tipn  i^  s^bout  960  feet  above  the  Mississippi.  I'he  Iks 
Moines  river  at  th^^  city  of  Des  Moines  has  an  elevation  of  227 
feet  above  the  Miitsi-ssippi  9X  Davenport,  and  is  198  feet  lower 
than  the  MitiSMwri  at  Council  BluBs.  The  elevation  of  the  east- 
ern border  of  the  St^te  at  McGregor  is  about  634  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  »ea,  while  the  highest  elevation  in  the  northwest 
portion  of  the  3t^tc  is  about  1.400  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
se^.  In  ^dditipn  tQ  the  grand  water-shed  mentioned  alx>ve,  an 
dividing  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  and  MisKouri,  there  are 
between  the  principAt  ^tre^tms,  elevations  commonly  called  "  di- 
vides," which  <ire  dr^ingd  by  numerous  streams  of  a  smaller  size 
trbutary  to  the  riv^r^.  The  valleys  along  the  streams  have  g 
deep,  rich  soil,  but  f^re  sp^rcely  more  fertile  than  many  portionti 
of  these  undulating  prairie  "  divides."  ,.,  Li^oiLi  ,/ii.m  1  hxhuh 
Rivers. — As  stated  above,  the  rivers  of  Iowa  jjrc  divided  into 
twp  systems  or  closes — those  flowing  into  the  Mississippi*  and 
those  flpwing  into  the  Miaso  \ri.  The  Mississippi,  the  largest 
river  on  the  cpntinent,  and  one  of  the  largest  in  the  world, 
wfishcs  the  entire  eastern  border  of  the  State,  and  is  most  of 
the  year  navigable  for  a  large  class  of  steamers.  The  only 
serious  obstructions  to  steamers  of  the  largest  size  are  what  are 
knyown  as  the  Lower  Rapids,  just  above  the  mouth  of  the  Des 
MQines.  The  government  qf  the  United  States  ha,B  constructed 
9.,cana),  qr  channel,  around  these  rapids  on  the  Iowa  side  of  the 
riv^r-rra  work  which  will.prQve  of  immense  advantage  to  the  com- 
i9^rce.pf  low/gi  for  all  time  $q  (on>e.    The  principal  rivers  which 


[>  (lUchar^r  tbrir 
t'M  to  tJu;  Nouth 
[rtl  the  »oulhwcr»t, 
iiin  al>out  three- 
ininjr  om-  fourth, 
jrcamsj  r«:nri,'h»;iUH 
Ucsccmls  as  you 
Low-wftt«r  mark 
I  4^5  fcrt  above 
t.     At  thr  croHiv- 
at  of  I)uvcn|)ort, 
»»ippi.     The  ik-M 
elevation  of  227 
8  198  fcrt  lower 
tion  of  the  east- 
t  624  ft'tit  above 
in  the  norilivyest 
the  level  of  the 
itionctl  alx)vc,  as 
issouri,  there  are 
monly  called  "di- 
i  of  a  smaller  size 
'  streams  have  a 
^0  many  portionti 

'J  .    r     . 

'i 

are  divided  jnto 
!  Mississippi,  and 
sippi,  the  largest 
!st  in  the  world, 
j  and  is  most  of 
ners.  The  only 
»ize  are  what  are 
outh  of  the  Des 

has  constructed 
Iowa  side  of  the 

itegetothecom 
pal  rivers  which 


Hotv  through  the  interior  of  the  ^tatc,  ra»t  of  the  watcr-hheil.  ^rc 
ti)e  I )en  MoiiicH,  Skunk,  low.i,  VV'apHipinicon,  Ma(|U(ikela,  lurk*  y 
and  Upper  Iowa.  One  of  ilu:  lar^c  st  rivem  of  the  State  iH  li,)^ 
Ked  Cedar,  which  riHeH  in  Minnesota,  and  ilowing  in  a  south' 
eaHterly  direction,  joinn  itn  watern  with  the  I^wa  river  in  LouiH4 
county,  oi.iy  abi)ut  thirty  inilesi  from  its  tifiouth,  that  portion 
below  the  junction  retaining  the  name  of  Iowa  river,  although  it 
is  rrally  the  Hmaller  stream. 

I'he  I)es  Moines  is  the  largest  interior  river  of  the  State,  and 
riHcs  in  a  group  or  chain  of  lakes  in  Minnenota,  not  far  frotn  the 
lowii  border.  It  really  has  its  sources  in  two  principal  branches, 
called  Last  and  West  Ues  ^oines,  which,  after  flowing  about 
seventy  miles  through  tlie  nordiern  portion  of  the  State,  converge 
to  their  junction  in  Ute  southern  part  of  Humboldt  county.  The 
Des  Moines  receives  a  number  of  large  tributaries,  among  which 
arc  Raccoon  and  Uiree  rivers  (NorUi,  SouUi  and  Middle)  on  the 
west,  and  Uoone  river  on  the  east.  Raccoon  (or  'Coon)  rises  in 
the  vicinity  of  Storm  lake,  in  Buena  Vista  county,  and  after  re- 
ceiving several  tributaries,  discharges  its  waters  into  the  Des 
Mpin^s  river,  within  the  limits  of  the  city  of  Des  Moines.  This 
stream  affqrds  many  excellent  mill  privileges,  some  of  which  have 
been  improved.  The  Des  Moines  flows  from  northwest  to  south- 
east, pot  less  than  300  miles  through  Iowa,  and  drains  over  10,000 
square  miles  qf  its  territory.  At  an  early  day,  steamboats  a^r 
certain  seasons  of  the  year  navigated  t^is  river  as  far  up  as  thp 
"  Raccoon  Forks,"  and  a  large  grant  of  land  was  made  by  Con- 
gress to  the  State  for  the  purpose  of  improving  its  navigation. 
Xhe  la,{^4  was  subsequently  diverted  to  the  constructi9n  of  th«' 
Pes  ,|Moinc8  Valley  Railroad.  Before  this  diversion  several  dams 
were  erected  on  the  lower  portion  of  the  river,  \yhich  afford  a 
ys^t^  afpount  of  hy(^raulic  power  to  that  part  of  the  State. 

The  next  river  above  the  Des  Moipes  js  Skunk,  whi(fh  has  its 
source  in  Hamilton  county  north  of  the  centre  of  the  State.  If 
llf^verses  a  sputheast  course,  having  two  principal  branches — 
tl^ir  aggregate  length  being  about  450  miles.  They  drain 
s|)}QPt  8,000  square  iniles  pf  territory,  and  afford  many  excellent 
9>ni  sites.      i,      ,,;,,  ,,  r-,,.,  .,,,     ,,  ,,.  ..  _    ,  ,;  ,  ,  ._,-^ 


I 


k'Vr««»if''r«»;'a:u,^,,i/'ii4<.'; 


,fr',i'.?i.-.u',t-ii»^':i 


I 


\ 


$do 


01  It    HhMKKM   MMrittM, 


The  next  l«  Iowa  rivrr,  which  r\%r*  In  wrveral  liranrhe*  amon^ 
the  lakc*«  hi  Hancock  und  VVinnclwi;*}  co(intir«,  in  thn  northern 
part  of  the  State.  Itn  great  cantern  branch  in  Reel  CVilar,  huvln^; 
itH  nourcr  antong  th«:  lak«'H  in  Minnrv»ta.  In  »i/e,  kr«l  lr<l.ir  in 
the  aecun  1  Interior  river  of  the  Stulf ,  and  ii  of  jjrrat  ini|)orittnce  aH 
affordirtij  immcnte  water  power.  .Shrll  R(K:k  rivrr  ix  a  tributary 
<»f  Red  Cedar,  and  is  valuabjp  to  Norihern  Iowa,  on  account  of 
its  fine  watc!r-|)OWcr.  The-  a^jj^roj^ate  Irnjfth  of  Iowa  and  Ritl 
Cedar  rivcrn  in  about  500  miies,  and  they  drain  about  1  a.uuo 
s(]uarc  rnlir*  of  territory. 

The  WapKiplnlcon  river  rineji  In  Minnesota,  and  flown  in  a 
soulhcaHtcrly  direction  over  aoo  milcH  ihrouj;h  Iowa,  dratninjr, 
with  its  bnincheH,  a  belt  of  territory  only  about  twelve  miles 
wide.  This  Ktream  is  usually  called  "  VVapsi "  by  the  settlers, 
nnti  's  valuable  as  furnishing  good  wat^r-power  for  machinrry. 

Maquoketa  river,  the  next  considtTabie  tributary  of  the  Mis* 
sissippi,  is  about  160  miles  long,  and  drains  about  3.000  square 
miles  of  territory.  '  •  '  ■''"'  '" 

'".  Turkey  river  is  about  130  miles  long,  and  drains  some  a,ooo 
square  miles.  It  rises  in  Howard  county,  runs  southeast,  and 
empties  into  the   Mississippi   near  the  south  line  of  Clayton 

county.  .  ,  ,  , 

Upper  Iowa  Avtr  aho  met  In  Howard  cour..^,  flows  nearly 
east,  and  empties  into  the  Mississippi  near  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  State,  passing  through  a  narrow,  but  picturesque  and 
beautiful  valley.  This  portion  of  the  State  is  somewhat  broken, 
and  the  streams  have  cut  their  channels  deeply  into  the  rocki, 
so  that  in  many  places  they  are  bordered  by  bluffs  from  300  to 
400  feet  high.  They  flow  rapidly,  and  furnish  ample  water- 
power  at  numerous  points.  ' 

Having  mentioned  the  rivers  which  drain  the  eastern  thre^- 
fourths  of  the  State,  we  will  now  cross  the  great "  water-shed  " 
to  the  Missouri  and  its  tributaries.     <""      "  ''="""  "'  •'^"'^>'! 

The  Missouri  river,  forrtiing  a  little  over  two-thirds  of  the 
length  of  the  western  boundary  line,  is  navigable  for  large-^ized 
steamboats  for  a  distance  of  1,950  miles  above  the  point  (Sioux 
City)  where  it  first  touches  the  western  border.     It  is,  therefore, 


rz/jr  MfSMovMt  and  Bta  siovx  ntvKHi, 


•at. 


in  tlifi  northmi 

C'iclar,  |);ivirt({ 

|»',  kitl  (  ijlar  i« 

at  iniportancoat 

I'cr  i.H  n  tributary 

|i,  on  acroiint  of 

Iowa  un<i  K<*il 

|in  atxjiit   I  },ixx> 

and  flown  in  a 
Iowa,  draining, 
ut  twiflve  milen 

hy  the  Hrttlrrs. 
for  mafhinrry. 
itary  of  the  Mls« 
ut  3,000  (i(]uar(: 

ainn  some  2,000 
It  southeast,  and 
line  of  Clayton 

tr.iy,  flows  hearty 
northeast  corner 
picturesque  and 
omewhat  broken, 
ly  Into  the  rocki, 
luffs  from  ^00  to 
sh  ample  water- 

ic  e^stifrrn  tfir^ii- 
;at  "  water-shed  " 

wo-thirds  of  the 

le  for  large-glared 

the  point  (Sioux 

It  is,  therefore, 


;)  highway  of  no  little  im|)ortance  to  the  commerce  of  VVrstern 
Iowa.  During  the  HcuHon  uf  navigation  last  year,  ovrr  I'll'ty 
itcamcrs  ascended  tlu:  rivrr  uliovc  .Sioux  City,  moKt  of  wliiih 
were  laden  with  storrH  for  thr  nunin^  rt'gion  alx)vc  I'urt  Ucnion, 
VVt;  will  now  refer  tf)  th>!  tar^^er  trilMiturics  of  die  Missuiii,  wimh 
drain  the  western  portion  of  Iowa.  f   ,       '   • 

The  liij{  .Sioux  rivc:r  fornii  alMiut  seventy  miles  of  the-  wf-iicm 
lx)undary  of  the  Stattr,  its  general  course  Umu^;  nearly  from  north 
to  Houtl).  It  lus  several  small  trihutarieH,  draining  the  (ourtiew 
of  riytnouth,  Sioux,  Lyoti,  ONceola  and  O'Hrien,  in  Nortrwestcrii 
Iowa.  One  of  the  most  uniKirtunt  of  theni:  is  Rock  river — a  be.  >i« 
liful  little  stream  running  throu)(h  the  counties  of  L^  ^n  uud 
Sioux.  It  is  supported  by  springs,  and  affords  a  volume  o( 
wat(!r  suffu  lent  for  pro|)e]lin^  inaciiini-ry.  liij^  Sioux  river  waa 
once  re^ardctd  as  a  navigable  stream,  and  steandM)ats  of  a  small 
size  have  on  several  occasions  ascended  it  for  some  distance.  It 
is  not,  however,  now  considercil  a  safe  stream  for  navigation. 
It  empties  into  the  Missouri  about  two  miles  above  .Sioux  City, 
and  sonu}  four  miles  l>elow  the  northwest  corner  of  V'oodbury 
county.     It  drains  about  1,000  stpiarc  miles  o*"  Iowa  territory. 

Just  below  Sioux  City,  I'loyd  river  empties  into  the  Missouri. 
It  is  a  small  stream,  but  Hows  through  a  rich  and  beautiful  valley^ 
Its  length  is  about  100  miles,  and  it  drains  nearly  1,500  square 
miles  of  territory.  Several  mills  have  been  erected  on  this 
stream,  and  there  arc  other  mill  sites  which  will  doubUess  be 
improved  in  due  time. 

Little  Sioux  river  is  one  of  the  most  important  streams  of 
Northwestern  Iowa.  It  rises  in  the  vicinity  of  Spirit  and  Okoboji 
lakes,  near  the  Minnesota  line,  and  meanders  through  various 
counties  a  distance  of  nearly  300  miles  lo  ils  confluence  with 
the  Missouri  near  the  northwest  corner  of  Harrison  county. 
With  its  tributaries  it  drains  not  less  than  5,000  square  miles. 
Several  small  mills  have  been  erectcU  on,  tllty  jtrcaiDi  ?nd  other;» 
doubtless  will  be  when  needed.    ,...,...:  .„i|-^     \v      '       i 


\ 


\ 


Boyer  river  is  the  next  stream  of  considerable  size  below  the 
Little  Sioux.  It  rises  in  Sac  county  and  flows  southwest  to  the 
Missouri  in  Pottawutamic  county.     Its   entire  length  is   about 


^  '^CSuII'' 


'^.^•-■i.-^ii-f . 


nb 


oi/ii  U^EStk/i/ir  EkNRii. 


11   N 


150  miles,  and  drains  not  less  than  2,000  square  miles  of  terri- 
tory. It  is  a  small  stream,  meandering  through  a  rich  and  lovely 
Valley.  The  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railroad  passes  doWh 
this  valley  some  sixty  miles. 

Goiiij  down  the  Missouri,  and  passing  several  small  streams, 
•which  have  not  been  dignified  with  the  name  of  fivers,  we  com^ 
xr>  the  Nishnabotna,  which  empties  into  the  Missouri  some  twenty 
iiiil6s  below  the  southwes*^  corner  of  our  .State.  It  has  three 
principal  branches,  With  an  aggregate  length  of  350  miles. 
Thene  streams  drain  al)OUt  5,000  square  miles  of  Southwestern 
IhWi.  They  flow  through  valleys  of  unsurpassed  beauty  and' 
fertility,  and  furnish  good  water-power  at  various  points,  though 
iA  thti  respect  they  are  not  equai  to  the  streams  in  the  north- 
Cistern  portion  of  the  State.  ^^'  •  iiill"a<*^'^  Y^^  ir-^amuftiMpv. 
•'*'The  Southern  portion  of  the  State  is  drained  by  several  streams 
fliat  flow  into  the  Missouri  river,  in  the  State  cf  Missouri.  Thft 
nSbst  important  of  these  are  Chariton,  Grand,  Platte,  One  Hdn- 
drec'  and  Two,  and  the  thfee  NodaWays — East,  West  and  Middle. 
All  of  these  aflbrd  Water- power  for  machihery,  and  present 
splendid  valleys  6f  rich  ftirrning  lands. 

We  have  abbve  Only  mentioned  the  streams  that  Have  been 
designated  as  rivers,  but  there  are  many  other  streams  of  great 
Wiportance  and  valiie  to  different  portibhs  of  the  State,  draining 
tihe  country,  furnishing  mill-sites,  and  adding  t<>  the  variety  and 
Iteauty  of  the  scenery.  So  adrtiirable  is  the  naitural  drainage  of 
almost  the*  entire  State,  that  the  farmer  who  has  not  a  stream 
of  living  wat^f  on  his  premises  is  an  exception  fd  the  general 

''  Ijakes. — In  some  of  the  northern  counties  of  Iowa  there  are 
itvAxiy  small,  but  beautiful  lakes,  some  of  which  we  Will  notice. 
Th^  are  a  part  of  the  system  of  lakes  extending  far  northward 
iritb  Minnesota,  and  most  of  them  present  many  interesting  fea- 
tures which  the  lirnits  6f  our  sketch  will  not  permit  us  to  give  in 
detail.  The  following  are  among  ih^  rt^6ist  hoted  ^f  thfe  hkes  0/ 
Northern  Iowa:  Clear  lake,  in  Cerro  Gordo  eourt'";  ;  Rice  lake, 
SSlv^f  lake,  and  Bright's  lake,  in  Wbrth  county;  Crystal  like, 
Edgle  lakef,  Lake  EdWdrd,  and  TWih  lakes,  iht  Hancoek  cbiint)!'; 


ii 


TiiTynitt"iia'iMiwiiJiriiiii  iWw'i  A-iAiiw^^MiM-Mifc^       u*iiii»^  uW  iraitrtlM^^.- 


Ire  miles  of  terri- 
a  rich  and  lovely 
>ad  passes  down 

.1  small  streams, 
rivers,  we  come 
ouri  some  twenty 
te.  It  ha&  three 
:h  of  350  miles, 
of  Southwestern 
ssed  beauty  and 
)Us  points,  though 
ms  in  the  north- 

)y  several  st?eanrtfS 
r  Missouri.  Tht 
Platte,  One  Hdn- 
W6st  and  Middle, 
lery,  aftd  present 

IS  that  Have  been 
r  streams  of  great 
the  State,  draining 
t6  the  variety  and 
aitural  drainage  of 
has  not  a  stream 
ion  ta  the  general 

)<*  Io\va  there  are 
ch  we  will  notice, 
ing  far  northward 
ly  interesting  fea- 
rmit  us  to  giVe  in 
6d  i/ihfe  lakes  0/ 
ourt'-;  RicelaJce. 
ity;  Crystat  like, 
Hancdck  cbiiritjl'; 


r//e  LAKES  OF  roUTA.  I25 

Owl  lake,  in  Hurriboldt  county;  Lake  Gertrude,  Lake  Cornelia, 
Elm  lake,  and  Wall  lake,  in  Wright  county;  Lake  Caro,  in  Ham- 
ilton county;  Twin  lakes,  in  Calhoun  county;  Wall  lake,  in  Sac 
county;  Swan  lake,  in  Emmet  county;  Storm  lake,  in  Buena 
Vista  county;  and  Okoboji  and  Spirit  lakes,  in  Dickinsoh  county. 
Nearly  all  of  these  are  deep  and  clear,  abounding  in  many 
excellent  varieties  of  fish,  which  are  caught  aburrlantly  by  the 
settlers  at  all  proper  seasons  of  the  year.  The  name  "Wall 
Lake,"  applied  to  several  of  these  bodies  of  water,  is  derived 
from  the  fact  that  a  line  or  ridge  of  boulders  extends  around 
them,  giving  them  somewhat  the  appearance,  of  having  been 
walled.  Most  of  them  exhibit  the  same  appearance  in  this 
respect  to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  Lake  Okoboji,  Spirit  lake, 
Storm  lake,  and  Clear  lake  are  the  largest  of  the  Northei*n  Iowa 
lakes.  All  of  them,  except  Storm  lake,  have  fine  bodies  of  tim- 
ber on  their  borders.  Lake  Okoboji  is  about  fifteen  miles  long, 
and  from  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  two  miles  wide.  Spirit  lake, 
just  north  of  it,  embrac.s  about  ten  square  miles,  the  northern 
border  extending  to  the  Minnesota  line.  Storrti  lake  is  in  size 
about  three  miles  east  and  west  by  two  north  and  south.  Clear 
lake  is  about  seven  miles  long  by  two  miles  wide.  The  dry 
rolling  land  usually  extends  up  to  the  borders  of  these  lakes, 
making  them  deligntful  resorts  for  excursion  or  fishing  parties, 
and  they  are  now  attracting  attention  as  places  of  resort,  on 
account  of  the  beauty  of  their  natural  scenery,  as  well  as  the 
inducements  which  they  afford  to  hunting  and  fishing  parties. 

Prairie  and  Timber. — One  of  the  peculiar  features  of  the 
topography  of  the  riorthWest  is  the  predominance  of  prairies. 
It  has  been  estimated  that  about  nine-tenths  of  the  surface  of 
Iowa  is  prairie.  The  timber  is  generally  found  in  heavy  bodies 
skirting  the  streaiiis  and  lakes,  but  there  are  also  many  isolated 
groves  standing^,  like  islahds  in  the  sea,  far  out  on  the  prairies. 
The  eastern  half  of  ttie  State  contains  a  larger  proportioh  of 
tlttiber  than  thfe  westet'h.  The  following  are  the  leading  varie- 
fl6*j  of  timber:  White,  black,  ahd  burr  oak,  black  walftwi,  of  ex- 
eellent  quality,  btit  noW  alitidst  entirely  picked  out  afld  shipped 
to  England,  butternut,  hickory,  hard  and  soft  maple,  chei-ryj  fttd 


I 


I 


I 


g2^  OUR    WESTERN  EMPtRS. 

and  white  elm,  ash,  linn,  hackberry,  birch,  honey  locust,  cotton- 
wood,  and  quaking  asp.  A  few  sycamore  trees  are  found  in 
certain  localities  along  the  streams.  Groves  of  red  cedar  also 
prevail,  especially  along  Iowa  and  Cedar  rivers,  and  a  few 
isolated  pine  trees  are  scattered  along  the  bluffs  of  some  of  the 
streams  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State.  ,     ili      li  >/, 

The  great  demand  for  timber  for  raii.oad  construction,  for 
ties,  stations,  bridges,  and  for  a  time  for  fuel,  as  well  as  for  dwell- 
ings, telegraph  poles,  for  agricultural  and  mining  machinery,  and 
mine  supports,  has  within  the  last  decade  nearly  stripped  Iowa 
of  its  most  valuable  timber ;  and  the  English  movement  for  cull- 
ing out  all  her  valuable  black  walnut  trees,  working  them  up 
roughly  by  portable  saw-mills,  and  shipping  the  timber  at  once, 
is  likely  to  deprive  the  country  of  one  of  its  best  sources  of 
supply  of  this  valuable  wood. 

Nearly  all  kinds  of  timber  common  to  Iowa  have  been  found 
to  grow  rapidly  when  transplanted  upon  the  prairies,  or  when 
propagated  from  the  planting  of  seeds.  Only  a  few  years  and  a 
little  expense  are  required  for  the  settler  to  raise  a  grove  suffi- 
•vient  to  afford  him  a  supply  of  fuel.  The  kinds  most  easily 
propagated,  and  of  rapid  growth,  are  cottonwood,  maple,  and 
walnut.  All  our  prairie  soils  are  adapted  to  their  growth. 
Tree-planting  is  encouraged  by  national  and  State  laws,  and  is 
now  actively  practised,  but  it  will  be  long  before  these  trees  will, 
f:ither  in  quality  or  quantity,  supply  |l^e,|o$9  of  thoa^  which  haye 
been  so  recklessly  sacrificed.  .,,1;         ;    ,;     ! 

Geology  and  Mineralogy. — The  surface  geology  of  Iowa,  like 
that  of  Nebraska  and  partly  of  Kansas,  is  peculiar  and  very 
interesting  from  its.  relation  to  the  soil  cf  the  State.  Far  back 
in  the  glacial  period  this  whole  region,  including  Iowa,  South- 
eastern Dakota,  Nebraska,  and  Eastern  Kansas,  was  less  el<;- 
yated  thai,  it  now  is,  and  formed  the  bed  of  a  vast  lake  at  least 
500  miles  in  length  and  nearly  that  in  width.  Thrpugh  this  lak^ 
flowed  the  Missouri,  which  had  then  received  its  greatest  affluent, 
the  Yeilow^tpne.  Its  other  principal  tributaries  at  that  time 
flowed  into  the  lake.  For  ages  numerous  streams  brought  into 
the  lake  the  dibris  of  moiititain  ^nd  hill,  and  the  glaciers  ad(^ed 


^'■ 


% 


[locust,  cotton- 
are  found  in 
red  cedar  also 
rs.  and   a  few 
|)f  some  of  the 
■  (|,     ,1,,  .. 
nstruction,  for 
11  as  for  dwell- 
achinery,  and 
stripped  Iowa 
Jement  for  cull- 
•king  them  up 
imber  at  once, 
est  sources  of 

ve  been  found 
airies,  or  when 
2w  years  and  a 
J  a  grove  suffi- 
is  most  easily 
od,  maple,  and 
their  growth, 
ite  laws,  and  is 
hese  trees  will, 
ose  which  have 

y  of  Iowa,  like 
jliar  and  very 
»te.  Far  back 
J  Iowa,  South- 
,  was  less  el^- 
st  lake  at  least 
'pugh  this  lak^ 
eatest  affluent, 
I  at  that  time 
5  brought  into 
jjlaciers  ad(^ed 


IOWA  COAL.  Ill 

their  contribution  from  their  moraines.  At  length  there  came  a 
time  of  upheaval ;  this  vast  lake  was  drained  till  it  became  an 
immense  marsh  of  soft  and  plastic  mud ;  through  this  the  rivers 
ploughed  their  way,  ci'tting  through  the  deposits  of  gravel,  of 
silica,  and  of  decayed  vcgciation  easily,  and  left  on  either  side 
high  bluffs,  which,  however,  having  no  rocky  bond  of  union,  often 
crumbled  and  fell  into  the  streams.  After  another  long  period 
the  marsh  became  dry  land,  and  its  surface,  composed  of  drift 
or  gravel,  loess  or  bluff  deposit,  a  very  fine  and  rich  silicious 
powder,  and  alluvium  as  the  result  of  decayed  vegetation,  fur- 
nished the  finest  soil  in  the  world.  But  beneath  this  surface, 
which  is  of  varying,  though  everywhere  of  considerable  thick- 
ness, the  rivers,  which  have  plowed  their  way  through  its  lowest 
layers,  reveal  other  important  and  economically  valuable  strata. 
The  cretaceous  beds  underlie  this  vast  alluvial  and  diluvial 
deposit,  and  below  them  we  come  to  the  coal  measures  of  the 
carboniferous  era,  whose  existence  was  first  discovered  from 
their  outcrop  in  the  river  bluffs. 

"The  coal  of  Iowa  is  bituminous,  and  is  a  true  coal,  not  a  lig- 
nite. It  covers  an  area  of  at  least  20,000  square  miles,  and  coal 
is  successfully  mined  in  more  than  thirty  counties  of  the  State. 
It  is  not  of  identical  quality  in  all  parts  of  the  coal  field,  but  that 
produced  in  Appanoose,  Boone,  Davis,  Dallas,  Hamilton,  Har- 
din, Jefferson,  Mahaska,  Marion,  Monroe,  Polk,  Van  Buren, 
Wapello,  Webster,  and  perhaps  some  other  counties,  is  of  excel- 
lent quality  and  easily  raised. 

"  The  g'reat  productive  coal  field  of  Iowa  is  embraced  chiefly 
within  thq  valley  of  the  Des  Moines  river  and  its  tributaries,  ex- 
tending up  the  valley  from  Lee  county  nearly  to  the  north  line 
of  Webster  county.  Within  the  coal  field  embraced  by  this  val- 
ley deep  mining  Ls  nowhere  necessary.  The  Des  Moines  and 
its  larger  tributaries  have  generally  cut  their  channels  down 
through  all  the  coal  measure  sftata. 

"  The  coal  of  Iowa  is  equal  in  quality  and  value  to  coal  of  the. 
same  class  in  other  parts  of  the  world.  The  veins  which  have, 
so  iix  be€jn  worked  are  from  three  to  eight  feet  irt  thickness,  but 
it  is  not  necessary  to  dig  from  one  thousand  to  two  thousand  feet 


ilRi 


\ 


8ad 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


fo  reach  fhe  coal,  as  miners  are  obliged  16  do  irt  i6v^t.  coUritries. 
Rut  little  coal  has  in  this  State  been  raised  from  a  depth  greater 
than  one  hundred  feet. 

"  Professor  Gustavus  Hinrich,  of  the  State  University,  who 
also  officiated  as  State  Chemist  in  the  prosecution  of  the  State 
geological  survey,  gives  an  analysis  showing  the  comparative 
value  of  Iowa  coal  with  that  of  other  countries.  The  following 
is  from  a  table  prepared  by  him — loo  i-epresenting  the  combus- 
tible: 


J'         !   ... . 


KaU^  Attn  LOCALITT, 


Brown  coal,  from  Arbesan,  Bohemia  . 
Brown  coal,  from  Bilin,  Bohemia  .  . 
BituminooB  coal,  from  JBenth'eu,  Silesia 
Cannel  coal,  from  Wigan,  England 
Anthracite,  from  Pennsylvania  .  .  . 
Inwa  coals — average 


36 

40 

61 
94 
50 


64 
67 
49 
39 
6 

SO 


31 

ID 

a 
S 


II 

00 

5 

3 

2 

S 


114 

»23 

i>6 

113 
104 
110 


i 
if 


88 
81 
80 

87 
96 

90 


"In  this  table  the  excess  of  the  equivalent  above  100,  ex- 
presses the  amount  of  impurities  (ashes  and  moisture)  in  the 
coal.  The  analysis  shoWs  that  the  average  Iowa  coals  contain 
only  ten  parts  of  impurities  for  one  part  of  combustible  (carbon 
and  bitumeii)  being  the  purest  of  all  the  samples  analyzed  except 
the  anthracite  from  Pennsylvania. 

"Twelve  years  ago  (in  1868)  the  production  of  this  coal  in 
Iowa  was  reported  as  241,453  tohs,  or  more  than  six  million 
bushels.  It  has  increased  steadily  sin^6  tha:t  time,  and  iti  1^77 
had  reached  over  1,500,000  tons,  or  about  forty  tnillion  bushels. 
It  is  still  increasing,  and  is  used  in  Several  of  th6  adjacent  States. 

"/V/i/.— -During  the  last  thirteen  or  fourteen  years  large  deposits 
of  peat,  ^xistffig  rri  sdvftral  of  the  northern  counties  of  the  State, 
have  attracted  considerable  attetflion.  In  1^66,  Dr.  Whi*e,  the 
State  Geologfist,  made  careful  observations  in  son'ie  of  those 
counties,  including  Frankftn,  Wright,  Cerfo  Cbtda,  Hancock, 
Winnebago,  Worth  ahd  Ko^uth.  In  1869,  Hon.  A.  R.  fulton 
dlso  visited  the  cduil ties  natriid,  and  frbfn  personal  observatiori 


)me  countries, 
depth  greater 

jniversity,  who 
In  of  the  State 
|e  comparative 
iThe  following 
fg  the  combus' 


'■>,. 


I 


3 
i6 

31 

lO 

a 


II 
oo 

5 
3 

3 

s 


114    88 
>a3 

136 

113 

104 
no 


ibove  loo,  ex- 
loisture)  in  the 
a  coals  contain 
)ustible  (carbon 
analyzed  except 

of  this  coal  in 
hah  six  million 
e,  amd  in  1^77 
nillion  bushels, 
idjacent  States, 
s  large  deposits 
es  of  the  State, 
Dr.  Whire,  the 
90v^e  of  those 
itddi,  Hancock, 
I.  A.  R.  f  tilton 
lal  obSertratioii 


rN£  PEAT  BEDS.  ijy 

r 

was  convinced  th^tthe  deposits  of  peat  were  as  extensive  as  repre- 
sented by  the  State  Geologist.  It  is  estimated  that  the  courilies 
above  named  contain  an  average  of  at  least  four  thousand  acres 
each  of  good  peat  lands.  The  depth  of  the  beds  is  from  four 
to  ten  feet,  and  the  quality  is  but  little,  if  any,  inferior  to  that  of 
Ireland.  As  yet,  but  little  use  has  been  made  of  it  as  furl,  but 
when  it  is  considered  that  it  lies  wholly  beyond  the  coal-field,  in 
A  sparsely  timbered  region  of  the  State,  its  prospective  value  is 
regarded  as  very  great.  Dr.  White  estimates  that  160  acres  of 
peat,  four  feet  deep,  will  supply  two  hundred  and  thirteen  fami- 
lies wilh  fuel  for  upwards  of  twenty-five  years.  It  must  not  be 
inferred  that  the  presence  of  these  peat  beds  in  that  part  of  the 
.State  is  in  any  degree  prejudicial  to  health,  for  such  is  not  the 
case.  The  dry,  rolling  prairie  land  usually  comes  up  to  the  very 
border  of  the  peat  marsh,  and  the  winds,  or  breezes,  which  pre- 
vail through  the  summer  season,  do  not  allow  water  to  become 
stagnant.  Nature  seems  to  have  designed  these  peat  deposits 
to  supply  the  deficiency  of  other  material  for  fuel.  The  penetra 
tion  of  this  portion  of  the  State  by  railroads  and  the  rapid 
growth  of  timber  may  leave  a  resort  to  peat  for  fuel  as  a  tnattef 
df  choice,  and  not  of  necessity.  It  therefore  remains  to  be  s>;cii 
of  what  economic  value  in  the  future  the  peat  beds  6f  Iowa  may 
he.  Peat  has  also  been  found  in  Muscatine,  Linn,  Clinton,  and 
other  eastern  and  southern  counties  of  the  State,  but  the  fertile 
region  of  Northern  Iowa,  least  favored  with  other  kinds  of  fuel, 
is  peculiarly  the  peat  region  of  the  State.  Neither  gold  nor  sil- 
ver has  been  found  in  Iowa,  except  a  very  small  percentage  of 
th^  latter  in  the  galena  or  lead  ores. 

"Lead. — Since  the  year  1833,  large  quantities  of  lead  havfc 
been  mined  in  the  vicinity  of  Dubuque,  And  the  business  is  still 
carried  on  successfully.  From  four  to  six  million  pounds  of  ore 
have  been  smelted  annually  at  the  Dubuque  mines,  yielding  from 
s'ixty-eight  to  severity  per  cent,  of  lead.  S6  far  as  known,  the 
tead  depdsits  of  Iowa  that  may  be  profitably  worked  are  con- 
fined to  a  belt  of  four  or  five  miles  in  width  along  the  Mississippi, 
slbove  and  below  the  city  of  Dubuque.      '  '^y  -^ 

"^/Ar^  Metals. — Iron,  copper  and  zinc  have  been  found  in 


8^8 


OUR    WSSTEKX  FMriKR, 


limited  quantities  in  different  parts  of  the  State— the  last-named 
metal  being  chiefly  associated  with  the  lead  ilcposits. 

**Lime. — Good  material  for  the  manufiLture  of  quick-line  is 
found  in  abundance  in  nearly  all  parts  of  liic  State.  Even  in  the 
northwestern  counties,  where  there  are  but  few  exposures  of 
rock  '  in  place,'  limestone  is  found  among  the  boulders  scattered 
over  the  prairies  and  about  the  lakes.  So  abundant  is  limestone, 
suitable  for  the  manufacture  of  quick-lime,  that  it  is  needless  to 
mention  any  particular  locality  as  possessing  superior  advan- 
tages in  furnishing  this  useful  building  material.  At  the  follow- 
ing points  parties  have  been  engaged  somewhat  extensively  in 
the  manufacture  of  lime,  to  wit:  Fort  Dodge,  Webster  county; 
Springvale,  Humboldt  county ;  Orford  and  Indiantown,  Tama 
county;  Iowa  Falls,  Hardin  county;  Mitchell,  Mitchell  county; 
and  at  nearly  all  the  towns  along  the  streams  northeast  of  Cedar 
river. 

"Building  Stone. — There  is  no  scarcity  of  good  building  stone 
to  be  found  along  nearly  all  the  streams  east  of  the  Des  Moines 
river,  and  along  that  stream  from  its  mouth  up  to  the  north  line 
of  Humboldt  county.  Some  of  the  counties  west  of  the  Des 
Moines,  as  Cass  and  Madison,  as  well  as  most  ot  the  southern 
counties  of  the  State,  are  supplied  with  good  building  stone. 
Building  stone  of  peculiarly  fine  quality  is  quarried  at  and  near 
the  following  places:  Keosauqua,  Van  Buren  county;  Mt. 
Pleasant,  Henry  county ;  Fairfield,  Jefferson  county ;  Ottumwa, 
Wapello  county;  Winterset,  Madison  county;  Fort  Dodge, 
Webster  county;  Springvale  and  Dakota,  Humboldt  county; 
Marshalltown,  Marshall  county ;  Orford,  Tama  county;  Vinton, 
Benton  county ;  Charles  City,  Floyd  county ;  Mason  City,  Cerro 
Gordo  county ;  Mitchell  and  Osage,  Mitchell  county ;  Anamosa, 
Jones  county;  Iowa  Falls,  Hardin  county;  Hampton,  Franklin 
county;  and  at  nearly  all  points  along  the  Mississippi  river. 
In  some  places,  as  in  Marshall  and  Tama  counties,  several  spe- 
cies of  marble  are  found,  which  are  siiscept|b|e  of  the  finest 
finish  and  are  very  beautiful. ;  ,».,n„^  ivH  t'VnrV^V'.  tl^.^  n^.^^ivrt;^ 

''Gypsum. — One  of  the  finest  and  purest  deposits  of  gypsum 
known  in  the  world  exists  at  Fort  Dodge,  in  this  State.     It  is 


MJltfllM 


l«a>MM«M«MaM..a«MMaalM 


last-named 

uick-line  is 

Even  in  the 

xposurus  of 

rs  scattered 

is  limestone, 

needless  to 

erior  advan* 

t  the  fijllow- 

xtensivcly  in 

ister  county; 

Uown,  Tama 

:hell  county; 

;ast  of  Cedar 

uilding  stone 
Des  Moines 
he  north  line 
:  of  the  Des 
the  southern 
lilding  stone, 
at  and  near 
county ;    Mt. 
y;  Ottumwa, 
Fort  Dodge, 
oldt  county; 
inty;  Vinton, 
1  City,  Cerro 
y;  Anamosa, 
ton,  Franklin 
lissippi  river, 
several  spe- 
9f,  the  .firyj;sti 
r   r  ;■      •    .^ 
5  of  gypsum 
State.    It  is 


AtWEK/llS  AND  SOIL    OF  IOWA.  83^ 

confined  to  an  area  of  about  .six  by  three  miles  on  both  sides  of 
the  Des  Moines  river,  and  is  found  to  be  from  twenty-five  to 
thirty  feet  in  thickness.  The  main  deposit  \a  of  uniform  gray 
color,  but  large  masses  i^f  almost  pure  white  (resembling  alabas- 
ter) have  been  found  embedded  in  the  main  deposits.  The  quan- 
tity of  this  article  is  practically  inexhaustible,  and  the  time  will 
certainly  come  when  it  will  be  a  source  of  wealth  to  that  part  of 
the  State.  So  far,  it  has  only  been  used  to  a  limited  extent  for 
paving  and  building  purposes,  if  we  except  the  fraud  practised 
upon  our  Eastern  cousins  by  those  who  manufactured  from  it  that 
great  humbug  and  swindle  of  the  century,  the  'Cardiff  Giant! ' 
Plaster-of-paris  manufactured  from  the  Fort  Dodge  gypsum  has 
been  found  equal  to  the  best  in  quality. 

"Qays. — In  nearly  all  parts  of  the  State  the  material  suitable 
for  the  manufacture  of  brick  is  found  in  abundance.  Sand  is  ob- 
tained in  the  bluffs  along  the  streams  and  in  their  beds.  Potter's 
clay,  and  fire-clay  suitable  for  fire-brick,  are  found  in  many 
places.  An  excellent  article  of  fire-brick  is  made  at  Eldora, 
Hardin  county,  where  there  are  also  several  extensive  potteries 
in  operation.  Fire-clay  is  usually  found  underlying  the  coal- 
seams.  There  are  extensive  potteries  in  operation  in  the  coun- 
ties of  Lee,  Van  Buren,  Des  Moines,  Wapello,  Boone,  Hamilton, 
Hardin,  and  perhaps  others.     '  «!   <     ^f;"-    >;■    •         i  j-  ";^ 

"Soil. — ^It  is  supposed  that  there  is  nowhere  upon  the  globe  an 
equs.l  area  of  surface  with  so  small  a  proportion  of  un tillable  land 
as  we  find  in  Iowa.  The  soil  is  generally  a  drift  deposit,  with  a 
deep  covering  6f  vegetable  mould,  and  on  the  highest  prairies  is 
almost  equal  in  fertility  to  the  alluvial  valleys  of  the  rivers  in 
other  States.  The  soil  in  the  valleys  of  our  streams  is  largely 
alluvial,  producing  a  rapid  and  luxuriant  growth  of  all  kinds  of 
vegetation.  The  valleys  usually  vary  in  extent  according  to  the 
size  of  the  stream.  On  the  Iowa  side  of  the  Missouri  river,  from 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  State  to  Sioux  City,  a  distance  of 
over  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  there  is  a  continuous  belt  of 
alluvial '  bottom,'  or  valley  land,  varying  in  width  from  five  to 
twenty  mil^s,  and  of  surpassing  fertility.  This  valley  is  bordered 
by  a  continuous  line  of  bluffs,  rising  from  one  to  two  hundred 


^X,^'  f^',  '^•'^ 


I 


feet,  and  presenting  many  picturesque  outlines  when  seen  at  a 
d|:.tancc*.  The  bluffs  arc  composed  uf  a  peculiar  furmation,  to 
wi)ich  han  been  given  tlie  name  of  loess  or  '  bluff  deposit.'  It  is 
of  a  yellow  color,  and  is  composed  of  a  fme  silicious  mutter,  with 
some  clay  and  limey  concretions.  This  deposit  in  many  places 
extends  eastward  entirely  across  the  counties  bordering  the  Mis< 
suuri  river,  and  is  of  great  fertility,  promoting  a  luxuriant  growth 
of  grain  and  vegetables. 

^'MinefcU  PaitU. — In  Montgomery  county  a  (ine  vein  of  clay, 
containing  a  large  proportion  of  ochre,  wa^  several  years  ago 
discovered,  and  has  been  extensively  used  in  that  part  of  the 
State  for  painting  barns  and  out-'houses.  It  is  of  a  dark  red 
color,  and  is  believed  to  be  equal  in  quality,  if  properly  manufac* 
tured,  to  the  mineral  paints  iniported  from  other  States.  The 
use  of  it  was  6rst  introduced  by  Mr.  J.  U.  Packard,  qf  Red  Oak, 
on  >|kfhose  land  there  is  an  extensive  deposit  of  this  material. 

''Spring  a>*(l  WtU  Water. — As  before  stated,  the  surface  of 
Iqwa  is  generally  drained  by  the  rolling  or  undulating  character 
of  the  country,  and  the  numerous  streams,  large  and  small. 
This  fact  might  lead  some  to  suppose  that  it  might  be  difficult  \q 
pfpcure  good  spring  or  well  water  fpr  domestic  uses.  Such, 
however,  is  not  the  case,  for  good  pure  well  water  is  easily  ob* 
tained  all  over  the  State,  even  on  the  highest  prairies.  It  is 
j^rely  necessary  ^o  dig  more  than  thirty  feet  deep  to  find  an 
f^^updance  of  th^t  most  indispensable  element,  good  water. 
/Mong  the  streams  are  found  many  springs  t^reaking  QUt  if;oy(\ 
the  l;>anks,  affording  a  constant  supply  of  pure  water.  As  a  I'ule, 
1^  i$  necessary  ,tp  dig  deeper  for  well  w^ter  in  thetjn^ber  portion^ 
of  the  State,  than  pn  the  prairies.  Nearly  a)|  the  spring  and 
iprpll  Waters  of  the  i^t<ite  contain  a  .^rnall  prppqitipn  pf  ^^TfSP,  ^§ 
they  do  in  the  E^^ern  and  Middle  States.  There  are  sorn^ 
jiprings  which  cppt^in  niineral  properties,  similar  to  the  springs 
often  resoct^d  ^p  by  .invalids  ^d  odiers  in  pther  States.  Ji) 
Davis  county  ^here  are  some  '  Si^lt  Springs,'  as  they  are  cpoit 
f^oply  called,  thp  water  bejng  fqwftd  to  contain  a  eonsiderablj) 
gi^p^nt  pf  cpnf^fhpn  salt,  sulphuric  ^cid,  and  Other  piinfirrll  ingi:^* 
(jiiefi^.     Mi;}er^l  >y3^ers  are  found  in  deferent  parts  of  the  Stfite. 


*Mtirfll 


nHHMH 


picn  seen  at  a 

furmution,  to 

[Icponit.'     It  is 

[iH  mutter,  with 

many  places 

|lering  tlic  Mis- 

curiant^Towth 

vein  of  day, 

:ral  years  ago 

jat  part  of  the 

of  a  dark  reef 

periy  maniifac* 

•  States.     The 

d,  pf  Red  Oak, 

IS  material. 

the  surface  q( 

iiing  character 

rge  and  small. 

It  be  difficult  \q 

ic  uses.     Such, 

er  is  easily  ob- 

prairies.     It  i$ 

eep  to  find  an 

t,  good  w^ter. 

iking  pMt  f^^oji;^ 

ter.     AsaruliC* 

tjn)ber  portions 

the  spring  an^^i 

tipn  pf  Iiw»e.  *fi 

here  jare  soni9 

r  to  the  springii 

l)er  States.    Jn 

they  are  comT 

a  eonsiderablfi 
niineral  u^gr.^ 

"ts  of  ^e  Slfite. 


CUMATK  or  tow  A.  my 

''i^atural  Curiosities. — Aside  from  its  waited  lakes  and  some 
very  beautiful  waterfalls,  the  State  does  not  abound  in  natural 
wonders.  Ihe  'Ice  Cave'  at  Decorali,  in  the  northeastern  part 
ol  the  State,  deserves  notice.  It  is  under  a  bluff  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  upper  Iowa  river,  and  has  this  wonderful  peculiarity 
that  while  in  winter  no  ice  is  to  be  found  in  it,  it  forms  in  spring 
and  summer,  and  thaws  out  again  upon  the  advent  of  cold 
weather.  Nine  miles  east  of  Decorah,  on  Trout  river,  there  if 
an  underground  stream  navigable  for  canoes,  and  which  has 
been  explored  for  a  long  distance. 

"ClintaU  and  Mttcorolo^iy. —  The  average  or  mean  temperature, 
from  a  series  of  observations  taken  at  different  points  and  ii) 
different  years,  is  found  to  be  48°.  The  temperature  of  the  win- 
ters is  usually  somewhat  lower  than  that  of  the  Eastern  States, 
but  that  of  the  otb^r  seasons  higher,  so  that  all  vegetation  is 
forced  forward  rapidly  to  maturity.  There  is  a  somewhat  less 
average  amount  of  rain  than  that  which  falls  in  the  States  bor- 
dering on  the  Atlantic.  The  quantity  which  falls  yearly  in  Iowa 
is  tound  to  average  about  forty  and  one-lialf  inches,  and  of  snow 
thirty  inches — equivalent  to  three  inches  of  r^in,  making  a  total 
of  forty-three  and  one-half  inches.  There  is  occasionally  a  sea- 
son which  greatly  exceeds  the  average  in  the  fall  of  rain,  but 
never  one  marked  with  such  extreme  drought  as  to  occasion  a 
failure  of  crops. 

"The  opinion  may  prevail  to  some  extent  that  the  climate, 
especially  of  Northern  Iowa,  is  rigorous,  and  the  winters  long 
and  severe.  It  is  true  that  the  mercury  usually  sinks  lower  thaij 
in  the  States  farther  south,  but  at  the  same  time  the  atmospher^ 
is  dry  and  invigorating,  and  the  seasons  not  marked  by  the  Tret 
quent  and  sudden  changes  which  are  experienced  in  latitudes 
farther  south.  The  winters  are  equally  as  pleasant  and  more 
healthful  than  in  the  Eastern  or  Middle  States.  Pulmonary  and 
other  diseases,  arising  from  frequent  changes  of  temperature 
and  miasmatic  influences,  are  almost  unknown,  unless  contracted 
elsewhere.  Winter  usually  commences  in  December  and  endsj 
in  March.  The  spring,  summer,  and  fall  months  are  delightful, 
Iowa  is  noted  for  the  glory  and  beauty  of  its  autumns.     That 


I 


\^ 


\ 


i 


.  «a»«fcMWMKMb«iii>lJ<itth-i»»»^^ 


Ill  OUit    WESTKMN  MMnMM. 

gorgt'ouH  flcaion  denoinitutrd  *  Imiiait  Hummcr' cannot  tK*  de« 
■cribcd,  anil  in  Iowa  it  in  peculiarly  charming.  Pay  after  day, 
for  wrcks,  llur  sun  is  vtriW-d  in  a  hazy  splcmlor,  whilr  \\\v  forests 
arr  tinj^rd  with  thr  most  ^'or^^'-oiis  hurs,  itnpartin;;  to  all  nature 
i9mrthin){  of  the  onchantnu-nts  of  fairylatiil.  Ahnost  inipcr* 
ceptihiy,  these  golden  days  merge  into  winter,  which  holds  its 
•tern  reign  without  the  disagnrablu  changes  experienced  in 
Other  climes,  until  spring  ushers  in  another  season  of  life  and 
beauty." 

We  have  endeavored  to  obtain  dt>finite  and  detailed  statistics 
of  the  meteorology  of  localities  which  should  represent  as  fully 
as  possible  the  differences  of  temperature  and  rainfall,  etc.,  in 
different  sections  of  the  State.  Our  statistics  are  very  full  for 
the  whole  eastern  border,  and  for  some  of  the  cities  of  the 
interior,  but  are  ilefectivc  for  the  western  counties,  though  we 
know  in  general  that  as  we  proceed  westward  the  average  rem- 
peraturr  on  the  same  parallels  is  somewhat  higher,  the  winters  a 
little  less  severe,  and  the  rainfall  slighdy  diminished  as  compared 
with  those  on  the  eastern  border.  The  following  statistics  of 
the  meteorology  of  Muscatine  and  Iowa  City  are  by  Professor 
Parvin,  and  are  from  the  averages  of  thirty  years : 


7M4p  ihevtlng  Iht  Avtragt,  or  MtHH  Ttrnftrslmrt  »f  tkt  Snuons,  for  tht  ytan  1R31)  to  1 869, 
imelMsivt ;  alio  Iki  Mtan  Ttrnftraturt  of  lA*  momlkt  mtartit  Iktrtio,  «mJ  th*  Extr*m*$  of 
Tomfofttlurt, 


SiAtom. 

TmrmATviii. 

MonTUt  NiAIIHT  SlAIONt. 

RDrln# 

47'  44' 
KK 

aj*  37' 

47'  57' 

April 

48*  SO' 
70»7o' 
49*  SO' 
a3»  as' 

August •  •  • . 

Aulamn 

Winter  i 

October 

DecemlMr 

Vetr 

-f-t  '    ' 
t 


RANGE  OF  TEMPERATURE. 


Highest 

99'  oo' 
-30*00' 
IJ9^  oo' 

August  31st.  i8|4.         ,,          „,!,,  .1 
JanuMjr  iSth,  1857.       '•'            .     .>/    ^. 

Lowest. 

R«g«f.. 

MUrMOHOlOVY  Oi    WWA. 


9il 


Icannot  be  de- 
pay  afitr  clay. 

nil*'  ilw  fi)re?»t» 
\^  to  alt  nature 
llmoHi  imper- 
A\\l\\  hoKU  its 
^•xpcrienccd  in 
^on  of  life  and 

tailed  statistics 
Jpresent  as  fully 
rainfall,  etc.,  in 
re  very  full  for 
V.  cities  of  the 
ties,  though  we 
\v.  average  rem- 
r,  the  winters  a 
ed  as  compared 
ig  statistics  of 
re  by  Professor 


F.'i ;    ■/  •■!      r 


*r  yiMM  1II39  /<,  1M9, 


IT  SCAIONt. 


r  t     4g»  50' 

'''    49*  so' 
13*  as' 


'      -  ■  .  ■  4-   ■ 


*kttfvtt*'m»  ^nmg  moJt  <tl  ik*  4U#r  0/1A4  >/4/<  /  'mtv*tftiy,  /mm  i'l/^,  ^j*  /V»/.  /'.  .V,  /^n>4m. 


T*hifgi»img Ik*  MtniKly  and  Annual  Quanl'ty  of  Knin  and  Sm>i»  t tJuftJ lo  toattr ;  flu  $tv^ 
mum,  MiHtmurt,  tud  Aft<n$  Amouitti  /ram  1^4^  la  1869.       , 


VMM 

1 

1 

\ 

379 

1 

4W 
•4a 

1 

*    } 

1 

4*4 

1    1 

1 

MMn 

I5« 

a.ai 

?.7« 

4-59 

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365  3«r 

•  34 

44  «7 
»3^ 
74-40 

■  .Mtt 

.« 

•J» 

•45 1    '55 

•  il    .1^1  1.36  I.I] 

'••1    .'^     .3* 

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4«» 

S.80 

tl.*o|ii.ilo 

13.60 

14.  JO 

8A>|  14.00 

99« 

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6.«s 

Tnilf  tktm>ini^  iht  hinnthlf  and  AnnMml  Quattfilfet  e/  .^o^  im  inrhit,  /«r  ihi  ytan  184!  lo 
1169,  imlfttivt,  autnling  to  ntordt  ktf4  iy  Pto/.  T.  S,  Panvin,  al  Mmualint  t{nd  lowia  City. 


YlAM. 


Mmim.. 
l^eut . . . 
Urctlett. 


1 


6.70 

.00 

a4.M 


«73   I      393* 


.00 


37.00 


JOO 


16.15 


% 


76 

JOO 

6.00 


.00 


4.10 


4-73 


JO.QO 


9-2J 
.10 

39.5a 


for 

ih« 

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33'3 

790 

61.97 


a 


TvT 


r-J^.4.J...:.>t:^    V 


J 


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OUM    WKHTtiltS   MJHrt»M, 


**i      I^J  .**tt^*i 


W    yi'^Wi     M     M     ^ 
*      I     I     I 


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Mi! 

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^  i  i  i 

^  5 

i  5•*■- 

c.     "    ir — « 

ififi  y.    i-i 


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T  n  5  J : 


a  s  3  1 ; 


'  fr  f  «  *  t" 


K 


vi 


r  s  »  it  1  » 

fi-     B    «     S. 
».     >     » 


B    J    H    ^ 


m      tft      m      t, 

i—lXJL 


UliH'i 


MMTMOMOIOCY  OP  WWA. 
Ton,  tUmtmg  iMt  thin  4  tkt  Mar/UH  mi  LUmt  Ffmt  tmi  In  ^  tkt  fttn  lt}«  «#  1M9, 

/h>M  iHfA  A  1M4,  mu^r^mg  H  Mfr4t  h*f4  tif  f'r^.  f,  S.  t»nnm,  «/  Mm»>  ittm,  tint  Itw* 
CHy, 


';  On  page  834  we  give  the  Signal  Service  statistics  for  Keokuk, 

Davenport,   and    Dubuque,   which,   though  a  little  differently 

-_. — ^ — ^ _ — , : L : 

*  Th«  year  1863  ww  ««ry  coW,  no<  •nly  in  lowt,  but  ihrauglkmt  the  country,  and  thtre  wat 
froct  in  every  montlt  of  ihc  year.  It  hai  only  once  or  twice  in  thirty  yean  leriou^Iy  injured  Iht 
cam  crop.    Wlw>  iIm  tprlnf  ti  lata  Iha  fall  ia  gtMralty  lengihcnad,  to  that  the  crop  ha«  timf 


I 


:xm::z^^ms:z:7;,-JU.i'r:'^.^  ■  "'^^-  '^^^^ 


;  1 

J 


.||6  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

arranged,  give  substantially  the  same  particulars  in  regard  to 
these  cities ;  the  chapter  on  Nebraska  will  give  the  meteorology 
of  Omaha,  which  very  fairly  represents  Western  Iowa. 

Zoology. — The  wild  animals  of  Iowa  are  rather  those  of  the 
Mississippi  valley  than  of  the  "  Plains  "  or  the  Rocky  Mountains., 
The  buffalo  and  the  antelope,  which  once  coursed  over  xXf,  prairies, 
are  not  now  among  its  wild  game ;  and  the  elk  (wapiti),  if  he 
ever  had  his  habitat  in  the  State,  has  it  no  longer.  The  Virginia 
deer  is  abundant  in  some  parts  of  the  State,  the  blade-tailed  or 
mule  deer  is  seldom  if  ever  seen  east  of  the  Missouri  river. 
Bears,  the  black  or  brown  species,  are  still  found,  though  less 
numerous  than  formerly.  The  fclida — panthers,  wild  cats  and 
lynxes— >4nd  the  mustelidte-^fishts,  marttr^s.  minks,  skunks  (espe- 
cially the  last),  and  the  muskrat  and  beaver — are  sufficiently 
numerous  to  reward  the  hunter  and  trapper  for  his  labors.  The 
gray  wolf  is  much  less  abundant  than  formerly,  and  so  is  the 
yelping  prairie  wolf,  perhaps  miscalled  coyote.  The  common 
or  red  fox  is  still  found  in  considerable  numbers,  especially  in  the 
northern,  western  and  southwestern  parts  of  the  State.  Marmots 
or  gophers,  woodchucks  or  ground-hogs,  the  porcupine,  the 
raccoon,  and  more  rarely  the  opossum,  are  among  the  other 
w3d  animals  of  the  State.  Rabbits  and  hares,  squirrels  of  sev- 
eral species,  brown  and  black  rats,  half  a  dozen  kinds  of  mice 
and  moles  of  several  species,  are  the  other  principal  mammals 
of  the  State.  Of  birds  and  especially  game  birds  Iowa  has  its 
full  share.  Wild  geese,  many  species  of  ducks,  brant  and  teal, 
a  half  dozen  or  more  species  of  the  grouse  tribe,  including  the 
prairie-hen,  the  quail,  the  partridge  and  the  ptarmigan,  many 
spiecies  of  snipe,  woodcock  and  other  waders,  pigeons  and  doves 
of  several  species.  Song-birds  are  also  in  great  variety,  and  the 
birds  of  prey,  especially  eagles,  vultures,  hawks  and  -owls,  are 
sufficiently  numerous.  There  are  not  so  many  reptiles  ?^  in 
some  *^tates,  though  the  nupiher  of  serpents  is  cQjis|^e,rfibl^ 
large,  and  includes  with  many  harmless  species  three  or  four 
I>oi8onous  serpents,  among  wliich  two  species  of  rattlesnakes  are 
the  tttbst  nurnerous.  There  are  several  species  of  b^j^rachiaos, 
t>ut  liio  true  saurians  in  the  State.    The  numerous  rivers,  streams 


^!tJ.ati.ii.<Miit'.U^-i.t-l.i^': 


in  regard  to 
le  meteorology 
Iowa. 

T  those  of  the 
ky  Mountains. 
|ver  its  prairies, 
(wapiti),  if  he 
The  Virginia 
black-tailed  or 
Missouri  river, 
id,  though  less 
wild  cats  and 
,  skunks  (espe- 
are   sufficiently 
is  labors.    The 
and  so  is  the 
The  common 
jspecially  in  the 
tate.    Marmots 
porcupine,  the 
long  the  other 
quif  rels  of  sev- 
I  kinds  of  mice 
icipal  mammals 
ds  Iowa  has  its 
brant  and  teal, 
s,  including  the 
armigan,  many 
eons  and  doves 
irariety,  and  the 
(  and  owls,  a^e 
r  reptiles  .^^  in 
is  cQ|isi<J,e)r^bly 
three  or  four 
attlesnakes  are 
pf  b^racWaqs, 
rivers,  streams 


BETTER  FARWNC  NEEDED.  %yf 

and  lakes  are  vyeil  stocked  with  fish,  mostly  of  edible  species. 
There  are  many  excellent  trout  streams,  especially  in  the  north 
and  west  of  the  State. 

Agricu/ture,  Soil  and  Prvductions. — We  have  already  described 
the  constituents  of  the  soil  of  the  State.  It  is  only  necessary  to 
say,  further,  that  a  soil  from  four  to  ten  fee:  deep  composed  of 
diese  substances  and  with  such  rocks  underlying  it  as  those 
which  constitute  the  basis  of  the  Iowa  lands,  and  an  abundance 
of  water  both  in  its  streams  and  the  rainfall,  should  not  be  sur- 
passed in  fertility  by  any  soil  on  the  globe.  Yet  bad  farming 
may  make  even  this  soil  less  productive  than  it  should  be.  If 
there  is  no  rotation  of  crops,  and  the  same  fields  are  devoted  to 
wheat  or  com,  or  other  cereals  or  root  crops  year  after  year, 
and  the  constituents  thus  drawn  from  the  soil  are  not  in  any  way 
returned  to  it;  if  there  is  very  shallow  plowing,  no  manuring, 
and  little  or  no  care  to  eradicate  weeds,  it  will  not  be  matter  for 
.surprise  if  the  yield  of  wheat  or  corn  grows  less  and  lessf  with 
each  year. 

In  this  neglect  of  deep  plowing,  rotation  of  crops,  and  the  use 
of  fertilizers,  we  do  not  mean  to  insinuate  that  Iowa  farmers  are 
sinners  above  the  farmers  of  other  States  or  Territories  adjacent ; 
on  the  contrary  we  believe  that  much  of  the  Iowa  farming  is 
better  than  that  of  the  neighboring  States.  It  \%  now  thirty-four 
years  since  her  admission  into  the  Union  as  a  State,  and  her 
eastern  counties  have  been  long  cultivated.  In  many  respects  in 
the  diversity  of  her  products,  the  excellence  and  perfection  of  her 
fruits,  atid  the  wide  introduction  of  new  varieties  from  Northern 
and  Northeastern  Europe,  and  the  genera!  thrift  of  her  farming, 
she  is  entitled  to  high  commendation.  But  with  that  magnificent 
soil,  and  the  constant  breaking  of  new  land  for  wheat,  the  first 
crop  of  which  is  usually  the  largest,  and  on  lands  immediately 
adjacent,  in  Dakota  and  Minnesota,  yields  from  twenty-five  to 
forty  bushels  to  the  acre,  ire  cannot  but  think  there  is  something 
wrwig,  when  the  average  wheat  crop  of  the  State,  year  after  year, 
is  only  from  thirteen  to  fifteen  bushels  per  acre.  In  England, 
with  a  soil  by  no  means  so  w^ll  adapted  to  wheat  culture  as 
that  of  Iowa,  and  after  centuries  of  culture,  the  average  crop  is 


V;  , 

v 


838  OUR    WESTRRS  RMPIRE. 

thirty-four  bushels  to  the  acre.  Spring  wheat  is  a  more  certain 
crop  than  winter  wheat,  yields  better,  and  brings  a  higher  price. 
Iowa  is  not  quite  so  well  adapted  to  corn  as  Illinois,  Nebraska  or 
Kansas,  an  untimely  frost  sometimes,  though  rarely,  injuring  the 
crop ;  but  in  average  years  she  might  very  easily  produce  a  much 
larger  amount  to  the  acre  than  she  does,  and  with  the  attention 
she  is  giving  to  earlier  ripening  varieties  of  both  com  and 
sorghum,  she  might  make  sure  of  a  crop  sufficiently  early  to 
escape  all  danger  of  frost  save  in  an  exceptional  year  like  1 863, 
when  there  was  frost  every  month.  The  average  crop  of  corn 
per  acre  in  the  State  ranges  from  thirty  to  thirty-five  bushels  per 
acre,  an  amount  which  leaves  very  litde  if  any  margin  of  profit- 
The  Agricultural  College  of  the  State  at  Ames,  in  the  centre  of 
the  State,  raised  in  1879,  on  new  land  and  in  a  somewhat  un- 
favorable year,  fifty-seven  bushels  to  the  r  -rre  on  sixty-five  acres. 
The  superintendent  insists  that  eight'  '.i  ;.  s  to  the  acre  ought 
to  be  •the  minimum  crop  in  an  average  season  with  iair  culture. 
It  is  a  matter  of  satisfaction  that  in  1879  there  was-  a  small 
advance  in  the  average  product  per  acre.  f>  1»  l^'W'i  'H  i  irlj  ril 
.Oats  are  of  excellent  quality,  but  the  yield  is  very  much  less 
per  acre  than  it  should  be.  In  1876  it  was  but  twenty-three  and  : 
a  half  bushels  to  the  acre ;  in  1878  thirty-six  and  a  third  bushels 
to  the  acre,  and  in  1879  thirty-six  bushels.  All  over  the  State 
there  are  farms,  where,  with  ordinarily  good  culture,  oats,  in 
large  fields,  average  year  after  yt^ar  sixty  to  sixty-five  bushels 
per  acre.  .;r,^i-,  ./^i  Krir-  '*■^l  -ihi^o'ifii  ,;^t')i/f5n!f|  -^.M/no  vtisiovib  rxft 
,, Barley  should  yield  somewhat  more  than  wheat  especially  on 
new  lands,  but  the  average  yield,  which  should  b-  <  n:  'i»irty-five 
to  forty  bushels,  ranges  from  twenty  to  twenty  f»v    '    s'^els.   >    i:- 

Rye  and  buckwheat  are  for  the  most  part  raised  o.  '  e  poorest 
lands,  and  seldom  yield  more  than  from  nine  to  twelve  bushels 
per  acre,  and  are  not  therefore  profitable  crops  to  raise. 

Potatoes,  and  the  root  crops  generally,  do  weN  in  Iowa,  espe* 
cially  on  the  western  or  Missouri  slope^  the  soil  being  admirably 
adapted  to  them,  but  the  yield,  though  fair,  is  not  so  large  ^s  it 
should  be.  At  the  Agricultural  College  at  Ames,  iii  the  centre 
of  the  State,  the  yield  averages  about  240  bushels  of  potatoes  to  • 


mm)m 


,i.A^.-^a>-- 


a  more  certain 
a  higher  price, 
lis,  Nebraska  or- 
•ely,  injuring  the 
produce  a  much 
|th  the  attention 
both  com  and 
iciently  early  to 
|l  year  like  1863, 
ige  crop  of  corn 
■five  bushels  per 
nargin  of  profit, 
in  the  centre  of 
a  somewhat  un- 
I  sixty-five  acres, 
o  the  acre  ought 
mh  fair  culture, 
sre  was  a  email 


i-i'iN/'. 


fl    'U 


(t     r.) 


t  very  much  less 
wenty-three  and 
d  a  third  bushels 
I  over  the  State 
culture,  oats,  in 
Ixty-five  bushels 

at  especially  on 
5  Crom  thirty-five 
ivo  )  ;»»^els.  'ri^: 
do,  '  e  poorest 
3  twelve  bushels 
;o  raise. 

U  in  Iowa,  espe- 
being  admirably 
ot  so  large  ks  it 
Bs,  in  the  centre 
is  of  potatoes  to  • 


r//£  CJtOPS  OF  1178  AND  1879.  ^ 

the  aicre ;  elsewhere  it  is  much  lower.  With  such  a  soi)  osithatc 
of  Iowa,  350  bushels  to  the  acre  should  be  the  minimum,  in  an> 
ordinarily  favorable  year,  and  of  turnips,  beets,  carrots,  eCo.j 
irom  600  to  750  bushels.  (>j    .t.  i,  ,   ',im 

The  following  table  shows  the  acreage,  yield,  quantity  raised' 
per  acre,  average  price  and  total  value  of  each  of  thu  principal 
crops  of  Iowa  in  1878  and  1879,  according  to  the  United  Stales 
Agricultural  Department:       ,       ;  .   -.;.    ,     .       ,.  ;   .  ;  ..     ..  -;  ) 


Crap*  and  uak 
of  mmun. 


Th*  Crap  of  i67<. 


Indian  corn,  but. 
WhtM. 
Rye, 

Oau,  " 

Bariey,  " 

BkwkirWt,'  " 
Pou(o<t,  " 
Hay,*  ton*. 


I75,»5«i400  37.4 


^   ■ 


1|l 


30i44«.9*» 
431,600 

.!:^ 

3,«S8,«oo  1 
36,000  ; 

38,3U,8oo 
5,aM,aoa 

36.3     I,056,o<o 

■4. 

"J'?~ 

•»3i»<» 

M. 

8,Soo 

io,o«>,oao 
3.W.O00 

!.•» 

100,700 

1.80 

1, 9(0,000 

".307.900 

4,M6,aoo  |o  16 
■  » 
3S 
•«3 
■33 
•SJ 

.3« 
3.60 


y38,u4i/i>4 

13 ,310,480 

151,000 

4.?«3.»*4 
1,079,040 

3,6rS,aoo 
13,830 ,40t 


«6j,s86,3oe 


'111*  Crep  of  1879. 


i 


191  ,too,aoo 

3r.^5i««> 

437.»5o 

37,008,000 

4,796,000 

8,901, boo 
1,064,600 


n 


40. 

M.a 

r 
33. 
18. 

86. 
•54 


»8 


4,190,000 

J,«»,ooo 

37,500 

1 ,038,000 
318,000 

».75» 
103,300 


11,840,730 


I 


fa*4 
■9' 
•54 
■»J 

% 

.3» 
4-M 


1 

I 


>47,43»,ooo 

34>4M)»>o 

336,113 

3,lj8,30O 
106^3 

*>>4S>33o 
I3r9'3,»«4 


f       ,681,884 


Other  crops  have  attained  a  considerable  magnitude  in  Iowa., 
Among  them  we  may  name :  Sorghum,  which  has  been  cultivated, 
to  a  moderate  extent  for  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  but  in  1878, 
1879  3^"^  ^880  has  taken  a  new  departure.  The  Early  Amber 
Sorghum,  though  not  the  most  profitable  variety  in  the  amount 
of  its  yield  of  the  saccharine  juice,  is  yet  better  adapted  than, 
most  of  the  others  to  Iowa,  in  consequence  of  its  early  ripening, , 
the  ripening  of  the  seed  being  the  condition  precedent  to  the 
production  of  the  greatest  amount  of  crystallizable  sugar,  and. 
giving  the  additioqal  advantage,  that  tl^e  seed  and  the  leaves,  both; 
furnishing  excellent  food  for  cattle,  car  'a;  preserved*  The, 
crops  of  1879  and  1880  are  both  very  |argp,an4;are  Hjkel){  to  in- 
crease very  greatly  in  the  future.,,  r,Mn-'>n"f?'>  -f:  ,  f  .>t^-v,'i!  vH 

Other  plants  of  the  Zm  family,  such  as  Ijroom  corn,  Hungarian 
grass,  the  German  and  pearl  millet  and  the  dhurra  and  Egyptian 

*  This  includes  alio  hay  from  forage  crops,  Alfalfa,  Hungarian  grass,  millet,  etc  -      '^  ^ 


?«M*  «UM>J««P!*«^.« 


i 


1^  OOK    WBaVEKN  EMPIRB. 

ric4  cor  A,  if  these  two  are  not«  as  some  suppose,  identical,  are 
CQmiflg  into  somewhat  extensive  cultivation  in  the  State,  and  will 
prove  valuable  additions  to  its  forage  crops,  while  the  rice  com 
and  pearl  millet  yield  grains  which  are  valuable  for  the  food 
df  man  and  animals,  and  the  broom  com  is  always  a  profitable 
crop.    i.|    !ix\  v\  (j.x/w  /»  Miji*,v  ifci";  J^iik  /Xi'j  tj^i*.  icj**.  .  ju*>  ■J^i'^ 

Iowa  is  well  adapted  td  the  culture  of  the  castor-bean,  and  it 
proves  a  profitable  crop  when  it  is  planted  early  and  has  time  to 
ripen  before  the  frost.  This  crop  is  one  which  will  be  more  prof- 
itable if  a  sufficient  number  of  farmers  engage  in  its  culture  to 
furnish  etuployment  to  an  oil  mill  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  as 
they  can  then  obtain  a  much  better  price  for  the  beans.  The 
pea-nut  or  ground-nut  might  be  successfully  cultivated,  especially 
in  Southern  and  Southwestern  Iowa,  and  while  the  vines  are  ex- 
cellent for  forage,  the  nuts  command  a  good  price,  and  if  there 
b  art  oil  mill  near,  they  ttiay  be  ground  for  the  oil  at  a  good 
profit. 

But  notwithstanding  its  extremes  of  temperature,  Iowa  has  be- 
come famous  for  its  fruits.  The  soil  is  well  adapted  to  these,  and 
great  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  production  and  culture  of 
hardy  varieties  which  would  withstand  the  extreme  cold  of  some 
oi  the  winters.  The  efforts  mide  fbr  thfe  purpose  have  been 
Vefy  SUteessfUI.  Many  varieties  of  apples  and  pedrS  have  beert 
impoft^dfk)m  Northern  Russia,  Northerrt  China  and  Japan,  which, 
aftev  acclimation,  have  proved  the  best  of  these  fruits  for  sum- 
vtitt,  autumrt  and  Winter  use.  The  peach  does  rtot  flourish  quite 
a^  welt  though  some  of  the  more  hardy  varieties  db  well.  The 
plum  aiid  dherry*  are  very  successfully  cultivated.  '-Hh''  '*- /♦^'';' 
^Ifhe  value  of  farm,  market  garden  and  orchard '  prdductis  r^- 
jfertedln  the  State  eensus  For  1^75,  as  gathered  the  preceding 
y^ar,  was  1133,440,855.  The  census  of  the  firissent  year  will 
pnc>]f>ably  shoiv  nearly  dduble  ihe  aniduht. 

feUt  Iowa  has  beett  m6st  sUcfc^ssful,  perhaps,  ih  stock-raising. 
Her  live-stock,  as  enumerated  at  the  last  State  (Census,  in  1875, 
\^as  as  folibWs.  We  givd  fb^  the  sake  of  comparisdn  the  statis- 
tifcS  6^  Afe  United  States  Dfejiaftment  6f  Agriculture,  January, 

/ 


m 


:,  identical,  are 

State,  and  will 

the  rice  com 

|e  for  the  food 

s  a  profitable 

|or-bean,  and  it 
nd  has  time  to 
[I  be  more  prof- 
its culture  to 
ate  vicinity,  as 
e  beans.  The 
'ated,  especially 
e  vines  are  ex- 
ce,  and  if  there 
oil  at  a  good 

re,  Iowa  has  be- 
ed  to  these,  and 
and  culture  of 
ne  cold  of  some 
30Se  have  been 
edfS  have  becrt 
ndjap^n,  which, 
fi^uits  for  sum- 
ot  flourish  quite 
s  db  well.    The 

i-d'  products  r€- 
1  the  preceding 
tsent  year  will 

n  Stock-raising*. 
:ensus,  in  1875, 
risdn  the  statis- 
ulture,  JanUdf^, 


LiVMSTCCJe  W  tOWA. 


B4t 


Liva-ttock  according  to  Cemiu  of  1875. 

Livetlock  Report  of  U.  S.  Agricultural  Depart- 
ment, i8tio. 

AnimmU. 

MHmtNt. 

N«inbcr. 

I'rtce  per 
Head. 

152.00 

66.00 

24.20 

23.12 

2.50 

6.36 

Value. 

Horses    .... 

Mutes  and  asses     . 

Milch  co#s  .     .     . 

Other  cattle  ♦    .     . 

Sheep      .... 

Hogs 

Hogs  slaughtered  and 
sold  for  slaughter 
Iti  1875     •     •     • 

700,617 
36.820 
5*8,483 
ii405.58at 

3.»39.973 
*,$if4,4«« 

778,407 

44.70J 

7a3.5J4 

1,370,368 

454.410 

2,798,400 

140,477,164 

a.95o,33a 

17.509.523 

31,682,908 

1,136,125 

17,797,824 

/ 

Total  value  . 

•           •           • 

«"».S53.876 

Iowa  has  maintained  the  front  rank  in  the  production  of  pork, 
for  which  its  agricultural  products  give  it  great  advantages.  The 
question  has  come  to  be  one  of  mathematics  entirely.  Given 
corn,  sorghum  seed,  rice  corn  or  millet  at  a  certain  price  per 
bushel,  and  also  given  a  fixed  price  per  lOo  pounds  for  pork,  either 
live  or  dead  weight,  which  pays  best,  all  things  considered — 
to  sell  the  corn  or  other  grain,  or  to  fatten  hogs  with  it  ?  We 
have  seen  in  Part  It.  that  in  Kansas,  with  corn  at  from  twenty  to 
thirty  cents  a  bushel  according  to  locality,  the  farmers  decided 
that  there  was  more  profit  in  using  it  to  fatten  hogs  tlian  in  selling 
it.  The  Iowa  farmers  nearer  the  great  markets  have  come  to 
the  same  conclusion  with  corn  at  a  somewhat  higher  price.  But 
with  the  new  (iemand  for  corn  for  glucose  sugar,  the  price  may 
be  so  much  enhanced,  that  unless  other  grains  can  be  substituted 
for  corn  for  fattening  purposes,  such  as  sorghum  seed,  millet« 
rice,  corn,  etc^,  the  quantity  of  pork  made  may  be  seriously 
diminished.  The  present  year  there  seems  to  be  no  diminution 
in  the  quan^^ty^  J^ut  wha^  Uiere  i^ay  be  jn  t|i|e.  (y  tt^i;^  reipain*  tp 
be  seen.    ,  .  .        :,,,;,';,      ..   i  -,  .  ;  '  < ,  ;.,i.(  n  r  ;       .''.>■•:::*■ 

Iowa  is,  we  pelieve,  sixth  or  seventh  among  the  States  and 
Territories  of  "Our  Western  Empire"  in  the  number  of  her 

-T = i -,- ; \ 

*  ttxcMp't'  Working  oxen  (li  the  census  of  1875.    In  1880,  working  oxen  are  included. 
UXi  '  t  Thk  includek  9,690  AioMlikHbrM  sfcen-hdntt. 


,*€Oei9l««0WIR«N«M 


'■  *     ■«ii-JV''ri:'- 


V 


\ 


pL||  OUR    H^ESTBRN  EMP/JRE. 

sheep.  While  the  cost  of  rearing  a  sheep  is  somewhat  greater 
than  in  Western  Kansas,  Colorado  or  New  Mexico,  care  in  the 
selection  of  the  best  brteds  and  in  preserving  them  from  disease 
and  enemies  makes  it  a  fairly  profitable  pursuit.  On  this 
subject,  facts  are  worth  very  much  more  than  theories.  We 
introduce  therefore  without  apology  the  carefully  tabulated 
results  of  five  years  of  sheep-farming  in  Crawford  county, 
Western  Iowa,  by  one  of  a  number  of  Holstein  farmers  who  had 
been  accustomed  to  the  care  of  sheep  all  their  lives,  and  who 
had  emigrated  to  Iowa,  and  engaged  in  the  business  there.  *'' ' 
As  these  farmers  all  started  substantially  alike  in  the  business, 
they  have  followed  the  same  course  of  feeding,  and  the  results 
have  been  about  the  salme.  The  staple  of  wool  has  been  combing, 
delaine,  medium,  coarse  and  fine ;  it  has  been  sold  in  the 
Philadelphia  market  at  prices  ranging  from  eighteen  to  twenty- 
eight  and  a  half  cents  per  pound,  netting  twenty  cent?  per 
DOUnd     •{''■"^"■■^  ^'-'ijr.fH'Kiuw'i   'n  -.iin   ■"({  (>r->rt!>i  i'},i\   fUMj^^cj, 

In  feeding,  they  have  found  the  blue  joint  grass  most  excellent, 
knd  ample  for  summer  feed.  In  winter  they  feed  corn  in  the 
stalk,  cut  for  fodder.  The  ewes  have  sheaf  oats  after  January 
ist.  The  grain  consumed  per  head  is  about  five  bushels,  costing 
efght  to  ten  cents  per  bushel,  in  the  shape  in  which  it  is  fed ;  as 
Mr.  Henry  Lehfeldt  said :  **  The  sheep  husk  their  own  corn  and 
thresh  their  own  oats,  and  the  sheep  farmer  has  nothing  to  dol 
but  be  lazy."  The  theory  of  feeding  ife,  as  the  food  is  cheap,  to 
keep  the  sheep  at  all  times  in  the  very  best  condition ;  and  to 
that  end  they  are  allowed  all  the  grain  they  will  eat.  They  are 
fed  no  hay.  They  found  a  little  trouble  In  that  the  sheep  some- 
times ate  too  freely  of  corn  and  became  ov6r-heated.  This  they 
have  learned  to  remedy.  They  also  found  it  injurious  to  feed 
corn  to  e<ves  with  lambs  after  the  fii'st  of  January ;  some  losses 
Were  had  from  this  cause.  Straw  sheds,  o'ptn  to  the  east,  about 
four  feet  high,  in  a  protected  yard,  are  all  that  is  ysed  iot  shelter. 
Wte  asked  if  any  diseases  affected  the  sheep.  We  received  the 
emphatic  reply,  "  No,  hone  whatever." 

These  farmers  are  from  Holstein,  and  are  thoroughly  intelli- 
gent in   their  business.    Tjiey  were   raised  shepherds.     The 


■IMIWII 


lewhat  greater 

CO,  care  in  the 

m  from  disease 
[iuit.      On   this 

theories.     We 
[fully   tabulated 

wford   county, 
rmers  who  had 

lives,  and  who 
[ess  there, 
in  the  business, 
and  the  results 

been  combing, 
n  sold  in  the 
teen  to  twenty- 
enty  cents  per 

most  excellent, 
:ed  corn  in  the 
s  after  January 
pushels,  costing 
ich  it  is  fed  ;  as 
r  own  corn  and 
s  nothing  to  do 
)od  is  cheap,  to 
ndltion ;  and  to 
eat.    TTiey  are 
le  sheep  some- 
ed.     This  they 
jurious  to  feed 
Y ;  some  losses 
the  east,  about 
sed  for  shelter, 
e  received  the 

roughly  intelli- 
:pherds.     The 


EXPERIENCES  OF  H0L3TEIN  SHEEP  FARMERS.  843 

business  of  raising  and  fattening  sheep  for  the  Hamburg-London 
market  they  were  brought  up  to.  They  handled  Cotswolds  in 
Holstcin,  and  said  Cotswolds  did  as  well  here  as  in  Holstein, 
if  not  better.  They  prefer  the  Cotswold.  The  Southdown  \% 
good  for  mutton  but  deficient  in  wool.     It  was  as  profitable  to 

raise  and  fat  them  here  as  in  Holstein  and  more  so. 

1        ,1.' 

COST.  ' 

St^pt.,  1875,  cost  of  500  ewes  at  %%.^o  .     .     .     ....     .     .     .  ^1,250  00 

Sept.,  1875,  cost  (if  15  bucks  at  $io  (Cotswold)      •     f     •     •     •     •        30000 

May,    1876,  fed  50  acres  corn  and  oats  in  sheaf  at  |5  per  acre    .     .        35000 

Sept.,  1876,  coHt  of  attendance  i  year aoo  00 

May,  1877,  fed  100  acres  of  corn  in  italk  arui  oati  in  ahcaf  at  $$ 

per  acre    •..  .*  ,.«.   •.,»./••     t     *    «     t     .     .     .        500  00 

Sept.,  1877,  cost  of  attendance  I  ye.'>r 35000 

May,   1878,  fed  135  acres  of  corn  in  stalk  and  oats  in  sheaf  at  ^5 

per  acre 635  00 

Sept.,  1878,  cost  of  attendance  I  year 35000 

May,   1879,  fed  135  acrus  of  com  ia  stalk  and  oats  in  sheaf  at  $$ 

per  acre 635  00 

May,   1879,  <^ost  of  attendance  i  year 190  00 

Add  for  annual  interest  account — 
Sept.,  1876,  interest  on  lti,55d  i  year  at  lO  percent,  pet' 

annum  .  _  .  ,  •     •     ......     .     .  ^155  00    ,;  ,     ,1 

May,   1877,  interest  on  ^350  i  year  at  10  per  cent,  per 

annum 35  00 

Sept.,  1877,  interest  on  11,855  i  year  at  10  percent,  per  1   I  /, 

annum 185  50         ,:  ,t,  , 

May,   1878,  interest  on  J775  i  year  at  10  percent,  per        ,  ,,.r'      -  ,  1, '  | 

annum 77  5© 

Sept.,  1878,  interest  on  |3,3oo  t  year  at  10  percent,  per  '  '  '"  '  ' 

.)!  yu,   (IJU,  annum  .   ';'   ; -(ij.Ji^il.,   (j  1  .     t-'v^'i-'.     aao  00      »  y^"-i 

^y  30,  1879,  interest  on  $1,477.50  13  months  at  10  per  'i  J>    >.( 

cent,  per  annum 16096     ,,,),..((. 

May  30*  1879,  interest  on  $3,769  9  months  at  |o,per  cent.  f 

per  annum.     .     .     ,    .i     .'».,^  ,',     .     307  67 

Amount  of  interest  charged     .     vi^-^'^i   *^^[f  tA  •  .  •     •     •     ■  $i>o4o  ^3 

Total  cost  of  investment    .    .    .  *.    'J'  .''  V^'i    '/A  >■/''')    ,  15,480  63 

3^;>d  ■■'rlj  lu  n<'{})iH>fn<f  '>/it  -rol   O^-U     Jci'i    ;l;.'iff   f.  w'''r.!!r,   :•■     ''    '.ii', 
,     !«-7/  '>f!f   T>v<>   !Ii;  MTURNS.  •'•,.;„:-,[,    ■.,!!'      .-n- >.,!■) 

May  30,  1876,  sold  4,135  pounds  wool,  clip  1876,  500  fewes  at  40  ' 

cents  per  pound  net $835  00 


m?ii&JsimmimM^'^'>wimi' 


J 


A 


j^  ..  t  '.V  OVM    WaSTRKN  KMPIHB,  V    '\ » 

May  JO,  18^7,  mid  S^9«  pounds  wool,^  clip  1877,  joo  eww,  5*1 

,  ^11  ,..,,.  i  7cariing»,  at  ao  cent*  ,  ♦,,,#  vf,  .i...»^  m^v,*  •  I«i798  40 
Ktay  30,  1878,  told  8,99a  pounds  wool  cfiy  1878,  S^o  ewet,  533 

yearling)!,  at  ao  cents 1,798  40 

May  30,  1878,  told  585  fttt  sheep  at  I7.50,  sold  in  Man  h  and  April ,  3,937  50 

May  30,  1879,  sold  8,99a  |)uund»  wool,  clip  1879,  500  fwcs,  sas  > 

yrarlings,  at  ao  centu Ii798  4B 

May  30,  1879,  sold  515  fat  Mhccp  at  17.50,  sold  in  March  and  April .  3,937  50 
May  30,  1879,  on  hand  500  ewes  with  lamb  at  I4.50  per 

15  bucks  for  service  at  |ao 300  00  ' ' 

535  ycArlings  (shorn)  at  ^a     .     .     . i>o5<>  ^^ 

Add  for  anmmHntefert  account—      '  "*  "'  '  ^    '*'»  *    '"'   '  " 

May  30,  1879,  interest  on  |8a5  t  year  at  10  per  cent,  per 

annnm ^8a  50  ■>    '    '  '' /' 

May  30,  i87«,  Interest  on  18,705.90  t  year  at  10  per  cent. 

per  annum 370  59 

May  30,  1879,  Interest  on  J8, 71  a  301  year  at  10  percent.  !    '       ^  {, 

per  annum 871  #3  "' 

Amount  of  interest  credits v|  1  »>  >i«>  •1*1    *i  »>'<»<     |i>*>4  3' 

",(-('   f   r.    J,  •Ml.,;!    U(    (1    - 

Total  returns  from  investment     .    .    .    .^,»,f,*,,f  }»n>f<'  #'8»894  5' 
Netretunit  <5i'\ .'    / '  .     I13.413  89 

A  large  proportion  of  the  stock-raising  in  Iowa  consists  in  the 
purchase  of  "  store  cattle,"  as  the  English  farmers  call  them,  from 
Dakota,  Montana,  Colorado,  Wyoming  and  Kansas,  and  fattening 
them  either  for  exportation  to  England  or  fgr  the  Chicago,  New 
York  or  Boston  markets.  The  distance  which  the  catde  are  to 
be  driven  is  somewhat  less,  the  grain  and  forage  somewhat 
cheaper,  atjd  the  distance  to  a  shipping  port  or  to  market  alpout, 
the  same  as  from  Central  Ilhnois. 

There  is  alsci  a  gready  increasing  demand  in  Iowa  for  cattle 
for  dairy  farming.  At  the  recent  Natlional  Dairy  fairs  and 
congres^s  Iowa  has  taken  the  firft  prizes  for  the  best  butter, 
and  has  attained  high  rank  also  for  the  production  of  the  best 
cheese.  The  demand  for  these  products  all  over  the  West  is 
constantly  kwCreasIng  attd  fhtty  command  higJi  pirices. 


.^..:-^l 


».3»5 

■     • 

I«.7J« 

4« 

>.  5»5 

•     . 

1,79* 

40 

April . 

3.937  50 

».  5«5 

•     . 

i,79« 

40 

April . 

3.937 

50 

35  00 

>''  ' 

;oo  00 

)So  00 

/• 

1/ 

l3.5»3 

60 

18a  50 

V"i    ,, 

1  ( 

»7o  S9 

'  .'     .f 

\rx   ,  f.^ 

^ 

^71  t3 

■;m     .. 

W 

I         • 


fi8,894  5a 
113.413  89 


consists  in  the 
call  them,  from 
s,  and  fattening 
Chicago,  New 
»e  cattle  are  to 
age  somewhat 
market  about 

owa  for  cattle 
liry  fairs  and 
»e  best  butter, 
on  of  the  best 
r  the  West  is 
'S,     .   ;      .   •,  ■ 


FOr^ULATION  OJr  IOWA.  g^j 

Railrtadt  and  Sham  NavigaUom.—Ao'MVL  Ih  traversed  from  cant 
to  west  by  Bve  railroad  lincH,  whit  h,  with  their  bnuichcs,  reach 
nearly  all  the  counties;  theiu;  arc,  lx>)finninK  with  the  northern 
tier  of  counties,  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Haul,  the  Iowa 
Division  of  the  Illinois  Central,  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern, 
the  Chicago,  Rock  Islanil  and  Pacific,  and  the  Chicago,  Burling- 
ton and  Quincy.  As  all  these  have  Chicago  for  their  easienn 
terminus,  so  all  of  them,  eitlicr  directly  or  by  the  intervention  of 
north  and  south  roads,  centre  at  Council  Bluffs  and  Omaha,  on 
the  western  bonier  of  the  State.  Six  railroads  cross  tlk:  State 
from  north  to  south,  many  of  them  having  branches.  These  are 
the  Dubuque  and  Minnesota  and  its  continuation,  the  Chicago, 
Clinton  and  Dubuque,  the  Davenport  and  St.  Paul,  the  Hurling 
ton,  Cedar  Rapids  and  Minnesota,  with  which  a  northern  branch 
of  the  Illinois  Central  forms  a  junction  at  Cedar  Falls ;  the  Cen- 
tral Railway  of  Iowa,  the  Fort  Dodge,  Des  Moines  and  Keokuk, 
and  the  St.  Paul  and  Sioux  City,  which  hugs  the  eastern  bank  of 
the  Missouri.  The  entire  number  of  miles  of  railway  in  opera- 
tion in  Iowa,  January  i,  1880.  was  4.750.  Tliis  was  aside  from 
sidings,  double  tracks,  etc.  , 

Population, — The  growth  of  population  in  Iowa  has  been  rapid, 
not  quite  equalling,  perhaps,  in  its  percentage  that  of  some  of 
its  younger  sisters,  but  sufificiently  so  foi  a  healthy  development. 
During  the  last  decade,  when  the  tendency  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  States  of  the  Mississippi  valley  has  been  to  migrate  to  the 
newer  west,  Iowa  has  not  only  held  her  own,  but  has  increased 
twenty~six  per  cent.  The  following  table  shows  the  population 
at  different  periods  of  its  history.  The  official  figures  of  the 
population  in  1880  have  just  been  made  public,  and  they  give  a 
total  footing  of  1 ,624463.  ,,4  ,  ,  ,^,  .„, ' :j'„ii-  \ 

.    .    .      386,013 

•  .  .  5»9.o5S 
.  .  .  658,775 
.  .  .  674*913 
.  .  .  7*»i73* 

•  •  •  754#^9 
.    .    .       903,040 

^^^         --J-   .    ,    .    .        _—,,,,-,  --,- 1.194,030 


Jta  1838  .   .   . 

3a.8s9 

In  1854 

1840  .    .    .    , 

43.  "4 

1856 

1844  .   .   . 

75. » 5* 

»859 

1846  .    .    . 

97.588 

i860 

1847  .  .  . 

ts6,4jl 

1863 

1849  .    •    • 

.        I5i»«9« 

»86S 

1850  .    .    . 

191,983 

1867 

,    '!$»  •  '  • 

a?4»774 

1870 
1880 

*     tiia  .    .    . 

a3o»r*3 

I 


l:.^: 


^m 


There  are  large  German  and  Scandinavian  elements  in  thr* 
population,  but  the  majority  of  thr  inliabitantA  are  of  American 
birth.  There  \n  one  antall  Indian  rcHc-rvation  of  693  acrti,  occu- 
pied by  a  hand  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  Indian*.  It  i»  on  the  Iowa 
river,  in  Tama  county,  and  the  Indianii  number  345  ;  164  males 
and  181  females.  They  have  made  considrrttbU-  progrcns  in 
civilization,  own  and  occupy  permanent  houses  of  their  own,  cul- 
tivate their  lands  and  raise  horses.  They  have  a  considerable 
amount  of  pro()erty  aside  from  their  annuities,  good  schools,  and 
many  of  them  have  adopted  citizens'  dress. 

CouMtits. — There  are  ninety-nine  organized  counties  in  the 
State,  the  names  of  which  follow:       •'  n.   r/  I  ...  )ii|,ii<lii4 1  r  ii 


•  I 


^KH  Hi- I        «(lf    .Jt.i.   I    ,4'      ■--    tlfc 


COUNTIIS. 


•  ill 
J/ 


Adair, 
'* 'A(Um% 
I"  Allamakee, 
.MAppan«MMe, 
j,„  Audubon, 
Benton, 
Black  [lawk, 
.'-Boone,      •""  ' 
I'l  Bramer, 
)ji  Buchanan, 
,, ,  Buena  VUta, 
,  I, Butler, 
Calhoun,  '^ 
''''t:arroU,     "f^  ^ 
noi|)||l^l<M|  u\\i 

;»;',  iCedar, 

f.^    Cerro  Gordo, 

Cherokee, 

Chickasaw, 

Clarke, 

Clay, 

Clayton, 

Clinton,        .     . 

Crawford, 

Dallu, 


'I' 


! 
t, 


Davii, 

Deratur,    '  - 

Delaware,    ' 

Den  Moine*, 

Dickinson, 

Dubuque, 

Emmet, 

Fayette,      ' 

Floyd,        I 

Franklin,  ,,^   , 

Fremont, 

Greene, 

Grundy,     V'" 

Guthrie,    '  i"  *'• 

Hamilton,  )<niw 

Hanco<:lj,     ,v-,<'i 

Hardin, 

Harrison, 

Henry, 

Howard, 

Hbmboldt, 

Ida, 

Iowa, 

Jackson, 

Js»P««* 


r 


ni  ri  t 


Jefferson, 

Johnson, 

Jones, 

Keokuk, 

Kossuth, 

Lee, 

Lind, 

Louisa, ' ' 

Lucas,  '  'I 

Lyon, 

Madison, 

Mahaska, 

Marion, 

Marshall, 

Mills*   I 

Mitchell, 

Monona, 

Monroe, 

Montgomery, 

Muscatine, 

O'Brien,      • 

Osceola, 

Palo  Alto,   . 
Plymouth,    • 


II.  JU) 


".t 


<       .|'>      >IUl      I         rill,       I      I        In       1'     > 

I'l.     .    i.ll|f    V(      Ij    I.M     >       fll'J 

^"'       Pocahontaa.    '" 
,/    [  ,  Polk, 

'lit.  J     )\>ttawatomit, 
|[      Poweshiek, 
Ringgold, 
Sac, 

flcott,      ■'■'"'"'^ 
il       Shelby,  'V'\ 

ill     Sioux,      'i|,  i^   i\ 

I    t    Story,     „,/  J, J 

,    ,   Tama,        .     ,  , 

••1)  I    ~    ,         n;i.  ( I 
,     Taylor, 

'"  Union,     -^    "'t 

•,d  uti   Van  Buren,     "n 

In  >  >    Wapello,       .<vi 

AhAv.  Warren,  ,^.. 

,,,,^^    Washington, 

Wayne,  ' 

Webster,        K'^ 

Winnebago, 

Winneshiek, 

Woodbury, 

Worth, 

Wrighti 


U^^und  Large  Towns. — The  following  ird  the  largest  cities 


\ 


slcmenti  in  th'.- 
ire  of  American 
I692  acriB, otcu- 
I  is  on  the  luwa 
)45  !  164  malcH 
>l<'  prof^rciis  in 
[f  their  own,  cul- 

a  considerable 
>o<J  schools,  and 

[counties  in  the 

li|''.nli(«  I  r    ,! 

■  "J.  I  <  h    ,'  I 

'       'I    '•■!     >       f|(  1} 

PocahontM,     " 
Polk,  1? 

HxuwAtomict  ^ 
Powenhiek,       < , 
Rinugoid. 
Sac,  ""•' 

Scott,  .''.\'"f'»i< 
Shelby,      '\ 
Sioux, .,.,,,  J,  „ 

Taylor,        "  ■' 
Union,  'ft 

Van  Buren,      u 
Wapello,       ,^j 
Warren, 
Washington. 
Wayne,        '"'I 
Webrter,      '-'V* 
Winnebago, 
Winneshiek, 
Woodbury, 
^Vorth, 

Wright. 

.     .    ' ,  •  r 

le  largest  cities 


C/r/XS  AHD   LAMGK    roWffS  Or  /OH'A.  %^j 

and  towns  of  the  State,  with  the  |)opulatinn  of  the  first  neven 
according;  to  the  census  o(  \%Ao\  the  otlier*  according;  to  the 
census  of  1875 


^'  »;/ii;  m:    ,    it,.    ^ 

De«  Moinet . 
,         DulMique ,     . 

Davenport    . 

Burlington  . 

Council  niufh 

Keokuk    ,     . 

Muscatine 

Clinton    .     . 

Sioux  City  , 

Ottumwa 

Mount  (feasant 

Iowa  City     . 

Lyons      .     . 

Cedar  Rapids 

Cedar  Falls  . 

Marshalltown 
^  Waterloo  . 
' '       Waverley     . 

Washington 

Oiikaloosji 

Fort  Dodge  . 

Fort  Madison 


.  I'l 


rJ    • 


'\\t   ■  I  \ 


I    I,, 


lt.4ol 
•  *.aS4 

>  .8j4 

I9>4S0 
18,059 

If,ii7 

f.9«7 
7,0*8 

4.a9o 
6,316 

4.563 

3.784 
10,104 

3.»7o 
4.384 
3,508 
•,405 
•,189 

4.a63 
3.537 
4.305 


.     .      ,  1 

Vinton .....  t,jl9 

IndianoU 1)884 

IVIU «,5j6 

MiOregof      .     ,     .     .  1,85  s 

CharlenCity       .     .    .  1,169 

I>c  Wilt 1,754 

Hamburg *.os8 

Independence     ,     .    .  3,414 

OMCola 1,701 

Macjiiokcta     .    ,     .    ,  1,111 

WclMtter 1,161 

Atlantic i,8ji 

Albia t,88j 

Chariton >,I74 

Mason  City  ....  1,703 

Boone 1,331 

Winterset 1,433 

Newton     .....  •,354 

Lansing a, 180 

Marion 3,047 

Fairfield 1,343 

Drcorah '.597 

I  .  .1  t  ..  .1.     )     .,li  I.  <     .  ..■  'h   ,  . 


Lands  for  SttUers. — ^Thc  whole  area  of  the  State,  which  origi- 
nally belonged  to  the  United  States,  has  been  surveyed.  Of  the 
amount — 35,228,800  acres — there  have  been  granted  to  the  State 
the  School  and  University  lands,  and  3.449,730  acres  selected 
(not  all  yet  approved  or  patented)  as  swamp  lands ;  to  railroad 
companies  in  the  State  about  3,000,000  acres,  or  in  all  somewhat 
more  than  10,000,000  acres  of  lands.  The  greater  part  of  the 
desirable  government  lands  have  been  taken  up  either  by  pur- 
chase or  pre-emption,  or  under  the  Homestead  or  Timbcr-Cid- 
ture  Acts.  There  are,  however,  in  the  western  part  of  the  State, 
some  lands,  mostly  alternate  sections  with  the  railroad  land 
grants,  still  unsold.  These  arc  generally  double  minimum 
.lan<|#,j  ^»|  i^  tbpy  are  hfsld  at  la.50  per  acre.     In  the  fiscal 


; 


'JSgi-  v.w«i;afti»(«Ng<W:i  ^MW-iv.iiMMteiniiWi^aife;-* 


1^  0t'M   WKMTKMtir  KMNKK,       , 

ycjkr  1879  the  (government  (lifi|K)»c(l  of  11,600  Acres  uf  thcw* 
UntU  to  Aftuol  !M!ltleni,  9.750  acrca  o(  which  were  under  tin; 
Hotmrstr.'nl  or  Timhrr  Culture  AcIh.  /^;     »»•  ««»Mii  rj 

Thf  StatP  h.iH  a  larjje  nmoiint  of  latnl  yrt  for  na!**,  inrlu«flng 
Itn  ScIm)<»I,  lInivcT!»ity,  AjjHcultural  Collrjjr,  aiul  Hwamp  Uuuh. 
Th»*  liitH'r  arc!  for  th«  moit  part  cmly  f  ntilletl  to  thU  nam*'  in  a 
Pickwickian  nrnsr,  brinjj,  in  tnany  InntanccH,  the  hrst  laruls  in 
the  State.  All  the  State  lands  arc  held  at  price*  alxjve  the 
goveriunrnt  ratcn,  though  varying  with  different  liKaliticM  or 
market  fat  ilitie«.,  the  ranf^.  of  prices  being  generally  from  f^  to 
$10  or  $\3.  The  railroadH  have  bIno  a  conMilerable  quantity 
of  land  to  sell,  and  most  of  it  of  very  good  tpiality.  The  rail- 
road lands  arc  all  prairie,  and  art;  diviiled  according  to  loigtion, 
toil,  etc.,  into  grazing  and  farming  lands ;  the  grazing  iands, 
though  of  fair  ({uality  for  pasturing  cattle  or  nhcep,  are  not  so 
rich  or  fertile  as  the  farming  lands.  They  are  held  at  abort 
$2.50  per  acre,  and  v  here  taken  In  considerable  quantitka  are 
sold  on  a  liberal  credit.  The  farming  jands  bring  from  $3.50  or 
$4  to  $10,  according  to  locality,  fertility,  and  tonvenience  of 
acceM  io  markets.  It  it  also  often  p'^  blc  to  buy  partially  im- 
proved  farms  at  very  reasonable  pr  The  long  period  of 

financial  depression,  the  partial  failure  of  the  best  cro[)s  from 
storms,  cyclones,  or  other  disasters,  the  grasshopper  plague,  the 
prevalence  of  the  Colorado  beetle,  and  epidemics  of  hog  cholera, 
which  greatly  reduced  their  herds  of  swine  for  several  years, 
have  interfered  with  the  prosperity  of  Iowa  very  sensibly  in  the 
past.  About  nine  or  ten  years  ago,  the  fanners  of  Iowa  were 
very  generally  in  debt  cither  for  their  farms  or  their  agricultural 
machines,  and  the  ironclad  notes,  which  the  manufacturers'  agents 
exacted  from  the  farmers,  gave  alien  on  the  farms  which  resulted 
tn  the  foreclosure  of  the  mortgages  In  thousands  of  cases,  and 
it  teemed  for  a  time  as  if  the  entire  body  of  farmers  would  have 
to  go  into  bankruptcy.  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  organization 
known  as  "  Patrons  of  Husbandry  "  became  very  popular  in  the 
'State.  The  granges,  local,  county,  and  State,  were  well  man- 
aged, and,  by  associated  action,  they  succeeded  in  rescuing  the 
i  greater  part  of  the  faraiers  fisom  their  nearly  bankrupt  eonditidn. 


|.u-rc«  <if  thc«r 


.,..., 


•alf,  Imliitlin^ 
•wamp  liinilt. 
this  narrtf  in  n 
Iw'Ht  lancU  in 
liccN  alxivc  the* 
t   IfKitliiicH  or 
[ally  from  $.;  lo 
raUc  quantity 
lity.     The  rail- 
ing  to  location. 
K'raziujf  kinds, 
<'p,  arc  not  so 
lirld  at  abort 
quantities  are 
I  from  $3.50  or 
•onvtrnicnce  of 
y  partiaHy  im- 
oiijj  period  of 
<'st  crops  from 
[)cr  plajrue,  the 
of  hojf  cholera, 
several  years, 
sensibly  in  the 
»  of  Iowa  were 
efr  agricultural 
cturers'  aj^t^nts 
which  resulted 
»  of  cases,  and 
;r>»  would  have 
le  organization 
popular  in  the 
ere  well  man- 
I  rescuing  the 
rupt  eondftlbn. 


*0M  IMMhiHANn  IN  IOWA. 

^ahlrtl  rhfm  to  prorur**  ihHr  ngHi-uhurat  m«rhtn<>H  for  ra«h  •« 
on«*  huK  (nonu'timm  at  emr  ihirti)  of  thrir  prrvioun  crrtlit  price, 
and  th«ir  farm  Hupplirn  in  thr  nantc  way.  ThiH  roiirtc  puriucd 
cnrrj;«'tic«lly  for  a  nerirs  of  yrars.  ban  I'nabtrd  thr  Iowa  farmrrt 
very  jrrn'Tally  to  rrdrrm  ihoir  lan«l-«  from  mort^a^;eft,  nrd  though 
they  had  a  succcsuion  of  poor  or  indifTcrrnt  rropH,  and  did  not 
till  thiir  farms  to  thr  l)«*Ht  advanta^*-,  they  havr  c mer^fd  into  * 
condit'on  of  comparative*  indrp»'n<l«'nc«'.  and,  with  l)rttc?r  crofi* 
and  thfir  amt)ition  rounrd  to  attrmpt  brttcr  culture,  thr  future 
of  ajjrkidturr  in  Iowa  •iermi  much  hrijfhtfr  than  a  few  yram 
ago.  It  is  no  (tart  of  our  puri>OHe  to  chant  the  praises  of  th« 
l*atrons  of  Huslandry  or  any  other  necret  orj^anizaticm.  All  of 
these  organizations  have  th«*ir  faidts,  and  at  times  undoubtedly 
may  exert  a  prejudicial  inflm  n»e  on  the  intcrcsta  f)f  the  State  or 
nation ;  but,  at  the  time  <tf  which  we  speak,  their  influence  m 
Iowa,  Kansas,  Minnesota,  and  some  other  States  was  hi^ddy 
beneficial  to  the  farmers. 

In  many  instances,  the  settler  of  limited  means,  who  has  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  Iowa  prairie  lands,  has  foimd  himself  compelled 
to  wait  for  ei  itteen  or  twenty  months  before  he  could  realiic 
anything  from  his  land,  inasmuch  as  the  thick,  touj^h  prairie  sod 
beaten  down  for  a^es  by  the  hoofs  of  the  buffaloes  and  the  In* 
dian  ponies,  will  not  rot  sooner  than  that  time,  sufficiently  to 
yield  a  crop  of  any  value.  To  such  an  immigrant,  looking  for- 
ward with  anxiety  and  terror,  to  coming  months  of  privation  for 
himself  and  family,  and  ready  to  give  way  to  despair,  we  beg 
leave  to  commend  the  following  very  practical  suggestions  from 
an  Iowa  farmer  who  knows  by  personal  experience  the  success 
of  the  plan  he  recommends : 

"  How  to  bridge  over  the  first  year  on  a  new  piece  of  prairie 
has  been  one  of  the  most  difficult  of  problems  for  the  settler  of 
limited  means  to  solve.  The  uncertainty  of  being  able  to  sup- 
port their  families  until  a  crop  of  grain  could  be  raised,  has  pre- 
vented thousands  from  beginning  the  healthful  and  independent 
life  of  the  farmer.  Nature,  though  ever  kind  and  bountiful,  will 
allow  no  trifling  with  her  requirements  and  processes.  To  raise 
grain  successfully,  the  tough,  thick  prairie  sod,  the  result  of 


fiT'^^i^s^s'^HWsr.i-Aij'JTCr 


<-».%;i?«V'.  »*«►.;;''«■   •'■--■■ 


S$o 


OC/Jf    tVESTEJty  EMPIRE. 


■ntold  years  of  luxuriant  vegetation,  must  be  thoroughly  rotted. 
This  will  not  take  place  the  first  season  of  breaking,  and  there- 
fore, the  most  that  can  be  hoped  for  that  season,  in  the  way  of 
grain,  is  a  crop  of  •  sod  corn,'  which,  though  sometimes  excel- 
lent, is  yet  an  uncertain  and  unreliable  resource  as  a  means  of 
support. 

"  Is  there  any  crop  which  can  be  planted  the  first  season  upon 
breaking  of  that  year  which  will  afford  the  farmer  assurance  of 
return  for  his  labor  from  the  very  beginning  of  his  operations  ? 
This  question  has  occupied  the  mosf.  thoughtful  attention  of 
many  of  our  best  and  most  intelligent  farmers,  and  a  complete 
iknswer  has  been  found  during  the  past  three  or  four  years  in 
the  culture  of  flax  upon  new  breaking.     From  the  experiments 
made  during  several  seasons,  it  may  be  considered  as  settled 
that  the  requirements  for  the  grow  in  and  maturity  of  this  crop 
are  afforded  as  amply  by  new  breaking,  as  by  land  previously 
cultivated.      From  mc»iy  instances  within  our  knowledge,  em- 
bracing fields  varying  from  lo  to  400  acres  in  extent,  we  select 
one,  and  give  below  the  details.     The  net  result  in  this  case  is 
not  as  favorabk  as  in  some  others,  but  the  selection  is  made 
because  the  details  are  complete,  and  have  been  verified  by 

affidavit  '^  ;   '     ^ 

"  Mr.  Eugene  Fuller,  formeriy  of  Sandwich,  111.,  upon  his  farm 
near  Si;orm  lake,  in  Buena  Vista  county,  Iowa,  raised  fifty  acres 
of  flax  on  new  breaking  last  year  (1878)  with  the  following 

result:  ^^'^-i'/  V^V/    qv:-'    v.--    .^j.-j  .;    i-s:.!.     /im;,.  \    \y:-\^ 


■  ■II  m '. 


Jleea/ts.—tjs  bushels  of  flax-seed  raised  on  50  acres  of  breaking,  sold      •     , 

at  fi.aq  per  bushel  .    .     .    »    .*  V    .    •    •    *    •    •    •    f    •    •  ^343  75 
Expenses. — Breaking  50  acres  at  $2  per  acre  ,^^  »^  ,    .    .     ^100  00 


as  bushels  seed  at  I T. 25  per  bushel      ......         3*  *S 


^«       Cost  of  putting  in  seed,  as  cents  per  acre     ....         12  s©      -      '•' 
■  4^      Cost  of  cutting  and  stacking,  50  cents  per  acre  ri,:;%  :1      as  00    *ri!f!ii! 
Threshing,  9  cents  per  btuhel     .^  .t^n  ,  i5,|;!.j,itr5f»n     *4  75    1*93  Jo 


rr.'  ■ .     - 

.     •     •     •     «'    •     •     « 


:!-, 


•  #150  «S 


I  r4;  i  Profit 

jii-   ■  '  . 

«It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  farmer  doing  his  own  breaking, 
seeding,  and  cMtting  wQujd  be  at  an  expense  of  only  $1.1  a  f^r 


HMHii 


roughly  rotted, 
tng,  and  there- 
|i  in  the  way  of 
letimes  excel- 
as  a  means  of 

'St  season  upon 
T  assurance  of 
his  operations  ? 
1 1  attention  of 
and  a  complete 
r  four  years  in 
he  experiments 
sred  as  settled 
ity  of  this  crop 
and  previously 
knowledge,  em- 
Ktent,  we  select 
It  in  this  case  is 
lection  is  made 
sen  verified  by 

L,  upon  his  farm 
aised  fifty  acres 
Si  the  following 


king,  sold 


.»::": 


^343  75 


»4  75     $193  50 


*i5o  «S 


own  breaking, 
only  $1.12  per 


WiyA   MANUFACTURES.  gjf 

acre  for  seeding  and  threshing,  and  that  the  net  result,  after 
paying  all  expenses,  is  %i  per  acre.  Other  cases  reported  to 
us  have  given  the  net  piv^fit  as  high  as  $5.50  per  acre.  Besides 
th .  profit  on  cultivation,  the  crop  is  a  great  advantage  to  the 
land  for  the  succeeding  crop,  as  it  leaves  it  clean  and  in  better 
condition  than  if  permitted  to  remain  idle."*  The  importance  of 
this  new  departure  in  farming  cannot  be  over-estimated,  for  it  is 
nothing  less  than  a  year's  gain  in  cropping,  and  that  at  the  most 
important  time  io  the  settler,  the  beginning  of  his  enterprise, 
when  the  call  upon  his  resources  is  greatest.  The  man  of 
limited  means  need  no  longer  be  deterred  from  buying  a  home 
by  the  fear  that  a  year  must  be  lost  afier  breaking  before  the 
farm  will  yield  returns." 

Manufactures. — Iowa  has  always  been  regarded  as  an  essen- 
tially agricultural  State,  yet  she  has  from  the  first  taken  a  deep 
interest  in  manufactures,  for  which  her  fine  water-powers  and 
her  large  production  of  excellent  coal  give  her  extraordinary 
iaciliti.is.    -nl  •    n  :•  ;;i'    •/.••■•    ■  '•..1-   •./'^■;^--'   )■      ,',i'../K':f:.  i  .■•• 

Her  flouring  umIIs  are  very  numerous  and  on  a  large  scale. 
She  has  atso  extf.nsive  smelting  works,  agricultural  implements 
and  machine  works,  carriage,  wagon,  and  car  works,  creameries, 
cheese  factories,  plaster  mills,  sorghum  mills  and  sugar  refineries, 
cotton,  woollen,  and  silk  mills,  etc.  The  growth  of  manufactures 
in  the  State  has  been  very  large  during  the  last  decade  and  is 
now  rapidly  increasing.f  Until  the  returns  of  manufactures  for 
the  census  of  1880  are  received  and  published,  it  is  useless  to 
conjecture  the  present  amount  of  these  in  theState  ;but,  though  the 
aggregate  is  certainly  less  than  that  of  the  great  manufacturing 
State  of  Missouri,  which  joins  Iowa  on  the  south,  yet  it  will 
reflect  hig)i  honor  upon  its  industry  and  entierprise. 

*  The  cortical  fibre  of  the  flax  utalk,  thoHgb  nearly  worthless  as  flax,  i*  valuable  for  paper 
stock,  after  being  rnn  through  a  flax  breaker,  and  will  bring,  anywhere  within  lOO  miles  of  a  good 
paper  mill,  from  seTenty  to  eighty  dollars  a  ton,  for  that  purpose.  The  best  writing  and  map 
papers  can  be  made  from  it. 

fin  1874,  the  State  censos,  which  omitted  all  the  small  industries,  and  only  enumerated 
nineteen  kinds  of  manufactures,  reported  3,203  establishments,  employing  18,854  men,  and 
pr^ucing  goods  valued  at  #39,263,310.  The  probability  is  that  this  sum  was  not  at  that  time 
one-half  of  the  actual  production  of  that  year;  and  the  progress  since  1854 h«^  'f**"  CBomraiu. 


^*' 


(if'! 

m 
w 


llf  ■,  V 


r|j4  Ol/Jt    WESTEKf/  EMPJKE. 

EduMtipniti  AdvatUages. — The  State  has  made  ample  pro- 
vision from  the  first  for  the  education  of  all  its  children  and 
ytKith.  Beginning  with  the  higher  instruction,  it  has  a  State 
University  at  Iowa  City  fully  organized  and  under  an  able  faculty, 
having  284  students  in  its  collegiate  and  232  in  its  professional 
departments,  and  taking  rank  with  any  State  University  in  the 
country;  a  State  Normal  School  at  Cedar  Falls,  having  a  prin- 
cipal and  five  other  professors  and  237  teacher  pupils  in  1879; 
a  State  Agricultural  College  at  Ames,  well  endowed,  and  with  a 
faculty  of  24  professors  and  teachers,  and  305  students.  There 
are  also  99  Teachers'  Institutes  held  every  year,  one  in  each 
county,  where  lor  from  two  to  four  weeks  the  teachers  of  the  public 
schools  are  instructed  by  the  ablest  professors  and  teachers  who 
can  be  obtained.  Below  these  come  the  public  schools,  graded 
and  ungraded.  Of  these  schools  there  are  now  10,951,  occupy- 
ing 10,791  school-houses,  of  which  10,719  are  substantial  build- 
ings of  frame,  brick,  or  stone.  The  ap[>raised  value  of  then; 
school-houses  in  1879  was  1^9,066,145,  an  increase  from  $38,506 
In  1849,  thirty  years  before,  of  241  times  the  amount.  There 
were  21,152  teachers  employed  in  these  schools,  yiz.:  7,573 
males,  13.579  females,  and  the  average  compensation  for  the 
whole  State  was  $3171  per  month  for  males,  and  $26.40  foi- 
female  teachers.  The  whole  number  of  persons  of  school  age 
of  both  sexes  (between  five  and  twenty-one  years)  in  the  State 
■was  577,353,  out  of  a  total  population  of  about  1,500,000;  of 
Uiese,  431,317  were  enrolled  on  the  school  registers,  and  the 
avei^e  attendance  was  264,702.  The  average  cost  of  tuition 
per  month  was  $1.49  per  head.  The  total  expenditure  for 
school  purposes  annually  was  $5,051,478,  or  about  $3.33  for 
each  inhabitant  of  the  State  ;  of  this  amount  $2,937,308  was  for 
teachers'  salaries,  $1,149,718  for  school-houses,  apparatus,  etc., 
and  $979,452  for  fuel  and  other  contingencies.  The  permanent 
school  fund  amounts  to  $3,484,411,  and.  is  constantly  increasing. 
The  income  from  this,  $276,218  in  1879,  is  distributed  to  the 
schools,  but  the  remainder,  $4,775,260,  is  raised  by  district  taxa- 
tion a»d  local  funds.  The  teachini^  is  for  the  most  part  of  a 
Tcry  high' order.  '  J';*;  V*'  •'"•'  •  '"^t^ '-'  =^'  V *'v;'"-'-  ''i-''^-  '^'-  ■*•  i?«t^»^-. 
■^    ■     -    ■  ■  ■■    ■■""■'  \     ' 


KM 


,-.       -.<j»*«rt»1l  .V'.  t. 


ade  ample  pro- 
its  children  and 
it  has  a  State 
T  an  able  faculty, 
its  professional 
niversity  in  the 
|ls,  having  a  prin- 
pupils  in  1879; 
wed,  and  with  a 
itudents.     There 
:ar,  one  in  each 
jhers  of  the  public 
ind  teachers  who 
:  schools,  graded 
V  10,951,  occupy- 
mbstantial  build 
i  value  of  these 
se  from  $38,506 
amount.     There 
lools.  Viz.:    7,573 
sensation  for  the 
)  and  $26.40  foi' 
ns  of  school  age 
sars)  in  the  State 
ut  1,500,000;  of 
egisters,  and  the 
;e  cost  of  tuition 
expenditure  for 
about  $3.33   for 
N92  7.308  was  for 
!,  apparatus,  etc., 
The  permanent 
antly  increasing, 
istributed  to  the 
by  district  taxa- 
:  most  part  of  a 


BENEVOLEST  JNSTITUTtOttS  Altjl  CHURCHES. 


as3 


Beside  this  liberal  course  of  public  instruction,  the  State  has 
special  schools  for  deaf  mutes,  the  blind,  and  for  orphans  and 
deserted  children,  and  reformatories  for  ncgiecteil,  wayward,  and 
vicious  children.  There  are,  moreover,  fifteen  or  twenty  colleges, 
and  very  many  academies,  collforiate  schools  and  seminaries, 
mostly  under  the  control  of  the  different  religious  denominations. 
The  immigrant  coming  to  Iowa  with  his  family  need  not  fear  that 
they  will  be  deprived  of  the  opportunities  of  gaining  an  educa- 
tion, whatever  his  own  circumstances  may  be. 

Religious  Denominations. — The  general  tone  of  society  in  Iowa 
is  eminently  moral,  and,  to  a  considerable  extent,  religious.  In 
no  State  west  of  the  Mississippi  are  so  large  a  proportion  of  the 
inhabitants  connected  with  some  religious  denomination.  The 
Methodists  take  the  lead,  both  in  the  number  of  members  and 
the  adherent  population ;  the  Presbyterians,  Catholics,  Congre- 
gationalists.  Baptists,  German  Reformed,  Lutherans,  Episco- 
palians, and  minor  sects  follow  after  in  about  the  order  desig- 
nated. Every  village,  even  the  newest,  has  one  or  more 
churches.  The  religious,  like  the  secular  teaching,  is  generally 
of  a  high  order. 

The  immigrant  coming  tx)  Iowa  either  with  a  large  or  small 
capital  may  not  find  the  avenues  to  large  immediate  wealth  so 
wide  as  in  some  of  the  newer  States  and  Territories,  but  if  tem- 
perate, industrious,  and  frugal,  he  is  sure  to  acquire  a  com- 
petence in  a  few  years ;  and,  meanwhile,  he  has  the  advantages 
of  established  organizations,  good  society,  excellent  educational 
and  religious  institutions,  a  fertile  soil,  and  easily  accessible 
markets. 


Vr. 


>>{ 


-Vv-^.  \  V 


i  4. 


Cfti';. 


..V  t    \  w 


I 


^"W^mrzz 


«54 


•♦!. 


■  //  s 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

'■'  -''I    '         '  >      ' 

CHAPTER  IX. 
KANSAS. 


Kansas  GtoeMiAMtiCALLV  thk  Cintral  State— Its  Boundaries— Latitude, 
Longitude,  Length,  Breadth  and  Area— Its  Surface,  Declination  and 
Elevation  at  Various  Points — Rivers— Lakes— Hills— No  Mountains 
IN  THE  State — Geology  and  Mineralogy — The  Geological  Formations 
— The  Quaternary,  Tertiary,  Cretaceous  and  Carboniferous  and 
Lower  Carboniferous  Systems  Represented — Fossils— Great  Variety 
OF  these— Economic  Geoi/xjy- Coal — Salt— Lead  and  Zinc— Gypsum— 
Building-Stone,  etc.,  etc. — Gas  or  Burning  Wells— Soil  and  Vegeta- 
tion—Native Trees — Trees  Planted  under  the  Timber-Culture  Acts- 
Flowers — Zooixkjy — Natural  Curiosities  and  Phenomena — Climate  and 
•  Meteorology  —  Meteorological  Statistics  —  Rainfall  —  Agricultural 
Productions— Tables  of  Productions  of  1877,  1878,  1879— Live-Stock— 

•  Valuations  of  Real  and  Personal    Estate — School    Statistics — No 
Mines  or  Mining  excefi-  Coal,  Lead  and  Zinc— Manufactures— Popu- 

,  LATioN — Indians — Sources  from  which  Population  is  Derived — Counties, 
Cities  and  Towns — Schools  and  Education— Churches — Railroads — 


Kansas  a  Home  for  Immigrants. 


lUTj  ' 


Kansas  is,  geographically,  the  central  State  of  the  American 
Union,  and  one  of  the  largest  and  most  enterprising  of  the  great 
States  of  the  central  belt  of  "Our  Western  Empire."  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Nebraska,  on  the  east  by  Missouri,  on 
the  south  by  the  Indian  Territory,  and  on  the  West  by  Colorado. 
It  would  be  a  perfect  parallelogram,  but  that  the  Missouri  river 
cuts  off  a  slice  of  its  northeast  corner,  and  hands  it  over  to  Mis- 
souri. It  is  situated  between  the  37th  and  the  40th  degrees  of 
north  latitude,  and  between  the  meridians  of  94"  35' and  102°  of 
west  longitude  from  Greenwich,  and  is  404  miles  long  from  east 
to  west,  and  208 J^  miles  wide  from  north  to  south.  The  latest 
Land  Office  Report  makes  its  area  80,891  square  miles,  or 
51,770,240  acres.     ">•'•    i;-^- ;•;  ^^  ■-  i"   ^^'./z-  :■'  •"--'''■'  ■■.-  -^-xw 

Topography  and  Surface — Rivers  and  Lakes — Plains,  Prairies 
and  Valleys. — ^The  topography  of  the  State  shows  an  alternation 
of  broad,  level  river  valleys  and  high  rolling  prairies,  the  whole 
forming  a  series  of  gentle  undulating  plateaus,  sloping  at  an 


\ 


i::irmi»iime!iis^m!mSia^am--^^v^^>m<»^'mmimimi^ 


ii-.*ifeWVj..'>:  k'''L!A;^^.-. 


.  --.-^itfc?*'' 


DARIES — LatITUDK, 

,  Declination  and 
-s — No  Mountains 
3GICAL  Formations 
arboniferous  and 
Great  Variety 
D  Zinc— Gypsum — 
-Soil  and  Veoeta- 
er-Culture  Acts— 
lENA — Climate  and 
LL  —  Agricultural 
8  79 — Live-Stock — 
OL    Statistics — No 

NUFACTUKES — PoPU- 
>ERI  VED — COUNTI ES, 

cHEs — Railroads — 


af  the  American 
sing  of  the  great 
Empire."  It  is 
by  Missouri,  on 
est  by  Colorado. 
2  Missouri  river 
5  it  over  to  Mis- 
pth  degrees  of 
*  35' and  102°  of 
s  long  from  east 
nth.  The  latest 
quare  miles,  or 

-Plains,  Prairies 
fs  an  alternation 
airies,  the  whole 
;,  sloping  at  an 


\ 


MNNMtl 


> 


■m>mi»^ 


■■  »r 


."■-    "".    '-'^  .1**- 


■■fi  --.iT,    ■>■',  t*- 


.■       t 


:) 


■  "'.,r,'l'*«A 


■mmi,  ■  ■ 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  KASSAS.  gjj 

average  inclination  of  seven  and  a-half  feet  per  mile  from  the 
mountains  toward  the  Missouri  river.  Thus  at  Monotony  the  al- 
titude is  3,792  feet;  at  Wallace,  Kansas,  3.319  feet;  at  Ellis, 
2,135  ^'sc';  *'  Abilene,  1,173  ^<^ct;  at  Topeka,  904  feet,  and  at 
Wyandotte,  707  feet.  The  elevations  of  correspoiuling  points 
in  the  Arkansas  valley  and  on  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa 
F^  Railway,  are  a  little  lower  in  the  west,  but  a  little  higher  as 
we  go  east,  showing  a  moderate  declination  from  north  to 
southwest,  as  well  as  a  more  marked  one  from  west  to  east; 
thus,  Sargent,  at  the  west  boundary  of  the  State,  is  3,129  feet; 
Lakin,  3,013;  Kinsley,  2,200;  Newton,  1,433;  Burlington,  1,055, 
and  Fort  Scott,  912  feet. 

The  principal  rivers  of  the  State  are  the  Missouri,  which 
washes  its  northeastern  corner  for  a  distance  of  forty  or  fifty 
miles ;  the  Arkansas,  which  leaves  the  State  near  the  97th  meri- 
dian, after  traversing  the  whole  southern  and  southwestern  por- 
tion of  it ;  the  larger  tributaries  of  this  noble  river,  the  North  and 
South  F'orks  of  the  Cimmaron,  Salt  and  Red  Forks  of  the  Arkan- 
sas, Chikaskia,  Verdigris  and  Neosho  rivers  on  the  south  bank, 
and  the  Pawnee  and  Walnut  creeks  on  the  north  bank ;  but  most 
important  of  all  for  the  State,  the  Kansas  or  Kaw  river,  one  of 
the  largest  tributaries  of  the  Missouri,  with  the  Republican  and 
Smoky  Hill  rivers,  by  whose  union  it  is  formed,  and  its  numer- 
ous affluents,  the  Big  Blue,  the  Solomon,  the  Saline,  the  Soldier, 
the  Beaver,  the  Delaware,  the  Stranger,  the  Sappa,  the  Grass- 
hopper and  the  Wakarusa.  There  are  also  a  few  smaller 
streams  in  the  northeast,  affluents  of  the  Missouri,  like  the 
Nemaha,  etc.  Tiiese  streams  form  one  of  the  grandest  systems 
of  water-coursefj  in  the  whole  country. 

Though  thi:  surface  is  rolling  and  attains  so  considerable  an 
elevatiuu  toward  the  western  border  of  the  State,  there  are  no 
mountains,  nor  hardly  any  ranges  of  hills  in  the  State ;  occasion- 
ally the  bluffs  along  the  rivers  are  of  considerable  height  above 
the  streams,  and  in  rare  instances  one  or  two  isolated  buttes,  or 
-masses  of  rock,  like  Castle  Rock,  in  Gove  county,  the  Twin 
Buttes,  in  Rooks  county,  or  the  Bluff,  in  Clarke  county,  attract 
attention.    The  State  is  not  remarkable  for  lakes  or  ponds,  but 


■•.v.-*,u,,i;^sa^iE^^;l^fa5@iafefe;-^,*v>^-:^iSstss^j 


,;**• 


II  liwimiit 


-teak. 


1^6  Ot/Jt    WESTiHty  KMmtK. 

rather  for  their  absence.  There  arc  more  in  the  comparatively  arid 
western  counties  than  in  the  eaHtcrn.  The  river  valleys  or  river 
bottoms,  as  they  are  called,  are  very  fertile,  but  except  in  the  Ar« 
Icansas  valley,  are  sometimes  flooded  by  the  swelling  of  tho 
streams  from  the  multin)^  of  the  snow. 

Geology  and  Mineralogy. — Professor  B.  F.  Mudge,  the  emi- 
nent State  Geclogist,  has  described  at  considerable  length,  and 
with  maps  and  sections,  the  geology,  general  and  economic,  of  the 
State.  The  following  summary  gives  as  good  an  idea  of  itn  very 
simple  geological  formations  as  can  be  obtained  without  a  geo- 
logical map.  As  we  have  already  said,  the  surface  has  a  gradual 
but  double  descent  to  the  east  and  to  the  south,  or  south-south- 
eUst.  The  streams  follow  the  same  general  direction.  The  sur- 
fijice,  for  the  most  part,  is  a  gentle  rolling  prairie,  with  few  steep 
hills  or  bluffs,  and  the  ravines  are  not  often  precipitous  or  deep. 
The  soil  which  forms  the  surfacj  of  the  whole  State,  in  both  val- 
\ty  and  high  prairie,  is  the  same  fine,  black  rich  loam,  so  common 
in  the  Western  States.  The  preduir.mating  limestones,  by  disin- 
tegration, aid  in  its  fertility,  but  the  extreme  fineness  of  all  the 
ingredients  acts  most  effectively  in  producing  its  richness.  On 
the  high  prairie  it  is  from  one  to  three  feet  deep ;  in  the  bottom 
it  is  sometimes  twenty  feet.  There  are  a  few  exceptions  to  this 
general  fertility  in  the  most  western  and  southwestern  counties, 
but  they  constitute  only  a  small  proportion  of  the  whole.  The 
State  is  so  well  drained  that  there  are  very  few  valleys  with  stag- 
nant; ponds,  and  there  is  not  a  peat  swamp  of  fifty  acres  within 
Its  boundaries.  The  lands  toward  the  Colorado  border  arc  often 
■poken  of  as  alkaline  lands,  but  Professor  Mudge  says  that  they 
are  not  so.  In  fifteen  years  of  exploration  he  had  never  found 
but  two  springs  containing  alkalies,  and  had  never  seen  ten  acres 
of  land  in  one  place  which  had  been  injured  by  it. 

Professor  Mudge  says  that  there  is  nowhere  to  be  seen  in  the 
State  any  violent  disturbance  of  the  strata,  marks  of  internal  fire, 
w  even  any  slight  mctamorphic  action  in  any  of  the  deposits. 
The  uplifting  of  this  State  and  the  adjoining  ccmntry  from  the 
level  of  the  ocean  must  have  been  slow,  nniibrm  and  in  a  pef- 
|iehdieular  direction,  which  has  left  aM  the  strata  in  a  nearly  kort- 


parativdy  arid 
alh-ys  or  river 
cepi  in  the  Ar. 
welling  of  tho 

itlge,  the  emi- 
>lc  length,  and 
conomic,  of  the 
idea  of  itH  very 
vithout  a  guo- 
has  a  gradual 
•r  south-south- 
ion.    The  sur- 
with  few  steep 
)itous  or  deep, 
tc,  in  both  val- 
im,  so  common 
tones,  by  disin- 
less  of  all  the 
richness.    On 
in  the  bottom 
eptions  to  this 
stern  counties, 
e  whole.     The 
lleys  with  stag- 
ty  acres  within 
order  are  often 
says  that  they 
i  never  found 
seen  ten  acres 

be  seen  in  the 
of  internal  fire, 
the  deposits, 
intryfrom  the 
and  in  a  pef- 
a  nearly  htm- 


GEOLOGY  OF  XAATSAS,  gj/ 

zontal  position.  He  believes,  from  his  knowledge  of  western 
geology,  that  this  took  place  after  the  rise  of  the  Kocky  Moun- 
tains, and  probably  did  not  come  to  a  close  until  the  Drift  Period. 
A  general  vertical  section  of  all  the  formations  seen  in  Kunsas 
would  be,  in  descending  series,  as  follows : 

I.    QUATKRNARY   SVSTEM. 

A/luvium.  The  Hurface  deposit  all  over  the  State,  from  five  to  fifty  feel 
deep  in  the  river  valley*,  and  forming  the  richest  toil. 

Bluff  »r  Lotii.  Pound  mott  largely  in  the  eautcrn  part  of  the  State,  par- 
ticularly on  the  bank*  of  the  Miuouri  and  for  tome  dintance  bai  k  from 
it.     It  ii  the  same  deposit  seen  in  Iowa,  MiiiMuri,  and  NebroHka. 

J)n/t.  Mostly  in  the  form  of  boulders  found  on  the  toin  uf  blufTs  and 
high  prairies  along  both  sides  of  the  KnnsoH  river,  c<t|K'<;iully  un  the 
north  side  from  the  Missouri  nearly  to  the  Republican  river. 

II.   TlRTIARY  SVSTKM. 

PUoetne.     Seen  only  in  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  State,  where  it 
covers  an  area  of  about  9,000  miles.     It  occupies  the  greater  part  of 
■even  counties  along  the  Nebrxska  border  t>eginning  ut  the  Colorado 
line,  and  a  part  of  ten  other  counties  in  the  northwest  and  west.     The 
following  are  the  names  of  these  counties :  Cheyenne,  Rawlins,  Deca- 
tur, Norton,  Phillips,  Smith,  Jewell,  Sherman,  Tiiomas,  Sheridan. 
Graham,  Wallace,  Greeley,  Wichita,  Scott,  and  small  tracts  of  Gov* 
and  Ellis.     Ten  of  these  courties  are  yet  unorganised.     The  material 
of  the  Pliocene  deposits  consists  of  sandstone  of  various  shades  of  gray 
and  brown,  with  o<:rasionally  a  small  admixture  of  lime.     The  total 
',  '      thickness  of  it  is  about  1,500  feet.     When  it  ap|)ear8  on  the  surface  it 
resemble*  coarse  gravel.     It  is  seldom  seen  above  the  alluvium  except 
where  it  caps  the  hill-tops  in  Wallace  and  Sheridan  counties. 
Ill,  Crktacicous  System.     This  system  covers  an  area  of  over  40,000  square 
miles,  or  more  than  half  the  surface  of  the  State.     It  extends  from  the 
Colorado  border  in  the  west  and  southwest  as  far  cast  as  Marshall 
and  Morria  counties,  touching  the  Nebraska  line  in  Jewell,  Republic, 
Washington,  and  Marshall  counties ;  the  Indian  Territory  in  Kansas, 
'"      Sttrrens,  Seward,  Meade,  and  Clark  counties,  and  the  Colorado  line 
in  Wallace,  Hamilton,  Stanton,  and  Kansas. 
JtfMkrara  Group.    The  Niobrara  occupies  a  belt  of  the  country  next 
adjoining  the  Pliocene,  about  thirty  miles  in  width  in  the  northern 
i*  part  of  the  State,  but  gradually  widening  to  more  than  twice  that 

■i'^<^-  MteAt  in  the  Smoky  Hill  valley.  It  is  composed  of  chalk  and  chalky 
^,  ^'t )  ahaleSi  This  la  said  to  be  the  only  genuine  chalk  in  North  America. 
It  ranges  from  seventy-five  to  two  hundred  feet  in  thickness.  The 
ahalet  sometimes  contain  fine  crystals  of  calc  spar.  The  soil  overlying 
thia  group  is  rich  and  fertile  and  admirably  adapted  both  for  culture 
and  graaing.  ,  >,  •  ;  ' 


aaiM."Si»*»i«tJ?'^»«'''*K***5^'^*"''''''*-'^ 


J 


•AiAii 


■  ■#>!    «1    .      — IH 


•!• 


;m 


t^; 


IV. 


,0 


OOk   WaxTKRKf  KM  Nit  a. 

Ftrt  BtHtoH  Gram/*,  llttd  group  it  rom|x)ti«il  of  »  whitt  or  ytllowith 
limetionr,  alxHit  »iKty  feci  in  ihickncM,  a  bliiiah  hlu  k  or  Rlnte-roloml 
•hale  of  aliout  the  »atn«  thi<  kii<ni4,  and  Rhaln  tntcntraiillcil  with  lime 
•tune  Uyert  <ont«ining  an  ;il>(iiidttnce  of  fowil  »h«li«,  and  ranging  from 
50  tu  140  feet  in  thickneaa.  Tlicrc  are  lume  thin  impure  Iteda  of 
lignite  in  the  lower  itraia,  but  nf  litllc  value.  ''1ic  Fort  Itenton  04  ru- 
piea  the  central  and  northaaMern  portionit  of  Iht  tertiary  •yatem  in  tlit 
State.    !,.;»•  I 

Dakota  Grvmf.  ThU  gro<ip  occupies  mottiy  the  touthimtern  portion 
of  the  State.  'I'here  are  no  triouic  or  juraiaic  rot  V%  in  the  State,  and 
the  Dakota  group  re«tii  liirectly  on  the  Fcrmuui.  l  he  inakimum  thirk- 
neia  may  be  500  feet,  It  ia  almost  wholly  cumpo^icd  of  aanditone. 
The  soil  overlying  this  formation  ik  regarded  as  the  lieHt  in  the  State, 
being  admirably  adapted  to  wheal  caaily  drained,  .;nd  very  fertile. 
It  it  alto  an  excellent  fruit  diatrict,  eapecially  adapted  to  pear  ruliure. 
The  whole  thickneM  of  the  cretaceous  formation!  in  th«  State  ia 
cNtiinated  to  be  960  feet. 
CAKBONirEROus  SYSTEM— /Vr«wVi«  Group. — l/pptr  Carhoni/trotti. 

Thew  two  groups  may  be  de»cril)cd  together.  'I'hey  cover  wholly 
or  in  part  thirty-eight  counties,  and  an  area  of  nearly  ao.ooo 
square  miles  with  a  :hickne!:s  of  about  a, 000  r«et.  The  ittruta  nre 
nearly  horizontal,  though  dipping  slightly  to  the  northwest  in  must 
cases.  The  deposits  consist  of  limestones,  clay  shales,  sandstone, 
and,  in  the  upper  portions,  gy|>sum  and  chert  l>eds.  In  the  lower 
strata  the  limestones  are  more  compact  and  uniform  and  the  chert 
beds  less  numerous.  This  limestone  contains  from  three  to  five  per 
cent,  of  magnesia.  The  soil  which  overlies  them  is  good,  and  the 
underlying  limestone  helps  to  fertilize  it.  Some  of  the  oldest  and  best 
counties  in  the  State  are  in  these  formations. 
Coal  Measurts.  The  area  embraced  in  the  coal  measures  is  about  9,000 
square  miles,  and  seventeen  counties  in  the  southeastern  and  eastern 
part  of  the  State  lie  wholly  or  in  part  within  its  limits.  All  these 
counties  are  in  some  degree  supplied  with  coal.  How  large  a  portion 
of  this  territory  may  be  so  situated  as  to  give  the  opportunity  for  work- 
ing profitable  mines  cannot  at  present  be  decided.  Moat  of  the  tnin«-s 
which  have  been  opened  yield  good  and  some  of  them  largely  profit- 
able returns.  The  material  of  the  deposits  of  the  coal  measures,  in 
which  seams  or  veins  of  coal  are  found,  are  siyiilar  to  those  of  the 
Upper  Carboniferous,  but  more  varying.  The  blue  clay  shales  and 
other  shales  are  in  some  locations  very  thick  and  soft — sometimes 
1,000  feet  or  noore.  live  landstones  are  firmer,  and  are  used  for  flag 
and  grindstones. 

Professor  Mudge  believes  that  the  indications  show  that  this  part  of 
Kansas  was  under  the  ocean,  and  then  raised  to  dry  land  at  least  sixty 
times  during  the  period  of  the  coal  measures.         ,.,.....,.,  ,...* 


;t 


'hlte  or  ytllowUh 
I  k  or  alAiei  oforrd 
kracitletl  with  lime- 
and  rangin|{  froin 
In  impure  Iwd*  of 
1  Fori  llcnion  o<  ru- 
I  nary  •yatem  in  the 

uthwestern  fwrliofi 
«  in  the  Stale,  and 
l»e  nukitnum  thick- 
>scil  of  sanditone. 
I>ei»t  in  the  State, 
I,  .ind  very  fertile. 
ed  to  pear  mlture. 
>ni  in  lh«  State  ia 

■homi/troki, 
I'liey  cover  wholly 
of  i.early    ao,ooo 
I'he  Ktruta  nre 
northwest  in   most 
shales,  sandstone,    . 
^•d».     In  the  lower 
orrn  and  the  chert 
)m  three  to  five  per 
n  ii  good,  and  the 
the  oJdeat  and  best 

sure«  is  about  9,000 
eastern  and  eastern 
limits.     All   these 
[ow  large  a  portion 
portunity  for  work- 
Moat  of  the  niiiifs 
hem  largely  profit- 
coal  measures,  in 
»r  to  thoae  of  the 
le  clay  shales  and 
d  soft — botnetimes 
d  are  used  for  flag 

IV  that  this  part  of 
land  at  least  sixty 


fOastl  V  OF  KANSAS,  «jq 

Vi    LOWKK  OR   SUR-CARIIONirRRDim  SvaTRM. 

Ktakuk  lirouf  'I'he  only  rr|)reaenlatiun  of  the  I^wrr  (*arl)rinifrrous 
tn  Kan«a»  is  (o  Iw  found  in  a  small  triangle  in  the  rxtrrme  souiheaat, 
in  Cherokee  tounty.  Here  alone  in  the  entire  State  of  K.utmt*  there 
ia  aome  evtdctur  of  Icx-al  di<itnrl>anie  of  the  strata,  whii  h,  however, 
may  have  taken  place  gradually,  as  there  seems  to  tie  no  rviilen<e  of 
volcanic  action. 

This  little  tract  «ems  to  Iw  allied  to  the  adjacent  r>-gion  of  Mit< 
aoiiri,  which  contains  sonte  of  the  richest  mines  of  lead  and  xinc  in 
that  State.  Itoth  metals,  or  rather  their  ores,  have  liecn  found  in  ^ay- 
ing  i{i4tintitiis  in  this  corner  of  Kantas,  along  Short  <  reck,  and  nowhere 
else  in  the  State,  except  in  numt  insignificant  amounts. 

The  thickness  of  the  ntrntifK^d  rocks  of  Kansas  is  \n  all  esti- 
mated by  Professor  Mu(l>;e  as  5,210  feet. 

All  these  groups  and  formations  contain  more  or  less  fossils, 
and  some  of  them  are  very  rich  in  them.  In  the  li luff  or  Lotsi 
are  a  f<;w  fresh  water  and  land  mollusks,  the  mastodon  /^/^aMUus, 
the  eUpluis  Americanus,  a  gigantic  ht)r»e,  probably  equus  exceisus, 
and  several  small  mammals.  h\  the  Pliocene  there  are  numerous 
fossils,  most  of  them  silicified.  Among  th«*m  arc  bon^^s  of  deer, 
beaver,  a  large  animal  of  the  ox  kind,  two  and  possibly  three 
species  of  the  horse,  one  three-toed  an<l  ol  very  small  size,  an- 
other very  closely  allied  to  the  present  horse,  a  wolf,  ivory  and 
bones  from  the  elephant  or  mastodon,  lx)nes  of  the  rhinoceros 
and  camel,  etc.  There  have  also  be<'n  found  the  bones  and  cara- 
pace of  a  large  fresh  water  turde,  five  feet  in  length,  smaller 
turtles  and  mollusks.  ,.     

But  the  great  fi<;ld  for  fossils  is  in  the  cretaceous  system,  and 
especially  in  the  Niobrara  group,  where  from  the  mollusks  and 
fishes  to  the  saurians,  Pi(  rodactyls  and  birds  with  jaws  and 
teeth,  the  palaeontologist  is  constantly  stumbling  upon  new 
wonders.  Fossil  sharks,  nearly  fifty  species  of  fossil  fish,  of 
which  many  hundred  specimens  have  been  collected,  half  a  dozen 
of  marine  turtles,  between  thirty  and  forty  species  of  crocodiles 
and  other  saurians,  some  of  mc^nstrous  size,  one  seventy  feet 
long  with  a  head  six  feet  in  length,  huge  Pterodactyls  of  forms 
and  size  hitherto  unknow  n,  and  birds  with  teeth  and  vertebrx 
like  a  fish. 


'^•ft.   .M 


'.feu^nMKn«tt«'«a'^^!<»^ 


•a^.V?.  .'£  -ttXn^'j^^f^ 


Mn 


0V»    WKSTKKN  KUtfUHf. 


Thp  Fort  Hrnton  k''"^*P  •*  more  not«'«|  for  thr  nvimlicr  ami 
variety  nf  itn  AmmnnitrH,  and  haw  uIho  a  frw  find  and  saurian 
remains 

The  DakotA  K''""('  ^'^i  ^  ^*^^  foanil  ni()llu»kft  and  fish,  and  one 
MUirian,  hut  in  mo»t  noteworthy  iur  its  fu»Hil  Mora  and  plants, 
especially  dicotylcdonoiiH  piantn.  IVofcHHor  l.rHqnrrrntix  foiMul 
over  a«*vcnty  npccicH,  montly  dic»)tylrd()ns,  in  Kansas,  and  all  in 
this  formation.  Amonj;  thrhc  arc  four  st<juoiaH,  cloHcly  allicil  to 
the  gii^antic  rcdwoodH  of  California,  one  or  more  pincn,  and 
eight  other  conifcm,  five  poplarn,  nix  willown,  ei^du  oaki,  »ix 
buttonwooils,  seven  specien  of  saMnafras,  five  nwij^'nolias,  two  fign, 
one  palm,  two  cinnamon  trf«e«  and  a  ((mniilrrable  number  of 
extinct  genera  and  s|M?cics.  Intermingletl  with  these  were 
numeroua  ferns,  mnrxe  of  gigantic  niae.  ProfeHNor  Gray  thinkn 
all  llM:»e  planU)  migrated  hither  from  Greenland,  which  once  had 
a  tub^eropical  climate.        '     "-    <        .  ■  .  >i 

In  the  Permian  and  upper  carboniferous  groups  there  arc  land 
plants  and  a  considerable  number  of  mollusks  and  corals. 

\n  the  coat  measures  are  found  fossil  ferns  and  calamites, 
crtnoida  ami  trilobites,  numerous  species  of  fish,  and  especially 
fbttsil  sharks,  one  with  nearly  2,500  teeth  in  the  lower  jaw,  and 
footprints  of  reptiles  and  saurians  equal  to  the  famous  ones  of 
the  Conncctkrut  valley.  ^    ■"'  "  •)       " 

Economic  Gtetogy  and  MintrtUs. — Coal  is  thr  first  mineral  In 
this  State  ii.  <toint  of  importance.  It  is  mined  at  many  points  in 
the  region  of  the  coal  measures ;  and  though  differing  some- 
what in  quality,  it  is  in  general  a  good  bituminous  coal  coking  well 
and  yielding  from  8,000  to  9,000  cubic  feet  of  gas  to  the  ton, 
but  requiring  more  than  average  care  in  the  purification.  That 
mined  at  Leatvenworth  is  of  the  same  class  as  the  rest,  a  shaft 
over  seven  hundred  feet  in  depth  having  been  sunk  to  the  coal 
measures.  About  1,500,000  bushels  (45,000  tons)  are  raised 
here  annually,  and  about  1 20,000  tons  in  all  the  region. 

I^ad  and  zinc  are  found  in  paying  quantities  in  Cherokee 
county,  in  the  extreme  southeast  of  the  State.  About  6,000,000 
pounds  of  lead  ore  are  raised  at  Short  creek,  and  zinc  is  smelted 
at  New  Pittsburg,  in  Crawford  county. 


\\  '*  j; 


McoyoM/c  OKtuoev  Aifn  mmKHAix  v  te.WMM, 


Ml 


number  and 
and  Haiirian 

fiRh,  and  one 

ind  plantN. 

rrrnux  found 

H,  and  all  in 

H«ly  allied  to 

•   |)iri«'H,  and 

Itt  oaks,  ftix 

l<as.  two  figH, 

number  of 

tlu'iif    were 

Cirny  thinkH 

»ich  once  had 

lere  arc  land 
corals. 

id  calamitcs, 
id  especially 
wer  jaw,  and 
nous  one*  of 

St  mineral  in 
:>ny  points  in 
fcri  ng  some- 
I.  coking  well 
»  to  the  ton, 
ation.  That 
'  rest,  a  shaft 
Ic  to  the  coal 
)  are  raised 
ion. 

in  Cherokee 
*Jt  6,cxx),ooo 
ic  is  smelted 


Kan)i.-i«  iMHSCMrs  salt  springs  and  nalinc  dr|)ositH  of  Hufficient 
strength  and  purity  to  supply  the  wholr  Mix^iiHippi  valley  if 
necTMsary.  In  the  itouthwrHtern  part  of  the  .Statr,  Ixlow  the  ijrcat 
b«'n<l  of  th(«  Arkanna*!,  there  are  extennive  l)cds  of  Nalt  from  hix  to 
twenty fi^dit  inthen  in  <leptli,  cauied  by  thr  ilrying  up  of  Halt 
pondn,  or  thr  haU  braru  het  of  the:  Cinmtaron  riv(*r ,  but  an  this 
region  in  not  yet  settled  or  easily  accessible,  it  will  be  nome  time 
before  it  is  ready  f«>r  market.  A  more  accessible  region  in  that 
In  the  Republican  and  .Saline  valleys,  where  there  an.'  <'Xtenslvc 
salt  manthes,  yielding  a  brine  oi  great  purity.  Tire  magnesia 
in  the  brine  just  as  it  comes  frcmi  the  marsh,  is  only  from  three 
to  five-tenths  of  one  per  tent. 

(iypsum  in  loutid  in  many  places  in  Kansas;  in  the  western 
part  of  the  .State,  in  Wallace  (ouniy,  in  most  beautiful  compound 
crystals;  in  Sewanl  and  Mead  counties,  in  the  southwest,  near 
the  Cimmaron  river,  thrr<:  arc  beds  of  selenite  crystals  of  great 
extent.  In  Marshall  county,  in  the  north,  there  is  a  heavy  bed  ol 
it  underiyiiig  at  least  four  townships,  It  is  manufactured  at 
Blue  RapiiiH.  In  .Saline  county  is  another  bed  of  nearly  equal 
extent.  It  is  in  demand  both  as  a  fertilizer  and  for  building 
purposes. 

Lime  and  hydraulic  cement  are  produced  at  Leavenworth, 
l^wrence  and  Fort  Scott.  Kansas  has  a  great  variety  of 
excellent  building  stone,  limestone,  "sandstone  and  gypsum,  and 
all  are  extensively  (juarried. 

There  are  numerous  gas  or  burning  wells  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  State.  There  is  probably  a  deposit  of  petroleum  some- 
where in  the  coal  measures,  but  borings  to  the  depth  of 
i,ooo  feet  have  failed  to  reach  it,  though  they  have  yielded  a 
permanent  supply  of  gas.  A  well  at  lola  yields  10,000  cubic  feet 
dally.  Tliftse  wells  are  at  Wyandotte — one  there  yielding  48,000 
cubic  feet  daily — at  Fort  Scott,  Rosedalc  and  many  other  places. 
The  illuminating  power  is  about  seven-tenths  that  of  the  best 
coal  gas. 

Sen/  and  Vegeiation. — From  what  has  been  said  under  the  head 
of  geology,  the  reader  will  naturally  and  correctly  infer  that 
there  is  very  little  poor  land  in  Kansas;  1.  e.,  land  which  cannot 


■mKffit^tiitut^uib^iiSMhi^Jtr.^ 


863 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


w 


\ 


I     ■! 


I^i 


X-^V 


lilf 


^-: 


by  proper  cultivation  and  irrigation  be  made  to  yield  good  crops. 
This  is  true.  Aside  from  the  barren  salt  basins  and  desert  lands 
of  Southwestern  Kansas  on  both  sides  of  the  Cimmaron  (if, 
indeed,  that  is  wholly  an  exception),  and  some  few  gravelly 
patches  in  the  northwest,  both  together  not  amounting  to  a 
single  county,  there  is  a  smaller  quantity  of  barren  land  in 
Kiinsas  than  in  any  btrt^e  in  the  Union.  We  say  this  with  a  full 
knowledge  that  the  counties  west  of  the  hundredth  meridian  are 
generally  unorganized  as  yet,  that  the  amount  of  rainfall  is  less 
than  in  tliC  Eastern  counties,  and  that  where  the  land  is  as  yet 
unbroken,  the  sage-brush  and  tlie  bunch-grass  grow,  and  but 
little  else,  and  that  except  in  the  valleys  of  the  streams,  or  when 
planted  by  man,  there  are  very  few  trees,  and  the  winds  rush 
down  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  with  terrific  force.  We  are 
not  disposed  to  conceal  or  diminish  any  of  these  apparently 
untoward  facts;  yet  we  adhere  to  our  declaration.  ;^r,^<,  >  ^,{j 
This  soil,  beaten  down  by  the  hoofs  of  buffaloes  for  centuries, 
is  not  now  their  pasture-ground,  and  when  the  hard-packed 
roots  of  the  bunch-grass  and  the  sage-brush  are  broken  up  by 
the  plow,  and  loosened  so  that  air  and  moisture  can  get  in,  the 
rainfall  increases,  the  soil  drinks  it  in  instead  of  letting  it  run 
away,  and  ^s  the  soil  is  broken  up  again,  and  planted  or  sown 
with  wh<^:£it,  or  corn,  or  flax,  or  turned  over  to  the  blue  joint 
grass,  the  moisture  continues  to  increase,  and  in  diree  or  four 
years  the  rain,  which  comes  most  largely  in  May,  June,  July,  and 
August  (four-fifths  of  the  whole  falling  in  those  months),  pushes 
forward  large  crops,  while  the  trees  which  have  been  planted  for 
about  the  same  length  of  time,  break  the  fierce  winds,  and  help 
to  increase  the  amount  cf  rain.  Of  five  towns  beyond  the 
ninety-ninth  meridian — Fort  Hays,  McPherson,  Kinsley,  Dodge 
City  and  Fort  Wallace — the  rainfall,  which  has  hitherto  been  about 
twelve  to  fourteen  inches,  was  as  follows  in  the  order  in  which 
they  are  named,  in  1879:  16.26  inches;  32.05;  15.03;  15.43: 
16.58. 

,  The  season  of  the  year  at  which  the  rain  comes  makes  an 
immen^  diiTerence;  the  growing  crop  has  the  moisture  just 
when  it  needs  it^  and  it  grows  thriftily  in  consequence.     Th'^' 


"^**«, 


Id  good  crops, 
id  desert  lands 
Cimmaron  (if, 
few  gravelly 
jmounting  to  a 
•arren  land  in 
this  with  a  full 
th  meridian  are 
rainfall  is  less 
le  land  is  as  yet 
grow,  and  but 
reams,  or  when 
the  winds  rush 
force.  We  are 
lese  appar<:ntly 
1. 

es  for  centuries, 
:he  hard-packed 
re  broken  up  by 
e  can  get  in,  the 
of  letting  it  run 
planted  or  sown 
0  the  blue  joint 
in  three  or  four 
r,  June,  July,  and 
months),  pushes 
been  planted  for 
winds,  and  help 
ms  beyond  the 
Kinsley,  Dodge 
herto  been  about 
e  order  in  which 

iiiJi-oj;  1543; 

omes  makes  an 
e  moisture  just 
sequence.     T)v* 


SOIL  AND   VEGETATION  OF  KANSAS.  863 

rainfall  will  continue  to  increase,  and  will  make  this  portion  of 
the  State  as  fruitful  in  its  crops  as  any  other.  But  if  there 
should  be  a  lack  of  rain,  it  is  easy,  with  the  constantly  increasing 
elevation  of  the  land  and  the  rivers  and  streams  westward,  to 
frrigate  all  these  lands  when  once  broken  to  the  plow,  and  then 
their  yield  will  demonstrate  that  they  are  indeed  the  most  fertile 
lands  upon  which  the  sun  shines.  Land  which  will  yield  thirty- 
five  to  forty  bushels  of  wheat  or  a  hundred  bushels  of  corn, 
eighty  bushels  of  oats  and  fifty  of  barley,  or  250  to  300  or  more 
bushels  of  potatoes  to  the  acre,  cannot  be  called  bar  :-n  land, 
even  if  it  requires  irrigation  to  enable  it  to  do  this. 

Along  the  banks  of  the  rivers  of  Kansas  and  else  hev  here 
are  now  many  trees,  those  not  on  the  river  banks  hav.ng  been 
very  generally  planted.  The  practice  of  using  the  Osage  orange 
for  hedges  in  place  of  any  other  fence  is  very  common  and  adds 
very  greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the  farms  as  well  as  to  the  protec- 
tion of  the  crops  and  stock  from  the  high  winds. 

The  trees  planted  under  the  Timber-Culture  Act  and  under 
State  laws  have  been  possibly  to  a  larger  extent  than  was  desir- 
able, the  quickly  growing  trees,  such  as  the  white  and  yellow 
Cottonwood,  willov/s,  box  elder,  honey  locust,  ailantus,  soft  maple, 
and  basswood  or  linden ;  the  State  Agricultural  Society  have 
strongly  urged  the  addition  to  the  list  of  the  elms,  black  walnut, 
white  and  other  oaks,  hickories,  pecan,  coffee  bean,  several  spe- 
cies of  ash,  the  red  cedar,  the  sugar  or  hard  maple,  and  the 
western  catalpa  {catalpa  speciosa),  a  fine,  hardy,  and  handsome 
tree. 

The  native  flowers  of  Kansas  are  very  abundant  and  beautiful, 
and  deck  the  broad  prairies  with  a  glory  which  must  be  seen  to 
be  fully  appreciated.  ,h  ri?  v'liofr  tr-nii'^.^t/- .'*i  'v:  , '/V  ;l,.':r 
f  Zoology. — ^The  wild  animals  of  Kansas  are  those  of  the  plains, 
not  those  which  >*€  peculiar  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  still  less 
those  of  the  western  side  of  the  Great  Divide.  The  buffalo  or 
bispn  are  not  plenty  anywhere  in  these  days,  but  the  remnants  of 
the  vast  herds  which  formerly  shook  the  solid  earth  by  their 
steady,  heavy  gallop  still  pass  at  some  seasons  of  the  year  )ver 
Southwestern  Kansas  and  thence  into  the  Indian  Territory  and 


.1';;>' 


''   )  ! 


■*&i^'--' 


II 


85^  Ol/X    lyESTEKl^   KM/' /RE. 

Western  Texas.  The  antelope  of  the  plains  is  also  found  in 
large  numbers  in  Western  and  Southwestern  Kansas.  We 
doubt  if  the  elk  is  now  to  be  found  in  Kansas,  though  some 
years  ago  he  occasionally  appeared  in  the  western  counties. 
Deer  are  plenty,  and  the  smaller  game,  hares,  rabbits,  squirrels, 
and  the  rodents  generally.  Of  beasts  of  prey  the  black  and 
brown  bear,  the  panther  or  cougar,  lynx,  wild  cat,  opossum,  rac- 
coon, weasel,  fisher,  marten  and  skunk,  are  most  common.  The 
gray  or  black  wolf  is  not  abundant  in  the  State,  and  the  coyote 
or  the  prairiei  wolf  is  found  mainly  in  the  central  and  western 
counties.  GameJjirds  are  very  abundant  in  the  west  and  south- 
west, ducks,  brant,  teal,  mallards,  and  wild  geese  being  found  in 
great  numbers  in  their  season  on  the  Arkansas  river  as  well  as 
on  the  Republican  and  Smoky  Hill.  On  the  plains  the  prairie 
hen  still  exists  in  moderate  numbers ;  if  it  had  been  as  plenty  as 
formerly  the  "  grasshoppers  "  or  Rocky  Mountain  locusts  Would 
never  have  reached  the  farm  lands.  Oth.^.r  members  of  the 
grouse  family  are  quite  abundant,  especially  sage-hens,  quails, 
and  ptarmigan.  Song-birds  are  numerous,  and  many  of  them  of 
fine  plumage.  j        ■  ■•  ••   ::,■•"■  -'^  \*';-'''r     '••.;•*-■■>' 

The  native  edible  fish  of  Kansas  kre  several  species  of  pcir^, 
«unfish,  catfish,  roach,  black  bass,  one  or  two  species  of  trout,  ett. 
Shad,  salmon,  salmon  trout,  grayling,  an  eastern  species  of  black 
bass,  etc.,  have  been  introduced  through  the  Fish  Commission, 
but  the  success  of  these  introductions  is  not  yet  fully  demons 
strated.    The  reptiles  are  much  the  same  as  those  of  Arkansas 

and  Missouri.  "■','■•■;/      •    ,:''.;'!•.';.:._:, .^  :'.''-.■.  ,../"''^''' 

.  Natural  CuriosiHes  cmd  PhinomenaX^'Ci  a  prairie 'State  tike 
'Kansas  there  are  comparatively  few  of  these.  The  most  re 
markable  are  the  Monument  Rocks  in  Gov*  county,  the  Pulpit 
Rock  in  Ellsworth  county,  the  Rock  City,  and  the  Perforated 
Rock  near  by,  in  Ottawa  county,  the  Table  Rock  in  Lincoln 
county,  and  the  masses  of  gypsum  and  selenlte  in  the  gypsum 
beds.  Some  of  the  fossil  bones  of  vertebrates  in  the  tertiary  had 
been  so  thoroughly  silteified  as  to  be  converted  into  moss  agates 
of  great  beauty.  This  is  particularly  the  case  In  Wallace  asd 
^>ertdan  counties.  The  moss  agates  of  that  region,  not  fossils, 
are  very  perfect. 


Ulfib2iSUi£»>- 


is  also  found  in 
-n  Kansas.  We 
sas,  though  some 
western  counties, 
rabbits,  squirrels, 
ey  the  black  and 
cat,  opossum,  rac- 
st  common.  The 
e,  and  the  coyote 
ntral  and  western 
e  west  and  soiith- 
se  being  found  in 
is  river  as  well  as 
plains  the  prairie 
been  as  plenty  as 
;ain  locusts  Would 

members  of  the 
sage-hens,  quails, 
1  many  of  them  of 


1  »i  I  /        ■■ '  i 


species  of  perdh, 
»ecies  of  trout,  ett. 
n  species  of  black 
Fish  Commission, 

yet  fully  demons 
hose  of  Arkansas 


prairie  "State  like 
The  most  re^ 
county,  the  Pulpk 
id  die  Perforated 
Rock  in  Lincolit 
ite  in  the  gypsum 
m  the  tertiary  had 
I  into  moss  agates 
e  ki  Wallace  ar-d 
egion,  not  fossib, 


.  .,.=     V  »NSAS -A   DUO-OUT— 11  A^•^l■• 
Rl'SSlAS    Vll.LAGE.  KANSAS 


■■:«Ksaatt)V^ss!(!i 


V*  V> 


V        ) 

^     ■■•. 


<*i«a5:!&<>ff*Wt#J«s,'t>i««H* 


CLIMATE   OF  KANSAS.  g^. 

Climate  and  Meieorology, — No  State  in  the  Union,  certainly 
none  in  "  Our  Western  Empire,"  has  been  so  thorough  in  record- 
ing its  climatic  changes  as  Kansas.  This  has  been  due  largely, 
indeed  almost  entirely,  to  the  persistent  and  untiring  efforts  of 
the  excellent  Secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  the 
late  Hon.  Alfred  Gray,  to  whom  not  only  the  State  but  agricul- 
turists and  scientists  everywhere  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  which 
can  never  be  fully  repaid.  His  admirable  reports,  prepared  with 
so  much  labor  and  with  such  accuracy  and  completeness  amid 
great  bodily  suffering  and  wasting  disease,  attest  alike  his  philan- 
thropy and  his  devotion  to  his  work.  We  may  say  in  general 
that  the  climate  of  Kansas  is  a  very  desirable  one.  The  summer 
months  are  in  most  parts  of  the  State  rather  hot,  the  average 
mean  temperature  being  for  June  about  75°,  for  July  about  84.5", 
and  for  August  about  77.5°.  The  extremes  of  the  winter  months 
are  sometimes  very  great,  though  not  of  long  continuance;  the 
average  minimum  of  December  is  about — 12%  that  of  January 
about  the  same,  while  February  was  about  ^^■^^.  The  mean 
temperature  of  December  was  about  31",  of  January  about  24.5®, 
and  of  February  34.5°.  These  extremes  are  very  great,  but  the 
air  is  so  pure,  and  the  extreme  heat  and  cold  are  so  tempered 
by  it  that  the  climate  is  a  very  healthy  one.  There  are,  as  in  all 
prairie  States,  at  times,  very  high  winds,  sometimes  accompanied 
with  storms,  though  oftener  not ;  and  these  winds  are  sometimes 
destructive,  and  oftener  annoying,  but  their  general  effect  is  puri- 
fying and  healthful.  The  rainfall  is  increasing,  and  may,  at  some 
not  very  remote  day,  become  excessive.  A  marked  character- 
istic of  it  is  that  it  is  much  larger  in  the  months  of  May,  June, 
July,  and  August  than  in  all  the  rest  of  the  year,  and  that  the 
month  of  June  has  from  one-third  to  one-half  of  the  whole  rain- 
fall of  the  year.  With  these  general  remarks  we  submit  the 
meteorological  tables  of  fifteen  places  in  different  parts  of  the 
State  for  1877-1880. 


A'-y     %; 


%,      -K- 


1(1    •%    «    t      ' 


m 


:!■; 


ty 


'I' 


866 


OVJt   WESTEKX  E/HriRE. 


\ 


■M 


»*i#*A6iS»SM»i»4*Ww»*'*'*«*«*«*-»-^^^^ 


Ni 


868 


OUA   lyMSTBKf/  R  MP  IKK. 


»    ( 


fl- 


h 

N 

^x 

^n 

S-a 

8-8 

Is 

•Sg 

X 

a 

Pr. 


30 


«7    oo 
41    .50 


44    97 
at   .go 


•5° 

4.0 
-•.o 

50 
-1.0 
-S.O 

3-» 


-4.0 

4:2 


».03 
a. a* 

■54 

.90 

•75 


1.4a 
•04 


1.60 


HAINfAl.L    Of  UtAmAS,  g^ 

SUMMARY  OF  RAIKFALL  FOR  YEAR  ENDING  OCTOBER.  1878. 

rikST,  OK  EASTICKN  UKl.T. 


»tA 


jHniloHyr'fi, 
!  r.i «  ram  *i  . . . . 
I^iannwotih. . 
ManhaMiin.... 

ulipviiilmc*. 


1 


J»  *• 
J«  "J 


1 


't*    14 

1; 


IM 

M 

I.MJU 

I.. 


'  47 
'  44 
•>' 

'"•7 


^.JD  t  lt> 
I  •!  ,3  .11 
J'*!'  14 


!1» 


Is 

;3 


197  I  OD  4.te  A  liJ 
>  ta  J  6;  ').4t  |.M 
••V4  ••mI»  "I    »••• 

•  44,i  n  •< 

JV*    1  I)    )  ! 


4'H 


J.™ 

4  *> 

I* 

••  7« 


i 


t 


il 


4« 


7'    1  »J 


i 


.a 

t  u« 


J 
1 


39  >4 

41  79 


hBCUNU.OK  MIDDI.K  UFJ.T. 


Omil 

^■iliiia. 

ikUinw.  .. 
Ml  Phtnon . 
CffMrt,U,.,. 


it  a»' 


9i»J«'«,«4l 

9(1  u>>  i.ij; 
9*  41' I  •.'«" 
97   4"'l  '.J»7 


i.ir'  t.tt  i.t|  i.tf'    .M  I, 
I  J*  t  yi  a.^>  i.«  170  I 

J7  I.])  i.oa     .l9{  1001 
i.ja:  a.l5'  i.Ao,  t.tj  1.91,  i. 

..,.|....|aJ4lt.o4  |.sl|f, 


I  55 


4.«S  I  11  M      III  jf.aA  .4S|i 

'•91  !    ••09      ••71    •■»•  •■•» 

19*       419  t  ••■•»  IjJ*  I  lol 

4.15  ^  lu  JO  I    5  «    joo  1.1)   4 


as? 

4ll>' 

ja49 


THIRD,  OR  WESTERN  BELT. 


(■«|pl«nl 

Kintlsy, 

r*n  Waiktra. 
iKxIgaClly.. 


»45 
17  5I 


9*  Jnl  ijoo 
99  4»  ».aa4 
««X  J4  J.l«» 
100  au|  9jboo 


91  a.»o 
ui  a. I] 
5*  1 4  3* 


•13 

40 

.50 

•75 

.t4 

•J 

.ti 

II. 

:iS 


.:a 


lo.<U      4.79 

5.li  I    I  « 
l.«8      6.J7 


IM 

sa 

1.61 


J.41  I  4« 
•.•lil.lo 


«n 
Bpr 


,1)1 

a  J.  7' 

•9  44 


RECAPITULATION. 


■I, 


Finl.or  RaMarit  B«U  . 
8«c.iiHi,orMi<l<liaHclc. 
Tklfd,orW«Mni<lick. 


=1  U 


i 


i 


*49  5<3|  4-97  a.«4 
4-44i  7-5l  3.97  a.54 
4a9l     5.37!     Cji a .  74 


a.jl| 
1.56 
'■39I 


i.oj 

•  S7 

»4 


Haas  fcr  la  month*— Pint,  or  Eaxern  Belt  . . , . 
"  "  '■  "  Second,  ur  MiildU  ikil... 
Third,  or  Waatcrn  Ball... 


37.  )S  Inchaa. 

.7i»    ;; 

ai.7)      '< 


SUMMARY  OF  RAINFALL  FOR  1879. 

FIRST,  OR  EASTERN  BELT. 


Stallona. 


Lawrenca 

Leavenworth.. 

Manhattan.     • 

Indepandcnce. 

k 'Cedar  Vale.... 


•'I 

1. 10 

•75 
a.o3 
a.ia 


I 


•4« 
'54 


•17 
•1» 


s 


4-i« 
3^57 
l.ai 

♦7« 


I 


i.te 
304 
«  79 

1.4I 


-3 


I 


7.«4 


7  «4 

21; 


'.^J 

l.<I 

4.11 

5«9 

357 
341 
430 
••34 
'49 


a.li 

til 


J 


o 

a 

5  'J 
785 

7»3 

330 
a.43 


a. 39 

':iJ 

5  "7 
a. 00 


1 


3a^M 
4I.55 

3645 
33.0I 

33^«7 


SECOND,  OR  MIDDLE  BELT. 


Great  Band . 
Salina  .... 
Uaylord.... 
OkSoma  . . . 
CrswcU.   .. 


•  •07 
t.35 
■75 
i.oo 
1.55 


•as 

.la 


.lO 

■45 


■05 
■3<» 


■  «5 


3«7 
*49 


■3« 

■«4 


3.65 
8.79 

I*' 

6.93 


679 

6.7a 

4^07 


•  «5 

a.  10 

.a3 

1.90 
a.  10 


•35 
«  95 
1.30 
a. 30 
•■37 


.10 
1.80 
•as 

'I 

a. ID 


a.oo 

4.89 
1.90 
a.77 
499 


•«5 
■35 
.00 
.00 
1.58 


ao.la 

34  37 
17.90 
aa.09 
3649 


.*te'..-'»J*il'«!^ -»'Wi«  !ki«**^*;''''<5*  «jfc» '^^^ 


JIM 


t»i 


•fo 


\r 


THIRD.  OR  WESTfkN  BELT. 


"»  •  M  V  f 


Statlam, 

i! 

1 

} 

1 

••j» 

1  «T 

1 

.(u 

J 

X 

..a 

1 

1 

KiMl«y , 

ror*  WallaM 

:« 

if 

»5 

•44 

•» 

:iy 

|)ihI«  (.  ity.,,,,., 
r»nl(iky<  ...... 

,«• 

••» 

.£ 

\t 

[5 

tai  ;t 

a» 

*4 

It 

\vx 

l.l» 

.... 

ml,,*    '    ' 

_4'l- 

'!• 

?•" 

*■•»    f "  '  '■!! 

.«• 

b-Ji 

... " 

*»"«j 

'Agricultural  Productions. ~-YK^xyfA%  is  pre-eminently  an  agri- 
cultural State,  an<l  iho  ♦•fforts  of  her  State  Agricultural  lioard 
»ncl  of  her  railroad  companies  tf>  develop  her  agricultural  inter- 
ests have  been  crowned  with  the  mo*t  wonderful  Kuccess.  Her 
race  for  the  supr<*macy  in  agricultural  products  has  been  rapid' 
beyond  all  precedent.  Take  wheat  as  an  example:  In  1873  she 
produced  2,155,000  bushels;  in  187S.  , ',3 15.358,  leading  all  the 
States  in  winter  wheat.  In  1S79  the  season  was  unfavorable  for 
winter  wheat,  but  favorable  for  tho  spring  wheat,  ami  the  wheat 
crop  in  V  nsas  fell  off  to  20,551,000,  but  the  crop  of  1880  more 
than  mak  ,s  up  all  deficiencies. 


The  following  official  statement  sh^^wg  what  were  the  agricul- 
tural crops  of  1877,  1878,  and  1879: 


l^inter  Wheat bu. 

;yc bu. 

pring  WhMt bu. 

urn    bu. 

larlay bu, 

P«M ..  ,bu. 

BiKkwhcal bu. 

|li^h   I'iM.IIIlM bu. 

^wcet  i'liUloe* bu. 

Sorghum  nil. 

Cantor  Baant  Vbu 

Cotton ..   "<«. 

Ka W". 

Hwnp tea. 

Tobacco R>a. 

Bro'im  C   ii\ Iba. 

Mulct  niitl  Hungarian.,  .tona. 

Timothy tona. 

Clover tona. 

Prairie  Hay  tona. 

Timothy  Panture acroa. 

CInvrr  Pa«ture  acre*. 

Blur  grasN  Pasture  . .  .acm. 
Pmirie  Future,  under  fence  " 

Toul 


Number  of 
Acrea 


S57,ii;.oo 

I  i(),u;i.(:u 

K^t.Ue.oo 

I, il.iu  »» 

79.7040" 

♦  :IJ.37 

43,.>l8.oo 

I,7i6.i3 

"0,78  J.  75 

59769 

»7.735  37 

t  .aoi .  70 

71735 

31,147.14 

|6(,:,  19.00 

35,319.90 

9.79*« 

4,a>''4  »i 

>.44r  49 
91,399.31 

553,7«70o 


S.595.304.99 


Amount  of 
Product. 


10,800,399.00 

J,?'^,<'54oo 

3,|l0,4ia.ao 

■03.497.".1"» 

'.•7JJ»J"» 

19,708.481  nu 

57,«744i 

3, 119,084, ')0 

<»i,43].9« 

9,390,131  15 

57«,3j6.oo 

<oi,S9S  4" 

»9".3<1»  37 

«,*J7.3*4oo 

530,139.00 

16,917,719.00 

437,oa«.9} 

40,311.39 

i8,33r''4 
741,763.60 


Valve  of 
Product 


Avercge 

VIelJ 

per  Acre, 


%  9,Mi,}nt)  n\ 

>^i6,o93.8i 

3.^77,630,5i 

90,11.0,184  99 

5*9,977  3» 
9.050,001.77 

4«>3*0']) 

9,056,078.80 

301 ,938  04 

'  ,195 ,065, 63 

578.M^  o" 

•0459  54 

3o5,«7}  05 

».453»4 

53.o»3  9" 

'■';4.4l4-»" 

•   ,    „5»3» 

335.909.89 

iu7,tAa.i9 

3,439,660.57 


>43.S»7,03' «» 


1)  6u+ 

91.0^- 
•7.»»- 
40. 3«- 
*J  St 
41.16 
ia.64- 

iij.oo 

'«.3T+ 
170, <«> 

lu  V1+ 
990  .» 
740  «> 
Boo  oa 
9.60- 
i.«o- 


Avertga 

Pric*  per 

Hutbel, 

Gall    I.b. 

or  T<»i. 

3»- 

73  + 

.ao- 

.6»- 
1.00+ 

30 
i.oa 

'.a 

.10 

.04- 
4  «o+ 

5.Jr+ 

3.98- 


Averaga 

Value 
per  Acre. 


»i«.7i- 
6.7-3- 

'\^. 
7  i<  + 
6.61- 
ti.a>- 
4567+ 
116  91- 
I7.*>+- 
"37+ 
17.00 
11.034- 
55.»o 
7400 

J9.00 

«o73+ 
«.93l 

lo.a6- 
4.83 


(?!., 


jpniinf  nily  an  a^ri- 
Agricultural  Hoard 
apriailtural  Inter- 
rful  succcbs.  Her 
ts  has  bepii  rapid 
'nple:  In  1H72  she 
^58,  leaclin^r  all  the: 
'iiH  unravorabU:  for 
t^.it,  and  the  wheat 
crop  of  1880  more 


t  were  thr  a^rricul 


r  Acre.  :  (;,||    i,(, 
I   or  Ton. 


t  Au^ 
I  o»- 

1.38- 

151 
i.ifr 
•  «♦- 

•3H- 

1.00 

>"+ 

no 
aa 
00 
60- 
«o- 


ACIttCVlTVMAl  CkoM  OP  ie4.WS.IS.  %<fl 


C««^. 


WlM>rWiMM. 

Rv*  

><|>rliigWhMI. 

e>rii 

IWUy,,    ,,... 

'••I*  •■ N 

ii.^k«K«M.   ■! Mt. 

Imh  V"t*vm» ku 

-^w««i  P-II4MM.  i kti 

^  irghum |*U 

Cmiiic  IkiMH  ,,,,,..,,,.  .bu 
Oxiim Ik* 

rial  ..     ..'  Im. 

tJSwc^. lU 

Rrwiiin  <  urn  —  . ,  ■ .     .  Ika, 
MilUl  and  llungarlan..   lona 

Tlini>tlhv  MmU'>w iwM. 

Cto««f  M>»<l<iiir ton* 

Pmlrla  Mmnlaw  ....,,  .iriM 


A<fM- 


liivo   r«iiir<   icrcs.  | 

nllK  |[ru>  FMlur* *ktt* 

I'ralrw  t'uiurt acm 

Tutal  . . . 


444, If  I  on 

~  >   I  ■•  an 

•o.ifl   II 

VV  )" 

»ji  'i 

M.ato  1; 
I44.u*l  •»  , 
4«,l»l  It 

';■<;« fl  I 

;di,4<i  «a  ' 


I-  qiIm»» 


VtlMar 

41 


t,Tn,kM.M 

l>  tlMhoo 

«■   ^al  *n 
4,«j(',  ,i<  « 

•*v.ij  «,r 

4«4,71»K 
4«»,4"»»» 
4^,ijl.«» 

4J«,«4S«> 
»4.<«l  |« 
f4,««9.ta 

«M«Aji«i 


'|||,»,»,4M.I7 

I      Mm  «• 
•  iwr"  *i 

M4.bl.«l 

•«•.«••  )• 
4«4,7f>  W 

«".»ii  >■• 

«M,4)I;« 

>(ta,>4l.5l 
I  If."  MM 


UU  ♦M.4MJ* 


Asm* 

w& 

Av*«aMW 

tBT 

mJOSi 
mtm. 

V4I1M 

pnrltM. 

^r  A«n 

•»4*' 

1    >•< 

liio*- 

tl  •»  + 

5* 

:,r» 

1»  IJl 

X 

!r 

1U  f« 
lic«- 

l»t 

'• 

k> 

.1 1*+ 

iinr- 
l>l«*f 

r 

llt« 

11.  *u  ^ 

1*1 

nt: 

«f»«5 

•» 

•  t  M 

n.4»- 

i«i 

11  4»- 

9*M» 

'jt 

«tM 

74<>.«a 

10 

»<•• 

n*  Hf 

««.r 

f  »> 

jou 

4.i»-»- 

161- 

»!!♦ 

»  oj  t 

;»: 

!.«*+ 

ll««- 

y^^ 

4  7«t 

The  vahie  of  farm  products  for  the  year  1878  is  as  toUows: 

FiaM  proUucli , 949.9i4.4l4'>ii 

IncreuM  in  fitrni  aninialt , , 6,401,871.30 

('riiiliictt  of  live  Mock , IO^I),J,^<;.]J 

.     I'rixluce  ofganlvrit  markaltd , >.. 347,510.31) 

A|iiaii«n  protlucd S5>l4i  >$ 

Horticultural  products , .  1,^3,770.87 

Total  valuation  of  farm  prodncit  for  1878 169,677,067.31 

Total  valuation  of  all  other  pru^Mrty 3JI>i<>4<6H4  95 

>■    III  — • 

Grand  State  Total 1)00,841,753.26 


Numitr  of  Atrti,  AmouHt  «m- 


V'«l»it  »fta(k  Prmitt*!  «/  Primifai  Croft  a/ lh§  F»rm^ 
for  1879, 


Cropi. 


Wiaitr  WhMil. 

Ryi 

S;>rliiB  WImM.  . 


ba. 

bu. 

bu. 

bu. 

, bu. 

)iu  '. bu. 

:Vwh«at bu. 

Irlth  PoUloct bu, 

Kw*cl  folauwi bu. 

8>ir|[huiii (ail. 

Castor  BcaiM bu. 

Cuiioii , Iba. 

Fix bu. 

Hemp lb*. 

'I'llwcco Ibl. 

DnHimOirn Ibt. 

.Millet  and  Hungarian. . .  .tnna, 

Tiinoiliv  Meadu\w luiu. 

Clover  Meadow tout. 

I'r«lrie  Meadow loni. 

rimuihy  railure acres.  > 

Clover  Paature acm.j 

Blue-grsu  Paature aCret 

Prairie  Pasture acrei. 


Acre*. 


Producl 


I 


ValiM  of 
Prudtlcl. 


«.»»•.«»  oo 

4J.67»«» 

4it,l]9.cw 

4J.lj«'* 

sn«**oo 

*.li7.oo 

44.6  <i. 00 

t,7j|  11 

«l,i7<)o» 

75».37 
I4.«73»» 

174,800.00 

57.4»<  '3 

•4.7*9  8} 

*7'.W4  "O 

i4,m.}8 

sfiiiM.is 
9S5,8a6.ao 


I7.tte,tjy  Aj 
o4o,4'jy.ou 

108,704,937.00 

710,097.00 

1  i.}*6.'tj7.oo 

4l,jo«  40 

j,j»4,Ui(  •« 

197.407  Jfl 

j,7ii.4j»  V" 

7««.<4J37 

63a, 156.01 
5^7 .871.80 

55''  753  "o 
8,095,145.18 

404,gna.oo 
66,884  98 
•  S.8IJ  oo 

943,653.80 


»i6,v87, 

»«4, 

».3*'. 

16,561, 

!.J97 

17 

»,'77 

»97. 

6ii 
»J 
55 

■»»3. 
1,041, 

4*3, 
»5», 

3/"  7. 


>6jA> 

y74} 

^■74  46 
,046.00 

4I*.M 

'75  84 
564  J5 

4"7»9 
656.57 
'43  3»  I 

-50.o« 
4/'  7; 
675  38   j 

330  > 5  ! 

;»  "  I 
811  15  I 

47»4J 


7,769^9*6^  ! >«o,t»9,7eo.73 


Averaga 

AvtraM 

vi»i.r 

Price  per 

Average 

Bu ,Ib, 
or  Tim. 

$  9- 

Value 

per  Acr.- 

per  Acre. 

II  »j- 

»IO«J- 

i»n  + 

■  ¥> 

3: 

JtSf 

■n- 

•4^ 

15.70  f 

JO 

•3M- 

••S  + 

3»i- 

15  •» 

-&. 

H.jo 

■  1  10  + 

Jilt 

7'3*- 

I.oo 

115.00 

4S 

J'  71 

Il.»'4- 

1.00 

n.14- 

171'  00 

•09 

•J30 
897- 

897- 

1,00 

910.00 

.at 

55.»o 

\t,r^ 

.lo 

o.iH 

74.00 
19.85  + 

».8j. 

4  '3- 

11.69 

•  •5>- 

SST^- 

8.4.- 

•■7*- 

591- 

10.34- 

1.40- 

3  >9f 

4-47- 

'■^■.^'■.i.*ii)v^'Si^;;{'l»ii£j-/^  :;:;:, A"-- 


'■t~-i.rr 


,ri 


\i 


1 


,'lt     i 


1^  Ot/JI  WMMTMMN  EMUMM, 

The  following  utatUtion  nHow  thr  number  and  inereftii«  of  tiv»- 
•tock  in  lite  State  from  the  cIum*  of  1875  to  the  clo»c  of  1879: 

LIVKkKK-K. 


Mmm. 

IMm 

mktmm 

ii»*mw» 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

J 

'Mhiiftt 

r»Mi tft  iii#  •••«»t»9»»it»»*i  tt"  '» 

I'M  MM    »(  iMrWM  III  1  IMM 

ToMllaiM 

TmIWiIw 1 . 

fcWIMI    ••# 

"SfA 

tV|4Vy^^^MM 

•♦*JJ 

^:!^Ss:i  3t:S? 

r^^as 

*^*m 

IM»i«mM 

\SM»    ►♦•fl«fc««| 

••^•1 

JI.1IMH.M 

•W.4W 

ir.»J».JI«4 

♦»4«4 
|i.«*l 

•MU 

*W.«4I 

IM.UW 

4.i|>.4*> 

nx;: 

|.,|i*  '     %tPf^\ 

|i.«iMli 

M>m 

•«.»«.«?♦ 

UilMr  Caul*. 

Mm».           { 

•iHm. 

1 

J 

1 

I««,«a4 

•4J.;*» 

< 

1 

i 

Wtlll-:::::::::::::::::::::::: 

1 HCIVM* 

«.44i 

l<,4i',lti.4D 

;)i.t»>.iM 

i,if«.a(4   4,44,fi4.4a 

»|.ll].4M«. 

•W.ll* 

M).n»«« 

tM.HM 

#(#i«,ti.«. 

Ptr  ccfil  of  iMaraAsfl  la  1  vsan 

■  If.  4^ 

I4».»*» 
jll.iO* 

•.•9«.<>44 
■  .•A4.4*4 

ru<*jiiii«A 

Tuuilall|» 

Imimm 

•'•.»»1.»4« 

T.ll*.V«4 

ll.>*}J«* 

«•.■•• 

»j«".»i; 

._!»•*'"  •••♦••••♦° 

The  following  statistics  show  the  amount  not  only  of  agricul- 
tural products  but  of  other  products  of  the  State,  valuations  of 
real  and  personal  estate,  etc.,  as  well  as  school  statistics  for  1879  : 


'j,> 

«•/«•»*         •'!( 


SUMMARY   FOR   THE   STATE. 

1I7I. 


Fidd  product* |49.9i4.434  38 

Increase  in  total  vftlae  of  fa:m  »niinali    .     .  6,401,871  30 

Products  0/  live-stock io*4>5>339  3* 

Products  of  market  gardens           ....  147,51039 

Apiarian  products 55>i4i  15 

Horticultural  products 9,643,770  87 

Total 169,677,067  3j 

Increase  during  the  year 


l»79 

160,139,780  73 
8,504,684  30 

".5o7.7«3  46 
307,393  48 

94.789  30 
488,594  88 

181,033,857  05 
l««.35S.789  74 


Total  valuation  of  products  of  1879,  $81,032,857.05;  assessed 
valuation  of  property,  March  i,  1879,  $144,930,279.69;  real  valu- 


•  .,   '.* 


i..h  •' 


(I  increaM  of  live- 
'•  riosjc  of  1879: 


*«•• 

MMttm.      n 

j 

1 

i 

||,»4f.«HM  1 
M4«,*M*> 

1   A4..   ■.. 

I1    M  1 

«i.4tM««« 

1     ll.lxt 

1  tfi,t^t  i|      M,;;»i 

•vHm. 

i 

1 

1 

iftS 

».»»*«« 

•".!« 

9(^«.l|f  «• 

ll.tfc 

I.I4«,<>44 

(.•^,4«4 

*»"}}. 7^4 

^ «».4V'' 

|i.49<,t40 

lot  only  of  agricul- 
itate,  valuations  of 
statistics  for  1879: 


4  38  |6o,  119,780  73 

'  30    8,504,684  ao 

".507.715  46 
307, a9»  48 

94.789  30 
488,594  88 


9  3» 
9  ag 

'  «s 

>87 


7  3»     181,032,857  05 
"•       l»«.3S5.789  74 

^857.05;  assessed 
,379.69 ;  real  valu- 

Uii-  ■< 


irATHttCS  OP  lf4y$A9,  %j^ 

aticMi  of  auMtftCii  property,  1341,350,466.51  ;  total  valuation  of 
ail  property,  fija',^;  1,187.86.  Value  per  capita  of  productA  of 
1879,  f97.8o— :  real  valuation  per  capita  of  aHueiuifd  f)rof>erty 
of  1879,  |la86.3i-f  :  valuation  per  capita  of  prmluitH  of  1879, 
tof(cthcr  with  thr  rral  valuaticiii  of  aMtrsHctl  property,  5^84.01  -f>. 
ln(:rvatc  in  cultivated  area  for  year  ending'  Murcli  1,  1879, 
1,370,493.82  ;  numl)er  of  farm  ilwcllin^n  crcctcil  during  the  year 
endini;  March  1,  1879,  15,953;  value  of  (arm  dwellings  erected 
durinjf  year  ending;  March  1,  1879,  |(^2,8o3,05.v  Tax  on  each 
$100  of  aasetsed  valuation,  f^.^t-^.  Numlier  of  iirhool  dintricta, 
5,575  ;  number  of  nchcK)!  housen,  4.9^^4  ;  value  of  Hchool  huildin^H 
and  ^routulH,  $.V9 16,931  ;  number  of  teacherH  employed  durin}; 
the  year,  6,707;  avera^^e  wages  paid,  II37.09;  total  ttchool  cx« 
)M!n»c.\  $1,590,794.30. 

The  tables  jfivcn  al)Ove  are  instructive  in  many  particularn. 
rhey  show  the  rapidity  with  whiih  thtr  arable  landM  of  the  State 
<irc  brought  under  cultivation,  an  increase  of  acreage  of  at)OUt 
1,350,000  yearly,  and  a  total  of  7,757,130  acres  sown  with  these 
prominent  crops  in  1879.  At  this  rate  of  increase,  and  it  is 
likely  to  be  exceeded,  the  year  a.  d.  1900  will  see  all  or  nearly 
all  the  arable  land  of  the  State  under  culture.  They  show  also 
that  while,  as  a  new  State,  Kansas  must  of  necessity  devote  her* 
self  to  the  cultivation  of  the  cereals,  corn  and  potatoes,  as  her 
principal  crops,  and  those  which  would  bring  the  readiest  and 
surest  return,  she  has  also  been  very  active  in  iliversilying  her 
productions  by  the  cultivation  of  other  crops.  In  1879,  more 
than  one-seventh  of  her  cultivated  acreage  was  devoted  to  the 
culture  of  such  crops  as  millet,  pearl  millet,  Hungarian  grass, 
rice  corn,  flax,  broom  corn,  castor  beans,  sorghum,  sweet  pota- 
toes, and  small  ventures  in  cotton,  hemp,  tobacco,  etc. 

Kansas  has  generally  done  better  on  winter  wheat  than  spring 
wheat,  and  hence  of  her  large  wheat  area  about  four-fifths  is  win- 
ter wheat,  and  the  remainder  spring  wheat.  The  States  farther 
north  have  found  that  spring  wheat  was  a  much  surer  crop,  owing 
to  their  long  and  severe  winters  and  their  short  but  quick-grow- 
ing and  intense  summers.  The  warm  season  is  so  much  longer, 
and  the  general  cold  of  winter  so  much  less  severe  in  Kansas, 


a 


■.■»ttiiifW>-'Hi''J»S'i*i^!-jiJjntM!'-M-^  "ti 


I 


li 


m 


!  I;- 


§74  Ol/Jt    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

that  winter  wheat  is  a  tolerably  sure  crop,  and  its  average  yield 
is  more  satisfactory  than  the  spring  wheat. 

The  culture  of  the  castor  bean,  of  flax,  of  the  rice  corn,  and  of 
the  broom  corn  is  larger  in  proportion  to  the  whole  farming  crop 
than  in  any  other  State.  That  of  sorghum  and  of  the  pearl  millet 
is  increasing.  All  of  these  crops  under  proper  conditions  have 
proved  profitable,  and  some  of  them  in  future  will  be  much  more 
so.  This  is  especially  true  of  the  castor  bean,  rice  corn,  flax,  and 
sorghum.  The  new  discoveries  which  enable  the  manufacturer 
at  very  moderate  cost  to  produce  a  perfecdy  crystallized  sugar 
from  sorghum,  when  cut  at  the  time  the  seeds  are  hardening,  will 
cause  a  great  increase  in  the  cultivation  of  some  of  its  numerous 
varieties.  The  demand  for  the  flax  fibre  for  paper  stock  when 
the  seed  has  ripened  will  increase  the  production  of  flax  as  yield- 
ing a  double  crop  of  seed  and  lint,  and  the  recendy  demonstrated 
fact  that  it  is  the  most  profitable  crop  to  be  used  on  land  of  new 
breaking  will  also  increase  its  production. 

We  should  not  lose  sight  in  this  connection  of  the  important 
interest  which  Kansas  has  in  the  rearing  of  live-stock.     In  1879, 
she  had  324,766  horses  and  51,981  mules  reported  by  the  asses- 
sors, a  very  fair  amount  for  a  new  State ;  tVs  number  of  milch 
cows  was  332,020,  and  of  other  cattle  654,443,  making  together 
986,463  neat  catUe,  and  allowing  for  omissions  in  the  assessors' 
reports  the  actual  number  must  have  exceeded  1,000,000.    The 
dairy  products  of  the  State  for  the  year  ending  March  i,  1879 
were  1,059,640  pounds  of  cheese,  and   14,506,494  pounds  o 
butter,  of  the  total  value  of  $3,759,078.50.    To  this  should  be 
added  a  large  sum  for  milk  sold.    The  number  of  sheep  was 
311,862,  not  very  large,  but  a  ten-fold  increase  from  1870. 
the  production  of  swine,  Kansas  stands  eleventh  in  the  United 
States,  and  fourth  in  '*Our  Western  Empire,"  only  Iowa,  Missouri 
and  Texas  having  a  larger  number.     In  the  qualitj'  of  the  pork 
only  Iowa  surpasses  her.     In  addition  to  her  1,264,494  swine  at 
the  end  of  1879,  which  were  valued  at  $7,586,964,  there  were  in 
1879  animals  slaughtered  or  sold  for  slaughter  (of  which  the 
swine  formed  much  the  largest  portion)  to  the  value  of  $8,665, 
543.    Western  Kansas  furnishes  such  abundant  pasturage  foi 


its  average  yield 

\e  rice  corn,  and  of 
'hole  farming  crop 
of  the  pearl  millet 
)er  conditions  have 
will  be  much  more 
J,  rice  corn,  flax,  and 
|e  the  manufacturer 
crystallized  sugar 
are  hardening,  will 
me  of  its  numerous 
r  paper  stock  when 
tion  of  flax  as  yield- 
.ently  demonstrated 
ised  on  land  of  new 

)n  of  the  important 
ive-stock.     In  1879, 
)orted  by  the  asses- 
's  number  of  milch 
[3,  making  together 
)ns  in  the  assessors' 
led  1,000,000.     The 
ling  March  i,  1879, 
506,494  pounds  of 
To  this  should  be 
mber  of  sheep  was 
ise  from  1870.     In 
veuth  in  the  United 
only  Iowa,  Missouri, 
qualitj'  of  the  pork 
■  1,264,494  swine  at 
5,964,  there  were  in 
hter  (of  which  the 
^e  value  of  $8,665,- 
dant  pasturage  for 


'■"■33»| 


OKCIIARD  AND    VINEYARD  PRODUCTS.  875 

cattle  and  sheep,  and  such  vast  crops  of  corn,  rice  corn,  etc.,  that 
the  raising,  and  especially  the  fattening  of  cattle  and  sheep  for 
market,  ought  to  be  and  will  be  one  of  its  largest  industries. 

The  orchard  and  vineyard  products  of  Kansas  are  remarkable 
for  a  State  so  recently  setded.  In  March,  1879,  there  were 
reported,  1,867,192  apple  trees  in  bearing,  and  3,979,062  which 
had  not  yet  borne  their  first  crop ;  58,482  pear  trees  in  bearing, 
and  1 54,265  not  yet  in  bearing ;  4,784,076  peach  trees  in  bearing, 
and  4,049,801  not  yet  in  bearing ;  160,940  plum  trees  in  bearing, 
and  264.968  not  yet  in  bearing;  432,726  cherry  trees  in  bearing, 
and  678,426  not  yet  in  bearing.  The  climate  is  favoiable  to 
fruit-gro'ving,  and  great  care  is  taken  to  obtain  choice  varieties. 
Not  so  much  attention  has  been  paid  to  viniculture,  but  there 
were  3,419  acres  of  vineyards  in  the  State  in  1878,  and  84,079 
gallons  of  wine  were  made  that  year. 

Apiaculture,  or  the  raising  of  bees,  has  been  from  the  first  a 
favorite  pursuit  in  Kansas.  In  1879  there  were  31,190  stands 
of  bees  reported  in  the  State,  which  had  produced  370,398 
pounds  of  honey,  and  10,949  pounds  of  wax. 

Prices  0/ Necessary  Merchatidise, — The  question  is  often  asked 
by  intending  emigrants :  Are  not  the  prices  of  everything  we 
have  to  buy  in  these  new  States  and  Territories  enormously 
high  ?  We  can  buy  land  cheaply  enough,  and  the  prices  of 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep  are  re?:».»onable,  but  is  not  this  cheapness 
more  than  made  up  by  the  exorbitant  price  put  upon  everything 
we  have  to  eat,  drink,  or  wear,  upon  our  furniture,  agricultural 
or  mining  tools,  lumber,  etc.,  and  is  not  the  price  of  board  and 
lodging  very  high  ?  h  i  n  rt',  .i  r; 

We  answer.  No.  The  average  prices  of  most  articles  are  not 
higher  and  some  of  them  not  quite  so  high  as  those  at  the  East. 
The  following  list  of  prices  prepared  by  the  late  Hon.  Alfred 
Gray,  late  Secretary  of  the  Kansas  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
with  great  care,  shows  the  average  prices  in  Kansas,  in  the 
autumn  of  1879.  They  have  not  materially  changed  since. 
The  prices  of  board  are  given  as  at  Topeka,  Lawrence  and  other 
cities  of  the  State.  In  the  country  villages  and  on  farms,  they 
are  materially  lower.  <-   ,     ,^ 


•^:»Sia8i®»3iaeii5«E3.«S!U»*iK*#4SS^ 


876 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


PRICES  OP   MERCHANDISE,   ETC 


Prinlt. 

Merrimac,  per  yard 6c,  to  8c. 

Cucheco 7c.  tu  9c, 

Ordinary S<^' 


DRY  GOODS. 

'  Ailaiiilc,  r 7c. 

I)wit{lit  Star 9^c, 

Booth  MilU 8^c. 


'    '       '  Mutlin — Bleached. 

I,on»dale,  per  yard loc. 

Fruit  of  the  Loom loc. 

Great  Falls,  Q lOc. 

WamsuUa i>>j|C. 

Broun. 

Indian  Head,  per  yard 9/^^. 

Atlantic,  A 9>jc. 


jfeans,  eU. 
Salem,  all  wool  filled,  per  yard. 

Tricot 

Farmers' 

Farmers'  and  mechanic!i'  cassia 

mere 

Cheviot  shirtings loc.  to  I2|^c. 

Ticking,  l>est  feather 20c.  to  25c. 

Ticking,  best  straw loc.  to  I2^c. 


45c. 
15c. 
30c. 

2SC. 


y  ;  '< 


!■ 


Sugar,  [For  one  doOar.) 
10%  pounds  A.  •  •  'I  ;.•        ' 

10^  poi'iit."'.  (jr.inulated.  -(j 

M'/i  pouixls  CofTee,  "C." 
15      pounds  Blown. 

Coffee.  (For  erne  dollar.)        ^'  / 

4  pounds  Java.  .'-.I./y 

5  pounds  best  Rio. 
8  pound.'  good  Rio. 

Ten.  (Per pound.)  ''  ' 

japan |0  3<;to|o8o 

Gunpowder tio  to    i  00 

Imperial 50  to       80 

Oolong,  choice ^   '  60 

Mistellantout, 

Rice,  per  pound f  o  08 

Codf  sh 8 

Mack«rel,  per  kitt 70 

Bacon-  Shoulders,  per  pound 6 


GROCEklES, 
Bacon 


Mams,  canvassed.. . .  |o  1 1 

Hams,  plain -^'i 

Sides. 8 

Apples,  per  bushel 1  00  to  I  20 

Potatoes 70  to     80 

Sweet  potatoes .jo  . 

Butter  crackers,  per  pound .. .  •  i^t^ 

Coal  oil,  per  gallon 25 

Flour  and  Feed. 

XXX,  per  100  pounds ^2  75 

XXXX 3  2$ 

75 
80 
60 
70 

2S 
30 


Chairs. 

\f indsor,  set  of  6 I3  50  to  |6  50 

Canr  seal 6ootoi8oo 

Splint  bottom A  $0 

Easy,  each 7  50  to  20  00 

Tables. 

Kitchen <2  50 

Breakfast 3  cxj  to    4  50 

Extension,  oak,  ash  and  wal-> 

nul,  per  foot 1 ;  ;l  ;.:[-    «  '5 

Bedsteads,  etc. 

Cwtafie  ' $3  00 

Walnut 5  00  and  upwards 

Bureaus ^ 12  00  and  upwards 


Patent 

Com  meal 

Bran 

Shorts 

Corn,  per  bushel, 

Outs 

Hay,  per  ton,  loose 3  «> 

Hay,  per  ton,  baled 8  00 

FURNITURE. 

Rocking  Chairs,  etc. 

Common  wood |l  00  to  ^l  50 

Cane  seat .  2  50  to    6  00 

Washstands 2  00  to 

Commode  and  drawer  stands.  4  30  to 

Kitchen  safes 4  00  to 


Ktiv^h 


2  50 

6  50 

7  SO 


Lounges,  etc. 

Carpet ^8  00  to  jSjO  00 

Wood,  extension 2  25  to      4  50 

Sofas IS  00 

Bedroom  suits 35  00  to  150  00 

Parlor  suits 40  00  to  100  00 


PRICES  OF  MERCHANDISE  IN  KANSAS. 


CARPETS. 


«77 


Hemp,  per  jrard |o  20 

Rag 40 

Ingrain,  cotlon  chain aj  to      50 

Two-ply,  all  wool 55  I"      9*) 

Thr«e-ply,  »lt  wool no  to  I   10 


Tapestry |o  90  to  |i   25 

Hody  HrUMcIs |   50  to    300 

China  itraw  matting 18  to        35 

Rattan  matting 35  'o        75 

Oilcloth,  per  square  yard. ,. .        3510        75 


MISCELI-ANEOU.S. 

Stwts, 

Conking,  complete I17  00  to  ^50  00 

Heating 5  00  and  upwarda 

Hamtsi,  lie. 

Farm,  double %ii  00  to  I36  00 

Carriage,  double 35  00  to  71;  00 


Buggy,  single. 


13  00  to  50  00 


Saddles,  men's 3  50  to  35  00 

'  '  BUILDING  MATERIAL 


Saddle*,  women's Ij  00  to  |  35  00 

Collars 60  to       4  00 

Hnlters 50  to        3  00 

Horse  blanket! 1   10  to      1000 

Shotlng  Honts. 

Putting  on  set  of  all-new  shoes ^1  50 

ReseMin^  old  shoes So 


Common  hoards,  per  M. . 

Studding  and  joist 

Fencing 

Flooring 

Siding , 

D  stock 

Shingles 

Lath 

Finishing  lumber 30  00  to  60  00 

Doors I  35  to    3  00 

Sash,  glazed,  per  window. ,  9010    a  50 


|33  50 

33  00 

33  50 

35  00  to  35  00 

18  00  to  35  00 

35  00 

3  00  to    4  00 

4  00 


Blinds,  ))er  lineal  foot lo  35 

Cedar  [wsts 17  to        20 

Lime,  per  bushel 35 

Plastering  hair,  per  bushel. .  20 

Brick,  per  M 7  00  to    8  00 

Plaster  Paris,  per  barrel. ...  3  50 

Nails,  per  pound,  by  the  keg.  4^ 

Stone,  per  cord,  delivered. ..  3  50  to    4  00 
Stone,  laid  in  the  wall, perfoot.  8 

Building  hardware  is  sold  at  Eastern  prices, 
with  freight  added. 


,,)' 


AGRICULTURAL  IMPLEMENTS. 


Plows,  etc. 


Wood  beam,  stirring,  from 

10  to  16  inches fio  00  to  f  16  00 

Steel  beam,  stirring 13  00  to    20  00 

Iron  beam,  stirring It  00  to  1800 

Prairie  breakers 18  00  to  35  00 

Sulky,  13  to  16  inAes 38  00  to  45  00 

Riding  sulkies,  for  plow  at- 
tachments    3Q  ;9Q  to  35  00 

Corn  planters "'  45  00 


WOODEN  AND  WILLOW  WARE. 

Two-hoop  buckets 1 7c, 

Three-hoop  buckets 20c, 

No.  I  washtubs , ,  50c. 

No.  2  washtuhs 650, 

No.  3  washtubs 75c, 

Snail  willow  clothes  bukct 65c, 


Cultivators,     walking     or  '. , 

riding ^19  00  to  t2^  00 

Harrows,  Scotch 6  00  to      8  50 

Harrows,  vibrating 9  50  to    10  50 

Hay  rakes,  sulky 23  00  to    34  (X> 

Wagont. 

Farm  two-horse f  60  00  to    70  00 

Spring 90001012500 

Buggiet. 

Covered (90  00  to  ^275  00 

Open 60  00  to    ijo  00 


Medium  willow  clothes  basket . . .  75c. 

Large  Willow  clothes  basket 90c. 

Washboards i5e.  to  25c. 

Half-bushel  market  baskets 10c. 

Half-bushel  feed  baskets .  30c. 

Bushel  baskets,  stare '  40c. 


iswww«f«j*sr!ras;i:oA»>9i'«!wa?«ii>K>se^^^ 


■T 


^ij^ 


ifi  "  '-'-^^■"'''**'-'  ^  '  ■--'•  '-■ 


ini  Hi 


-yi>S/.V  .^, 


v« 


lllf^ 


OUJt    WESTEKJ^  EMPIRE. 


FRESH  MEATS. 


Boiliiitf  pieces,  per  pound 5'- '"    ^• 

Rtinstini;  pieces tOc.  to  \t%c. 

Steak,  round lor 

I^in '^^yi^- 

Porterbou*^  I'^c. 


;1 


Mutlon,  tU.  , 

Chops  per  pound loc.  to  la^c. 

Kunst IOC.  to  I3)jc. 

U» ia><c. 

I'ork 8c.  to  IOC. 

Corned  beef 8c. 

Pickled  pork loc. 


WAGES. 


Carpenters,  per  day %\  50  to  |2  jo 

Stone  mason* 3  00  to    335 

Bricklayers 3  Oo 

Blacksmiths I  50  to    3  25 

MachinJHts. . , i  50  ttf*  3  35 

Moulders,  iron a  03 


Tinners %\  50  to  f  3  00 

Saddle   and   harness  makers, 

per  week 900101400 

Printers,  per  M 25  to        30 

Printers,  per  week 13  00  to  15  00 

L»l)«ur«r»^Rer  day i  00  to    i  50 


Boarding, — Board  may  be  obtained  at  private  houses  for  from 
$4  to  $5  per  week;  at  boarding  houses,  for  $4.50  to  $6 ;  and  at 
first-class  hotels,  at  from  jjii .50  to  5(53  per  day.  ,„,;, ^ 

Railroads  and  River  Navigation. — The  amount  of  river  navi- 
gation in  the  State  is  not  large.  The  Missouri  is  navigable  for 
the  entire  distance  (some  seventy  miles),  in  which  it  forms  the 
northeastern  boundary  of  the  State,  but  none  of  its  tributaries 
in  Kansas  possess  any  considerable  value  in  that  respect.  The 
Kaw  or  Kansas,  the  largest  of  these,  has  been  ascended  in  flood 
time  by  steamboats  as  far  as  the  junction  of  the  Smoky  Hill 
and  Republican  rivers,  but  ordinarily  no  boats  would  be  able  to 
navigate  it.  The  Arkansas  is  not  navigable  in  Kansas,  except 
in  flood  time. 

But  this  lack  of  navigable  rivers  is  more  than  made  good  by 
the  abundance  of  its  railway  facilities.  Sixty-five  of  the  103 
counties  of  the  State  (organized  and  unorganized)  are  traversed 
by  railroads,  and  many  ci'  the  others  are  accessible  to  them,  by 
their  passage  near  their  borders.  Directly  or  indirectly,  all  the 
railroads  which  spread  out  over  the  State  like  y  spider's  web 
start  from  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  so  that  the  emigrant  is  sure 
of  not  going  wrong  if  he  buys  his  ticket  at  the  East  for  that 
great  railroad  centre;"'   "■ 

We  might  go  farther,  and  say  that  with  the  exception  of  a  sin- 


ution,  elt. 

IOC.  lo  liyic 

IOC.  to  izyic. 

"Xc. 

8c.  to  IOC. 

8c. 

IOC. 

....  ,,'   ,  .(I 

|i  50  to  f  J  oo 

ss  makeri, 

9  00  to  14  00 

»S  I"       30 

12  00  to  15  00 

I  00  to    I  50 

1/   .-■     p..., , 

ite  houses  for  from 
4.50  to  $6;  and  at 

ount  of  river  navi- 
iri  is  navigable  for 
irhich  it  forms  the 
|e  of  its  tributaries 
that  respect.  The 
1  ascended  in  flood 
)f  the  Smoky  Hill 
;s  would  be  able  to 
in  Kansas,  except 

ban  made  good  by 
ty-five  of  the  103 
zed)  a  re  traversed 
essible  to  them,  by 
r  indirecdy,  all  the 
ke  «;  spider's  web 
emigrant  is  sure 
the  East  for  that 

,  ...  -.'  ':'■•  •■■■•■  ■        n 

exception  of  a  sin- 


HA/LH'AYS  Of  KANSAS.  g-g 

gle  great  trunk  road  (and  how  long  that  may  be  an  exception  it 
is  hard  to  say),  all  the  railroads  which  traverse  Kansas  in  any 
direction  are  under  the  control  of  the  Wabash  Railway,  and 
most  of  them  form  parts  of  the  great  Union  I'acific  system.  This 
is  especially  the  case  with  all  the  railways  running  west  or  north- 
west from  Kansas  City,  Atchison,  and  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  but 
it  is  true,  so  far  as  the  Wabash  is  concerned,  of  those  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  State  which  extend  southward  and  southwest- 
ward  to  the  Indian  Territory  and  Texas,  The  Atchison,  Topeka 
and  Santa  Fe  Railway,  though  having  its  eastern  termini  at 
Kansas  City  and  Atchison,  has  thus  far  maintained  its  indepen- 
dence of  ihese  grand  combinations  and  pursued  its  own  plans 
to  their  consummation.  So  far  as  Kansas  is  concerned  it  will 
probably  continue  to  do  so;  but  what  may  be  the  outcome  6i 
its  recent  arrangements  for  reaching  the  Pacific  and  Gulf  coasts 
does  not  concern  us  in  this  connection.  Kansas  had  at  the  be- 
ginning of  1880,  about  3,121  miles  of  railroad  in  operation  in  65 
of  its  103  counties,  and  has  materially  increased  the  amount 
during  the  present  year.  It  ranks  third  among  the  States  and 
Territories  of  our  western  empire,  only  Iowa  and  Missouri  sur- 
passing it,  though  Minnesota  is  not  far  behind  in  the  race. 
Only  eight  of  the  States  of  the  Union  have  exceeded  this  State 
in  the  extent  of  their  railroad  development. 

The  following  list  we  believe  comprises  all  the  Kansas  rail- 
)y)Siy^ ;  their  length  cannot  be  given,  as  it  is  so  constantly  changing. 


■iUi 


KANSAS  RAILROADS. 


.•:!!',' 


(Ji;.  1 


41  // 


Si.  Joseph  &  Denver-  Railroad  (formerly  St.  Joseph  &  Den- 
ver City  Railroad). — Eastern  terminus,  St.  Joseph,  Mo.;  west- 
ern terminus,  Hastings,  Neb.         .i..i  (Jiiji.; 

Atchison  &  Nebraska  Jiai/roMl.-^Southern  terbiiniiS,  Atchi- 
son, Kas. ;  present  northern  terminus,  Seward,  Neb. 

Central  Branch  Union  Pacific  Railroad. — Eastern  terminus, 
Atchison,  Kas.;  western  terminus,  Kirvvin,  Kas.;  with  branches 
from  Greenleaf  northwest  to  Washington ;  from  Concordia  north 
to  Scandia;  and  from  Downs  southwest  to  Osbornei   !•  »  iiniiiiu 

Atchison,   Topeka  &  Santa  Fi  Railroad, — Eastern   termini, 


,','l'i    .Uliu*')    .•'.t/nliil  I.  /    11  •: 


A^W  U. 


.»>miS5»«®a»»J.*-/ssf«s».^*v.iWi«'^^^^^^ 


ui 


.A  i 


I 


:i    \ 


B9o 


OUR    WESTERN   EMPIRE. 


Atchison,  Kas.,  Kansas  (  ty.  Mo.,  and  Ple;t<iant  Hill,  Mo.;  west- 
ern  termini,  Pueblo,  Col.,  aud  Santa  \'b,  N.  M.;  with  branches 
from  Emporia  south  to  Eureka;  from  Florence  south  to  Eldo- 
rado; from  Florence  northwest  to  McPherson;  and  from  Newton 
south  to  Winfield  and  Wellington. 

Missouri  Pacific  Raihvay. — Eastern  terminus,  St.  Louis,  Mo.; 
nordiern  tcrm'nus,  Atchison,  Kas.,  via  Kansas  City. 

Kansas  Central  Railroad. — Eastern  terminus,  Leavenworth, 
Kas.;  western  terminus,  Onaga,  Kas.  ' 

Kansas  Pacific  Raihvay. — Eastern  termini,  Leavenworth,. Kas., 
and  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  western  terminus,  Denver,  Col.;  with 
branches  from  Junction  City  northwest  to  Concordia;  from  Sol- 
omon City  northwest  to  Minneapolis;  and  from  Salina  south  to 
Lindaburg. 

Missouri,  Kansas  &  T^xas  Railway. — Eastern  terminus, 
Hannibal,  Mo. ;  southern  terminus,  Denison,  Texas;  with  branch 
from  Pai  jon.s,  K'ls.,  northwest  to  Junction  City,  Kas,  '■■  -  "'"^"^'. 
,  Osa^c  Division  of  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railway. — East- 
ern terminus,  Holden,  Mo.;  western  terminus,  Paola,  Kas.;  con- 
necting at  Hoiden  with  Missouri  Pacific  Railway,  and  at  Paola 
with  Kansas  City,  Fort  Scott  &  Gulf  Railroad. 

St.  Louis  &  San  Francisco  Railroad. — Eastern  terminus,  St. 
Louis,  Mo.;  present  western  terminus,  Cherry  vale,  Kas.;  with 
branch  from  Carl  Junction,  Mo.,  northwest,  to  dirard,  Kas. 
y  Memphis,  Kansas  &  Colorado  Railway. — Eastern  terminus, 
Messer,  Kas.;  western  terminus.  Parsons,  Kas.;  connecting  at 
Messer  with  St.  Louis  &  San  Francisco  Railroad,  and  at  Parsons 
with  Mirsouri,  Kansas  &  iexas  Railway. 

Kansas  City,  La-"rence  &  Soulhent  Railroad. — Northern  ter^ 
mini,  Lawrence,  Kas.,  and  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  southern  terminus, 
Cofifeyville,  Kas.;  with  branch  from  Cherryvale  southwest  to 
Independence.      {vif;*#Ji  .wrrtixint^i  ai<;»ri3*tt>a  ./Kxevjii  ;  ,.if;>i  mu 

;,i,/Cmsas  City,  Burlington  &  Santa  Fi  Railroad. — Northeastern 
terminus,  Ottawa,  Kas.;  southwestern  terminus,  Burlington, 
Kas.;  connecting  at  Ottawa  with  K.  C.  L.  &  S.  R.  R.,  and  at 
Burlington  whh  M.  K.  &  T.  Rly. 

Kansas  City,  Fart  Scott  &  Gulf  Railroad. — Northern  termi- 
nus, Kansas  Cit>',  Mo.;    southern  terminus,  Joplin,  Mo. 


LASDX  ton  IMMIGRANTS. 


88 1 


mt  Hill,  Mo.;  west- 
M.;  with  branchrs 

;nce  south  to  EIclo- 
;  and  from  Newton 
■'"    '  "i'  '  •'■' 

I  us,  St.  Louis,  Mo.; 

Ls  City. 

finus,  Leavenworth, 

Leaven  worth,. Kas., 

Denver,  Col.;  with 

oncordia;  from  Sol- 

*om  Salina  south  to 

-Eastern  terminUb, 
F'c.cas;  with  branch 
ty,  Kas. 

'as  Railway. — East- 
s,  Paola,  Kas. ;  con- 
ailway,  and  at  Paola 

istern  tefminusi  Si. 
•rryvale,  Kas.;  with 
o  Girard,  Kas. 
—Eastern  terminus, 
fCas, ;  connecting  at 
oad,  and  at  Parsons 


'V"        V.    •" 


«^— Northern  ter-. 

southern  terminus, 

inrale  southwest  to 

7ad. — Northeastern 
minus,  Burlinorton, 
&  S.  R.  R.,  and  at 


'^brtft^fn  t^rmi- 
Dplin,  Mo. 


AftinufactMres. — There  are  no  statistics  of  manufactures  in  the 
State  since  1870  which  even  approximate  accuracy.  In  1870, 
with  a  population  of  373,299,  the  census  report,  always  imper- 
fect on  manufactures,  gave  the  following  statistics:  1,477  manu- 
facturing establishments;  1(139,456,939  capital  employed;  $54,- 
800,087  of  annual  product.  In  the  ten  years  since  that  time, 
the  population  has  increased  three-fold,  the  assessed  valuation 
certainly  three  and  a  half  times,  and  the  true  valuation  from 
$188,893,014  to  $447,61 1,187.54.  The  annual  product  of  man- 
ufactures in  the  State  cannot  fall  short  of  $aoo,ooo,ooo,  and  may 
exceed  that.  Though  there  are  no  cities  of  the  first  or  second 
class  in  the  State,  there  are  many  active  and  growing  towns  and 
cities  which  are  actively  engaged  in  manufactures  of  all  kinds. 

Lands  for  Immigrants, — With  the  immense  influx  of  immigra- 
tion in  the  past  four  years  the  greater  part  of  the  government 
lands  east  of  the  98th  meridian  have  been  taken  up,  the  excep- 
tions being  for  the  most  part,  those  lands  which  were  at  too 
great  a  distance  from  railroads  or  markets,  or  those  which  were 
less  fertile,  or  swampy  in  their  character.  West  of  this  meridian, 
the  government  lands  are  yet  to  be  bought  of  good  quality, 
and  at  the  usual  rates,  $1.35  per  acre  outside  of  railroad  limits, 
or  $2.50  inside.  These  lands  ran  also  be  secured  under  the 
Homestead  or  Timber-Culture  Acts  or  pre-empted;  and  some  of 
those  west  of  the  looth  meridian  under  the  Desert  Land  Act.  If 
the  lands  are  to  be  immediately  cultivated  we  would  suggest  to 
the  immigrant  that  he  should  not  go  beyond  the  frontier  of  set- 
tlement; because  the  rainfall,  which,  though  increasing,  is  yet 
scantyv  will  not  have  ^»  bendioial  an  eiifect  upon  the  newly  bro- 
ken lands  which  are  i&olated,  as  on  those  where  the  new  breaking 
is  continuous;  and  if,  as  may  be  the  case,  irrigation  is  required, 
it  is  better  and  les9^  expensive  that  it  should  be  undertaken  by 
many  farmers  than  by  one.  If  the  lands  are  intended  for  grazing, 
it  makes  very  little  difference  where  the  selection  is  made,  so 
thaf  there  are  streams  for  watering  the  stock,  and  ikvt  settler 
plants  his  treesr  so  as  to  aAbrd  them  shelter  from  the  winds  and 
Qoid.  Bunch  grass  willi  afford  good  pasturage,  and  as  the  land 
is  brokePi  blM<e  jotiH  and  other  tame  grasses  will  spring  up. 


-.n!*»Si«ifc*S*fei^aSii.>^'^,.^?«I.f*  -^-r  ■.■,*«*»!.*'«-« 


J 


88a 


OUK    H'F.XTKKy  EMPtKR. 


I 


There  are  school,  univemity  and  so  called  swamp  lands  be- 
longfing^  to  the  State,  to  be  had  on  favorable  terms,  in  almost  all 
of  the  counties.  The  railway  companies  all  have  lands  to  sell, 
along  their  lines,  throughout  the  State,  at  prices  varying  from 
$3  oi"  %\  to  $'2  per  acre,  according  to  location,  and  on  very 
favorable  terms  of  credit.  We  have  spoken  of  these  at  length 
elsewhere. 

If  the  immigrant  has  some  capital  he  can  often  buy  partially 
improved  farms  on  better  terms  than  to  break  up  new  land. 
The  soil  is  good  enough  to  insure  good  crops  every  year;  but 
he  should  be  sure  of  his  title.  Very  many  restless  spirits,  bur- 
dened with  debt,  are  anxious  to  dispose  of  their  farms  at  even 
less  than  the  cost  of  the  improvements  in  order  to  begin  again  un- 
der morr  favorable  circumstances,  and  there  are  many  cases  in 
which  a  shrewd  settler  with  a  little  capital  can  come  into  posses- 
sion of  an  excellent  farm  with  the  hard  labor  of  the  early  work 
on  it  done  to  his  hand  by  the  man  of  whom  he  buys  it.      i     '     ' 

Popuiaiion. — The  following  table  shows  the  population  of  the 
State  at  different  dates  since  i860,  and  other  particulars: 


11 


Vmt. 


lie 


PopuUlinn. 


Mitlo. 


Femalea. 


Purpo.«  ur  Tax.    „"^"?  .  ."{fH      Enr(,ll<..|  In 


lion. 
60  per  cent. 


«35.8j7 
575."J« 


».I7« 


4l,ntl 


146,939 


ait,87S 


ss».m 


4N>M> 


».I',J»7.*)5 
36,ia6/xjo 
9t,iaf,8Ai 

128,406,510 

■  38,fi98,8ii 
i44«3u>a8o 


II  yean. 


'I       School. 


37.4»3 

*,3lo 

45.441 

a6,4oa 

>('9.74» 

199,010 

»".575 

•83,3»« 

MIX 

The  population,  which  ha*  so  rapidly  increased  within  the  last 
decade,  counts  109,705  of  foreign  birth  and  twice  that  number  of 
foreign  parentage.  In  the  beginning,  there  were  two  distinct  im- 
migrations, one  from  New  Fngland,  New  York  and  the  Northern 
States,  and  the  other  from  the  South,  struggling  fiercely  and  bit- 
terly for  the  supremacy.  The  settlers  from  th^  North  triumphed, 
and  made  it  a  free  State.  Of  the  in  flux  since  1 870  probably  a  fifth 
has  been  of  foreign  birth;  Mennonites  and  their  coreligionists 
from  Russia,  Germans,  Scandinavians,  French,  Italians,  English, 
Scotch,  Welsh  and  Irish;  and  with  these  have  come  also  large 


iwamp  lancN  bc- 
ms,  in  almost  all 
ve  lands  to  sell, 
ce»  varying  from 
ion,  and  on  very 
these  at  length 

"ten  buy  partially 
ak  up  new  land, 
every  year;  but 
less  spirits,  bur- 
fir  farms  at  even 
o  bergin  again  un- 
ire  many  cases  in 
;ome  into  posses- 
)f  the  early  work 
buys  it. 

population  of  the 
articulars: 


)rSchix>IAK.|    p  „ii   1, 
lc.w.a.5.Vd     EnmlMIn 


>>  yean. 


3r.4»3 

*,)IO 

4S.44I 

S*;i^ 

"«.«• 

199,010 

"35,598 

•♦•'!■! 

i77,8o« 

ed  within  the  last 
:e  that  number  of 
re  two  distinct  im- 
and  the  Northern 
r  fiercely  and  bit- 
North  triumphed, 
70  probably  a  fifth 
eir  CO  religionists 
Italians,  English, 
come  also  large 


rorvi.ATios  op  tub  state  by  counties.  ggj 

numbers  from  all  the  Atlantic  States,  Canadians,  Mexicans,  and 
of  late  negroes,  making  their  exodus  from  the  Southern  States 
to  Kansas,  as  pr«*-eminently  the  land  of  fn^cdom. 

The  Indian  population,  which  in  i87oamormted  to  over  10,- 
000,  occupying  sev<'ral  huge  resrrvntions,  iuis,  by  the  action  of 
the  United  States  government  in  obtaining  their  lands  by  treaties 
and  annuities  and  removing  th«:m  to  the  Indian  Territory,  been 
greatly  reduced.  There  are  now  only  690  tribal  Indians  in  Kan- 
sas, all  of  the  Pottawatomie  and  Kickapoo  tribes.  The  Indian 
reservations  still  include  102,026  acres,  but  the  tide  to  a  part  ot 
this  will  soon  be  extinguished. 

Omnties. — There  are  104  counties  in  the  .State,  78  of  which 
were  organized  and  26  unorganized,  in  March,  1880.  Their 
names,  area  and  population  in  1H79  were  as  follows: 


CoiintiM. 


I.  I«av«nworth  . 
t.  ShawnM.  ..  ■ 
].  AlRhUon  .. .. 
4.  l)uui;lu» 

i.  C'hcrnkM 
BDirrbon 

i|.«liell<i    
C'imlty  . 

g  tieilKwick 

10  M«Mh«lt 

II.  Biiller  

19.  lohnKdn 

■3  M'«ilguincry. . 
14.  Uniiiphan  .  ,. . 
IS  Ougli  

16.  Miami 

17.  Sumner 

IB.  Lyon 

ig.  WyantluUa    . . 

»o.  Crawfuril 

II.  Linn 

«.  jewall  

ai   Franklin 

■4'  Mlichel 

ajj.  Jtffcnion  ... 
4V.  Potiawaiomie 

%1  Naonho 

iB.  McPhcnon  .. 
tf .  DIcklMoii . . . 

30.  Cloud 

31   Salliw 

3a .  B.irion 

)3.  Republic 

34.  Reno 

35.  Wil'on 

je.  Wanhiagfon. . 

37.  Smith 

at.  Bnwn 

39Cl«y 


w 


53* 

Hi 

I, Ml 

1,008 
90U 

1,438 
4B0 

<J« 

379 
718 

sat 
i.iti 

858 

•  53 

59» 
«37 

S7« 

7»o 
TOO 
900 
730 
i,a<o 

57« 

9on 
900 


Jo.»83 

31,631 
11, Ton 
io,j3o 
18.535 
■8,310 
i8,i;i 
I*, '57 

I7.61J 

'7.'»? 

l7,iR.n 
l6,oia 
'5,y79 

•  5.4M 
U.W 
I5,'6i 
I5,<i90 
•5,073 
15,046 
14,611 

•4,586 
14,161 

•  4,073 
•4.034 
"3.8r^ 
•J.79' 
•3,594 
•3.>9* 
•3. 005 
11,656 
•»,4»4 
•«,333 
11,193 
11,041 
11,901 
11,900 
",498 

lojeli 


Counl'iM. 


I 


40  Chautauqua  . 

41.  Harvey 

41,  Nemaha 

43.  Mariun  

44.  Allen  

44   Coffey 

46  Uiibome 

47  Elk 

jfi.  Ultawa 

49.  Jackson    . . . . 
},i  (iieenwuod  . 

SI.  Hhillips 

51    Rice 

53  Lincoln 

54  R«*V     

55.  M'lrm 

56  Pawnee 

57  .lUworth. . . . 
]8  Anilirsun.    .. 

^9    RuMtll .   

(n.  Wa  ihaunsee. 

«i   Davia   

6i  Woodiion  . .  . . 

6)   Ruiih 

A4  Ellii 

65  Rooki  

66  Norton 

67  Chate 

6ft  rord    

69  Edwardi . ... 

70.  KIramaa 

71.  Slanord 

7a.  Trtgo 

73.  Haider 

74.  Prait 

75.  Barbour 

76.  Hodgeman  . . 

77   Dewur, 

78.  Graham 


6,1 

540 

r» 

»54 

v. 

2)8 
».»55 

7-" 

*'7 

7-' 
7=6 

!'■' 

%¥> 

407 
504 
710 
900 
900 
900 

1,080 

648 

710 

*» 

1,016 
79» 

1,134 
864 

$00 


I:- 


"•,537 

>",44<' 
10,167 
10,154 

lQ,ll6 

io,f>77 

H,757 
8,731 
8,101 

7,95* 
7, sol 
7.448 
7.4>9 
7,197 
7013 
6.74> 
6,616 
6,51  < 
6,»45 
6,087 
6,058 

s.iii 

5,14" 
5. "04 
4.797 
4.743 
*,83« 
1,801 
>.S99 
•1364 
1,310 
1,158 
1,084 
t,ui6 
•.738 
7SO 
1,500 


CountlM. 


I 


79  Arapahoe. 
8u.  HuAalQ... 
81.  CheyeniM. 
81  Clark  ... 
83.  Comancha 

H4   Fouia 

8)  (Irani . ... 
U  Greehy... 

81  Ciova 

88  Hamilton 
tf)  Kr.mai... 
1)1,  Kearney  . 
(yi  [.unr  ..... 
91   Meade — 

93  New 

94  Rawlini .. 
OS  StoM  ..  .. 
96.  Sequoyah. 
97  Seward  .. 
96  Sheridan.. 
99.  ijlierman.. 

luo.  Slanlon, . . 
101.  Slcvcni ... 
log.  'I'homat .. 

103.  Wallace . . 

104.  WichiU.. 


Popuhtion  of 
State  in  1879 . 


57* 
1,010 
1,17a 
•.•5) 

1'6 
1,080 


XfAo 

f  ,o8(» 

648 
1,080 

««4 

lyoio 

1,010 
744 


849.97* 


gy^, 


i?<iili;-fca.i^**tJ'i'>t*'*'**'''' 


■r^ 


.^Ak. 


8ii4 


OUk    WKSTK.KS   EMPHth, 


%: 


Citiei  and  Towns, — An  already  stated,  none  of  the  citicf  of 
Klflxai  have  sk-x  attained  fo  thft  second  rank,  but  many  of  them 
are  growinj,'  rapiilly;  not  s(*  last  ind«:ecl  as  the  mushroom  cities 
of  the  mininj;  regions,  which  to-day  may  have  a  pcipuhition  of 
5,ocx)  and  next  week  not  200.  In  the  West  every  nettlc- 
ment  is  a  city,  whether  it  lu^  100  or  100,000  inhabitantn,  iind 
most  of  them  ^q  through  the  farce  of  having  a  municipal 
organization.  The  followuig  are  all  the  cities  which,  in  1879, 
had  over  1,000  inhabitants: 


I^wvenwnrth,  I  eiwi^nworth  county. . ..  16,5 Jo 

To|)«ka,  8h«wne«  countjr ISi45l 

Aichlnon,  AichiMin  eoumy iSi'*^ 

l^wrannr,  UouKlat  county 1,478 

Wichltk,  he(lt(wick  county 5,3J5 

Fort  ScDtl,  Duurlion  county \\0^0 

Wyancloiiv,  Wy«n<lo(tt  «.<iun(y 4,61  a 

Kmporiik,  I/yon  >o>inty 4i06i 

Ottiwn,  Franklin  county 3>S°7 

Stiina,  Saline  county 3>38j 

I'traons  Labette  county 3,iJ0 

Independence,  Montgomery  county. . .  a,8a9 

Newton,  Iliirvey  county *i539 

Junction  City,  Davi*  county S,34S 

Oltthe,  Johnion  cuuitty a,a6o 

Ueloit,  Mitchell  county >)I94 

Wlnlirld,  Cowley  county tiioi 

()Mge  City,  Otnge  county 3,003 

I'aoU,  Miami  county 1 ,973 

Uurltngton,  Coffee  county Ii740 


ftutchlnion,  Reno  county ttT^P 

Clay  <"enter,  C'Iny  county 1,600 

Manhattan,  Uiky  county,. ,,  l»$U 

Empire  City,  Cberokec  county ,,  1,591 

Mound  City,  I.inn  c  )unty i>497 

Humboldt,  Allen  county <t4S^ 

Conciirdia,  Cloud  county , .  i,44l 

Urent  Dend,  llarton  county,, . , Ir439 

Maiyivdie,  Marthall  county 1,4^ 

Uarnelt,  AndiT'DO  county 1,13' 

Otage  Mlvnion,  .Vtoahn  county I,ai6 

Girard,  Crawford  county 1,184 

Hiawatha,  hrown  county I1O78 

Wamcgo,  ruttawalomie  county tfif\\ 

Haver  Spring*,  Ch<rok«e  county 1^069 

Minneapolii,  Ottawa  county 1,045 

Hollon,  Jnckion  county <,<M4 

Seneca,  Nemaha  omoty 1,036 

Larnrd,  Pawnee  county 1,031 


Education. — Kansas  occupies  among  the  newer  States  the 
very  first  rank  in  her  facilities  for  education.  Her  school  fund 
has  been  wisely  husbanded,  and  she  has  yet  2,200,000  acres  of 
school  lands  un>told,  which,  by  judicious  management,  may  be 
made  to  realize  55  per  acre.  If.  this  is  accomplished  the  fund 
will  eventually  reach  more  than  $13,000,000,  the  interest  of  vy^iich 
will  be  annually  distributed  to  the  schools.  But  this  income, 
amounting  in  1878  to  $314,380,  is  only  a  small  item  in  the  amount 
annually  raised  for  the  support  of  public  schools.  In  1878  the 
amount  raised  and  expended  for  common  schools  in  the  State 
was  $1,261,459.14,  of  which  $980,435,07  was  paid  as  "^ges  to 
the   teachers,  this   male  teachers  receiving  $32.99   per   month. 


of  the  cities  of 
^ul  many  of  them 

mushroom  cities 

a  population  of 
|cst  every  setUc- 

inhabitants,  and 

'ing  a   municipal 

Is  which,  in  1879, 


""n«y I,7B» 

'<'n<r 1,600 

"""y 1,593 

(ce  county l.j^l 

'""<y M97 

""y M$6 

"iiily ,,,.    1,^1 

'"""'y--.' I.4JQ 

I  rimniy 1,430 

"unty I.jjj 

ho  counijr I,ai6 

'""•y 1,184 

'""'y 1,078 

inie  cuuntjr 1,071 

r()k«e  county 1,069 

*  county 1,045 

""'y 1,044 

uo'y 1,036 

"n'y Ifiit 

newer  States  the 
Her  school  fund 
,300,000  acres  of 
agement,  may  be 
tiplished  the  fund 
i  interest  of  which 
But  this  income, 
em  in  the  amount 
ols.  In  1878  the 
ools  in  the  State 
)aid  as  "  -iges  to 
a. 99  per  month, 


KPtK4T/0\f    IS    KASHAS.  gflj 

and  the  femal<^  trnchrm  %7fi.Ci\.  Tht  rf  wrrr  6.359  ^>^  thcne 
teachers  in  1878,  atul  \W:  niimbrr  had  incn  ased  1067(^7  in  1879. 
The  whole  number  of  stholar'i  rnroll.  d  was  188,884,  and  the 
average  attendance  about  t  13,000.  In  th«!  lattrr  year  there 
were  5,575  school  distnctH,  -ind  4,934  si  hool  houses,  and  the 
vaiue  of  school-biitlding'<i  and  grounds  was  ^13,9 16,931.  Hesideji 
the-se  schools  and  the  graded  an<l  high  schools  t^i  thi:  citi's  and 
larger  towns,  there  ^'re  four  nf)rmal  s*  hools,  with  alxxn  Soo 
teacher  pupils,  a  Slate  Agricultural  ('olh-j^f  near  Manhattan, 
well  managed  and  l^irgely  attended;  the  I  in  ersity  of  Kansa^*, 
at  Lawrence,  one  of  the  most  efticieni  of  the  W<  strrn  State  uni- 
vcrsities,  and  eightoth(  1  collegt  s,  sustain«'d  by  different  religious 
denominations  (two  ot  them  Roman  C;iiholic>.  with  about  50 
professors  anil  nearly  1,000  slulents.  There  are  also  many 
collegiate  schools  .ind  seminaries,  gi  'Tilly  denominational, 
which  are  for  the  most  parr  'veil  sus  -d.  The  immi^^'ran'  to 
Kansas  may  feel  fully  assured  thai  lis  children,  if  h^-  ims  any, 
will  not  suffer  for  the  want  of  advantages  of  education. 

(Jhmhes  and  Reli^ous  DenotmHatioH'' — In  1878,  with  a  pop. 
ulation  of  708,497,  the  aggregate  membership  of  the  nin# 
leading  denominations  was  135,713,  nearly  one-fifth  of  the 
entire  population.  Their  church  edifices  and  other  church 
property  was  valued  at  j{2,037,5oS,  Of  these  the  Catholics  had 
the  largest  membershij  ,as  they  include  as  members  all  their 
Adherf*nt  population),  reporting  63,510  adherents  to  223  organ- 
izations. The  Methodist  Episcopa'  Jhurch  came  next,  though 
with  many  more  church  organization.,  having  1,018  churches  and 
33.767  members.  The  Baptists  were  next,  with  334  churches 
and  16,083  members.  These  were  followed  by  the  Presbyterians, 
with  229  churches,  8.961  members;  the  Congregationalists.  with 
1 57  churches,  and  5,620  members;  the  Lutherans, with  sHchurches 
and  4,560 members;  the  United  Presbyterians,  with  43  churches 
and  1,469  members;  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  with  36 
parishes  and  1,389  members;  and  the  Univepinlists,  with  16 
congregations  and  354  members.  There  an^  also  Mennonite 
churches,  churches  of  the  Disciples  or  Campbellites,  and  a  con- 
siderable number  of  other  minor  denominations.     In  the  order 


.<1SlW»»ae--.t«U«<ia«»«k>ltt«:*tUis2'ir!^  ■  ,•«"•- 


0UII    WgSrgMN  MMrtMM. 

of  the  valiuition  of  thrir  churrh  property,  the  difTi>rent  ilrnomina- 
tinnn  stand  an  follows :  tho  Mctluxliftt*  firnt,  thrn  cnnNeci  i\\  ely 
tlu;  Prtrshytcriaim,  the  CatholicN,  the  Con^rr^^utionalints,  thn 
H.i|>tiHtii,  the  Kpiiicof>alianH,  LuthcranM,  United  Prcidiytcrians, 
%\m\  UnivernaliMts. 

Such,  HO  far  as  we  have  twcn  able  to  prcnent  them,  arr  the 
ailvanla^trs  which  KanH.iH  offcrn  to  the  immigrant; — a  frrtilr  Koil, 
•n  agreeable  though  rather  warm  climate  in  itM  tummrr  half, 
with  ft  very  wiile  range  of  temperature  brrw«'rn  winter  and 
■ummcr;  land  oauily  tilled,  ami  a  ready  and  Hiire  market  for  all 
that  iH  produced;  a  wider  range  of  production  than  moHt  uf  the 
States;  an  intelligent,  enterprising  and  liberty-loving  po()ulation; 
good  schools  and  churches,  ami  an  abiindanc<;  of  both.  Ihe 
people  who  have  migrated  to  this  State  arc  not  given  to  long* 
ings  to  go  back  either  to  the  ICastern  States  or  Kuropc. 

Wo  cannot  close  this  sketch  of  Kansas  without  paying  a 
tribute  of  respect  and  honor  to  one  man  who  has  passed  away 
while  this  work  was  in  progress,  but  who  had  done  mon;  to 
make  Kansas  what  it  is  to-day  than  any  hundred  men  in  it. 
The  Hon.  Ai.i'kED  Gkav,  for  fourteen  years  either  Director  or 
Secretary  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society  or  the  State  Board 
of  Agriculture,  was  born  at  ICvans,  Krie  county,  New  York, 
December  5,  1830,  of  Knglish  parentage.  His  early  education 
was  obtained  in  his  native  village.  Filial  duty  led  him  to  en- 
deavor at  the  early  age  of  fourteen  to  support  his  widowed 
mother  by  his  own  labor.  At  the  age  of  nineteen,  after  the  death 
of  his  mother,  he  commenced  a  course  of  study  which  culminated 
tix  years  later  in  his  graduation  from  the  Albany  law  school  and 
his  successful  practice  of  law  for  two  years. 

In  1857  he  removed  to  Quindaro,  Kansas,  and  soon  abandoned 
the  law  for  farming,  a  pursuit  for  which  he  had  a  passion.  His 
farm,  gardens  and  herd  were  the  finest  in  the  State.  He  was 
palled  to  fill  many  offices  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  State,  and 
was  a  member  of  its  Legislature.  From  1862  to  1864  ^^  served 
as  Regimental,  Brigade  and  Division  Quartermaster  in  the 
Union  army,  and  gave  proofs  of  extraordinary  ability  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties.     In  1866  he  was  made  a  director  in  the 


jfr'-rcnl  (Irnomiru 
liir'n  coniieci  ti\  ely 
>»'j(ati()nali»ti«,    ihr 
ltd    rrrnhylcTun*, 

t 

Irnt  thrm,  ar»«  th«* 
Ml; — a  fj-rtilr  noil, 
its  siitnin''r  half, 
iwvt'fx  winittr  and 
In  ic  market  for  all 
\\  than  most  of  the 
loving' population; 
(<•  of  both.  The 
><)t  jfiv«;n  to  long- 
I'-uropr. 

without  paying  a 
has  pasHcd  away 
lad  done  more  to 
indred  men  in  it. 
:;ither  Director  or 
r  the  State  Board 
^unty,  New  York, 
lis  early  education 
ity  led  him  to  cn- 
I)ort  his  widowed 
een,  after  the  death 
/  which  culminated 
my  law  school  and 

id  soon  abandoned 
id  a  passion.  His 
e  State.  He  was 
in  the  State,  and 
to  1 864  he  served 
rtermaster  in  the 
'  ability  in  the  dis- 
a  director  in  the 


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tliDtographic 

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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)875(^503 


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Collection  de 
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wmm 


SKETCH  OF  HON.  ALFRED  GRAY.  887 

State  Agricultural  Society,  and  continued  in  that  position  pro- 
moting its  interests  till  it  was  merged  in  the  State  Board  of 
Agriculture,  when  he  became  its  Secretary,  and  selling  his  farm 
moved  to  Topeka.  Here,  though  in  failing  health,  he  wai  inces- 
sant and  unremitting  in  his  labors.  He  was  the  organizer  and 
soul  of  that  unsurpassed  exhibit  of  Kansas  at  the  Centennial. 
He  had  a  genius  for  statistics,  and  everything  bearing  upon  agri- 
culture was  the  object  of  his  careful  solicitude;  no  State  Agricul- 
tural reports  in  the  country  bear  any  comparison  to  his  in  fulness 
or  in  perfection  of  detail.  While  wasting  away  with  pulmonary 
consumption,  he  remained  in  the  harness  to  the  last.  A  letter 
to  the  writer,  dated  but  three  days  before  his  death,  makes  no 
allusion  to  his  personal  condition,  but  is  filled  with  important  in- 
formation relative  to  the  condition  of  his  beloved  Kansas.  He 
died  January  23,  1880.  Happy  may  Kansas  well  be  if  she  can 
replace  him  with  a  man  of  like  ability  and  industry.       ,  r 


.•.('?'■  ■'   '  i 


•rl..      !• 


.•!■ ; 


'  .1 


f,M. 


CHAPTER  X. 
LOUISIANA. 


'■    nil)    .■• 


't;!, 


1 . 


■1  (  I  !  ' 


V.' 


J' 


Louisiana  not  wholly  within  '*  Our  Western  Empire" — Its  Location — Its 
Extent  and  Area — Its  Surface  and  Topography — Rivers.  Lakes  and 
Bayous — Geology  and  Mineralogy — Iron,  Salt,  Sulphur — Other  Min- 
■   ERALS — Soil  and  Vegetation — Forest  Trees — Zoology — The  Jaguar  or 
'  American  Leopard  or  Tip.er,  Alligators  and  Crocodiles — Climate — 
:  Malarial  Fevers  in  the  Delta — The  Uplands  Healthy  but  Hot — Me- 
teorology of  New  Orleans  and  Shreveport — Agricultural  Productions 
— CoiTON,  Sugar,  Rice,  and  Corn — The  Soil  Fertile,  but  the  Farming 
Poor — Live-Stock — Manufacturing  and  Mining  Industries — Commerce 
'  — The  great  Facilities  enjoyed  by  the  State  for  Foreign  and  Coast-wise 

•  Commerce — Railroads — FiNANCESr-PoFULATiON — History  as  bearing  on 
,;  Population — Mixed  Races  largely  prevalent — The  State  not  largely 

increased  by  recent  immigration — parishes  or  counties — principal 
^  Towns — Education  —  Churches — Not  specially  attractive  to  Immi- 
'' GRANTS  AT  Present.  - '      ■--;■.•. -^■';, ;.-■-- ^ -■!,^     ■■,-j       a.:    i  .^  .....i;.  \,..- 

•  Only  about  two-thirds  of  Louisiana  lie  within  the  bounds  of 
"Our  Western  Empire."    Its  commercial  and  political  capital. 


sM^^ai®^?*^-^*' 


888 


6UK    WKSTEKf/  EMPIRE. 


New  Orleans,  thft  chief  city  of  the  Southwest,  is  on  the  eaiit  ban 
of  the  Mississippi  river,  as  are  several  other  considerable  town: 
Its  boundaries  are:  On  the  north,  Arkansas  and  Mississippi;  o 
the  east,  Mississippi,  and  for  the  greater  part  of  the  distance  th 
Mississippi  river  and  Sound;  south  and  southeast,  the  Gulf  o 
Mexico;  and  on  the  west,  Texas,  the  Sabine  river  being  th 
boundary  for  about  three-fourths  of  the  distance.  It  is  situate 
between  the  meridians  of  89°  and  94''  W.  from  Greenwich,  am 
between  the  parallels  of  28°  56'  and  33°  N.  latitude.  Its  extrem 
length  from  east  to  west  is  398  miles,  and  its  extreme  breadt 
from  north  to  south  280  miles.  Its  area  is  41,346  square  milei 
or  26,461,440  acres.      •  *  "^        •<         •> 

Surface  and  Topography,  Rivers,  Lakes,  Bayous,  Sounds  ani 
Gulfs. — The  highest  land  in  the  Sta»;e,  the  hills  in  its  northeri 
and  northwest  portions,  does  not  exceed  240  feet  in  height 
From  these  uplands  there  is  a  gentle  slope  both  towards  th( 
Mississippi  river  and  the  Gulf.  The  delta  of  tiie  Mississippi,  espe 
cially  below  New  Orleans,  is  below  the  level  of  the  Mississipp 
at  the  spring  floods ;  and  at  least  8,450  miles,  or  one-fifth  of  th( 
area  of  the  State,  is  only  protected  from  annual  submergence  b; 
the  levees.  With  the  exception  of  a  tract  in  Southeast  Cali 
fornia,  once  a  part  of  the  bed  of  the  ocean,  the  greater  part  01 
the  State  of  Louisiana  is  the  lowest  land  in  "Our  Western  Em 
pire."  The  rivers  are  the  Mississippi,  which  has  a  course  o 
about  590  miles  within  the  State,  and  is  now,  through  the  labot 
of  Captain  Eads,  navigable  not  only  for  the  largest  steamers  bu 
for  all  ocean  steamships  of  the  first-class,  from  its  mouth  to  ani 
beyond  the  northern  boundary  of  the  State;  the  Red  river,  on 
of  its  largest  tributaries,  which  enters  the  State  near  its  north 
west  corner  and  crosses  it  diagonally  to  the  31st  parallel,  wher 
it  joins  the  Mississippi;  the  Washita,  the  largest  affluent  of  th 
Red  river,  which  cotnes  into  the  State  from  Arkansas,  and  wit 
its  two  large  branches,  the  Tensas  and  Boeuf,  drains  the  norther 
parishes  of  the  State;  the  Dugdemona,  the  Saline  Bayou,  an 
the  Bistineau  river  and  lake,  all  tributaries  of  the  Red  rive 
The  Sabitte  riVef,  as  we  have  already  noticed,  forms  a  part  of  th 
w^dtem  boundary  of  the  State,  but  k-eceives  no  considerable  a 


|t,  is  on  the  eaiit  bank 

considerable  towns. 

and  Mississippi;  on 

rt  of  the  distance  the 

)utheast,  the  Gulf  of 

)ine  river  being  the 

Stance.    It  is  situated 

from  Greenwich,  and 

latitude.     Its  extreme 

its  extreme  breadth 

41,346  square  miles, 

Bayous,  Sounds  and 
hills  in  its  northern 

240  feet  in  height, 
pe  both  towards  the 

the  Mississippi,  espe- 

el  of  the  Mississippi 
es,  or  one-fifth  of  the 
nual  submergence  by 
t  in  Southeast  Cali- 
I,  the  greater  part  of 
1  "Our  Western  Em- 
liich  has  a  course  of 
w,  through  the  labors 

largest  steamers  but 
om  its  mouth  to  and 
:;  the  Red  river,  one 
state  near  its  north- 

31st  parallel,  where 
rgest  affluent  of  the 
1  Arkansas,  and  with 
r,  drains  the  northern 
e  Saline  Bayou,  and 
js  of  the  Red  river. 
1,  forms  a  part  of  the 
\  no  considerable  af- 


RIVF.RS  AXn   FIWOVS  OF  LOUISIANA.  gg^ 

fluents  on  the  east  bank.  The  Calcasieu  and  Mermenteau  are 
considerable  rivers,  both  having  several  tributary  bayous  or  slug- 
gish streams.  East  of  the  Mississippi  are  the  Pearl  river,  with  its 
tributary,  Bogue  Chitto,  the  Tangipahoa,  Tick  fa  w  and  Amit6. 
There  are,  besides  these,  several  large  estuaries  or  bayous,  which 
afe  really  secondary  mouths  or  outlets  of  the  Mississippi,  which 
in  flood-time  convey  a  large  portion  of  its  waters  to  tiie  Gulf, 
and  at  other  times  drain  the  greater  part  of  Southern  Louisiana. 
Among  these  are :  Atchafalaya  Bayou  with  its  series  of  lakes  and 
inlets;  Vermillion  Bayou,  Bayou  Teche  which  connects  with  it, 
Bayou  de  Large,  Bayou  la  Fourche,  and  the  lakes,  bays  and  es- 
tuaries which  discharge  thoir  waters  into  Barataria  bay.  In  the 
ordinary  sense  of  the  term  there  are  no  lakes  in  Louisiana, 
all  that  are  so  called  being  either  estuaries,  bayous  or  expansions 
of  rivers.  Thus  Lake  Pontchartrain  is  a  land-locked  estuary 
whose  waters  are  salt  and  rise  and  fall  with  the  tide;  Lake 
Maurepas  is  closely  connected  with  Lake  Pontchartrain,  and 
partakes  of  its  character;  Lake  Borgne  is  only  a  sound  or  bay; 
Sabine  lake,  Calcasieu  lake,  Lake  Mermenteau,  Grand  lake. 
Marsh  lake.  Lake  Charles,  Grand  Cheniere,  Caillon,  Lake 
Washa,  and  the  rest  are  all  estuaries  connected  with  rivers  or 
bayous.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  State  there  are  ten  or 
fifteen  so  called  lakes  which  are  mere  expansions  of  the  Red  river, 
or  some  of  its  tributaries.  There  are  numerous  bays  and  sounds 
along  the  coast,  indenting  the  alluvial  delta  of  the  Mississippi  in 
all  its  borders. 

Geology  and  Mineralogy. — Three-fifths  of  the  State,  including 
the  Mississippi  basin  and  delta,  the  Red  riyer  region  and  basin, 
ahd  the  Bluff  or  Loess  region,  which  comprises  nearly  all  of  Cal- 
casieu, St.  Landry  and  Lafayette  parishes,  and  a  long  but  narrow 
strip  east  of  the  Mississippi  river,  belong  to  the  alluvial  and 
diluvial  formations.  The  Mississippi  delta  proper  covers  ovei* 
1 2,000  square  miles,  and  its  deposits  are  from  thirty  to  forty  feet 
in  dfepth  and  of  wonderful  ffertility.  The  remaining  two-fifthi 
of  the  State  is,  fot  the  rtiost  pAirt,  tertiary,  the  formations  in  thtt 
riorthwest  and  west-northwest  parts  of  the  State  being  subdtvi*- 
sions  of  ^e  eocene.     There  are  occasional  small  outcrops  of 


1 

% 


1  » 


V/.f 


.  ..jmmmmam^^^ms^ 


|M  .  .    vOUR    WESTERN  EUPIRR. 

cretaceous  strata  in  the  northwest,  west  and  central  parts  of  the 
State,  and  in  these  are  found  Hmestone,  gypsum,  and  salt-bearing 
strata.  Below  the  alluvium  and  tertiary  in  thv;  southern  part 
of  the  State,  there  are  deposits  of  sulphur,  and  at  one  point 
between  the  Sabine  and  Calcasieu  rivers,  the  lioring  of  an  ar- 
tesian well  demonstrates  that,  beginning  428  feet  below  the 
surface,  there  is  a  deposit  of  sulphur  112  feet  thick,  which  will 
yield  from  sixty  to  ninety-six  per  cent,  of  pure  sulphur.  Of  other 
minerals  and  metals  Louisiana  has  not  a  great  variety.  Brown 
coal  (lignite)  is  found  in  the  tertiary  in  considerable  quantities 
and  of  moderately  good  quality.  Iron  (bog  ore,  probably)  and 
salt  are  plentiful  in  this  region,  and  on  Petit  Anse  island  salt  has 
been  mined  to  a  depth  of  sixty  feet  below  the  level  of  the  Gulf, 
fifty-eight  feet  of  it  through  solid  rock-salt  of  the  purest  quality. 
This  was  in  great  demand  during  the  late  c^mI  war.  In  the 
cretaceous  rocks,  ochre,  marl,  gypsum,  lead,  sulphate  of  soda, 
sulphate  of  iron,  and  a  very  pure  carbonate  of  lime  are  found. 
Petroleum  has  also  been  discovered,  but  not  in  sufficient  quantity 
to  pay  for  working.  Copper  and  quartz  crystals,  agates,  jasper, 
cornelian,  sardonyx,  onyx,  feldspar,  of  fine  quality,  meteoric 
stones  and  numerous  fossils  have  been  found  in  the  tertiary. 

Soil  and  Vegetation. — The  alluvial  and  diluvial  soils  are  of 
extraordinary  and  unsurpassed  fertility.  The  delta  lands  are 
admirably  adapted  for  the  culture  of  sugar-cane,  cotton,  rice, 
wheat,  barley,  sweet  potatoes,  figs  and  oranges.  The  orange 
is  quite  as  successful,  and  of  flavor  fully  equal,  to  those  grown  in 
Florida.  The  Sea  island  or  long  staple  cotton  is  grown  on  the 
islands  of  the  delta,  but  on  the  main  land  the  upland  or  short- 
stapled  cotton  is  most  generally  cultivated.  The  tertiary  region 
has  not  so  rich  a  soil,  but  with  proper  culture  yields  good  crops. 
Indian  corn  yields  better  there  than  on  the  alluvial  soils,  and 
cotton  is  successfully  culUvated.  A  portion  of  the  tertiary  region 
is  covered'  with  pine  forests,  which  are  heavy  but  not  dense,  and 
these  lands,  though  healthful,  are  not  productive.  About  one- 
fifth  of  tho  area  of  the  State  is  too  swampy  and  marshy  for  cul- 
tivation, and  mucli  of  it  is  covered  with  lofty  cypress  trees,  from 
w^ch  the  Spanish  moss  hangs  in  graceful  festoons.    The  othejr, 


1  ■• 


SI 


entral  parts  of  the 
in,  and  salt-braring 
tho  southern  part 
ami  at  one  point 
borinyf  of  an  ar- 
28  feet    below    the 
Kt  thick,  which  will 
sulphur.     Of  other 
at  variety.     Brown 
derable  quantities 
ore,  probably)  and 
inse  island  sale  has 
:  level  of  the  Gulf, 
the  purest  quality. 
:  civil  war.     In  the 
,  sulphate  of  soda, 
;  of  lime  are  found, 
n  sufficient  quantity 
stals,  agates,  jasper, 
;   quality,   meteoric 
in  the  tertiary, 
iiluvial  soils  are  of 
'he  delta  lands  are 
r-cane,  cotton,  rice, 
tiges.     The  orange 
1,  to  those  grown  in 
ton  is  grown  on  the 
lie  upland  or  short- 
The  tertiary  region 
!  yields  good  crops. 
i  alluvial  soils,  and 
r  the  tertiary  region 
but  not  dense,  and 
ctive.     About  one- 
^nd  marshy  for  cul- 
cypress  trees,  from 
stpons.    The  other 


rXSJlS  AND   V    GETATtON.  89I 

forest  trees  of  the  allu  'ial  region  are  the  sweet-gum,  ash,  black 
walnut,  hickory,  magnolia,  live-oak,  Spanish,  water,  black,  chest- 
nut, white  and  post  oaks,  tulip-tree  {liriod€Pi(iyoti),\\x\K\^w,  I'lorida 
anise,  lance-lcaved  buck-thorn,  four  or  five  species  of  acacia, 
wild  cherry,  pomegranate,  holly,  arbor-vitac,  tillandsia,  lime,  pecan, 
sycamore,  white  and  red  redar,  and  yellow  pine;  in  the  tertiary 
lands,  sassafras,  mulberry,  poplar,  hackberry,  red  elm,  maple, 
honey-locust,  black  locust,  dogwood,  tupelo,  box  elder,  prickly 
ash,  persimmon,  etc.  Along  the  river  banks,  the  inevitable  Cot- 
tonwood, willow-basket  elm,  palmetto,  wild  cane,  pawpaw,  wild 
orange,  etc.,  are  found.  Of  fruit-trees,  the  peach,  quince,  plum,  fig, 
orange,  pawpaw,  olive  and  pomegranate  are  cultivated  with  great 
success;  the  apple  and  pear  do  not  thrive  so  well.  Local  to- 
pographers classify  the  lands  of  the  State  as  "good  uplands;" 
"pine  hill  lands,"  usually  not  very  fertile;  "alluvial  tracts;' 
"Bluff  or  Loess  regions;"  "marsh  lands;"  "the  prairie  regions;" 
and  "the  pine  Piats."  The  grazing  in  the  uplands  generally  is 
excellent;  in  the  Attakapas  country,  along  the  Atchafalaya  and 
Bayou  Te'jhe,  the  pasturage  is  unsurpassed  in  quality. 

Louisiana  is  a  land  of  fragrant  flowers,  and  the  sweet  perfume 
of  its  orange  blossoms,  magnolias,  jessamines,  oleanders,  virgin's 
bower,  its  innumerable  varieties  of  roses  and  its  thousands  of 
other  sweet-scented  semitropical  and  tropical  flowers,  which  grow 
wild  upon  its  rich  alluvial  lands,  feast  the  senses  with  perpetual 
delight. 

Zoology. — The  wild  animals  of  Louisiana  are  for  the  most  part 
the  same  as  those  of  Texas,  though  there  is  a  greater  preponder- 
ance of  reptiles.  The  jaguar  or  American  tiger,  the  most  for- 
midable of  the  North  American  Felida,  is  found  in  the  cypress 
swamps  in  this  State,  and  in  Texas  and  Arizona.  The  cougar, 
puma,  panther  or  American  lion,  is  also  an  inhabitant  of  the 
swamps,  and  this  wild-cat  and  perhaps  some  of  the  other  Felida 
are  also  found.  The  black  and  brown  bear  are  more  common 
in  the  uplands;  while  the  raccoon,  skunk,  opossum,  otter  and 
n^pstpf  the  rodent§  are  abundant.       .  .vf|.  •,.  ..,  -.        ..>ww  ,. 

Alligators  of  great  size  and  ferocity  abound  in  all  the  bayous, 
and  are  destructive  of  cattle  and  sometimes  of  human  beings. 


U 


,  % 


''^^%. 


iiifiM 


893 


00k   WRSTkkN  kMP/KR. 


It  is  believed  that  the  crbcodiie  exists  in  the  cypress  swamps 
here  as  well  as  in  Florida.  There  are  several  species  of  marine 
turtles  and  land-tortoises  and  terrapins.  The  lizard  tribe  is 
largely  represented;  the  gecko,  chameleon,  lizards  of  all  kinds 
and  sizes,  as  well  as  a  great  variety  of  batrachians,  the  horned 
ind  common  frog,  many  species  of  toads;  and  of  ophidians,  rat- 
tlesnakes, vipers,  moccasins,  horned  snakes,  and  a  great 
variety  of  harmless  serpents  are  common.  There  are  many 
birds  of  prey:  among  them  are  the  bald  and  gray  eagle,  the 
king-vulture,  the  turkey-buzzard  and  other  vultures,  kites,  owls, 
hawks,  gulls,  and,  very  numerous  in  the  bayous  and  in  the  gidfs, 
bays  and  sounds  west  of  the  Mississippi,  the  pelican,  which  has 
been  recognized  as  the  pntron  bird  of  the  State,  which  very  gen- 
erally bears  the  name  of  "the  Pdicah  State."  Cranes,  herons, 
ibises,  flamingoes  and  other  waders  krc  found  only  in  this  State 
and  Texas  of  "Our  Western  Empire;  "  and  wild  geese,  many 
species  of  wild  ducks,  brant,  teal,  and  some  swans  are  inhabitants 
of  its  lakes,  bayous  and  bays  in  their  .season.  The  game  birds, 
wild  turkeys,  pigeons,  partridges  and  several  species  of  grouse 
are  plentiful  in  the  uplands.  Birds  of  gay  plumage,  including 
the  macaw  and  paroquet,  and  many  others,  and  a  great  variety 
of  song-birds,  among  which  are  the  mocking-bird,  the  cedar  bird,' 
several  of  the  finches  and  tanagers,  a  great  variety  of  hummin^- 
bii'ds,  a:nd  orioles  are  abuiidant  in  the  forests.      ^     '"  '"^ 

Climate. — The  climate  of  New  Orleans  and  of  the  lower  por- 
tion of  the  delta  is  somewhat  malarious,  and  bilious  and  conges- 
tive fevers,  remittent  and  intermittent,  are  prevalent.  The 
yellow  fever  is  seldoth  entirely  absent  from  this  region  in  sum- 
mer, but  becomes  epidemic  only  about  once  in  four  or  five  years.' 
Strict  sanitary  supervision  is  maintained,  but  the  drainage  is 
difficult.  By  careful  attentidn  to  cleanliness  the  city  is  healthier 
than  formerly.  The  yellow  fevter  made  fearful  ravages  in  1878, 
and  reappeared  in  a  milder  form,  in  1879:  1 880  has  been  generally; 
healthy.  The  cholera  has  at  times  made  feirful  ravages  hfirtj 
The  water  is  so  near  the  surface  in  New  Orleans  and  most  oF* 
the  adjacent  region,  that  all  burials  are  made  in  cells  of  vaults, 
built  above  Hie  surface.    Th'j  climate  of  the  upland  region  is 


m 


i 


c  cypress  swamps 
sptjcifs  of  marine 
he  lizard  tribe  is 
zarcls  of  all  kinds 
:hians,  the  horned 
of  ophidians,  rat- 
is,    and    a    ^^reat 
There  are  many 
nd  gray  eagle,  the 
Itures,  kites,  owls, 
s  and  in  the  gidfs, 
pelican,  which  has 
;e,  which  very  gen- 
Cranes,  herons, 
only  in  this  State 
wild  geese,   many 
ans  are  inhabitants 
The  game  birds, 
species  of  grouse 
3lumage,  including 
nd  a  great  variety 
>ird,  the  cedar  bifd, 
iriety  of  humming- 

i  of  the  lower  pof- 
bilious  and  conges- 
:  prevalent.  The 
this  region  in  sum- 
four  or  five  years. 
ut  the  drainage  is 
he  city  is  healthier 
rl  ravages  in  1878, 
has  been  generally 
arful  ravages  heir*, 
rleans  and  most  of 
in  cells  of  vaults, 
!  upland  region  is 


AGKICULTURAL   PKOPUCnoXa.  ggj 

healthy  though  warm,  and  that  of  the  delta  in  so  in  winter.  The 
table  on  next  page,  giving  the  meteorology  of  New  Orleans,  which 
represents  fairly  the  region  of  the  delta  and  of  Shreveport,  in  the 
northwest  of  the  State,  which  shows  tliatof  the  upland  country, 
will  exhibit  more  satisfactorily  the  climate  of  the  two  sections 
than  any  general  description.  Not  only  from  its  climate,  but 
from  the  habits  and  customs  of  its  people,  its  productions,  Aiar- 
k^ns,  etc.,  Louisiana  will  be  a  more  agreeable  region  for  immi- 
grants from  Southern  and  Southwestern  Europe  and  from  the 
Southern  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  than  for  those  from  more  north- 
ern climates.  The  French,  Spanish,  and  Italians,  and  the  Swiss 
and  South  Germans  will  do  better  here  than  the  North  Germans, 
Scandinavians  or  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain. 

Agricultural  Productions. — The  staple  productions  of  Louis- 
iana are  cotton,  sugar,  corn,  together  with  a  moderate  quantity 
of  rice  and  the  cereals.  The  cotton  production  of  1878  was 
2 1 4,483,050  pounds,  from  i  ,348,950  acres,  a  yield  of  only  an 
average  of  159  pounds  to  the  acre,  or  about  one-third  of  a  bale, 
a  very  small  return  for  land  so  rich  as  that  of  Louisiana.  The 
yield  of  1879  was  not  quite  so  large,  though  a  trifle  more  per 
acre,  being  175  pounds.  At  the  price  per  pound  in  1878  this 
yielded  but  $13.97  per  acre,  including  all  the  cost  of  cultivation, 
picking  and  ginning,  and  of  course  was  unprofitable;  the  price 
in  1879,  ten  cents,  gave  $20.20  per  acre,  but  even  this  is  not 
profitable.  There  is  no  land  in  Louisiana  devoted  to  cotton 
which  ought  not  to  yield  at  least  a  bale  (480  pounds)  to  the  acre, 
and  of  the  delta  lands  th^reare  npne  which  should  yield  less  than 
two  bales  to  the  acre.  The  farming  of  Louisiana  is,  however, 
for  the  most  part  very  slovenly  and  careless.  The  sugar  crop 
in  favorable  years,  of  v;hich  1878  was  a  good  example,  does  bet- 
ter, yielding  250,000,000  pounds,  an  average  of  1,700  pounds  to 
the  acre  (a  (sMr  crop  is  stated  to  be  from  2.5QO  to  5.000  pounds), 
which  at  the  current  price  of  that  year  was  worth  $93.50.  The 
drawbacks  on  the  cultivation  of  sugar-cane  are  that,  it  is  an  ex- 
otic and  never  comes  to  perfection  here ;  that  the  only  w^y  of 
propagation  is  by  layers,  which  after  a  few  years  run  out  and 
require  i|ew  ^ock;  that  it  is  only  about  one  crop  in  three  that 


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AGRtCVLTVRAL   tKODVCTtOSS,  8<jj 

is  successful;  that  the  great  fliictuat;  )n  in  price  makes  the  profit 
uncertain;  and  that  the  first  phint  or  outlay  for  a  sii^Mr  plan  a- 
tion  with  sugar-house  complete  is  enormous,  and  only  possible 
where  there  is  large  capital  at  contmand.  The  crop  of  corn, 
though  considerable  in  amount  and  covrring  a  larg»*  arrragr,  gives 
equally  conclusive  evid«*nce  of  indifferent  and  slovenly  fanning; 
the  yield  ranges  from  fifteen  to  twenty  bushels  per  acre,  where 
thirty-five  to  forty  bushels  ought  to  be  the  minimum.  The  total 
yield  of  1878  was  16,875,200  bushels,  which  at  sixty  cents,  the 
current  price  of  that  year,  brought  ;f;  10,1  35,120.  The  crop  of 
1879  w*s  of  smaller  amount,  and  yieldoil  only  fifteen  bushels  to 
the  acre,  but  the  higher  price,  seventy-six  cents,  made  the 
money  value  somewhat  greater. 

Oats,  which  might  be  a  profitable  crop,  give  an  average  yield, 
one  year  with  another,  of  but  fourteen  bushels  to  the  acre.  Rict; 
is  cultivated  more  thin  formerly,  and  the  Louisiana  rice  crop 
forms  a  very  considerable  portion  of  the  whole  rice  product  of 
the  United  States,  ranging  from  twelve  to  fifteen  million  pounds. 
There  is  some  wheat  and  barley  grown ;  a  small  amount  of  very 
excellent  tobacco,  and  hay  and  forage  grasses  in  increasing 
quantities.  Fruits  and  market-garden  vegetables  are  cultivated 
to  a  considerable  extent,  mainly  by  Creoles;  but  the  cultivation 
of  fntits  might  be  almost  indefinitely  enlarged.  "'  '^  '  '""  ' ' 
'  The  amount  of  live-stock  in  Louisiana  in  1879  was:  79,300 
horses,  worth  about  $4,000,000;  80,600  mules,  worth  about  %<^i' 
080,000;  the  tiumber  of  horses  and  mules  is  slowly  increasing. 
There  were  1 10,900  milch  cows,  a  moderate  increase  from  1875, 
previous  to  which  time  there  had  been  a  decided  decrease. 
These  were  worth  $1,864,800.  Of  oxen  and  other  cattle,  there 
had  been  a  marked  decrease,  118,700  against  168,650  in  1875, 
and  their  value  did  not  exceed  one  million  dollars.  The  num- 
ber of  sheep  was  only  127,500,  and  their  value  about  $250,000. 
There  were  360,500  swine,  worth  about  $1,250,000.  Both  sheep 
and  swhie  had  largely  increased  in  numbers  since  1875.  The 
total  value  of  live-stock  was  about  $13,363,000,  and  of  agricul- 
tural products  somewhat  more  than  $50,000,000. 

Afkimfiuturing  and  Mining  Industries. — ^Louisiana  is  not  a 


I'! 


I 


!^ii!lSiiM^ii^gimiii^Me-^\'^S' 


''  \ 


S^  OVM    WMSTMMM  MMfJMM, 

niAnufacturini;  State.  She  pruiiiur;^  raw  Mt^^ar  on  her  tufjar 
plantationH,  ^\n%  her  cotton,  prtxUucH  n  Kinall  ainuiint  of  rcdiicd 
su^ar,  about  thrcr-fourths  ol  a  tiiilliuii  ihillarH  worth  ui  Hour  and 
meat,  a  million  and  a  hall  dollars  worth  of  lumber  and  timlM.'r, 
cotton-Hccd  oil,  machinery,  tloth!n)(,  tobacco  and  cit{ari»,  and  malt 
liijuorit.  Her  entire  manulactured  productH  do  not  much  exceed 
thirty  million  dollarn.  The  mining  induxtry  of  the  State  conHiitN 
of  Home  coal  mines  (lignite),  not  very  efficiently  worked,  a  Nmall 
quantity  of  iron  mined,  the  Halt  mine  at  Petit  Anse  island,  and  a 
sulphur  mine  at  Calcanieu  npringn. 

Commune, — Louisiana  has  a  very  large  commcrci.  both  for- 
eign and  domestic.  In  the  amount  of  her  exports  she  i^  wro  id 
only  to  New  York:  in  imports  she  falls  behind  New  Yorki  Mdfc* 
utchusctts,  Maryland,  Pennsylvania  and  California.  In  the  year 
ending  June  30.  1880,  her  domestic  exports  were  190,338,503; 
her  foreign  exports  1303.516;  and  her  imports,  $io,6n,353. 
Considerable  amounts  are  imported  and  trans-shipped  without 
appraisement  to  interior  po'-ts  on  the  Misiussippi  river  and  in  the 
Mississippi  valley,  the  aggregate  being  several  million»-<-whi|e 
the  cotton,  rice  and  sugar  exported  from  Louisiana  are  not  all 
produced  in  the  State,  the  cotton  especially  being  largely  th« 
product  of  Arkansas  and  Mississippi,  while  some  comes  also  frqm 
Tennessee,  Alabama  and  Texas.  The  amount  of  exports  h«s  biet;i) 
fluctuating  for  several  years  past,  having  reached  its  highest 
point  in  1870,  when  it  was  ^107,658,042;  and  its  next  highest  in 
1875. when  itwas  $104,329,965,  The  export  of  1879  ww  the  small- 
est since  1868.  Its  imports  ha,ve  fallen  off  in  still  gr«a,ter  propor- 
tion Mnce  1873.  when  they  were  $19,933,344.  the  l^rg^st  amount 
sii^ce  i860.  The  sports  of  foreign  merchandise  ^ow  a  stiii 
greater  proportion  of  diminutiop,  fa,lling  from  |;i,3q^7oq  in  1872 
to  $187,187  in  1879. 

It  is  difficult  to  say  wheUver  the  coast-wise  and  interior  trade 
of  Louisiana  has  fallen  off  in  any  similar  proportion.  In  1874 
it  >»'as  estiiinat^d  at  $350,000,000.  It  h^  J^^flljj.jpfnqmxtjBcl  to 
t|ia|{  sum  in  tl^P  mQre  recept  years*  '    ■        '  '      1  • 

Railroads. — Qi;sidffs  iU  immensp  traffic  on  the  Mississippi  anjc 
Hc^  rivers  by  ste^n^er,  New  Orleans,  the  commercial  capital  of 


'iiii_i.j.' 


f 


^iK'Mr  on  her  Ku^ar 
amount  ul  rcliiud 
worth  ol  Hour  uiul 
Ihimbcr  and  tiinlM.r, 
liul  cigum.  aiul  malt 
lo  not  much  exceed 
\i  tite  Sute  conHittM 
|tly  worked,  a  Nmal! 
Anse  island,  and  a 

Jommcrct.  both  for- 
ports  »hf  in  «»f  rr  kI 
id  New  York,  Mah- 
lorniu.     In  th<f  year 
were  190,238,503; 
ports,  |io,6m,353. 
m.s-.shipped  without 
ippi  river  4ml  ip  the 
L-ral  millions — while 
uui»iana  arc  not  all 
y  bcinji   largely  the 
»me  comes  aU.:)  frpm 
i  of  exports  has  bt't;q 
reached  its  highest 
J  its  next  highest  in 
'  1879  was  the  small- 
still  greater  propor- 
the  largest  ai^ount 
landi^  ^Qw  a  stiii 
l»r3P^7,op»n  1872 

i  and  interior  trade 
oportion.  In  1874 
lafdly  a^nomnted  to 

the  Mississippi  SLfi4 
mmercial  capi»||  of 


LOUntAHA   FIS'ASVKi,  §gj 

I^uisiana,  in  connected  to  the  nort/westem  and  northern  State;! 
by  one  line  of  railroad,  with  niimennit  conncctiomi,  and  with  thr 
Atlantic  and  northeastern  Statrs  by  another.  'Hiese  arc  Ijoih 
«'ast  of  the  MissinHipfii.  W««t  of  that  rivt-r  thrre  are  thr»'e  com- 
f>arativrly  short  rowtr;,:  one  fron\  New  Orhatin  lo  HraHhcar, 
which  connects  rhere  with  Morgan's  steamnhip  line  to  (ialvcMton, 
a  line  from  Vicksburg,  MiHsitsippi,  to  Monror,  which  may  at 
Home  time  ponnibly  be  extended  to  Shreveport.  and  one  irom 
Shreve(M)rt  west,  forming  a  parv  of  the  Texas  Pacific  line.  The 
entire  railroad  lines  operated  in  the  State  have  a  length  of  only 
495  mile*. 

Financis. — The  State  is  heavily  in  debt,  hut  h;i8  repudiated  a 
considerable  part  of  her  debt  and  scaled  the  remaimler,  re<lucing 
the  interest.  The  financial  management  has  Ix'en  deplorable 
for  some  years.  The  amount  of  debt  acknowledged  and  not 
rt^pudiated  was,  January  1,  1879,  $12,136,166.24.  |i3,97i,cxx> 
were  repudiated  ;  and  the  bonds  which  were  acknowledged  were 
reduced  forty  per  cent,  in  order  to  bring  them  to  $12,136,166. 
A  part  at  least  of  the  interest  on  these  is  in  default. 

FSypulation. — The  following  table  gives  the  population  at  dif- 
ferent dates: 


YlAM. 

— — 

1810 

Poi ULA- 

no*. 

WiftTM. 

fill  Cni, 

•MM. 

34.<Mo 

Natitm. 

Or  K'HMOM 

BmiN. 

0»  ScNOOL 

Aoi. 

0»  VOTIMO 

Aui. 
Malm. 

7*^5  $6 

34.311 

7.5»! 

1820 

153.9^3 

7J.J«J 

10476 

69,064 

l8jO 

»I5.J»9 

16,710 

109,588 

•31.90^ 

\Uf) 

35MII 

•58457 

»5.5oa 

I68.4S3 

•51.904 

•84.J«3 

i8$o 

$17,763     ij5.49i 

17,463 

244.809 

44H.M 

68,333 

•86,500 

i860 

708,003 

357  456 

i8,&»7 

33«.7a* 

637,031 

80,975 

»I3«,I4I 

•98.143 

1870 

7»6.9>5 

363,065 

364. J 10 

None. 

66s,o88 

61,827 

336,114 

•74.IH7 

i8.<k> 

940.»63 

455^3 

4«3.«9« 

t..i.  1— «f«< 

M 

18^,119 

■«,..-,..... 

54.144 

The  great  increase  from  1870  to  1880  has  given  rise  to  the 
suspicion  of  error  in  the  enumeration,  and  it  will  be  investigated 
before  its  final  acceptance. 

Of  this  population  a  vt.vf  large  proportion  are  natives,  not 
only  of  the  United  States,  but  of  the  State.     This  is  due  to  the 


■Atoatt»i»'»iaft^>«<fc  Ivt^j^*ttji:«  v^I*^-;.?;: 


J 


i'  i 


I  ' 


I  1 


H, 


':\ 


89S  OUR    WESTEBN  MMPIRE. 

circum^Unces  uad«r  which  th«  Sute  was  settled.    Discovert 
by  th«  French  in  154/1,  the  fir3t  permanent  settlement  in  tl 
Cplony  or  Province  of  Louisiana  was  made  in  1699  by  the  san 
nation.    U  remained  a  French  province  and  largely  peopled  I 
dv:  French  till  1763,  when  it,  was  secreUy  ceded  by  France 
Spain,  apd  remained  till  1800  under  the  control  of  tiiut  pow( 
a,  considera^ble  mflux  of  Sp^i^ish  settlers  migrating  to  its  ri( 
Uadi.    In  i8qo  it  was  retro€ieded>  to  France,  and  in  1803  Wi 
pMrchased  frpm  France  by  the  United,  States  for  $i5,ooo,cxx),  < 
whi^  $3,750,000  was  allowed  tOi  be  set  oiif  by  the  assumpti( 
of  the  claims  of  citizens  of  the  United  States  against  Frani 
g;rQwipg  out  of  French  spoliations  upon  American  commerc 
This,  though  assumed  by  the  government,, has  never  been  pa 
tp  th^  sufferers  or  their  heirs     The  Province  of  Louisiana  : 
tl^s  purchased,  comprised  nqarly  the  whole  of  the  present  Stat 
of  Louisiana,  Arkansas,  Missouri,  Iowa,  Minnesota,  Dakota  Te 
ritory,  Nebraska,. ,mo'     ^f  Kansas*  and  the  Indian,  Territory,  pa 
oC  Cplorado,  m^st,c-  Wyoming,  andnth/e  whol^  qC  Montati 
Idaho,  Oregon,  and  Washington  Territory.     Most  of  that  pa 
of;  \  Lpu jsiapa  lying  east  of  the  Mississippi  was  purchased  fro 
Spain  in  18 10,  and  annexed  the  same  year  to  the  Territory  1 
Orleans,  as  Louisiana  itself  was  called.     It  became  a  State 
April,  j8i2,  with  its  present  name  and  boundaries.    The  pop 
latioaof  Louisiaria  is  very  largely  composed  of  descendants 
French  emigrants,  with  a   considerable   percentage  of  mix 
blood ;   these  people  are  usually  termed  Creoles,  whether 
pure  or  minced  blood.     There  are  also  a  moderate  number 
old  French  and  Spanish  families  of  pure  blood,  and  somew 
exclusive  manners.    The  remainder  of  the  population  are 
American  stock,  with  some  admixture  of  Ivishi  English,  Germa 
and  Italians.    The  Negroes  and  mixed  races  form  a  large  cc 
stituent  (^bout  one-half)  of  the  population.  ,  There  have  ne^ 
be^  any  greal:  accessions  &'om  inmoiigratioQ,  and  except  in 
large  towns  there  are  not  likely  to  be.     The  Ci^eQle ,  populati 
aff^i  ip^^^i^ely  w/edded  t0j<(rf^  ideaa,  aod  while  friendly  and  gc 
hw(3i^e4i  dp  flptn  en.couj»g«fJmmigirationk,-  llhciprJevaJence, 
malarial  fevers  and  occasion,^)!  ^pl^f^mics  of  yellpw  fever  de 


settled.     Discovered 

nt  settlement  in  the 

i  in  1699  by  the  same 

^d  largely  peopled  by 

ceded  by  France  to 

control  of  tlmt  power, 

migrating  to  its  rich 

nee,  and  in  1 803  was 

es  for  $i5,ooo,cxx),  of 

off  by  the  assumption 

states  against  France 

American  commerce. 

,  has  never  been  paid 

yince  of  Louisiana  as 

of  the  present  States 

innesota.  Dakota  Ter- 

Indian  Territory,  part 

:  whole  qC  Montana, 

Most  of  that  part 

i  was  purchased  from 

ar  to  the  Territory  of 

It  became  a  State  in 

>undaries.     The  popu- 

sed  of  descendants  of 

percentage  of  mixed 

1  Creoles,  whether  of 

moderate  number  of 

blood,  and  somewhat 

the  population  arc  of 

Irish,  English,  Germans, 

ices  form  a  large  con- 

n.  1  Tbejre  have  never 

tioQ,  and  except  in  Uie 

?he  Cveoie ,  population 

bile  friendly  and  good 

Tib©  I  f  ri&valence,  <d 

of  yellow  fever  deter 


t..< 


£/)CC\ir/OV  AND   C/WKCffES.  899 

many  from  settling  in  the  State,  and  neither  its  financial  nor 
its  political  condition  since  the  war  has  had  a  tendency  to 
attract  immigrants.  With  a  good  and  honest  State  govern- 
ment, a  prompt  and  efficient  collection  and  disbursement  of 
its  revenues,  the  protection  of  the  lowlands  from  overflow,  by 
good  and  sufficient  levees,  a  stringent,  vigilant,  and  effective 
Health* Board,  and  the  banishment  of  its  corrupt  and  self-seeking 
politicians,  of  all  parties,  to  some  point  so  remote  that  they  could 
not  return  in  a  hundred  years,  Louisiana  might  become  a  health- 
ful, prosperous,  and  wealthy  State,  with  a  noble  record  for  hon- 
esty and  integrity.  "       i  '  i  1/  .  1  J 

The  State  has  57  parishes,  answering  to  the  counties  in  other 
States.  Its  principal  towns  and  cities  are  New  Orleans,  with  a 
population,  in  1880,  of  216,140  and  many  attractive  buildings 
and  streets,  the  principal  commercial  port  of  the  Southwest; 
Baton  Rouge,  with  7,000  or  8,000  inhabitants  ;  Shreveport,  with 
a  little  more  than  n.ooo;  Thibodeaux,  Monroe,  Donaldson,  and 
Opelousas,  about  2,500  each ;  New  Iberia,  Natchitoches,  and  Pla- 
quemines, nearly  2,000  each.  .^ 

Education. — There  is  a  moderately  efficient  public  school  sys- 
tem in  the  State  originating  since  the  war ;  but  the  amoimt  of 
illiteracy  is  frightful.  The  schools  of  New  Orleans  have  gener- 
ally maintained  a  fair  standing.  Considerable  efforts  are  now 
making  to  educate  the  Freedmen.  There  are  thirty-five  or 
forty  collegiate  schools  for  both  sexes,  and  besides,  a  State 
University  at  Baton  Rouge,  which  is  not  very  efficient;  there 
are  six  other  so-called  colleges  or  universities,  three  of  them  fo!r 
the  education  of  Freedmen  for  preachers  and  teachers,  and  two 
others  Roman  Catholic,  one  a  Female  College.  Out  of  900 
students  in  these  institutions,  558  are  in  Uie  preparatory  schools. 
There  's  one  Theological,  one  Law,  one  Medical,  one  Dental,  and 
one  Scientific  §^ho6Kin  the*  State.  <\    ''^n*!-^'   i""^  ""'^'t^    '    '-     ' 

Churcfies.^^\wi^^  were;  in   1875,  867  churches  or  congrega-' 
tions,  with   744"  chvirch   edifices.     Of  these   124  were  Roman"' 
Catholic,   with   an"  adherent    population    loosely   estimated   a(t  ' 
20G)iOoo.     After  these  the  Baptists  had  371  churches  with  309" 
chtffch  edifices  alftd  20,734  iVWfmbefs';  ^^  MfethodiSt^  ^^5  churched/" 


pSli^ili^dikiMf&i 


i^'istHi'iA^' 


900 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRB. 


221  edifices,  and  23  271  members,  including  probationers.  The 
other  leading  denominations  were  Presbyterians,  Episcopalians, 
Jews.  Congregntionalists,  and  Lutherans.  All  the  Protestant  de- 
nominations reported  a  membership  of  about  58,000,  and  an  ad- 
herent population  of  about  263,000. 

Under  existing  circumstances  Louisiana  is  not  likely  to  attract 
a  very  large  number  of  immigrants  either  from  Europe  or  the 
>  Atlantic  States.    v,r'   ■<.  >■■.   :ri;fvr   iff  ■>■•  "t  ■'''ii''oi  li'    to  ytyuvyw-  ■ 


,ili',-f  f;  '   '.f.<-^  •  >.|    (• 


',;<■)  •! 


CHAPTER  XI. 
MINNESOTA. 


I'M-!    ,'w<fi  1;    II  '1  ;'•"■  ''  J> 

■■■■-!  i  --iKkk 


Minnesota  the  Centre  or  North  America — Its  Situation,  Boundaries,  Di*.. 

MENSIONS,   AND   ArEA — SURFACE   OF   THE    COUNTRY — ThE   ThREE   SloPES — 

Rivers,  Lakes,  etc. — The  Lake  State — Seven  Thousand  Lakes— Geol- 
ogy AND  Mineralogy — Some  Gold  and  Silver,  more  Iron  and  Copper—' 
Minnesota  an  Agricultural  Statb — Soil  and  Vegehation.  —Rich  Soil — 
Forests — The  Bio  Woods — The  Prairie  Lands — TkEF.-PLANTiNG  in  Mn; •• 
NESOTA — Fruits — ZoSlocy — Climate— Its  Salubrity — Advance  of  the 
Annual  Temperature  as  the  Country  is  Settled — Peculiarities  of  thi! 
Climate — Meteorology — Navigable  Rivers  and  Railways — More  than 
3000  Miles  of  Railroad  in  the  State — Projected  Railways — Land 
Grants — Agricultural  Products — The  Crops  of  1878,  1879,  *nd  1680— *i 
Special  Crops — Gen.  Le  Due's  Efforts  to  Introduce  the  Amber  Cane — 
Statistics  of  Crops — Grazing  Lands — Live- Stock— Statistics  of  Live- 
stock— Dairy  Farming — Statistics  of  Butter  and  Cheese — Manufactures 
— Lumber  and  Flour,  the  Leading  Articles — Immense  Quantities  of 
BOTH  Produced — Other  Manufactures — Valuation  and  Wealth — Popu- 
lation— Statistics  of  Increase  in  Thirty  Years — Nationalities — The 
Indian  Population — Education — School  Fund— Public  Schools — Uni- 
versities, Normal  Schools,  etc. — Counties  and  Cities — Valuation- 
Population  OF  Cities  and  Towns  at  different  Periods — Religious  De- 
nominations— History — Conclusion. 

biu:  .if,-/ft*»«.s  :''f' 
If,  as  is  of^en  said,  Kansas  is  the  central  State  of  the  United 

States,  and  Colorado  the  central  region  of  "  Our  Western  Em- 
pire," Minnesota  may  fairly  claim  the  higher  honor  of  being  die 
central  State  of  the  North  American  Continent.  Its  boundary 
at  the  north  is  British  America,  Manitoba  abutting  upon  it  at  the 
northwest;  at  tlie  northeast,  for  about   li^o  miles,  Lake  Su- 


SVkPACE  OF    THE  COUNTRY. 


901 


>rol>ationers.    The 

|ans,  Episcopalians, 

the  Protestant  de- 

58.000,  and  an  ad- 

lot  likely  to  attract 
>m  Europe  or  the 


r<•^ 


-iii.r 


•il. 


■'I     I)       II     fl  ;...••••,    J:    ; 

■  "  1''  "■■  ,-t   oM     i\- 

I  I 

4TION,  Boundaries,  Di- 
-The  Three  Slopes — 
lousAND  Lakes— Geol- 
RB  Iron  and  Copper — 
EiATioN.  —Rich  Soil — 
I'rer-plantino  in  Mir; •• 
iTY — Advance  or  the 
-Peculiarities  of  thi; 
Railways— More  than 
CTED  Railways — Land 
1878,  1879,  AND  1880 — 

ucE  THE  Amber  Cank— 
c — Statistics  of  Live- 
Iheese — Manufactures 
tfMENSE  Quantities  of 
>N  AND  Wealth— Popu- 
1— Nationalities — The 
Public  Schools— Uni- 
Cities — Valuation — 
CRioDs — Religious  De- 

>tate  of  the  United 
Our  Western  Em- 
honor  of  being  Jie 
ent.  Its  boundary 
tting  upon  it  at  the 
>  miles,  Lake  Su- 


perior forms  its  boundary ;  on  the  east  it  joins  Wisconsin,  being 
separated  only  by  the  St.  Croix  and  Mississippi  rivers ;  on  the 
south  it  is  bounded  by  Iowa,  and  on  the  west  by  Dakota  Ter- 
ritory, with  which  it  shares  the  rich  and  fertile  valley  of  the  Red 
river  of  the  North.  It  is  just  about  equidistant  from  the  capes 
of  the  peninsulas  which  send  off  their  annual  icebergs  into  the 
Arctic  Ocean,  and  the  narrowing  neck  of  land  which,  by  its  vol- 
canoes, lights  alike  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  the  Caribbean  Sea, 
from  Newfoundland  on  the  east  and  Vancouver  Island  on  the 
west.  It  lies  between  the  parallels  of  43"  30' and  49°  N.  latitude, 
and  between  the  meridians  of  89"  29'  and  97"  5'  W.  longitude 
from  Greenwich.  The  extreme  length  of  the  State  from  north 
to  south  is  380  miles,  while  its  breadth  varies  from  337  miles, 
about  the  48th  parallel,  to  262  miles  on  the  south  line,  and  183  at 
about  15**  30.'  Its  area  is  estimiated  at  the  United  States  Land 
Office  at  83,531  square  miles,  or  53,459,840  acres.  From  this 
area  must  be  deducted  2,900,000  acres  of  water  surface,  lakes, 
etc.  (not  including  that  part  of  Lake  Superior  which  lies  within 
its  limits),  leaving  50,759,840  acres  of  land,  including  the  Indian 
reservjttions.  This  is  nearly  equal  to  the  combined  areas  of  Ohio 
and  Pennsylvania,  and  a  little  more  than  that  of  .Kentucky  and 
Tennessee.       'i    '«i  iiicoii.,(A.i  nr  .  m\  ■'nuU^  .-^i/io 

Surface  of  the  Country. — From  its  location  it  was  inevitable 
that  Minnesota  should  be  the  water-shed  or  divide  for  all  the 
great  streams  which  traverse  the  continent  east  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  It  has  not,  it  is  true,  anywhere  within  its  area,  any 
range  of  mountains  or  verj^-  high  hills,  but  its  general  elevaition 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  except  in  the  riveir  valleys,  is 
from  1,500  to  1,550  feet  above  the  sea.  Across  this  table-land, 
in  or  near  the  parallel  of  47*40',  is  a  low,  curved  line  of  drift 
hills,  not  much,  if  at  all,  above  foo  feet  in  height,  and  extending 
westward  to  the  bluffs  of  the  Red  River  valley,  when  it  turns 
southward,  and  separates  the  waters  of  the  affluents  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi from  those  of  the  Red  river  of  the  North.  In  these  low 
hills  three  great  river  and  lake  systems  have  their  sources,  viz.: 
the  Mississippi  river  proper  and  its  northern  tributaries ;  the  St. 
Louis' Wver  and  its  numerous  branches,  v^ich  together  form  the 


■  I 


j; 


jgim^s^^^m^mii'mm^- 


902 


OUR    WESTEKf/  EMPIRE. 


head  and  fountain  of  those  waters  which,  through  the   ^reat 
lakes,  find  their  way  to  the  St  Lawren(;e,  and  throug;h  its  broad 
expanse  to  the  northern  Atlantic  Ocean ;  and  the  aifluents  of  the 
Red  river  as  well  as  those  of  Rainy  Lake  and  Lake  of  the  Woods, 
all  of  which  finally  discharge  their  waters   into  Hudson's   Bay 
and  into  the  Arctic  Ocean.     There  is  but  one  other  point  in 
the  whole  of  our  Western  Empire,  or  for  that  matter,  in  the 
United  States,  where  rivers  flowing  to  such  distant  and  diverse 
points  have  their  sources  so  near  together,  and  that  is  the  point 
near  the  Yellowstone  Park,  where  the  sources  of  the  Missouri, 
the  Columbia,  and  the  Colorado  of  the  West  are  found  within  a 
mile  or  two  of  each  othefV,,,n;3l  ■ifn>ii:'.:>  Mti!      .ilor/rnM-hi  >  ff'vii 
There  are  then  three  distinct  slopes,  idifTe ring  in  soil,  vegetation, 
and  geological  character,  in  the  State.   The  northern  slope,  includ- 
ing not  only  the  Red  river  vaUey,bMt  the  valleys  a<id  streams  drain- 
ing into  the  Rainy  Lake  chain,  and  into  the  Lake  of  the  Woods ; 
the  eastern  slope,  occupying  the  valley  of  ihe  St.  Louis  river, 
and  declining  gently  toward  Lake  Superior;  and  ithe  southern 
slope,  drained  by  the  Mississippi  and  its  afHuents,  comprising 
about  two-tbirds  of  ^he  State,  and  extending  into,  aad  farming 
part  of,  the  gpeat  Mississippi  valley.    The  descent  from  the  sum- 
mit of  the  divide,  which  has  an  elevation  in  lat.  47°  45'  to  48*  of 
about  1,680  feet,  to  the  southern  ,iine  of  the  State,  lat.  43*  30',  is 
not  far  from  930  feet ;  but  except  in  the  successive  ticrrftces  at 
and  near  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  the  declinatioiO  is  vcfy  [gradual, 
not  exceeding  two  and  a  half  or  three  feet  to  the-  mile.    Threes- 
fourths  of  the  State  maybe  described  as  generaliyirolling  prairie, 
interspersed  with  frequent  groves,  oak  openings,  and  belts  of 
hard- wood  timber,  dotted  with  numiberless  small  lakes,  and 
drained  by  numerous  clear  and  limpid  streams.    The  mmain- 
ing  fourth  includes  the  hills  which  form  the  divide,  rthe  extensive 
mineral  tract  reaching  to  Lake  Superior,  and  the  heavy  timbered 
region  ("  The  Big.  Wooids ")  lying  aiiound  ithe  sources  of  the 
Mississippi ^nd  the  Red  riyer  of  the  Nor|h.;,,  !^i»»f|i.nimhifiar«fi 
Rivers,  Lake?,  etc. — The,  greater  .part  of  the  State,  all  of  it,  in- 
deed, except  two  or  three  of  the  norit^ero^  and  as  yet  unarganized 
counties,  which  ^,e  jivatered  by  streams  falling  into  the  Rainy 


V       ^^ 


ri=iE'-'*Jj..'i.-k 


sMtVEKS  AND  LAKES. 


903 


through  the  preat 

|d  throujfh  its  broad 

the  affluents  of  the 

Lake  of  the  Woods, 
|iuto  Hudson's   Bay 

one  other  point  in 

that  matter,  in  the 

{distant  and  diverse 

ind  that  is  the  point 

kes  of  the  Missouri, 

ft  are  found  within  a 

ig  in  aoil,  vegetation, 
irthern  slope,  includ- 
fs  and  streams  drain- 
Lake  of  the  Woods ; 
ithe  St.  Louis  river, 
r;  and  the  southern 
affluents,  comprising 
ig  into,  aad  farming 
fcscqnt  from  the  sum- 
lat.  47°  45'  to  48"  of 
■  State,  lat.  43«>  30*,  is 
Accessive  tierrAces  at 
UioiO  is  vcryigradual, 
to  the  mile.     Thret- 
ej-aUyiroHing  prairie, 
\Hi»g%,  and  belts  ,of 
s  small  lakes*  and 
;ain$.    The  ramain- 
livide,  fthe  extensive 
the  heavy  tiiobered 
th«  sources  of  the 

e  Stat€,  alUf  it,  in- 
as  yet  unorganized 
ing  into  the  iRainy 


Lftke  chain— lis  drained  by  the  affluents  of  the  St.  l^uis,  the 
Mississippi,  and  the  Red  river  of  the  North.  The  St,  Louis  has 
fourteen  or  fifteen  tributaries,  several  of  them  streams  of  con- 
siderable size ;  the  Mississippi  has  about  fifty — two  of  them,  the 
.St.  Croix  and  the  Minnesota,  being  themst^lves  large  rivers ; 
only  the  affluents  of  the  Red  river  on  the  eastern  bank  belong 
to  Minnesota,  but  there  are  fourteen  or  more  of  these,  of  which 
the  Red  Grass,  Red  Lake,  Sand  Hill,  Wild  Rice,  and  Buffalo 
rivers  are  considerable  streams.      1        .  .  i.  m.. 

The  Rainy  Laike  river  forms  a  part  of  the  riofthern  boundary, 
and  its  affluents,  the  Big  and  Little  Fork,  and  the  Vermilion 
river,  which  flows  into  the  same  chain  of  lakes,  are  streams  of 
moderate  size.  There  are  fifty  or  more  creeks  flowing  into  Lake 
Superior,  which  aid  in  watering  and  ferdlizing  this  northeastern 
slope.  ti-  '!M'>i<liriiMl  ,.••»)•  "  mi  .;i.km  ;,mIi '■ '  >''•■  '*'  ■  >ii")  I'tu.v 
>.< I  Minnesota  is  emphatically  the  Lak^  State.  In  the  surveyed 
area  of  the  State  there  are  upwards  of  7,000  lakes ;  their  average 
extent  is  about  300  acres,  but  a  number  of  them  exceed  10,000 
acres,  and  others  are  still  larger;  Lake  Minnetonka  covers  16,000 
acres  ;  L^ke  Winnebagoshisli,  561000  acres  ;  Leech  Lake,  1 14,000 
acres;  Mille  Lacs,  130,000;  Red  Lake,  at  least  350*000,  and 
Lake  of  the  Woods  and  the  Rainy  Lake  Chain,  which  form  part 
of  the  northern  boundary,  are  still  larger.  Not  content  with 
these,  Minnesota  claims  a  considerable  slice  of  Lake  Superior  as 
her  property.  Many  of  the  smaller  lakes  are  very  deep,  and  all 
are  well  stocked  with  fish.  Ordinarily  their  shores  are  dry  and 
firm  down  to  the  water's  edge,  except  at  their  outlets,  and  the 
waters  are  clear,  cool  and  pure.  The  bottoms  are  generally 
sandy  or  pebbly.  The  water  of  Minnesota,  whether  obtained 
from  lake,  spring  or  well,  is  of  excellent  quality.  The  beautiful 
scenery  around  many  of  these  lakes,  and  the  cascades,  rapids  and 
falls  at  the  oudet  of  others,  have  made  them  very  pleasant  re- 
sorts. Among  these  Minnetonka  and  White  Bear  Lakes,  and 
the  Falls  of  Minneopa  and  Minnehaha  have  perhaps  the  widest 
r^utation. 

•'^  Gtology  and  MtMeraiogy.-^lih^  greater  part  of  the  State  is 
covered  with  a  rich  and  fertile  alluvium,  or,  as  in  the  highlands, 


5rl 


af^i*'' 


9«H 


OUR    WESTERN   EMPIRE. 


by  an  older  and  less  fertile  drift,  which,  however,  sustains  a  noble 
forest  {growth.  Beneath  this  drift  there  is,  along  the  northern 
shore  of  l^ke  Superior,  and  extending  southward  on  both  sides 
of  the  St.  Croix  to  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi,  and  below 
that  point  along  the  eastern  and  western  banks  of  that  river 
below  the  southern  line  of  the  State,  a  broad  belt  of  metamorphic 
slates  and  sandstones  intermingled  with  volcanic  rocks,  traps  and 
porphyries ;  these  are  of  the  Silurian  epoch,  and  many  dikes  of 
greenstone  and  basalt  are  interjected  in  the  strata.  Occasionally 
deposits  of  marl-drift  and  red  clay  are  found  above  these  rocks. 
This  is  the  principal  mineral  region  of  the  State.  Near  the 
southern  boundary  of  the  State,  or,  rather,  in  the  southeast 
quarter,  between  the  93d  and  94th  meridians,  is  a  small  tract  of 
Devonian  rocks ;  west  and  northwest  of  the  Silurian  slates  and 
sandstones,  the  underlying  rocks  are  eozoic,  hornblende  and  argil- 
laceous slates,  and  granite,  gneiss  and  metamorphic  rocks.  In  the 
western  and  northwestern  part  of  the  State,  between  the  94th 
and  96th  meridians,  but  not  extending  below  the  46th  parallel, 
and  underlying  the  low  hills  which  form  the  divide  between  the 
affluents  of  the  Mississippi  and  those  of  the  Red  river  of  the 
North,  is  another  belt  of  Silurian  rocks,  upper  Silurian,  in  the 
northern  portion,  and  lower  Silurian,  nearer  the  Mississippi, 
These  are  mostly  limestone,  and  like  those  of  the  same  epoch 
farther  east  are  almost  entirely  devoid  of  fossils.  West  of  these 
and  forming  the  underlying  strata  of  the  Red  River  valley,  wt 
find  a  broad  belt  of  cretaceous  rocks,  mostly  of  the  Niagara,  Ga 
lena  and  Trenton  limestones,  with  smaller  outcrops  of  St.  Petei 
and  perhaps  Potsdam  sandstones.  Lasdy,  in  the  southwes 
corner  of  the  State,  in  and  ilear  the  valley  of  the  Big  Sioux,  the 
eozoic  rocks  again  approach  the  surface,  and  some  of  them  an 
mineral-bearing  rocks.  The  Lake  Superior  region  yields,  in  large 
quantity,  iron  of  the  same  character  and  purity  as  that  found  ir 
the  upper  peninsula  of  Michigan,  and  copper  ores  identical  witl 
those  of  Ontonagon ;  but  neither  have  been  as  yet  extensively 
worked.  Gold  and  silver  exist  in  moderately  paying  quantitie 
near  Vermilion  lake,  in  die  northern  part  of  St.  Louis  county 
but  the  region  is  yet  so  wild  and  inaccessible  that  the  mines  an 


N:^ 


|ver,  sustains  a  noble 
along  the  northern 
ward  on  both  sides 
ssissippi,  and  below 
banks  of  that  river 
belt  of  metamorphic 
inic  rocks,  traps  and 
and  many  dikes  of 
trata.    Occasionally 
above  these  rocks. 
e  State.     Near  the 
r,   in    the   southeast 
s,  is  a  small  tract  of 
'.  Silurian  slates  and 
lornblende  and  argil- 
orphic  rocks.   In  the 
e,  between  the  94th 
ow  the  46th  parallel, 
divide  between  the 
^e  Red  river  of  the 
pper  Silurian,  in  the 
rer   the   Mississippi. 
I  of  the  same  epoch 
isils.    West  of  these, 
led  River  valley,  we 
'  of  the  Niagara,  Ga- 
»utcrops  of  St.  Peter 
r,   in   the   southwest 
»f  the  Big  Sioux,  the 
i  some  of  them  are 
egiori  yields,  in  large 
ity  as  that  found  in 
r  ores  identical  with 
I  as  yet  extensively 
ily  paying  quantities 
>f  St.  Louis  county; 
e  that  the  mines  are 


SO/L   AND    kTRCETATION.  ^ 

not  now  worked.  Salt  springs  occur  at  various  points  in  the 
State,  and  salt  of  excellent  quality  is  maniifacturud  in  the  Red 
River  valley,  and  at  Belle  Plaine,  on  the  ^!innesota  river. 
Among  the  other  minerals  of  the  State  are :  slates  (both  building 
and  writing),  lime,  white  sand  for  glass-making-,  building  stone, 
peat,  marl,  tripoli,  etc.  The  red  pipe  stone,  of  which  the  Indian^ 
made  their  pipes,  is  found  in  large  quantities  in  the  southwest, 
and  is  quarried  and  used  for  many  purposes. 

iioil  attd  Vtgetation, — The  three  slopes  named  under  the 
heading  of  Surface  of  the  Country  have  each  a  different  soil  and 
vegetable  growths.  The  northern,  along  the  Red  River  valley, 
and  the  basins  of  the  lakes  and  rivers  which  form  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  State,  is  a  rich  alluvial  deposit  admirably  adapted 
to  the4growth  of  cereals  and  to  grazing.  The  Red  River  valley, 
from  sixty  to  seventy  miles  in  width,  though  but  half  of  it  is  in 
Minnesota,  is  unsurpassed  in  fertility,  and  may  well  become  the 
granary  of  the  world  in  the  production  of  wheat.  While  it  is 
cultivated  more  carelessly  than  it  should  be,  and  averages  only 
about  twenty-two  or  twenty-three  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre, 
it  is  capable  of  doing  much  better  than  that,  and  instances  are 
not  wanting  on  land,  within  twenty  months  from  its  first  breaking, 
in  which  fifty,  sixty,  eighty,  and  even  one  hundred  and  two  bushels 
of  wheat  to  the  acre  have  been  raised,  and  that  not  on  a  single 
acre  only,  by  any  trickery,  but  on  broad  fields  of  sixty  or  eighty 
acres.  This  region  has  forests  of  oak,  beech,  elm  and  maple, 
though  the  greater  part  is  a  gently  undulating  prairie.  The 
eastern  slope  has  much  broken  land,  and  is  .a  better  mineral  than 
agricultural  region;  though  the  soil  yields  fair  crops,  especially 
of  roots,  much  pf  this  slope,  as  well  as  the  highlands  or  divides, 
is  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  pine,  spruce,  and  other  conif- 
erous trees,  of  great  value  as  lumber,  though  the  soil  beneath 
them,  when  cleared,  is  comparatively  barren.  This  region  occu- 
pies about  twenty-one  thousand  square  miles.  The  southern 
slope,  which  comprises  all  of  the  State  below  the  highlands,  is 
coi^posed  of  alternate  rolling  prairie  and  woodland,  and  has  a 
vpry  rich  and  fertile  soil.  About  one-third  of  the  suri'ace  of 
Minnesota  is  woodland,  and  her  citizens, have  wisety  taken  measr 


it 
1 


I 

11 


\  » 


,.*aC-w^i:«S(iP*;«i»as- 


PB5  f>f^ff    tVKSTKKf/  F.m'fKt:. 

ures  to  renew  the  forest  growth,  and  not  suffer  the  land  to  tecon 

idry  and  sterile   for  the  want  of  forests.     They  have   plantt 

already  nearly  thirty  fflillions  of  trees,  to  replace  those  whi( 

have  been  cut  off.     By  this  wise  precaution  they  have  secure 

to  their  State  its  forest  supplies,  without  material  diminution.  '! 

the  southern  slope  there  are  detached  grove«  and  copses  dfgrc 

beauty  sprinkled  everywhere  among  the   prairies  and  aroui 

the  numerous  lakes,  while  growths  of  dwarfed  oaks  skirt  tl 

prairies  and  are  known  as  oak  openings.     Inhere  is  also  a  tr«i 

lon  both  side»oif  the  Minnesota  river,  over  one  hundretl  miles 

.length,  and  of  an  bverag«  width  exceeding  forty  miles,  comprisii 

an  area  of  five  thousand  square  miles,  known  as  the  "Big  Wood; 

Iwbtoh  is  covered  with  a  dense  and  magnificent  groxith  of  har 

wood  limber.     This  Is  said  to  be  the  largest  forest  of  defiduo 

(timber  between  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers.     In  this, 

•well  as  in  the  smaller  groves,  are  found  almost  -every  species  i 

<ledduous  trees  native  to  the  States  and  Terrttories  north  ai 

■east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  'I  "'•'''  vUi^.-ji-^K;-'  morn  i..u.;iii. 

nThe  indigenous  flora  of  the  State  is  a  combination  of  the  Ca 

adian,  or  sub-alpine,  which  is  found  along  our  nortliern  fronti< 

with  the  Appalachian  or  Mississippian  of  the  upper  piorticn 

the  Great  Valley.     Owing  to  the  great  number  of  small  ]ak< 

streams  and  nnarshcs  in  the  northeast,  the!  aquatit  plants  of  t 

sub-alpine  flora  predominate- — wild  rice,  reeds,  callas,  and  watt 

loving  plants  generally.     In  the  northeast  part  of  the  State  it 

■estiimated  that  there  are  256,000  acres  of  oranberl-y  marsh,  whi 

yield  abundandy.    Wild  fruits  come  to  great  perfection,  and, 

cultivated  fruits,  all  except  the  peaeh  and  the  later  grapes  { 

produced  of  remarkable  excellence  and  in  great  quantities.    T 

apples,  pears,  plums,  cherries,  early  grapes,  stra^Wberries,  ra! 

berries,  currants,  blackberries,  whortleberries  and  gooseberr 

of  Minnesota  are  not  surpassed  anlywher^. 

\^^  Zoology. — The  forests  abound  With  wild  animals  and  beasts 

prey,  but  these  are  not  as  numerous  in  the  prairie  regions.    1 

bear,  panther  or  cocygar,  wild  cat  afld'lyhx,  and  the  gray  wolf] 

well  as  the  marten',  fi^r,  otter,  titii^k,  beaVer,'atfd'muskrat,  skui 

lacoooa,  foXf^Woodchuck,  g^t^iher,  liare  and  ^uirrel,  and  ot 


^^■^:^r;t-.^|•i•^^.^-. 


ZOdLOGY  ANJ>  CLIMATK  OF  MIN/^KSOTA. 


^t-r  the  land  to  l-^<ime 
They  have   planted 
replace  those  "which 
they  have  8cctrr<tl 
|*terlal  diminutron.    In 
t%  and  copse?i  6f  grrat 
prairies  and  armind 
arfed  oalcs  skirt  the 
There  is  also  a  tract 
one  hundred  miles  in 
'forty  miles,  comprisin^r 

'nas  the  "Bfg  Woods," 
ficent  gfro\rth  of  hard- 
'9t  forest  of  de«duous 
»ni  rivers.  In  this,  as 
most  «very  species  of 
Territories  north  and 

>mbinat!on  of  the  Can- 
our  nortliern  frontier, 
I  the  upper  portion  of 
wimber  of  small  lakes, 
?  aquatic  plants  of  tht 
?ed8,  callas,  and  water- 
part  of  the  State  it  is 
tranberry  marsh,  which 
eat  perfection,  and,  in 
the  lifcter  grapes  arte 
gteat  quantities.     Thte 
es,  strawberries,  rasp- 
ries  and  gooseberries 

animals  and  beasts  of 

prairie  regions.    The 

and  the  gray  wolf,  as 

r.-artdmuskrat,  skunk, 

d  ^uirrel,  and  other 


907 


rodents  are  sufficiently  numerous,  and  the  coyote  or  prairie  wolf 
hunt!i  in  packs  in  the  open  lands.  Of  the  lar^^M-r  j^'ame  there  arc 
the  elk,  two  species  of  deer,  and  poAHtbly  the  moosr.  1  he;  ImiC- 
falo  iti  rarely  seen,  and  the  ant'.-lopc,  if  ever  an  inhabitant  ui  this 
region,  north  and  east  of  the  MiHSOuri,  is  tto  no  longer.  Of 
game  birds,  land  and  atiuatic,  there  is  no  end.  Wild  turkeys, 
pigeons,  grouse  of  several  species,  and  partridges,  frequent  the 
woods,  and  wild  geese,  several  species  of  ducks,  brant,  teal,  etc., 
are  fotmd  in  their  season  in  great  numbers,  around  die  hundreds 
of  larger  lakes.  Birds  of  gay  plumage,  and  those  of  melodious 
song,  make  the  woods,  lakes  and  rivers  vocal  with  their  sweet 
notes  or  brilliant  witi.  their  varied  and  beautiful  hues.  The  rep- 
tile tribes  ore  not  so  numerous  as  elsewhere.  There  are  three 
or  four  poisonous,  and  a  considerable  number  of  innocuous  ser- 
pents, large  and  small.  The  batracliians  pour  forth  tlieir  music 
in  the  northern  marshes,  but  the  lizard  family  are  niissin^^.  I<'ish 
abound  in  all  the  waters  of  the  State,  and  the  State  I'ish  Com* 
mission,  in  co-operation  with  the  United  States  I^sh  Commis- 
sion, have  been  stocking  the  larger  lakes  and  streams  with  choice , 
species  of  edible  fish.     This  work  is  still  progressing.     "• 

Climate. — A  great  d'sal  has  been  written  about  the  climate  of 
Minnesota,  both  in  its  praise  and  dispraise.  From  its  central 
situation  and  the  curving  northward  of  the  isothermal  lines,  as 
well  as  from  its  very  moderate  elevation,  the  climate  is  undoubt- 
edly milder  than  that  of  States  or  countries  farther  east  in  the 
same  latitude.  The  mean  average  temperature  of  the  State 
has  been  given  as  44.6°  Fahrenheit.  This  is  not  yet  true, 
though  it  may  become  so  in  a  few  years.  Its  present  average 
annual  mean,  from  observations  made  at  many  different  points 
for  from  eight  to  twelve  years  past,  does  not  exceed  42.9°  Fah- 
renheit, and  this  is  a  very  decided  advance  from  the  mean  of 
eight  or  ten  years  since.  As  the  country  is  settled,  the  annual 
temperature  rises,  and  though  there  may  be  occasional  severe 
winters  like  those  of  1877--78,  and  of  1879-80,  when  the  temper- 
ature sinks  to  —^53°.  or  — 60°,  yet  it  is  gradually  advancing  to  a 
milder  temperature.  The  air  is  very  dry  and  bracing;  the  rain- 
fjaill  is  not  as  great  as  it  is  farther  east,  and  probably  average^ 


I 


SSS^iJbfci 


:jk 


I 


ii 


.  1 


Q08  OVU    WKSrHUff  MMP/HS. 

one  yi*ar  with  another  for  the  whole  State,  nbout  37.5  inches; 
hut  it  in  onr  of  the  p<xuliaritirH  of  Minnrsota  anti  Dakota,  thai 
tiiref-fourthH  of  it  falln  between  April  and  October,  and  more 
than  one-half  l)etween  the  iHt  of  May  and  th»;  15th  of  Au>»u»t— 
the  scaKon  when  the  growing  crops  most  require  it.  The  sum' 
mer  \%  hot,  and  everything  (including  wcrcdH)  grows  with  the 
greatest  rapidity.  When  the  harvciit  is  gathered,  winter  comes, 
Homctimcs  with  abimdant  snows,  but  oftener  without  them  ;  and 
the  frost-king  reigns  from  November  to  April,  but  the  dryness 
of  the  air  rend<?rs  the  intense  cold  more  endurable,  and  the 
winter  is  a  season  of  activity.  The  climate  is  healthful,  the 
death-rate  low,  and  malarious  diseaHus  unknown.  The  climate 
is  regarded  as  a  desirable  one  for  consumptives  from  its  dr> 
and  bracing  air.  It  is  certain  that  many  of  those  who  come  tc 
the  State  with  weak  lungs,  when  the  dist^ase  is  not  too  far  ad- 
vanced, do  recover  and  enjoy  good  health.  The  table  on  page 
909  prepared  with  great  care  and  labor,  gives  all  the  necessary 
particulars  for  determining  the  climate  of  all  parts  of  the  State 
The  temperature,  rainfall,  humidity,  etc.,  are  averages  from  ob- 
servations continued  for  from  five  to  ten  years,  and  are  more 
satisfactory  than  any  statement  of  the  temperature,  rainfall,  etc. 
of  a  single  year,  which  may  be  exceptional  in  its  character. 

Railroads  and  SUam  Navigation. — There  are  none  of  th< 
Western  States  which  have  made  more  rapid  progress  in  railroa( 
construction  than  Minnesota,  and  none  which  possess  greate 
facilities  for  travel  and  transportation.  Lc:t  us  begin  with  th( 
navigable  waif^rs.  The  Mississippi,  interrupted  only  by  thi 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  Sauk  rapiis,  and  Little  Falls,  is  navigabl 
to  the  foot  of  Pokegama  Falls,  distant  but  236  miles  from  it 
source.  As  far  as  to  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  about  175  mile 
from  the  point  where  it  enters  the  State,  it  is  navigable  for  larg 
steamers,  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  since  the  recent  improve 
ments  made  by  the  United  States  govei'nment ;  and  above  Min 
neapolis,  there  is  navigation  for  smaller  steamers  for  400  milei 
except  the  obstructions  mentioned  above.  On  the  Minnesot 
river,  in  good  stages  of  water,  boats  run  to  Granite  Falls,  a  dij 
tance  of  238  miles  from  its  mouth.     That  fertile  Nile,  called  th 


about  375  Inchet; 
ia  and  Dakota,  that 
October,  and  more 
I"'  15th  of  AuKUut— . 
quire  it.      I'hc  sum. 
d**)  f^^rowM  with  the 
«*red,  wintrr  comet, 
without  them ;  and 
pril,  but  the  dryness 
«*n(lurable,  and  the 
te  iH  healthful,  the 
;nown.     The  climate 
iptives  from  its  dry 
those  who  come  to 
e  is  not  too  far  ad- 
The  table  on  page 
^fs  all  the  necessary 
II  parts  of  the  State. 
e  averages  from  ob- 
years,  and  are  more 
erature,  rainfall,  etc., 
n  its  character.        •/ 
J  re  are  none  of  the 
1  progress  in  railroad 
hich  possess  greater 
t  us  begin  with  the 
rupted   only   by  the 
e  Falls,  is  navigable 
236  miles  from  its 
>ny,  about  1 75  miles 
5  navigable  for  large 
the  recent  improve- 
nt;  and  above  Min- 
amera  for  400  miles. 
On  the  Minnesota 
Granite  Falls,  a  dis- 
rtile  Nile,  called  the 


909 


.jiimC'  'Ti^Kgiaf »".  LJfa^ 


J 


9W 


mm    tVK^TMItfi  KMUMK. 


Rcil  rivrr  of  thr  Nt)rih,  j^ivrn  .^80  mllcii  of  navi|;;al)Ir  water  on  thf 
wcntern  boun«Ury  of  the  State.  Thr  St.  Croix  furniiheHfifty-twc 
milcfi  of  navi^'abUr  wat<-r  on  thr  pattern  InirJcr.  Lake  Sii|)i'rioi 
jfivfH  167  milrn  of  shore  linr  to  the  northcaitern  iicction  of  the 
State,  and  the:  St.  Louis  rivrr,  the  principal  ntream  of  that  svt- 
tion,  adtU  twenty-one  mileH  of  navi^'able  waters  to  the  cxtrcmr 
went  cml  of  Lake  Superior.  To  sum  up,  Minnesota  ban  2,79^: 
miles  of  ahnrr  line  of  navigable  wateriH— one  mile  of  coa»t  lint, 
to  every  thirty  stpinre  miles  of  s«r'"ace. 

Of  rmilroatls  there  were  over  3,140  miles  complrtrct  and  in 
operation  en  the  ist  of  September,  1880.  The  Northern  Pacific 
Railroad  crosses  the  State  from  Duluth  to  Farj^oand  the  North 
west,  and  its  principal  f«rders,  the  St.  Paid  and  Pacific  and  tin 
St.  Paul  and  Duluth,  connert  it  with  the  two  chii.>f  cities  of  Min 
rtesota,  Minneapolis  and  .St.  I'aul,  and  with  the  more  distani 
cities  of  Milwaukie  and  Chicago,  also ;  these  three  lines,  witli 
•  heir  various  branches  and  extensions,  include  al)out  975  mile* 
in  the  State,  and  have  three  lines  crossing;  the  State  from  east  t'^ 
MTcst,  and  two,  the  I  )uluth  road  and  the  St.  Vincent  extension 
from  north  to  south.  The  other  four  roads  which  cross  the  .Statt 
from  east  to  west  at  lower  points  are,  the  Mastinp^s  and  Dakot; 
Division  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukie  and  St.  Paul,  which  aisc 
operates  two  roads  running  .southward  to  the  Jute  line  (tht 
River  Division  and  the  Iowa  and  Minnesota  Division)  ;  the  VVi 
nona  and  St.  Peter's;  the  Sioux  City  and  St.  Paul,  with  its  ex 
tensions ;  and  the  Southern  Minnesota.  These  are  crossed  it 
every  direction  by  local  railways  as  well  as  by  two  importan 
lines,  the  Minneapolis  and  St.  Louis,  the  Rochester  and  Norfheri 
Minnesota,  and  the  St.  Paul  and  Sioux  City,  and  the  Milwaukie 
Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul,  now  the  lowm  and  Minnesota  Diviiiioi 
of  the  Chica^^o,  Milwaukie  and  St.  Paul  Railway. 

All  these  roads,  or  all  except  a  single  narrow  gauge  road,  ar 
run  in  connection  with,  and  controlled,  more  or  less,  by  one  o 
three  great  railways,  viz. :  The  Northern  Pacific,  the  Chicago  an 
Northwestern,  and  the  Chicago,  Milwaukie  and  St.  Paul 
January,  1880,  there  was  no  town  or  vi'lage  in  the  State,  exccp 
in  tl)e  great  unorganized  counties  in  the  north,  which  was  mor 


I 


H4/LMtMPS  Of  MIHNK90TA 


*t\\ 


Jvlj^ahlr  water  on  the 
jix  rurnivhrH  fifty  two 
j«*r.  Lake  Superior 
[sUTH  Hcition  ol"  the 
utrram  of  that  trc- 
\\vxs  to  the  cxtrrme 
lituu:s«)ta  haH  3,796 
^«;  inile  of  co;ui  lin«j 

1 

«  complrtPft  an<f  in 
he  Northern  I'acilii: 
Arjfoantl  the  North- 
«iul    I'acific  and  lh<: 
)  chief  cities  of  Min- 
h  the  more  distant 
sc   three  lines,  with 
iide  al)oiit  975  miles 
le  State  from  east  to 
\.  Vincent  extension, 
which  cross  the  State 
lastings  and  Dakota 
St.  Paul,  which  also 
the  outc  line  (the 
I  Division) ;  the  Wi- 
St.  Paul,  with  its  ex- 
hesc  are  crossed  in 
8  by  two  important 
hester  and  Northern 
and  the  Milwaukic, 
Minnesota  Division 
way.  .: 

row  gauge  road,  arc 
!  or  leas,  by  one  of 
ific,  the  Chicajjo  and 
!  and  St.  Paul.  In 
in  the  State,  except 
•th,  which  was  more 


than  twirnt)-  five  mllct  from  s  railway  utiitiori.  Whm  !l  \%  ru< 
incndKirrd  that  the  firM  rattrond  in  iho  Stuti!  \fta«  IntiU  in  iH6a» 
iirul  thai  at  the  cml  ol  that  year  there  were  Init  ten  tnil«-H  of  rniU 
road  in  operation,  while  by  the  lIuhc  of  1H80,  ri^rhtnn  yeurit 
later,  there  will  be  ai  leaitt  3,500  milr^,  in  thirty  ditlcrvnt  lineK, 
and  tltat  the  carningA  have  rtiian  from  almut  fli5.ooij  in  1K63  to 
f8.i  56,846  in  1879,  Homc  idra  may  Ih;  formed  of  the  ra|>id  in* 
crease  of  the  conimrrci.il  wraith  of  Minnesota.  Thin  r.tpid  <le> 
vclopmcnt  indestinetl  still  lo  ^^  cm.  Atnonfi^  the  projected  roads, 
already  in  proj^rcss,  is  cmk*  to  connect  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis 
with  tl>e  iirand  Trunk  road  at  Manitowoc,  on  Lake  Mii-hi^an; 
another  to  connect  DulutI)  with  th«-  Sault  Ste,  Marie,  and  at  that 
point  with  the  Canadian  Central ;  while  a  third  is  already  con* 
tracted  for  to  tap  the  Ciioadian  Pacific  from  Diiluth.  The  two 
latter  will  open  up  the  vast  mineral  country  of  the  north  and 
northeast,  and  may  make  the  f;uid  and  silver  rc^don  of  Vermilion 
lake,  and  the  copper  and  iron  of  the  Lake  .Superior  rej^ion  as 
famous  a»  any  of  the  minini(  districts  of  the  Staters  and  I'errito* 
ries  farther  west.  Mont  of  the  roads  in  the  Stati*  nold  land 
grants  from  the  United  .States  Government  and  the  (oinmend- 
ablc  enterprise  which  they  have  displayed  in  making  known  to 
umigrants  from  other  landH  and  .Stateti  the  advanta^res  which 
Minnesota  had  to  offer  to  settlers,  was  undoubtedly  prompted  in 
part  by  the  desire  to  sell  their  own  lands,  and  to  develop  the 
region  through  which  their  route  passed,  ho  as  to  build  up  a 
large  way  traffic.  It  can  be  said,  hcrwever,  with  truth,  of  most 
of  them,  chat  they  have  readily  furnished  information  to  scttlerH 
in<rf^and  to  securing  Government  lands  by  purchase,  by  pre* 
emption,  and  by  die  Komustead  and  Timljer-Culture  Acts.  i\m 
w.\Agricul4ur<d  Prodttcls^ — The  rapid  increase  of  a^rriciiltnrnl 
pMduQtion  has  kept  pace  witii  die  development  of  railways  and 
other  means  of  transportation  for  the  crops  which  were  raisicit 
This  progr(;ss  has  been  greatly  accelerated  within  the  past  thr(!u 
years.  This  isduo  in  part  to  the  penetration  of  railways  into  new 
districts,  where  the  laod  is  amazingly  fertile,  and  in  still  ^^rcater 
measure  to  the  discovery  that  the  lands  of  the  Ri-d  River  vall«ry 
were  better  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of  spring  wheat  than  any 


it 


I 


!.-.i<K>i.-- 


I  . 


^la  '   OUX    t^£STtXU   EMPIRR. 

Other  lands  yet  sown  with  that  grain  on  this  continent.  Thi 
discovery,  widely  heralded,  was  immediately  followed  by  the  con 
struction  of  railways  through  that  valley  and  across  it,  whici 
secured  to  every  wheat-grower  an  immediate  casii  market  for  al 
the  wheat  he  could  raise.  The  great  immigration  to  that  regioi 
since  1877,  and  the  immense  quantity  of  land  which  has  beei 
broken  there  for  wheat,  has  had  a  wonderful  effect  in  bringin[ 
this  new  State  into  the  front  rank  of  grain-producing  States.  Ye 
only  a  very  small  portion  of  the  vast  territory  of  Minnesota  has 
up  to  this  time,  come  into  cultivation.  Of  its  53,459,840  acres 
or  somewhat  more  than  50,000,000  after  deducting  the  wate 
surface,  not  quite  one-ninth  is  yet  tilled ;  and  this  not  because  th( 
land  is  worthless  or  difficult  of  tillage,  but  because  it  is  so  exten 
stve  that  men  enough  cannot  be  brought  there  to  till  it  as  rapidi; 
as  the  demand  for  the  grain  requires.  In  1850,  thirty  years  ago 
there  were  but  1,900  acres  in  the  whole  territory  cultivated;  ii 
i860  there  were  435,267  ;  in  1870  there  were  1,853,316;  in  187; 
there  were  2,914,654;  in  1879,4,090,039;  in  1880,  a  little  mon 
than  6,000,000.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  30,000,00 
acres  yet  remain  of  lands  as  fertile  as  any  that  have  been  pur 
chased  and  broken  by  the  plow,  besides  an  area  of  abou 
:  5,000,000  of  acres  of  grazing  and  timber  lands.  In  all,  proba 
bly  nearly  30,000,000  acres  have  been  disposed  of,  includinj 
the  lands  certified  to  railroads—^something  like  8,500,000  acres- 
and  the  lands  sold  and  granted  to  actual  settlers*— over  15,000, 
000  acres  more— -and  the  swamp  landst  school,  university,  intei 
nal  improvement  and  other  lands  held  by  the  State — but  as  w 
have  said  only  a  little  more  than  6,000,000  acres  of  the  whol 
have  yet  been  brought  into  cultivation.  And  what  are  the  crop 
produced  on  these  6,000,000  acres  ?  The  reports  of  the  crop 
of  1880  are,  of  course,  not  yet  at  hand.  We  only  know  that  th 
wheat  crop  of  ^he  summer  of  1880  was  not  less  than  44^000,06 
bushels,  and  probably  reached  48,000,000  bushels. 

Of  the  crops  of  1879  we  have  more  definite,  informatioi 
There  were,  it  will  be  remembered,  only  4,090,039  acres  und< 
cultivation  that  year,  and  of  this  2,769,369  acres  wer«^  in  whea 
But  1879  ^^s  not,iin  Minnesota^  a  particularly  good  wheat  yeai 


viiM 


j-a('"'i*->V--'--^'»''  'V .  -  -a   ^^*. 


AGRICULTURAL   PRODUCTIONS. 


9i3 


bis  continent.    This 
followed  by  the  con- 
and  across  it,  which 
:e  casii  market  for  all 
ration  to  that  region 
and  which  has  been 
ill  effect  in  bringing 
educing  States.     Yet 
ry  of  Minnesota  has, 
•t*  53.459.840  acres, 
deducting  the  water 
this  not  because  the 
ecause  it  is  so  exten- 
:re  to  till  it  as  rapidly 
850,  thirty  years  ago, 
rritory  cultivated ;  in 
•e  1,853,316;  in  1877 
n  1880,  a  little  more 
slieve  that  30,oc»,ooo 
'  that  have  been  pur- 
s  an  area  of  about 
lands.     In  all,  proba- 
isposed  of,  including 
like  8,500,000  acres — 
sttlers— over  1 5,000,- 
lool,  university,  inter- 
the  State — but  as  we 
o  acres  of  the  whole 
ndwhat  are  the  crops 
reports  of  the  crops 
^e  only  know  that  tiie 
:  less  than  44^000,060 
tushels. -jf. j t^yiq  c^jiii 
definite  i  ihibrmation. 
090,039  acres  under 
acres  were  in  wheat 
rly.  good. wheat  ye$Mr<; 


the  average  yield  throughout  the  State  was  only  1 2.3  bushels  to 
the  acre.  Of  course  the  Red  River  \^ley  did  much  better  than 
this,  the  yield  there  being  over  twenty-two  bi'shels  to  the  acre; 
but  other  parts  of  the  State  fell  below  the  twelve  bushels ;  yet 
with  this  really  half-crop,  the  State  reported  34,063,239  bushels 
of  wheat;  19,518,450  bushels  of  oats,  which  yielded  thirty-five 
bushels  to  the  acre ;  and  12,764,955  bushels  of  corn,  which  also 
yielded  thirty-five  bushels  to  the  acre.  The  other  principal  crops 
were  barley,  sorghum  (of  which  the  Minnesota  amber  cane  was 
most  largely  cultivated),  potatoes,  hay,  of  which  a  large  propor- 
tion is  what  is  known  as  "  wild  hay,"  and  is  derived  either  from 
the  native  grasses,  some  of  which  are  of  excellent  quality,  or 
from  the  nutritious  wild  rice  which  abounds  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
lakes,  and  furnishes  a  valuable  substitute  for  hay,  much  relished 
by  cattle  and  sheep.  There  is,  in  the  older  counties,  a  disposi- 
tion to  cultivate  to  some  extent  the  forage  grasses ;  but  the  State 
has  not  yet  made  such  progress  in  the  rearing  of  live-stock  as 
to  make  the  cultivation  of  forage  plants  and  grains  on  a  large 
scale  indispensable.  The  cultivation  of  sorghum,  especially  of 
the  early  amber  variety,  which  ripens  usually  before  frost  comes, 
is  becoming  very  general  in  the  State,  and  mills  or  factories  for 
grinding  the  cane  and  making  sugar  on  a  large  scale  are  already 
numbered  by  the  score.  For  the  promotion  of  this  new  agricul- 
tural industry  not  only  in  this  but  in  other  States,  the  public  is 
indebted  to  Hon.  William  G.  LeDuc,  the  present  Commissioner 
of  Agriculture,  who  is  himself  a  citizen  of  Minnesota.  Mr.  LeDuc 
has  labored  earnestly,  zealously  and  persistently  to  bring  about 
diis  great  change  from  the  importing  of  cane  sugar  to  the  raising 
and  producing  our  own  sugar  from  the  sorghum.  The  success 
which  seems  now  to  be  within  reach  within  the  next  five  or  ten 
years,  means  an  increase  of  bur'agricultural  production  to  the 
annual  amount  of  eighty  to  one  hundred  millions  of  dollars,  the 
diminishing  of  our  importations  to  the  same  amount  or  even 
more,  since  the  cheapening  of  the  price  of  sugar  will  cause  an  in- 
creased consumption  and  the  diminution  of  the  duties  to  the 
extent  of  about  forty  millions  of  dollars. 
We  have  not  the  complete  statistics  of  the  crops  of  1879  and 
s» 


yiimmiimmmx' 


^^^ 


9*4 


OUX    WESTEKy  EMPIRE. 


l88o»  but  the  followir^  table  gives  the  amount  and  value  of 
|xrincipal  crops,  with  the  ^eld  per  acre  and  the  price : 


I 


k 


Whwt. 

0>u 

Cora 

Bvlqr 

»»• 

Buckwkmt . 


.bu. 
.1u. 


...bu. 

...bu 

.  .bu. 

...bu. 

..  bu. 

...bu. 

j  SMghMiSyiup gal. 

I  famie  Hiy ton*. 

j  WMtUy lorn 

I  Wooi pounds 


7atok. 


i«79 
tg»o 

lUlo 

IIS 


AmouBI  of  crop 

in  butbtlt,  UMWi 

pound*  or 

gallont. 


s 


45.93«.5J« 
i7,J3«,«oo 
««,3»«,So4 

;» 

I7«.M7 
«04.»f> 
33.«<3 
33>3W 
94.434 
*j.»«o 
W.378 
407."* 

4.»03W 
4«>>M< 
775.8m 

i,MO,So6 

Mta,oqo 

948,1(4 


•3.S 
IJ.5 
I7«5 

40.00 
34.00 

& 
3<*.eo 
I  (.00 
17.} 

9.81 
10.5 
ii.jS 
11.00 
7-7 
9.90 
ton 
103.7 

loS.i 

I-3S 
1.4* 


•iC! 

Number  nf 
Bcrti  in  >.iu|< 


i\t 


•«S3.3»5 

iU.415 
17»,»«* 
435.314 

d% 
•«.»4 

3.3«o 
J.«77 
».«5* 
••■OS 
"*M 
45.«3« 

3».ew 
40,618 

S.03J 

7.3«7 

143.150 

I46,9>« 


^S07««7 


I 


s 

$ 
•S 

JO 

*S 

SO 

JO 

J« 

74 

J» 
so 
4.00 
.a6 
•ao 


'■\   )    I 

Total  value 
crop. 


|34««4.4< 

43,oia,9i> 
4,«34.J4 
7.»»5.0' 
3««^>tP 
5.739.17 
i«7.*7 
'.4M.97 

IS3!40 
ao,s6 
tl,oi 
34 .» 
41.67 
"4.* 
Sao.ai 

97»«7 
9,101,98 

•J4.0* 

148,19 

9»4.»7 
».o»o,«i 
4.»«.77 

4,»of.ao 
340,33 
«77J« 


"•.«3«,« 


Live-Stock, — Minnesota  js  too  new  a  State,  and  has  too  m 
arable  land  and  timber.and  too  nuinycdier interests  calling  for 
special  attention  to  allow  her,  as  yet,  to  become  largely  enga 
in  rearing  stock.  By  and  by,  when  .her  great  northern  cour 
become  accessible  as  grazing  lands,  and  when  her  ample*] 
ducti^n  of  hay,  corn,  oats,  and  the  forage  grasses  and  nutri^ 
seeds,  such  as  millet,  pearl  millet,  ri9e  corji,  ctc^  gives  her  ar 
iactUties  for  ity  she  will  i^eceive  immense  hf^rds  of  cattl^e  and  flj 
of  sheep  to  fat/jen  for  the  foreign  markets.  We  do  pot  mes 
be  understood  that  the  young  State  has  not  a  respectable  s| 
ing  in  t|>e  way  of  live-stock,  or  that  U  is  not  incri^asi^g ;  but  I 
^hat,  as  cpmpared  with  States  where  the  rearing  of  cattle,  si 
^d  swine  bafi  be«o  made  a  specialty,  and  ,>uhere  much  o[ 
land  is  better  adapted  to  grazing  than  tf^  (^ultivatiom,  iis  am 
may  appear  relatively  small.  It  is,  at  fnos^  o»i4y  *nother  ir 
tion  of  the  variety  of  agricuUural  and;pafit;>wiipMCS*)its  of 
i^r-Pur  We&t^m,  Empirf;:' ,i§jfiafiiM>l^  I'jfhfi  fQU9iyiwg,t^b|e. 


rir  ;r  i^'i 


)UQt  and  value  of  the 
the  price:      mm   ,. 


wrnf 

lai' 

H.I   )    t 
Total  valia  «r 

1  CIU^P 

1 

f|li 

crop. 

l.3«S 

^ 

»34««4.«»« 

4»,o".9o7 

•1 

•»9 
••* 

7*15  ti4 

3^«^.»; 

J,J>4 
•-JM 

3,3(0 

■35 

:^ 

.4» 

5.7».17« 

1^7.676 

».4M.97« 

84.7«5 

IS3.4M 

ao,s6i 

».»77 

.63 
|.«S 

♦5.»3* 

I.JO 

9,ioi,9ta 

40,SiB 

■30 

S.033 
7.3«7 

•3« 

»31A*J 

M 

474 
5J» 

t^|«i» 

350 

.30 

4,*oi,77t 

477^83 





K>7««7       

iii,6}a,ul 

)tate,  and  has  too  tnuch 
X  interests  calling  for  her 
become  largely  engaged 
great  northern  coun;ties 
d  when  her  ample*  pro- 
<;p  grasses  and  nutritious 
)rni,  ctc^  gives  hor  ample 
hf^rds  of  cattlje^nd  flocks 
ts.    We  do  not  mean  to 
,  ppt  a  respectable  show- 
not  increasing ;  but  only 
5  rearing  of  «attiei  sheep 
and  Inhere  muach  of  the 
p^  <;ultivatiiQK),  its  numbers 
V>st.  0«4y  *notber  indipa- 
aitt^faJ  ipMcsAlit!!  of  which 
;iie  id^wm  ,t»WQ>*ow8 


LiyEsrocjc  ano  dair y  farming. 


91S 


the  number  and  value  of  the  live-stock  of  Minnesota  in  January, 
1879,  and  January,  1880,  according  to  the  reports  of  the  Agricul* 
tural  Departments  "i// >1''"  I  'i' 


AnimnU. 


Nomh«r   in 
'Jan.,  1879.  I 


Value. 


Horses 

Mules  and  Aitet 

Milch  Cowt 

Oxen  and  oUwr  cattle. 

Sheep 

Swine 


247,300  I6J.01  ;»iS.S8a.J7J 

j;,oool   790»  I        553.140 

19.10  5,326.990 

17.38  5,462,208 

a.  1 1  648,835 

3.70  735.940 


«r».9" 
316,100' 

307.5«>i 
l96,*oo< 


Totals 1,353,000 128,299,476 


Number   in 
Jan.,  1880. 


Value. 


274,1701  JW8.34  *a4.^»o,i7« 
7,350  100.00  i  735,000 
304,1101  2ai6  6,132,885 
333,432  30.00  9,672,660 
369,0001  3.50  922,500 
196,000'      6. 1 1        I,I97.5<JP 


'r47395a »4a.88o,783 


Dairy  farming  has  been  constantly  increasing  in  Minnesota 
during  the  last  decade.  In  1871  there  were  produced  7,356,768 
pounds  of  butter.and  469,147  pounds  of  cheese ;  in  1873,  8,828,- 
030  pounds  butter.and  772,630  pounds  cheese ;  in  1873  tliere 
were  10,140,316  pounds  of  butter,  1,031,510  pounds  of  cheese; 
in  1874,  10,916,942  pounds  of  butter,  1,090,238  pounds  of 
cheese;  in  1875,  12,000,000  po|unds  of  butter,  1,250,000  pounds 
of  cheese;  in  1876, 12,348,971  pounds  of  butter,  1,052,348  pounds 
of  cheese;  in  1877,  13,443,195  pounds  of  butter,  and  829,075 
pounds  of  cheese;  in  1879,  15/539,069  pounds  of  butter,  and 
586,448  pounds  of  cheese;  in  1880,  i6,ooo,QOQi  pounds  of  butter, 
and  600,000  pounds  of  cheese.  Great  attention  is  paid  to  secur- 
ing the  best  cows  for  dairy  purposes,  and  all  the  improved  appa- 
ratus ibr  butter  and  cheeses-making  is  promptly  obtained.  The 
giteat  extension  of  the  cultivation  of  forage  plants  has  be)en  stim- 
ulated largely  by  the  growing  zeal  of  the  fanners  of  Minnesota 
to  btieome  large  producers  of  the  best  buttier  and  cheese.  The 
ini:»'ease  of  t6/300  milch  cows  in  a  single  year  is  a  strong  inuiicB- 
tion  of  the  energy  and  enterprise  of  the  dair}  farmers.  '?  t'- 
v^oMa!imfa,chi,res.-^v^  States  of  tlie  Union,  certainly  none  in 
the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  equal  Minnesota  in  manufiaoturing 
capacitiei  In  none  is  t^er^^  a  jmiFe  advanitiageous  distribution 
of'water-pow^r  with  reference  to  supplies  of  raw  material  and 
acoessibftity  to  mai-kets.  Here  the  greajt  rivers  take  their  rise 
winch  gather  contritions  firom  half  the  epntiaent  an^  afford 


I 


Ki 


r 


|; 


^^  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

• 

the  marvellous  interior  navigation  of  che  North  American  coi 
tinent.  Yet  the  abrupt  descents  which  give  manufacturir 
power  arc  in  close  proximity  to  the  levels  which  afford  navigatic 
to  the  henrt  of  the  continent.  The  Mississippi  itself  lends  tl 
State  a  shore  line  of  one  thousand  miles,  half  of  which  it  co 
tributes  to  purposes  of  manufactures  and  the  other  to  those  c 
commerce.  The  Mississippi  originates  at  an  elevation  of  8; 
feet  above  the  mouth  of  the  Minnesota.  In  its  descent  from  tl 
summit  level  to  this,  its  water  line  is  broken  at  long  intervals  I 
falls  and  rapids,  which  torm  extensive  and  valuable  water-power 
Pokegama  Falls,  Little  Falls,  Sauk  Rapids,  and  St.  Anthony  Fal 
are  among  those  on  the  main  river,  besides  numerous  others  r 
all  the  tributary  streams,  especially  those  on  the  eastern  slo] 
of  the  Mississippi,  which  have  a  much  more  rapid  descent  thf 
this,  and  form  numerous  cascades  and  rapids.  St.  Anthony  Fall 
on  which  Minneapolis  is  situated,  forms  one  of  the  most  maj 
nificent  natural  seats  of  manufactures  in  the  country.      -  '  ■- 

The  St.  Croix  affords  navigation  to  the  falls  and  rocky  abu 
ments  which  are  capable  of  vast  power.    The  Minnesota  river 
navigable  to  the  granite  obstructions,  where  busy  industry  is  a 
ready  in  full  career.    The  St.  Louis  river  descends  to  the  leA^ 
of  Lake  Superior  through  a  series  of  jagged  falls  of  incalculat 
power.     Fergus  Fails,  on  Red  river,  the  several  falls  on  the  Zui 
bro,  on  Cannon,  Root,  Cottonwood,  Redwood,  and  other  streai 
exhibit  the  distribution  of  water-power  throughiout  the  State, 
small  fraction  only  of  this  manufacturing  force  is  yet  made  av£ 
able.     Considering  its  vastness  and  diffusion,  the  capacity  of 
surrounding  country  for  feeding  it  with  raw  material  and 
iinmitabb  field  for  the  consumption  of  the  products,  it  is  dfffic 
to  limit  the  industrial  progress  which  may  be  reasonaUy  expecj 
of  the  future. 

The  leading  staples  of  manufacturing  industry  in  Minnesl 
are  flour  and  lumber-rone  the  manufactured  product  of  its 
areas  of  fertile  soil,  the  other  of  the  pine  forests  which  v':ovf 
large  part  of  Northeastern  Minnesota  above  latitude  46^*30'. 
pine  belt  is  intersected :  by  the  St.  Croix  and  its  affluents  and] 
die  upper  Mississippi  and  its  numerous  tributaries,  which  fui 


_3*...r4a-— ««.« 


f 


brth  American  con- 
give   manufacturing 
|ich  afford  navigation 
lippi  itself  lends  the 
lalf  of  which  it  con- 
le  other  to  those  of 
an  elevation  of  836 
its  descent  from  the 
at  long  intervals  by 
.luable  water-powers. 
,nd  St.  Anthony  Falls 
,  numerous  others  on 
on  the  eastern  slope 
re  rapid  descent  than 
s.    St.  Anthony  Falls, 
ne  of  the  most  mag- 
le  country.  -uivr 

falls  and  rocky  abut- 
"he  Minnesota  river  is 
re  busy  industry  is  al- 
descends  to  the  level 
ed  falls  of  incalculable 
veral  falls  on  the  Zum- 
ood,  and  other  streams 
Dugltout  the  State.  A 
>rce  is  yet  made  avail- 
on,  the  capacity  of  the 
raw  material  and  the 
products,  it  is  difficult 
ye  reasonably  expected 
*ftn-^/v»r>r!f»  t»tJj  I0  fi«£|t. 
industry  in  Minnesota 
red  product  of  its  vast 
forests  which  ::over  a 
re  latitude  46*30'.  The 
nd  its  affluents  and  by 
ibutaries^  which  furnish 


MINNRSOT/rS  LUMBER    TRADE. 


9<7 


convenient  channels  for  floating  the  logs  cut  upon  their  lanks  in 
winter,  upon  the  high  spring  waters  to  Minneapolis  and  Still- 
water, which  are  the  principal  depots  of  lumber  manufacture, 
though  lumber  is  manufactured  extensively  at  Marine  Mills  and 
other  points  on  the  St.  Croix,  and  also  at  Hastings,  Red  Wing, 
Winona,  which  receives  extensive  supplies  of  logs  from  the  Chip- 
pewa river,  and  indeed  almost  all  the  river  towns.  A  first-class 
boom  was  constructed  in  1879  at  St.  Paul,  and  two  or  three  large 
sawmills  were  erected  in  1880.  The  pine  forests  which  clothe 
the  head  waters  of  the  three  great  river  systems  which  have 
their  sources  in  Minnesota  are  a  part  of  the  vast  belt  of  pine 
which  stretches  across  Northern  Wisconsin.  The  immense 
areas  of  prairie  country  which  stretch  west,  southwest  and  south 
of  this  pine  zone,  comprising  about  three-fourths  of  Minnesota, 
and  all  of  Iowa,  Dakota,  Nebraska  and  Kansas,  afford  an  illimit- 
able market  for  this  lumber,  which  is  constantly  increasing  with 
the  rapid  growth  of  population,  and  its  extension  over  the  naked 
plains  of  the  West  The  railroad  system  which  centres  at  St. 
Paul  and  Minneapolis,  and  which  extends  throughout  all  this  vast 
region,  the  vast  supplies  of  lumber  manufactured  at  Minneapolis, 
Stillwater,  Menomonie,  Eau  Clare,  Chippewa  Falls,  and  at  other 
points  in  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin,  are  distributed  throughout 
this  great  prairie  region,  and  the  transportation  of  lumber  forms 
a  very  important  item  in  the  business  of  these  railroads.  Im- 
mense supplies  of  logs  are  annually  floated  down  the  Mississippi 
from  the  St.  Croix  river  and  its  Wisconsin  tributaries,  to  be  sawed 
into  lumber  at  difterent  river  points,  especially  at  St.  Louis.  A 
great  proportion  of  the  lumber  supply  of  Western  Iowa  and  Ne- 
braska has  heretofore  been  derived  from  Chicago  and  St.  Louis ; 
but  arrangements  have  recently  been  entered  into  by  the  rail- 
roads connecting  the  Wisconsin  pineries  with  those  penetrating 
these  prairie  States  whereby  the  cost  of  transportation  has  been' 
considerably  reduced.  They  have  formed  an  organization  known 
as  the  lumber  line,  with  its  head-quarters  at  St,  Paul,  by  which 
lumber  is  transported  without  change  of  cars  from  the  seats  of 
its  manufacture  in  Wisconsin  to  the  most  distant  western  markets 
upon  such  terms  as  will  give  them  the  control  of  the  lumber 


■:1 


•'S®S^' 


I 


I 


I 


»  / 


^tS  OVJf    tVESTEJtN  EMPIRE.       ' 

traffic  over  an  imnense  region  of  country  In  Iowa,  Nebraska  ar 
Kansas. 

But  the  chief  manufacturing  industrj'  of  Minnesota,  measure 
by  the  amount  of  capital  invested  and  the  value  of  its  prodtict, 
flour.     Flour  mills  are  distributed  all  over  ihe  State,  but  tl 
principal  seat  of  this  industry  is  at  Minneapolis,  which  has  in 
few  years  past  witnessed  an  enormous  development  of  this  i 
terest.    Minneapolis  has  now  more  than  twenty  saw-mills,  which 
1880  produced  over  i65,ocxd,o<x>  feet  of  lumber,  besides  the  pr 
portionate  amount  of  lath  and   shingles.     Its  lumber  produ 
alone  exceeded  1^4,500,000,     Its  flouring  mills,  including  thn 
erected  during  the  year,  were  twenty-seven,  several  among  the 
being  the  largest  flouring  mills  in  the  world.     They  all  make  tl 
so-called  "New  Process  "  flour,  which  can  only  be  made  in  perfe 
tion  from  sprinj;  wheat,  the  only  wheat  grown  to  any  extent 
Minnesota.    These  mills  have  the  capacity  for  producing  I7,5( 
barrels  of  flour  per  day,  or  5,250,000  barrels  in  the  year  of  y. 
days — the  equivalent  tii  25,000,000  bushels  of  wheat  annuall 
"tliere  are  also  a  great  number  of  flour  mills' — many  of  thcrti  i 
the  highest  rank — along  the  numerous  water-powers  of  the  Ca 
non,  the  Zumbr^ ,  the  Root  and  other  streams  of  Southeaste 
Minnesota.     Red  Wing,  Faribault,  Cannon  Falls,  Stillwater,  R 
ehester,  Winona,  and  neariy  every  village  in  Houston  and  F 
more  are  thriving  seats  of  flour  manufacture.     There  are  alm< 
^s  many  run  of  stone  employed  in  the  mills  along  the  Cann 
river  or  along  the  Root  as  at  Minneapolis,      i  iiioi-:>  li^  drfj  v 

The  number  of  saw-mills  in  the  State  is  about  200,  arid 
flouring  mills  not  less  than  450,  though,  of  course,  of  vary 
capacity.  The  amount  of  lumber  produced  in  the  Stated  can 
be  accurately  stated,  but  is  not  less  than  1,000,000,000  f 
■and  is  increasing.  Most  of  it  is  pine,  though  the  mills  in 
Southwest  of  the  State  run  on  the  logs  from  the  "  Big  Woo* 
which  are  mostly  hard  woods.  The  flbur  productiod  is.i 
than  10,000,000  barrels,  equal  to  50^600,000  bushel*  of  wl 
and  the  Millers'  Association,  which'has  its  head-quarters  tn 
neapoHs,  by  its  admirable  organixatioft  artd  management, 
been  able  to  tommand  not  only  the  gi^eater  part  tyf  the 


INCKEASM  JN  HfEAlTH  ANfl    TAXARI.ES. 


919 


Iowa,  Nebraska  and 

inncAota,  m«»as\jreH 
lue  of  its  product,  is 
ihc  State,  but  the 
•lis,  which  has  in  a 
[elopment  of  this  in- 
saw-milis,  which  in 
iber,  besides  the  pro- 
Its  lumber  product 
ills,  including  three 
several  among  them 
They  all  make  the 
f>ly  be  made  in  perfec- 
'own  to  any  extent  in 
for  producing  17,500 
els  in  the  year  of  300 
Is  of  wheat  annually, 
ills' — many  of  them  of 
ter-powers  of  the  Can- 
^eanvs  of  Southeastern 
ti  Falls,  Stillwater,  Ro- 
in  Houston  and  Fill- 
ire.     There  are  almost 
nills  along  the  Cannon 

is  about  300,  arid  of 
,  of  course,  of  varying 
ed  ill  the  Statd  cannot 
an  1,000,000,000  feet, 
iough  the  mills  in  the 
om  the  "  Big  Woods," 
ir  prodnctiod  is. more 
ooD  bushel*  of  wheat, 
head-quarters  m  Min* 
ar»d  management,  has 
ter  part  of  the  wheat 


grown  in  Minnesota,  but  also  most  of  that  produced  in  Eastern 
Dakota  and  Norilicin  loWa.  Ihc  llouMnariufecture  in  Minne- 
sota has  an  annual  proihict  of  from  thirty-five  to  forty  millions 
of  dollars. 

But  though  these  arc  the  leading  manufactures  of  Minnesota, 
they  are  by  no  means  the  only  productions  of  manufacturing  in- 
dustry in  the  State.  'There  are  a  number  of  iron  works  ami 
several  boiler,  stove,  harvester,  plow  and  other  agricultural  ma- 
chine factories,  woollen  mills,  cotton  mills,  paper  mills,  linseed  oil 
mills,  wood  ware,  furniture,  fence,  sash,  door  and  blind  factories, 
foundries,  car  wheel  works,  boot  and  shoe  factories,  clothing  fac- 
tories, creameries,  cheese  factories,  wagon  factories,  soap  and 
glue  works,  broom  factories,  brick  yards,  breweries,  coopers' 
shops,  confectionery,  lavge  printing  and  book  manufacturing 
establishments,  etc.,  etc.  The  entire  annual  products  of  manu- 
facturing industry  in  the  State  are  estimated  to  exceed  seventy- 
five  millions  of  dollars. 

Increase  in  Wealth  and  Taxable  Valuations  of  the  State. — The 
only  available  measure  of  the  increase  of  wealth  in  Minnesota  is 
that  afforded  by  the  valuations  of  real  estate  and  personal  prop- 
erty for  taxation — a  very  unreliable  one,  since  real  estate  is 
generally  valued  at  much  less  than  its  market  value,  while  per- 
sonal property,  even  that  small  portion  of  it  which  is  visible  or 
listed,  is  generally  valued  in  the  assessment  list  at  less  than  one- 
third,  frequently  at  one-fourth  or  fifth,  its  actual  value.  Besides 
this,  vnder  the  laws  of  Minnesota,  all  public  school-houses,  acad- 
emies, colleges,  their  furniture  and  libraries  and  grounds,  all 
churches  and  the  lots  on  which  they  stand,  all  public  buildings 
of  State,  county  or  cit)',  all  public  hospitals  or  institutions  of 
charity,  all  public  libraries,  etc.,  and  in  addition  to  these  the  per- 
sonal property  of  each  person  liable  to  taxation,  to  the  amount 
of  one  hundred  dollars,  are  exempt  from  taxation  or  assessment. 
But,  though  these  valuations  are  not  even  approximations  to  the 
true  value,  they  will  answer  very  well  for  purposes  of  compari- 
son. The  following  table  will  show  the  growth  of  taxable  prop- 
erty and  population  in  Minnesota  since  June,  1849:  .^  .  , 


■,«JSt!Amm*j,i!ifmsi^'- 


pso 


OUM    WMSTEMN  MMHRM. 

TtkuilM. 

««49 I5M.936 

185' 8o6,4j7 

«86o 36,738,410 

1870 87,i79,J57 

1879 348,383,315 


.»    1 


I 


\. 


Population, — The  increase  ofpopulatiog  in  Minnesota  has  been 
exceedingly  rapid  from  the  first.  In  1850,  the  first  time  when 
there  were  a  sufificient  number  of  white  settlers  to  be  enumerated, 
and  when  all  the  region  west  of  the  Mississippi  was  still  occupied 
and  held  by  the  Indians,  the  number  reported  by  the  census  was, 
by  a  singular  coincidence,  precisely  that  of  the  Indians  now  resi- 
dent in  the  Territory— ^,077.  In  five  years  it  had  increased 
more  than  ten-fold  ;  in  ten  years,  almost  thirty-fold ;  in  twenty 
years,  seventy-five-fold ;  in  twenty-five  years  a  hundred-fold ;  and 
in  thirty  years,  a  hundred  and  thirty-one  times.  The  following 
table  gives  some  additional  particulars  of  interest  in  regard  to 
this  population.  The  enumerations  of  1870,  1875  and  1880  in- 
clude the  tribal  Indians  resident  in  Minnesota:        -      '  ,..    ^i>ii 


Toul 

PomiU- 

ifan. 


M,Sii 
171,0*3 

*i9.77r 
700,000* 

7'7.oo5t 


3.7'« 
93,o<4 


I 


»,3fli 
7««» 


316,076 


•04.407 

»8i,3Ji 


NMir«, 


4,100 


•79.009 

379.97; 
444.74» 


Colurtd 
I    and 

Indian*. 


"s«*.7i»' 


39 


i«o,<97 
»"7.4»9 


T.799  I 


.04    

•S   U] 
t.io  ijo 

7  »4  36  » 
••3»  I  •4-9 
9-40     "31 


m 

Is 


«.75« 

S».73» 

•7.»44 
I5T,9»J 

1 18,36  J 
■6a,}il 

'94.7*' 


a 


If 


".37« 
4i,n« 

»1.«S« 

"■•'».374 
M7.370 


'•449 
4l.lt< 
"4.711 

»9«I*39 


*  iMlmatad  fVom  Snta  ocmu*  of  iSh  and  Kumnn'  rMwna. 

t  Of  which  number  5,04/  were  tribal  Indian>. 


I  Of  which  number  6,191  were  tribal  Indiana, 
I  For  the  decade,  77  per  oeni. 


From  whenc6  a'fe  the  people  who  constitute  the  present  p6|)u-' 
lation  of  this  rapidly  growing  and  thrifty  State  ?  An  investigation 
made  in  1878  showed  that  about  five-eighths  were  born  in  the 
United  States,  a  trifle  more  than  one-third  being  born  in  Minne- 
sota, and  about  twenty-nine  per  cent,  in  other  States ;  one-ninth, 
or  eleven  per  cent.,  were  natives  of  some  of  the  German  States ; 
fourteen  per  cent,  or  about  one-seventh,  were  from  Norway  and 
Sweden ;  three  and  a  half  per  cent,  were  from  Ireland ;  about 


mmMm 


mmmtm 


THE   ISDIAN  POrULATtOS. 


9tt 


r«iiMiiM.         , 
5  "4.936 
Jo6.4j7 
^".410 

79. as  7 
|83,JI5 

>ta  has  been 
time  when 
:numerf\ted, 
ill  occupied 
census  was, 
IS  now  resi- 
increased 
in  twenty 
d-fold ;  and 
e  following 
I  regard  to 
™d  i88o  in- 


\i 


«.37» 
47.370 


'If 


>>449 

4*.ied 

"4,7JJ 

•'   »9«.'«J9 


ere  tribal  Indian. 
It. 


sent  popii-i 
I'estigation 
orn  in  the 
in  Minne- 
one-ninth, 
an  States ; 
orway  and 
nd;  about 


three  per  cent  from  the  British  provinces,  and  one  and  one-half 
per  cent,  from  England  and  Wales,  while  three  per  cent,  were 
from  other  countries.  The  Scandinavian  emigrants  have  very 
generally  preferred  Minnesota  to  other  States  and  Territories 
from  a  real  or  fancied  similarity  between  its  climate  and  their 
own.  and,  in  some  of  the  counties,  Norse  is  the  language  of  .1 
majority  of  the  inhabitants.  There  are  a  number  of  newspapers 
printed  in  the  Swedish  and  Norwegian  languages,  and  at  one 
time  the  laws  of  the  State  were  published  in  these  languages. 

The  Indian  fbpulaiion. — In  its  earlier  history,  even  after  it 
became  a  State,  the  Indians  were  very  troublesome  neighbors. 
They  originally  claimed  the  whole  Territory,  and  their  title  to 
lands  east  of  the  Mississippi  was  not  extinguished  till  1838;  in 
1 85 1  the  Indian  title  to  Unds  between  the  Mississippi  and  the 
Red  river  of  the  North  was  extinguished,  except  the  reservations. 
The  southwest  and  part  of  the  western  portion  of  the  State  was 
still  occupied  by  the  Sioux,  and  in  1862,  taking  advantage  of  the 
absence  of  most  of  the  able-bodied  men  in  the  civil  war,  these 
tre&cherous  savages  made  an  irruption  upon  the  new  setde- 
ments  and  murdered  about  i,0(X>  persons,  slaughtering  whole 
families,  burning  and  plundering  villages,  etc.  Vengeance  came 
swiftly  upon  the  savages;  they  were  pursued,  defeated,  con- 
quered  and  expelled  from  the  State,  and  the  most  guilty  publicly 
executed.  The  only  Indians  now  in  the  State  are  the  C  liippewas, 
6,198  in  number,  who  have  reservations  at  Leech  lake.  Red  lake 
and  White  Earth.  Their  reservations  compri<ie  4,761,1 1 2  acres, 
which  include,  however,  a  large  amount  of  lake  surface,  probably 
more  than  3,200,000  acres,  as  only  1,553.960  acres  are  reported 
as  tillable.  This  tribe  has  always  maintained  peaceful  and 
pleasant  relations  with  the  whites. 

Minnesota  is  fully  alive  to  her  educational  interests.  Her 
school  lands  consist  of  two  sections,  the  sixteenth  and  thirty- 
sixth,  in  every  surveyed  township,  and  amount  to  2,969,990  acres, 
which,  by  a  provision  of  the  constitution  introduced  at  the  sugges- 
tion of  Governor  Ramsey,  the  present  Secretary  of  War  in  the 
United  States  War  Department,  cannot  be  sold  for  less  than  |;5 
per  acre.     Of  these  lands  there  have  been  already  sold  602,873 


si 


Ci 


\) 


mg^  OVK   trMSTKHN  KMflUM. 

aomi,  at  an  avera^'e  pricr  of  ]|l6.io  per  acre,  or  a  little  more  than 
one-Afth :  113.678,47a  have  hern  (Verived  from  thin  Hource  for  the 
school  fimil ;  and  the  addition  of  other  itema,  atumpa^c,  tlie  Mtlo 
of  timhcr  from  the  unsold  school  landa,  etc.,  there  had  been  re- 
alized up  to  August  J  I,  1879,  the  sum  of  14,067,517,  which  con- 
atitutcH  the  principal  of  the  school  fund.  Th<!  remainder  of  the 
school  lands  are  not  inferior  in  quality  to  those  already  sold,  and 
will  probably  yield  in  all  from  |(  18,000,000  to  ||t 30,000,000 ;  but 
the  interest  from  the  school  fund,  which  is  now  nearly  11^350,000 
and  constantly  increasing,  forms  only  a  smail  part  of  the  total 
annual  expenditure  for  public  schools.  In  1878  this  expenditure 
was  $1,323,949.07,  or  ]|H.40  to  estch  scholar  reported  for  appor- 
tionment. It  is  now  probably  at  least  $300,000  more.  The 
exce^N  over  the  current  school  fund  is  raised  by  county  and  local 
taxation.  The  following  statement  gives  some  particulars  in 
regard  to  the  condition  of  the  public  schools  of  the  State  for  the 
year  ending  the  31st  of  August,  1879,  the  latest  report  yet  pub- 
Hahed,  which  does  honor  to  the  enterprise  and  eduiational  zeal 
of  this  youthful  State:  Permanent  school  fund,  $4,067,517  ;  ^r- 
rent  school  fund,  $346,943  ;  enrolment  of  pupils,  1 71,945  ;  school 
houses,  3,416;  school  districts,  4,001 ;  average  months  of  school, 
46;  male  teachers,  1,797  !  female  teachers,  3,210;  total  teachers, 
4,907  ;  total  of  teachers  in  1878,  4,873  ;  average  wages,  males, 
$35.78  ;*  average  wages,  females,  $27.33  ;•  amount  paid  for  teach- 
ers' wages,  including  board,  $930,131.38  ;  value  of  school-houses 
and  sites,  $3,383,351.85.  Besides  these  public  schools,  there 
were  seventy-nine  graded  schools  and  sixteen  high  schools  in  the 
State,  in  all  of  which  advanced  studies  were  pursued.  This  was 
in  1878.  The  number  is  now  increased  largely.  These  graded 
schools  were  erected  at  a  cost  of  over  $  i  ,500,000.  But  the  public 
schools  are  only  a  part  of  the  cducationaJ  facilities  afforded  by 
the  State.  There  are  tbree  nocrmal  schools  in  the  State,  at  Wi- 
nona, Mankato  and  St.  QoMd,  all  established  since  1859,  and 
having  buildings  erected  at  a  cost  of  $239,933,  and  receiving  an 
annual  appropriation  of  $30,000  from  the  State.    These  schools 

*Thli  it  a  slight  (tiling  off  firom  the  waget  of  the  preTiou  year,  which  weie  fat  malet  Ij7.5a  t 
ftr  iMMlea,  M.f  •. 


1 


I 


RDVCATIOtf^COVNTIRS  AKti  CITIKS. 


9i9 


;lc  more  than 
ource  for  the 
laj^r,  the  Mle 
had  been  re- 
7,  which  con- 
limlcr  of  the 
ady  sold,  and 
000,000;  but 
irly  ijia 50,000 
of  the  total 
expenditure 
d  for  appon- 
more.  The 
nty  and  local 
particulars  in 
State  for  the 
>ort  yet  pub- 
•ational  zeal 

67.5' 7;  A*"*- 
.945 ;  school 
hs  of  school, 
rtal  teachers, 
'ages,  males, 
ud  for  teach- 
:hocI-hous(38 
:hool8,  there 
:hoo]s  in  the 
I.  This  was 
hese  graded 
ttt  the  public 
afforded  by 
Jtate,  at  Wi- 
e  1859,  and 
eceiving  an 
lese  schools 


for  mala  I37.53) 


had  respectively  eleven,  seven  and  nine  professors  and  teachers, 
and  an  cnrohtient  of  407,  J15  and  109  "rtudrnis  in  each.  The 
graduates  are  in  demand  for  thf  public  nchools  of  the;  Slate. 

There  is  also  a  State-  University  at-  Minneapolis,  which  includes 
also  the  Agricultural  College,  and  has  a  faculty  of  al)out  twenty 
professors  ami  teachers,  and  had  in  1879  alxnit  250  students.  It 
has  an  endowment  fund  from  the  sales  of  lands  granted  to  it  by 
Con^'resH  and  the  Agricultural  CoIU^g*'  jjrant.  This  fund  now 
amoiuits  to  about  J^4 50,000,  and  nearly  one-half  the  lands  remain 
unsold,  and  have  appreciated  so  mtich  in  value  that  the  fund  will 
proh.ibly  amount  to  over  a  million  dollars.  Its  buiklings  are 
very  fme  and  commodious,  and  are  unencumberetl,  and  it  has 
the  proceeds  of  a  Slate  lax  of  one-tenth  of  a  mill,  which  amounts 
to  upwards  of  $20,000  a  year.  It  admits  both  sexes,  and  iu 
teaching  isof  a  high  order. 

There  is  also  an  institution  for  the  deaf,  dumb  and  blind  at 
Faribault,  which  has  fine  buildings  and  grounds,  costing  $1 50,000, 
and  capable  of  accommodat'ng  200  pupils. 

There  are  also  two  or  three  colleges  and  seven  or  eight  col- 
legiate schools  of  high  order  in  the  State  under  denominational 
control.  Some  of  th«se  are  equal  to  any  schools  of  their  class  in 
the  country. 

Cowttks  and  Cities. — There  are  seventy-six  counties  in  the 
State,  of  which  seven  were  not  organized  in  1878.  Several  of 
the  northern  counties,  as  Polk,  Beltrami,  Cass,  Itasca  and  St. 
Louis  are  of  immense  extent,  and  some  of  them  have  yet  extensive 
Indian  reaervations  within  thdr  limits.  The  assessed  valuation 
of  the  taxable  real  estate  of  these  counties  (a  large  amount 
escapes  ttxatloh  for  a  vanety  of  causes)  in  1878  was  $183,615,- 
738.  This  was  nominally  on  a  valuation  of  sixty  cents  on  the 
dollar,  hvtt  really  not  more  than  fifty  per  cent.  The  assessed 
value  of  personal  property  (probably  less  than  one-sixth  of  the 
real  value)  was  $46,175,304,  and  adding  the  two  we  have  an  as- 
sessed valuation  of  personal  and  real  estate  of  $229,791,042  ;  in 
187^  this  valuatiton  had  reached  $248,283,2 15,  and  the  real  value 
uiwfoubtedly  excee<!led  $500,000,000. 
The  prlndpal  <iltie»  and  towns  afe :      *'  ' 


i 


i 


9H 


OVM    WMiTtUft  MMflMM. 


I' 


\ 


Hv  ^H^^Vn    IW^^^ 


M  Ckartn.  .. 

AmiIi*     ..   ...I. 
Alban  \a» 

llull'hiMUH    .,1, 

t>ii>li«        

Waiarlnwn. ..   ., 
hull  t:«nin. ... 

\a  Hiwur 

OhiMna ••■ 

Si   VInMM 


R»<M*,    

ManN**^*!!.  »i»(tti  •«  (•  I*  I 
Wtl|»>f»4  .  *fiit»|»«|i  t*< 
W llWtfl^lMlk  *  •  •■»••••■! 
((••ntlliMl  .•••»ti*at»**t*' 
pl*'*  <  i  II  •••••#(*  I*  ' 
Mm*   IaHII*    •■•!»• 

ii«k..i« 

HI    l^ttl*.. 

AiMb 

Nixillcl 

M»«*f 

•mtm   .. 

Witwtha. 
Hiiill 
WMwa    . 

I'lllmnn   . 

B Ulnar*  . 
.  "ftwi.. 
nnka 


•llllllllll 


An 
I'rofborn. , 
M'nvill*. . 
McUoa.. 
C*rv«r. .  . 
Carvar  , . . , 
Hiaarna  . . 
Kntwnoii , 
\m  HiMiir.  I 
Mctmd  . 
Ktiuun  .., 
•1<*T 


PwfMlaitaM     N^laDn) 
hllMa.     I     IkO^ 


1% 
•  •••* 

MM 

:in 

.; 

I*' 

M* 


••• 

n 


m 


Ml 

•If 


4.l*« 


!.'»• 
I.l|l 

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•  ■111 

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•■••Ml 


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I.f1» 
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1,4 1* 
4.144 
>.*4« 
•<Mt 

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•iafc 
i,M« 
1,1a.. 

••m 

I, If* 

i.aai 

.,«o 

'.*»r 
mIi 


•lUr 

l.iaa 


^•DMlalMIl 


I.K" 
f.U» 

I.iai 

|.<f» 


•.«i« 

■•■n 


I4M 


Rtligious  Denominations. — The  Lutherans  (of  whom  there  are 
at  least  six  different  and  not  entirely  harmonious  or)j;anization8) 
are  the  most  numerous  of  the  reli^^ions  denominations  in  Min- 
nesota,  having  an  actual  membership  in  1877-78  of  112,705,  to 
which  large  additions  have  since  been  made  by  immigration  and 
otherwise. 

The  Catholics  claimed  a  Catholic  population  estimated  at  1 14,000 
in  1877  ;  but  though  they  have  some  strong  colonies  in  the  State, 
there  is  a  large  minority  of  the  estin>ated  Catholic  population  in 
these  new  States,  which  drifts  away  from  that  church,  and  cannot 
fairly  be  reckon  J  as  under  its  control  The  Methodist  churches 
come  nex  ,  wi^H  iLout  34,000  members,  and  are  succeeded  in  the 
following  order  by  Baptists,  Congregationalists,  Presbyterians, 
Epif.copalians,  Mennonites,  Free  Will  Baptists,  Universalists  and 
several  minor  denominations.  The  following  table,  which  does 
not  give  the  number  of  churches  or  church  edifices,  except  the 
Catholics,  gives  some  other  particulars  of  interest  concerning, 
them  in  1877-78.     Two  years  have  undoubtedly  wrought  many 


•s 


\ 


n  there  arc 
'anizations) 
"»  tn  Min- 
» » 2.705,  to 
^ration  and 

« 114,000 
ti»e  State, 
>ulation  in 
nd  cannot 
t  churches 
Jed  in  the 
byterians, 
ah'sts  and 
hich  does 
fcept  the 
•nccrning 
jht  many 


MfCl/CtOL'X  DKffOMlffAriOt^ 


fM 


change*,  but  have  hardly  greatly  dUturbed  thrir  relative  propor* 
tiont; 

miHlt*nt  m  lln  Stmt*. 


Pnnimttiaiiwii. 


N»rw«t«Mi  mnUh  KvMgtIlMi  LmhatMl 


C'iini(rcK«llaM' . .  t •!•••• 


>   •  tM t  t   •  I 


yUrUn 

Ci«rm«n  Kvangvlli**!  I.ulh«r*ii, 

VI          I,         I  *K«furm«d. . . 
KpUco,*ll.«    {p,^^,„ 

Kvnngelkal  Amo.UuIoii 

Unliaiiaii ,.«  , ,.,, , 


Unlvfrvallil    

KwtilanliorglM . . . 

Ilchrcw 

rrtawlll    RaplUto, 
MfnnimiU 


Norwti|i«n  ind  DanUh  Confeninu 

Uihvr  Liilharan  SocttltM 


*SwcdiiK  Kvtngalleal  I.ulharan. ,,,. 
*NiirwtgUn  Luthtrmn  AiiguMalii.. . . 


Y.  M.  C.  A.  oT  Minn«M(«. 


47.4*f 
Mblto 

■•,000 

Z 

I, tie 


I      OMMb 

|itt>,uuo 

i  7W.»»S 

4JO,0O0 

j  t,cm 
\  »7».*4! 
I     96.37$ 


'fctJSti'' 


IJ.9M 
5,000 

M.aM 


«.i$» 


S,ooo 

M,aoo 
ifioo 


•  75.«» 
10,000 


6,000 


S>M» 

»o,*«5 

•04J0 
9.»79 


4.7W 
5^ 


JO 

No.oftch'oU 
70 

No.ofKbo'b 
100 

Numltcr  of 
A  MOV  I  al  Ion* 

y_ 


1*71  V4 

•o.5yJ«7 
7.i*$oo 


•«/)«9.oo 

6,5ft6.7i 

400.00 
7JO.OO 


«o»9«HVI 


18,000.00 


CoIImm 

''•  >     RtlliloM  Ordtn . 


•CATHOLICS. 


i(  ,  .i.i. 


Acadtml*!  (Famala). 
-  in 


''**'"     Charitabia  jdotltuliona. 


■^M  sr;.;.::::::::: 

irCVliA    Hawllala 

Aiyluan 

yn\-> «    CMkolie  po|Mlalion . 


I 

It 
7 

;   „i 

llW 

I 

J 

114,000 


;.l 


History. — Father  Hennepin,  a  Franciscan  priest,  was  the  firav 
European  who  is  known  to  have  visited  Minnesota.  In  1680  he 
ascended  the  Mississippi  with  a  party  of  fur  traders  to  the  Falls 
of  St.  Anthony,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  which  they  still  bear. 
Some  French  traders  and  their  descendants  settled  around  the 
falls,  but  they  soon  lapsed  into  Indian  customs  and  modes  of  life. 
In  1 763  the  country  subsequently  known  as  the  Northwest  Ter- 


It 


pa6  <^WP    WSSTAR!f  BMPIRE. 

ritory  was  ceded  to  Great  Britain.  Jn  1 766  Jon«thari  Carver,  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  explored  that  part  of  Minnesota  extending 
from  the  present  southern  border  to  the  sources  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. In  1 783  it  was  transferred  to  the  United  States  as  a  part 
of  the  Northwest  Territory.  In  1805  a  tract  of  land  was  pur- 
chased from  the  Indians  at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Croix  river,  in- 
cluaing  the  present  site  of  Hastings,  and  another  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Minnesota  river,  which  includes  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 
In  1820  Fort  Snelling  was  built,  and  in  1822  a  smalt  grist  mill 
was  erected  on  the  present  site  of  Minneapolis  for  the  use  of  the 
garrison  at  Fort  Snelliug.  In  1823  the  6rst  steamboat  visited 
Minnesota.  Between  1823  and  1830  a  small  cplony  of  Swiss 
settled  near  St.  Paul.  The  Indian  title  to  lands  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi was  extinguished  in  1838.  In  1843  ^-  settlement  was 
commenced  at  Stillwater,  on  the  St.  Croix.  The  Act  of  Congress 
establishing  the  Territory  of  Minnesota  was  passed  March  3, 
1 849,  and  the  Territory  was  organized  in  the  following  JuAe.  It 
extended  to  the  Missouri  river,  and  Ihus  included  nearly  all  of 
Eastern  Dakota.  Its  population  was  then  between  4,000  and 
5,000.  In  185 1  the  Indian  tide  to  the  lands  lying  between  the 
Mississippi  river  and  the  Red  river  of  the  North,  except  the  res- 
ervations, was  extinguished.  Immigration  at  once  commenced, 
though  considerably  hindered  by  the  very  general  impiession 
that  the  region  was  too  cold  to  produce  any  crops.  Gov- 
ernor Ramsey,  the  first  Territorial  Governor,  now  United 
States  Secretary  of  War,  says  that  when  he  came  to  Wash- 
ington, and  brought  with  him  some  ears  of  corn  and  wheat 
raised  in  the  vicinity  of  St,  Paul,  he  was  accused  of  trying 
to  deceive,  for  it  was  said  that  it  was  impossible  that  anything 
ihould  ^roW  in  such  an  Arctic  climate:  But  tfce  Territory 
i^rew,  and  in  1^37  had  about  150,000  inhabitant^ ;  ^nd'  pn  the 
26th  pf  February  in  that  year,  Corigi-e^s  parsed  an  enjabling  act, 
^^oyiding  for  its  admiss^jon  as>t  State^  It  w^s  adit^itted  into  the 
Un,ion  ^ay  k^,  1858.  In  18^  i^  had  a  poputationQ^  172,033, 
tj^eral  l).  H,  Sibley,  one  of  its  pioneer  settlers,  w^s  its  lirsjt 
State  Governor,  and  was  succeeded  in  1860  i>y  (joverrio'r  Ram- 
sey.    In  1862  occurred  the  Sioux  massacre,  to  which  we  have 


Ki*.  *»win»w..  -r^u-  -5:-  T^  ' 


uthari  Carver,  a 
'esota  extending 
«  of  the  Missis- 
States  as  a  part 
f  land  was  pur- 
Croix  river,  in- 
r  at  the  mouth 
of  St.  Anthony, 
small  grist  mill 
r  the  use  of  the 
iamboat  visited 
'plony  of  Swiss 
!ast  of  the  Mis- 
settlement  was 
Ut  of  Congress 
ssed  March  3, 
Wiflg  June.     It 
d  nearly  all  of 
een  4,000  and 
g  between  the 
except  the  res- 
e  commenced, 
ral  impression 
crops.      Gov- 
now    United 
me  tp  Wash- 
n  and   wheat 
»ed  Oif  trying 
that  anything 
be   Territory 
^^np  pn  the 
eiijabhng  a^t, 
itted  into  the 
^Q^I;2,053, 
w^s  its  firs^ 
pernor  kavn- 
ich  we  have 


HISTOK.KAI  NOTBS. 


9«7 


already  alluded.  Nearly  a  thousand  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
State  were  subjected  to  the  most  cruel  outrages  and  butchered 
in  cold  blood.  It  seemed  at  first  that  this  would  paralyze  the 
young  State,  and  prevent  its  growth  for  a  long  time.  Dut  it  had 
just  the  contrary  effect.  The  summary  and  terrible  punishment 
inflicted  on  the  Sioux  for  their  atrocious  crimes  and  their  prompt 
ej^tmcnt  from  the  State,  encouraged  immigration,  and  in  the 
eiji^hteen  years  which  have  since  elapsed,  the  State  has  grown 
with  wonderful  rapidity.  The  railroad  controversy,  involvii^g 
tlie  power  of  the  Static  to  limit  and  reduce  tlie  charges  for  freight, 
to  which  all  the  States  pf  the  Northwest  were  in  a  greater 
or  b:ss  degree  parl;lcipant$,  was  less  severe  or  protracted  io 
Minnesota  than  in  some  of  the  other  States,  and  was  amicably 
se^^ded.  In  th^  extent  and  fertility  of  her  soil ;  in  tlie  cheapnc9s 
of  choice  lands,  whether  purcha^d  from  the  United  States,  the 
State  or  the  railways ;  in  the  accessibility  of  every  settled  county 
of  the  State  to  the  best  markets,  thereby  securing  high  prices  for 
her  products ;  in  h€;r  abundant  water  and  all  the  facilities  for  sue- 
cessful  manufacturing ;  in  the  .Q;xceUence  of  her  educational 
sy^jtem  and  its  expansion  over  the  whole  State,  and  in  the  moral 
and  reUgious  character  of  iit9  inhabitants,,  the  immigrant  will  find 
Minnesota,  as  a  home  for  himself  and  his  children,  vnsurpasscd 
by  any  State  or  Territory  in  "Our  Western  Empire."  ;    .. 


\\,]  \>>>  .\\ 


!"^««fid-j  :>ift  A3?.  '(•>!» 


.  i  1 J    I  ■ 


li:irbf.mr6V>1  oirti  bdbtv  CHAPTER  XII.      ^^>^^^  ^ 


ijsirbfiftrr'i 


.^>. 


(ToiJifx^  rx^T'   .y-:£i.>riir'»'5   n 


III   111 
^'.!i>rjToij 


KfHoimr'B  SmutioM,  BatmiMites  kkd  EkTEWt  dV'£.Ai^^e  ani!>  ij&^kH- 

j^TUJOK— FaCSQF  -J^E  CoVJJTRV^MoVMTAiNS  AN®   HlLWr-^VALLEYS — RiTBRt 
J  AND    t.AK!$S— GeQLOQY    ANP    MllfPMLOCV— ECONOMIC    ^jtlNfRALS — LEADrt^ 

' '  Zinc — Copper  —  Iron—  Coai^  —  Baryta— Cabinet  Minerals — Buii,ding 

''■'  MAtERIAtS— MiNBRAL  SpRINGS— ZoOLOGY — CliMATE — METEOROLOGY — SOIL 

lErklNO  VEOBtATibM — ^AoRici/LtORAL  Products — Tables  op  Crops,  1873  mn 
^»f*79r^NotBS  OK  Tia  Crotc^Live-Stocic-^Tablbs,  i«79,  t88o— AdaptA- 


( 


l( 


JttSiHiMnii 


if 


ii' 


:- 


^8  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

Mining    Products — Railkoads — Pouilation — Notes   on    Populatiok — 
t     Counties  and  Cities— Table  or  Cities — St.  Louis — Kansas  City — Lands 
roR  Immigrants — Immigration  in  the  Past— Why  it  has  largely  passed 
'    by  Missouri — The  State  now  a  Desirahle  One  for  Immirkants — Educa- 
'     TiONAL  Advantages — Public  Schools — Normal  Schoois — Universities- 
Colleges  and  Phokessional  Schools — Special  Institutions — Religious 
y    Denominations  and  Churches — Historical  Dates. 

Missouri  is  one  of  the  central  belt  of  the  States  of  "Our 
Western  Empire,"  having  the  Mississippi  for  its  eastern  bound- 
ary, and  the  Missouri  in  part  for  its  western.  It  extends  (includ- 
ing a  small  tract  lying  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  St.  Francis 
rivers)  from  the  parallel  of  36**  to  that  of  40"  30'  north  latitude, 
and  from  the  meridian  of  89**  2'  to  that  of  95®  44'  west  longitude 
from  Greenwich.  Its  greatest  length  from  north  to  south  is  about 
309  miles;  its  greatest  breadth  from  east  to  west  318  miles,  and  its 
average  breadth  about  244  miles.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Iowa,  the  parallel  of  40**  30'  forming  the  divic'i ng  !■ '  from  the 
Missouri  river  to  the  Des  Moines,  and  thence  duwi.  tne  channel 
of  that  river  to  the  Mississippi ;  on  the  east  it  is  bounded  by  the 
Mississippi  river,  which  separates  it  from  Illinois,  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee ;  south  by  Arkansas,  on  the  line  of  36''  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  the  St  Francis  river  and  from  the  St.  Francis  to  thie 
meridian  of  94"  38',  the  parallel  of  36"  30' ;  on  the  west  by  the 
Indian  Territory,  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  following  the  meridiart 
of  94**  38',  from  the  Arkansas  line  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas 
rivec  and  from  that  point  to  the  parallel  of  40**  30^,  the  channel 
of  the  Missouri  river.  Its  area  is  65,370  square  miles,  or  41,- 
836,931  acres,  the  whole  of  which  has  been  surveyed. 

Face  of  the  Country, — ^The  Stat(i  vi  divided  into  two  unequal 
portions  by  the  Missouri  river,  which  crosses  it  from  wei.'  >.<> 
east,  and  also  forms  its  northwestern  boundary.  The  portion 
80utl>  of  the  Missouri,  which  forms  about  two-thirds  of  the  terri- 
tory of  the  State,  has  a  very  varied  surface.  In  the  southeast, 
the  regrion  lying  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  St.  Francis 
rivers,  as  far  north  as  near  the  parallel  of  Cape  Girardeau,  is 
very  low  and  swampy  and  subject  to  frequent  overflow  by  the 
Mississippi  and  its  tributaries.  This  comprises  all  the  land  lying 
ofi^postte  to  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  and  most  of  Alexander  county, 


^<t 


ifffifiltfiiliiiiiil 


A.r«sft:  »tf^iib.A:AJt^. 


■^.     *.*.f-i..,- 


I 


POPUUTIOK— 

s  City— Lands 

ARGELY  PASSED 
lANTS— EdUCA- 

Universities— 
MS — Religious 

w  of  "Our 
tern  bound- 
nds  (includ- 
5  St.  Frands 
th  latitude, 
Jt  longitude 
uth  is  about 
liles,  and  its 
n  the  north 
"  from  the 
ne  channel 
ided  by  the 
Intucky  and 
m  the  Mis- 
incis  to  the 
rest  by  the 
B  meridiart 
he  Kansas 
he  channel 
les,  or  41,- 

«...  J 

o  une  ;uil 
n  we^  ^  t>) 
le  port! an 
the  tern- 
southeast, 
t.  Francis 
irdeau,  is 
w  by  the 
ind  lying 
r  county, 


FACS  QF   THF  COUNTRY.  j^ 

Illtnois.  Above  ihis,  n  little  below  Cape  Girardeau,  the  highland 
bluffs  Qommenoe,  and  extend  up  to  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri' 
Between  St  Genevieve  z^nd  the  mouth  of  the  Meramec  these 
bluffs,  which  are  solid  masses  of  limestone,  rise  from  250  to  36Q 
jf«et  above  tlie  river,  and  extend  we^twa/d  across  the  State,  but 
arie  less  precipitous  and  fugged  as  i^ey  approadi  the  Oiage 
river.  In  the  south  and  southwestern  portion  of  the  State,  thp 
Ocark  mountain),  Qr.  rathfsir.  >hil)».  occupy  a  oonsuderable  portion 
oif  the  country;  ihey  form  no  oontinuous  or  systematic  ranges, 
but  render  the  whole  region  exceedingly  broken  and  hilly,  the 
isolated  peaks  and  rounded  isuofunits  {jnUUs  they  would  be  called 
farther  west)  sometirnQs  rising  from  500  to  1,000  feet  above  their 
bas^s,  and  then  sinking  into  very  beautiful  and  often  very  fertile 
valleys.  Though  not  distinctly  defined,  the  general  course  of 
this  hilly  region  is  slightly  north  of  east  from  the  southeastern 
border  of  Kansas^  where  \i  enters  the  State  to  the  Mississip^^i 
riv^r.  iBegiDDJng  as  a  broad  arable  plateau,  it  slopes  gently  tp 
tike  water  courses  o»  (either  side,  and  with  fine  farming  lands  even 
on  its  highest  levels-  For  ome-ithird  of  the  distance  across  the 
State  it  possesses  no  ohaiiacteristic  of  a  mountain  range,  and 
from  dience  as  it  extends  eastwardly  its  ridges  become  gradually 
more  irregular  and  pracipitous.  until  near  the  centre  of  the  range 
they  beg^in  to  break  up  into  A  series  of  knobs  and  hills,  whioh 
finally  attain  their  higl^at  eleviition  at  Iron  Mountain  and  Pilot 
Knob,  in  the  (eastern, portion )Of  ,the  State.  Tlie  numerous  riyer 
botDpms  formed  iby  the  tributaries  of  the  Osage  ,and  Missouri 
rivers lare  generally  fertile,  but  most  of  them  are  subject  to  over- 
Q^m,  Farther  noriih,  in  the  ba«in  of  the  Osage  and  above  it,  ithe 
land  is  mostly  rolling  iprairie  with  0(t;easional  forests;  the  imme- 
diaitie  valley  of  the  Missouri  i«  a  fich  aUuvial  valley  of  great 
fertility,  and  ahoooding  in  forrest  trees  of  magnificent  size  and 
oircup*fe»£nce.i>i«{  bfii?  >!  li.l  3^jf.»0  i»ji  dJiW  ivmvx  filw'  ,.>n^)  briA 
:)JiiNorthof  the  Miaspnri  ihe^ountry  is  generally  either  rolling 
Or  level  ,prairie,)$hough  with  considerable  tracts  of  timber;  it  forms 
a^rt  of  that  gr«aj(i)e4;  of  the  preliistoric  lake  more  than  500 
miles  from  shore  ^O'Shoret  thtrough  which  the  Missouri  formerly 
jfl^wedi^and  wMclliadUfdediJllNe  grmter.paet  ofJowaiand  ^astom 


% 


11 


M 


930 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


Nebraska,  and  its  surface  soils,  for  many  feet  in  depth,  are  com- 
posed of  loess  or  silty  deposits ;  the  tributaries  of  both  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Missouri  have  worn  deep  channels  through  the  rocks, 
and  the  valleys  of  erosion  thus  made,  as  well  as  the  surface  and 
soil  of  this  entire  region  north  of  the  Missouri,  are  very  similar 
to  those  of  Iowa.  The  river  bottoms  are  exceedingly  rich  and 
productive. 

Rivers  and  Lakes. — The  Mississippi  river  forms  the  entire  east- 
ern boundary  of  the  State,  for  a  distance  of  540  miles.  The 
Missouri  river  flows  along  its  western  boundary,  separating  it 
from  the  States  of  Nebraska  and  Kansas,  for  a  distance  of  250 
miles,  and  then  liows  eastwardly  entirely  across  the  State,  until  it 
joins  the  Mississippi  upon  the  eastern  boundary,  twenty  miles 
above  St.  Louis,  a  distance  of  450  miles ;  thus  giving  the  State  a 
shore  line  upon  these  two  great  inland  arteries  of  commerce  of 
upwards  of  1,550  miles.  The  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi  on 
its  west  bank  in  this  State  are,  with  the  exception  of  the  Mis- 
souri, mosdy  small  and  of  no  great  importance.  The  St.  Francis 
and  its  largest  tributary,  the  Little  river,  as  well  as  the  White  with 
its  numerousbranches,forks,and  its  tributaries,  the  Black,  Current, 
Paint  and  Spring  rivers,  all  belong  to  Arkansas,  and  enter  the  Mis- 
sissippi in  that  State.  The  Meramec  and  its  principal  tributary,  the 
Big  river,  is  the  only  considerable  affluent  of  the  Mississippi  in  the 
State  south  of  the  Missouri.  North  of  that  river.  Salt  river  is  the 
largest  affluent,  but  the  Cuivre  or  Copper  river.  North  river. 
South,  Middle  and  North  Fabius,  Wyaconda  and  Fox  rivers,  are 
streams  of  considerable  size.  The  Missouri  receives  numerous 
large  affluents  in  the  State.  On  the  south  side  are  the  Lamine 
river,  the  Osage  (a  large  and  beautiful  stream),  with  its  tributa- 
ries, the  Little  Osage,  Marmiton,  Sac  river.  Grand  river,  Pomme 
de  Terre,  Big  and  Litde  Niangua,  Auglaize,  and  Marie's  creek ; 
and  Gasconade  river,  with  its  Osage,  Lick  and  Piney  Forks.  On 
the  north  side  there  are  the  Nishnabatona,  the  Big  and  Little 
Tarkio,  Nodaway,  Platte,  Grand  (with  fourteen  considerable  trib- 
utaries), Chariton  (with  seven  or  eight),  Rocher  Perch6,  Cedar, 
Muddy  and  L'Outre  creeks.  In  the  southwest  the  Neosho,  an 
>ttffluent  of  the  Arkansas,  with  its  tributaries,  drains  six  or  eight 


HI  t^nim*mmmitMj 


riraua^c^v^- J^l^xlxz:^::: 


CROLOGY  AND  MINERALOGY. 


93 » 


epth,  are  com- 
both  the  Mis- 
)ugh  the  rocks, 
he  surface  and 
'e  very  similar 
ingly  rich  and 

the  entire  east- 
o  miles.     The 
separating  it 
istance  of  250 
e  State,  until  it 
',  twenty  miles 
ng  the  State  a 
"  commerce  of 
Mississippi  on 
n  of  the  Mis- 
"he  St.  Francis 
the  White  with 
Black,  Current, 
entertheMis- 
il  tributary,  the 
ississippi  in  the 
alt  rivtr  is  the 
r,  North  river, 
^ox  rivers,  are 
ives  numerous 
re  the  Lamine 
th  its  tributa- 
river,  Pomme 
Vlarie's  creek ; 
y  Forks.     On 
)ig  and  Little 
siderable  trib- 
^erch6,  Cedar, 
te  Neosho,  an 
)  six  or  eight 


counties.  Wherever  the  Great  American  Desert  may  be,  it  is 
certain  that  no  part  of  it  is  in  a  State  whose  every  county  is  so 
abundantly  watered  by  large  and  small  streams  as  Missouri. 
There  are  comparatively  few  lakes  in  the  .State.  In  the  southeast 
there  are  extensive  swamps,  overflowed  at  seasons  of  high  water 
like  those  on  the  Adantic  coast.  In  St.  Charles  county,  between 
the  Missouri  and  the  Mississippi,  there  are  a  number  of  small 
lakes.  In  the  northwestern  part  of  the  State,  in  Platte,  Buchanan 
and  Holt  counties,  there  arc  several  lakes  of  considerable  size. 
The  Missouri,  as  well  as  the  Mississippi,  at  times  widens  into  a 
wide  expanse  of  water  dotted  with  islands.  ' 

Geofoj^y  and  Mineralogy  — ^The  geology  of  Missouri  may  be 
briefly  summed  up  as  follows:  i.  Quaternary  (alluvium,  bluff, and 
drift  or  loess)  deposits,  found  m  greater  or  less  degree  all  over  the 
State,  but  especially  deep  and  thick  in  the  southeastern  counties, 
Ripley,  Butler,  Dunklin,  Pemiscot,  New  Madrid,  Mississippi, 
Scott,  Stoddard,  and  portions  of  Carter,  Wayne  and  Bollinger, 
as  well  as  through  the  immediate  valley  or  bottom  lands  of  the 
Missouri,  to  the  point  in  the  northwest  at  which  it  enters  the 
State.  There  are  no  tertiary,  cretaceous,  triassic  or  Jurassic 
groups  in  the  State,  but  we  come  belcw  the  quaternary  immedi- 
ately upon — 2.  The  upper  carboniferous,  which  with — 3.  The 
lower  carboniferous,  covers  23,000  square  miles  of  the  State. 
There  are  in  these  two  formations,  the  upper,  middle  and  lower 
coal,  and  the  Clear  creek  sandstone  of  the  upper  carboniferous, 
and  six  successive  deposits  of  the  lower  carboniferous,  com- 
prising an  unclassified  sandstone,  and  the  St.  Louis,  Keokuk  and 
Chouteau  groups  of  limestones  and  sandstones,  most  of  them 
rich  in  fossils.  TTiis  great  coal  field  occupies  in  general  the 
western,  northwestern  and  northern  portions  of  the  State. 

Next  in  order,  and  for  the  most  part  immediately  adjacent  to 
the  coal  measures,  are — 4.  Three  considerable  tracts  of  Devonian 
rocks,  one  in  the  southwest,  another  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
the  State,  and  the  third  a  narrow  belt  which  follows  the  eastern 
edge  of  the  carboniferous  deposits  in  all  their  devious  lines,  and 
extends  southeast  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of  St.  Louis.  The 
only  strictly  Devonian  rocks  in  the  State  are  the  Hamilton  and 
Onondaga  groups,  both  ittainly  limestones.  ':>><" 4  nofU.mf.vlKffjn 


I 


■  **! 


I    'f 


''"■'  ^'i,.,..\ 


'.\il^-\s^^  .'..o;  ■ 


932 


OUX    WESTRRf/  EMPIRE. 


■■■  5.  The  upper  and  lower  Silurian  formations  cotne  next  in 
order ;  they  occupy  a  tract  almost  200  milen  in  width,  and  ex- 
tending from  the  Missouri  river  to  the  southern  line  of  the  State, 
and  nlso  qxo^  out  in  the  immediate  bottom  lands  of  the  MiAsis- 
sippi  above  the  mouth  of  the  MiBsouri.  The  groups  of  the  upper 
Silurian  found  here  are  Oriskany  sandstone,  lower  Helderberg  or 
Delthyris  shale,  Niagara  group,  and  Cftpe  Girardeau  limestone. 
'Of  the  lower  Silurian  formation  there «re  three  groups  belonging 
to  tlie  Trenton  period,  viz. :  The  Cincinnati,  Galena  and  TVcnton 
groups,  composed  mainly  of  shales  and  limestones ;  and  three 
groups  of  the  magnesian  limestone  senes,  consisting  of  mag 
nesian  limestones,  saccharoidal  and  other  sandstones,  and  Pots- 
dam limestones,  sanditones  and  conglomerates. 

6.  Below  these,  around  the  head  waters  of  the  affluents  of  the 
St.  Francis  and  White  rivers,  there  are  frequent  outcrops  of  eozoic 
or  archaic  rocks — greenstone,  porphyry  and  granite.  Much  of 
the  limestone  of  the  coal  measures,  as  well  as  some  of  the  other 
formations,  is  cavernous,  and  there  are  nutnerous  caves  of  great 
extent  and  beauty  in  the  central  and  western  portions  of  the 
State. 

Missouri  has  a  great  variety  of  minerals,  and  in  those  of 
greatest  economic  value  is  hardly  surpassed  by  any  State  or 
Territory  of  "  Our  Western  Empire."  Gold  has  thus  far  been 
discovered  only  in  the  drift  in  Northern  Missouri  in  placers  over»> 
lying  the  coal  measures,  and  therefore  without  hope  of  veins  or 
lodes ;  these  plscers  are,  as  they  are  situated,  too  lean,  for  profit- 
able working,  yielding  only  from  thirteen  cents  to  $3.51  per  ton. 
$Uver  has  been  diligently  sought  in  the  lead  ores  which  abound 
in  the  State,  but  they  are  not,  to  any  profitt»ble  extent,  r&ilver- 
bearing.  In  August,  i  S791,  argentiferous  g«lena  was  discovered 
inthe  eozoic  rocks  in  Madison  county,  one  of  the  eastern  coun- 
ties of  the  State,  about  twelve  miles  east  of  Ironton,and  iperhaps 
fifteen  miles  southeast  of  Pilot  Knob.  What  is  the  fvalue  of  these 
lodes  is  not  stated,  but  theyiare  suiiioiently  ricb  to  have  drawn 
about  twenty  companies  there,  who  are  now  at  work,i  and  are 
very  sanguine  chat  these  lodes  also  contain  gold  and  platinum. 
The  iirst  ^tempts  to  reduce  the  ores  wer^  ^raadei  by  the  jret 
amalgamation  process,.»iHi  not: b^r smelting* » I .  .jikji;,.  u^^yU\o\\0 


%^ 


W»i-->S'-  ^WV-V^vJW*,  I^-ir.^SW^i'X-^ililfc*'.' 


METALS  AKD  METALLIC  ORES. 


933 


:<Mne  next  in 
ridth,  and  ex- 
e  of  the  State, 
the  Mi'mis- 
( of  the  upper 
ielderberg  or 
lu  limestone, 
ps  beiongif^ 
and  TVcmton 
and  three 
ting  of  mag 
s,  and  Pots 

uents  of  the 
'opsofeozoic 
e.     Much  of 

of  the  other 
ives  of  great 
rtions  of  the 

in  those  of 
^y  State  or 
hus  far  been 
placers  over> 
5  of  veins  or 
m  for  profit- 
1.5 1  per  ton. 
hich  abound 
Ktent,  silver- 
»  discovered 
astern  coim- 
and  iperhaps 
Eilue  of  these 
have  drawn 
)rik,<and  are 
d  platinum. 
hy  the  urct 
^;  fijir.fifionO 


But  if  the  precious  metals  (so  called)  have  not  hitherto  yielded 
much  wealth  to  Missouri,  her  mines  of  lead,  copper,  zinc,  and, 
above  all,  of  coal  and  iron,  have  made  ample  amends  for  any 
lack  of  the  others.  Iron  is  found  in  some  form  in  every  coimty 
in  the  State-'^bog  ores  in  SoutlK>astem  MisHouri;  limonite,  or 
brown  haematite,  in  most  of  the  southern  counties:  ^oethite,  a  va- 
riety of  the  brown  ha:matite  in  Adair  couuicy ;  red  hematite 
throughout  the  coal  mea.Hu res ;  r«d  and  yellow  ochres  in  T.any 
counties;  spathic  ores  in  the  coal  measures  and  in  Phelps  county ; 
the  specular  oxide,  in  vast  masses,  such  as  the  Iron  mountain, 
Shepherd  mountain,  Pilot  Knob,  Simmon  mountain,  Iron  ridge, 
the  Meramec  mines,  in  Phelps  county,  and  num^^rous  other  de- 
posits in  eight  or  ten  other  counties ;  sulphurets  (iron  pyrites) 
throughout  the  coal  measures,  and  sulphate  of  iron  (copperas)  in 
the  coal  measures  and  abandoned  coal  mines.  Some  States  and 
Territories  have  perhaps  an  equal  abundance  of  iron  ores,  but 
lack  smelting  coals  to  reduce  them  ;  but  Missouri  has  an  abun- 
dance of  excellent  smelting  coals  and  fluxes  in  close  proximity 
to  her  beds  of  iron  ores,     '>m.i  /m  i.ur,  ./jm)"*  ih>^iim.i'    .^ 

After  iron,  lead  is  the  metal  most  largely  produced  in  Mts- 
souri,  her  product  of  that  metal  being  greater  than  that  of  all  the 
rest  of  the  United  States.  Our  latest  complete  statistics  of  the 
lead  produced  in  the  State  are  for  1879,  when  the  St.  Louis  Mer- 
chants' Exchange  reported  a  production  of  56,868,960  pounds. 
This  waa  a  very  decided  falling  off  from  the  product  of  1878, 
which  was  60,348,560  pounds,  and  still  more  from  that  of  1877, 
ivluch  was  63,202,340  pounds.  About  one-third  of  the  whole 
uas  exported.  The  consumption  as  well  as  the  production  of 
lead  has  Urgely  increased  within  the  past  five  years,  and  while 
Colorado,  Montana,  Utah,  Nevada  and  California  are  sending 
into  market  large  amounts  of  lead  parted  from  silver,  and  New 
Mexico  and  Arizona  are  preparing  to  do  the  sam«,  the  produc- 
tion in  Misisourit  Iowa  and  Kansas  has  also  increased  and  kept 
pace  with  them.  There  are  two  great  lead  fields — one  in  South- 
eastern and  the  other  in  Southwestern  Missouri.  It  is  also 
found  in  smajler  quantities  in  many  counties  outside  of  these  lead 
fields ;  gaJeoa,  or  sulphuret  of  lead,  and  cenissite,  or  the  carbon- 


wm" 


.-^jiiiSiweieaaaWBK'-' 


934 


OVK    WMSTKMff  EMPiMK.  .V 


ate,  are  the  principal  ores,  thouf;;h  some  deposits  of  the  phosphate 
(pyromorphite)  are  found.  Zinc  in  the  form  of  bhmde  is  abun- 
dant in  the  same  regions  as  the  lead — in  Southeastern  and  South- 
western Missouri,  and  the  silicates  and  carbonates,  also,  while 
zinc  bloom  sometimes  occurs.  The  production  of  zinc  in  Missouri 
is  about  one-third  of  that  in  the  entire  United  States,  and  is  ex- 
ceeded only  by  that  of  Illinois.  Copper  in  the  form  of  blue  and 
green  carbonates  (malachite)  and  sulphurets,  is  found  in  large 
quantities  in  Shannon,  Crawford,  Jefferson,  Franklin  and  Madison 
counties,  and  in  smaller  quantities  in  a  dozen  other  counties 
For  many  years  copper  mining  was  successfully  carried  on  in  the 
State,  and  even  now  small  quantities  are  produced ;  but  the  yield 
of  copper  in  the  ores  ranges  only  from  twenty-two  to  twenty-six 
per  cent,  and  the  Lake  Superior  ores  are  so  much  richer,  and 
their  mines  contain  so  much  native  copper  as  to  render  the  busi- 
ness generally  unprofitable.  The  sulphate  of  cadmium  (greenock- 
ite)  is  associated  with  the  zinc  blende  in  many  of  the  mines. 
Ntck(  1  and  cobalt  are  found  in  paying  quantities  at  Mine  La 
Motte,  in  Madison  county,  and  in  the  St.  Joseph  mines,  and  the 
beautiful  hair-like  crystals  of  sulphuret  of  nickel  (Millerite)  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Louis.  Wolfram  occurs  in  Madison  county,  and 
manganese  and  manganiferous  iron  in  Iron  and  other  counties. 
Of  minerals,  not  ores,  there  is  a  great  variety ;  carbonate  of 
lime  (c  \lcite),  arragonite,  pearl  spar,  fluor  spar,  quartz  in  all 
forms;  heavy  spar  (sulphate  of  baryta),  mainly  used  in  the  adul- 
teration of  white  lead ;  gypsum,  mainly  in  the  form  of  selenite ; 
pickeringite,  feldspar,  mica,  hornblende,  asbestos,  bitumen  or  min- 
eral tar  (througnout  the  coal  measures),  fire-clay,  potter's  clay 
and  kaoljn ;  an  excellent  glass  sand  from  the  saccharoidal  lime- 
stone ;  lime  of  several  qualities ;  hydraulic  lime  and  cement ;  pol- 
ishing stone,  saltpetre,  building  stones  of  granite,  sandstones, 
limestones  and  marbles,  grindstones,  millstones,  slates,  and  numer-'  " 
ous  fine  varieties  of  colored  marbles  are  the  principal  of  these.  ' 
But  of  all  the  minerals  not  metallic,  coal  is  the  most  important  in  ( 
Missouri.  The  coal  fields  underlie  an  area  of  about  a6,ooo  square  ^ 
miles  in  the  State.  The  coal  includes  deposits  belonging  to  the  ^ 
upper,  middle  and  lower  coal  measures,  and  is  of  various  quali-  ^ 


mm 


ZO'dlOCY  AND  CLIMATE. 


93$ 


he  phosphatr 
•nde  iH  abun- 
rn  and  South- 
B8,  also,  while 
'cin  Missouri 
e»,  and  is  ex- 
II  of  blue  and 
und  in  lar^e 
and  Madison 
ler  counties 
■ied  on  In  the 
but  the  yield 
to  tiventy.six 
1  richer,  and 
der  the  busi- 
n  (greenock- 
f  the  mines, 
at  Mine  La 
nes,  and  the 
erite)  in  the 
I  county,  and 
ir  counties, 
arbonate  of 
uart2  in  all 
in  the  adul- 
of  selenite ; 
fnen  or  min- 
otter's  clay 
^idal  lime- 
iment ;  pol*^^ 
sandstones, 
ind  numer*'* " 
J  of  these.  ^ 
iportant  in  I 
xx)  square^ 
r»ngtothe^ 
ous  quali- 


ties,  some  being  common  bituminous,  some  very  rich  in  carbon, 
and  developing  excellent  renults  under  the  coking  process,  while 
some  will  not  coke;  some  is  equal  in  (luality  to  tin:  Liverpool 
(;ann<  I  coal.  The  percentage  of  fixed  carbon  vari«s  from  thirty 
to  sixty  per  cent.,  the  average  being  not  far  from  tilly  per  cent 
Among  the  coal  beds  already  worked  are  many  which  produce 
excellent  smelting  coals,  though  perhaps  a  larger  number  yield 
a  coal  better  adapted  to  the  use  of  locomotives  and  stationary 
engines.  The  coal  mines  are  usually  easily  worked,  and  do  not 
require  deep  shafts  or  expensive  machinery,  and  coal  is  very 
cheap.  There  are  many  mineral  springs  in  the  .State,  sulphurous, 
saline  and  chalybeate,  but  none  of  national  reputation.  I'here 
are  also  brine  springs  in  Howard  county,  which  yield  from  two 
to  three  ounces  of  very  pure  salt  to  the  gallon. 

Zoology. — Having  extensive  forests,  Missouri  has  an  abun- 
dance of  wild  animals.  They  are  mosdy  those  of  the  Mississippi 
valley  and  of  the  plains.  Bears  (the  black  and  cinnamon),  cou- 
gars or  panthers,  wild  cats,  lynxes,  wolves,  both  the  gray  wolf  and 
the  coyote,  foxes,  raccoons,  opossums,  skunks,  beavers,  martens, 
minks,  muskrats,  gophers,  woodchucks,  and  nearly  all  the  ro- 
dents and  burrowing  animals.  The  buffalo  and  the  elk  have 
disappeared  from  Missouri,  though  they  were  formerly  abundant 
there  ;  but  there  are  two  species  of  deer,  antelopes  rare),  rabbits 
and  hares.  Wild  turkeys,  quails,  pigeons,  partridges,  prairie 
hens  (though  these  are  not  as  numerous  as  formerly),  and  other 
grouse  exist  in  great  abundance.  The  birds  of  prey,  eagles,  vul- 
tures, hawks,  owls,  etc.,  destroy  great  numbers  of  game  birds  and 
rodents ;  wild  geese,  ducks,  brant,  teal  and  snipe  are  found  in 
their  season  on  the  rivers  and  in  the  marshes,  and  with  them 
herons,  swans,  divers,  and  more  rarely  ibises.  Snakes,  lizards, 
frogs,  toads,  turtles,  etc.,  are  numerous.  •*   , 

Climate. — The  climate  of  Missouri  is  generally  healthy,  except 
in  the  river  bottoms  and  the  marshy  districts  of  the  southeast ; 
but  it  is  a  climate  of  frequent  changes  and  of  great  extremes. 
The  months  of  July  and  August  are  marked  by  extreme  heat,  and 
there  are  periods  of  equally  intense  cold  in  January  and  Feb- 
ruary. The  autumn  and  spring  are  very  mild  and  pleasant, 
though  with  occasional  days  of  intense  cold  or  heat  ^   ^ 


1.' 


ova   WKSr/itN  AA/r/MM. 


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ii 


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: 


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:::::::::  .:::j;:j       ::::: 


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Pllf^pp 

lililiiijliiiiii 


>th 


I 


-'l.»ll»<  i  ■  i  t — 1« 


•  •—  *■♦■«  »#-» 


.'Il 


METMOHOLOGV  Of  msSOVHt, 


937 


\ 


t    '  f   Mi   t|l 

a —  ♦J 


SJJJi 


1^^  ,1' 


Id 


.;/ 


i 


Wc  give  b«lcm  the  following  additional  ilfm*  in  rcfurd  to  th«  OMtcoffologjr 
of  Ut.  Luum,  ukan  from  ihc  bignal  ikrvic*  lUportt. 


MoVTN* 

ati. 

w 

pi 

i'L 

Per  rem, 
66.4 
65. » 
5** 

55  5 

63.1  • 
60.8 
6a. 9 
*4.* 

n 

61 7 

74.0 

6J.6 

1 

\ 

Mill  munili 

\  - 

I   '  , 

hmiary 

February 

March 

May 

tnctla. 
19.4^1 
a936' 
»9J53 
a9.ioi 

a9.j66 
*9  398 
•937» 
'9503 
»9-475 
89  4*7 
a9.s6a 

19.47* 

Incheii. 

1.69 

a.  79 
*.74 

4^*3 

a,  40 

39» 
4  75 
34J 
3»7 
i.J« 
J-48 
40.8i 

N.  W.,S.,  W.,  N.,  E. 

N..S.,N.  \V..N.  K..S.E. 

S.,N,  W,,  S.  K.,  VV.,  N. 
S.  R.|  N.,  N.  W.,  8.,  8.  W. 
8.,N.  W.,N.,S.  K.,N.  K. 
S,,N..S.E.,N.W.,W..N.K. 

9.,  N,  N.  K.,  K..  H.  W. 
S..N.,S.  W.,N.W.,N.E. 

S.,  N.,S.  K.,  K.,  N.  W. 

9..  N..  N.  W.,  W. 
8.,N.W.,W.,N.,S.E.,N.E. 
W.,N,W.,b.K.,N.,S.,E. 
S.,N.W.,N.,S.li.,W.,N.E.,E. 

,    '^ 

June 

1  Joir 

/*"/ • 

A«gU!it..M.... 
Septcinl)cr ... 

Ortob«;r 

Nuvembcr.... 
Decerabcr . ... 
Yew 

Accordmf  to  a  well-ktiown  authority.  Dr.  Engteman,  of  St. 
Louis,  the  mean  annual  temperature  on  a  line  passing  across  the 
Slate  from  east  to  west,  not  far  from  its  northern  border,  is  50* 
Fahrenheit;  a  little  south  of  the  middle,  including  St.  Louis, 
53"  Fahrenheit;  at  about  middle,  including  St.  Louis,  summer 
mean  75**  Fahrenheit;  somewhat  north  of  southern  border, 
also  including  St.  Louis,  winter  mean  33*  Fahrenheit.  The 
L')octor  states  that  the  climate  on  the  whole  is  dry  and  rarely 
overloaded  with  moisture,  and  that  it  yields  an  unusual  amount 
of  fi»ir  weather.  ' 

Scch  meteorological  conditions  are  highly  conducive  to  health, 
since  they  admit  of  and  encourage  acdre  out-door  life  at  all 
seasons.  Missouri  presents  such  a  diversity  Of  surface  that  all 
ttitx  find  localides  within  its  boundaries  suitable  to  their  peculiari- 
ties of  constitution.  The  Signal  Service  Reports  do  not  vary 
grenMy  from  Dr.  Engleman's  meteorolojjical  esitrmates,  but  they 
exhibit  one  feature  which  he  does  not  particularly  notice,  viz. : 
the  great  rawvge  of  the  thermometer  in  the  winter,  spring  and 
autumn  months.    The  annual  range  is  about  ^3* ;  the  range  of 


^tjmMlMXrtm'aPitlMSSBI^'^ 


w. 


the  ttprin)(  month*  avcragci  Ho" :  of  the  Hummer,  about  45*  ;  of 
the  autumn,  alK>ut  65* ;  anil  oi  thr  winter,  a  little  more  than  7o^ 

The  avcrajfc  rainfall  all  over  the  Stutr  '\%  40.5  inthrs,  and  con- 
trary to  the  [K)|Hilar  belief  in  );rcater  in  the  wentcrn  than  in  tho 
eautern  part  of  the  State,  bein);  46.16  at  St.  Joieph,  and  only 
37.83  in  the  same  yearn  at  JeMerson  UarraclcH,  on  the  MiHxiiiNippi. 

Soil  r.fiti  ygji^etation. —  The  Hon.  Andrew  McKinley,  I'resiilcnt 
of  the  MisHouri  State  Board  of  Immigration,  a  man  thorou)>;hly 
familiar  with  the  soils  and  productive  capacity  of  the  Miaaourt 
lands,  thus  classifies  and  describes  them :        '"j  "      ••    """"1,' ' 

"  When  the  territory  now  embraced  within  the  boundanet  of 
Missouri  emerged  from  the  waters  that  covered  it,  the  marls  of 
tho  bluff  formation  were  the  upper  stratum  beneath  the  soil,  of 
all  that  section  of  the  State  lying  north  of  the  Osage  and  Mis- 
souri rivers,  and  also  of  the  coimty  of  St.  I  .ouis  and  other  coun- 
ties lying  on  the  Mississippi  river,  to  the  southern  l)oundary  of 
the  State.  This  formation  fuirishes  a  deep  porous,  flexible  and 
imperishable  sub-soil,  that  absorbs  moisture  like  a  sponge  and 
enables  the  soil  to  endure  greater  excesses  of  rain  or  drouth 
than  any  other.  It  rests  u|)on  the  ridges  ar  -ver  bluffs  and 
descends  along  their  slopes  to  the  lowest  val  Reposing  on 

this  surface  is  a  great  variety  of  soils,  each  in  its  kind  of  unsur- 
passed fertility  and  productiveness.  From  time  to  time  animal 
remains  and  decayed  vegetable  matter,  in  vast  profusion,  but  in 
just  proportions,  were  added,  until  the  soil  formation  became 
complete,  and  now  exhibits  all  of  the  essentials  for  the  fullest 
nourishment  of  the  vegetable  kingdom.  In  the  process  of  the 
formation  of  the  upper  soil,  a  rank  vegetation  of  grasses,  plants 
and  trees  sprang  up,  which  was  suppressed  in  the  dryer  portions 
by  fires  that  overrun  the  country.  Along  the  streams,  and  where 
there  was  a  scarcity  of  vegetation,  the  fires  failed  to  destroy  the 
young  trees,  which  grew  apace  until  strong  enough  to  resist,  and 
then  they  began  to  encroach  upon  the  prairies;  this  they  con- 
tinued to  do  until  more  than  one-half  of  the  State  was  appropri- 
ated by  our  magnificent  forests. 

"  The  margins  of  the  rivers  first  received  the  most  extensive 
deposits  of  soil  matter  from  flopd^i  wbk^  carried  (JIqwa  the.w.^Aitb 


Naa 


MOtL  AND   yMOMTATiOlf. 


>Ollt  45"  ;  of 
>rc  than  70*. 
I'H.  and  con* 
than  in  tho 
)h,  ami  only 

MiiiMiHNippi. 
y.  Prrsich'ni 

ihoroujjhiy 
ic  Missouri 

)un(Jarie«  of 
the  marlR  of 

the  soil,  of 
re  and  Mis. 

other  coun- 
K)undary  of 

Mcxible  and 
sponge  and 
\  or  drouth 
r  bluffs  and 
ieposinff  on 
id  of  unsur- 
time  animal 
ision,  but  in 
:ion  became 
•  the  fullest 
xess  of  the 
isses,  plants 
rer  portions 
\,  and  where 
destroy  the 
}  resist,  and 
s  they  con- 
is  approprU 

t  extensive 
\  the  wealth 


of  the  vast  rrgionn  they  drained,  and.  upon  the  HulMiilcncc  of  the 
wutrfH,  deposited  it  un  the  lower  levels.  Luch  llood  furniHhml 
itM  nrw  Nupply,  adding  to  the  height  of  thr  lK)ttom  lan<U  until, 
after  the  lapne  ul  time,  they  brcanic.  lor  the  munt  |>art,  auflicicntly 
«;l«*vatc«l  to  l)r  above  dan|{er  of  overllow.  No  rivers  of  the  world 
can  bouHl  oi  more  cxtenitive  bottom  luniK  tlian  can  the  Missouri 
and  Missinsippi.  and  none  have  soils  will)  ingredients  richer* 
better  combined,  or  more  productive. 

*'I'or  practical  purposes,  the  best  claHsification  of  the  Hoils  of 
Missouri  is  that  adopted  by  Trofessor  Swallow,  whicli,  after  de- 
Hnin^'  thent  in  general  as  forest,  prairie  anti  alluvial  lands,  indi- 
cates their  great  variety  by  the  kind  of  timber  which  is  most 
abundant  on  them,  or,  where  timber  is  wanting,  by  the  grasses 
and  plants  of  the  prairie,  i'ollowing  this  classification  those 
known  as  llackbcrry  iMtids  are  first  in  fertility  and  productive* 
ncss.  Upon  these  lands  also  grow  eln..  wild  cherry,  honey 
locust,  hickory,  white,  black,  burr  and  chestnut  oaks,  black  and 
white  walnut,  mulberry,  linden,  ash,  poplar,  catalpa,  sassafras  and 
maple.  The  prairie  soil  of  atxjut  the  same  quality,  if  not  iden* 
tical,  are  known  as  Croi^  ^'oot  Lands,  so  called  from  a  species  of 
weed  found  upon  them,  and  these  two  soils  generally  join  each 
other  where  the  timber  and  prairie  land  meet  Both  rest  upon 
a  bed  of  fine  silicious  marls,  and  even  under  most  exhaustive 
tillage  will  prove  perpetually  fertile.  They  cover  more  Uiaa 
7,000,000  acres  of  land.  On  this  soil  white  oaks  have  been 
found  twenty-nine  feet  in  circumference  and  one  hundred  feet 
high;  linden  twenty  three  feet  in  circumference  and  quite  as 
lofty;  the  burr  oak  and  sycamore  grow  still  larger.  Prairio 
grasses,  on  the  Crow  Foot  Lands,  grow  very  rank  and  tall,  and 
by  the  old  settlers  were  said  to  entirely  conceal  herds  of  cattlo 
from  the  view.  These  lands  alone  are  capable  of  sustaining  a 
population  greater  than  that  now  occupying  the  State  of  Mis< 
souri. 

"The  Eim  Lands,  whose  name  is  derived  from  the  American 
elm,  which  here  grows  magnificently,  are  scarcely  inferior  to  the 
hackberry  lands,  and  possess  very  nearly  the  same  growth  of 
Other  timber.    The  soil  has  about  the  same  properties,  except 


,»».,■  .■-,(B>  i~~,-,i  .livrn^ 


«M0 


OUR   WB3TEfil^  EMRtnR. 


BES 


■;{. 


V. 


tliat  the  sand  is  finer  and  the  clay  more  abundant,  llic  same 
quality  of  soil  appears  in  the  prairie  known  as  the  Resin  Weed 
Lands.     '^"  "" 

"'  "  Next  in  order  are  Hickory  Lands,  with  a  growth  of  white  and 
shellbark  hickory,  black,  scaHet  and  laurel  oaks,  sugar  maple, 
persimmon  and  the  haw,  red-bud  and  crab  apple,  trees  of  smaller 
growth.  In  some  portions  of  the  State  the  tulip  tree,  beech  and 
black  gum  grow  on  lands  of  the  same  quality.  Large  areas  of 
prairie  in  the  northeast  and  southwest  have  soils  of  nearly  the 
same  quality  called  Mulatto  Soils.  There  is  also  a  soil  lying 
upon  the  red  clays  of  Southern  Missouri  similar  to  the  above. 
These  hickory  lands  and  those  described  as  assimilating  to  them, 
are  highly  esteemed  by  the  farmers  for  the  culture  of  corn,  wheat 
and  other  cereals.  They  are  admirably  adapted  to  the  culti- 
vation of  fruits,  and  their  blue  grass  pasti'-es  ''re  equal  to  any 
in  the  State.  Their  area  may  be  fairly  estimated  at  6,000,000 
acres. 

^  "The  Magnesian  Limestone  Soils  extend  from  Callaway  county 
south  to  the  Arkansas  line,  and  from  Jtflfer&on  west  to  Polk 
county,  an  area  of  about  10,000,000  acres.  These  soils  are  dark, 
^rm,  light  and  Tery  productive.  They  produce  black  and  white 
#alhut,  black  g;um,  white  and  wahoo  elms,  sugar  maple,  honey 
locust,  mulberry,  chestnut,  post  laurel,  black,  scarlet  and  Spanish 
oaks,  persimmon,  blue  ash  and  many  trees  of  smaller  growth. 
They  cover  all  the  couritry  underfaid  by  the  magnesian  lime- 
^totle  series,  but  are  ittconvfenient  for  Ordinary  dllage  when  they 
occupy  thfc  hillsides  or  narrow  valleys.  Among  the  most  fertilfc 
Sbfl*  in  the  State,  the>'  f»roduce  finfe  t^rops  of  almost  all  the  staples, 
sktid  thrifty  and  productive  fruit  trees  and  grape  vines  evince 
their  extraordinary  adaptation  and  fitness  to  the;  culture  of  the 
grape  and  other  fruits.  Large,  bold  springs  of  limpid,  pure  and 
codl  waters  gush  frbm :  eVery  hiMsidfe  atid  flow  away  in  bright 
streams,  giving  beauty  and  attraction  to  the  magnificent  forests  of 
tftte'drti,  the  oak,  tlie  murberry  and  the  buckeye,  which  often  adorn 
theii*  l!)ortters.  The  mining  rtgfons  embraced  in  this  division  of 
th^  soils  are  thus  sbppHed' With  vast  agriciiltural  wealth  and  a 
fittg^ihihfftg,  l>asttoritl  and  agr*rcultti  rat  papulation  may  here  be 


0/fA',  BLACK  JACK  AND  PfXE  LANDS. 


^« 


ITie  same 
:  Resin  IVecH 

\  of  white  and 
sugar  maple, 
ies  of  smaller 
se,  beech  and 
irge  areas  of 
of  nearly  the 
a  soil  lying 

0  the  above, 
ting  to  them, 
>f  corn,  wheat 

to  the  culti- 
equal  to  any 
at  6,000,000 

la  way  county 
wrest  to  Polk 
oils  are  dark, 
ck  and  white 
maple,  honey 
and  Spanish 
iWtr  growth. 
Tiesian  lime- 
je  when  they 
2  most  fertile 
11  the  staples, 
vines  evince 
ulttire  of  th6 
Md,  pure  and 
ay  in  bright 
^nt  forests  of 

1  often  adorn 
s  division  of 
realth  and  a 
nay  here  be 


brought  together  in  relations  scarcely  to  be  found  in  any  other 
country  in  the  world.  Blue  grass  and  other  succulent  and  nutri- 
tious grasses  grow  luxuriantly,  evon  on  the  ridges  and  hillsides 
of  the  upla'id  forests,  in  almost  every  portion  of  Southern  Mis- 
souri. The  alfnlfa  grass  {medicago  safiva),  so  highly  prized  in 
California,  has  been  introduced  into  this  part  of  Missouri,  and 
proves  a  valuable  addition  to  the  forage  grasses,  yielding  eight 
tons  of  the  best  of  hay  at  four  cuttings,  withstanding  summer 
droughts,  and  furnishing  excellent  pasture  in  October  and  No- 
vember. 

"On  the  ridges,  where  the  lighter  materials  of  the  soil  have 
been  washed  away,  or  were  originally  wanting,  While  Oak  Lands 
are  to  be  found,  the  oaks  accompanied  by  shellbark  and  blacfk 
hickory,  and  trees  and  shrubs  of  smaller  growdi.  While  the  sur- 
face soil  is  not  so  rich  as  the  hickory  lands,  the  sub-soil  is  quite 
as  good,  and  the  land  may  be  greatly  improved  by  turning  the 
sub-soil  to  the  surface.  These  produce  superior  wheat,  good 
corn  and  a  ver^  fine  quality  of  tobacco.  On  these  lands  fmtts 
are  abundant  and  a  sure  crop.  They  embrace  about  1,500,000 
acretJ.    xii J'jH   oiIj  ,,'/;> ni I b->')>    ?u   w.ui 


J.lfMVTI  4 


■<  ficnc/ 


■>m; 


"Post  Oak  Lands  have  about  the  same  growth  as  the  white  oalc 
lands,  and  produce  good  crops  of  the  staples  of  the  country,  and 
yield  the  best  tobacco  in  the  West.  Fruits  of  all  kinds  excel  dn 
this  soil.     These  lands  require  deep  culture. 

"The  Black  Jack  Za»a&  occupy  the  high  flint  ridges  undefldtd 
with  hornitone  and  sandstone,  and  «mder  these  conditions  are 
considered  the  poorest  in  the  State,  Except  for  pastures  aird 
vineyards.  Tihe  presence,  however,  of  black  jack  on  other  lands 
(^oes  not  indicate  thin  or  poor  lands.    ''-'■    '   '      Jiiji  .   j    ..n!''i- 

"Pine  Lands  Skve  extensive,  embracing^  "j^ut  «,<6i:^,tto6^  JttifHk 
The  {Mne  is  the  long  leaf  variety,  grows  to  great  size,  and  is  mar- 
ketable. It  is  accompankdi  iby  heaivy  growths  of  oak,  which  takes 
file  country  as  successorMto  the  pine*  This  soil  is  sandy,  is 
adapted  to  small  grains  &nd>  grasses,  and  carries  liertiliaers  well. 
>i,)VThe  bottom  lands  of  tihe  southeast  are  now  being  rapidly  re- 
duced to  cultivatk»n:  by  the  common  effort  of  the  lumberman  and 
_  Bcsttler.    A  morit  intensive  isysttem  of  '•  ^al^tifk  dtaitiaig^  is  ridw 


UMH 


'■i,si-^ss»iir*rHBmiie>i».aif-:.-aaiA' 


942 


OUX    WESrEKAT  EMPIRE. 


authorized  by  the  State,  and  efTective  measures  are  determined 
upon.  They  are  of  the  Hackberry  variety  of  soils,  and  bear  the 
heavi(  .t  of  timber.  The  strength  of  soils  is  such  as  to  produce 
great  crops  with  regularity,  proved  in  many  fields  by  more  than 
fifty  years  of  cultivation  without  rotation  of  crops."  ti  i'  iiuo^- 
J;,  Agricultural  Products. — In  1870  somewhat  more  than  one- 
half  the  area  of  the  State — 21,707,220  acres — was  included  in 
farn>$,  of  which,  however,  only  9,130,615  acres  were  under  culti- 
vation ;  within  the  last  decade,  the  amount  of  improved  lands  has 
greatly  increased.  The  culture  of  the  grape  and  the  production 
pf  wine  has  been  largely  developed,  and  the  vineyards  of  Mis- 
souri are  favorably  known.  The  State  possesses  some  advan- 
tages for  the  production  of  excellent  wines,  which  are  not  sur- 
passed by  those  of  any  other  State  in  the  Union,  and  not  equalled 
by  any  except  California.  Two  classes  of  grapes — those  which 
produce  the  best  wines— the  /EsHvcUis  or  summer  grapes,  and 
the  Ripara  or  river  grapes,  attain  their  greatest  perfection  on  her 
soil ;  and  many  of  the  best  varieties  of  these  are  either  native 
Missouri  grapes  or  seedlings  from  them.  Of  the  ^stivalis  class 
the  "  Norton's  Virginia "  and  its  seedlings,  the  Hermann  and 
the  White  Hermann,  the  Cynthiana,  a  grape  of  wonderful  ex- 
cellence, and  the  Neosho,  a  native  grape,  produce  the  finest  red 
wines,  Burgundies,  sherries,  clarets  and  white  wines,  in  the  world. 
Of  the  river  grapes,  the  Taylor,  and  especially  its  seedlings,  the 
l^mous  Elvira,  the,  Amber,  the  Pearl  and  others,  are  of  the  great- 

•  .^st  value  for  the  production  of  the  choicest  hocks,  still  wines  and 
f^9|iampagnes.     Most  of  these,  also,  are  very  fine  table-grapes.    A 
^pide  field  is  open  |o.  the  State  and  to  immigrants  from  wine- 
growing countries  for  the   production   of  pure   wines  of  the 
highest  qualities.     There  are  six  native  varieties  of  grapes,  and 
^hey  are  ^11,  so  far  as  known,  proof  against  the  phylloxera,  that 
deadly  enemy  of  the  grape-vine.    Among  other  special  crops  are 
;,forghum,  now  largely  cultivated,  both  for  sugar  and  syrup ;  flax 

i>and  hemp,  both  for  fiibre  and  seed ;  cotton  and  sweet  potatoes  in 

the  southern  counties,  hof^i  and  the  larger  fruits.     Apiaculture 

jj^,  al^o  very  pppular  in  some  portions  of  the  State,  and  large 

%jmantities  of  hon^yftnd  beeswaot  are  exported;    The  following 


tm 


CROPS  AND  STOCK- XMtSIXG  iN  MISSOURI. 


943 


•e  determined 
,  and  bear  the 
as  to  produce 
by  more  than 

ir 

ore  than  one- 
is  included  in 
re  under  culti- 
>ved  lands  has 
he  production 
'yards  of  Mis- 
»  some  advan- 
i  are  not  sur- 
d  not  equalled 
i — those  which 
if  grapes,  and 
rfection  on  her 
;  either  native 
'^stivalis  class 
Hermann  and 
wonderful  ex- 
:  the  finest  red. 
s,  in  the  world, 
seedlings,  the 
e  of  the  great- 
still  wines  and 
ale-grapes.    A 
ts  from  wine- 
wines  of  the 
)f  grapes,  and 
hylloxera,  that 
Bcial  crops  are 
id  syrup ;   flax 
et  potatoes  in 
Apiaculture 
ate,  and  large 
The  following 


tables  show  the  production  of  agricultural  staples  in  the  years 
1878  and  1879,  and  also  the  amount  of  live-stock,  which  is  a 
large  and  rapidly  increasing  interest  in  Missouri ; 


.  f  n . 


Qopt,  1878. 


Indian  corn,  bu. 

Wheat,  bu 

Rye,  bu 

OatH,  bu 

Buckwheat,  bu. . 
Poiatocf ,  bu . . . . 
Tobacco,  pound. 
Hay,  ton 


Totals . 


Quantity  prO' 
ducedini878. 


93,062,400 

30,196,000 

732.000 

19,584.000 

46400 

5,415.000 

33,023,000 

1,620,000 


Avera({e 

yield  pel' 

acre. 


36.3 
II. 

30.6 
16. 

75- 
770. 
1.63 


No.  of  acre* 
in  each  crop. 


3,553,000 

1,836,000 

48,800 

640,000 

3,900 

73,200 

29,900 

1,000,000 


7,181,800 


huK  iSiInd'    V«lueof 
or  ton.       i  "«'•  ""P- 


$  .36 

.67 

•41 
.18 

•5* 

■38 

•OS 

6.43 


124,196,224 

•J.53>.Jio 
300,120 

3.5aS.>20 

24,128 

2,057,700 

1,151,150 

10,416,600 


'J5  5,202,363 


Crops,  1879. 


Indian  corn,  bu. . 

Wheat,  bu 

Rye,  bu 

Oats,  bu 

Buckwheat,  bn. . 

Potatoes,  bu 

Totracco,  pounds . 
Hay,  tons 


Totals . 


Quantity  pro- 
duced in  1879. 


153,446400 

18,984.340- 

688,080 

15,077,680 

46.864 

6,570,200 

31,411,390 

1,012,500 


Average  1 

yield  per' 

acre.     I 


No.  nf  acres 
in  each  crop. 


I'rice 


40 

'4 

'7 

25 
ao 

91 
663 
1.06 


3,836,160 
1,356.016 

40.47s 

603,107 

a,87i 

72,300 

32.59s 
955.200 


bushel,  pound 
or  ton. 

I.OI 

.61 
.26 

■63 

.48 
.06 

9-43 


Pi-'j!    Value  of 


e.ich  crop. 

'$38,361,600 

19.174,082 

419.729 

3.807."  "4 

29.524 

3.153.696 

1,284,684 

9.547,875 


6,898,634      1175.778,304 


Missouri  is  remarkably  adapted  for  grazing  and  stock-raising 
generally,  and  has  within  her  own  borders  markets  so  accessible 
and  of  such  boundless,  capacity  that  she  can  increase  her  live- 
stock to  any  extent  without  fear  of  glutting  the  market.  In 
swine  husbandry  she  is  very  close  to  her  northern  neighbor, 
Iowa,  and  no  other  State,  except  Illinois,  equals  these  two  in  the 
number  and  quality  of  its  swine.  In  the  number  of  its  sheep  it 
ranks  below  Texas,  California,  Oregon,  New  Mexico  and  Colo- 
rado, but  with  more  enterprise  it  might  easily  pass  thq  last  three, 
as  it  has  ranges  for  sheep  equal  to  any  in  the  world.  Her  jaeeves, 
v;hether  shipped  to  Europe  pr  to  the  New  York  markets,  have 
an  excellent  reputation,  and  she  is  a  formidable  competitor  with 
Iowa  for  the  excellence  as  well  as  the  abundance  of  her  dairy 

products..  .^  y'ffv^fi|(>ti  Iwij'ft't^iyfff'KpfJ''' :  **;»■«.«*  >r«/r|.^  Alhn ii.)fTn'4'T 
Barley,  tKough  not  named  among  the  crops  in  above  tables,  is 


mmmmkmmmt 


.4  i.ja«l*a(»"Si4' 


:^,ti!^0' 


•tT.      ■ 


t0^ 


AAujV/ANt  OV^    WBSrSH//  EMFHt^..^\i.y\.i 


y  raised  to  the  amount  of  a  million  bushels  or  more  annually.  The 
y  average  yield  is  about  twenty-eight  bushels  to  the  acre,  and  the 
price  in  1 879  was  8ixty<seveo  cents  per  bushel.  The  production  of 
cotton  is  confined  to  the  southern  counties  of  the  State, and  seldom 
exceeds  i  ,500  bales.  The  sorghum  crop  is  becoming  a  very  im- 
portant one  for  the  State.  The  following  statistics  show  the 
number,  price  and  value  of  the  live-stock  in  the  State  in  January, 
1879,  and  January,  1880: 


|lA.H),)(l 


Livt-*tockin  MiMouri,  Jan.,  1879. 


AnimaN. 


Horaet 

Mules  and  aues. . 

Miich  cows 

Oxen  and  other  caltlt: 

Sheep 

Swine i2.8i7.600 


Numtwr. 

627,300 
191,900 
516,200 
1,631,000 
,296,400 


Price. 


43-3« 
17.80 

«4-94 
•59 

22.1 


Total  valoe. 


*:?,022,997 
8,324,62a 
9.188,360 
24,382,080 
2,061,276 
6,226396 


Live-stock  in  Minonri.  Jan.,  iHa 


NVimber. 


Price. 


TotaU #75.206,231 


639.846 

192,000 

536,524 

1,648,300 

1,322,328 

2,620,368 


I45-Sa 

5705 
19.31 

a3-38 
2,00 
4.02 


Tot«l  vaUe. 


*39.iis,79f. 
•0,953,600 
io,ii4,5af> 

38.4S5.3a'» 
2,644,656 

io,533.97«* 


.;iioi,8l7.75:* 


Manufactures. — Missouri  possesses  greater  advantages  for 
extensive  and  successful  manufacturing  than  any  other  State  of 
**  Our  Western  Empire "  and  she  has  improved  them  in  part. 
In  1870  Missouri  ranked  as  the  fifth  State  in  the  Union  in  the 
annual  product  of  her  manufactures,  and  St.  Louis  in  1876  was 
the  third  manufacturing  city  in  the  Union.  Within  the  last  de- 
cade the  State,  outside  of  St.  Louis,  has  nearly  tripled,  and  the 
city  of  St.  Louis  has  more  than  doubled  the  amount  oflt^  manu- 
'factures.  Great  manufacturing  centres  have  sprung  up  In  difTer- 
ent  sections  df  the  State;  St.  Joseph,  Kansas  City,  Hannibkl,  St. 
Charles,  Springli«ild>  Palmy iti,  'Union,  Jatlcson,  CofumWa;  Lex- 

^ington,  Mobedy;  Sedalia,  Bbonville  and  Rolh,  are  zL\\  manufcic- 
turihg  centres  bf  considerable  importances    Aboiit  three-foUrths 

;  of  the  manufactures  of  Missouri  are  produced  !n  St.  Louis,  whicih  - 
reported  in  1879  manufactured  articles  of  the  valiieof  $275,606,- 
660.    For  the  >yHole  State  the  products  of  manufactures  the 
^hie  year  were  ^^tihiated  in  round  huhibers  at  $335,obo,od^. 
-The  prihcipal  Hhdi^  df  manufacture  were  approximately  as  fdllbw^s:  , 

Flouring  mills,  1^40,000,000 ;  carpenters  and  builders.  Sao.odiioitt; ;, 

J  ,iijyiclij}  t>v<.)tlfa  (II  Hqou  :)ilJ  jjnonu;  Uuini^n  Juii  dyuuru  ,'^:">hxia,  :'$'■ 


at 


'^ 


•am 


WMH 


Mnm 


MANUFACTVtES   AND  MWl^TC  PRODUCTS. 


945 


nually.  The 
acre,  and  the 
production  of 
e,  and  seldom 
>g  a  very  im- 
:s  show  the 
lein 

,i\V'  I    fti.lj.fil 


onri.  Jan.,  iMa 


TottI  raUfl. 


10,953,600 
io,ii4,5ari 

38.4SS.30'' 
2.644,6s«i 

'o,S33.97« 


,*ioi^l7,75«( 


antag«s    for 
her  State  of 
tern  in  part, 
^nion  in  the 
in  1876  was 
the  last  de- 
led, and  the 
of  Its  nianu- 
up  In  diffibr- 
[annibil.St. 
imbia;  Lex- 
II  manufaic- 
iree-founhs 
-ouls,  Whidh 
f  $2  75,606,- 
actures  the 
35.opo,odp. 
^asfoBbWs: 
20,q66i9<i)«i; 

.(•-'iUjU.,       ,, 


meat  packing,  j^ao.oocooo;  tobacco,  including  cigars,  $1 4,000,000; 
iron  and  castings,  ;j^  15,000,000;  liquors,  $10,000,000;  clothing, 
%\  1,000,000 ;  lumber,  $10,000,000 ;  bags  and  bagging,  $7,000,000; 
saddlery,  $7,0001000;  oil,  $6,000,000;  macliinery,  $6,000,000; 
printing  and  publishing.  $5,500,000 ;  molasses  and  sugar,  $iOt- 
000,000;  boots  and  shoes*  $5,000,000;  furniture,  $5,000,000; 
paints  and  painting,  $4,500,000 ;  carriages  and  wagons,  $4,500,- 
000 ;  marble,  stone-work  and  masonry,  $4,000,000 ;  bakery  pro- 
ducts, $4,000,000 ;  bricks,  $4,500,000 ;  tin,  copper  and  sheet  iron, 
$4,000,000 ;  sash,  doors  and  blinds.  $3,250.000 ;  cooperage,  $3,- 
000,000;  blacksmithing,  $3,000,000;  bridge  building,  $2,500,000; 
agricultural  implements,  $2,000,000 ;  patent  medicines,  $2, 500,« 
000;  soap  and  candles,  $2,500,000;  plumbing  and  gas-fitting, 
$2,000,000. 

Mining  Predmts. — ^The  principal  of  these  now  profitably 
worked  are — i.  Lead,  of  which  the  receipts  at  St.  Louis  from 
1863  to  July,  1879,  are  given  in  pigs  ia  the  following  tabU. 
(N.  B. — A  pig  of  lead  is  eighty  pounds.) 


J't! 


1863 

1864 

186s ^ « 

i86d 

1867 

1868 .^...», ..«. 

1869 

1870 

1873 

1873 •• 

18714. » r.M ...«.,... 

i875„ 

1876 «....^ 

1877 


*»^  — •»•)■»<»••»•»«»•••«••»<•••« 


;t..' 


1879. 


RECEIPTS. 


Pigs. 


79.813 
93.035 

116,636 

M9.584 

M4.S55 
i85,B«3 
328,303 

'37.939 
■89, 75* 

285,769 
356.037 
479.44* 
5,79.^02 

66s,5S7 
79^,028 


:v...,.,: 


357 


817,594 


INCREASE. 


Hg«. 


13,212 
23,601 

3».948 

41,268 
42,480 

9.636 

55.973 
70,368 

1*3,411 
99«754 
86,355 

124,471 

DECREASE. 

•35.67» 

HiCaBASE. 

63,237 


Per  cent. 


16.56 
28.25 

>«-5S 
22.86 

4*3 

24.36 
24.60 

34.«6 
21.00 
14.91 
18.70 

DECREASE. 

4.50 
INCREASE. 
8.30 


,-«<pa»is«.'-«'»wi 


1r»fill0' 


946 


OUX    IVESTBlt/f  EMPrKE. 


X> 


\^ 


.-V 


The  lead  industry  of  St.  Louis  amounts  annually  to  over 
$5,ooo,cxx).  This  includes  pig  lead,  white  lead,  shot,  pipe  and 
sheet  lead. 

>-*'  9.  Iron.  With  ample  facilities  for  making,  at  the  lowest  pos- 
sible prices,  iron  enough  to  supply  the  whole  continent,  Missouri 
has  fallen  far  below  her  proper  position  in  the  production  of  iron. 
In  1872  the  iron  ore  mined  amounted  to  509,200  tons,  of  which 
291,200  tons  were  exported,  am!  the  remainder  smelted  in  Mis- 
souri. The  same  year  87,176!  tons  of  pig  iron  were  produced 
and  shipped  to  St.  Louis.  In  1879  the  iron  product  of  St.  Louis 
was  over  $12,000,000. 

■'^'3.  In  1872  11,582,440  pounds  of  zinc  ore  were  raised  and 
shipped  to  St.  Louis.  Of  this  10,000,000  pounds  were  smelted 
for  zinc,  yielding  1,727,450  pounds,  and  the  remainder  was  used 
for  the  manufacture  of  white  oxide  of  zinc.  The  same  year  10,- 
437,420  pounds  of  barytes  were  shipped  to  St.  Louis.  In  1879 
Kansas  City  alone  shipped  15,931,793  pounds  of  zinc;  32,371,059 
pounds  of  lead,  and  55,709,497  pounds  of  ore. 

4.  Copper  is  not  now  produced  except  incidentally  in  connec- 
tion with  other  metals.  Nickel  is  shipped  to  St.  Louis  from 
several  mines  to  a  large  and  annually  increasing  amount. 

.5*  The  output  of  coal  in  the  State  was,  in  round  numbers, 
900,000  tons  in  1877,  and  1.000,000  tons  in  1878.  In  1879  the 
amount  was  36,978,150  bushels,  or  about  i,iop,poo  tons. 

The  products  of  the  quarries  consist  of  building-stone  of  many 
kinds,  granite,  sandstones,  limestones,  marbles,  white,  black  and 
colored,  slate  of  all  kinds,  millstones^  grindstones,  polishing 
stone,  hydraulic  lime,  glass  sand  from  the  saccharoidal  sandstone, 
etc.  The  amount  of  quarry  products  is  known  to  be  very  large, 
but  we  have  ho  statistics  of  it. 

Railroads. -^Thit  State  is  traversed  by  3,627  miles  of  railway. 
The  greater  part  of  the  railroad  lines  are  great  trunk  routes, 
connected  with  tlie  Union  Pacific,  the  Northern  Papihc;,  the  At- 
chison, Topeka  and  Santa  F6,  or  som.e  of  the  routes  to  Texas  and 
the  Gulf.  Of  thoap  traversjog  Northern  and  Western  Missouri, 
the  Chicago  rnilwaty  kings  have  obtained  and  hold  possession, 
greariy  to  the  grief  of  St.  Louis,  which  is,  nevertheless,  a  great 


Nin 


MtWB 


aMM 


niially  to  over 
shot,  pipe  and 

he  lowest  pos- 
inent,  Missouri 
luction  of  iron, 
tons,  of  which 
lelted  in  Mis- 
'ere  produced 
ct  of  St.  Louis 

e  raised  and 
were  smelted 
ider  was  used 
ame  year  lo,- 
u«s.  In  1879 
CJ  32.371.059 

ly  in  connec- 
Louis  from 
lount. 

nd  numbers, 
In  1879  the 
tons.       ;,i, 
one  of  many 
e,  black  and 
s,   polishing 
1  sandstone, 
:  very  large, 

of  railway, 
■unk  routes, 
iftc,  the  At- 
>  Texas  and 
n  Missouri, 
possession, 
ss,  a  great 


POPULATION  OF  MISSOURt. 


947 


railroad  centre,  having  nineteen  trunk  lines  radiating  from  it. 
The  Chicago  roads  include  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern,  the 
Chicago  and  Rock  Island,  Chicago  and  Alton,  the  Wal^ash,  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy,  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and 
Texas.  The  principal  roads  going  westward  or  southward  from 
St.  Louis  are  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern,  the  Mis- 
souri Pacific,  made  up  of  several  lines,  the  St.  Louis  and  San 
Francisco,  the  St.  Louis,  Keokuk  and  Northwestern,  and  the  St. 
Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  Southern.  Hannibal,  Louisiana, 
Quincy,  Illinois,  St.  Joseph  and  Kansas  City  are  also  points  at 
which  several  important  railways  originate.  There  are  also  a 
few  merely  local  railways.  Of  the  1 1 5  counties  in  the  State,  it 
is  stated  that  only  seventeen  are  without  railroads.  The  actual 
cost  of  road  and  equipment  ibr  the  roads  within  the  State  has 
been  about  jl  160,000,000.  Of  course,  their  stock  and  debts  rep- 
resent a  still  larger  sum.  Recently  combinations  have  been 
formed  with  great  railway  companies  holding  possession  of  trunk 
lines,  by  which  much  of  the  railroad  property  of  the  State  will 
become  more  profitable. 

Populatimi, — With  the  exception  of  Louisiana,  Missouri  is  the 
oldest  State  of  "  Our  Western  Empire,"  having  organized  as  a 
State  in  1820,  and  having  been  admitted  into  the  Union  in  1821. 
The  following  table  exhibits  its  population  at  various  dates  of  its 
history,  their  condition  of  race,  color,  birth,  etc. : 


f  I 


POPUUriON  OF  MISSOURI. 


1 


ao,8i 


& 


i 


".3to 

3«.544 

74."8 

»03,095 


«4o.4S5 

.1»3.7o» 

683,044 

1,183,011 

■  ,168.80411 ,137^141  fiii  ,3 


}57.83» 

03*,*o| 

»»«,34T 


9>4S5 

}o,o4J 

8«,ja7 
180,807 
334,313 


I 


j59.««» 


I4««? 


«7.*» 

55.9* 

333,888| 

593,004: 
1,063,4891 
i.*>j,ij6l_..^ 
•■«>«3i5«.«43.»3« 


5«9 

«.574 
a,6i8 


.3 


58,340 
,  87.4a' 

3,57»i  "4.9?" 
tl8/>7l[ 


3,011 

io,*aa 
35,091 

5». 
',433 


s 

•3 


604,533 


7*.59» 


nont 
none 


1,031,471'  >6o,54i 
1,499,038.  »3 ,007 
«.937.564!»««i»4«> 


•3» 
i.oa 
3.15 

5.«7 
10.44 
18.C9 
•6.34 
36-34 


■a 

(2 


■§1    I    8' 

"PS         "  e 

5"  I  ^^ 


3*9.43 
1 10.94 

>73«8. 

77-751  a73.«57  »38.a48  a6i,i57 
7330  440.397  »49.»49  »9".778 
45-6a,577.o<>3  35^,9981408,306 

38.     I  I  I 


m 


There  are  several  things  worthy  of  notice  in  this  table.     One 


' 


K'«*«»»**•*Ji»".***^"■'^"*^■''^  " 


348  OUK    WSSTKKf/  MMr/ftK. 

is,  the  marked  disproportion  at  each  census  between  males  and 
females.  This  is  very  singular  in  a  State  as  old  as  Missouri. 
Another  is  that  Missouri,  having  been  a  slave  State  until  1863, 
there  should  have  been  so  small  a  proportion  of  the  African  race 
there,  never  much  exceeding  ten  per  cent,  of  the  entire  popula- 
tion, and  that  after  tfieir  emancipation  their  number  actually  de- 
creased. A  third  is  that  while  the  State  is  so  great  a  thoroughfare 
for  immigrants  and  offers  such  inducements  to  them,  so  small  a 
proportion  of  its  inhabitants  should  be  of  foreign  birth,  never  more 
than  thirteen  per  cent.,  and  that  the  actual  number  is  decreasing. 

Counties  and  Cities. — There  are  115  counties  in  the  State, 
which  had  in  1870  a  true  valuation  of  $1,284,923,897.  Their 
present  true  valuation  would  prokably  exceed  $2,000,000,000, 

The  following  table  gives  the  principal  towns  and  cities  of  the 
State,  with  their  population  in  1870  and  as  far  as  reported  in 
1880.  St.  Louis  is  considerably  the  largest  city  in  "Our  Western 
Empire,"  although  somewhat  less  populous  than  its  enterprising 
inhabitants  hoped.  Kansas  City  has  gro.vn  very  rapidlyi,  and  is 
now  the  second  city  in  the  State.  .      • 


t,     ariis. 

'J'  ; 

'■4  -      ■     ■  -i  \rt  I    n,  ^  i 


St.  Louis 

Kansas  City 

St.  Joseph 

Hannibal 

St.  Charles 

Sprinsfield 

Sedalia 

Lexington 

Chillicothe 

Cape  Girardeau.... 

Louisiana 

Macon 


i 


o 

CO 


r- 


310,864 

3?.«6o 

19.565 
10,1*5 
5.5  70 
S.555 
4,560 
4.373 
3.978 
3.585 
3.639 
3.678 


1^ 

.s 


35o.5»» 
55.813 

3».484 
11,074 


OTIIS. 


Booneville 

Independence . 
Jefferson  City. 
Warrensburg... 

Canton , 

Columbia 

Palmyra 

PIea8»nt  Hill. . 

RoUa 

iMexico 

Iron  Mount..., 
Moberly 


.2  <* 

BjOO 


3.506 

3.»84 
4.420 

«.945 
a.363 
2,336 
a.615 
a.554 
i,|54 
a. So  3 

a,oiS 
«»Si4 


£• 


6,000 


St.  Louis  is  a  city  of  great  enterprise,  largely  engaged  in 
manufactures  and  in  the  sale  of  mining  products,  dairy  products, 
meats  aiyi  provistons,  mitring,  agricultural  and  railroad  machiaery, 


LANDS  FOK  IMMWRANTS. 


949 


males  and 
\  Missouri, 
until  1863, 
\frican  race 
ire  popiila- 
actually  de- 
loroujjhfare 
so  small  a 
never  more 
decreasing, 
the  State, 
^97.    Their 

),0OO,0OO. 

cities  of  the 
reported  in 
ur  Western 
tnterp  rising 
>idly,  and  is 


.'11. .J  .11 


d 

0  d 

r« 

•S  eS 

« 

^S 

■4 

"S     M 

D 

U 

Oh 

06 

84 

20 

45 

63 

36 

«5 

54 

54 

03 

18 

14 

6,000 

engaged  in 
y  products, 
machinery, 


locomotives,  cars,  wa^^ons,  Concord  coachtn,  hollow-warr,  ami 
gtrn (.'rally  articles  of  steel  and  iron.  Its  schools  and  some  of  its 
institiitionH  of  higher  learning  are  models  in  their  way,  and  it  has 
a  vlt;servedly  high  reputation  for  morality  and  business  probity 
and  honor.  Its  growth  during.;:  tl.e  past  decade  has  bt-cn  some- 
what retarded  by  various  cauHes,  but  it  is  now  increasing  with 
great  rapidity. 

It  is  the  point  of  departun;  for  the  great  volume  of  travel  and 
immigration  to  the  VVi'stern  and  Southwestern  States  and  Terri- 
tories, and  with  its  rapidly  growing  daughter,  Kansas  City,  on 
the  western  border,  and  .St.  Joseph  on  the  northwestern,  manages 
to  secure  for  Missouri  by  far  the  largest  part  of  the  passenger 
and  freight  traffic  of  the  Great  West. 

Kansas  City,  as  we  have  elsewhere  said,  has  concentrated 
within  its  own  bounds  all  the  principal  lines  traversing  the  West, 
Northwest  and  Southwest.  Its  growth  has  been  very  rapid,  rising 
from  32,361  in  1870  to  56,946  in  1880,  and  its  schools,  churches, 
public  buildings  and  general  improvement  have  kept  pace  with 
its  growth  in  population.  Much  the  same  can  be  said  of  St. 
Joseph,  Hannibal  and  Sedalia.  They  are  all  railroad  centres  of 
considerable  importance,  and  are  having  a  rapid  growth. 

Lands  for  Immigrants. — Immigrants  coming  to  the  State  of 
Missouri,  who  desire  to  buy  and  improve  lands,  will  have  their 
choice  of  the  following,  namely : 

I.  There  are  1,000,000  acres  yet  belonging  to  the  United 
States,  subject  to  sale  and  homestead  entry.  These  lands  lie 
principally  south  of  the  Missouri  river,  in  counties  heavily  tim- 
bered, well  watered,  and  are  among  the  best  fruit  and  pasture 
lands  in  the  United  States.  It  is  desirable  that  these  lands 
should  be  taken  as  homesteads  by  the  poorer  classes,  who  will 
improve  them,  and  add  to  the  taxable  wealth  of  the  State.  These 
lands  can  be  purchased  at  $1.25  per  acre  where  they  are  not 
within  ten  miles  of  a  land-grant  railway,  and  at  $2.50  or  upwards 
where  they  are  inside  of  that  limit.  They  are  also  subject  to 
entry  under  the  homestead  law,  which  will  make  the  cost  of  a 
good  farm  of  160  acres  from  $25  to  $28,  the  title  being  perfect- 
ible after  five  years  of  residence  and  improvement.  The  Timber- 


i>f(Wivww«rt*wl(****^ 


950 


OUK   WMSTKHU  KMr.MM. 


Culture  and  Dciert  Land  Acts  do  not  apply  to  public  lands  in 
MiHSouri. 

a.  There  art;  yet  larjjr  iKxiirH  of  swamp  lan<ls  in  diffrrrni 
parts  uf  the  State;.  These  laniln  arc  the  richest  alluvial  lanils  in 
the  world,  which  are  subject  to  occasional  overflow,  which  make 
;he  t)est  meadow  and  pasture  lands.  .         ,.    :      i  '^^     i    , 

3.  Much  of  the  land  jjrant  madi?  by  the  general  jfovcrnment 
\o  the  Agricultural  College  remains  unsold,  and  these  lands  are 
r  ow  in  mark  't. 

4.  Of  the  lands  belonging  to  the  various  railroads,  which  were 
granted  them  by  the  general  government,  a  considerable  quan 
tity  are  yet  for  sale.  These  grants  embrace  some  of  the  best 
agricultural  lands  in  the  State ;  well  located,  accessible  to  market, 
with  all  the  conveniences  of  an  old  settled  country,  of  churches, 
schools  and  markets. 

5.  There  is  a  large  amount  of  land  in  the  State  owned  by  non- 
residents, speculators,  widows  and  orphans,  who  are  anxious  to 
part  with  it. 

6.  There  are  many  large  farmers  in  the  State  who  are  anxious 
to  divide  their  farms  to  enable  them  to  reduce  these  farms  to 
cultivation,  and  still  others  who  through  age,  infirmity  and  other 
causes,  desire  to  change  their  business,  and  will  put  their  land 
into  market  at  a  low  rate. 

7.  There  are  a  great  many  persons  whose  property  is  mort- 
gaged, and  who  are  compelled  to  make  sale  of  it,  to  save  their 
equities  that  remain  after  the  payment  of  the  liens. 

The  entire  aggregate  of  these  lands  amounts  to  several  million 
acres,  and  they  are  scattered  through  every  part  of  the  State. 
The  products  of  these  lands  embrace  everything  which  may  be 
grown  in  the  temperate  zone,  from  the  apple  to  the  orange  and 
fig,  from  flax  to  cotton,  from  the  Irish  potato  to  the  yam. 

The  advantages  of  these  lands  over  those  more  remote  from 
the  great  markets,  from  schools,  churches  and  the  social  sur- 
roundings which  make  homes  desirable,  must  be  obvious ;  yet 
these  lands  have  been  taken  up  slowly,  while  those  of  Kansas, 
certainly  no  more  intrinsically  desirable,  and  many  of  them  less 
so,  have  found  ready  purchasers.    The  reasons  for  this  difference 


)lic  lands  in 

in  diffrrrni 
vial  lands  in 
which  make 

K'ovornmrnt 
se  lands  are 

which  were 

rable  quan 

of  the  Ix'st 

f:  to  mai  Icct, 

>f  churches, 

ned  by  non- 
anxious  to 

are  anxious 

*e  farms  to 

y  and  other 

their  land 

ty  is  mort- 
save  their 

f*ral  million 
the  State, 
ch  may  be 
range  and 
m. 

mote  from 
social  sur- 
vious;  yet 
>f  Kansas, 
them  less 
diflference 


tfUV  tMMIOHArWN  HAS  SOT  BRUN  LARGRH. 


95 » 


in  ihc  past  liavc  been ,  The  Missouri  lands  have  been  much  lets 
thoroughly  advertised;  the  Stale  has  not  kept  itself  bcion*  the 
public  to  HO  great  an  extent,  and  lias,  indeed,  seemed  wholly  in- 
differcint  to  accdssions  by  imntig ration  ;  the  State  debt  was  nome- 
whal  larj^r,  and  with  the  counts  and  city  debts  made  taxation 
heavier;  tlie  lands,  though  fairly  fertile,  were  badly  cultivated, 
ami  K'^^*-  to  the  new-comers  an  imftression  of  dieir  barrenntss 
and  worthlessness,  which  facts  did  not  justify;  the  farming'  in 
many  parts  of  the  State  was  very  slovenly  and  inetficient.  On 
as  j^ood  lands  as  those  of  Missouri,  the  average  yield  of  wheat 
should  never  be  as  low  as  eleven  bushels  to  the  acre ;  of  corn, 
twenty-six  bushels  to  the  acre,  or  ol  potatoes  seventy-five  bushels 
to  the  acre;  yet  these  were  the  rcp*)ricd  Uvcra^'esof  1878.  The 
efforts  of  the  Slate  Agricultural  Society  have  produced  some 
improv(!ments  in  these  crops,  but  llicy  are,  even  now,  much  below 
what  they  ought  to  be.  The  educational  advantages  in  the 
country  were  much  inferior  to  those  of  the  neighboring  States  of 
lovva  and  Kansas,  whereas  they  ought  to  have  been  much  belter 
than  in  those  States.  There  wan,  moreover,  hanging  about  tl>e 
State  the  old  taint  of  slavery.  The  slaves  had  been  emamipaied 
ten,  fifteen,  sixteen  years  bcfDie  ;  but  the  thriftless,  indolent,  icck- 
less,  and  sometimes  ruffianly  spirit  engendered  by  it,  still  re* 
mained  in  some  decree,  and  this  spirit  repelled  immigration,  k 
is  now  more  than  hall  a  generation  since  slavery  was  abolished, 
and  most  of  these  untoward  obstacles  have  now  disappeared. 
To-day  Missouri  is  as  good  a  State  for  the  immigrant  as  any  in 
the  Great  West,  and  belter  than  some.  Its  climate,  soil,  markets 
and  advantages  are  unsurpassed,  and  cordiality  toward  the 
stranger  is  no  longer  wanting,  though  perhaps  not  yet  so  warmly 
manifested  as  in  some  of  the  newer  States ;  but  this  will  come  in 
time. 

Educationa,  Idvantages. — The  public  schools  of  Missouri  are 
in  an  anomalous  condition.  In  the  cities  the  schools  are  of  a 
high  order,  and  will  compare  favorably  with  those  in  any  State 
or  city  in  die  Union.  In  St.  Louis  within  the  last  decade,  owing 
to  an  enormous  estimate  of  more  t^an  100,000  more  inhabitants 
than  the  city  contained,  the  school  population  was  supposed  to  be 


jfarMrtt*** 


w» 


OVM    WMSTMHff  MMr/ttg. 


much  lurffpr  than  it  rtully  wan,  ami  thn  rity  •uprHntrndrnt  and 
othrr  (officer*  were  UiHtrriMi(*d  brcauM*  the  kchdlarn  enrolled  witi? 
bill  two-HcventliN,  and  tht!  actual  attnndiincc  1cm  than  (uu -tifth 
of  the  suppovcd  achoul  population.  1  hc:y  undcrittand  tlu»  l)cttcr 
now.  ••"•     '•J  '*>'  ("  '    . '  "  V  ''   ""  '•   '  •'••      • ' 

The  country  arhtViU  were,  to  a  larjjc  degree,  without  system 
or  order,  and  wre  a»  much  l>elow  thoac  of  the  nei^hlM)rini; 
Statcn  in  all  good  qualities  at  those  of  the  citica  were  beyond  the 
tiame  cIasm  of  school*  elsewhere.  There  are  not  quite  300 
schuots  of  very  high  cluiracKr  in  the  State,  most  of  thetn  in  the 
dtiei;  the  remainder,  numlierin^  nearly  8,aoo,  are  of  very  indif- 
ferent quality.  In  1875,  out  of  7.224  H:hool-houHet  in  the  State, 
2,164  were  huilt  of  logs;  4,636  were  frame  buildings,  and  only 
424  brick  or  stone.  The  school  fund  is  partly  available,  and 
partly  at  present  unavailable.  About  $3,o(K>,ooo  arc  available, 
and  $7,3CX>,oao  unavailable  now,  but  will  eventually  become  so. 
The  low  condition. of  the  country  schools  is  due  in  part  to  the 
indifference  of  \  considerable  portion  of  the  people  to  education  ; 
in  part  to  the  apathy  of  the  legislature,  and  m  part  to  the  vague- 
ness and  incompleteness  of  the  school  law.  The  supe  intendent 
is  deserving  of  great  credit  for  his  perseverance  and  efficiency 
under  circumstances  of  great  difficulty,  but  his  efforts  have  not 
been  so  thoroughly  sustained  by  the  legislature  as  they  should 
have  been. 

The  following  a r';  the  school  statistics  of  the  State  for  1878, 
the  last  year  who  ,e  report  is  published:  School  population, 
688,248  ;  school  enrolment,  448,033;  number  of  ungraded  school 
districts,  8,142  ;  number  of  graded  school  districts,  279  ;  number 
of  school-houses,  8,092  ;  estimated  value  of  school-houses,  {^8,32 1,- 
599 ;  average  school  year  in  months  in  graded  school  districts,  9 ; 
in  all  the  districts,  5  months  ;  total  number  of  teachers  employed, 
11,268  ;  total  wages  of  teachers,  12,320,430.20;  average  wages 
of  teachers  per  month,  males,  $36.36 ;  females,  $28.09  :  average 
wages  of  teachers  per  month  in  graded  schools,  males,  $87.81  \ 

females,  $40. 73.      •  W4  '^smm:  p* vavv, \  F  fti  .i  •  m\% \*  ,'^^:  \ik  Km  :^^ 

'/^•Revenue. — ^From  interest  on   State   permanent  fund,  $174,- 
030.15;  from  one-fourth  the   State  revenue  collections,  $363,- 


iWH 


MDW^rioN  Iff  mxsovm. 


9SS 


iirmlcnt  and 

nri)II«-il  wttrn 

lan  oiif.Jifth 

lii  thiN  l)rttL*r 

hout  Ayntem 
ncij{hlK)rin(if 
Ix^yond  the 
quitr    300 
thctn  in  the 
>f  very  indif- 
in  the  Sute, 
j;s,  and  only 
vailahlr,  and 
re  available, 
betonx:  so. 
part  to  the 
o  education ; 
a  the  va^ue- 
3t  intcndcnt 
rJtl   <;ffi<  iciicy 
•t»   iiave  not 

they  should 

•1 1 

le  for  1878, 
population, 
•ailed  school 
79 ;  number 
«es,]({8,32i,. 
districts,  9 ; 
s  employed, 
rage  wages 
9 ;  average 
It-'s,  $87.81; 

Jnd,  $174,. 
ons,  $363,- 


376.32 ;  from  county  and  township  permanent  fun<l-i.  $440^- 
191.37:  from  (hntrirt  taxes,  $3,446,910.71  ;  total,  $.V.M4.4oM.55. 

P»rmaHtHt  Fundi, — State  fund,  13,909,437.11:  ««»iii»fy  timd, 
|3.J*<M.3'>**'39  !  townnhip,  or  sixteenth  secti<m  fund,  $i.9H»),678.5i ; 
toud,  $7,378,046.80. 

There  are  five  normal  schools  in  the  State,  besides  normal  de- 
partments  in  several  of  the  colleges.  'Ihcre  is  one  o(  these 
(Lincoln  Institute)  in  Jefferson  City  for  thr  instruction  of  colonel 
teachers,  which  receives  $5,000  n  year  from  the  State.  The  ap- 
propriations to  tile  other  normal  schools  are  $7,5(X)  lach  per 
annum.  The  State  University  at  Columbia,  with  a  S(  hool  of 
Mines  and  Metillurgy  at  Kolla,  has  ten  different  dcpartnu-iits  or 
coursrs,  in  two  ^rroups,  acadi-mic  arid  professional.  Tin-  Uriiver- 
i.ity  receives  $19,500  annually  from  th«!  Stat*-,  an<l  thr  Sdiool  of 
Mines,  $7,500.  Washington  University,  at  St.  I.oiiis,  has  de- 
partm<'nts  of  science,  medicine  and  law,  besides  its  acyjcmic 
course.  There  are  also  fifteen  other  colleges,  four  of  them  Ro- 
man  Catholic,  three  Methodist,  and  the  rest  under  the  control  of 
other  denominations,  Tour  ol  medicine,  one  of  dentistry,  and  one 
of  pharnr.acy,  beside  those  which  are  connected  with  thr  State  Uni- 
versity and  Washington  University.  There  are  spicial  institu- 
tions for  deaf  mutes,  for  the  blind,  for  orphans,  the  aged,  etc.,  etc. 
Moi^t  of  these  receive  liberal  appropriations  from  the  State.  The 
educational  condition  of  the  State,  as  a  whole,  is  improving,  and 
will  in  a  few  years  attain  to  as  high  a  standard  as  that  of  the 
adjacent  States. 

Religious  Denominations  and  Churches. — About  315,000,  or 
one-seventh  of  the  population  of  Missouri,  are  members  of 
churches,  and  two-thirds  of  the  population,  say  1,575.000,  are 
adherents,  more  or  less  pronounced,  of  these  churches.  The 
Baptists  have  the  largest  number  of  churches  and  church  edifices, 
but  are  followed  very  closely  by  the  Methodists,  who  are,  how- 
ever, divided  into  Northern  and  Southern.  The  Methodist 
membership  is  a  few  hundred  more  than  the  Baptist,  and  their 
adherent  population  is  about  the  same — not  far  from  375,000. 
The  Roman  Catholics  count  all  their  adherent  population  as 
members,  and  report  about  275,000,  but  their  church  property, 


•  iJWlEttosWWBB'^^ 


P54  ^^^    WESTERS  EMPIRE. 

including  their  costly  cathedral  and  churches  at  St.  Louis,  is  esti* 
mater!  at  about  1^(4,300,000,  or  double  that  of  the  Methodists  or 
Baptists.  The  other  denominations  in  their  order  of  churches, 
membership  and  church  property,  are  regular  Presbyterians, 
Christians  and  Disciples,  Cumberland  Presbyterians,  Lutherans, 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  Congregationalists,  United 
Brethren  in  Christ  and  Evangelical  Association  (both  minor 
Methodist  churches),  Free  Will  Baptists,  Reformed  German, 
Unitarians,  Friends,  Universalisic  Jews,  New  Jerusalem  Church, 
and  Union.  The  total  amount  of  church  property  in  the  State 
exceeds  1^15,000,000;  the  whole  number  of  churches  is  about 
5,000,  and  of  church  edifices  nearly  4,000 ;  of  clergymen  and 
preachers  about  2,900.  *;  ti  f'?i«.  ^iri  •!..;:  >>Kitni  ivt  --li  .-'•.• -k.-jj 
\  Historical  Dates. — First  settlements  in  Missouri  at  or  near  St. 
L,ouis  and  Cape  Girardeau,  by  the  French,  probably  in  1720;  at 
St.  Genevieve  about  1755.  In  1775  St.  Louis  was  a  fur  depot 
and  trading  station,  with  800  inhabitants.  In  1 803  France  ceded 
ail  this  territory  to  the  United  States.  In  1805  St.  Louis  was 
made  the  capital  of  the  new  Territory  of  Louisiana.  In  18 10 
there  were  1,500  inhabitants  within  the  present  limits  of  Missouri. 
In  181 2  the  name  of  the  Territory  was  changed  to  Missouri  Ter- 
ritory, In  1820  the  people  prepared  and  adopted  a  State  Con- 
stitution. It  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State  August  10, 
1 82 1,  after  a  bitter  and  violent  controversy  in  Congress  as  to  its 
admission  as  a  slave  State,  by  an  act  known  as  the  Missouri 
Compromise,  which  permitted  slavery  there,  but  prohibited  it  in 
all  territory  north  of  36°  30'  north  latitude.  This  act  was  virtu- 
ally repealed  in  1854.  The  people  took  part  in  the  Kansas 
difficulties  of  1854-59,  ^"^  were  very  much  divided  in  the  civil 
war.     Several  severe  battles  were  fought  in  the  State.     A  new 


Constitution  was  adopted  in  1865,  and  still  another  in  1875. 


■  ji.i  1, 


>■  i'i^t  J!  ■  /  •'^.■'  ■    f--  ^'■'"\:      •  -"     ■"-■  -    ■      .,  ,-i-.     N-- ;-  .     .-  ••-  r'  -. '..        '■■-   ■         '  ■■-■  ■"•■■■-  ,'i  :■■■-.   ^        r.  .  '':    ' 


B»NMB 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MONTANA. 


955 


Louis,  is  esti- 
Methodists  or 
•  of  churches, 
i^resbvterians, 
IS,  Lutherans, 
alists.  United 
(both  minor 
led  German, 
alem  Church, 
'  in  the  State 
ihes  is  about 
irgymen  and 

It  or  near  St. 
'  in  1720;  at 
J  a  fur  depot 
France  ceded 
>t.  Louis  was 
la.     In  1 8 10 
iof  Missouri, 
fissourr  Ter- 
a  State  Con- 
J  August  10, 
ress  as  to  its 
he  Missouri 
>hibited  it  in 
ct  was  virtu- 
the  Kansas 
in  the  civil 
ite.     A  new 
n  1875.  W'^ 

r5;;/rM  'A    >nT 


.  ';i   ,v.  .      -nK     :   I'll  1     '\^\'\      .-ii; 


il     T 


CHAPTER  Xin. 


('/>    \  >  < 


MONTANA. 


Situation — Boundaries— Extent — Mountains — Timber — Lakes — Rivers- 
Geology   AND    MlNERAKOUY — GoLD   IN   ExTENSIVl.    PlACEKS  AND    I.ODES — 

Silver — Copper — Lead— Iron— Other  Minerals — Soil  and  Vkuetation 
— Arable  Lands — Grazing  Lands — Timber  Lands — Mining  Lands — 
Desert  Land3->-Zo6logv — Climate— Blizzards — The  "Chinook"  Wind 
— Meteorology  of  Fort  Keogh — Fort  Benton — Helena — Virginia  City 
— Mining — Enormous  Yield  of  the  Placers — Gold  Lodes— Silver  Lodes 
— The  Stemple  District — Last  Chance  Gulch,  now  Helena — Phillips- 
burg — Wickes — Butte— Peculiarities  of  the  Butte  Mines— Other  Mines 
— Trapper  District — Mining  thus  far  almost  Exclusively  in  Western 
Montana — Probabilities  of  Mines  in  Southern  and  Southeastern  Mon- 
tana— Agricultural  Productions — Testimony  of  Z.  L.  White — of  Rob- 
ert E.  Strahorn — of  Thomson  P.  McElrath — Enormous  Crops,  of  Excel- 
lent Quality — Stock-Raising — Sheep-Farming — Breeding  Horses  and 
Mules — Gov.  Potts'  Experience— Manufactures — Objects  of  Interest. 
— ^The  Madison  River — The  Upper  Yellowstone  Valley — The  Struggle 
of  the  Waters  to  Force  a  Passage  Through — Other  Wonders — Rail- 
roads— Best  Routes  for  Immigrants  at  Present — Indian  Reservations 
AND  their  Population — Population  of  Montana  Counties  and  Assess- 
ment— Principal  Towns  qf  Montana — Pp.ices  of  Articles  of  General 
Use — Average  Wages  —  Education — Religious  Denominations — Con- 


clusion. 


..-u\  'o  '^l-K  \ 


,1 1  i«i  niii"ts:t.f 


:"iWj.Al   <;.•;'   '!. 


t-f 


Montana  Territory  is  a  central  Territory  of  the  northern  belt 
of  States  of  "Our  Western  Empire."  About  four-fifths  of  its 
area  lies  east  of  the  Main  Divide  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Be- 
tween this  Main  Divide  and  the  Bitter  Root  Mountains,  which 
are  a  second  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  form  the 
boundary  between  Montana  and  Idaho,  is  a  broad,  elevated 
valley,  through  which  flows  Clarke's  fork  of  the  Columbia  river. 
East  of  the  Mai<)\  Divide  there  are  several  isolated  mesas  or  pla- 
teaus, such  as  the  Snake's  H  ad,  Beque  d'Otard,  Bear's  Paw, 
Little  Rocky  Mountains,  the  Snow  Mountains  and  Bull  Moun- 
tains farther  south.  In  the  southeast  there  are  several  short 
ranges  extending"  northward  from  Wyoming,  and  part  of  them 
apparently  connected  with  the  Black  Hills.    These  are,  begin- 


wmm- 


r-'i^imiuitimfmssim 


'MM 


956 


Ot/A    WESTERN  SMPfk^. 


ning  with  the  west,  a  short  spur  from  the  Big  Horn  range,  the 
Wolf  Mountains,  Tongue  River  Mountains,  and  the  Powder  River 
range,  which  consists  of  four  or  6ve  chains  of  hills  of  no  great 
elevation,  on  both  sides  of  the  Powder  river  and  its  tributaries, 
and  Cabin  creek,  all  affluents  of  the  Yellowstone.  The  valleys 
6f  the  Missouri  and  its  three  constituent  streams,  the  Madison, 
Jefferson  and  Gallatin,  of  the  Yellowstone  and  its  numerous 
tributaries,  of  Clarke's  fork,  the  Milk  river,  Maria's  river,  Flathead, 
Musselshell  and  other  rivers,  affluents  of  the  Missouri  or  the 
Yellowstone,  are  fertile  and  level  or  rolling  lands,  somewhat  ele- 
vated, but  not  cold  or  bleak.  The  timber  of  Montana  is  peculiar, 
there  being  very  little  hard  wood ;  if  deciduous,  the  trees  are 
almost  wholly  willow,  poplar,  linden  and  cottonwood ;  the  only 
exception  being  on  Tongue  river,  near  the  southern  boundary, 
where  there  are  large  bodies  of  oak  ;  if  evergreens,  pine,  spruce, 
fir,  cedar  and  balsam.  The  native  grass  is  mainly  the  bunch  grass, 
which  grows  to  the  height  of  four  or  five  feet,  and  is  the  most 
nutritious  of  all  the  native  grar  ses  of  this  region  foi  cattle,  fatten- 
ing them  more  thoroughly  than  torn  or  barley.  Flowers  are 
abundant  in  their  season  in  all  the  valleys. 

Montana  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  British  Columbia;  on  the 
«ist  by  Dakota  ;  on  the  south  by  Wyoming  and  Idaho ;  on  the 
west  by  Idaho,  from  which  it  is  separated  by  the  Bitter  Root 
Mountains.  It  lies  between  the  parallels  of  44"  6'  (its  southwest- 
ern corner  only  extending  below  45°)  and  49°  north  latitude ; 
and  between  104°  and  116*'  west  longitude  from  Greenwich,  Its 
greatest  length  from  east  to  west  along  the  48th  parallel  is  over 
700  miles ;  and  its  greatest  breadth  near  the  1 1 3th  meridian  is 
about  340  miles.  Its  area  is  143,776  square  miles,  or  93,01 6,640 
acres.  ■   ^;^>^''^H^:^>f'''fiWi■*i!«tam5M''=^*^^itfii^ 

Mountains,  Lakes,  Rivers,  «/lc.-— Montana  is  appropriately 
named,  for  mountain  ranges,  spurs,  isolated  peaks  and  hills  con- 
stitute a  large  portion  of  its  surface.  Yet  between,  around  and 
among  these  mountains  are  a  great  number  of  as  lovely  valleys 
as  the  sun  ever  shone  upon.  The  mountains,  unlike  those  of 
Idaho,  are  not,  with  a  few  exceptions,  bare,  with  steep  and  inac* 
cessiUe  sides,  but  rounded  summits,  oovered  cither  with  gms^ 


MOUNTAINS  AND  RIVERS  OF  MONTANA. 


957 


n  range,  the 
'owder  River 
of  no  great 
s  tributaries, 
The  valleys 
he  Madison, 
s  numerous 
er,  Flathead, 
►ouri  or  the 
mewhat  ele- 
i  is  peculiar, 
le  trees  are 
)d ;  the  only 
n  boundary, 
pine,  spruce, 
bunch  grass, 
is  the  most 
lattle,  fatten- 
Flowers  are 

ibia ;  on  the 
iho;  on  the 
Bitter  Root 
5  southwest- 
th  latitude ; 
enwich.  Its 
allel  is  over 
meridian  is 
•  92,01 6,640 

>prapriately 
id  hi]l&  coa- 
iround  and 
vely  valkys 
ce  those  oit 
p  and  inac' 
with  gniS9 


or  timber  to  the  very  top.  They  are  admirably  adapted  to 
grazing,  and  of  all  the  lands  of  "Our  Western  Empire,"  Montana 
is  likely  to  be  most  completely  the  grazier's  paradise.  The  sum- 
mits are  hone  of  them  so  lofty  as  some  of  those  in  Idaho  or 
Colorado,  none  of  them  reaching  ii.ooo  feet.  There  are  three 
peaks  in  the  Yellowstone  Park  which  are  credited,  not  all  of  them 
correctly,  to  Montana.  Of  these  Electric  Peak  is  10,992  feet; 
Mount  Washburn,  10,388  feet,  and  Mount  Doane,  10,118  feet. 
Aside  from  these  there  are  but  six  peaks  above  9,000  feet  in 
height.  These  are:  Emigrant  Peak,  10,629;  Ward's  Peak,  10,- 
371  ;  Mount  Delano,  10,200;  Mount  Blackmore,  10,134;  Old 
Baldy,  9,711,  aAd  Badger's  Peak,  9,000  feet  There  are  four 
passes  over  the  Rocky  Mountains  within  the  limits  of  the  Terri- 
tory :  Cadott's  pass,  between  the  47th  and  48th  parallels,  6,044 
feet  high ;  Deer  Lodg< :  pass,  between  the  same  parallels,  6,200 
feet ;  Lewis  and  Clarke's  pass,  6,323  feet,  and  Flathead  pass,  in 
the  north  of  the  Territory,  5,459  feet.  The  general  elevation  of 
the  Territory  is  from  2,500  to  3,000  feet. 

Montana  is  not,  like  Minnesota,  a  land  abounding  in  lakes. 
There  are  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  in  the  Territory ;  of  these 
Flathead  lake  is  the  largest,  and  Grizzly  Bear  bke,  a  triangular 
lake  in  the  western  part,  neariy  north  of  Helena,  the  most  pecu- 
liar in  form. 

Montana  i$  certainly  well  supplied  with  rivers^  though  portions 
of  it  may  need  irrigation.  The  Missouri,  inchidti^  its  head 
waters,  has  a  course  of  more  than  1,200  miles  in  this  Territory; 
the  Yellowstone^  its  laifgesi;  affluent,  about  850 ;  Maria's  river, 
Milk  river,  Breast  or  Teton  river.  Rolling  branch  and  Park  river 
are  the  principal  tributaries  of  the  Missouri  on  its  north  bank ; 
on  its  south  bank  it  receives  Red  Water,.  Elk  Prairie  and  Big  Dry 
I  eeks,  and  the  large  and  important  Musselshell  river,  the  Judith 
h»  f^r  and  many  smaller  streams,  besides  the  three  fiarks,  Jefifer- 
spi.,  Madison  and  Gallatin,  which  unite  to  form  the  Missouri. 
The  Yellowstone,  rising  in  Yellowstone  lake  in  the  National 
Park,  has  numerous  affluents*  especially  on  its  south  bank;  among 
these  are  Clarke's  fork,  Pryor  river,  the  Big  Horn  or  Wind  river, 
Rosebnd  creeW  Tongue  river^  the  Powder  river  with  ite  numerous 


isaasaiKasiteSa'?';  t 


V 


g^S  '  •  ^        oi/x  utestek!/  empire. 

branches,  and  Cabin  creek.  In  the  valley,  between  the  Rocky 
and  Bitter  Root  Mountains,  the  Clarke's  fork  of  the  Columbia 
river  has  a  course  of  about  300  miles,  and  the  Lewis  fork  or 
Snake  river,  another  affluent  of  the  Columbia,  has  its  source  in 
Yellowstone  National  Park,  and  perhaps  within  the  bounds  of 
Montana.  The  Kootenai,  probably  still  another  tributary  of  the 
Columbia, has  its  head  waters  in  Northwestern  Montana.  Clarke's 
fork  has  two  or  three  affluents  of  considerable  size,  the  most 
important  of  which  are  the  Missoula  and  the  Flathead  river ;  the 
latter  passes  through  Flathead  lake.  Nearly  all  these  rivers 
furnish  abundant  water-power.        w--^-   .-...'.   ;. 

Geology  and  Mineralogy. — Th^  votcanfc  ictk>A  in  the  past,  and 
the  repeated  epochs  of  upheaval,  have  made  the  geology  of  Mon- 
tana somewhat  involved,  but  some  simple  explanations  will  give 
the  reader  a  tolerable  understanding  of  it.  In  the  early  geologic 
ages,  the  eastern  half  of  Montana  seems  to  have  been  a  shallow 
sea,  and  its  deposits  were  of  chalk  and  the  chalky  limestones  of 
the  cretaceous  period.  These  cretaceous  deposits  were  suc- 
ceeded farther  west  by  the  rocks  of  the  Wealden  and  Jurassic 
periods — limestones,  sandstones  and  shales,  and  during  their 
deposition,  as  well  as  that  of  the  cretaceous  rocks  farther  east, 
there  was  a  great  abundance  of  the  lower. forms  of  animal  life 
of  gigantic  size,  mollusks  and  radiate  animals,  and  sortie  fish. 
The  ammonites,  conchifers,  gasteropods,  terebratulae  and  other 
radiates  and  mollusks  found  in  these  rocks  are  among  the 
largest  of  these  fossils  ever  discovered.  Fossil  plants  are  also 
plentiful,  and,  in  the  Wiealden,  fossil  insects,  reptiles  and  fish 
abound;  at  the  western  limit  of  these  beds  there  are  narrow  belts 
of  Silurian  rocks.  Over  all  the  Rocky  Mountain  region,  in  the 
Bitter  Root  range  and  the  valley  between,  as  well  as  in  occa- 
sional patches  east  of  the  mountains,  especially  in  the  isolated 
mountains  and  buttes  of  Central  Montana,  we  have  evidence  of 
ilepeated  and  violent  convulsions  of  nature,  and  the  ejection  of 
vast  quantities  of  lava  and  of  molten  azoic  and  metamorphib 
rock^  through  the  superimposed  strata.  There  were  at  one  time 
^merous  iLotive  vdlcanoes  in  this  region.  The  repeated  up- 
bf^vala  and  their^  time  .of  activky  was  probal^y  mainly  during  the 


GEOLOGY  AND  MINERALOGY. 


959 


I  the  Rocky 
e  Columbia 
wis  fork  or 
its  source  in 
bounds  of 
•utary  of  the 
la.  Clarke's 
e,  the  most 
d  river ;  the 
:hese  rivers 

^e  past,  and 
gy  of  Mon- 
ns  will  give 
rly  geologic 
n  a  shallow 
lestones  of 
were   suo- 
id  Jurassic 
iring  their 
rther  east, 
animal  life 
sortie  fish, 
and  other 
tmong  the 
s  are  also 
5  and  fish 
irrow  belts 
ion,  in  the 
s  in  occa- ' 
e  isolated 
'idence  of 
jection  of 
tamorphifc 
:  one  time 
eated  up- 
luring  the 


tertiary  period,  though  a  later  upheaval  occurred  in  the  post- 
tertiary  or  quaternary  period,  perhaps  almost  within  historic 
times.  As  a  result  of  this  action,  the  whole  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain summits  and  those  of  the  Bitter  Root  Mountains,  Hear  Paw, 
Great  and  Little  Belt,  Crazy,  Judith,  Snowy  and  Highwood 
Mountains,  are  composed  of  eozoic  rocks,  granite,  porphyry,  trap, 
etc.,  and  contain  many  veins  and  lodes  of  gold,  silver,  copper, 
lead  and  zinc,  and  possibly  platinum  and  quicksilver.  The  course 
of  these  veins,  as  well  as  the  regular  position  of  the  stratified 
rocks,  is  greatly  disturbed  and  deranged  by  the  frequent  dikes 
of  porphyry,  trap  and  obsidian  which  have  intruded  upon  the 
others  when  in  a  state  of  fusion. 

Bordering  these  igneous  rocks  we  find  belts  of  Silurian  rocks, 
and  beyond  these  the  Jurassic  and  Wealden  beds,  often  overlaid 
by  either  tertiary  or  post-tertiary  deposits,  and  these  by  allu- 
vium. Farther  south,  in  the  Yellowstone  Park,  we  find  abundant 
evidence  that  volcanic  action,  though  feebler  now  than  formerly, 
has  not  yet  ceased.  After  the  volcanic  action  of  which  we  have 
spoken,  Montana  must  have  presented  the  appearance  of  a  series 
of  large  fresh  water  lakes  whose  shores  were  the  summits  of  the 
present  mountain  ranges.  From  these  mountain  slopes  came 
extensive  glaciers,  as  the  elevation  was  greater  than  now  after 
many  ages  of  denuding  action  and  the  intense  cold  of  that  time 
favored  the  formation  of  these  glaciers,  which  carried  down  in 
the  glacial  deposits  large  quantities  of  gold  and  silver,  and  thus 
formed  those  immensely  rich  placers  which  have  yielded  such 
vast  quantities  of  gold.  While  the  glaciers,  by  their  denudatory 
action,  reduced  the  mountains  and  cut  them  into  the  most  fan- 
tastic shapes,  there  must  have  been  also  a  gradual  subsidence  of 
these  elevated  plains,  and  this  subsidence  rendered  the  climate 
milder,  and  thus  the  ice  of  the  glaciers,  melting  the  moraines  or 
debris,  were  deposited  alonjg^  their  course.  Th6  boulders  scat- 
tered by  these  glaciers  are  found  all  over  the  western  half  of 
Montana,  and  to  a  considerable  extent  in  the  southeast  also. 
Eastern  and  Northeastern  Montana,  having  been  originally  the 
bed  of  a  lake,  have  not  undergone  so  marty  changes,  and  the  super- 
ficial geology  is  later;  the  tertiary  and  post-tertiary  deposits  are 


w«ii«^ 


-"'     -IB 


V 


g6o  O^if    ftVSTEJty  KMPtRB. 

the  surface  rocks  of  this  region,  though  there  are  occasional  out- 
crops of  the  cretaceous  rocks.  It  is  a  disputed  point  whether 
the  lignite  or  brown  coal  of  the  region  lying  west  of  the  Little 
Missouri  river  and  extending  almost  to  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  from  the  Black  Hills  nearly  to  the  British  line,  belongs  to 
the  tertiary  or  to  the  cretaceous  epoch,  but  the  opinion  of  the 
most  eminent  geologists  is  in  favor  of  its  being  a  tertiary  deposit. 
It  is  a  very  good  coal,  and  is  coming  into  demand  largely  not 
only  for  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway,  which  traverses  it  for  hun- 
dreds of  miles,  but  for  domestic  purposes,  for  which  purpose  it 
is  far  better  than  the  cottonwood  and  linden  firewood,  and  is  less 
than  half  the  price  of  wood. 

The  mineral  wealth  of  Montana  is  very  great.  The  whole  re 
gion  lying  west  pf  the  Big  Horn,  Musselshell  and  Milk  rivers, 
comprising  fully  tliree-fifths  of  the  Territory,  is  full  of  gold  and 
silver.  The  placers  and  gold  lodes  of  this  region  lying  west  of 
the  foot-hills  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  comprising  not  more  than 
one-fourth  of  the  Territory,  have  yielded  in  gold  since  1863 
about  $140,000,000  in  goM  and  $10^000,000  or  more  in  silver. 
Eastern  Montana,  except  perhaps  in  the  southeast,  is  better 
adapted  to  agriculture  and  grazing,  though  thia,  a»  we  have  said, 
includes  extensive  beds  of  coal.  Of  other  minerals,  copper,  lead 
and  zinc  are  found  extensively,  the  last  two  generally  in  connec- 
tion with  silver.  There  are  immense  beds  of  iron  ores.  Petro- 
leum has  been  discovered  at  »(veral  points.  The  silver  ores  of 
Montana  beloi^  to  the  refractory  class,  and  the  principal  obstacle 
io  the  way  of  a.  much  grenter  annua}  yield  from  the  rich  silver 
mines  of  Montana  has  been  due  to  d»is  very  refractoriness.  The 
ores  averaged  perhaps  sixty-five  to  Bfeyenty-five  ounces  of  silvc/, 
and  from  twenty  to  forty-five  per  cent.  oC  lead  to  the  ton,  but  in 
the  various  processes  necessary  f0r  their  r«duetii6n-^processes 
which  could  ooJij^  be  conducted  at  OmaJiai  Newark,  N.  }^  or 
Freiberg,  Germany,  and  the  enormous  expiefi«e  of  th^  trans- 
portation to  a  railroad,  the  nearest  being  about  3od  miles  distaht, 
and  the  freight  very  heavy»  while  the  reducing  processes  were 
also  expensive— ^there  was  a  necessary  expenditureof  fifom  $108  to 
1^14  per  ton,  and  ihe  rettiros  dkl  not  oome  in  under  from  fibur 


>ccasional  out- 
point whether 
t  of  the  Little 
ly  Mountains, 
le,  belongs  to 
opinion  of  the 
Ttiary  deposit, 
id  largely  not 
ses  it  for  hun- 
ch purpose  it 
od,  and  is  less 

rhe  Who!^  re 
I  Milk  rivers, 
1  of  gold  and 
lying  west  of 
lot  more  than 
d  since  1863 
ore  in  silver, 
ast,  is  better 
we  have  said, 
I,  copper,  lead 
ily  in  connec- 
ores.  Petro- 
silver  ores  of 
cipal  obstacle 
le  rich  silver 
•riness.  The 
ices  of  silvc/, 
be  ton,  but  In 
n-^processes 
tdc,  N.  }^  or 
theit  trans- 
miles  dtstaht, 
)cesses  were 
fi^om^ioSto 
ler  fipom  four 


SO/l.   AND   ViCETATION.  961 

to  r.ix  months  from  the  time  of  shipment  of  the  ore.  Under  these 
circumstances  the  mining  compa.iics  lost  money  on  all  ores  which 
did  not  yield  at  least  140  ouncos  of  silver  to  the  ton,  and  even  on 
150  ounces  they  only  made  a  mere  pittance.  Several  attempts 
were  made  to  establish  reduction  works  at  some  point  in  the 
Territory,  but  owing  to  the  immense  cost  of  their  transportation 
and  bad  management  afterwards,  they  all  proved  failures.  The 
last  effort  was  made  in  1879  at  Wickes,  and  has  proved  succes«»- 
ful,  and  as  the  Utah  and  Northern  Railroad  now  traverses  this 
part  of  the  Territory,  and  the  Northern  Pacific  will  soon  be  there, 
the  days  of  costly  transportation  and  high  cost  reduction  have 
come  to  an  end. 

Soil  and  Vegetation. — In  the  western,  central  and  southern 
portions  of  the  Territory,  the  land  along  the  valleys  adjacent  to 
the  streams  is  rich  and  well  adapted  to  agriculture,  large  crops 
of  grain,  vegetables,  etc.,  being  produced  with  litde  or  no  irriga- 
tion. The  soil  of  the  table  lands  is  generally  good,  only  re- 
quiring irrigation,  for  which  abundant  water  can  be  had,  to  pro- 
duce largely;  while  the  foot  hills  are  covered  with  an  abundant, 
growth  of  nutritious  grasses  extending  to  the  timber  line.  In 
the  northern  and  eastern  portions  of  the  Territory  are  vast  tracts 
of  so-called  Bad  Lands ;  but  these  have  a  much  worse  name  than 
they  deserve,  many  portions  of  them  being  covered  with  grasses 
more  or  less  abundant,  and  affording  grazing  to  large  herds  of 
buffalo,  antelope,  etc.,  and  where  there  are  stock  farms  near,  to 
cattle  also.  The  Territory  is  well  timbered  throughout,  though, 
as  we  have  already  said,  the  soft  woods,  whether  evergreen  or 
deciduous,  predominate  largely.  There  are  some  small  groves 
of  ash,  and  large  bodies  of  oak  have  lately  been  discovered  on 
the  head  waters  of  Tongue  river,  near  the  southern  boundary. 
The  forests  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  settlements  have  suf- 
fered somewhat  from  the  wanton  depredations  of  settlers,  who 
often  destroy  half  a  dozen  small  trees  in  obtaining  one  of  requi- 
site size  for  their  purposes ;  but  even  in  those  sections,  where 
the  hillsides  have  been  stripped  entirely  bare,  there  is  a  sturdy 
and  flourishing  second  growth.  The  loss  from  forest  fires  is  far 
jfreater  than  from  any  other  source,  but  as  the  country  becomes 
61 


^^mi^ism^. 


f 

V 

1'A 


iM^mmis.^AiiL.^ 


p62  f*^^   trXSrEJTJV  JtMP/Jt/l. 

more  settled,  and  the  Indians,  who  arc  most  careless  with  fire,  are 
kept  upon  their  reservations,  these  will  become  less  frc<|iicnt. 
Until  the  present  year  (1880),  there  bein^i^  no  railroad  for  the 
transportation  of  ^rain  out  of  the  Territory,  anil  the  steam- 
boat navigation  interrupted  by  falls  and  rapids,  there  was  no  ex- 
port demand  for  Montana  grain.  This  is  all  changed  now  ;  the 
Northern  Pacific  enters  the  Territory  from  the  east,  and  is  already 
near  Powder  river,  while  the  Utah  and  Northern  is  already  at 
Helena,  and  will  probably  go  further,  and  the  Pend  d'Oreille 
Division  of  the  North  Pacific,  which  communicates  direcdy  with 
the  Pacific  through  the  Columbia  river,  will  soon  be  stretching 
down  the  valley  of  Clarke's  Fork.  With  these  three  outlets  the 
agricultural  lands  of  Montana  will  be  rapidly  taken  up,  and  there 
is  no  better  land  for  agricultural  crops  in  the  world.  The  yield 
per  acre  of  grain,  vegetables,  etc.,  with  irrigation  where  it  is 
needed,  and  without  it  where  it  is  not,  is  very  large,  and  the  quality 
is  of  the  best.  Montana  wheat  especially  is  unexcelled;  careful 
analysis  has  demonstrated  that  it  contains  a  larger  amount  of 
both  the  flesh  and  fat  producing  constituents  than  any  other,  and 
the  weight  is  from  sixty-four  to  sixty-nine  pouu  Js  to  the  bushel 
(the  standard  being  sixty),  and  the  average  yield  from  thirty  to 
forty  bushels.  The  Territory  will  not  only  be  self-sustaining  in 
respect  to  its  cereals,  but  will  have  for  many  years  to  come  a  large 
supply  for  exportation.  ti;f>ia/i^     af*l  ittvmMJi 

Zoology. — ^i'he  larger  game  animals  are  abundant  in  Montana. 
This  is  one  of  the  few  remaining  haunts  of  the  buffalo,  which  is 
now  found  in  considerable  numbers  both  north  of  the  Missouri 
and  south  of  the  Yellowstone.  The  moose  is  seen,  though  not 
in  large  numbers,  in  the  mountain  gorges.  The  elk  roam  in 
large  herds  on  the  mountain  slopes  and  in  the  valleys,  as  do  the 
two  species  of  deer.  The  Big  Horn  or  Rocky  Mountain  sheep 
and  the  antelope  are  at  home  all  over  the  Territory.  Bears, 
badgers,  gray  wolves,  panthers,  beaver,  otter,  marten  and  mink, 
are  found  in  the  forests  and  streams  in  great  numbers,  and  are 
largely  captured  for  their  pelts.  In  the  mountain  streams  are 
an  abundance  of  salmon  trout,  brook  trout  and  grayling ;  and 
in  their  season  the  rivers  and  lakes  are  alive  with  wild  gee^, 


lOUl.OGY  AND   Ct.tM.4TK  Of   MONTANA. 


gfij 


»  with  fire,  are 
less  rrc(|iient. 
ilroaci  for  the 
111  the  Htcam- 
re  was  no  ex- 
jjed  now ;  the 
and  is  already 

is  already  at 
•end  dOreille 
s  direcdy  with 
be  stretching 
'ee  outlets  the 

up,  and  there 
d.  The  yield 
n  where  it  is 
ind  the  quality 
elled;  careful 
er  amount  of 
any  other,  and 
to  the  bushel 
from  thirty  to 
-sustaining  in 
>  come  a  large 

t  in  Montana, 
ffalo,  which  is 
the  Missouri 
n,  though  not 
:  elk  roam  in 
eys,  as  do  the 
Quntain  sheep 
itory.  Bears, 
en  and  mink, 
ibers,  and  are 
1  streams  are 
jrayling ;  and 
Lh  vtrild  gee^, 


brant,  ducks  of  numerous  species,  and  teal.  The  birds  of  prey 
are  less  numerous  than  farther  south,  though  there  are  two 
species  of  eagle  and  many  hawks  and  owls.  Song  birds  are 
abundant. 

ClhnaU. — "In  a  general  way,"  says  Mr.  Thomson  P.  McElrath. 
in  his  excellent  little  volume  on  the  Yellowstone  valley,  just  pub- 
lished, "  the  climate  of  Montana  may  be  compared  to  that  of  the 
western  sections  of  the  Middle  States.  The  summers  are  very 
warm,  but,  as  a  rule,  the  winters  are  far  from  being  rigorous. 
The  mean  annual  temperature  of  the  valleys  of  Montana  is  48", 
which  is  higher  than  that  of  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Michi- 
gan, Wisconsin  or  Iowa,  and  only  a  litde  lower  than  that  of  Ne- 
braska, Illinois  and  Ohio.  Owing  to  the  purity  and  dryness  of 
the  atmosphere,  the  heat,  which  is  in  the  ascendency  during  five 
months  of  the  year,  is  seldom  oppressive.  There  is  a  reduced 
tendency  to  perspire,  and  out-door  exercise  with  the  mercury  at 
100°  is  not  nearly  so  uncomfortable  as  it  is  in  the  Kast  under 
considerably  lower  conditions  of  caloric.  A  brief  rainy  season 
sets  in  annually,  in  April  or  May,  lasting  with  considerably  more 
persistency  than  in  corresponding  latitudes  on  the  Missouri  river, 
until  the  middle  of  July,  under  the  refreshing  influence  of  which 
vegetation  receives  a  wonderful  impulse.  The  same  amount  of 
rain  distributed  through  the  whole  year  would  be  of  little  value 
to  the  agriculturist.  During  the  rest  of  the  year  rain  seldom 
falls  in  large  quantities."  ♦  vv    ^r  ;•  ,  '  ^i  ^-^  ■>;  /  -k;    .si'    •y»(-i 

^  The  average  mean  temperature  of  Helena,  Montana,  which  is 
1,000  feet  higher  than  many  of  the  valleys,  is  44.5  degrees; 
that  of  six  stations  in  Minnesota  for  the  same  time  41.6  degrees; 
the  amount  of  rain  and  melted  snow  at  Helena,  22.36  inches;  in 
Minnesota,  27,89  inches.  The  average  temperature  of  the  winter 
months  at  Helena  is  23.7  degrees ;  of  Minnesota,  21.3  degrees. 

*  In  the  firtt  pnrt  of  this  volume  we  animadverted  with  5ome  leverity  upon  some  papers  pub- 
lished in  the  North  American  Rniew  and  the  New  York  Tribune,  by  Colonel  (now  Brigadier. 
General)  }Iazen,  U.  S.  A.,  in  relation  to  the  climate,  rainfall  and  fertility  of  Montana.  These 
papers  have  brought  upon  Cieneral  (Colonel)  Hazen  a  large  but  just  measure  of  opprobrium, 
because  he  wrote  without  any  thorough  acquaintance  with  the  actual  climate  and  character  of 
the  region  he  was  denouncing,  and  because  many  of  his  statements  in  regard  to  it  have  been  effec- 
lually  disproved.  His  recent  appointment  aa  Chief  Signal  Service  Officer  may  convince  him  of 
his  errors. 


mmmmm 


*3,K*!'«»W.t-**»'*>!<**l.«l'' 


^  .      OUH    WKSTKRS   KMrtHK. 

The  mran  annual  trmixratiirr  of  Maine  and  Nrw  Hampshire 
for  six  yrar«  (from  iS66  to  187^1  was  43.7  d^prreji ;  of  Vrrmoni. 

43.2  degrefs;  that  of  \\\v  vallfyn  of  Montana,  48  drprfrn;  yet 
half  of  Main*'  and  nearly  thr  wir  l»'of  Vrrniont  and  Nt  w  Hamp- 
shire are  Ixlow  the  45th  paralUI.  whi<rh  forms  Montana's)  loiith- 
ern  boundary.  The  mean  annual  temperature  of  Winconsin  for 
five  years  (1866  to  1871)  was  44.8  d.  rrecs;  of  Michij^'an,  45..' 
dejjrees ;  of  Iowa.  46.4  <leirrees  ;  Massa>  lius<rtts  and  N'W  York. 

47.3  degrees;  Connectimt,  47.6  dt'jrrees ;    Ncbraidca.  48.6  de- 
grees; Illinois,  49.9  degrees;  Ohio,  51.2  dejrreeti. 

The  Missouri  river  at  Helena  in  thorouj^'hly  open  a  month 
earlier  each  sprinjij  than  at  Omaha,  500  miles  further  south.  The 
rainy  season  is  in  June,  while  the  amount  of  rainfall  is  three- 
fourths  that  of  Minnesota. 

The  winters  are  j^eiierally  open,  the  lon^'  nights  at  thai  season 
being  quite  cold,  but  the  days  brilliant  and  lar  mil  ier  than  would 
be  expected  in  so  high  a  latitude.  The  dryness  of  the  atmosphere 
likewise  prevents  the  mid  from  being  as  sev.rely  felt  as  it  is  in 
damp  climates.  TIi  now  fall  in  the  valleys  is  in  most  winters 
quite  light,  and  aft'T  l.iiiinLj  it  is  quickly  melted  or  cnrrie*!  off  by 
evaporation.  The  army  officers  stationed  at  I'^^rt  Keo_;h  declare 
that  until  the  past  winter  th<'V  have  never  enjoyed  sleighinjj  on 
the  prairies  for  a  week  at  a  time,  except  occasionally  in  March, 
when  the  clear  weather  which  had  prevailed  almost  iinbrokenly 
since  the  previous  rainy  season  gave  way  to  a  short  period  of 
cold  squalls  accompanied  by  snow.  These  wind  storms  are  liable 
to  occur  at  any  time  during  the  year,  resembling  in  the  sudden 
lowering  of  temperature  which  accompanies  them  the  chilling 
"  northers"  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  occasionally  equalling  in 
their  vehemence  and  abrupt  subsidence  the  hurricanes  which  pre- 
vail on  our  South  Atlantic  coast  yearly,  from  the  middle  of  Au- 
gust to  the  middle  of  September.  '.*  ;  v 

Another  phenomenon  of  a  more  agreeable  char.u  ter  witnessed 
frequently  in  the  winter  season  is  the  occurrence  of  the  so-called 
"  Chinook  wind,"  a  balmy  zephyr,  which,  wafted  from  the  Pari6c 
Ocean  and  penetrating  the  gaps  and  passes  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, converts  winter  cold  into  summer  warmdi  so  suddenly  that 


w  Mampthirci 
;  of  Vrrmont. 

<le>j:  r»'rs  ;  yrt 
New  Hamp- 

ilana's  !  oiith 

IVisconsin  for 
i(  hij^arj.  45.: 

(1  N'W  York, 
ka.  48.6  dc- 


ppn  a  month 
r  south.  Ihe 
ifall  is  three- 
It  that  Hcaiton 

r  than  would 
e  atmosphere 
"It  as  it  is  in 
most  winters 
rnrrird  off  by 
fo^li  flcrlare 

sleighin;j  on 
lly  in  March, 
t  iinbrokcnly 
:>rt  period  of 
rms  are  liable 
I  the  sudden 

the  chilling 
'  equalling  in 
es  which  pre- 
Iddlc  of  Au- 

ter  witnessed 
the  so-called 
n  the  Pnrific 
[ocky  Moun- 
uddenly  that 


Hometimen  a  foot  d<  pih  >  snow  will  cvaftoratr  and  di^appr^ar 
undrr  itH  inlhunic  in  ilic  coiirjwj  %A  a  sin^U-  day.  Tlii?*  1^  the 
rcali/.ition  ol  ilt*^  "J.ifmn  current"  thcorv  ■  i^nd  while  it  prevails, 
it  fully  justiticH  that  idea.  Ortc  writer  K.kyii:  "I  Imve  known  a 
fool  of  snow  on  the  level  to  fall  during  the  nij;ht  and  every  par^h 
of  it  to  be  melted  l>efore  noon  of  the  next  lia) .  and  there  are 
open  Hpellh  in  mid-winlrr,  oU  w  lasting  t^any  dayH,  when  the 
trapper  i  .  comloilabh*  without  .1  coat  ovt:r  bis  woollen  nhirt." 
(ieneral  Miks  and  oth»;rs  at  I'ort  Kcogii  testify  to  similar  facft. 
Tin:  winter  of  1879-80  was  exceptionally  oKI  and  protracted. 
I'roin  the  end  of  November  to  the  middle  of  March  there  was 
almost  continuous  sleighing  in  the  lower  longue  river  region, 
though  the  snow  was  not  ileep  and  thf  mercury,  ranging  in  the 
vicinity  of  zero  for  several  vv^eks,  reached  on  one  occasion,  and 
probably  only  momentarily,  on  the  night  ^ji  December  24.  1879, 
as  Iowa  j)oiiu  as — 57' .  The  Indians  .ibout  I-ort  Keo^h  declaretl 
emphatically  that  they  had  never  known  the  cold  weather  before 
to  be  so  intense  and  so  long  continued.  Notwithstanding  the 
remarkably  low  temperature  which  prevailed  for  so  long  a  period, 
no  extraordinary  discomfort  was  experit;nced  beyond  a  few  frozen 
fingers  and  toes  on  the  part  of  trav«llers  and  soldiers  unavoidably 
exposed  on  the  bleak  prairie  roads,  and  not  a  single  instance  has 
been  announced  of  cattle  perishing  lioin  cold  on  thrir  snow-cov- 
ered pastures.  The  "  Chinook  wind  '  did  not  seem  to  manifest 
itself  as  efficiently  as  usual  during  th;if  winter  season.  There 
was  no^  much  snow,  however,  in  the  valley  twenty  miles  above 
Miles  City;  and  eighty  miles  up  the  Tongue  river  the  cold  was 
not  nearly  .so  severe  as  that  above  recorded.  Subjoined  is  a 
condensed  summary  never  before  published  of  the  meteorological 
observations  made  at  the  Unites*  States  sii^nal  station  at  Fort 
Keogh  since  the  occupation  of  the  valley  by  white  residents.  I  he 
observations  were  begun  ift  the  middle  of  January,  1879.  The 
table  shows  ilie  highest  and  lowest  temperature  recorded  durmg 
each  month,  the  average  daily  temperature,  the  range  of  temper- 
ature in  each  month,  and  the  total  rainfall. 


^ 


OVM    HTASrMA.y   i(.Wr/MM. 

1  RMrKRA  run. 


MONTN, 


I  1879. 

{aniury  (from  ijlh). 
cbriiAry 

Mail  h.. 

Auril 

May 

June ,  ... 

July 

I  AiigUKt..,.. 

JMepi«mt)«r 

'Ckiobtr 

Novemtwr 

DtftemlMsr 


HighcH.  IrfiwMt 


January.,, 

!  Febrtiiiry , 

March 


I  SAO. 


• 

S» 

76 
7* 
«S 

94 
100 

5i 

90 

94 
4» 

50 
54 
7« 


t 
II 
15 

•3 
30 
40 

50 

40 

SJ 

la 

—  18 
-«9 
— M 


Annual  raiiRr,  146  ilcgrcai.  , 

Total  rainfall  and  melted  iinow  in  1879,  ••.75  inches. 


Me*n 
i«m|i«r- 

•tMft. 

• 

lUnge. 

Tulsl  rain- 
tell,  InilMM. 

i 

• 

J« 

•5 

.*6 

*S 

6; 

.69 

40 

101 

.iH 

60 

SJ 

a,  to 

66 

55 

•75 

74 

54 

5  »J 

»J 

SO 

5:2: 

»J 

J! 

7' 

•44 

5« 

1^ 

a  47 

4» 

V. 

.11 

1 

5< 

•  •• 

M 

3» 

tti 

n 

»7 

... 

,6 

5« 

75  inches. 

Tne^gures  in  the  fifth  column  form  a  more  effective  refutation 
of  the  "  barren  land "  theory  than  any  arjjuinent  that  could  be 
framed  in  words  alone.  But  the  collateral  facts  speak  yet  more 
emphatically  than  the  figures ! 

In  further  illustration  of  the  climate,  we  add  the  weather  report 
from  Fort  Benton,  Montana,  which  lies  on  or  near  the  forty- 
eighth  parallel :    ,>      »   ,  i  if.  „•  ^  J 


Weather  Report  at  Fort  Btnton  from  January  i,  itftjojufy  f,  1879. 


:«Ej,;!ll''.'«'yH>r».j?j;is    lai 


I  fJii.  of  fnir  day* 

I  No.  or  cloudy  day* 

Mean  temperature  of  ytar. . 

Sprink' 

Samncr , 

Autumn 

Wfiiwr 


Average  annual  fait  of  rain 
or  melted  mow 


1873. 


60 

37. as 
11° 
48» 
6i» 

In. 

17.00 


•«73- 


391 

as* 

In. 
13,73 


l«74- 


•JI 

4a».$ 

'f 

6«» 

Id, 

33.76 


43''-5 
17' 

a: 
t 

31.84 


1876. 


386 

3o".7S 
14*^ 

It: 

130.64 


1877. 


3?* 

4i'.00 

34* 

5o» 
58" 
"• 
In. 

13.73 


Ffnt  «ix 

monthi 

1878. 

1879. 

«9S 

110 

169 

70 

48«'.c» 

37* 

ai« 

15: 

58- 

t 

Inchc«. 

30.40 

31.60 

T«)»«l  rata. 

rt' 

t^ll,  liuhM. 

5 

.16 

1 

,69 

1 

t 

10 

5 

> 

75 

» 

S 

»3 

> 

s 

1 

n 

44 

i 

I 

47 

1 

II 

1 

5< 

1 

1 

3« 

\ 

«7 

» 

5« 

ve  refutation 

lat  could  be 

ak  yet  more 

r 

'ather  report 

ir  the  forty. 

I'fK     h   (I     f  u'jf 

fyl,  187 

9.      ■' 

ll^l 

ril  ifVI 

moniht 

1878 

1879. 

•95 

110 

169 

70 

iV^.w 

) 

37» 

ai« 

23: 

58- 

r 

Inchn. 

0.40 

31.60 

1 

MATMOMOt.OQiVAl    TMBIMS,  ^ 

Thi»  shown  an  avrrn){e  of  373  f^ii  (lay*  for  emch  year. 
VV«'  iiUo  ){ivr  (ruin  th«?  .Siirvryor-(*fnrrar^  ofihcc  in   Helena 
the  iolliuuying  record  of  temperature  tuid  weather  in  1878-9: 

MhhJ  */  Ttmf-tHttm^  4i  thltm*,  V«w/ii«<«,  ^*m  Jmh%  i'7ii  ^  7*"*'>  ii79i/«'AH^,  AiAm* 
•1/  /4/  tJH^t  */  ikt  Smt^-ty**  li*n4r*l  fur  M»mi,t»». 


MoiiUi. 


,  kity,  1II7II 

AnKHol,    1H78 

H«|itrnili«r,  187I, , 
(KloUr,  1H7N.,., 
Novrnilirr,  lM7t. . 
Drcrnilirr,  l87t.  . 
Iiitiimrv,   1K79.  ,  , , 

I  r«iiru«r)f,  I •79,,,, 

'  M>irih,iK79 

I  April,  1R79 

M«y.  i«79 

Juiia,  1879, 


Fur  the  yctr. 


1 

1 

i 

* 

J 

• 

• 

• 

fS 

$0 

74 

l« 

8? 

5« 

JO 

70  > 
545^ 

70 

la 

46H 

14 

Of 

«a 

4i« 

ij 

5' 

0 

•7K 

9 

li 

— u 

T 

«J 

—II 

''> 

71 

I 

JHH 

14 

70 

»7 

4«» 

16 

H^ 

JO 

4) 

59  H 

14 
1* 

^ 

—  II 

44.6 

aaa 

a 

10 

la 

5 

«5 

5 

4 

4 

•J 

li 

S 


I 


I 


la 


t 
S 


3J 


Wc  add  also  the — 

Mtttotvlogy  of  Virginia  City,  AfoHtana,  1878. 


Vntr.... 
Jiniiiiry. . . 
Trbnuiry. , 
March  .... 

Mky. ','..',', 
Jmm 

Auiiuti  . 
lUfwmtrr 
October  . . 
Nuv«inb«r 
Dtccmbcr 


l\ 


1 


-•» 

0 

4t.t 

— ♦ 

•J.I 

!• 

"1 

11 

■9 

3vt 

15 

*7» 

4« 

Si 

5; 

9 

J«» 

II 

IJ« 

-•J 

*ri 

n 

u 

4S 

5u 

JO 

£ 
ii 


MoKTUm, 


O.UI 

l.lj 

u.it 
>  lA 
il« 

o  fa 

a.ji 


par  ctnl. 
M" 
«»1 
6.. 

5*» 
"2 

a' 

J«9 
4S4 
341 

»7 
J40 
7».o 


lAllollg 


I 


•9.r'J 

•9.»»* 

•V.7«« 

•9.771 
•9.714 
•9.777 
»«.7*» 


WiMI 


Prvvalllna  Wiod* 

in  in* 

Onitr  uflhalr  tm\tnnty. 


DiraflUin 

Cila, «.  K.,  W.,».W.,N.I. 

Calm,  S.  f...*.  W  ,  N    H. 

LVtIn.  t.  W.,t.  V.W. 

ft.  I'..,  I  aim,  H.  W..  W. 

W.ll,  B..t.  W,  K.olai, 

Calm,l.  k.,N.  K.,  W..I.W. 

Lalm,«,B..  W,  N.W..  N.a, 

Calm,!.  R.,  W.,S.,  N.  R. 

CaJm.ll.  K„K.  R.,  I!,.  W. 

Calm.  I.  ■..  W..  N.  I. 

Calm,  W.,  N.  W..  II.  W, 

Calm,  a  R  ,  W. 
W„  calm.  8.  W„  N.  W. 


Mining. — It  is  matter  of  history  that  in   1852,  a  Scotch  half- 
breed  from  the  Red  River  country,  returning  from  California, 


..,.iy-*«,^  ■ 


q68  our  western  empire. 

found  gold  on  Gold  creek,  in  Deer  Lodge  county.  This  was,  of 
course,  a  placer,  though  apparently  not  a  very  rich  one.  Others 
who  had  heard  of  this  find,  ir  1856  prospected  Benetsee  creek, 
in  the  same  vicinity,  and  found  some  gold,  as  did  another  party 
whocamf  thither  in  1858  ;  but  being  without  provisions  or  tools, 
and  the  Indians  being  hostile,  they  soon  abandoned  the  country. 
In  i860,  Henry  Thomas,  better  known  as  "Gold  Tom,"  sunk  a 
shaft  down  to. the  bed  rock  on  Benetsee  creek,  a  depth  of  thirty 
feet;  but  owing  to  his  poverty  and  disadvantages  for  work, 
having  but  little  food  and  but  few  tools,  he  only  made  about  ;iii  .50 
•a  day.  From  i860  to  1863,  the  Stuart  brothers,  James,  Granville 
and  Thomas,  a  Mr.  Anderson,  M.  Bozeman,  S.  T.  Hauser,  F. 
Louthan  and  others,  were  the  principal  pioneers  in  gold  discov- 
eries in  what  is  now  known  as  Southwestern  Montana.  The 
earlier  discoveries  were  all  of  placers,  some  of  them  exceedingly 
rich.  Alder  gulch,  on  which  Virginia  City  is  situated,  was  prob- 
ably the  richest  placer  ever  discovered  in  any  part  of  the  world. 
At  first  the  product  was  from  jjiioo  to  j52oo  a  day  for  each  man, 
and  in  the  first  five  years  after  its  discovery  Alder  gulch  and  its 
tributaries  yielded  on  ^n  average  jJ8,ooo,ooo  a  year.  The  total 
product  from  this  single  placer  up  to  the  end  of  1876  was  $70,- 
000,000.  Latterly  it  has  fallen  off  to  ji6oo,ooo  or  $800,000  a 
year.  Silver  Creek  gulch,  about  twelve  miles  from  Helena,  and 
Last  Chance  gulch,  upon  which  the  town  of  Helena  itself  is  situ- 
ated, have  also  proved  very  rich  placers,  the  two  yielding  about 
JJi  6,000,000  since  their  discovery.  Mining  is  still  continued  in 
these  and  other  placers,  and  the  advent  of  railroads  into  the  re- 
gion has  caused  machinery  and  timber  to  be  brought  there  at  so 
much  less  expense,  and  tlie  gold  produce  sent  to  market  at  so 
much  cheaper  rates,  that  hydraulic  mining  on  a  most  extensive 
scale  is  to  be  resorted  to  in  all  the  best  placers.  The  total  product 
of  gold  from  placer  mining  in  the  Territory  has  been  variously 
estimated  at  from  $120,000,000  to  $140,000,000.  It  is  difficult 
to  determine  the  exact  amount,  as  the  returns  of  the  placers  and 
the  quartz  veins  or  lodes  have  not  in  all  cases  been  kept  separate. 
It  is  probably  not  less  than  $1 25,000,000. 

Quartz  mining  for  gold  began  in  Montana  almost  simultane- 


m^ 


'^;MJ1l4a#»f«.. 


QUARTZ  MINING  IN  MONTANA. 


969 


This  was,  of 
one.     Others 
netsee  creek, 
nother  party 
lions  or  tools, 
the  country, 
oin,"  sunk  a 
ioth  of  thirty 
es  for  work, 
i  about  #1.50 
les,  Granville 
'.  Hauser,  F. 
gold  discov- 
)ntana.     The 
exceedingly 
:d,  was  prob- 
)f  the  world, 
or  each  man, 
gulch  and  its 
'.     The  total 
76  was  j^7o,- 
'  jj58oo,r>oo  a 
Helena,  and 
itself  is  situ- 
siding  about 
continued  in 
•  into  the  re- 
:  there  at  so 
larket  at  so 
'St  extensive 
otal  product 
:n  variously 
t  is  difificult 
placers  and 
pt  separate, 

s[i»ultan,er 


ously  with  that  of  the  placers.  The  first  lode  located  was  discov- 
ered near  Bannock,  in  Beaverhead  county,  in  1862,  and  the  mine 
was  called  the  Dakota.  Mr.  Warner,  in  his  "  History  and  Di- 
rectory of  Montana,"  says  th?t  the  decomposed  quartz  found 
near  the  surface  of  this  vein  was  taken  down  the  hill  on  which  it 
was  situated,  to  the  creek,  on  pack  animals,  and  the  gold  was 
there  washed  out.  In  the  spring  of  1863  a  small  water-mill  for 
crushing  this  quartz  was  completed.  The  stamps  were  made  of 
old  wagon-wheel  tires  welded  together  and  had  wooden  stems. 
Other  mills  were  subsequently  erected,  and  gold  in  small  quan- 
tities has  been  taken  from  this  and  other  mines  in  the  vicinity, 
almost  ever  since.  Gold  quartz  ledges  were  discovered  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  many  other  placer  mines,  and  the  ores  have  been  worked 
on  a  small  scale  in  diiferent  parts  of  the  Territory,  A  few  of  the 
lodes  have  produced  large  quantities  of  bullion.  The  chief  ob- 
stacles to  the  development  of  the  gold  quartz  mines  of  Montana 
have  been  lack  of  capital,  bad  management  due  to  want  of  expe- 
rienced superintendents,  and  the  enormous  cost  of  machinery. 
When  freights  from  Chicago  or  St.  Louis  were  never  lower  than 
five  cents,  and  frequently  as  high  as  ten,  twelve  or  fifteen  cents  a 
pound,  it  cost  two  or  three  times  as  much  to  bring  machinery  into 
Montana  as  was  paid  for  it  at  the  place  where  it  was  manufac- 
tured, and  a  man  not  only  had  to  have  a  good  mine  but  consid- 
erable ready  capital  in  order  to  be  able  to  develop  it  and  bring 
it  into  a  paying  condition.  Some  of  the  n^ost  promising  gold 
mining  enterprises  in  this  Territory  have  also  failed  on  account 
of  ignorance  or  extravagance  in  their  management,  and  these 
failures  have  deterred  capitalists,  who  at  best  were  timid  about 
investing  the!.'  money  in  a  country  so  difificult  of  access,  from 
becoming  interested  even  in  the  good  properties. 

/The  principal  mines  of  gold  in  quartz  lodes  are  almost  as 
numerous  as  the  placers.  After  the  Dakota,  which  still  yields  a 
fair  amount,  are  the  Union  lode  and  others  in  Lewis  and  Clarke 
county,  which  have  yielded  about  13,000,000 ;  the  Atlantic  Cable 
lode,  in  Deer  Lodge  county,  a  very  rich  mine  ;  while  there  are 
mines  which  have  paid  well  for  a  number  of  years  at  Unionville 
and  the  Park,  four  miles  fro.m  Helena,  at  Silver  Star,  Summit; 


\'-~ 


ttVtfWJC.'KvipVlfrftl^:*-*'^?*.'^'--'^  ^' 


or 


\. 


OUR   WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

Alder,  Meadow  Creek,  Iron  Rod,  Bannock,  Radersburg,  Pony, 
Boulder  and  Highland.  But  the  richest  quartz  gold  mines  in 
Montana  are  those  of  the  Stemple  District,  fifteen  to  twenty 
miles  northwest  of  Helena.  The  famous  Penobscot  and  other 
extensions  of  the  Snow  Drift  lode  are  probably  the  most  valuable 
gold  quartz  mines  in  the  world.  Mr.  Nathan  S.  Vestel  first  de- 
veloped the  Penobscot  mine,  which  is  on  the  summit  of  the  main 
range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  His  first  efforts  in  1877  did  not 
meet  with  much  encouragement,  and  late  in  the  year  he  found 
himself  ^^7,000  in  debt  and  in  doubt  where  he  could  obtain  the 
means  of  payment.  But  the  three  shafts  he  had  sunk  on  the 
Penobscot  claim  began  to  show  good  results,  and  the  first  clean- 
ups from  a  little  five  stamp  mill,  which  had  been  brought  there, 
gave  him  $20,000,  with  which  he  paid  his  debts  and  had  $13,000 
over.  ri»e  yield  now  increased  rapidly,  some  of  the  ore  yielding 
$1,000  in  gold  to  the  ton,  and  ^he  average  being  more  than  $100 
to  the  ton  aside  from  the  waste,  which  was  considerable,  as  it  was 
in  very  fine  particles.  In  the  summer  of  1878  he  sold  the  mine 
to  Mr.  William  B.  Frue,  of  Detroit,  on  terms  from  which  he  re- 
alized $350,000.  It  has  pt  /ed  a  very  profitable  investment, 
yielding  about  $23,000  a  month.  Mr.  Vestel  immediately  com- 
menced developing  ^n  Aher  mine,  900  feet  below  the  Penobscot, 
which  is  yielding  about  $12,000  a  month.  It  is  called  the  Bel- 
mont. Othe'-  mine,  of  this  district  and  vicinity  are  the  Blue 
Bird,  Whip-poor-v'ill,  Black  Hawk,  Viola,  Grey  Eagle,  Emma 
Miller,  Mount  Pleasant,  Green  Northern  Light,  Piegan,  Humbug 
and  Long  Tom.  These  are  all  paying  largely.  The  gold  quartz 
mines  have  yielded  since  1864  over  $20,000,000;  of  the  $162,- 
000,000  of  the  precious  metals  sent  to  market  to  the  end  of  1879, 
about  $145,000,000  are  gold  and  the  remainder  silver. 

The  silver  ores  of  Montana  arc  mostly  refractory,  and  have 
proved  difiicult  of  reduction,  and  in  the  past  would  only  pay 
when  they  were  very  rich.  Now  the  machinery,  and  concen- 
trating, stamping,  smelting,  wasting,  chlorodizing,  amalgamating 
and  leaching  works  are  all  in  the  Territory  and  easily  accessible  by 
railway,  and  the  silver  oresv  which  are,  many  of  them,  very  rich, 
^^.^i^^^f^^t  pliQ^its  to  tli«  miflt^-owneors  aad  ore  reducers* 


'tMimii 


isiiis 


burg,  Pony, 
U  mines  in 
n  to  twenty 
)t  and  other 
)ost  valuable 
stel  first  de- 
of  the  main 
877  did  not 
ir  he  found 
obtain  the 
unk  on  the 
I  first  dean- 
ought  there, 
liad  $i3,cxjo 
ore  yielding 
e  than  jjioo 
ale,  as  it  was 
>ld  the  mine 
hich  he  re- 
investment, 
Jiately  com- 
:  Penobiicotf 
ed  the  Bel- 
re  the  Blue 
gle,  Emma 
n,  Humbug 
gold  quartz 
the  $162,- 
ndof  1879, 

',  and  have 
i  only  pay 
id  concen-  , 
algamating 
cessible  by 
.  very  richj 
'  reducers. 


SILVER  MtNiNG  IN  MONTANA.  A«f 

The  most  important  of  these  works  are  those  of  the  Alta  Mon- 
tana Company,  which  owns  several  mines  also,  at  Wickes,  about 
twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  southwest  of  Helena,  and  about  mid- 
way between  the  Utah  and  Northern  Railroad  and  the  Rocky 
Mountain  Division  of  the  Northern  Pacific.  When  these  works 
were  first  established  they  proved  a  failure,  but  they  have  now 
been  taken  up  by  an  enterprising  company  from  the  East,  with 
large  capital,  and  are  achieving  a  grand  success.  The  Colorado 
and  Boulder  Districts  have  a  large  number  of  silver  mines,  with 
very  rich  lodes,  many  of  which  will  contribute  to  the  supply  of 
ores  to  be  reduced  at  Wickes.  Another  extensive  silver  lode, 
the  earliest  one  discovered  in  Montana,  is  in  the  district  of  Phil- 
lipsburg,  in  Deer  Lodge  county,  nearly  100  miles  west-southwest 
of  Helena,  in  the  elevated  valley  between  the  main  Rocky  Moun- 
tain chain — the  "Great  Divide" — and  the  Bitter  Root  Moun- 
tains. This  is  on  the  surveyed  route  of  the  Rocky  Mountain 
Division  of  the  Northern  Pacific.  The  Speckled  Trout,  the 
Algonquin  and  the  Hope  mine  are  the  largest  and  most  pfomisin 
mines  in  this  district.  These  have  yielded  somewhat  largely 
argentiferous  galena,  with  considerable  sulphur  and  other  com- 
binations. The  yield  is  from  seventy-five  to  ninety  ounces  of 
silver  to  the  ton.  Owing  to  heavy  expenses,  these  mines  have 
not  proved  very  profitable  till  recently.  But  the  most  remark- 
able of  all  the  mining  districts  is  Butte  and  its  vicinity,  also  in 
Deer  Lodge  county,  but  east  of  the  Great  Di/ide.  The  silver 
ores  were  first  discovered  in  1864  (or  perhaps  earlier),  but  the 
working  of  them  could  not  be  made  profitable  on  account  of  their 
refractory  nature  and  the  great  cost  of  transportation.  They 
again  attracted  attention  in  1874-5,  and  Butte  City  has  a  popu- 
lation of  about  3,500,  and  in  its  immediate  vicinity  are  twenty  or 
more  mines,  all  yielding  well.  The  ores  are  of  different  kinds, 
and  require  different  processes  for  their  reduction.  There  is  a 
silver-gold  belt,  with  no  copper,  but  some  galena  and  oxide  and 
carbonate  of  manganese.  Above  the  water-line  this  is  free  mill- 
ing, and  can  be  reduced  with  a  moderate  amount  of  labor.  Below 
the  water-line  it  is  baser,  and  requires  chldrodization  and  roasting 
for  its  reduction.     The  silver  predominates,  btit  there  is  a  small 


"of 


...,a*.«i'few.'- 


•!«i«aaM*««*J«»«»»  ="'>«'='•■' "■** 


''"ip 


g^9  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

amount  of  gold  mixed  with  it.  The  yield  ranges  from  twenty-five 
to  one  hundred  and  eighty  ounces  of  silver  to  the  ton.  One  mile 
east  of  this  is  a  belt  of  copper  ore  of  great  richness,  but  containing 
some  arsenic.  The  yield  is  about  400  pounds  to  the  ton.  In  a 
contrary  direction,  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  the  ai'ver-gold  belt, 
just  beyond  the  Butte,  is  an  extensive  lode  of  chloride  of  silver,  on 
which  several  mines  have  been  opened,  but  though  apparently 
very  rich,  it  has  not  yet  been  largely  developed.  There  are  now 
extensive  reverberatory  furnaces  for  smelting  these  ores,  and 
when  reduced  to  a  matte  carrying  from  600  to  900  ounces  of 
silver  to  the  ton,  they  are  sent  to  Denver  to  be  parted.  Most 
of  the  mines  are  what  are  known  as  surface  minec ;  that  is,  they 
do  not  penetrate  below  the  water-line.  Indeed,  it  was  found  that 
the  ores  rapidly  depreciated  in  quality  as  they  approached  this 
lin6. '  The  owners  of  the  Alice  mine,  one  of  the  best  of  the  sur- 
face mines,  had  the  courage,  against  the  opinion  of  all  the  other 
miners,  to  go  below  the  water-line,  and,  following  the  vein,  to 
ascertain  whether  it  would  not  improve  as  they  reached  deeper 
levels.  Th^y  have  expended  $600,000  on  this  experiment,  all 
of  which,  however,  had  been  made  out  of  the  mine,  and  at  300 
feet  depth  found  the  ore  much  better,  and  at  400  and  500  feet 
they  were  richer  than  at  the  surface.  Encouraged  by  this  they 
have  proceeded  to  strike  the  vein  at  a  depth  of  800  feet.  The 
silver  deposits  at  Butte  are  believed  to  be  more  extensive  than 
any  yet  discovered  in  Montana.  The  production  of  silver  and 
gold  at  this  camp  to  September,  1880,  had  been  somewhat  more 
than  $4,000,000,  and  is  likely  to  be  largely  increased. 

Glendale  and  the  Trapper  district,  situated  in  and  around  the 
Trapper  Creek  CaBon,  in  Beaverhead  county,  but  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  "Great  Divide,"  has  come  into  notice  within  the  last 
four  years,  and  is  regarded  by  Mr.  Z,  L.  White  as  one  of  the 
two  successful  silver  camps  of  the  Territory,  Butte  being  the 
other.  The  mines  which  lave  proved  most  profitable  are  on 
White  Lion  Mountain,  about  9,000  feet  above  the  sea.  The  ore 
is  found  in  a  «:de  belt  of  dolomite  or  soft  white  limestone,  lying 
between  two  limestone  strata  of  a  much  harder  texture.  The 
I?u)k  .of  die  or§  ioihe^.rolosgjsdecoTOPQaed,  earthy,  and  easily 


mm 


B^iiltnillilfffllliii'- 


VKORAHLE  EKTliNSlON  OF  hfrNING  DISTRICT'^. 


twenty-five 
One  mile 
t  containing 
ton.     In  a 
?r-goI(J  belt, 
of  silver,  on 
apparently 
ire  are  now 
ores,  and 
ounces  of 
ted.     Most 
that  is,  they 
s  found  that 
oached  this 
of  the  sur- 
.11  the  other 
the  vein,  to 
:hed  deeper 
►eriment,  all 
and  at  300 
nd  500  feet 
jy  this  they 
I  feet.     The 
snsive  than 
silver  and 
:what  more 

around  the 
the  eastern 
tin  the  last 
one  of  the 

being  the 
ble  are  on 
.  The  ore 
itone,  lying 
ture.     The 

and  easily 


973 


mined  with  pick  and  spade.  It  consistsof  silver,  copi..jr,  sulphur, 
lead,  arsenic,  antimony,  aluminum  and  silica,  with  0(  isionally  a 
little  undecomposed  galena.  It  yields  on  an  average  irom  eighty 
to  one  hundred  and  twenty  ounces  of  silver  to  a  ton. 

There  are  several  copper  mines  in  the  Territor^  one  large 
deposit  of  copper  ores  being  at  Copperopolis,  on  the  liead  waters 
of  the  Musselshell  river.  There  is  also  a  beginning  of  iron 
mining  in  the  Territory.  Coal  mining  is  becoming  u  profitable 
pursuit  along  the  Missouri  and  Yellowstone  Divisions  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  The  mining  products  of  Montana 
in  1879  were  about  $10,000,000 — an  amount  which  will  soon  be 
doubled. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  all  the  vein  and  lode  mining,  whether 
of  gold  or  silver,  has  been  confined  to  the  southwestern  section 
of  Montana,  a  region  lying  west  of  a  line  drawn  southward  from 
the  junction  of  the  Dearborn  river  and  the  Missouri,  and  striking 
the  Yellowstone  at  or  near  Fort  Ellis,  thence  along  the  Yellow- 
stone to  the  Yellowstone  National  Park.  It  comprises  both 
slopes  of  the  "Great  Divide,"  extends  across  the  valleys  beyond, 
and  includes  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Bitter  Root  Mountains. 
That  this  is  not  the  only  part  of  the  Territory  which  contains 
gold  deposits  appears  from  the  fact  that  rich  placers  have  been 
found  in  Missoula  county,  northwest  175  miles  or  more  from 
Helena,  and  east  and  northeast  of  the  Missouri  river  as  far  as 
the  slopes  of  the  Bear's  Paw  Mountains,  northeast  of  Fort  Ben- 
ton ;  and  where  there  are  placers  the  gold  and  silver  InHes  are 
not  far  off.  We  may  look  confidently  for  further  discoveries  of 
both  gold  and  silver  in  the  detached  and  isolated  mountains  of 
the  Territory,  and  very  possibly  extensive  gold  lodes  in  the 
Powder  river  range,  in  the  southeast  of  the  Territory,  that  range 
having  strong  geological  affinities  with  the  Black  Hills.  There 
have  been  some  gold  and  silver  lodes  of  rich  promise  recently 
discovered  on  Clarke's  fork  of  the  Yellowstone,  about  the  middle 
of  the  Crow  Indian  reservation,  and  negotiations  are  now  in 
progress  with  the  Crows  to  cede  this  part  of  their  reservation. 

AgricultMral  Productiom. — Writers  on  Montana  have  gener- 
ally estimated  its  arable  lands  at  15,000,000,  or  at  the  utmost 


,'/«/a)®S«a'8«»«Wl«i»4fi«)lul8i*«W*5»^:'^'^-'"«  " 


r:.-^.^;^ 


974 


OUR    WKHTF.KN  E  At  PIKE. 


'■'  I  ■ 


16,000,000  acres  ;  but  the  recent  report  jf  the  Surveyor- General 
of  the  Territory,  and  of  the  missionaries  add  travellers  who  have 
been  up  the  valley  of  the  Yellowstone  and  through  Eastern  Mon- 
tana indicate  that  there  are  millions  of  acres  which,  with  moder- 
ate irrigation,  for  which  the  facilities  are  abundant,  will  yield 
immense  crops,  and  in  fact  a  part  are  already  yielding  crops 
which  astonish  all  beholders.  Of  the  agricultural  productions  of 
the  valleys  and  benches  of  Western  Montana,  the  affluents  of 
Clarke's  'brk  of  Columbia  river,  of  the  Jefferson,  Madison  and 
Gallatin,  and  of  the  Yellowstone  and  the  upper  Missouri,  we  will 
let  Mr.  Zimri  L.  White,  the  cautious  and  able  correspondent  of 
the  Nc'ia  York  Tribune,  tell  us : 

"The  agricultural  lands  of  Montana  are  the  valleys.  The 
main  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  extends  through  the  Terri- 
tory generally  in  a  northerly  and  southerly  direction,  and  from 
this  there  are  spurs  and  auxiliary  ranges  extending  in  all  direc- 
tions and  covering  nea.ly  the  whole  face  of  the  country  except 
in  the  north  aa.l  east,  where  there  are  extensive  elevated  plains. 
Between  these  ranges  flow  hundreds  of  beautiful  clear-water 
streams,  some  large  and  som  -  small,  and  bordering  these  rivers 
and  creeks  are  fine  rich  valleys  from  one  to  ten  or  twenty  miles 
in  width.  The  soil  in  the  valleys  is  an  alluvial  deposit,  and  the 
land  generally  has  a  gende  and  regular  slope  from  the  bed  of 
the  stream  to  the  foot  of  the  bench  which  separates  the  valley 
from  the  foot-hills.  So  true  is  this  slope  that  in  almost  every  in- 
stance water  taken  out  in  a  ditch  parallel  with  the  stream  can  be 
made  to  flow  over  every  foot  of  land  below  it.  The  benches,  of 
which  there  are  sometimes  several  and  soiuetimes  only  one,  are 
simply  continuations  ot  the  valley  at  a  higher  elevation.  They 
frequently  look  like  great  terraces  rising  one  above  the  other,  and 
where  the  quantity  of  water  in  the  stream  and  the  fall  are  sufficient 
to  make  irrigation  possible,  the  bench  lands  are  found  to  be  equally 
productive  with  the  valleys  proper.  Behind  the  benches  rise  the 
foothills,  with  their  rounded,  grass-clad  tops,  now  extended  for 
miles  and  forming  the  divide  between  two  streams,  and  again 
seeming  to  support  a  rocky,  precipitous  ridge  that  rises  beyond 


■^1 


T- 


yor-General 
rs  who  liave 
astern  Mon- 
with  moder- 
t,  will  yield 
Iding  crops 
eductions  of 
affluents  of 
adison  and 
ouri,  we  will 
pondent  of 

dleys.  The 
h  the  Terri- 
n,  and  from 
in  all  dirfQ. 
in  try  except 
ated  plains. 

clear-water 
these  rivers 
wenty  miles 
►sit,  and  the 
the  bed  of 

the  valk-y 
)st  every  in- 
eam  can  be 
benches,  of 
ily  one,  are 
tion.  They 
;  other,  and 
re  sufficient 
D  be  equally 
bes  rise  the 
:tended  for 

and  again 
ies  beyond 


THE    FERTILE    VALLEYS  OP  MONTANA.  mj 

"  Very  few  of  these  valleys  aic  as  yet  settled.  The  Bitter  Root 
Valley,  in  the  west,  where  the  farmers  have  become  rich  by  the 
sale  of  their  products  to  the  jjovernmcnt  for  use  at  the  military 
post  at  Missoula,  the  Gallatin  in  the  east,  Prickly  Pear,  in  which 
Helena  is  situated.  Deer  Lodge  and  Jefferson  Valleys,  have  the 
oldest  ranches,  and  until  lately  the  largest  breadth  of  land  under 
cultivation. 

"Within  the  last  year  or  two  the  immigration  to  the  Yellowstone 
Valley  and  its  tributaries  has  been  very  great.  This  is  about 
650  miles  long,  and  the  average  width  of  the  valley  which  can  be 
irrigated  is  about  ten  miles.  It  has  only  recently  been  safe  for 
white  people  to  go  there,  but  the  vigor  with  which  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad  has  pu«hed  westward  during  the  past  summer 
(this  line  will  extend  through  the  Yellowstone  Valley  for  almost 
its  entire  length)  has  attracted  many  settlers,  and  I  am  told  that 
there  are  already  about  400  families  there.  I  saw  it  reported 
early  in  the  summer  that  General  Sheridan  told  a  Chicago  re- 
porter th.it  he  saw  on  one  boat  in  his  late  trip  up  the  Yellow- 
stone twenty-seven  threshing-machines  bound  for  the  very 
country  in  which  General  Custer  lost  his  life  in  1876,  and  which 
three  years  ago  was  one  of  the  most  remote  and  inaccessible 
sections  of  the  country.  So  rapid  has  been  the  agricultural 
development  of  the  Territory  that  Mr,  R.  H.  Mason,  the  Sur- 
veyor-General of  Montana,  estimates  that  the  acreage  under 
cukivation  this  year  is  twice  as  great  ar.  it  was  in  1878,  a  part  of 
the  increase  being  due  to  the  enlargement  of  the  older  farms,  and 
a  I'art  to  the  opening  of  new  farms. 

"  In  all  the  older  settled  portions  of  the  Territory  the  ranchmen 
are,  almost  without  exception,  remarkably  prosperous.  I  have 
not  visited  the  best  agricultural  sections  of  the  country,  nor  shall 
I  be  able  to  do  so.  The  area  of  the  Territory  of  Montana  is 
three  times  as  great  as  that  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  there 
is  not  as  yet  (in  1879)  a  single  mile  of  railroad  within  its  limits. 
Travel  here  is  therefore  very  slow,  and  it  would  require  more 
than  one  whole  summer  to  see  even  the  most  important  points. 
I  did,  however,  ride  through  the  Jefferson,  Boulder  and  Deer 
Lodge  Valleys,  and  spent  an  entire  day  in  visiting  a  few  repre- 


.AW»<a*«!«'W<daM''-«»**'»i*«^-'' 


...i 


Him. 


f. 

M 


V 


tentative  farms  in  the  Prickly  Pear  Valley,  so  that  I  can  speak 
from  personal  knowledge  of  what  I  saw  in  those.       p    c  .,< 

"The  average  yield  of  wheat  in  Montana  is  at  least  twenty-five 
bushels  to  an  acre.  Other  writers  have  placed  it  at  from  thirty 
to  forty  bushels,  and  hfty  bushels  is  by  no  means  an  uncommon 
crop;  but  taking  the  whole  country  together,  I  doubt  if  the  farmer 
can  depend  upon  much  more  than  twenty-five.  This  is  ten 
bushels  or  sixty-six  per  cent,  more  than  what  is  considered  a 
good  crop  in  the  great  grain  States  of  the  Mississippi  Valley. 
The  wheat  of  Montana  is  also  of  a  very  excellent  quality.  An 
analysis  of  samples  of  Montana  wheat  made  at  the  Agricultural 
Department  in  Washington  shows  eighteen  per  cent,  more  nitro- 
genous or  flesh-producing  matter  than  Minnesota  wheat,  and  that 
bulk  for  bulk  it  weighed  about  six  per  cent,  more.  I  have  before 
me  a  sample  of  spring  wheat  of  the  crop  of  1878,  raised  by  Mr. 
Reeves  in  the  Prickly  Pear  Valley,  that  averages  to  weigh  sixty- 
four  pounds  to  a  measured  bushel.  Some  of  the  crops  of  wheat 
that  have  been  raised  in  Montana  have  been  almost  fabulous. 
Forty,  fifty,  and  even  sixty  bushels  to  an  acre,  are  not  uncommon 
crops.  Several  years  ago  the  State  Fair  Association  offered  a 
premium  for  the  best  acre  of  wheat  raised  that  season,  and  the 
award  was  made  to  Mr.  Raymond,  of  the  Prickly  Pear  Valley, 
who  had  102  measur^^d  bushels  on  a  single  acre.  The  committee 
who  made  the  award  were  prominent  citizens  of  Montana,  and 
one  of  rhf^m  has  told  me  that  the  same  year  a  farmer  in  the  Gal- 
latin Valley  raised  an  equally  large  average  crop  on  a  forty-acre 
lot,  but  as  he  could  not  show  that  he  had  more  than  102  bushels 
on  any  single  acre,  the  coipnuttec  decided  that  he  was  not  entided 
to  the  premium.  ' 

"  I  have  seen,  in  August  this  year,  many  fieldsi  of  wheat,  both 
standing  and  in  the  shock,  in  the  country  around  Helena,  and  I 
have  not  seen  one  that  appeared  to  have  less  than  thirty  bushels 
to  an  acre.  In  many  fields  the  shocks  of  grain  stood  almost  as 
thick  as  the  sheaves  in  the  fields  of  the  Mississippi  Valley." 

Mr.  Robert  E.  Strahorn,  in  his  "  To  the  Rockies  and  Beyond," 
gives  the  following  statement  in  regard  to  crops  in  different  val- 
leys of  Montana  in  1878 :     '•''  /   W  "•'"■!•  '^  •>.  \ 


A.lfiM/A'<;   IN  MONTANA, 


077 


i  I  can  speak 

it  twcnty-fivt: 
t  from  thirty 
1  uncommon 
if  tlie  farmer 
This   is   ten 
considered  a 
sippi  Valley, 
quality.     An 
Agricultural 
:.  more  nitro- 
leat,  and  that 
have  before 
aised  by  Mr. 
weigh  sixty- 
ops  of  wheat 
)st  fabulous, 
t  uncommon 
on  offered  a 
son,  and  the 
Pear  Valley, 
e  committee 
tontana,  and 
•  in  the  Gal- 
a  forty-acre 
102  bushels 
not  entitled 

wheat,  both 
'lena,  and  I 
irty  bushels 
i  almost  as 
illey." 
id  Beyond," 
ifferent  val- 


"As  consi(l<rabIe  has  becrn  said  concerning  large  average 
yields  of  grain  fu:lds  in  Montana,  thi!  reader  may  be  interested 
in  noting  a  few  names  of  farmerH  whose  experiences  for  the  past 
year  or  two  have  come  under  the  observation  of  the  writer,  fol- 
lowing are  the  names  of  several  prominent  farmers  of  different 
valleys,  with  size  of  fields,  amount  of  grain  threshed,  the  average 
yield  per  acre  for  one  season,  and  the  selling  price  of  the  crop : 


Kama. 


Loeailon. 


A.  Cj.  Kn|{lni)(i 'MiHuuila  V.illry, . 


Rnhfrt  Vain{hn jSiin  River  Vallty.  . 

M.  Stone Ruhy  Valley 

Brockway'it  Ranch.  .Vfllnwitl.mc  Viilley. 

KriKham  Reed jCialUtin  V^tlley    ... 

Marlcm  I.cvfrich..  . .  I       "         "  .... 

Willium  Reed |  Prickly  Pear  Valley . 

Charles  Rowe |  Miiiouri  Valley. . . . 

Con.  Kohn   .... 

John  Howe 
toliert   Uarnett.  . 


S.Hall. 


Deer  (x>dffe  Valley . 
(inllatin  Valley.  .  . . 
Ree»e  Creek  Valley. 
Ruby  Valley 


Field 

In 
acre*. 


160 

40 

4 

too 
8 
6 

SO 
II 

400 


Crop  and  Yleld- 
buiheli. 


Wheat, 

OalM, 

OttM, 

Wheal 

OatR, 

OatR, 

Wheat, 

Oal». 

Wheat.  \ 

oau.   ; 

Okit, 
Oatt, 
Wheat. 
Wheat, 


7.000  • 
a.ooo. 

410. 
6.000. 

600. 

620. 
1,150- 
3.S'». 

1,200. 

1,200. 

4,982. 

2,200. 

10,000. 


Av,  per 

Value  of 

acre — 

buthel*. 
4,1!^ 

crop. 

>'<,400 

50 

1.200 

I02>i 

246 

60 

7,aoo 

75 

360 

'OJ'.I 

.l6a 

$0 

i,.}»o 

70 

a,ia> 

45 

1.250 

100 

720   j 

57 

a,9«9 

451 

ifiAP 

50 

11.000 

Mr.  White  continues:  •   - 

"Oats  and  barley  grow  ss  well  as  wheat.  The  avefSge  yield 
of  oats  to  the  acre  is  considerably  greater  than  that  of  wheat,  and 
the  weight  \n\r  b  isIh!  is  iiuiili  .ihovc  the  standard.  Mr.  Reeves 
gave  me  a  sample  of  oats  from  his  farm  which  he  said  would 
average  to  weight  forty-six  pounds  to  a  bushel.  General  Brisbin 
says  that  Mr.  Burt(]n  raised  a  field  of  oats  which  averaged  loi 
bushels  to  an  acre,  and  a  field  of  barley  on  which  there  were  1 13 
bushels  to  an  acre. 

"This  is  the  bright  side  of  the  picture.  On  the  other  hand,  it 
should  not  be  forgotten  that  a  considerable  portion  of  the  grain 
crop  in  certain  portions  of  Montana  is  frequently  destroyed  by 
grasshoppers,  and  that  there  is  reason  to  fear  that  for  some  years 
to  come,  and  until  the  agricultural  population  of  the  Territory 
becomes  much  greater  than  now,  these  insect  pests  will  make  the 
business  of  grain-raising  here  somewhat  hazardous.  That  the 
scourge  of  locusts  has  not  been  as  serious  as  it  might  have  been, 
nor  as  destructive  as  it  would  naturally  have  been  expected  to 

6a 


ratiu" 


vM*:.*iiS<*«*»«<**WfA-^'V.v«rfeffliKa«^ 


ij/3  Ot'M    tVKXTii/lAf   fi,VJ'//(A. 

b**,  is  shown  by  the  prosfu-rous  condition  of  all  th<*  farmers  who 
have  been  eslabUnheil  for  a  lew  years.  Those  in  th'*  neijfhbor- 
homi  of  the  military  posts,  cspocully,  have  grown  rich  with 
wontlcrfiil  rapidity.  General  Brisbin  tohl  me  that  the  jjovern- 
m«nt  has  paid  as  much  as  1(14,000  to  one  farmer  in  a  sinji;lc  year 
for  grain  and  hay  raisttl  by  himself,  and  thai  ihe  income  of  a 
farmer  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  lUli;*  from  the  portion  of  his 
crops  sold  to  the  Uniteil  States  is  freriuently  as  much  as  53,000. 
Corn  has  not  been  very  successfully  cultivated  in  Montana,  ex- 
cept in  the  warmer  regions  west  of  the  main  range  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  Th**  liav  nit  in  the  Territory  is  wild,  and  costs  the 
farmer  who  cuts  it  from  $1.50  to  fi.oo  a  ton.  * 

"The  soil  of  Montana  seems  to  be  especially  fitted  for  the 
production  of  large  crops  o(  garrUn  vegetables.  The  best  market 
gard'^n  I  ever  saw,  if  abundant  yield  is  a  criterion,  is  that  of  Mr. 
Dorrington,  in  the  Prickly  Pear  Valley.  He  sold  #2,000  worth 
of  strawberries,  and  his  root  crops,  such  as  turnips,  onions,  beets, 
parsnips,  etc.,  seemed  literally  to  fill  the  ground.  He  expected 
to  take  ten  tons  of  onions  from  a  small  patch  of  ground,  and 
wouUI  receive  five  cents  a  pound  for  them  in  Helena.  The  fol- 
lowing table,  compiled  by  General  Brisbin,  shows  what  the  pro- 
duct of  the  gardens  cultivated  by  troops  at  Fort  Kllis  was  in 
1877: 


V 


F  ad  Cav. 
G      " 
H     " 
L      " 
G7th  Inf. 


Totals, 


2 


5 

6 
5 
3 


26}4 


'A< 


1,100 

55° 

1,200 

700 

3*3 


3.865 


is 


90 

60 

130 

50 
6 


336 


i 


IS 

3    S 

Mm 


60 
60 

35 

150 

40 


345 


J5  id 

no 


60 

35 
40 

as 


17a 


1^ 


SO 

«5 
40 


105 


*>  .5* 


I 


10 
ao 

as 


ao 


75 


O   u 


ECU 


3,6oq 
a,5oo 

3.300 

3,300 

800 


12,500 


m  ,'Tf7KlT~ 


"The  value  of  the  several  articles,  if  bought  at  the  fort,  would 
have  been:  Potatoes,  $3,865  ;  onions,  15^2,352  ;  turnips,  jjiSs  ;  car- 
rots, $206.40 ;  beets,  $315;  parsnips,  $225  ;  salsify,  $9.40 ;  cab- 


farmers  who 

tlw  ntii^hbor- 

twn  rich  with 

t  thr  govern- 

a  sin)j;lt:  year 

:  iiuonte  of  a 

portion  of  hiH 

ich  as  f3,cxx). 

Montana,  ex- 

of  th(t'  Rocky 

and  costs  the 

fitrt'tl  for  the 

t!  best  market 

is  that  of  Mr. 

|l2,cx3o  worth 

onions,  beets, 

Hr  (expected 

Impound,  and 

na.     The  fol- 

What  the  pro- 

t  HMis  was  in 


Bushels 
Sakify. 

Heads  of 
Cabbage . 

3.600 
a, 500 

3.300 

2,300 

800 

3 

3 

12,500 

le  fort,  would 
ips,  $85 ;  car- 
'.  $9-40;  cab- 


LU 


rnviTCRowrNQ.  ^ 

l>ai;e,  Jti35.  Total,  $;, J  8 a. 80,  Thr  garden  cropn  at  Fort  Ellis 
in  other  years  have  been  fully  one-third  greater  for  tlie  same 
amount  of  ground. ' 

The  tnrst  farmers  arf  tiirning  their  ati^ntion  larj^'Hy  to  fruit 
culture.  This  fr>r  many  yearn  to  come  will  >e  the  most  profitable 
i>\  crops,  cspeciaMy  when  it  is  not  loo  far  from  a  Iol.iI  market. 
Wrifiug  in  1879.  Mr,  Whit*'  said:  "  Very  little  fruit  has  yt^t  bi:en 
raised  (/.  #.,  has  come  to  the  bearin^  stage)  in  Montana. 

"It  has  always  been  supposed  that  the  part  of  the  '!  crritory  east 
of  thf'  I  h vide  was  too  cold  in  winter  for  even  the  .hardier  kinds 
of  fruit,  and  very  few  varieti<;s  hav  hnn  planted.  In  the  west, 
in  the  Bitter  Rodi  Valley,  orchan's  ^ilanttd  a  few  years  aj^o  are 
just  beginninj^  to  bear,  and  the  rapidity  wit'  which  the  Irf-es 
have  grown  and  the  manner  in  which  they  have  winr'^red  liave 
led  to  the  belief  that  fruit-raising  may  yet  become  one  >!  the-  im- 
portant industries  of  that  section.  The  fruit  crop  th,s  year  is  not 
sufficiently  large  to  affect  the  price,  but  the  rapid  extension  of  the 
Utah  and  \ordiern  Raiiroad  lias  had  a  very  marked  effect  upon 
it  1  bought  nic  grapes,  peaches  and  prars  in  Helena  for  fifty 
cents  a  pound,  which  two  years  ago  would  have  cost  %\, 

"As  a  rule  the  farms  of  Montana  have  to  be  irrigated,  and  in 
most  oi  the  valleys  there  is  an  abundance  of  water  for  this  pur- 
pose. The  cout  of  constructing  good  •  anals  for  the  irrigation  of 
160  acres  of  land  is,  of  course,  consid'  ible.  but  when  once  com- 
pleti'J  the  expense  of  keeping  them  in  order  is  very  small,  while 
the  ability  of  the  farmer  to  regulate  absolutely  tl  (  amr)unt  of 
tnoisture  wliich  his  crop  shall  have,  more  than  compensates 
for  all  the  extra  labor  and  expeVise  which  irrigation  maker, 
necessary. 

"  While  some  of  the  valleys  near  the  mining  centres  of  the  Ter- 
ritory have  been  pretty  well  settled  up,  none  of  them  can  be  said 
to  be  full,  while  in  other  parts  of  the  Territory  the  land  is  almost 
untouched.  Finely  improved  farms  near  markets  are  now  worth 
$20  or  $25  an  acre;  others  a  little  more  remote  and  not  as  well 
improved,  sell  for  from  $5  to  ;jii  5  an  acre, and  there  are  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  acres  which  can  be  obtained  simply  by  settling  upon 


• 

thrm  unilcr  i\\v  lIorncHtcad  Uw,  or  prr-rmptrd  and  purctiAHcil  for 
1 1. 3  5  an  acrr." 

Mr.  R.  v..  Strahorn  jjtvrs  thr  followfnjj  stftt^mrnt  of  thr  pro- 
ductions of  Montana  in  1878.  Thr  crop*  of  1879  wrrn  of  nrarly 
double  thin  amount,  and  thosic  of  1880  lar{{cr  yet.  In  1878  hr 
HAyH: 

"The  diffcrrnt  valleys  of  Montana,  with  their  mere  nprinklinii^' 
of  farmern,  produced  alK)ut  4fX),ocKi  husheU  of  wheat,  6or-,ooo  of 
oats,  50,000  of  barley,  1  3,000  of  corn,'  500.000  busheU  of  vejfe- 
tables,  and  65,000  tonH  of  hay,  the  total  value  of  a^ricultui  I  pro- 
ducts being  not  less  than  53,000,000.  A  reatly  market  has 
always  been  afforded  by  the  non-prrxhicinjj  population  in  the 
mines  and  cities,  and  by  the  numerous  military  posts.  Ihe  con 
stant  increase  in  the  magnitude  of  mining  and  other  operations 
in  all  parts  of  the  Territory  justifies  the  belief  that  any  consider- 
able surplus  of  produce  cannot  be  raised  in  Montana  for  years  to 
come,  and  until  that  time  prices  must  remain  from  fifty  to  one 
hundred  per  cent,  higher  than  in  the  'States.'  The  following 
were  ruling  prices  paiil  farm<!rs  for  produce  in  different  Montana 
cities  in  January,  1879:  flour,  $4.75  per  100  pounds;  oats,  two 
cents  per  pound;  wheat,  two  cents;  hay,  f  13  to  ^14  per  ton; 
potatoes,  one  and  a  half  cents  per  pound;  onions,  six  cents; 
butter,  forty-five  cents  ;  eggs,  sixty  to  seventy-five  cents  per 
dozen  ;  squash,  four  rents  per  pound  ;  cheese,  sixteen  to  twenty 
cents;  beets,  four  cents;  cabbage,  five  cents;  carrots,  three  and 
a  half  cents;  parsnips,  four  cents;  turkeys,  53  to  ^5  each;  spring 
chickens,  $6  to  $7.50  per  dozen." 

Mr.  Strahorn  has  contrasted  in  the  following  table  the  prices  of 
farm  and  dairy  t>roducts  in  Montana  and  in  Ohio,  and  the  yield 
in  the  East  with  the  yield  in  Montana.  The  contrast  is  very 
instructive:   »,  vm  1     n    r; ,' i^  b  (n  v  1'  .^  -t: 


!.;  .;,.. 


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ii   t  H    <-i> 


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nl  of  thr  pro- 
w«rt*  of  ni'arly 
t.     In  1H78  \\r 

crtr  Kprinklini,; 
^at,  6oc,cxxD  of 
shnlfi  of  vfjff. 
ricultui  1  pro- 
y  market  has 
Illation  in  the 
Us.  The  ton- 
ler  operations 

any  consitUir- 
•a  for  years  to 
•m  fifty  to  one 
riie  folio  win  j^r 
rent  Montana 
ids ;  oats,  two 
Jii4  per  ton  ; 
ns,  six  cents ; 
ve  cents  per 
I'en  to  twenty 
ots,  three  and 

each ;  spring 

:  the  prices  of 
md  the  yield 
itrast  is  very 


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23  #/EST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


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Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadiin  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Inetitut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiquas 


rRODUcrioNs  of  Montana. 


Kind  or  Pvoduce. 


Bacon,  per  pound 

Bark"),         "         

Butter,         "         

!  Beets,  "         

Beans,  "         

Cabbage,     "         

Carrots,        "         

Cauliflower,"        

Corn,  "         

Cheese,        "         

Chickens,  per  dozen 

Eggs  "  

Flour,  percwt 

Green  corn,  per  dozen.... 

Hay,  per  ton 

Hogs,  fter  cwt 

Oats,  per  pound  

Onions,       "       

Parsnips,     "       

Potatoes,     "       

Peas,  "       

Rye,  "       

Squash,       "      

Turkeys,  live,  jjer  pound. 

Turnijjs,  per  pound 

Wheat,  "  


£ 


19  bu 


24  bu 


34  bu 


i^ton 


35  bu 


37  bu 
6,565  lbs 


37  bu 


i^  ton 


23  bu 
2o3  bu 

45  bu 
385  bu 

75  bu 
25  bu 
12  bu 

200  bu 

40  bu 
35  bu 

i9,ooolbs 

150  bu 
II  bu 

225  bu 
30  bu 

"  I  (irmly  believe,"  he  adds,  "  that  no  laud  under  the  sun  offers 
such  a  favorable  field  for  diversified  rural  industry  as  Montana. 
Take  here,  in  connection  with  grain- raising,  the  production  of 
poultry,  eggs,  butter,  pork,  vegetiibles,  and  similar  items  now 
almost  unnoticed  as  '  not  worth  bothering  about,'  and  the  indus- 
trious and  frugal  farmer  and  housewife,  managing  as  of  necessity 
do  those  in  the  thickly  settled  States,  should  soon  make  them- 
selves independent.  It  is  often  almost  impossible  in  winter  to 
secure  fresh  eggs  at  seventy-five  cents  per  dozen  in  Montana 
cities,  and  during  the  winter  of  1878-79, 1  have  seen  ninety  cents 
freely  offered  in  Helena.    Butter  ranges  from  forty  to  sixty  cents 


I 


S.J. 


m 


if 


^2  OUR    WESrUK'X   KAirtRh. 

the  entire  wintor,  and  it  was  frequently  impossible  to  secure  a 
good  article.  The  Montaninn  who  desires  to  celebrate  Christmas 
in  the  time-honored  way — turki:yand  all — will  make  a  sad  inroad 
in  his  bank  account;  as  for  s])ring  chicken — at  from  fifty  cents  to 
f  I  each — they  might  be  of  recent  origin,  but  unfortunately  that 
class  is  never  numerous  enough  to  go  round." 

Dairy  Farming  and  Stock- Raising. — Mr.  R.  E.  Strahorn,  after 
several  years'  residence  in  Montana,  says,  in  regard  to  dairy 
farms :  "  Climate,  pasturage,  water  and  an  unequalled  market  for 
dairy  products,  all  combine  to  render  dairying  here  one  of  the 
most  lucrativt:  and  satisfactory  pursuits.  Cows  cost  nothing  for 
their  keep,  and  the  product  of  butter  or  cheese  is  clear  gain,  as 
the  increase  in  stock  will  pay  all  expenses.  I  am  personally 
acquainted  with  several  Montana  dairymen  who  commenced  four 
or  five  years  ago  with  rented  cows  and  not  a  dollar  of  capital. 
They  are  to-day  the  possessors  of  fine  herds,  good  ranches,  and 
worth  from  $5,ckx)  to  jj^i 0,000  each — all  made  by  good  honest 
labor  in  the  corral  and  milk-house.  Dairy  cows  cost  about  530 
per  head,  or  they  can  be  rented  by  giving  the  owner  the  increase 
and  one-fourth  of  the  butter  or  cheese  manufactured.  Of  course, 
dairying  is  generally  carried  on  only  during  the  seven  or  eight 
montiis  of  spring,  summer  and  early  autumn,  as  few  provide 
even  so  much  as  hay  for  cold  weather,  and  when  winter  comes 
the  cows  have  ^about  enough  to  do  to  keep  in  good  flesh.  The 
number  of  cows  milked  in  Montana  in  1878  was  placed  at  10,000, 
and  the  product  of  butter  and  cheese  in  that  year  at  1.000,000 
pounds.  Butter  sold  at  from  thirty-five  to  fifty  cents  per  pound, 
and  cheese  at  from  fourteen  to  twenty  cents." 

Mr.  Thomson  P.  McElrath,  a  resident  of  the  Yellowstone  Valley, 
says  that  "in  the  winter  of  1879-80  butter  sold  throughout  the 
valley  at  from  forty  to  fifty  cents  a  pound,  and  home-made  was 
not  to  be  had  even  at  those  prices.  Fresh  milk  brought  ten 
cents  a  quart.  The  raising  of  poultry  will  also  for  a  long  time 
to  come  be  a  paying  field  for  enterprise.  Winter  eggs  are  scarce 
at  a  dollar  a  dozen.  Chickens  for  eating  are  correspondingly 
expensive,  and  the  thanksgiving  turkey,  brought  from  Minnesota 
in  a  frozen  state,  is  a  very  ineffective  and  costly  reminder  of  that 


I  to  secure  a 
ate  Christmas 
:  a  sad  inroad 
1  fifty  cents  to 
rtunately  that 

trahorn,  after 
jard  to  dairy 
ed  market  for 
re  one  of  the 
St  nothing  for 
clear  gain,  as 
m  personally 
timenced  four 
lar  of  capital. 

ranches,  and 

good  honest 
St  about  530 
r  the  increase 
I.  Of  course, 
ven  or  eight 

few  provide 
winter  comes 
d  flesh.  The 
ced  at  10,000, 

at  1.000,000 
ts  per  pound, 

rstone  Valley, 
roughout  the 
ne-made  was 
brought  ten 
a  long  time 
gs  are  scarce 
respondingly 
m  Minnesota 
linder  of  th^t 


SroCA'iiA/S/Na  IN  MONVASA.  gg, 

home    luxury   by   the   time   it   is   thawed   out  and    ready   for 
roasting." 

For  stock-raising  Montana  has  unrivalled  facilities.  "  It  is," 
says  Mr.  Z.  L.  White,  "the  best  grazing  country  in  the  world.  I 
know  thai  this  is  a  bold  assertion  to  make,  but  after  seeing  some- 
tliing,  during  the  past  summer,  of  the  best  cattle-ranges  of  Kansas, 
Nebraska,Colorado,  Dakota,  Wyoming  and  Utah,  which  States  and 
Territories  furnish  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  beef  consumed  in 
this  country,  and  talking  with  stockmen,  army  officers  and  others 
whose  acquaintance  with  the  West  is  far  more  extensive  than  my 
own,  and  whose  experience  gives  to  their  opinion  great  weight, 
I  am  certain  that  it  is  not  an  exaggeration.  There  may  be  por- 
tions of  South  America  where  cattle,  sheep  and  horses  can  be 
raised  at  less  expense  than  in  Montana,  but  there  certainly  is  no 
part  of  the  United  States  where  the  same  grade  of  animals,  ready 
for  market,  cost  the  ranchman  less  money,  while  the  price  which 
they  command  is  many  times  greater  than  in  any  of  the  Spanish 
American  Republics,  and  but  very  little  below  that  obtained  in 
the  lebs  remote  States  and  Territories  this  side  of  the  Missouri 
river."  ^    ■  ■■■,  '-:.■  •.;•    ,■-         .■   ■;'      ' ■'■■ 

In  the  classification  of  the  area  of  93,000,000  acres  of  Montana 
to  the  different  purposes  for  which  it  could  be  utilized,  after  the 
assignment  of  15.000,000  or  16,000,000  o*"  acres  to  cultivation  for 
farm  purposes,  an  estimate,  as  we  have  already  said,  far  below 
the  fact,  it  has  been  customary  to  allot  38,000,000  acres  to 
grazing  lands,  14,000,000  acres  to  timber,  and  from  22,000,000  to 
25,000,000  of  acres  to  mountain,  inaccessible,  and  desert  or  bad 
lands.  Both  the  grazing  and  timber  lands  have  been  much 
underestimated.  There  are  "  bad  lands,"  that  is,  lands  of  creta- 
ceous rocks  and  soil,  which,  when  eroded  by  the  mountain  torrents, 
have  been  cut  into  all  sorts  of  fantastic  shapes,  and  the  clay  strata 
exposed ;  but  a  large  part  of  these  "  bad  lands  "  furnish  some  of 
the  sweetest  and  best  pasturage  to  be  found  anywhere,  and  under 
the  influence  of  irrigation,  for  which  there  are  ample  facilities, 
they  will  yield  enormous  crops.  There  are  volcanic  "bad  lands" 
in  the  southwest,  around  the  head  waters  of  the  Jefferson,  Madi- 
son and  Gallatin  rivers,  and  the  Firehole  river  and  basin.    Part 


\  I 


V,1I 

i  1 


^^^^i&^MMi^i^^MsMsiifMtMmiiv«^i^<S^'- 


984  0^^    WES/KAW   KMPIRF.. 

of  th(!se  volcanic  lands  are  unfit  either  for  grazing  or  cultiv.ition, 
but  10,000,000  acres  is  a  very  large  estimate  of  all  the  worthless 
land  in  the  Territory.  Mr.  Thomson  P.  McElrath,  to  whom  we 
have  already  referred,  and  whose  little  work  on  the  Yellowstone 
Valley  just  published,  is  admirable  for  the  valuable  and  interest- 
ing information  it  imparts,  has  discussed  at  considerable  length 
in  his  book  the  fact  and  the  causes  of  the  superioiity  of  Montana 
over  other  regions  of  the  West  in  stock-raising.  He  says:  "It 
is  universally  conceded  that  Montana  is  the  best  grazing  country 
in  the  world.  The  beef  raised  there  is  superior,  and  more  profit- 
able than  that  raised  in  the  best  catde  ranges  of  Texas,  Kansas, 
Colorado,  Nebraska.  Dakota,  Wyoming  or  Utah,  which  States 
and  Territories  furnish  a  large  proportion  of  the  beef  consumed 
ill  this  country.  This  superiority  is  largely  due  to  the  fact  that 
the  Montana  grasses  are  more  nutritious  than  any  of  the  culti- 
vated gra;3ses  which  grow  elsewhere.  The  perennial  bunch-grasa 
[Bouteloua  oligostachya),  superior  to  all  others,  shoots  from  the 
root  in  the  spring,  before  the  frost  disappears,  and  clothes  the 
whole  country,  except  the  mountains,  in  a  velvety  vesture  of 
emerald.  It  grows  in  small  bunches,  close  and  fine,  which  aver- 
age from  six  inches  to  one  foot  in  height.  The  stalk,  unlike  that 
of  tame  grass.  Is  solid,  and  the  head  is  well  filled  with  small,  firm 
seeds,  full  of  nutriment.  Exposed  to  the  summer  sun,  and  unaf- 
fected by  frequent  rains  or  early  frosts,  it  begins  to  ripen  about 
midsummer,  and  in  the  early  fall  is  thoroughly  cured,  affording  a 
standing  hay  for  winter  use,  which  needs  no  harvesting,  and  which 
unites  with  all  the  desirable  qualities  of  good  hay  the  fattening 
principles  of  oats  and  corn.*  Professor  R.  W.  Raymond,  United 
States  Commissioner  of  Mining  Statistics,  says:  "To  pasture  a 
horse  on  bunch-grass  is  like  giving  him  plenty  of  good  hay,  with 
regular  and  liberal  feeds  of  grain."  From  August  until  the  fol- 
lowing spring  the  grass  has  a  color  somewhat  similar  to  that  of 


•  Mr.  McElrath  says,  in  describing  the  grazing  lands  of  'he  Yellowstone  Valley :  "  Back  from 
(he  rich  rivi  •  valleys,  and  walling  in  their  outer  edges,  rise  the  ranges  of  'bad  lands,'  which  are 
bare  of  regetation  and  very  forbidding  in  appearance,  but  which  extend  back  only  a  few  miles, 
usually  terminating  in  rolling,  grassy  plains.  These  fantastic  ranges  form  the  escarpments  of  a 
vast  expanse  of  table-land,  covered  with  bunch  grass,  and  br  superior  for  stock-raising  to  any 
fittasr  public  lands  owned  by  the  United  States."  ^ 


t:i,. 


or  cultiv.ition, 
1  tlu!  wortl'less 
h,  to  whom  wc 
10  Yellowstone 
If  and  intcrest- 
dfTciblc  length 
ity  of  Montana 


H 


c;  s 


ays: 


It 


Tazing  country 
id  more  profit- 
Texas,  Kansas, 
I,  which  States 
aeef  consumed 

0  the  fact  that 
ly  of  the  culti- 
ial  bunch-grast. 
Iioots  from  the 
iid  clothes  the 
sty  vesture  of 
le,  which  aver- 
alk,  unlike  that 
vith  small,  firm 

sun,  and  unaf- 
to  ripen  about 
•ed,  affording  a 
ting,  and  which 

1  the  fattening 
ymond,  United 
'To  pasture  a 
good  hay,  with 
5t  until  the  fol- 
lilar  to  that  of 

Valley :  "  Back  from 
bad  lands,'  which  arc 
«dc  only  a  few  miles, 

the  escaqnnents  of  « 
r  stock-raising  to  any 


Till    MOM  A  MA  ilVNLUaitASS.  og. 

ripe  wheat,  though  not  quite  so  brilliantly  yellow,  and  the  coun- 
try looks  like  one  boundless  field  of  grain  nearly  ready  for  the 
reaper.  The  Eastern  visitor  ascending  the  Ytllowsione  for  the 
first  time  finds  it  difficult  to  realize  that  the  vast  yellow  expanses 
which  wave  and  glisten  in  the  brilliant  sunshine  as  tiie  summer 
breezes  play  over  their  surfaces,  are  not  cultivated  fields,  and  as 
the  steamboat  approaclvjs  a  bend  in  the  stream  the  eye  instinc- 
tively seeks  for  the  farm-houses  and  granaries  pertaining  to  these 
enormous  stretches  of  agriculture.  It  is  one  of  the  earliest  im- 
pressions experienced  after  entering  the  Yellowstone,  far  below 
the  mouth  of  Glendive  creek,  and  though  the  illusion  is  soon  dis- 
pelled, the  appearances  which  create  it  continue  through  the 
length  of  the  valley,  and  in  every  part  of  Eastern  Montana  not 
actually  given  up  to  "bad  lands."  This  bunch-grass,  moreover, 
so  prolific  in  growth,  is,  as  already  stated,  wonderfully  sweet  and 
nutritious.  Cattle  fatten  on  it  more  rapidly  and  keep  in  better 
condition  than  those  which  feed  on  the  blue  grass  in  Kentucky 
and  South  .vestern  Virginia,  or  the  buiifalo /grass  of  Nebraska  and 
Colorado.  The  beef  is  remarkably  sweet,  tender  and  juicy,  the 
chief  fault  to  be  urged  against  it  being  that  in  summer  it  is  some- 
times too  fat.  The  bunch-grass  grows  not  only  all  over  the  val- 
leys and  the  benches,  but  on  the  foot-hills,  and  even  on  many  of 
the  mountains.  The  supply  of  it  is  inexhaustible.  Even  in  the 
older  settled  portions  of  the  Territory,  where  improved  farms  are 
frequent,  often  adjoining  each  other  in  the  valleys,  the  catde, 
sheep  and  horses  do  not  eat  down  the  grass,  and  although  the 
ranges  in  some  sections  on  each  side  of  the  valleys  may  be  nomi- 
nally taken  up,  they  are  still  capable  of  sustaining  many  times  as 
many  animals  as  now  graze  upon  them.  Of  course  no  person 
intending  to  raise  stock  on  a  large  scale,  or  to  make  that  his 
chief  business,  would  think  of  driving  his  bands  of  animals  to 
locations  near  the  settlements ;  but  the  farmers  whose  flocks  and 
herds  are  now  feeding  upon  them,  and  who  want  their  cattle  near 
home,  may  increase  the  size  of-  their  bands  almost  indefinitely 
before  there  will  be  any  scarcity  of  pasturage. 

"  In  this  vast  free  pasturage,"  says  a  recent  writer  m  an  account 
of  Western  Montana,  and  the  description  applies  likewise  to  the 


s 


1 


■  - '■>«>^»S*w»>«^S^M<aWfekl-';*i*'.<^'i 


\ 


986  Ol'K    WJiSTKKA   EMPIKg. 

Yellowstone  Valley,  "  no  one  need  really  own  an  acre,  of  land, 
and  tluis  far  few  have  cared  to.  But  all  stockmen  have  head 
(|iiart<;rs  as  near  their  range  as  is  practicable.  This  i:^  tailed  the 
ranch,  and  usually  consists  of  a  jjlain  log-cabin,  and  a  large  corral 
or  pen  in  which  stock  can  be  held  at  branding  time.  What  ex- 
tent of  the  boundless  grass  lands  surrounding  arc  utilized  by  the 
owner  depends  entirely  upon  the  si/e  of  his  herd,  and  his  incli- 
nation to  let  cattle  roam  and  care  for  themselves.  It  is  true  that 
ranch  sites  arc  sometimes  better  improved,  and  herders  em- 
ployed ;  but  to  feed,  water,  shelter  or  salt  the  steer  of  the  period 
would  be  a  sad  innovation  upon  the  all-prevailing  custom  of  let- 
ting said  steer  shift  for  himself.  The  improvements  need  not  cost 
more  than  $250 — not  diat,  if  the  owner  will  rely  largely  on  his 
own  mu.scle.  The  additional  expense  will  be  the  cost  of  living, 
if  the  owner  does  his  own  herding,  and  this  will  vary  from  11^250 
to  ji4oo  per  year;  if  herders  are  employed,  they  are  paid  about 
%^o  per  month  and  board.  One  man  can  easily  care  for  1,000 
cattle,  except  during  the  'round-up'  period,  which  here  occurs 
twice  per  year,  lasts  about  two  weeks  each  time,  and  will  require 
three  or  four  extra  men  during  that  time.  I  have  before  me  the 
statement  of  a  stockman  who  commenced  with  $3,500,  buying  100 
head  of  cows,  putting  up  a  neat  log-cabin,  and  reserving  enough 
of  the  capital  to  pay  his  expenses  for  one  year.  At  the  end  of 
the  fourth  year  the  increase  from  this  little  herd,  at  a  low  valua- 
tbn,  was  worth  $8,000.  Another  statement  made  by  a  well- 
known  stockman  of  Helena,  shows  a  net  profit  of  $42,500  made 
in  six  years  from  an  investment  of  $1 3,500.  The  average  profit 
realized  can  without  any  doubt  be  placed  at  two  per  cent,  per 
month  on  all  capital  invested  in  cattle  in  Montana.  Men  who 
put  a  few  hundred  dollars  into  catde  five  or  six  years  ago  have 
become  rich  almost  before  they  could  realize  hov»r  wonderfully 
the  profits  multiply  in  a  region  where  food  and  shelter  for  their 
herds  cost  nothing.  ^ri#  Isrtff  WiiHi  noi|U^?miit)?ii  7?»r!  mftirf niMif 
"  Very  few  Montana  stock-farmers  mike  any  provision  for 
feeding  their  cattle  in  the  winter,  and  as  yet  there  is  no  summer 
herding  as  iir  Nebraska,  Col  jrado  and  Wyoming.  In  the  winter 
season  the  animals  speedily  learii  to  '  rustle,'  as  it  is  called,  with 


iffis-  '„  — 


I  acre  of  land, 
en  have  head 
lis  l.i  tallrd  the; 
I  a  largo  corral 
ic.  What  ex- 
utili/fd  by  th«j 
,  and  his  incli- 

It  is  true  that 
d  herders  em- 
r  of  the  period 
custom  of  let- 
5  need  not  cost 
largely  on  his 

cost  of  living, 
ary  from  11^250 
Eire  paid  about 
care  for  1,000 
:h  here  occurs 
nd  will  require 
before  me  the 
GO,  buying  100 
erving  enough 
At  the  end  of 
It  a  low  valua- 
de  by  a  well- 
$42,500  made 
average  profit 

per  cent,  per 
)a.  Men  who 
aars  ago  have 
>^  wonderfully 
liehcr  for  their 

provision  for 
is  no  summer 

In  the  winter 
is  called,  Viridi 


fJtJIX  PASTURACB,  ^ 

their  hoofs  through  the  snow  to  the  bunches  of  sweet  hay  be- 
neath, and  in  ordinary  s.  asons  rattle  come  out  in  the  spring  in 
cxcrli'.'nt  condition.  Old  cattle-owners  say  that  a  herd  which  is 
fed  occasionally,  on  tht;  occurrence  of  a  heavy  storm,  will  not 
wintrr  as  well  as  one  that  is  not  f<:d.  The  cattle  once  receiving 
hay  are  likely  to  remain  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  ranch  even 
after  the  feed  there  has  become  short,  and  if  driven  away  will 
return  thither.  As  it  is  iinp»-acticabh.'  to  feed  them  all  the  time, 
they  become  lean,  while  if  they  remained  out  on  the  range  where 
they  could  '  rusUe  '  and  graze  steadily,  they  would  keep  in  good 
condition.  The  grass  is  stifif  on  the  stalk,  and  on  the  hillsides  it 
is  rarely  entirely  covered  with  snow.  The  loss  from  exposure  is 
said  to  be  not  more  than  one  or  two  per  cent.  It  is  nevertheless 
worth  while  to  note  that  in  Western  Montana  several  of  the 
most  careful  and  most  successful  stockmen  are  beginning  to  put 
up  hay  as  a  precaution  against  severe  cold  and  deep  snows.  Tlvey 
claim  that  the  cost  of  the  hay,  cut  with  machines  in  the  natural 
meadows  along  the  river  bottoms,  is  only  from  fifty  cents  to  %\ 
a  ton,  and  that  in  the  long  run,  by  being  prepared  to  feed  their 
cattk  a  little  in  the  winter  if  it  is  found  necessary,  they  can  sav^ 
more  than  enough  animals  that  would  otherwise  perish,  to  pay 
for  the  trouble  and  expense.  Judging  from  the  unusually  severe 
winter  of  1879-80,  which  lasted  from  November  to  the  middle  of 
March,  during  which  time  much  of  the  central  Yellowstone  coun- 
try was  covered  with  snow,  while  the  mercury  ranged  from  a 
few  degrees  above  zero  to  fifty  odd  degrees  below  that  point,  it 
may  be  advisable  to  adopt  a  similar  course  in  Eastern  Montana. 
The  expense  would  not  be  greater  than  that  above  e  itimated.  It 
is  true,  that  notwithstanding  the  protracted  severity  of  the  season 
referred  to,  no  complaints  have  been  heard  on  the  part  of  the 
ranchmen  in  the  valley  in  regard  to  losing  catUe  by  reason  of  the 
cold  and  exposure.  This,  however,  is  partially  attributable  to 
the  paucity  of  the  herds  in  the  valley.  Had  the  stock  been  as 
numerous  as  it  probably  will  be  two  or  three  years  hence,  the 
risk  would  have  been  very  greatly  enhanced.  Sheep,  of  course, 
require  more  careful  handling  than  cattle,  and  must  be  pro- 
vided with  constant  means  for  shelter,  as  well  as  with  feed  in 
winter. 


t 


'-.IMiS^^^^mXS^'i'im^^&M-^ 


9l8  OL!i    H'A.lfAA'X  KStPtRK, 

"  The  customary  way  of  inanajiin|r  a  band  of  cattle  in  Montana 
is  ninujly  to  braiul  thcin  and  turn  them  out  upon  tlu;  prairie. 
Somt!  stock-owners  givr  no  more  attention  to  their  cattle  iituil 
the  next  sprinjr,  when  they  'round  thcni  up'  and  brand  the 
calves,  select  those  they  intend  to  sell,  and  turn  the  remaintlcr 
out  again.  Under  thi-:  careless  management,  which  no  prudint 
man  would  be  likely  to  willingly  imitaKj,  they  are  certain  to  lose 
some  stJiers,  which  sti'ay  away  or  are  stolen.  Others,  more  careful 
of  their  interests,  employ  herders,  one  man  for  every  1,500  or 
2,000  head  of  cattle,  whose  duty  it  is  to  ride  about  the  outskirts 
of  the  range,  follow  any  trails  leading  away,  and  drive  the  cattle 
back,  and  seek  through  neighboring  herds,  if  there  are  any,  for 
cattle  that  may  have  mistaken  their  companionship.  At  the 
spring  round  up,  a  few  extra  men  have  to  be  employed  for  sev- 
eral weeks.  In  starting  a  new  herd,  cows,  bulls  and  yearlings  are 
bought.  The  older  cattle  of  ordinary  grade  are  all  American, 
the  long-horned  Texan  stock  being  excluded,  and  cost  from  515 
to  $25  a  head.  Calves  under  one  year  old  running  with  the 
herd  are  not  counted.  Yearlings  may  be  obtained  for  from  ^^5 
to  $7  each. 

"The  average  cost  of  raising  a  steer,  not  counting  interest  or 
capital  invested,  is  from  sixty  cents  to  jii  a  year,  fo  that  a  four 
year  old  steer  raised  from  a  calf  and  ready  for  market  costs  about 
$4.  He  is  worth  on  the  ranch  about  $20,  and  if  driven  to  the 
Missouri  river  at  Fort  Benton,  or  the  railroad  in  Wyoming,  fully 
$2$.  A  herd  consisting  of  yeariings,  cows  and  bulls,  will  have 
no  steers  ready  for  the  market  in  less  than  two  or  three  years. 
Taking  into  account  the  loss  of  interest  on  capital  invested  before 
returns  are  received,  besides  all  expenses  and  ordinary  losses, 
the  average  profit  of  stock-raising  in  Montana  during  the 
last  few  years  has  been  at  least  thirty  per  cent,  per  annum. 
Some  well-informed  catde-men  estimate  it  at  forty  or  forty-five 
per  cent.  Mr.  Z.  L.  White,  from  whose  correspondence  several 
of  the  above-mentioned  points  respecting  stock-raising  in  West- 
ern Montana  have  been  taken,  refers  in  the  following  passage  to 
the  profits  of  the  business :  •  No  one  can  spend  a  week  in  any 
part  of  Montana  without  hearing  some  of  the  most  marvellous 


ttle  in  Montana 
•on  tlu'  prairie. 
leir  cattle  until 
and  brand  the 

the  remaintlcr 
lich  no  pruiknt 

certain  to  lost: 
rs,  more  careful 
every  1,500  or 
It  the  outskirts 
tlrive  the  cattio 
re  arc  any,  for 
nship.  At  the 
ployed  for  suv- 
d  ycarlinjjs  arc 
:  all  American, 
I  cost  from  ^^15 
nning  with  the 
:d  for  from  ^^5 

ling  interest  or 
5-0  that  a  four 
ket  costs  about 
driven  to  the 
Wyoming,  fully 
bulls,  will  have 
)r  three  years, 
nvested  before 
krdinary  losses, 
la  during  the 
t  per  annum, 
ty  or  forty-five 
ndence  several 
lising  in  West- 
ing passage  to 
I  week  in  any 
}st  marvellous 


CATTLB  HANCHItS  rN  MOUTAf^A.  ^ 

rrpnrfi  nhout  thr  [irofits  that  have  been  realiz''<I  during;  tin;  hiHt 
fe-w  years  in  the  business  of  stock-miHing  in  this  Territory.  Theiie 
stories,  many  of  which  have  reath'«l  the  last  rec<  ntly  in  «nthu- 
siastic  newspaper  letters  and  pamphlets,  are  true,  so  far  as  I  have 
been  able  to  verify  them  ;  but  while,  as  a  rule,  tlu  y  rel.itj-  only 
to  the  exceptionally  successful  ventures — ^just  as  the  wondrrful 
yield  of  a  bonanza  mine  in  a  camp  is  heralded  from  one  f-nd  of 
the  country  to  the  other,  while  the  hundred  prospect  holes  which 
have  been  failures  are  never  heard  of — the  unvarnished  truth 
alMjut  the  average  profits  of  the  business  will  seem  almost  incred- 
ible to  eastern  people.  It  i  i  ordy  now  and  then  that  a  band  of 
cattle,  sheep  or  horses  yield  a  net  incom<:  of  from  forty  to  sixty 
or  even  one  hundred  p«.r  rent,  per  annum  ;  but  I  doubt  if  there 
is  a  single  instance  in  which,  taking  a  .series  of  years  together, 
the  profits  on  stock-raising  have  not  been  from  twenty  to  thirty 
per  cent,  on  the  original  investment,  and  that,  too,  in  cases  where 
the  animals  have  suffered  severely  from  unusual  cold  weather  and 
snow  in  the  winter,  or  from  disease.' 

".'\  large  and  increasing  percentage  of  the  Montana  cattle  and 
sheep  are  not  managed  by  the  owners  personally,  the  latter  in 
many  cases  not  being  even  residents  of  the  Territory.  Nearly 
all  the  leading  merchants  and  bankers  of  the  larger  towns  own 
interests  in  bands  of  stock ;  and  lawyers,  doctors  and  f(;deral 
officers  are  following  their  example,  and  investing  their  own 
money  or  that  of  their  eastern  friends  in  cattle,  sheep  or  horses. 

"A  man  who  desires  to  invest  in  stock,  and  who  has  not  the 
time  or  inclination  to  attend  to  the  business  himself,  takes  as  an 
associate  some  man  of  experience  and  known  honesty,  who  lacks 
the  means  for  going  singly  into  the  enterprise,  and  gives  him 
entire  charge  of  the  herd.  This  man  selects  the  range,  cuts  the 
hay,  moves  the  animals  when  necessary — sheep  requiring  to  be 
changed  to  a  new  range  at  least  every  two  years — attends  to  the 
rounding  up,  and  drives  those  that  are  sold  to  the  place  of  de- 
livery, paying  all  expenses,  and  being  entirely  responsiljle  for 
the  management  of  the  business.  In  compensation  for  these  ser- 
vices he  receives  one-half  the  increase  of  the  herd,  the  ca[)italist 
taking  the  other  half.    The  returns  which  the  latter  class  obtain 


„-i)^m»<timii^MMB^^^^^MM&Xi^:%h. 


n 


990 


out!    WtCSIhtl^   HMt'tKlt. 


on  ihrir  money  invRvtcd  on  thJH  plan  ar«  never  Icm  thnn  fiftr^rn 
per  cent.,  in  u  Mm  k  of  shrep  twenty  orr  crnt.  and  upward,  urul 
In  ft  bftnd  of  horncH  much  K>'''nt«'r  that)  in  rithcr  of  those  men- 
tioned. A  new  phin  for  tiividiii^  the  profits  ol  thin  IniNinrjiH  Ix*' 
tween  lapitalintH  and  m.ma^crH  has  lattly  hern  sii^gcHtcd,  and 
will  proUdJy  Ik*  rxperimt-ntrd  upon  thi"<  year.  I  hr  tnana^^cr  in 
to  tak«'  the  Iwrd  purthascd  with  tlw  luoiwy  his  partner  fiirnish«'>^ 
the  latit'r  retaining'  thr  title  to  the  anitnals,  fin<l  a  Hiiitahlr  ran^'C 
ami  d«  Iray  all  lh«'  «'xp«M)srs  of  the  eiutrrptise,  until  ou»  of  tin*  prolilH 
he  has  paid  Iku  k  to  the  invc<(tor  a  Huni  of  money  equal  to  that 
whi«  h  he  at  first  put  in.  Tlwn  thf  manager  is  to  In'tome  tht;  owner 
of  one-third  of  the  buHiness,  and  to  receive  thcreai'ter  one- third 
of  the  profits,  the  expinsen  beinj^  paid  out  of  the  receipts,  it  is 
proposed  hy  rt^sponsible  men  in  Montana  to  organize  stock  com 
panics  in  tht;  I'.ast  for  the  purpose  of  conduclin;;  the  cattle  and 
sheep- raiding  husiuess  on  this  plan,  and  with  adequate  pricau 
tion  in  the  selection  of  proper  men  to  manage  such  enterprises 
there  are  few  openmgs  ..  .ailablo  Jbr  capital  in  which  the  Hccuri 
is  better,  or  the  certainty  of  large  profits  greater. 

"The  exportof  cattle  from  Montana  began  in  1874  with  about 
3,oc»,  incivjusing  during  ih«-  following  four  years  respectively  to 
5,000,  6,000,  iccxxj  an'!  22.(AJo  In  1H79  it  is  estimated  to  have 
been  between  30,000. md  4o,ocx-).  The  principal  route  to  market 
heretofore  has  been  down  ilie  Yellowstone  to  Fort  Custer;  thence 
into  Wyoming,  via  l'*orts  McKinney,  Reno  and  Fettcrman,  to 
Pine  Hluff,  a  railroad  station  fifty  miles  east  of  Cheyenne.  This 
route  furnishes  plenty  of  excellent  grass  and  water,  and  the 
cattle  reach  the  railroad  in  fine  condition  after  a  drive  averaging 
about  two  months  in  duration.  They  are  mostly  shipped  to 
Chicago.  The  completion  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  to 
the  western  extremity  of  the  Yellowstone  Valley  will  completely 
alter  this  feature  of  the  cattle  trade.  Instead  of  the  long  drive 
through  the  Wyoming  wilderness,  stock  from  all  parts  of  the 
Territory  will  be  shipped  by  rail  direct  to  its  destination  in,  at  the 
most,  one-sixth  of  the  time  at  present  consumed  in  the  journey, 
and  by  the  shortest  possible  rail  route  that  can  ever  traverse 
that  Territory.     For  the  Atlantic  seaboard  and  for  foreign  export 


i 


si/KKt'  rAM.xfma  /x  Montana. 


991 


c»»  than  filin  ti 
III   upward,  ami 
'  of  those  mrn 
hih  huninrHH  Iw 

I  hi*  4nnna^'«r  is 
irtrirr  fiiriiishi-, 
LI  suitable  raitf^i 
3UkOf  the*  prolits 
!y  equal  to  that 
:come  thr  owner 
rai'ier  out- third 
;  receipts,  it  in 
inize  HtO(  k  com- 
J  the  cattle  and 
•equate  prccau- 
luch  cnterpriHcs 
lich  the  securi 

1874  with  about 

I  respectively  to 
>timatecl  to  have 
route  to  market 
t  Custer ;  thence 

II  Fetterman,  to 
!heyenne.     This 

water,  and  the 
drive  avcrapng 
}stly  shipped  to 
:ific  Railroad  to 
r  will  completely 
f  the  long  drive 
all  parts  of  the 
ination  in,  at  the 
I  in  the  journey, 
,n  ever  traverse 
)r  foreign  export 


the  route  by  the  great  lake>t,  via  Ditluth,  the  eaKttrn  terminui  of 
t'tr  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  will  be  av.iihd  «»!.  die  tattle  traffic 
hy  that  route  having  alreaily  a«i>«unuU  con>idtrr.4ble  dimi-nHioiiH, 
which  are  dcntined  to  a  great  expaiiHion  in  the  n*  ar  future.  The 
gnat  market  at  Chicago  will  Ijr  no  lenn  b<:n«  htcd  by  the  opining 
of  thin  n<"W  a-ul  direct  line. 

"Sk*epRtmhi^. — A»  already  stated,  the  management  of  sheep 
is  diflicrent  in  many  essential  respects  from  that  of  cattle.  A 
band  of  sheep  containing  i.txio  head  and  upward,  in  good  con- 
dition and  free  from  distsise,  are  procurable  in  Wi  stern  Montana 
for  from  I3  to  $3.25  per  head.  I  hey  must  be  herded  summer 
and  winter  in  separate  bands  of  not  more  than  a.rxxj  or  j,ooo 
each,  must  be  conalled  every  tight  and  guarded  against  the- 
depredations  of  dogs  and  wiltl  animals.  I  lay  imisi  be  proviiled 
to  feed  them  while  the  grouml  is  covered  wi'.li  snow,  and  sheds 
must  be  erected  to  protect  them  from  severe  vtorms.  They 
must,  moreover,  be  raised  by  themselves.  Catth-  and  sheep 
cannot  live  together  on  the  same  range.  The  latter  not  only  eat 
down  the  grass  so  closely  that  nothing  is  left  for  the  cattle,  but 
tlu-y  also  leave  an  odor  which  is  very  offensive  to  die  others  for 
at  least  two  seasons  afterward.  Hut,  notwithstamling  that  the 
cost  of  IT'  naging  sheep  in  greater  than  that  of  hanilPng  cattle, 
the  returns  from  sheep  raising  are  quicker  and  larger.  While  a 
herd  of  yo  mg  cattle  begin  to  yield  an  income  only  at  the  e  pira- 
tion  of  three  years,  sheep  yield  a  crop  of  wool  the  first :  ...nmer 
after  they  are  driven  upon  a  range,  and  the  increase  of  the  band 
is  much  greater  than  that  of  cattle,  being  from  seventy-five  to  one 
hundred  per  tent,  each  year.  The  wool  is  of  good  quality,  free 
from  buns,  and  brings  a  good  price  on  the  ranch,  agents  of 
I-'astern  houses  being  always  on  hand  eager  to  buy  it.  Many 
thousand  sheep  were  driven  into  Montana  in  1879  ^^^^  Cali- 
fornia, Oregon  and  Washington  Territory,  and  every  band  that 
arrived  was  promptly  purchased  by  men  eager  to  increase  their 
(locks  or  to  start  new  ones.  These  data  relate,  of  course,  to  the 
western  portions  of  the  Territory,  only  one  experiment  in  sheep- 
raising  having  as  yet  been  undertaken  in  the  Yellowstone  Valley. 
Its  results  show  conclusively  enough  that  at  least  equal  success 


^"^t^^•;^-l»^■..^7■^^.'■"■T^^"'•'■^*'i'^■•™«'*-it^-  """    *> 


993 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


in  that  field  of  enterprise  is  attainable  in  Eastern  as  la  Western 
Montana.  '      ''■■■'     " 

"In  the  fall  of  1876,  while  the  valley  was  still  occupied  by  the 
hostile  Sioux  under  Sitting  Bull,  a  man  named  Uurgess  drove  a 
herd  of  1 ,4cx)  sheep,  a  cross  of  the  Merino  and  Cotswold  breeds, 
from  California  into  Western  Montana.  He  arrived  at  Miles 
City  about  the  end  of  September,  having  consumed  two  seasons 
in  the  trip,  and  located  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Tongue  river,  on 
the  site  of  the  present  Miles  City.  In  the  following  fall  the  flock 
was  purchased  by  Mr.  George  M.  Miles,  the  present  owner,  who 
moved  it  to  a  new  range  on  the  Tongue  river  about  three  miles 
farther  up,  with  the  intention  of  entering  systematically  into 
sheep- raising,  the  purpose  of  the  original  owner  having  been  to 
take  the  flock  to  the  Black  Hills  to  be  sold  for  mutton.  After  a 
second  season  Mr  Miles  removed  again  to  a  new  range  on  the 
Yellowstone  river,  abo'it  fourteen  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Tongue,  near  which  t  tlock  yet  remains.  At  the  time  of  his 
purchase  there  were  1,001  sheep  in  the  flock,  Mr.  Burgess  having 
killed  off  a  number  for  mutton.  None  died  that  season  from  dis- 
ease, and  very  few  were  killed  by  Indians.  Durit  or  their  first 
winter  in  the  valley  they  had  no  hay  fed  to  them.  A  little  was 
fed  to  them  during  the  heavy  snows  of  1877,  and  in  the  winter 
of  1878  they  received  almost  none  at  all.  During  the  first  year 
there  was  little  increase  in  the  flock,  and  the  second  was  not 
much  better,  the  range  being  a  poor  one,  and  the  lambs  coming 
too  late.  Since  then  they  have  increased  satisfactorily,  the  lambs 
being  healthy  and  strong.  The  increase  in  number  has  proven 
sufficient  to  pay  the  whole  cost  of  care,  leaving  the  crop  of  wool 
as  net  profit.  During  the  first  year  the  clipping  averaged  from 
seven  to  eight  pounds  per  head.  The  crop  was  sent  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  it  realized  good  prices.  In  the  second  year  the 
clip  averaged  seven  pounds.  The  clipping  of  1879  was  shipped 
in  July.  It  amounted  to  about  one  and  a  half  tons  in  weight, 
and  netted  thirty-two  cents  per  pound  at  the  Eastern  market. 
The  herd's  increase  during  the  year  waS  about  eighty  per  cent. 
The  wool  is  now  consigned  regularly  to  the  Boston  market,  where 
it  ranks  with  the  best  Territorial  wool,  and  brings  the  highest 


SUCCESS  .W  SHEEP-FARMING. 


993 


as  in  Western 

LC 11  pied  by  the 
urgess  drove  a 
•tswold  breeds, 
■ived  at   Miles 
id  two  seasons 
>ngue  river,  on 
g  fall  the  flock 
:nt  owner,  who 
ut  three  miles 
:matically  into 
aving  been  to 
tton.     After  a 
range  on  the 
mouth  of  the 
le  time  of  his 
urgess  having 
ason  from  dis- 
iiqr  their  first 
A  little  was 
in  the  winter 
the  first  year 
:ond  was  not 
lambs  coming 
'ily,  the  lambs 
r  has  proven 
crop  of  wool 
veraged  from 
ient  to  Phila- 
:>nd  year  the 
I  was  shipped 
ns  in  weight, 
stern  market, 
hty  per  cent, 
larket,  where 
1  the  highest 


prices.  The  cost  of  shipment  from  the  range  above  Miles  City 
to  Boston  is  $1.75  per  one  hundred  pounds.  It  should  be  added 
that  :iheep  can  be  readily  purchased  in  California  for  from  $1.50 
to  $2.50  per  head.  It  costs  little  to  drive  them  into  the  valley  in 
two  seasons,  as  the  crop  of  wool  almost  defrays  the  expenses. 
The  range  on  which  they  are  placed  in  the  Yellowstone  Valley 
at  present  costs  literally  nothing,  and  the  sheep  are  in  steady 
demand  in  the  local  market  at  from  %i  to  *^5  per  head. 

"The  profits  of  sheep-raising  are  generally  estimated  at  a 
higher  figure  than  those  of  cattle-raising.  The  lowest  calculation 
is  based  upon  a  net  profit  of  from  twenty^five  to  thirty-five  per 
cent,  on  the  whole  investment  Occasionally  larger  returns  re- 
ward the  fortunate  stockman,  which  are  sometimes  worthy  of 
noting,  although  they  must  be  regarded  in  the  light  of  exceptional 
occurrences,  the  same  as  the  wonderful  yields  of  gold  once  in  a 
while  recorded  respecting  bonanza  mines.  Every  miner,  how- 
ever, hopes  constandy  to  stumble  upon  a  bonanza,  and  in  similar 
manner  every  stock-raiser  is  entitled  to  hope  to  achieve  as  brilliant 
success  as  others  in  his  line,  even  though  he  will  be  contented  with 
much  less.  In  illustration  of  thor  /  possibilities  connected  with 
sheep-raising  in  Montana,  Mr.  White  cites  the  experience  of  Judge 
Davenport,  of  the  Sun  River  Valley.  In  July,  1875,  he  purchased 
1,000  ewes,  which  cost  him  in  the  neighborhood  of  $3,000.  'These 
he  put  in  charge  of  a  young  man,  who  was  to  take  them  o»i  a 
range,  care  for  them,  pay  all  the  expenses  of  the  band,  and  to 
receive  as  his  share  one-half  of  thfe  wool*  produced,  and  one-half 
of  the  increased  flock.  At  the  end  of  four  years  a  settlement  was 
to  be  made,  and  Judge  Davenport  was  then  to  receive  back  1,000 
of  the  best  ewes  which  the  band  contained.  The  settlement  was 
made  last  July.  In  the  meantime  Judge  Davenport  had  received 
for  his  share  of  the  proceeds  of  the  wool  $6,500,  and  for  his  share 
of  the  increase  $8,oc>a  The  profits  of  his  investment  of  $3,000 
for  four  years  were,  tlierefore,  $14,500,  or  $3,625  or  121 8  per 
cent,  a  year.  During  the  same  year  other  men  made  only  fifty 
or  sixty  per  cent,  on  their  sheep,  and  some  who»  from  inexperi- 
ence or  \aA  fortune,  met  with  heavy  losses,  perhaps  not  more  than 
twenty-five  percent ;  but  I  have  never  heard  of  a  single  instance 
63  ' 


I 

1 


•^Si(»a**%svteilS*tfSaas«a*aisi»<«5^, 


."   V 


994 


OVK    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


in  which  there  hus  been  an  absolute  loss  in  a  period  of,  say,  three 
or  four  years.  One  man,  driving  a  large  band  of  sheep  from  the 
south  a  year  or  two  ago,  was  caught  by  the  winter  in  an  unfavor- 
able place,  and  lost  one-half  or  two'thirds  of  his  flock,  but  at  the 
end  of  three  years,  when  he  came  to  balance  his  books,  he  found 
that  the  remnant  of  his  flock  had  done  so  well  that  his  profits  had 
been  about  tw^nty-flve  percent,  ayeafpn  hisi  origiq^l  iavest- 

nient.'"*  ■  ■      '-"'■■    -:>.••-,.    r-.  ,-:••■   '.j-n-;:  !.;  .r  '    .:' ;   ,n  !,::.  ,';    ' 

.  On  this  subject  of  sheep-farming,  Mr.  Strahorn  gives  the  follow- 
ing items  of  the  eight  months'  experience  of  his  Excellency,  Hon. 
B.  F.  Potts,  Governor  of  Montana :  "  Some  time  ago  he  purchased 
a  ranch  on  the  Dearborn  river,  fifty  miles  north  of  Helena.  \,^.%K 
October  he  bought  and  placed  upon  it  4,000  sheep,  at  a,  cost 
averaging  $j  per  head.  He  subsequeiitly  sold  400.  Of  the  re- 
mainder 2,700  were  ewes,  During  the  months  of  April  and  May 
these  gave  birth  to  2,900 lambs.  Two  hundred  were  lost  by  ex- 
posure in  the  severe  snow-storm  that  visited  the  Territory  that 
spring,  to  compensate,  it  would  seem,  for  a  veiy  mild  winter,  but  the 
number  of  twins  equalled  the  loss,  and  the  net  produot»as  appears 
from  the  r.bove  statement,  was  100  per  cent,  of  the  ewes.  It  is 
estimated  that  when  a  lamb  is  drppped  it  is  worth  j^2,  and  when 
three  months  old  it  is  worth  %i.  The  profit  on  the  increase  may, 
therefore,  be  put  in  round  numbers  at  $5,000,  The  Governor 
has  just  completed  his  shearing.  He  sheared  3,600  sheep,  and 
the  avfirage  clip  was  six  pounds  per  head,  The  wool  is  worth 
twenty-sbc  cents  in  the  Eastern  market,  and  the  cost  of  transpor- 
tation will  scarcely  exceed  four  cents*    The  proceeds  of  this  clip 


,  >. 


*  The  increasing  8ignifi«wnce  of  the  Bheep-raiting  industry  ia  atteited  to  h/  the  following  par- 
agraph in  the  Philadelphia  Northwtst  of  February,  i8So.  The  concluding  sentence  of  the 
extract  mutt  be  regarded  as  prophetic  rather  than  stiieily  accurate : 

"  From  as  far  west  of  the  end  of  tke  ironed  track  of  the  Nprthern  Ptacific,  in  the  Yellowstone 
Valley,  as  Boceman,  which  is  in  the  Rocky  MounUins,  and  from  the  Musselshell  Valley  und 
the  Judith  Basin  to  the  north,  inquiries  are  already  addressed  to  the  General  Manager  of  ttie 
road  for  through  rate*  to  New  York  on  ii^e  sheep,  (beased  nutton,  canned  mutton  and  salted 
pelts.  These  rates  are  asked  for  on  refrigerator  cars,  single  and  douUe  deck  <;ars,  and  for  all 
rail  to  New  York  and  part  rail  and  part  lake  from  Duluth.  There  is  an  element  of  romance  in 
fMs  sudden  ciriKsationofa  region  where,  three  years  ago,  Sittitag  Bull's  young  men  would  have 
«t«^p  all  the abvqt  va^  sctlped  ail  the  »be(>hei;d«  that  venturei  pn  Hidr  hunting-groqnds.  9ut 
.the  change  is  made.    Thf  Y|eUowst<)n^  Valley  is  poesested  by  sheoberds  and  herdsmen,** 


"snift'ifeiiH  .il.i 


HORSE-FARMING  FN  MONTANA. 


lod  of,  say,  three 

f  sheep  from  the 

IX  in  an  unfavor- 

flock,  but  at  the 

bpoks,  he  found 

sit  his  profits  had 

origiqj^l  iavest- 


995 


•  f!"  iir 


gives  the  follow- 
Excellency,  Hon. 
go  he  purchased 
3f  Helena,  li^ast 
sheep,  at  a,  cost 
400.  Of  the  re- 
f  April  and  May 
were  lost  by  ex- 
e  Territory  that 
ild  winter,  but  the 
xluct,  as  appears 
the  ewes.  It  is 
-feb  j^2,  and  when 
he  increase  may. 
The  Governor 
3,600  sheep,  and 
le  wool  is  worth 
cost  of  transpor- 
:eeds  of  this  clip 

to  'fyf  the  following  por- 
cluding  sentence  of  the 

cific,  in  the  Yellowstone 
MusHchhell  Valley  i^nd 
General  Manager  of  the 
miiied  mutton  and  sdted 
le  deck  ^ars,  and  ipx  fdl 
n  element  of  romance  in 
I  yonng  men  would  have 
r  hunting-groqnds.  9ut 
b  and  herdsmen/* 


•vill  therefore  be  about  $4,750.  A  return  of  nearly  $10,000  in 
I'iss  than  one  year,  on  an  investment  of  $I2,qoo,  is  certainly  a 
most  seductive  showing."  ,,  1,    ,   :  ,,    .  ,. 

The  production  of  a  better  class  of  horses,  and  also  of  hogs,  is 
beginning  to  receive  oome  attention.     Horses  are  even  more 
hardy  than  cattle  or  sheep;  they  have  the  advantage  of  being 
able  to  paw  away  the  deepest  snows  that  may  cover  their  pas- 
turage,and  they  never  fail  to  take  good  care  of  themselves  in  the 
worst  storms.     The  correspondent  just  quoted  offers  these  prac- 
tical suggestions  on  this  business :  "  What  are  wanted  here  are 
good  draufe'ht  hor?es,  and  die  market  for  such  would  be  limitless, 
at  paying  prices.     Suppose  a  man,  probably  in  connection  with 
some  other  business,  such  as  sheep-raising  or  raising  grain,  to  buy 
fifty   brood-mares   (half-breed),  which   he  can   procure  at  $30' 
each,  and  one  draught  stallion,  costing  $1 ,000.    He  will  thus  have  > 
invested  $2,500.      He  need  be  at  no  expense  for  feeding  or 
stabling,  except  in  the  case  of  the  stallion,  and  at  very  little  ex- 
pense  for  herding,  if  he  gives  the  business  hia  personal  attention. 
The  average  of  colts  is  eighty  per  cent,  of  the  mares,  so  that  at 
the  end  of  the  first  year  he  would  have  forty  colts,  worth  $20 
each,  making  $800,  a  return  of  over  thirty  per  cent,  on  his  invest- 
ment.    Carry  this  computation  forward,  supposing  him  to  sell 
off  his  geldings  when  they  were  four  years  old  to  pay  expenses 
and   to  buy  additional  stallions,  retaining  the   mare  colts  for 
breeders,  and  it  wjU  be  seen  that  in  five  years  he  will  have  a  band 
worth  at  least  $10,000.     Mr.  Storey  placed  200  mares  on  his 
ranch  in  the  valley  of  the  Yellowstone  only  a  few  years  ago,  and 
now  has  a  herd  of  1,200,  worth  an  average  of  $75  each,  besides 
having  sold  more  than  enough  to  pay  all  expenses."     There  arc 
about  50,000  horses  in  Montana,  a  large  proportion  of  which  are 
the  regular  "  broncho  "  or  mustang  stock.     However,  there  are 
several  large  bands  of  thoroughbreds,  and  fine  breeding  animals 
are  by  no  means  rarc;^,-  „^.,Hi  lo  ^it.:)  '  ...vnHii  nr»Ti  f :.;/:,;.■  ^.r  ;[,::. 

In  the  absence  of  an  abundance  of  corn,  or  a  climate  suitable 
for  producing  it  extensively,  a  few  farmers  have  been  experiment- 
ing with  peas  as  a  substitute  upon  which  to  fatten  hogs.  Pork, 
^^^^^Y'ayti'aT^ri^  commodity  sn  all  the  northern  c6untry,and 


qq6  our    li^ESTF.RN  EMPIRE 

commands  very  high  prices.  Mr.  A.  F.  Nichols,  of  Gallatin 
county,  sells  from  12,000  to  20,000  pounds  of  pork  annually, 
which  has  been  produced  on  peas,  and  Bass  Brothers,  of  Bitter 
Root  Valley,  market  of  bacon  alone  as  high  as  2 1 ,000  pounds  per 
year.  These  gentlemen  are  of  the  opinion  that  peas  make  the 
best  food  for  hogs,  and  they  can  produce  more  pork  from  an  acre 
of  peas  than  can  be  made  from  the  same  area  in  corn  in  Illinois. 
Pork  in  different  forms  sells  at  from  twelve  to  twenty  cents  per 
pound  in  Montana  towns,  and  hundreds  of  tons  are  still  Imported 
from  distant  States  to  supply  the  demand.  Hogs  for  breeding 
purposes  are  very  scarce  at  from  $12  to  %io  eadhi'  "':''""'  "  ' 

Manufactures.— ^otsXsxssl  is  too  new  a  Territory  and  has  too 
small  a  population  to  have  any  very  extensive  manufacturing  es- 
tablishments. There  are  stamping,  smelting  and  other  reduction 
mills  at  Helena,  Bozeman,  Wickes,  Butte  City,  Virginia  City  and 
other  p6tnts  in  the  Territory ;  saw-mills  and  flouring-mills  at  sev- 
eral of  the  larger  towns,  and  the  usual  run  of  small  manufactories 
in  most  of  these  places.  Probably  twelve  or  fifteen  million  dollars 
would  cover  the  products  of  all  the  manufacturing  establishments 
yet  in  existence.'' '"'<'*    '""^   wii)>*<v    .»i.    .»  "i   '  ■*'    '■''  '•■ 

Objects  of  Intenst.-^Wioxxt  one-tenth  of  the  Yellowstone  Na- 
tional Park  is  within  the  bounds  of  Montana;  but  as  nearly 
seven-eighths  of  this  great  wonder  of  the  world  belongs  to  Wy- 
oming, we  reserve  our  description  of  it  for  that  Territory.  But 
it  is  not  the  Yellowstone  Park  alone  whi<ih  attracts  the  attention 
of  the  tourist.  The  whole  valley  of  the  Madison  river,  as  well  as 
that  of  the  Upper  Yellowstone,  is  full  of  wonders,  and  the  valley 
of  the  Upper  Missouri  and  the  riorthern  portion  of  the  valley  of 
Clarke's  fork  of  the  Columbia  river.  In  the  Madison  and  the 
Yellowstone,  caAon  succeeds  cafton,and  wild;  rocky  waterfalls  are 
too  lofty  to  be  run  by  any  boat,  dnd  within  such  narrow  bounds 
that  there,  is  no  passage  there  for  any  human  being,  and  they  can 
only  be  viewed  from  above.  One  of  these  cafions  in  the  Madison 
is  fifteen  miles  in  length,  and  its  walls  are  from  600  to  900  fe6t 
in  height,  while  the  water  leaps  over  a  succession  of  rapids  and 
falls.  No  human  being  has  ever  passed  through  it.  Not  far  off 
are  beautiful  crystal  lakes,  which  attract  grtsat  numbers  In  the 


^E-^, 


i 


RAtL  ROADS  IS  MONTAIfA. 


997 


I,  of  Gallatin 

ork  annually, 

lers,  of  Bitter 

(O  pounds  per 

as  make  the 

from  an  acre 

>rn  in  Illinois. 

nty  cents  per 

still  imported 

for  breeding 

and  has  too 
ufacturing  es- 
:her  reduction 
jinia  City  and 
j-mills  at  sev- 
tnanufactories 
nillion  dollars 
stablishments 

!.i;    !..   .-1.  :   — 

ifbwstohe  Na- 
t>ut  as  nearly 
'longs  to  Wy- 
srritory.  But 
I  the  attention 
ver,  as  well  as 
and  the  valley 
the  valley  of 
lison  and  the 
waterfells  are 
arrow  bounds 
•,  and  they  can 
I  the  Madison 
0  to  900  fe6t 
of  rapids  and 
.  Not  far  off 
imbers  in  die 


season.  The  geyser  formation  extends  over  all  this  region,  and 
among  the  most  remarkable  examples  of  it  arc  the  Deer  i^odge 
Mineral  Springs,  eighteen  miles  north  of  Deer  Lodge,  some  of 
which  are  really  geysers,  while  others  have  formed  cones  of  their 
deposits  thirty  feet  in  height  and  fifty  feet  in  diameter  at  the  base, 
from  the  apex  of  which  flows  a  large  warm  spring.  This  is  sur- 
rounded by  forty  other  springs,  ranging  in  temperature  from  1 1 5" 
to  150**.  The  caAon:*  and  falls  on  the  Upper  Missouri  are  very 
beautiful  and  grand.  We  can  only  name  "  The  Gate  of  the 
Mountains "  and  the  "Great  Falls,"  eighteen  miles  north  of 
Helena,  "Atlantic  Caflon,"  "  The  Bear's  Tooth,"  "  The  Mysterious 
Thunder,"  supposed  to  be  caused  by  hidden  geysers  in  the  moun- 
tains, "The  Devil's  Slide"  and  "The  Devils  Watch-Tower ;  " 
and  in  ute  northwest,  the  Flathead  Lake  Region  with  its  Twin 
Cascades. 

Railroads.— ^^  to  January,  1880,  there  were  no  railroads  in  op- 
eration in  Montana, but  since  that  time  the  Utahand  Northern  Kail- 
road  has  been  opened  to  Helena,  with  the  intention  of  an  extension 
westward  or  northwestward ;  and  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway 
has  entered  the  Territory  from  the  cast,  and  will  reach  the  junction 
of  Powder  river  with  the  Yellowstone  by  January,  1881,  and  Miles 
City  and  Fort  Kcogh  by  the  early  spring.  The  western  or  Pend 
d'Oreille  Division  of  the  same  road  will  probably  also  enter  the 
Territory  by  next  spring,  and  make  some  progress  southward  in 
the  valley  of  Clarke's  fork  of  the  Columbia  river.  The  surveyed 
route  of  the  Northern  Pacific  will  traverse  Western,  Southwestern 
and  Southern  Central  Montana,  throwing  out  a  branch  to  the 
National  Yellowstone  Park,  following  the  Clarke's  fork  of  Co- 
lumbia and  the  Yellowstone  river  from  its  source  nearly  to  its 
junction  with  the  Missouri  river,  leaving  it  at  Glendive,  opposite 
the  mouth  of  Cabin  creek.  Both  these  roads  are  likely  to  do  a 
large  and  profitable  business  from  the  beginning,  and  one  which 
will  be  increased  almost  indefinitely.  At  present  immigrants 
wishing  to  reach  Virginia  City,  Helena,  Butte  City,  or  any  of  the 
places  in  the  Clarke's  Fork  Valley,  will  find  it  for  their  advantage 
to  take  the  Utah  and  Northern  Railroad;  and  those  who  Would  pro- 
cure or  who  have  procured  homes  in  the  yalley  of  the  Yellowstone, 


'  I 


''7>i£%lS\i!vwit£»gB«^' ' 


gpa  OVX    WESTEXI/  EMPIRB. 

the  Northern  Pacific,  which  will  soon  be  running  to  Miles  City.  The 
only  other  available  route  is  that  up  the  Missouri  river  by  steam- 
ers, and  for  several  hundred  miles  up  the  Yellowstone.  This 
journey  should  be  made  after  April  and  before  August.  Very 
soon  there  will  be  access  to  the  Territory  from  the  west  by  way 
of  the  Pcnd  d'Oreille  and  Qarke's  Fork  Divisions  of  the  Northern 
PaciHc.    I*  'lu'i.i  >ii)ii  ••  III  'j'liuom  r'HMi «M''  t'»tiiM  /i">l,('i  Ii  ilMii 

Indian  Reservations  and  Popu/alion.-^Tht:  Territory  was  re- 
garded as  the  best  place  to  which  to  banish  the  Blackfeet,  Crows, 
Assihiboines,  Gros  Ventres  and  Yankton nais,  afler  the  terror  in- 
spired among  the  settlers  by  the  terrible  massacres  in  Minnesota 
in  1 863->3,  had  made  their  longer  stay  in  a  new  and  rapidly  grow- 
ing State  intolerable  and  impossible,  and  so  they  were  removed 
to  immense  reservations  north  of  the  Missouri  river  and  south  of 
the  Yellowstone,  in  1867  and  1868,  in  the  expectation  that  there 
they  Would  be  able  to  remain  without  molestation.  Litde  did 
the  Indian  Ofifice  tlien  dream  that  within  ten  or  twelve  years  this 
very  region  would  be  found  to  be  the  garden  spot  of  American 
agriculture,  and  that  mines  of  fabulous  wealth  would  be  discovered 
among  the  mountains  which  then  seemed  to  be  so  forbidding. 
But  so  it  was ;  and  when,  a  year  or  two  later,  the  Flatheads,  Pend 
d'Oreilles  and  Kootenais  were  in  need  of  a  home,  one  was  as- 
signed to  them  also  within  the  limits  of  Montana.  The  United 
States  government  was  lavish  in  its  gifts  of  land  to  these  tribes 
— 34,1 56,800  acres,  or  ^V,  of  the  whole  area  of  the  Territory,  was 
made  over  to  them,  including  nearly  all  the  land  north  of,  and 
more  than  one-half  of  the  region  south  of  the  Yellowstone,  ex- 
tending to  the  Wyoming  border.  The  land  north  of  the  Mis- 
souri, though  some  of  it  unfit  for  cultivation,  is  for  the  most  part 
good  grazing  land,  and  the  mountain  slopes  and  river  bottoms 
contain  gold  lodes  and  extensive  placers ;  but  the  region  south 
of  the  Yellowstone  is  the  garden  of  the  Territory  for  productive- 
ness,  and  contains  also  extensive  lodes  of  silver  and  gold,  espe- 
cially on  Clarke's  fork  of  the  Yellowstone,  Rosebud  creek,  and 
the  Upper  Yellowstone  itself.  At  and  around  the  five  agen- 
cies on  these  reservations,  viz.:  the  Blackfeet  Agency,  Crow 
Agency,  Flathead  Agency,  Fort  Peck  Agency,  and  Fort  Belknap 


rv^ 


lilesCity.  The 
river  by  steam- 
)W!»tone.  This 
/Vugust.  Very 
le  west  by  way 
>f  the  Northern 

rritory  was  re- 

ackfeet,  Crows, 

r  the  terror  in- 

8  in  Minnesota 

d  rapidly  grow- 

were  removed 

:r  and  south  of 

ition  that  there 

>n.     Little  did 

'elve  years  this 

>t  of  American 

1  be  discovered 

so  forbidding. 

^latheads,  Pend 

le,  one  was  as- 

The  United 

to  these  tribes 

Territory,  was 

north  of,  and 

ellowstone,  ex- 

th  of  the  Mis- 

the  most  part 

river  bottoms 

region  south 

or  productive* 

nd  gold,  espe- 

lud  creek,  and 

he  five  agen- 

\gency.  Crow 

Fort  Belknap 


INDIAN  RRSEkVATlONS. 


999 


Agency,  there  are  congregated  21,670  Indians,  of  whom  3,470 
are  Crow  Indians,  occupying  the  reservation  south  of  the  Yellow- 
stone ;  16,843  HIackfcct,  Assinaboines  and  other  Sioux  bands,  and 
1,338  Flatheads  and  other  Pacific  tribes.  Of  the  whole  number 
only  1,531.  about  seven  per  cent,  can  be  called  civilized,  bo  far  as 
the  assumption  of  citizen's  dress  is  concerned,  and  but  475  male 
Indians  were  engaged  in  civilized  pursuits.  The  ahr.urdity  of 
giving  such  a  vast  tract  to  these  vagrant  and  barbarous  tribes 
will  be  appreciated  if  we  notice  that  they  are  allowed  over  1,700 
acres  to  every  Indian,  man,  woman  or  child.  Now  that  the  buffalo 
is  so  rapidly  disappearing  that  it  has  already  ceased  in  nearly  all 
parts  of  the  continent  to  be  the  dependence  of  the  Indian  tribes 
for  game  and  for  its  peltries,  it  is  well  worth  while  to  inquire 
whether  some  occupation  cannot  be  devised  for  the  Indian  which 
shall  enable  him  to  do  something  towards  earning  his  own  liveli- 
hood without  occupying,  or,  rather,  withholding  from  occupation 
by  others,  a  Territory  as  large  as  the  State  of  Illinois.  We 
would  not  have  the  Indiaji  wronged,  but  the  lands  of  the  earth 
are  too  precious  to  be  held  by  those  who  cannot  and  will  not 
cultivate  or  use  th^m  for  human  subsistence,  and  will  not  allow 
others  to  do  so. 

Population  of  Montana. — In  1870  the  population  of  the  Terri- 
tory was  39,895,  of  ^yhom  18,306  were  whites,  183  colored,  1,949 
Chinese,  and  19,457  Indians,  of  whom  all  but  157  were  members 
of  the  different  tribes.  Estimates  were  made  at  various  times 
between  1870  and  1880,  and  with  a  tolerably  near  approximation 
to  truth;  thus,  in  1876,  the  white  population  was  estimated  at 
23,000;  in  1877,  at  28,000;  and  in  1878,  at  35,000,  including  the 
Chinese  and  the  colored  people.  In  1880  the  supervisor  of  the 
census  reports  the  population  (except  Indians)  as  39,157.  and 
adding  the  number  of  Indians,  according  to  the  report  of  the  In- 
dian Office  for  1880^21,670— -we  have  a  total  of  60,827,  the 
white  population  having  more  than  doubled,  and  the  Indians 
having  increased  2,2 1 3.  The  corrected  census  returns  for  1880 
show  that  of  the  population  not  tribal  Indians  28,180  were  males, 
10,977  females,  27,642  natives,  11,515  foreigners,  35,648  whites, 
202  colored,  1,750  Indians  and  half-breeds,  and  1,737  Chinese. 

The  following  table  shows  the  assessment  of  Montana  Terri- 


I', 


•  l! 


til^iitfOmil^titt^Stfii^^iBiiySiSiSSSS- 


,100O 


CUJt   WMSTEKM  MMPtMM. 


lory  by  counties  for  the  yearu  1878-791  with  their  respective 
iacrease  of  taxable  property :        >  * 


iir.tluil   IK  ''  ' 


*''^nifcirtM'''' 
VtfUWHIVIf 

licaverheod  'i  ■'» 

Chuteau      .  .     . 

Custer         .  »    . 

TtawKon       .  V  ', 

Deer  Lodg«  u    jw' 

JclTcreon     .  •>  » 

C'l.illutin      .  .     . 
J^wis  and  Clarke 
Madison     .     .    . 

Meagher     .  .     . 

MiMoula     .  .     . 


TouU 

,  1 1 1 ;  1 1 M    ' ) 


PopuUlion 
iSiio. 

t,7ia 
3,058 
.  a, 510 
,  180 
8,876 
•,464 

3.643 
6,5ai 
3,9»6 
a.744 

«.533 

»  ■    .- 

39i«57 


1879. 

11,089,59600 

i.«79.«75  00 
350,000  00 

3,700,000  eo 

«43.6H3  95 
1,586,340  00 
3,oa8,3ao  00 
1 1874.543  00 
1,187,408  00 

735.507  00 


/   .1 


1878. 
1977,990  00 
596,7ta  00 
3a9,a3i  01 

•,341, a68  0* 

7»5»663  15 

1.386,340  00 

3,899,810  00 

1,790,46a  00 

867,909  00 

647,189  00 


IncrMM. 

151,606  00 

583. "53  00 
30,768  98 

'«.*358.73>  00 

48,oao  80 

aoo,ooo  00 

138,510  00 

84,081  00 

319,409  00 

88,318  CO 


.|»S.5«5,a7a  95   MhHfM^  «7,  $*»^^h^9^  jf 

_  ,  't    ' 

'i  'llie  county  of  Dawson,  organized  we  tHslleve  In  1880,  Is  re- 
ported in  the  above  table  with  Choteau  county,  of  which  it  has 
been  hitherto  the  eastern  part ;  but  the  coming  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  into  the  Territory  has  called  a  considerable  population  into 

this  region,  and  it  will  probably  next  year  report  an  increased 
population  and  assessment.^ "'"  Y"  i«-"-    'U  t-i  fcu. ,  wv,  ^u. 

'•'f^The principal  towns  0/ Montana  are :  Helena,  the  capital  of  the 
Territory,  and  of  Lewis  and  Clarke  county  also ;  a  town  which 
originated  in  a  placer  mine,  and  was  at  first  known  by  the  not 
very  euphonious  name  of  "  Last  Chance  Gulch."  The  town  is 
not  beautiful.  Its  location  forbids  that,  but  it  has  some  good 
buildings,  several  churches  and  a  population  of  more  than  5,000. 
Virginia  City  is  in  the  southern  part  of  the  Territory,  on  the  Yel- 
lowstone, a  little  north  of  the  YeUowstone  National  Park.  It  is 
also  near  the  famous  Alder  Gulch.  It  has  a  population  of  nearly 
0,000.  Butte  City,  forty  or  fifty  miles  south  of  Helena,  is  a  pretty 
town,  with  some  smelting  works  and  a  population  of  about  3,000. 
Bozeman  is  a  flourishing  townr  at  the  head  of  the  Gallatin  Valley, 
and  is  on  the  projected  route  of  the  Northern  Pacific.  It  has 
about  1,500  inhabitants.  Other  towns,  which  are  rapidly  grow- 
ing, are:  Bannock,  Phillipsburg,  Deer  Lodge,  Radersburg,  Vestel, 
Missoula,  Benton,  and  on  the  YelldWstone,  Miles  City  and  Glen- 
dive.  By  way  of  enlightening  our  readers  as  to  the  cost  of  living 
in  Montana,  we  give  the  following  price  current  of  articles  of 


Nii. 


their 

respective 

i.tlUil 

/;,,')      ■■ 

M     '    i 

InerMM. 

>  CO 

151,60600 
58.1. '5.1  00 

1  oo 

1  oa 

ao,768  98 

)oo 

i.JS«.73»  00 

J  «5 

48,010  Ho 

>  oo 

300,000  00 

)  oo 

128,510  00 

1  oo 

84,081  00 

)00 

319,409  00 

)  oo 

88,318  00 

^  17,  |a,88l,,Sp8  78 

I  in  1880,  Is  rc- 
of  which  it  has 
of  the  Northern 
population  into 
irt  an  increased 

!  ,  [ . 

he  capital  of  the 
) ;  a  town  which 
own  by  the  not 
"  The  town  is 
has  some  good 
nore  than  5,000. 
:ory,  on  the  Yel- 
>nal  Park.  It  is 
ulation  of  nearly 
slena,  is  a  pretty 
1  of  about  3,000. 
Gallatin  Valley, 
Pacific.  It  has 
■e  rapidly  grow- 
iersburg,  Vestel, 
5  City  and  Glen- 
the  cost  of  living 
It  of  articles  of 


fJf/CES  CVHKENT-^AVBHAQg    WAGRS. 


lODt 


jrcncral  use,  furnished  by  a  merchant  of  Miles  City  in  April,  1880. 
The  Yellowstone  Division  of  the  Northern  I'acitic  will  probably 
reach  Miles  City  in  March  or  April,  1881,  and  a  few  articles  may 
the-n  be  lower.  The  Yellowstone  is,  however,  navigable  for 
steamboats  for  several  months  of  the  year. 

Flour,  per  cwt |4  'S  to    I5  50 

Oats,  per  cwt 5  00  .      . 

Corn,  per  cwt s  o®  Hd.  u 

PotatocM,  per  cwt. 3  eo    .  ,  1 

Butter,  choice,  per  lb 50 

EggH,  per  do«. 75 

Corn  meal,  per  cwt 4  00 

Bacon,  per  owt 1000 

Breakfast  Bacon,  per  cwt. 

Ham,  per  cwt 

Lard,  per  lb 

Beef,  per  lb 

Mutton,  per  lb.       ... 

Onions,  per  lb.       ... 
...  Sii^ar,  per  lb.    .... 

Coflee,  per  lb 

Beans,  per  lb 

Salt,  per  lb 

Coal  Oil,  per  gal.  .     .     . 
,.  Whiskey,  per  gal.    ....,, 3  00  to      800 

Beer,  per  case 7  00 

,,/(,  Tobacco,  per  lb.    ....    iImi;  j    i.-^iMi     90  to      i  as 
^,^.,  Lumber,  per  M.     »ii,f  :,fi,  f,,  v  ,«    .  , »    .    .45001010000     .,., 
'.    V     Shingles,  per  M 11  00 


10  00 

i( 

33  00 

..     |V 

■S  00 

'   1 1. 

ao 

8 

10 

/I 

8 

■; 

13  to 

16 

as  to 

85 

8 

8 

tr 

60 

( 

"White  Lead,  per  cwt. 5  50 

Nails,  per  cwt.     ;   ',  ■','  ,    .'  ' .  ";  '  ...    .    la  50 
fron,  per  lb.  -.h'- 


;iii  •  >  i    111 


■  /•m 


;i.^v)l,'V/./'^.t^ii  ,i'v' 


Employment. 
Bakers,  per  month  and  board.. 

blacksmiths,  per  day     .    .    . 

^Bookkeepers,  per  month     .    . 

^firioklayers,  per  day  .... 

fButchers,  p^ r  month  and  board 
Brickmakers,  .   "    .           " 
Carp«|nters,  per  day 


<Ui'4' 


♦          7 

to         to         ' 

I 

L  IN  JANUARY,  1879. 

the  East. 

In  Montana. 

>a5  00 

^6500 

a  SO 

450 

7000 

I85  00 

350 

6  50 

3400 

50  00 

ao  00 

5000 

«5o 

450 

-  ^■M»*MtA^ii&0ili^U»ti^Vfi-jM&^^- 


\. 


1003 


OVM  IVgSntJty  KAfP/Mg, 


/I 


Pint  Cook,  per  month  ami  board 
Second  (!o<)k,         "  , 


Cooki  In  fainUin.  '< , 


M 
«* 
If 


ClMMibcrmaids, 
'    '    Clerk*,  |K;r  inonrtt     ..... 
DrcsHtnakcrn,  |kt  month     .     ,     . 
Dairymen,  \h:t  month  and  lM)iird 
Knginacnt  in  milli,  [icr  day    .     . 
Farm  hundn,  [icr  month  and  IxMtd 
Harneiw-makera,  per  day   .     . 
lIuHtlerit,  per  month  and  buard 
laundrcMseii,      "  •'  ■ 

IdburcrH,  "  " 

Lumlwrmen,     '*  '* 

Machinists,  per  day  .... 
Miners,  '•        .... 

Millers,  [KT  month  and  board 
Millwrights,  per  day  .  .  . 
Painters,  [wr  day  .... 
Printers,  per  week  .... 
Ptaatereni,  jwr  day  .... 
Stchool  teachers,  pei  month  . 
Sorvants,  per  month  and  board 
Shepherds,         "  "• 

Stone  m-osons,  per  day  .    ,    , 
Teamsters,  per  month  and  board 
Waiters  •«  «« 

j'>  r 

Education. — Our  latest  statistics  of  education  are  from  Gover- 
nor Potts'  report  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  in  October,  1878. 
There  has  been  considerable  progress  since  that  time.  Graded 
schools  had  been  established  at  Helena,  Virginia  City,  Bozeman, 
Butte  and  Deer  Lodge,  and  large,  well-ventilated  brick  school- 
houses  had  been  erected  for  them.  The  other  educational  sta- 
tistics  were  as  follows:   "*"**'«  '"**  '«*■*  '**'  •^'  '^'t"  " ''  "* 


|6o  00 

|llOO# 

30  00 

3500 

II  00 

3500 

1000 

30  00 

50  00 

90  00 

as  00 

70  00 

as  00 

a  00 

15  00 

45  00 

"•      350 

48*50 

a  00 
15  00 

450 
45  00 

ta  00 

3500 

15  00 

a8  00 

3500 
SSoo 

»7S 

'i  "■'•450 

a  as 

as  00 

•SO 
a  as 

15  00 

350 
65  00 

'  I-'"  450 

"  '"lijoo 

»5o 

3000 

'5  50 

80  00 

II  00 

3500 

300 

4Q  00 

18  00 

45  00 

1600 

5500 

Number  of  school-houses   .   ..   ..    .f- i    i  !k;:  .    ,    .  8b 

Value  of  school-houses  . 167,700 

Whole  school  census  (between  ages  4  and  ai  years)  givpi  4,705 
Number  of  scholars  enrolled  in  schools  .,  .„>,  i-k  ^-^V^  8,9*7 
Number  of  teachers  employed     .    .    .  ^,    <'  »    ♦    4"  .         104 

Salaries  of  teachers  employed |36,aoo 

Salaries  of  superintendents |4,Soo 


I 


^•'^SSjS^^aafert^iftrrn'wwM^ 


-■■l'-^-f-^"-'tMJifi"-irrrii'r['i'^iifii'tia-rtrlillr^riiriW--li1fiTr[|- 


i 


I*'  "'I  •  «ooo 

hi    •  35  oo 

!'  "'I  40  00 

I  .!'.  '"I  6  00 

IN  ,'''^  4500 

I"  I    .   l  5500 

ire  from  Gover- 
n  October,  1878. 
t  time.  Graded 
City,  Bozeman, 
ad  brick  school- 
educational  sta< 


MKltGtOUH  DKHOMtNATiOSS. 

NuTi1b4rofKra(leti  And  high  »ch(ioU     ,...•••'"         6 

NumUrr  uf  privtitc  m  hooli     .     .     » 10 

Uiie  tollcKiaic  iiiKiitute  in  pruccM  of  erection  «l  Uc«r 

I .(Ktge,  estimated  (0«t       115,000 

Amount  uiiounty  ux  cullci  led f47iJ>J 


1003 


Rtlig;iout   DtnominiitioHi, 


iitilkw 


NlMlUr  'il  iiiiir 
pialtiihit  valiM. 

Otliar  iliiirili  priipany , 

M«nib«nht|i     ., >.•,••>«•  •••• 

Smutty  utiiHiU.    ....»•..  t  •  t««  II  It  tf  I* 
(NHf'  n  and  iMdhan   .•••»>••. mttoi 

Si'hoUrii  i>f  nil  Ulna    •••,•• •••• 

Hanaviib-iii  )'ull>i;Hoiw   . .  i»..i<i ..  inni 

Kor  mini«lart«l  Mip|>ur«  (•■fllMtty) 

Numlwr  iif  mlnlamn 


1 
■  • 

,3! 


Ill 


|i;iMa  !fil,aiM 


1 
1 


!i 


•'•.««" 


••t 
I 


« 

•lium 


1 


I  I  f| 


$ 


1.1  1  I 


•-••it; 

IT' 
l.Wt 

il 


The  ah6ve  table  also  dates  from  1878,  and  probably  most  of 
the  items  would  be  doubled  in  the  autumn  of  1880  by  the  influx 
of  population  and  the  efforts  of  home  missionaries.  We  know 
that  the  Con{j;rcgationalists,  the  Lutherans  and  the  Baptists  have 
now  organizations,  and  we  think  church  edifices,  and  probably 
some  other  denominations  alsOi  The  state  of  morals  is  probably 
not  worse  than  in  other  new  territories,  and  perhaps  bette-  than 
some ;  but  there  is  less  regard  for  the  Sabbath  than  there  should 
be,  and  infidel  clubs  abound,  while  the  usual  concomitants  of  new 
settlements,  gambling  and  drinking  saloons  and  brothels,  are  very 
numerous.  This  is  particularly  the  case  in  most  of  the  new  set- 
dements,  the  mining  camp  at  Wickes  being,  however,  an  honor- 
able and  conspicuous  exception. 

After  a  time  these  mining  towns  acquire  a  better  and  more 
creditable  population,  and  the  rougher  class  go  on  to  newer  settle- 
ments, where  the  same  scenes  are  re-enacted.  The  only  remedy 
for  this  state  of  things  is  that  moral,  and  especially  Christian 
people,  who  settle  in  these  new  towns  and  camps,  should  maintain 
their  religious  character,  and  put  down,  by  vigorous  and  decided 
action.  Sabbath-breaking,  gambling  and  drinking,  and  though 
the  struggle  may  be  severe  at  first,  they  will  find  it  not  only 
pleasant  but  gready  advantageous  to  the  permanent  prosperity 


li 


^A»maMi^t^Mmi>!^a»i#;~  jfomSEI^SSim' 


CUM    WMarMMDf  KMriMM. 


of  thoir  srttlrments.  Mr.  Wickc«  hat  br«n  Nurtm^fol  in  dnin(* 
this  at  hi!!  tar^"'  tamp, and  i>  now  reaping  the  reward  of  hit  iirm* 
ncit  for  the  right, 


«•" 


.      •        CHAPTFR  XIV. 
NEBRASKA. 

A*KA  AKD  ExT«MT— BnuwDAiifwi — TonrAHATivf  Arra— Ir^  RivRRiNR  nmrMr>- 
AhiKK— SiiRrAt.K  or  iiir.  Codntmv  -S»:nnk  in  whkm  ii  ih  a  i'MAiHir.->-IrH 

(iRADUAL  Kl.rVAriON  Tl)  THK  BanR  Of  THE  KiKKV  MorNTAINH— TmK  NR- 
RRAHILA  "  lUl)  I.AN(*H" — Tlir  RlVRHM  or  NmiKAilKA  — TlIK  MlHMHINI  ANtI 
NioHKARA— ThK    NoRIII    AND    SoUTII    ri.ArT».   ANI»    IHKIH   Arri.l'r.N  IH -Tiir 

Iahiv  anu  rrst   Furnx— Thk  Rrpuiu.i(;AN   Kivkm— <;knrrai.   I>inr(  rioN  or 

TMKHK    KlVr.HH— GKOUMIV  ANr>  MiNKHAI.UOV — TMR    Im}V.»H   OR    1)RI»  I— AlXU- 

viAi,  Dr.iHHiiH — Tmr  CiHrAt  PKRiiisroRu:  Lake— Tkrtiary  Forma iion— 
CARiioNtKKRturs  Strata — 'hu  Coai,  Measurks— I.kjnite  in  the  Tkhiiart 
—Not  mocm  Kconomic  Valur  n>  the  Coaiji  or  Nkiira!ika— -The  Peat  Hed^ 
or  TKR  St'ATR — Soil.  AND  VrqetatioNx-Fertimty  or  the  IxiEM— TRErt  or 
THE  State— /.HiUKiv — O-imate  and  MsTEOHouKiv— Tahi.n— Aoric'VL- 
tural  I'rouuctions — (jRopsor  1877, 1878  and  1879 — Wild  and  C!ui;riVATED 
Fruith— Mr.  E.  a.  Curlev  un  the  Wild  Fruith— (jHAZiNti—'IuE  Live- 
stock OK  the  State— MANurAcruKiNfj  [NDirsTRV—RAiLPOADH— Population 
—Rapid  Guowth  ok  the  State — Indianh — Finamcial  Condition— Educa- 
tion— ^Landh  rf)R  Immigrants — Government,  School,  Univemitv  and 
Railroad  Lamdh^Auvick  to  Immiokanth — Prices — Covntieh,  Citirs  and 
TowNH — Rrli(;iouh  Denominations— UisToRtcAL  Data — Nebraska  as  a 
Home  roR  Immiuran  rs. 

NKRitASKA.  one  of  the  States  of  the  ceniral  belt  of  "Our  West- 
ern Emph-e,"  lying  between  the  parallels  of  40"  and  43"  north 
latitude,  and  between  95*  tcf  and  104"*  of  west  lonj;itiid(.'  from 
Greenwich.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Dakota ;  on  the  east 
by  the  Missouri  river,  which  separates  it  from  Iowa  and  Mis- 
souri ;  on  the  south  by  Kansas  and  Colorado,  and  on  the  west  by 
Colorado  and  Wyoming.  Its  area,  according  to  the  United 
States.^Land  Office,  is  75,995  square  miles,  or  48,636,800  acres. 
Its  greatest  length  from  east  to  west  is  ..12  miles,  and  its  breadth 


I 


c«iftj1  in  doinjj 
rani  of  hin  firm- 


RivRRiNR  RtniNn- 

IH    A     l'HAiHI»l~~|rx 

NtAiNM— Ink  Nk- 

MK    MlNMHIMI     AND 

Ani urNiM  -Tiir 
lAi.  OiNRi  rioN  iir 
OK  Dkin  —Aixu- 

^KY     Fi)kMAIU)N— 
IN   THE  TkhTIAHT 

—TMr.  I'rAT  Urdu 
UiKM—'YutfA  or 

TaUIH— AliMICVL- 

\)  ANU  CrtriVA twj 
ttmi—'lut  LivE- 
lAUs — Population 
(NtiiTiON— Educa- 
Univrrsity  and 

NTIRS,  CiTIB*  AND 
-NlliKAilKA    Al    A 


ll.ll"!    .     [I'tt 


-(«!». 


of"Our  West- 
and  43«»  north 
onjjitiidt.'  from 
a  ;  on  the  east 
3wa  and  Mis- 
on  the  west  by 
o  tlie  United 
636,800  acres, 
nd  its  breadth 


aVM^ACU  OP  TMK  COVSTHY, 


100) 


fron<  north  to  south  20H  milrt.  It  in  Xxx^vx  than  all  Nrw  Eng- 
Und  and  Nrw  Jrniry,  and  a«  lar)*^  as  Ohio  and  IntUana  tog«thrr. 
'I*hf  NtiHsouri  river  not  only  forms  its  entire  eastern  boundary, 
but  in  (onjunct'on  with  the  Niobrara,  onr  of  its  larger  tributaries, 
and  dir  Kcya  I'aha,  an  nOhicnt  of  that  stream,  ^ive•  a  riverine 
Ixxiixlary  to  nearly  one  half  of  its  northern  lK»rdrr. 

Surf  me  of  thi  l\mntty-^(irnHu(tl  /)rsffHt  pvtH  ITrst  to  East»^ 
Rivtis,  lilnffi,  HiUs,  V'«Ueyi. — The  State  is  called  pntirie.  So  it 
is,  in  the  sense  of  the  word  which  means  meadow :  but  not  in 
that  secondary  sense  which  implies  a  land  of  uniform  flatness. 
In  r»'al  truth,  Nebraska  is  a  part  of  the  lowest  eastern  grass- 
clothed  slope  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  rye  alone  will  makft 
no  observer  aware  of  this  fact.  Nevertheless,  from  the  eastern 
t«)  the  wrMt«!rn  iKumdary  of  Nebraska,  thrre  is  a  ^adual  and  un- 
interru()t«Hl  rise  of  the  land  of  alxitit  seven  feet  to  the  mile  in 
ICastern  Nebraska,  and  fmm  that  to  ten  feet  in  the  west;  and  thtis 
it  is  that  while  the  land  on  the  eastern  Imundary  is  o;o  feet 
above  sea-level,  on  the  western  lx>undary  it  is  about  5,000.  The 
surface  form  of  the  State  is,  of  course,  made  Ly  the  rivers.  The 
eastern  front  of  the  country  shows  Iwld,  wooded  bluffs  to  the 
Missouri,  their  outlines  being  cut  and  scarpcnl  into  fantastic  and 
picturesque  forms  by  the  washing  water.  West  of  th*?  Missouri 
bluffs,  except  on  the  table  lands,  there  is  no  flat,  but  a  land  of 
many  changing  forms — now  bro<id  bottoms,  bounded  by  low 
hills ;  now  picturesque  bluffs,  and,  especially  in  the  grazing  re- 
gion, ravines  sometimes  as  rugged  as  the  gulches  in  the  gold 
fields.  In  the  northwestern  part  of  the  State,  in  the  region  lying 
between  the  sources  of  the  Middle  Loup  fork  and  the  Niobrara 
river,  there  are  extensive  sand  hills,  and  those  clay  deposits,  cut 
into  the  most  fantastic  forms  by  the  erosion  of  the  mountain 
streams.  These  are  the  "  Nebraska  Bad  Lands,"  and  are  con- 
nected, both  geologically  and  geographically,  with  the  Dakota 
"  Bad  Lands,"  on  and  near  the  White  Larth  river,  and  between 
that  river  and  the  Big  Cheyenne.         ni.    .  »..i  ...,  .  i,,.,.     m,;  , 

The.se  "  Bad  Lands  "  are  uninhabitable,  but  they  are  very  in- 
teresting for  their  fossils,  of  which  we  shall  have  more'  to  say 
under  the  Geology  of  Nebraska. 


\ 


'  v¥ri  ■<'l'Mr«iVrTi»i»tmfii«  tii'l..<f.i?ai-,ii»tf  .-,vt  I  titir,  ijiugji 


% 


i»— lE* 


.|Jt> 


ioo6 


OUR   WMSTEXA'  EMPIRE. 


i 


Now  and  again  a  river  flows  full  to  the  bank,  from  which  the 
bottom—from  a  mile  to  four  or  more  miles  wide — spreads  out 
on  cither  hand ;  but  generally  the  streams  ru-«  in  deep  beds,  the 
higli,  steep  banks  and  the  narrow  first  bench  being  thickly 
clothed  with  timber.  The  general  ascending  lay  of  the;  land  is 
broken  from  west  to  east  by  threq  main  drainage  channels.  On 
the  northern  boundary  of  the  State  are  the  Niobrara  and  the 
Missouri  rivers,  of  which  latter  ihe  Niobrara  is  an  afifluent. 
,;  The  Niobrara  has  m^n/  tributaries,  some  of  them  of  consider- 
able site ;  and  several  of  them,  as  their  names  imply,  have  many 
rapids  and  waterfalls.*  The  Platte,  a  winding,  shallow,  spreading 
stream^  has  the  sources  of  both  of  its  main  streams,  the  North 
and  South  forks  of  the  Platte,  far  up  the  main  range  or  Great 
Divide  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  Central  Colorado ;  the  North 
fork  also  traversing  a  great  extent  of  territory  in  Wyoming; 
both  forks  cross  Nebraska  from  west  to  east  to  their  point  of 
junction  at  North  Platte.  Before  the ,  divisipn,  the  Platte  river 
receives  two  large  tributaries,  the  Loup  Fqrk  river,  which,  with 
its  three  branches,  North,  Middle  and  South,  traverses  a  large 
territory,  and  the  Elkhorn,  tvhich  drains  Northeastern  Nebraska. 
On  the  south  bank,  neither  the  Platte  nor  the  North  Platte  re- 
ceive any  considerable  streams.  The  South  Platte  receives  on 
its  nc^t  tit  bank  Lodge  Pole  creek,  in  the  valley  of  which  the  Union 
Pacific  road  is  constructed  for  1 50  miles.  From  fifty  to  eighty  miles 
south  of  the  PJatte,  the  Republican  river,  the  largest  tributary  of 
the  Kaw  or  Kansas  river,  having  its  sources  in  Eastern  Colorado, 
traverses  the  southern  and  southwestern  counties  of  the  State, 
receiving  three  large  affluents.  Medicine  Lake  creek.  White 
Man's  fork  and  Rock  creek,  on  its  northern  bank,  and  an  infini- 
tude of  ^nali  streams  on  both  banks.  Other  smaller  but  consid- 
erable tribut?iries  ipf  the; Kansas  drain  the  southeast  of  the  State. 
The  general  direction  and  flow  of  all  these  rivers  is  to  the  south- 
east. In  their  gradual  descent  from  the  lofty  plateau  at  the  west 
of  the  State,  the  rivers  and  streams,  in  seeking  the  lowest  level. 


-:\*Em  fiti  <3f»r/-"lhe  water  Aat  J«ps "-,M«,  CkaAua,  or  Rapid  creek,  Antelope  cieek, 
the  Rapid  river,  are  a  few  of  the  names  of  these  affluents. 

.  J . /I  r.  f  TTu  .' y  .     Vj     I 

■    '■.'■''  ■     \% 


.')!  lit.!        !l     ! 


TOPOGRAPHY  AND  GEOLOGY  OF  NEBRASKA. 


1007 


:,  from  which  the 
idc — spreads  out 
in  deep  beds,  the 
:h  being  thickly 
ay  of  th(;  land  is 
fe  ciiannels.  On 
Niobrara  and  the 
an  affluent, 
them  of  consider- 
imply,  have  many 
hallow,  spreading 
•eams,  the  North 

range  or  Great 
»rado ;  the  North 
ry  in  Wyoming ; 
to  their  point  of 

the  Platte  river 
river,  which,  with 
raverses  a  large 
astern  Nebraska. 
North  Platte  re- 
latte  receives  on 
\  which  the  Union 
fty  to  eighty  miles 
•gest  tributary  of 
astern  Colorado, 
:ies  of  the  State, 
te  creek,  White 
ik,  and  an  infint- 
laller  but  consid- 
east  of  the  State, 
s  is  to  the  south- 
ateau  at  the  west 
the  lowest  level, 

d  creek,  Antelope  creek, 


have  cut  their  way  through  the  soft  and  easily  eroded  deposits, 
and  have  worn  away  their  banks  to  such  a  degree  as  to  give  the 
appearance  of  high  bluffs  along  their  banks,  when  in  reality  no 
such  bluffs  exist ;  but  the  stream  has  eroded  for  itself  a  channel 
at  a  lower  level  than  that  of  the  sunouriding  country.  Such  is 
the  topography  of  Nebraska  in  barest  outline ;  ai.l,  with  the  map 
before  him,  the  reader  can  fill  in  the  details.  He  can  imagine  the 
great  plain  ascending  to  higher  altitudes  as  the  mountains  are 
approached ;  the  rivers,  west  to  east,  making  three  great  valleys, 
and  two  elevated  divides  separating  the  valleys ;  and,  finally,  the 
smaller  streams  exhibiting  the  land  as  broken  into  an  almost 
infinite  number  of  gently  undulating  hills  and  valleys — with  great 
table  lands  on  the  summits — the  trend  of  which  is  souUieast. 

Geology  and  Mineralogy. — The  geological  structure  of  the 
State  is  very  simple.  In  the  southeast  a  triangular  tract,  extend- 
ing west  as  far  as  where  the  Little  Blue  river  crosses  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  State,  and  having  the  apex  of  the  triangle  at  the 
point  where  the  forty-sf  cond  parallel  of  latitude  intersects  the 
Missouri  river,  is  distinctly  identified  with  the  upper  carboniferous 
formation.  It  is  covered  to  a  depth  of  from  thirty  to  ninety  feet 
by  ^  yellowish  marl  (the  loess  or  surface  deposit  described  by 
Professor  Hayden),  but  the  rocks  below  belong  to  the  coal 
measures.  There  are  thin  strata  of  coal  of  good  quality,  but 
rai^ging  in  thickness  from  five  to  twenty-two  inches-r-not  suffi- 
ciently thick  to  pay  for  expensive  mining,  while  clays,  limestones 
and  ^ndstones  belonging  to  the  carboniferous  era  make  up  the 
remaining  thickness  of  the  coal  measures,  which  aggregate  120 
feet  or  more.  The  geologists  believe  this  deposit  to  be  the  west- 
ern; rim  or  margin  of  the  great  coal  basin  of  Missouri  and  Iowa, 
and  think  that  on  this  border  or  rim  the  coal  has  been  subjected 
to  such  pressure  that  it  will  be  found  too  thin  for  profitable 
mining.  West  of  these  coal  measures  is  a  narrow  belt  of  Permian 
rocks,  and  to  tliis  succeed  the  cretaceous  deposits,  having  a 
breadth  of  sevepty  or  eighty  miles.  West  of  this  the  whole  $ur- 
i^c.^  rocks  and  soil  of  the  State  belong  to  the  tertiary  period.  In 
'l^e  south^eslttho  tertiary  formation  has  large  deposits  of  lignite 
.9fiP«9?HRn^  quality,  which  will  probably  supply  a  large  'portion 


"  I 


,:mtif^m«giii^s^^^ 


! 


1006 


t  ;.vr. 


OUR    WSSTERN  BUPIRS. 


I: 


t. 


of  the  demand  of  the  State  for  coal.  Of  the  loess  or  yeflowish 
marl  which  forms  the  superficial  deposit  over  the  greater  part  of 
the  State,  we  may  remaric,  that  this  deposit,  which  is  quaternary 
rather  than  tertiary,  is  supposed  to  be  the  sediment  deposited 
by  the  great  lakes,  one  of  them  in  Nebraska  and  Iowa  beittg  esti- 
mated as  500  miles  long,  and  from  fiAy  to  two  hundred  miles  wide, 
which  covered  this  whole  region  after  the  dose  of  the  last  glacial 
period.  Into  and  through  the  greatest  of  these  lakes  the  Mis- 
souri, then,  as  now,  the  muddiest  of  rivers,  poured  its  vast  flood 
of  yellow  waters.  As  the  land  gradually  rose,  this  immense 
lake  drained  off  its  surplus  water  through  the  Missouri  river, 
became  a  vast  marsh,  and  eventually,  as  the  rivers  cut  deeper 
and  deeper  through  this  loess  deposit,  the  land  became  dry  and 
solid.  Of  this  loess,  Professor  Aughey,  the  State  Geologist, 
says: 

"  The  loess  deposit  is  in  some  respects  one  of  the  most  remark- 
able in  the  world.  Its  value  for  agricultural  purposes  is  not  ex- 
ceeded anywhere.  It  prevails  over  at  least  three-fourths  of  the 
surface  of  Nebraska.  It  ranges  in  thickness  from  five  to  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet.  Some  sections  of  it  in  Dakota  county 
measure  over  200  feet.  At  North  Platte,  300  miles  west  of 
Omaha,  and  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  some  of  the  sections 
that  I  measured  ranged  in  thickness  from  1 25  to  150  feet.  From 
Crete,  on  the  Burlington  and  Missouri  River  Railroad,  west  to 
Kearney,  on  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  its  thiiikness  for  ninety 
miles  ranges  from  forty  to  ninety  feet.  South  of  Kearney,  and 
for  a  great  distance  west,  along  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  as  fdr 
as  to  the  Republican,  there  is  a  great  expanse  of  territory,  covered 
by  a  great  thickness  of  this  deposit.  I  measured  many  sections 
in  wells  over  this  region,  and  seldom  found  it  less  than  forty,  and 
often  more  than  sixty  feet  in  thickness.  Along  the  Republican. 
I  traced  the  formation  almost  to  the  western  line  of  the  State,  its 
thickness  ranging  from  thirty  to  seventy  feet.  One  section  north 
of  Kearney,  on  Wood  river,  showed  a  tldckness  of  fifty  feet.  The 
same  variation  in  thickness  is  found  in  the  counties  bordering  on 
the  Missouri.  One  peculiarity  of  this  deposit  is  that  it  is  almost 
perfisc^y  homogeneous  throughout^  and  of  alitiost  uoifbinv  cdloi; 


-^r*..^'.'  'J'l^rs,^,.. 


THE  LOESS  DEPOSIT. 


1009 


ss  or  yellowish 
greater  part  of 
I1  is  quaternary 
nent  deposited 
[owa  beittg  esti- 
Ired  miles  wide, 
the  last  glacial 
lakes  the  Mis- 
d  its  vast  flood 
!,  this  immense 
Missouri  river, 
rers  cut  deeper 
ecame  dry  and 
tate  Geologist, 

;  most  remark- 
oses  is  not  ex- 
:-fourths  of  the 
tm  five  to  one 
Dakota  county 
miles  west  of 
of  the  sections 
50  feet.  From 
lilroad,  west  to 
ness  for  ninety 
■  Kearney,  and 
Railroad,  as  fir 
rritory,  covered 
many  sections 
than  forty,  and 
lie  Republican, 
of  the  State,  its 
e  section  north 
fifty  feet.  The 
:s  bordering  oii 
hat  it  is  almost 


however  thick  the  deposit  or  far  apart  the  specimens  have  been 
taken.  I  have  compared  many  specimens  taken  300  miles  apart, 
and  from  the  top  and  bottom  of  the  deposiio,  and  no  difference 
could  be  detected  by  the  eye  or  by  ciiemical  analysis. 

"  The  physical  properties  of  the  loess  deposits  are  also  remark- 
able. In  the  interior,  away  from  Missouri,  hundreds  of  miles  of 
these  loess  deposits  are  almost  level  or  gently  rolling.  Not  un- 
frequendy  a  region  will  be  reached  where,  for  a  few  miles,  the 
country  is  bluffy  or  hilly,  and  then  as  much  almost  entirely  level, 
with  intermediate  forms.  The  bluffs  that  border  the  flood-plains 
of  the  Missouri,  the  Lower  Platte  and  some  other  streams,  arc 
sometimes  gently  rounded  off  They  often  assume  fantastic 
forms,  as  if  carved  by  some  curious  generations  of  the  past.  But 
now  they  retain  their  forms  so  unchanged  from  year  to  year, 
affected  neither  by  rain  nor  frost,  that  they  must  have  been 
molded  into  their  present  oudines  under  circumstances  of  climate 
and  level  very  different  from  that  which  now  prevails.  For  all 
purposes  of  architecture  this  soil,  even  for  the  most  massive 
structures,  is  perfectly  secure.  On  no  other  deposits,  except  the 
solid  rocks,  are  there  such  excellent  roads.  From  twelve  to 
twenty-four  hours  after  the  heaviest  rains,  the  roads  are  perfectly 
dry,  and  often  appear,  after  being  travelled  a  few  days,  like  a 
vast  floor  formed  from  cement,  and  by  the  highest  art  of  man. 
Yet  the  soil  is  very  easily  worked,  yielding  readily  to  the  spade  or 
the  plow.  Excavation  is  remarkably  easy,  and  no  pick  or  mat< 
tock  is  thought  of  for  such  purposes.  It  might  be  expected  that 
such  a  soil  would  readily  yield  to  atmospheric  influences,  but  such 
is  not  the  case.  Wells  in  this  deposit  are  frequendy  walled  up 
only  io  a  point  above  the  water-line ;  and  on  the  remainder  the 
spade-marks'  will  be  visible  for  years.  These  peculiarities  of  the 
loess  deposits  are  chiefly  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  carbonate  of 
lime  has  entered  into  slight  chemical  combination  with  the  finely 
comminuted  silica.  There  is  always  more  or  less  carbonic  acid 
in  the  atmosphere  which  is  brought  down  by  the  rains,  and  this 
dissolves  the  carbonate  of  lime,  which  then  readily  unites  with 
the  silica,  but  only  to  a  slight  extent,  and  not  enough  to  destroy 
its  porosity.  ^  Though  much  of  the  silica  isjnicroscopically  minute^ 


lOIO 


OVJt   WESrEXN  EMPIUJi. 


it  has  largely  preserved  its  angular  structure,  and  this  of  course 
aids  the  slight  chemical  union  that  takes  place  between  it  and  the 
carbonate  of  lime.  Had  thore  been  more  lime  and  iron  in  this 
deposit  and  had  it  been  subjected  to  a  greater  and  longer 
pressure  from  superincumbent  waters,  instead  of  a  slightly  chem- 
ically compacted  soil,  it  would  have  resulted  in  a  sandstone 
•formation  incapable  of  cultivation.  There  is  not  enough  clayey 
matter  present  to  prevent  the  water  from  percolating  through  it 
as  perfectly  as  through  sand,  though  a  great  deal  more  slowly. 
This  same  peculiarity  causes  ponds  and  stagnant  water  to  be  rare 
within  the  limits  of  this  deposit."  i  'ii»''"  »  -"''  <<iu  .li'.  . 
.wjJn  the  northwestern  part  of  the  State,  the  region  of  the  "Bad 
Lands,"  to  which  we  have  already  referred,  the  loess  is  not  a  sur- 
fisice  deposit.  The  hills,  "Great  Hills,"  as  they  are  called  on 
some  of  the  maps,  are  either  composed  of  loose-moving  sand 
which  is  blown  by  the  winds  into  round,  conical  hills  with  consid- 
erable regularity — hills  sometimes  covered  scantily  with  tufts  of 
grass,  but  oftener  with  the  yuccas  or  Spanish  needles  or  some  of 
the  custi ;  or  the  fantastic  forms  of  the  clay  and  soft  tertiary  lime- 
stones, cut  by  the  water-courses  into  the  semblance  of  ruined 
cities,  towers,  temples  and  columns,  and  often  covered  with  spark- 
ling alkaline  crystals.  This  region  of  "  Bad  Lands  "  occupies, 
according  to  Professor  Hayden,  an  area  of  about  2o,cxx)  square 
miles  on  both  sides  of  the  Niobrara  river.  There  are  many  little 
lakes  or  ponds  in  this  region,  some  salt,  some  alkaline,  and  some 
very  pure  ..and  fresh.  This  whole  tract  abounds  in  fossils  of  the 
most  remarkable  character.  While  th^se  lands  are  geologically 
connected  with  the  "  Bad  Lands  "  on  the  White  Earth  river  in 
Dakota,. it  is  a  very  interesting  fact  that  the  fossils  of  the  Dakota 
lands  belong  to  an  earlier  period  than  those  of  the  Nebraska 
lands,  and  that  the  two  seem. to  have  had  hardly  any  animals 
common  to  botii.  These  regions  have  been  thefaVorite  hunting- 
ground  for  fossils  of  Professors  Leidy  and  O.  C.  Marsh.  Of  the 
Nebraska  fossik  Professor  Fi  V:  Hayden  says :  j  •...,.,  ....  ,>* 
■Ai  "If  we  pass  for  a  moment  southward  into  the  valleys  of  t^ 
Hiobrara  and  Loup  fiork,  we  shall  find  a  fauna  closely  allied,  yet 
QOtirely  distinct  from  the  one  on  White  river,  and  plainly  inter'- 


J  this  of  course 
Lween  it  and  the 
ind  iron  in  this 
tcr  and  longer 
a  slightly  chein- 
in  a  sandstone 
i  enough  clayey 
ating  through  it 
al  more  slowly, 
water  to  be  rare 


■Al. 


ion  of  the  "  Bad 
less  is  not  a  sur- 
y  are  called  on 
ise-moving  sand 
tiills  with  consid- 
tily  with  tufts  of 
idles  or  some  of 
oft  tertiary  lime- 
:>lance  of  ruined 
ered  with  spark- 
uands  "  occupies, 
lit  20,000  square 
e  are  many  little 
kaline,  and  some 
in  fossils  of  the 
are  geologically 
Earth  river  in 
ils  of  the  Dakota 
)f  the  Nebraska 
rdly  any  animals 
aVorite  hunting- 
Marsh.     Of  the 
-jii,<|K<:yf«?li.  ■•')>'<■'■' 
le  valleys  of  the 
:losely  allied,  yet 
nd  plainly  inter" 


FOSSILS  OF  NKBKASA'A. 


101 1 


mediate  between  that  of  the  latter  and  of  the  present  period ;  one 
appears  to  have  lived  during  the  middle  or  miocene  tertiary  pe- 
riod, and  the  other  at  a  later  liiiie  in  what  is  called  the  pliocene 
In  the  later  fauna  were  the  remains  of  a  number  of  species  of' 
extinct  camels,  one  of  which  was  of  the  size  of  the  Arabian  camel; 
a  second  about  two-thirds  as  large,  also  a  smaller  one.  The  only' 
animals  akin  to  the  camels,  at  the  present  time  in  the  western' 
hemisphere,  are  the  llama  and  its  allies  in  South  America.  Not 
less  interesting  are  the  remains  of  a  great  variety  of  forms  of  the 
horse  family,  one  of  which  was  about  as  large  as  the  ordinary 
domestic  animal,  and  the  smallest  not  more  than  two  or  two  and  a' 
half  feet  in  height,  with  every  intermediate  grade  in  size.  There  wa* 
still  another  animal  allied  to  the  horse,  about  the  size  of  a  New- 
foundland dog,  which  was  provided  with  three  hoofs  to  each  foot',' 
though  the  lateral  hoofs  were  rudimental.  Although  no  horses 
were  known  to  exist  on  this  continent  prior  to  its  discovery  by 
Europeans,  yet  Dr.  Leidy  has  shown  that  before  the  age  of  man' 
this  was  emphatically  the  country  of  horses.  Dr.  Leidy  has  re--' 
ported  twenty-seven  species  of  the  horse  family  which  are' 
known  to  have  lived  on  this  continent  prior  to  the  advent  of  mart' 
— about  three  times  as  many  as  are  now  found  living  throughout 
the  world. 

"  Among  the  carnivorae  were  several  foxes  and  wolves,  one' 
of  which  was  larger  than  any  now  living ;  three  species  of  hyae- 
nodon — animals  whose  teeth  indicate  that  they  were  of  remark"' 
ably  rapacious  habits;  also  five  animals  of  the  cat  tribe  were^ 
found,  one  about  the  size  of  a  small  panther,  and  another  as^ 
large  as  the  largest  wolf.  Several  of  the  skulls  of  the  tiger-HkeJ 
animals  exhibited  the  marks  of  terrible  conflicts  with  the  cotem-' 
porary  hyaenodons. 

"Among  the  rodents  were  a  porcupine,  small  beaver,  rabbity 
mouse,  etc. 

"  The  pachyderms,  or  thick-skinned  animals,  were  quite  numer- 
ous and  of  great  interest,  from  the  fact  that  none  of  them  are 
living  on  this  continent  at  the  present  time,  and  yet  here  we  find 
the  remains  of  several  animals  allied  to  the  domestic  hog,  ox\t 
about  the  size  of  this  animal,  another  as  large  as  the  AfHcati 


■1— •^SUWI****""*'*:'--'  ,»*l«*>J-»tev*»«^*i"«-'«K!-*; 


1013 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


I 


IX 


hippopotamus,  and  a  third  not  much  larger  than  the  domestic 

cat.       ,.  .,,  .,  .-.,    ,  ,...,,    .,,    .!:,,  .  , 

"Five  species  of  the  rhinoceros  roamed  through  these  marshes, 
ranging  from  a  small,  hornless  species,  about  the  size  of  our  black 
bear,  to  the  largest,  which  was  about  the  size  of  the  existing 
unicorn  of  India.    No  animals  of  the  kind  now  inhabit  the  western 

hemisphere.  .        ' 

•'Among  the  thick-skinned  animals  were  the  remains  of  a  mas- 
todon and  a  large  elephant,  distinct  from  any  others  heretofore 
discovered  in  any  part  of  the  world.  Dr.  Leidy  says  that '  it  is 
remarkable  that  among  the  remains  of  mammals  and  turtles  there 
are  none  of  crocodiles.  Where  were  these  creatures  when  the 
shores  of  the  ancient  Dakotan  and  Nebraskan  waters  teemed 
with  such  an  abundant  provision  of  savory  ruminating  hogs  ? ' 
During  the  tertiary  period  Nebraska  and  Dakota  were  the  homes 
of  a  race  of  animals  more  closely  allied  to  those  inhabiting  Asia 
and  Africa  now,  and  from  their  character  we  may  suppose  that 
during  that  period  the  climate  was  considerably  warmer  than  it 
is  at  present.  The  inference  is  also  drawn  that  our  world,  which 
is  usually  called  the  new,  is  in  reality  the  old  world,  older  than 
the  eastern  hen'isphere. 

"  Ever  since  the  commencement  of  creation,  constant  changes 
of  form  have  been  going  on  in  our  earth.  Oceans  and  moun- 
tains have  disappeared,  and  others  have  taken  their  place.  Entire 
groups  of  animal  and  vegetable  life  have  passed  away,  and  new 
forms  have  come  into  existence  through  a  series  of  years  which 
no  finite  mind  can  number.  To  enable  the  mind  to  realize  the 
physical  condition  of  our  planet  during  all  these  past  ages  is  the 
highest  end  to  be  attained  by  the  study  of  geological  facts.  It 
has  been  well  said  by  an  eloquent  historian  that  he  who  calls  the 
past  back  again  into  being  enjoys  a  bliss  like  that  of  creating. 

"  We  may  attempt  to  form  some  idea  of  the  physical  geography 
of  this  region  at  the  time  when  these  animals  wandered  over  the 
country,  and  to  speculate  as  to  the  manner  in  which  their  remains 
have  been  so  beautifully  preserved  for  our  examination.  We 
may  suppose  |that  here  was  a  large  fresh-water  lake  during  the 
middle  te^rtiary  period;  that  it  began  near  the  southeastern  side 


TIIK  FOSaiL    MAMMALS  OF  NKI^RASKA, 


1013 


an  the  domestic 

\i  these  marshes, 

size  of  our  black 

of  the  existing 

labit  the  western 

cmains  of  a  mas- 
thers  heretofore 
\j  says  that '  it  is 
and  turtles  there 
:atures  when  the 
II  waters  teemed 
minating  hogs?' 
a  were  the  homes 
e  inhabiting  Asia 
nay  suppose  that 
y  warmer  than  it 
our  world,  which 
ivorld,  older  than 

constant  changes 
:eans  and  moun- 
eir  place.    Entire 
d  away,  and  new 
es  of  years  which 
nd  to  realize  the 
e  past  ages  is  the 
ological  facts.     It 
t  he  who  calls  the 
lat  of  creating, 
lystcal  geography 
randered  over  the 
hich  their  remains 
xamination.    We 
lake  during  the 
southeastern  side 


of  the  Black  Mills,  not  large  at  first  nor  deep,  hut  as  a  marsh 
or  mud-wallow  for  the  gigantic  pachyderms  that  lived  at  the  time; 
that  as  time  passed  on  it  became  dinper  and  expanded  its  limits 
until  it  covered  the  vast  area  which  its  sediments  indicate.  Wc 
cannot  attempt  to  point  out  in  detail  all  the  changes  through 
which  we  may  suppose,  from  the  facts  given  us,  this  lake  has 
passed,  during  the  thousands  of  years  that  elapsed  from  its  be- 
ginning to  its  extinction,  time  long  enough  for  two  distinct  faunae 
to  have  commenced  their  existence  and  passed  away  in  succes- 
sion, not  a  single  species  passing  from  one  into  the  other.  Even 
that  small  fraction  of  geological  time  seems  infinite  to  a  finite 
mind.  We  believe  that  the  great  range  of  mountains  that  now 
lies  to  the  west  of  this  basin  was  not  as  lofty  as  now ;  that  doubt- 
less the  treeless  plains  were  covered  with  forests  or  grassy 
meadows,  upon  which  the  vast  herds  of  gregarious  ruminants 
cropped  their  food.  Into  this  great  lake  on  every  side  poured 
many  little  streams  from  broad  valleys,  fine  ranging  ground  for 
the  numerous  varieties  of  creatures  that  existed  at  that  time. 
Large  numbers  of  fierce  carnivorous  beasts  mingled  with  the 
multitudes  of  gregarious  ruminants,  constantly  devouring  them 
as  food.  As  many  of  the  bones,  either  through  death  by  vio- 
lence or  natural  causes,  were  left  in  the  valleys,  they  would  be 
swept  down  by  the  first  high  waters  into  the  lake,  and  enveloped 
in  the  5  diments  at  the  bottom.  As  the  gregarious  ruminants 
came  down  to  the  little  streams,  or  by  the  shores  of  the  lake  to 
quench  their  thirst,  they  would  be  pdunced  upon  by  the  flesh- 
loving  hysenodon,  drepanodon  or  dinichthys.  It  was  probably  near 
this  place  also  that  these  animals  would  meet  in  fierce  conflicts, 
the  evidences  of  which  remain  to  the  present  time  in  the  cavities 
which  the  .skulls  reveal ;  one  of  these,  of  a  huge  cat,  shows  on 
either  side  the  holes  through  the  bony  covering  which  had  parti- 
ally healed  before  the  animal  perished ;  and  the  cavities  seem  to 
correspond  in  form  and  position  with  the  teeth  of  the  largest 

hyaenodon.  '  ■   ■ 

"The  remains  of  those  animals  which,  from  their  very  natur^ 
could  not  have  existed  in  great  numbers,  are  not  abundant 
in  the  fossil  state,  while  those  of  the  ruminants  occur  in  the 


.  ,«*«li«uii«!Uiii««fci&*«b'«"J%^<.^ 


J 


IOI4 


OUK   ITESTSUff  KMPIMM. 


\ 


greatest  abundance,  and  arc  widely  diffused  in  the  sediments,  not 
only  geographically,  but  vertically.  The  chances  for  the  remains 
of  a  species  seem  to  depend  upon  the  number  of  individuals 
that  existed.  The  remains  of  ruminants  already  obtained  com 
prise*  at  least  nine-tenths  of  the  entire  collection,  while  of  «)n«! 
species  portions  of  at  least  seven  hundred  individuals  have  been 
discovered.  There  is  another  interesting  feature  in  regard  to 
these  remarkable  fossils,  and  that  is  the  beauty  and  perfection 
of  their  preservation  ;  the  bones  are  so  clean  and  white  and  the 
teeth  so  perfect,  that  when  exposed  upon  the  surface  they  pre- 
sent the  appearance  of  having  bleached  only  for  a  season.  They 
eould  not  have  been  transported  from  a  great  distance,  neither 
could  the  waters  have  been  swift  and  turbulent,  for  the  bones 
seldom  show  any  signs  of  having  been  water-worn,  and  the  nice, 
sharp  points  and  angles  are  as  perfect  as  in  life." 

Minera/s.— The  mineral  wealth  of  the  State  consists  largely  of 
tile  two  coal  bees  which  we  have  described — the  true  coal  in  the 
southeast,  which  possesses  but  little  economic  value,  and  the  lig- 
nite, which  will  probably  be  found  profitable.  Peat  exists  in  im- 
mense beds  in  Central  and  Western  Nebraska,  and  in  the  opinion 
of  Mr.  E.  A.  Curley,  a  competent  judge  in  these  matters,*  in  the 
best  form  and  condition  to  be  made  available  for  fuel.  At  some 
time  in  the  not  distant  future,  these  peat  beds  may  prove  more 
valuable  than  the  thin  seams  of  coal  in  the  coal  measures.  Lime, 
sandstone,  limestone,  and  marble  for  ornamental  purposes,  gyp- 
sum, and  especially  salt,  afe  the  other  principal  minerals.  There 
tre  many  salt  basins  in  the  central  and  western  parts  of  the  State. 
The  most  extensive  is  in  Lancaster  county,  in  a  district  of  twelve 
ky  twenty-five  miles,  surrounding  Lincoln,  the  capital  of  the 
State.  The  spring  waters,  contain  twenty-nine  per  cent,  of  salt, 
and  the  salt  is  manufactured  by  the  solat  evaporation  process. 
The  salt  is  said  to  be  the  purest  in  the  world,  having  98  ft  per 
cent,  of  pure  chloride  of  sodium.  The  sandstones,  limestones, 
and  marble  or  magnesian  limestone,  are  all  of  excellent  quality 
lor  building  and  ornamental  purposes. 

jllB! 'I"-'J  <l     I'       ~ '  •      ■  ^    ■        ' 

ifrffr  ili   tUv:K.       •^♦N«»w«k«M«liuReMujwM."    London,  i87S-     .fl^j^-^,^;^ 


SOIL  AND   rKAlKlR   VRGRTATtOtf. 


lois 


I  sediments,  not 
for  the  remains 
r  of  individuals 

obtained  com 
•n,  while  of  one 
luals  have  been 
•e  in  rtrj^ard  to 

and  perfection 
d  white  and  the 
jrface  they  prc- 
\  season.  They 
iistance,  neither 
t,  for  the  bones 
rn,  and  the  nice, 

nsists  largely  of 
true  coal  in  the 
lue,  and  the  lig- 
eat  exists  in  im- 
nd  in  the  opinion 
matters,*  in  the 

fuel.  At  some 
nay  prove  more 
leasures.    Lime, 

purposes,  gyp- 
ninerals.  There 
irts  of  the  State, 
district  of  twelve 

capital  of  the 
)er  cent,  of  salt, 
oration  process, 
laving  98  ft  per 
>nes,  limestones, 
excellent  quality 

>rU-  It; 


5ioil and  VtgttatioH. — The  K6il  of  the  uplands  is  largely  com* 
posefl  of  loess,  and  thiU  of  thtr  river  valleys  of  alluvium.  I'he 
two  deposits  arc  similar  in  chemical  elements,  and  they  form  A 
very  rich  and  durable  soil,  exceedingly  valuable  iur  agricultural 
purposes,  ranging  in  thirknesH  from  five  to  one  hundred  and  fifty 
and  even  two  hundred  fert.  Careful  analyses  of  the  soil  show 
that  in  the  loess  over  eighty  per  cent,  of  the  formation  is  fmcrly 
comminuted  silica :  so  fme  that  its  true  character  can  only  be  de- 
tected under  a  microscope.  About  ten  per  cent,  of  its  substance 
is  made  up  of  carbonates  and  phosphates  of  lime.  There  are 
some  small  amounts  of  alkaline  matter,  iron  and  alumina ;  the 
result  being  a  soil  that  can  never  be  exhausted  until  every  h*ll 
and  valley  which  composes  it  is  entirj;ly  worn  away.  Its  finely 
comminuted  silica  gives  it  natural  drainage  in  the  highest  degree. 
When  torreiiis  of  rain  come,  the  water  soon  percolates  the  soil, 
which,  in  its  lowest  depths,  retains  it  like  a  huge  sponge.  When 
droughty  periods  intervene,  the  moisture  rises  from  below  by 
capillary  attraction,  supplying  nearly  alt  the  needs  of  vegetation  in 
the  dryest  seasons.  The  richer  surface  soil  overlies  the  sub-soil, 
and  is  from  eighteen  inches  to  three  and  four,  and  even  six  feet 
thick.  It  is  organically  the  same  as  the  sub-soil,  but  enriched 
with  organic  matter,  the  growth  and  decay  of  innumerable  cen- 
turies— a  garden  soil,  easily  cultivated,  and  making  the  arable 
farm  as  a  garden.     -•      'v  Iv,    .      <.         1  ■ 

The  prairie,  clothed  only  by  natural  processes,  presents  its  own 
testimony  to  the  riches  of  the  State,  its  whole  expanse  is  cov- 
ered with  grasses,  there  being  not  fewer  than  1 50  species,  and 
the  most  abundant,  making  the  best  pasture,  showing  green  at 
the  end  of  April,  and  affording  feed  until  November.  The  blue 
joint  grows  everywhere  except  on  low  bottoms.  Under  ordinary 
conditions  its  growth  is  two  and  a  half  to  four  feet ;  and  on  culti- 
vated grounds  it  is  foUnd  from  seven  to  ten  feet  high.  Wild  oats 
gfow  on  the  uplands,  mhced  with  blue-joint.  This  grass  is  relished 
by  cattle  and  is  abundant.  The  bufblo  grass,  low  in  habit,  is 
now  found  in  the  western  half  of  the  State.  It  disappears  before 
Cultivation,  but  it  is  nature's  provision  of  food  fof  grain-eadng 
animals  during  winter,  on  the  prairie,  inasmuch  as  it  retains  it* 


,.itiiMi/iiXmiiUivK-<»*y*0^*'^ 


ioi6 


OlfM    WKSTKKff  RMrtKK. 


nutriment  all  the  year  round.  Among  other  feed  pransrn  are 
■ever.ll  varieties  of  hunrh-f;;raiiii;  and  in  the  low  lands  n  native 
blur-prasH  and  the  iipan^rlctop,  which  latter  makefi  exr»'ll«nt  hay. 

The  NebraMka  prairie  i^  not  bare  of  treen — in  fart,  thr  native 
trees  furnish  a  larpe  list.  The  river  bluffs  are  clothrd  with 
them,  and  the  bankn  of  the  ntreams.  There  are  two  kinds  of 
buckeye,  two  of  maple,  the  box  elder,  two  of  locunt,  four  of  ash, 
four  of  elm,  four  of  hickory,  eleven  of  oak,  twelve  of  willow 
(eijjht  s[>ecie!i  bcinp;  shnibi),  three  of  birch,  three  of  poplar,  hark- 
berry,  iron  wood,  one  sycamore,  blark  walnut,  two  «prure  firn, 
yellow  pine,  white  cedar  and  red  cedar.  The  nhrubs  inchuL' 
common  juniper,  linden,  pawpaw,  prickly  ash,  five  sumacs,  shrub 
trefoil,  two  species  of  red  root,  spindle-tree,  buckdiorn.  six  spe- 
cies of  plum,  six  currants  and  gooseberries,  five  dogwoods,  butter 
bush,  buffalo  berry,  red  and  white  mulberry,  hazelnut  and  beaked 
hazelnut.  Cedars  are  found  on  the  islands  of  the  Platte,  and 
along  the  Loups  and  the  Niobrara  there  is  a  goodly  quantity  of 
pine.  But  the  point  is  here :  this  list  of  trees  is  proof  that  trees 
flourish  on  the  prairie;  and  that  as  much  timber  as  is  needed  for 
all  uses  can  be  raised  on  the  farm. 

During  the  Indian  period,  when  prairie  fires  annually  swept 
over  the  country,  the  timber  was  confined  to  the  banks  of  the 
streams;  but  since  the  era  of  civilization  and  cultivation  has  com- 
menced, the  prairie  fires  are  checked,  and  groves  and  forests 
have  become  possible  on  the  prairie. 

Zoiilofj. — Buffaloes  are  still  found,  though  not  plentiful,  in  the 
southwestern  and  northwestern  parts  of  the  State.  The  elk 
{Cervus  Canadensis)  is  the  noblest  game  animal  of  the  plains; 
it  sometimes  weighs  from  700  to  800  pounds,  and  its  antlers  are 
magnificent.  Us  range  is  In  the  west  from  the  south  to  the  north, 
feeding  on  the  high  prairies,  and  frequenting  also  the  ravines. 
The  antelope  {Antilocapra  Americana),  in  plentiful  herds  and  fleet 
as  the  winds,  is  found  everywhere  west  of  Plum  creek ;  and  the 
white  or  long-tailed  deer  {Cervus  Leuatrus),znd  the  black-tailed 
{Cervus  MacroHs)  are  denizens  of  the  same  region— the  white- 
tailed  being  found  over  the  whole  State.  In  the  far  west  and 
among  the  ravines,  the  big-horn  sheep  {Ovis  Montana)  will  now 


'  \  - 


i^«ii> 


t\  pransrn  «rr 
Ancin  n  native 
rxrrllmt  hay. 
'art,  till*  native 
;  clothrd  with 
two  kinds  of 
St,  four  of  ash, 
Avn  of  willow 
f  poplar,  hack- 
fo  Hpnirc  Urn, 
thnilnt  inclu(L' 
sumacs,  shriih 
thorn,  six  spr- 
gwoods,  butter 
ut  and  hf-aked 
h<'   I'lattr.  and 
i\y  quantity  of 
roof  that  trees 
s  is  needed  for 
.'(•>  rn< Ml    i  i»ni. 

mnually  swept 
*  banks  of  the 
ation  has  com- 
es and  forests 

jlentiful,  in  the 
ate.      The  elk 
of  the  plains; 
its  anders  are 
h  to  the  north, 
io  the  ravines, 
lerds  and  fleet 
reek ;  and  the 
he  black -tailed 
on — the  white- 
far  west  and 
/ana)  will  now 


tObt.OGY  OF  NKBKAniCA. 


1017 


and  ftfi^in  fall  to  the  rifle.     The  time  for  huntin);  is  from  the  first 
of  October  to  the  end  of  Drrrmber,  the  law  protectinjf  the  ani- 
mals ilurinj;  the  rrmaimirr  of  the   year.     The  jack   rabbit  or 
prairie  hare  {Lfporida  CamprttHs)  is  common.     He  is  a  strong 
and  floet  animal,  and  is  ^rood  ^Mmr  for  coursinj;,  and  only  to  be 
run  down   by  th«!  stronj^jcst  and  (Irrtrst  grryhounds.     Thr  little 
jjray  rabbit  is  also  common,  and  affords  evxccllrnt  shooting  ;  and 
away  in  the  west,  thr  sagr  rabbit.     In  the  timber,  the  black  bear 
and  two  species  of  lynx  arr  foimd — rarely  in  thr  settled  parts  of 
the  State,  and  more  commonly  on  the  frontier :  and  also  in  the 
same  localities,  th(;  lar^r  whitr  and  pray  wolf     The  coyot<*,  or 
prairie  wolf,  is  also  worth  hunting;,  tho  animal  havinjj  all  thr  cun- 
ning of  the  fox  and  morr  than  the  wit  of  the  prairie  foxes,  of 
which  there  arr  thrr<'  sprrirs,  thr  red  fox,  the  prairie  fox  and  the 
kit  fox.     Some  of  thr  streams  are  still  populous  with  bravrrs, 
minks  and  muskrats.    Thr  game  birds  of  Nebraska  arr  plrntiful; 
and  in  the  season  afford  sport  in  abundance.     The  wild  turkey  is 
the  noblest  of  thrm  all.     Civilization  drives  it  away;   but  in  the 
wilder  parts  of  thr  .Statr,  the  bird  is  common  enough,  and  where 
the  woods  are  thickening  in  the  river  counties,  its  reappearance 
is  beginning  to  be  noted.     The  prairie  chickens — the  grouse  of 
the  prairie — are  everywhere  ;  and  away  out  on  the  frontier,  the 
large  sage  hen.     Quail  are  plentiful  and  readily  shot ;  and  there 
are  several  plovers  which  are  worth  the  powder  and  shot  of  the 
sportsman.     In  early  spring  and  late  fall,  large  flocks  of  wild 
geese  cross  the  State,  resting  during  the  journey  on  the  rivers, 
creeks  and  ponds.     Mallards,  teal,  and  many  other  species  of  wild 
duck,  are  plentiful  during  the  same  seasons.     Of  cranes  there  are 
four  or  five  species — the  sand-hill  crane,  the  largest,  being  ac- 
counted an  excellent  table-bird.     There  are  numerous  hawks, 
and  the  bald-headed  eajr'e  is  frequently  seen  in  the  sparsely  set- 
tled districts.     The  streams  are  well  stocked  with  the  common 
kinds  of  fish,  and  in  the  northwest  there  is  an  abundance  of  trout 

in  the  streams.     xjv>'j  mm  j"  1"ji(    .' •    '  ■•  •  ■•• ■_ 

Climate  and  Meteorology. — Nebraska  has  a  very  temperate  and 
healthful  climate.  The  gradually  increasing  elevation  from  east 
to  west  secures  good  drainage  everywhere,  and  though  the  winds 


f 


f"<j.i^|ftAijfc'"'l^'Ji*'iVlt-'"^  ■■■V  '■'  '-  ^4M(^)I&<)K: 


'I 


J 


loiS 


OV*    WMSTAMN  KMrtMg. 


which  twrep  acroM  itn  prairirH  art*  Htron^;,  they  arr  hpalthful. 
The  climate  in  cMcntially  u  d;y  unr,  thoiijjh  the  rainfall  in  Mifti 
dent  anil  well  ili»tril)utuil  to  stucurc  the  lieMt  reitultH  for  the  cropii. 
The  winters  are  nut  *o  ri){orouK  ait  in  the  States  and  Territorira 
farther  north,  thuu^fh  the  temperature  in  orrmiionally  luw.  I  h^* 
summers  are  lung  ami  warm,  hut  the  prairie  breezes  grt?atly 
modify  and  temper  the  extreme  heat.  The  mean  temperature 
during  the  winter  months  rangen  frcmi  aa'tojo**;  that  of  the 
spring  from  48*  to  50" ;  that  of  the  summ.rr  from  71*'  to  74",  and 
that  of  the  autumn  from  4S"  to  51*  A  record  of  thirteen  yean 
at  IMattHn\outh  given  the  mean  annual  rainfall  an  .;H.35  inches,  of 
which  aS.Ki  inches  fell  t)etween  April  int  and  October  mt,  and 
only  9.53  inches  between  October  ist  and  April  ist.  Farther 
west  the  rainfall  is  somewhat  less,  but  with  very  rare  exceptions 
it  is  sufficient.  The  table  on  page  1019  gives  the  meteorology  of 
six  different  points  for  periods  of  from  two  to  five  years,  though 
none  of  them  indicate  either  the  temperature  or  rainfall  of  the 
extreme  west  or  northwest,  which  is  as  yet  not  inhabited,  and 
some  portions  of  it  hardly  hal>itable.  In  the  "  Bad  Lands,"  the 
summer's  sun  beats  down  with  terrible  intensity,  the  heat  reach* 
ing  1 1 3**  Fahrenheit  in  the  shade ;  and  die  winter's  cold  is,  in  its 
way,  equally  intense.  •    .,:  u.      >  t.  :  ' 

Agticultural  thoductions. — Although  Nebraska  is  essentially 
an  agricultural  State,  and  has  a  large  amount  of  good  and  fertile 
land,  a  larger  proportion,  perhaps,  than  most  of  the  States  adja- 
cent to  her,  we  have  to  complain  that  she  has  not  made  the  most 
of  her  advantages,  and  in  her  accounts  of  her  soil  and  produc- 
tions has  dealt  altogether  too  much  in  glittering  generalities,  to 
the  exclusion  of  those  statistics  of  actual  crops  which  alone  can 
dete:.irne  the  actual  capabilities  of  her  soil  and  lands  for  new 
coi'v  Tj  who  desii'e  to  cultivate  them. 

We  fear  that  there  has  been  much  slovenly  farming  on  her 
rich  and  fertile  lands  ;  for,  so  far  as  the  scanty  statistics  enable 
us  to  determine,  the  average  yield  of  the  cereals  lias  been  much 
lower  than  it  should  have  been  on  lands  as  admirably  adapted 
to  cereal  culture  as  those  of  the  loess  beds,  and  that  that  yiekl 
per  acre  is  diminishing  instead  of  increasing.    The  numbers  and 


-■».• 


MKrXOKOLOGY  OP  NgUHASKA, 


•019 


^  arr  healthful, 
rainfall  in  MifHi 
%  for  tlu*  cropN. 
and  'IVrritoric* 
tally  low.  The 
ircczeii  greatly 
in  trm|><'rnttirr 
3°  ;  tli.it  ol  the 
71"  to  74^  and 
thirteen  ycari 
{H.J5  inchrx,  of 
Dtobcr  iHt,  and 
1  1st.  Farther 
rare  exceptions 
Tictcorolo^'y  of 
!  yearn,  though 
raiiifull  of  the 
inhabited,  and 
id  Lands,"  the 
th»;  heat  reach* 
'%  cold  in,  in  its 

a  is  essentially 
ood  and  fertile 
ie  States  adja- 
made  the  most 
1  and  produc- 
jlfeneralities,  to 
lich  alone  can 
ands  for  new 

rming  on  her 
atistics  enable 
las  been  mud) 
irably  adapted 
bat  that  yiehi 
numbers  and 


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"■"■^■•-■-#%!*rs^^jfc-U.fciJ-.'r..-  i.fei. 


loao 


OUR   HTESrERA/  EMPIRE. 


quality  of  the  live-stock  are  increasing,  and  give  evidence  that 
the  grazing  lands  which  are  now  rapidly  filling  up,  will  prove 
profitable  to  the  stock-raiser.  With  greater  care  in  her  cultiva- 
tion, the  average  crop  of  wheat  on  her  excellent  wheat  lands 
should  be  not  less  than  twenty-five  bushels  to  the  acre  instead 
of  1 3. 1  bushels,  as  it  was  in  1878,  or  fifteen  bushels,  as  it  was  in 
1877.  She  has  done  better  in  corn,  and  as  this  crop  is  likely  to 
be  in  demand  for  the  fattening  of  her  own  live-stock,  she  will 
have  strong  inducements  to  do  better  yet.  The  quantity  of  land 
taxed  or  reported  for  taxation  was,  in  1879,  a  little  more  than 
14,000,000  acres,  or  more  than  one-fourth  of  the  entire  area  of 
the  State,  and  it  was  valued  for  the  purposes  of  assessment  at 
only  $3  per  acre.  This  included,  of  cc  urse,  a  large  amount  of 
grazing  land,  and  the  assessment  was  high  enough  for  this  class 
of  land.  The  land  under  cultivation  in  1879  probably  exceeds 
slightly  4,000,000  acres,  or  about  one-twelfth  of  the  area  of  the 
State.  The  large  amount  taken  up  for  farms  in  the  last  two  or 
three  years  has  not  yet  become  subject  to  taxation.  The  tables 
on  page  102 1  show  the  amount  of  the  principal  crops  and  their 
value  in  1877,  1878  and  1879,  so  far  as  these  can  be  ascertained, 
and  also  the  numbers  and  value  of  the  live-stock  in  the  State  for 
the  same  years. 

There  are,  of  course,  other  crops  which  are  of  considerable  im- 
portance besides  these,  of  which  we  regret  that  we  have  not  full 
statistics ;  among  these  we  may  name  sorghum,  which  is  a  crop 
of  constantly  increasing  magnitude,  and  for  which  the  soil  and 
climate  is  peculiarly  adapted  ;  broom  corn,  which  is  largely  culti- 
vated in  some  sections;  flax,  cultivated  mainly  for  the  seed,  though 
the  lint,  even  without  bleaching,  makes  an  excellent  paper  stock. 
The  cultivation  of  the  flax  is  increasing  in  the  newer  sections,  as 
it  has  been  found  the  best  crop  to  put  in  after  the  new  breaking. 
Alfalfa,  the  millets  and  the  rice  corn,  or  dhourra,  are  coming  into 

favor,  while  the  castor  bean  aod  othyer  oiUproduiping  plants  pay 
well.        -"'^'^'^^^k  ^.:.ty^^rc%.:, '..:'%        l        4    /^# 

Nebraska  is  probably  destined  to  occupy  a  prominent  place 
among  the  fruit-producing  States.  Its  wild  fruits  are  of  excep- 
tional excellence,  especially  its  plums,  strawberries,  blackberries, 


\ 


CHOPS  OF  NEBHASJCA. 


evidence  that 
up,  will  prove 
in  her  cultiva- 
t  wheat  lands 
le  acre  instead 
Is,  as  it  was  in 
op  is  likely  to 
stock,  she  will 
jantity  of  land 
lie  more  than 
jntire  area  of 
:issessment  at 
je  amount  of 
I  for  this  class 
bably  exceeds 
le  area  of  the 
le  last  two  or 
The  tables 
•ops  and  their 
e  ascertained, 

the  State  for 

-  s 

■>  'J 

isiderable  im- 

have  not  full 

hich  is  a  crop 

the  soil  and 

largely  culti- 

:  seed,  though 

:  paper  stock. 

;r  sections,  as 

lew  breaking. 

;  coming  into 

g  plants  pay 

minent  place 
ire  of  excep- 
blackberries, 


\ 


^  %  2  S  'r  ^  i  ^  ^ 


&    A 


t    S    i    li    & 


3;.        -i5"5«;s"3: 

I  ^  5  >  3  "r  ^  g  i^ 


t     X      m    ff 


* 


?  «  5  ^  I  U  O  J 


9  S  a 


2  =£  *  ^  ^ 

,»   X    u    <s 


:   I 


•fi 


*>  M  ^ 


■9     ^     ? 

O        W 


•o    8    -  J.    3  "a  a;    8 

I  a  J  &  ^  'g:  'r  i 


<>i'^ii!.ii^ti3.8> 


I 


Bfi-a. 

n 


Pric*  per  buthal,  pound,  etc. 


! 


1^1 

li 


Price  per  buihel,  pound,  etc. 


» 
S*      o 


M  a  •*  ^  2  ^  S  ^ 


»  «  ^ 


1   I  !  1  1   I   1  ^  ^ 


1  ^  "fil   ^  ?  '§  1 


I  5  a>  t  I  ^  "M  % 
s  ^  f  i  -^  I  I  'i  § 


I 

f 


I? 


II 


i 


r 


J 


1031 


1 

i 


>  '^imiiBiit^&cfmamif.tM'^^iiHmimm)''-  an-iH^SSi: 


1023 


OUR    WESTEHJV  EMfi/RE. 


raspberries,  buflalo  berries,  etc.,  and  its  wild  grapes.*  For  a  new 
State  it  has  also  made  great  progress  in  the  cultivation  of  apples, 
pears,  peaches,  cherries,  plums,  quinces  and  the  other  fruits  of  a 
temperate  climate.  In  cultivated  grapos  it  has  not  yet  made 
great  progress.  At  the  Centennial  Exhibition  the  State  had  a 
collection  of  1 63  varieties  of  apples,  many  of  them  of  great  ex- 
cellence.and  a  considerable  number  of  pears.  Both  fruits  received 
the  6rst  premium. 

But  a  large  portion  of  Nebraska  is  and  must  continue  to 
be,  for  many  years  to  come,  better  adapted  to  grazing  than  to 
farming,  and  while  it  can  hardly  at  the  same  cost  maintain  as 
large  flocks  and  herds  as  Texas,  Colorado,  Wyoming  or 
Montana,  there  is  no  question  that  stock-raising  does  and  will 
prove  very  profitable,  if  rightly  managed,  in  Nebraska.  The 
amount  of  live-stock  in  these  grazing  States  and  Territories 
increases  so  rapidly  every  year  that  it  is  \  -y  difificult  to  keep 
pace  with  them,  but  although  we  cannot  procure  the  statistics  of 
the  year  1880  as  yet,  a  comparison  of  the  live-stock  of  the  State 
for  1877,  1878  and  1879  may  give  some  idea  of  the  rapidity  of 
increase;  for  our  statistics  for  1877  and  1878  are  compiled  from 
the  State  Auditor's  reports,  and  those  of  1879  from  the  United 
States  Agricultural  report,  the  State  report  for  tliat  year  not 
being  yet  published. 


:  \ 


\ 


n' 


Animal*. 


Honei     .     

Mules  and  atics 

Milch  cowi 

Oxen  and  other  cattle. 

Sheep 

Swine 


ToUli  of  values. 


1877. 


1.1 


»",7«5 
10,003 
93.700 

aiB.ioo 
82,858 

3»8.7«4 


67.68 

36.90 
31.30 


8 
I 


»7.638,55, 
983,"» 

3,536, I 3t 

5,073,6«j 
'.848,83«, 


1878. 


13 


» 57.619 
i«,48« 
I  37,6m 
376/558 
•35.777 
6^7,630 


18,389,804 


«7.34 
87.45 
34.37 

•945 
3.30 

3-03 


> 


1879. 


#10,614,063 

».44«.3*« 
3.096,853 
7.3«4.3»8 
373,387 
1.841,838 


»4.58o,7i9i 


|-3 


180,-  i 

i45>sBo 

458,147 
163,530 

7o«.7S«f 


u 


j8 
35.10 

Hi 


I 

I 


#19,396,570 

1,560,650 

3,777,380 

".499.490 

479.434 
3,733.790 


3».336.»M 


•  Mr.  E.  A.  Curley,  the  accomplished  correspondent  of  the  London  "FieU,"  published,  in 
1875,  ft  valuable  work,  largely  illustrated,  entitled,  "  Nebraska,  its  Advantages,  Resources  and 
Drawbacks."  In  this  work  he  has  given  engravings  of  many  of  these  wild  fruits,  and  particn- 
lariy  of  the  plums,  strawberriea,  grape*  and  bv^hlo  berrie*.  In  wme  of  these  fruits  he  think* 
Nebraska  surpasses  any  Westers  State. 


%    |h|   I  1  I    ^  % 


^<^aft::t:.SS!C 


MANUFACTURING  INDUSTRY. 


I.*  For  a  new 
ation  of  apples, 
ther  fruits  of  a 
not  yet  made 
e  State  had  a 
m  of  great  ex- 
,  fruits  received 

St  continue  to 
grazing  than  to 
>st  maintain  as 
Wyoming  or 
does  and  will 
ebraska.  The 
nd  Territories 
fificult  to  keep 
be  statistics  of 
:k  of  the  State 
the  rapidity  of 
compiled  from 
[)m  the  United 
tliat  year  not 


'-■s-m^  '■'  ^ 

<i 

Is 

1 

I  fl 

.^i 

1 

H 

K-rvT  I  J  ■ 

$i»,»9«,570 

S.aSo     .,    t, 

1.560.650 
3,777,280 

».>47 

as.ic. 

",«9.490 

'.5»o 

Hi 

479.434 

>>7$» 

».7»».790 

3».336.aM 

FieU,"  published,  in 
tages.  Resources  and 
d  ihiiti,  and  particn- 
liese  fruits  he  thinkf 


TO23 


As  these  are  very  low  average  prices,  and  the  increase  in  the 
amount  of  stock  in  1880  has  been  great  beyond  all  former 
precedent,  it  h  probable  that  a  fair  and  just  estimate  of  tho 
value  of  the  live-stock  of  the  Stare  at  the  end  of  1880  would 
not  be  less  than  $50,000,000. 

Manufacturing  /w/^wj/^^.— Nebraska  has  not  engaged  in 
manufacturing  so  largely  as  her  extraordinary  facilities  warrant 
her  in  doing.  With  abundant  water-power,  and  coal  sufficient 
to  produce  all  the  steam-power  she  needs,  and  abundant 
material  for  manufactures  of  all  kinds,  as  well  as  the  best  possible 
facilities  of  transportation,  she  should  become  a  large  manufactur- 
ing State;  but  at  present  her  almost  sole  dependence  is  upon  hf  r 
agriculture.  Omaha,  Lincoln,  Nebraska  City,  Plattsmouth, 
and  other  towns  have  some  manufacturing  establishments  of 
importance.  Omaha  in  particular  has  extensive  smelting  and 
refining  works,  and  receives  and  reduces  large  quantities  of  the 
refractory  ores  from  Montana,  Idaho,  Utah,  and  some  from 
Colorado.  Flour  and  feed,  iron  ware,  railroad  cars,  carriages 
and  wagons,  boots  and  shoes,  furniture,  ready-made  clothing, 
hats,  distilled  and  fermented  liquors  are  the  leading  articles  of 
manufacture.  In  1875,  the  annual  products  of  manufacture  in 
the  State  were  estimated  at  $15,500,000.  They  now  probably 
exceed  $3,0,000,000.   ^  ...hi  .i /  h,- . , hijl 

■.Railroads. — ^The  railroad  system  of  Nebraska  traverses  all 
piarts  of  the  State  where  there  are  inhabitants  or  products 
awaiting  a  market.  South  of  the  Platte  river  most  of  the  roads 
are  connected  with  the  Burlingtoa  and  Missouri  Railroad  in 
Nebraska,  The  main  line  of  this  railroad  commences  at 
PlattsiTiouth,  on  the  Missouri  rivcr  (where  at  this  time  a  bridge 
is  being  constructed  which  will  connect  the  Buriington  and  Mis- 
souri, in  Nebraska,  with  the  Chicago,  Burlinptnn  and  Quincy  in 
Iowa),  with  a  branch  from  Omaha  which  jc.i*s  the  main  line  at 
Oreapolis.  four  miles  west  of  Plattsmouth.  The  line  then  followrs 
the  course  of  the  Platte  river  to  the  mouth  of  Salt  creek,  whence 
it  proceeds  over  Salt  Creek  Valley  through  Lancaster  county  to 
Lincoln,  the  State  capital ;  and  thence  westward  over  the  prairie 
through  Lancdster,  Saline,  Fillmore,  Clay,  Adams  and  Kearney 


1 


-»ii«£*»»!«S!s«iasa 


1034 


OUR   WESTRXN  EMPIRE. 


counties  to  a  junction  witli  the  Union  Pacific  road  at  Kearney,  in 
Buffalo  county.  The  Beatrice  branch  of  the  Burlington  and 
Missouri  road  starts  from  Crete,  in  Saline  county,  and  runs  south 
along  the  valley  of  the  Big  Blue  to  Beatrice,  in  Gage  county; 
and  the  same  company,  under  the  name  of  the  Republican 
Valley  Company,  has  built  a  line  from  Mastings,  in  Adams 
county,  south  over  the  prairie  to  the  Republican  Valley,  and 
thence  west  along  the  valley  to  Naponee,  on  the  west  line  of 
Franklin  county,  which  road  is  now  being  pushed  forward  as  rapidly 
as  possible  westward  to  Denver,  in  Colorado,  and  a  contract  for 
IOC  miles  west  of  Naponee  has  recently  been  made.  It  is  also 
proposed  to  continue  this  line  eastward  from  the  point  where  it 
strikes  the  Republican  Valley  south  of  hiastings,  to  Beatrice,  in 
Gage  county.  The  Nebraska  Railroad  has  at  present  its  initial 
point  in  Nemaha  City,  in  Nemaha  county,  and  runs  north  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Missouri  river  through  Brownville,  in  Nemaha 
county,  to  Nebraska  City,  in  Otoe  county ;  thence  westward 
through  Otoe  and  Lancaster  counties  to  Lincoln;  and 
thence  through  Seward,  York,  Hamilton  and  Merrick  counties 
to  Central  City,  where  it  connects  with  the  Union  Pacific, 
and  tlie  track  is  now  Surveyed  north  twenty  miles  to  Fullerton, 
the  centre  and  tounty-seat  of  Nance  county.  The  Atchison 
and  Nebraska  Railroad  starts  at  Atchison,  in  Kansas,  and  runs 
through  Richardson,  Pawnee,  Johnson,  Gage  and  Lancaster 
counties  to  Lincoln ;  and  from  the  capital  city  this  company  is 
now  building  a  road,  under  the  name  of  the  Lincoln  and  North- 
western Railroad,  through  Lancaster,  Saline,  and  Butler  counties 
to  Columbus,  in  Platte  county,  where  it  connects  with  the  Union 
Pacific.  The  Omaha  and  Republican  Valley  Railroad,  a  branch 
from  the  Union  Pacific,  runs  dirough  Douglas,  Saunders,  Butler, 
and  Polk  counties  to  Osceola,  the  county-seat  of  the  last-nan)ed 
county,  and  a  branch  is  now  building  from  Valparaiso,  in 
Saunders  county,  to  Lincoln.  The  St.  Joseph  and  Denver  Rail- 
road, which  starts  at  St  Joseph  in  Missouri,  runs  westward 
through  the  north  tier  of  counties  in  Kansas,  and  enters 
Nebraska  in  Jefifersoa  county,  passing  through  Thayer,  Nuckolls, 
Adams  and  Hall  couhties  to  a  junction  with  the  Union  Pacific  at 


tt; 


RAILROADS  IN  NEBRASKA, 


1035 


I  at  Kearney,  in 
Burlington  and 
and  runs  south 
I  Gage  county; 
he  Republican 
ngs,  in  Adams 
an  Valley,  and 
le  west  line  of 
'ward  as  rapidly 
d  a  contract  for 
ade.     It  is  also 

point  where  it 
I  to  Beatrice,  in 
'esent  its  initial 
IS  north  on  the 
ille,  in  Nemaha 
:nce  westward 
Lincoln ;  and 
errick  counties 
Union  Pacific, 
:s  to  Fullerton, 
The  Atchison 
nsas,  and  runs 
tnd  Lancaster 
his  company  is 
)In  and  North- 
sutler  counties 
vith  the  Union 
road,  a  branch 
inders,  Butler, 
he  last-named 
V^alparaiso,  in 

Denver  Rail- 
uns  westward 
},  and  enters 
lyer,  Nuckolls, 
nion  Pacific  at 


Grand  Island ;  and  the  company  is  now  building  a  branch  from 
Marysville,  in  Kansas,  along  the  valley  of  the  Big  Blue  river  to 
Beatrice,  in  Gage  county.  North  of  the  Platte  river  the  Union 
Pacific  is  the  main  line  of  railroad ;  and,  starting  from  Omaha, 
its  track  is  along  the  Platte  valley  to  the  western  line  of  the 
State,  a  distance  of  475  miles ;  and  this  company  is  now  building 
a  branch  road  from  Jackson,  in  Platte  county,  northward  through 
Platte  and  Madison  counties,  to  Norfolk,  in  the  last-named 
county,  with  a  branch  running  to  Albion,  in  Boone  county.  The 
Union  Pacific  is  further  building  a  branch  from  Grand  Island 
to  St.  Paul,  the  county-seat  of  Howard  county.  The  Omaha 
and  Northwestern  Railroad  runs  northwest  through  Douglas, 
Washington  and  Burt  counties,  the  present  terminus  being  at 
Oakland,  in  Burt  county.  The  Sioux  City  and  Pacific  Railroad 
runs  from  Missouri  Valley  in  Iowa,  westward  across  the  Missouri 
river  through  Washington  county  to  Frfemont,  in  Dodge  county, 
where  it  connects  with  die  Union  Pacific;  and  the  Elkhorn 
Valley  Railroad  runs  from  Fremont  up  the  valley  of  the 
Elkhorn  river,  through  Dodge,  Cuming,  Stanton  and  Madison 
counties  to  Oakdale,  in  Antelope  county,  with  a  branch  running 
from  the  main  line  to  Norfolk,  in  Madison  county,  and  Pierce, 
the  county-seat  of  Pierce  county.  The  Covington,  Columbus 
and  Black  Hills  Railroad  runs  from  Covington,  which  is  im- 
mediately opposite  Sioux  City,  in  Iowa,  through  Dakota  county, 
to  Ponca,  the  county-seat  of  Dixon  county ;  and,  the  road  having 
been  sold  in  1879  to  the  Sioux  City  and  St  Paul  Railroad,  it  is 
to  be  run  &rther  west  through  the  northern  counties  of  Nebraska. 
At  the  beginning  of  1880  there  were  about  1,650  miles  of 
railroad  in  operation  in  Nebraska. 

Population. — The  growth  of  population  in  Nebraska  has  been 
very  rapid,  although  such  extraordinary  effortshave  not  been  made 
to  attract  population  thither  as  in  some  of  the  new  States  adjacent. 
Having  no  mines  or  mineral  wealth  it  has  attracted  for  the  most 
part  the  farming  class,  and  its  advantages  have  not  been  made  as 
widely  knd\4rn  as  those  of  States  having  a  large  mining  or 
manufacturing  interest.  The  following  table,  prepared  with  great 
care,  exhibits  a  steady  and  healthy  growth  which  will  con^pare 
6s 


iiiiiiiii 


meijsaaswii 


I 


I 


1036 


OVJt  WESTERN  EMPIRE, 


very  favorably   with   that  of  any  of  the  States  or  Territories 
belonging  to  "Our  Western  Empire:" 


■/,  •(■(,,. i 


I 


1 
} 


lUo 


4^4 
><.<4i 
■99,311* 


I 


I 


i«,j 


>.431 
it,oai 


7",4»5     5>.5«« 
iai,757  113,000 


\ 


•l,«9« 

M,II7 


449>I<>S 


I* 

7*9 


1 


6^ii 

6.J«V 
S>*7} 
4.7«o 

4i}50 

•>»4  4.e4a 


••.490 


35J,04» 


6,351 10.38 


30.74*, 


•;>3»o 


so* 
}'39 

S.c8 
6.01 


1 


3i«.4J 


993 
77.t6 


\l 


1,671  j  9,o«3 
4<.3»S  I  35.677 
7».99' 
9*,i6i 

"4.730 
l*3,4ii 

IM.M9 


i5 


9.907 
39,080 


136,780 


J8.'IS9 


Indians. — There  are  in  the  State  four  Indian  Agencies,  viz. : 
I.  The  Great  Nemaha  Agency,  of  the  Iowa  and  the  Sac  and  Fox 
Indians  of  the  Missouri,  having  251  Indians  of  these  tribes,  with  a 
reservation  of  24,014  acres,  most  of  it  arable,  and  partly  situated 
in  Kansas.  These  Indians  are  about  to  be  removed  to  the  Indian 
Territory.  2.  The  Omaha  and  Winnebago  Agency,  including 
1,429  Winnebagoes,  1,120  Omahas,  and  36  Poncas — also  liable  to 
removal.  Their  reservation  comprises  253,069  acres,  of  which 
240,000  acres  are  arable  lands.-  3.  The  Otoe  Agency,  including 
438  Otoesand  Missouris,Jand  occupying  a  reservation  of  44,093 
acres,  a  part  of  it  in  Kansas,  of  which  40,000  acres  are  arable.  4. 
The  Santee  Agency,  including  764  Santee  Sioux  and  103  Poncas 
in  Nebraska,  and  304  Santee  Sioux  in  Flandreau,  Dakota.  The 
reservation,  which  is  partly  in  Dakota,  consists  of  1 1 5,076  acres, 
of  which  39,400  are  arable  lands.  There  are  in  all  4,350  tribal 
Indians,  and  their  reserved  lands  amount  to  436,252  acres,  of 
which  341,400  acres  are  arable  lands,  and  1 1,645  acres,  or  one- 
thirtieth  of  the  whole,  are  actually  cultivated  by  somebody, 
though  580  acres  are  occupied  by  intruders.  About  9,620  acres 
are  cultivated  by  Indians. 

The  ^xa^ra'di/ condition  of  Nebraska  is  good.  The  State  has 
;no  debt  except  to  its  own  school  fund,  on  which  the  interest  is 


■ifr 


•liKlndiDi;  Trilwl  Indiani.       f  Tribal  ImUmm  not  Indudwl.       }  ai6  of  thcu  now  in  Indian  Tcnitory. 


v.- 


tes  or  Territories 


! 


I.«7I 
>.3»S 

•,i6i 
4.73" 
3.4" 


9.M3 
35.67» 


IM,M9 


i 
is 


9.907 

39.o*> 


136,780 


je."9 


in  Agencies,  viz. : 
!  the  Sac  and  Fox 
lese  tribes,  with  a 
nd  partly  situated 
)ved  to  the  Indian 
\gency,  including 
:as — also  liable  to 
9  acres,  of  which 
\gency,  including 
irvation  of  44,093 
res  are  arable.  4. 
X  and  103  Poncas 
lu,  Dakota.  The 
of  1 1 5,076  acres, 
in  all  4,350  tribal 
(.36,252  acres,  of 
545  acres,  or  one- 
d  by  somebody, 
Vbout  9,620  acres 

I.  The  State  has 
ch  the  interest  is 


now  In  Indian  Tenitory, 


EDUCATIONAL  STATiSTICS.  ,qj. 

paid  promptly,  and  though  taxation  is  low  and  the  valuation 
(aside  from  many  exemptions)  is  only  about  ^y^  per  cent,  on 
the  true  value,  yet  the  taxes  bring  in  sufficient  revenue  to  leave 
a  considerable  annual  surplus.  The  assessed  valuation  on  which 
taxes  are  paid  (aside  from  exemptions)  was,  in  1878,  the  last 
auditor's  report  published,  about  $83,000,000.  The  true  valua- 
tion, including  property  now  exempt,  is  not  les-  than  ^1340,- 
000,000. 

Education.— 0(  the  State  school  fund  about  $2,5oo,cxxd  are 
now  available.  The  total  amount  of  this  fund  will  eventually  be 
about  $19,000,000  or  $20,000,000.  The  receipts  of  the  tempo- 
rary school  fund  for  the  two  years  ending  November  30,  1878, 
amounted  to  $529,176.  The  following  statistics  from  the  State 
Superintendent  of  Public  Schools  give  many  particulars  of  in- 
terest in  regard  to  the  public  schools  for  the  year  ending  April 
7,1879:  ;,•    ,. 

I     Number  of  diiitricts 9,856    ■    '    ' 

J,,;'  Number  of  school-houses 2,480    r  ii 

Children  between  the  rges  of  five  and  twenty-one  (23,411 

Average  number  of  children  in  each  district     .     .  io 

'■■    Average  number  of  days  taught  by  each  teacher    .  #7           " 

Average  number  of  days  of  school  in  each  district  liy    ^   ''I 

Number  of  districts  in  which  schools  are  graded   .  '      '     ite     '  '  ' 

,,,      Number  of  teachers  employed  in  all  graded  schools  '    ttt      I 

Number  of  districts  having  six  months  or  more  .   ;                ,,   , 

'■'.  scliool i,*4a  ) 

Number  of  districts  that  had  no  school  ....  1*1 

•'  '     Average  square  feet  of  blackboard  surface  .     .     .  ii  ' 

Number  of  houses  with  no  bla(  khoard    ....  269  ' 

,  I      Number  of  houses  furnished  with  patent  desks  and  \ 

••-           «*'* 1,574  .  ! 

Number  of  new  school-houses  built  during  year     .  jqi 

Number  of  teachers' institutes  held 1  ,t. 

"■    Aggregate  attendance  upon  institutes     .     .     .     .  '             a,344  "' 

!    Number  of  districts  flimishing  free  text-books  .     .  '           1*7  ' 

STATISTICS  OF  PUPILS  AND  TEACHERS. 

Children  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one, 

''  males 64,179  ' 

?fU>  Children  between  the  agesof  five  and  twenty-one,  "   -  '•' . 

;;;/f  females S9,«3a  '     <' . 

Total "3,411 


/«JSffvwinJFiaM>«6iiiiu#ii>»i««K«!#' 


f 


I 


toil  OUR   WRSTEKM  RMPIRK, 

Children  cnrnllcd  in  the  nchook 73i9S^ 

Ntimlicr  of  quuliPicd  tearhera  rmplnyed,  male*  .     .  it6o7 

Numljcr  of  qtiulificd  temhent  employed,  females     .  aiaai 
Aggregate  numU'r  of  dayi  taught  by  male*  .     .   135,339 
Aggregate  number  of  dayii  taught  by  female*    .   1 73,669 

Total 999,001 

Average  wngcs  [ler  month,  males I33  a 5 

Average  wagcfi  per  month,  femaleii *9  S5 

STATISTICS  or  SCHOOL  PROPERTY. 

Value  of  school-houses |i|693,35j  18 

Value  of  school  sites 175,48360 

Value  of  books  and  apparatus 54,81649 

.  „  '    Total  value  of  all  school  property 1,853,665  37 

Average  number  of  mills  levied  for  school  purposes  13 

Amount  apportioned  by  county  superintendents    .  334,605  65 
Money  in  hands  of  county  treasurers  April  7,  1879       160,301  34 

Aside  from  these  public  schools,  there  are  high  schools  of  ex- 
cellent character  at  Oinaha  and  other  large  towns  in  the  State;  a 
normal  school  at  Peru  with  nearly  -xfio  pupils ;  a  prosperous  State 
university  at  Lincoln,  the  capital  of  the  State,  endowed  with 
1 30,cxx)  acres  of  land,  and  to  which  the  State  makes  an  appro 
priation  of  about  $25,000  annually;  an  institute  for  the  deaf  and 
dumb  at  Omaha,  and  for  the  blind  at  Nebraska  City. 

There  are  also  colleges  under  denominational  control ;  Doane 
College  at  Crete,  Saline  county;  The  Bishop  Talbott  or  Nebraska 
College,  at  Nebraska  City ;  Creighton  College,  at  Omaha,  and  a 
Methodist  Episcopal  College  recently  opened  at  York,  in  York 
county. 

Lands  for  Immigrants. — There  are  millions  of  acres  of  govern- 
ment lands  yet  unsold  in  Nebraska,  which  may  be  obtained  either 
by  purchase,  pre-emption  or  under  the  Homestead,  Timber-Cul- 
ture or  Desert  Land  Acts ;  but  these  are  mosdy  in  the  more 
western  port'on  of  the  State,  and  largely  beyond  the  junction  of 
the  North  and  South  forks  of  the  Platte  river.  As  we  have  shown, 
the  rainfall  is  not  so  abundant  as  farther  east,  and  the  land  must 
be  thoroughly  broken  before  it  will  yield  good  crops,  but  eventu- 
ally, either  with  or  without  irrigation,  these  lands  will  be  some 
of  the  most  valuable  in  the  State.     It  is  best  for  the  immigrant 

(  !K    J",  f  ............     ti.iO  ' 


LANDS  FOR  IMMIGBANTS. 


1029 


73.95* 
1,607 

t.aai 

;.33» 
J.669 

999,001 

'    '        |J3  as 

I       .'  ^  •9S5 


|i.6aa,3S5  «8 

«75.4«3  6o 

54,8j6  49 

1,859,665  97 

»3 

994,605  65 

t6o,9oi  94 

jh  schools  of  ex- 
ns  in  the  State;  a 
prosperous  State 
e,  endowed  with 
nakes  an  appro 
for  the  deaf  and 
City. 

I  control ;  Doane 
bott  or  Nebraska 
at  Omaha,  and  a 
at  York,  in  York 

'  acres  of  govern - 
)e  obtained  either 
ead,  Timber-Cul- 
tsdy  in  the  more 
i  the  junction  of 
s  we  have  shown, 
id  the  land  must 
rops,  but  eventu- 
ds  will  be  some 
or  the  immigrant 


who  purposes  to  culdvate  his  lands,  and  not  to  devote  them  to 
grarinj;,  not  to  go  beyond  the  frontier  line  of  progress  in  the 
pitrciiasr:  of  these  lands,  as  the  expense  of  irrigation  and  of  tree- 
planting  for  a  single  farm  is  very  heavy ;  but  where  a  town  or 
colony  engage  in  it  together,  the  expense  is  much  lighter.  This 
frontier  line  is  moving  west  at  the  rale  of  about  ten  or  fifteen 
miles  a  year.  There  are  very  desirable  lands,  to  the  amount  of 
about  2,500,000  acres,  held  by  the  State  for  school  and  university 
purposes.  ■  They  are  situated  in  every  county  of  the  State,  and 
information  in  regard  to  them  may  be  obtained  by  writing  to 
F'.  M.  Davis,  State  Commissioner  of  Public  Lands  and  Buildings, 
at  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  The  minimum  price  at  which  these  lands 
are  sold  is  %";  per  acre,  on  twenty  years'  time,  at  six  per  cent, 
interest;  and  leases  are  on  appraised  values.  During  the  years 
1877  and  1878  the  lands  soldAvere  26,819  acres,  and  leased  100,- 
918;  and  the  sales  and  leases  during  1879  and  1880  doubled 
upon  these  figures. 

For  detailed  information  about  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Com- 
pany's lands,  written  or  personal  application  should  be  made  to 
the  Land  Commissioner,  U.  P.  R.  R.,  Omaha,  Nebraska.  This 
company  owns  3,000,000  acres  of  fertile  lands  in  Central  and 
Western  Nebraska,  which  are  sold  for  cash,  '>r  on  a  credit  often 
years,  at  six  per  cent,  interest,  with  gradual  p.  ments  of  principal 
and  interest.  The  prices  range  from  $2  to  $10  per  acre,  on  ten 
years'  credit,  "  according  to  quality,  location,  timber  and  nearness 
to  market ; "  and  a  deduction  of  ten  per  cent,  from  credit  prices 
is  made  to  cash  purchasers. 

For  detailed  information  about  the  Burlington  and  Missouri 
River  Railroad  lands,  address  or  apply  to  the  Land  Commis- 
sioner, B.  &  M.  R.  R,,  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  This  company  has 
remaining  of  its  land  grant  of  more  than  2,000,000  acres,  about 
1,000,000  acres  south  of  the  Platte  river,  in  the  rich  southeastern 
section,  and  in  the  northeastern  section  north  of  the  Platte.  The 
northeastern  lands,  of  which  there  are  about  650,000  acres,  range 
from  %\  to  $6  per  acre,  on  ten  years'  time,  with  discount  from 
these  prices  on  six  years'  and  two  years'  credit,  and  for  cash.  The 
balance  of  the   Burlington  and   Missouri  lands  in  Southeastern 


,■mml^l^lli^<!^i^m>mmilStmi\•'-'•^'^|^'i^^■^»^»'■'^^-^~''^^^'^^^ 


J 


f 

I 
I 


I0)0 


ova   WKXTKMM  KMHItM. 


Nebraska  an-  »oIcI  at  from  $3  to  $10,  on  ten  years' credit,  with  dis- 
counts off  for  cash  or  shorter  time  of  credit.        . 

The  foUowinjr  instnictions  ami  advice  toemtp;rants  to  Nebraska 
arc  of  great  importance,  ami  should  be  carefully  read  ;»nd  fol 
lowed  : 

Persons  with  families  should  not  lome  West  entirely  destitute 
of  means  to  brave  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life.  Many  have  done 
*  so  and  have  succeeded,  and  in  a  few  years  have  been  numbered 
among  the  most  influential  and  well-to-do  citizens  of  the  State ; 
but  it  more  frequently  leads  to  disappointment,  homesickness  and 
discontent.  A  capital  of  $200  or  $300,  after  the  land  is  secured, 
with  which  to  commence  operations,  would  be  of  very  great  ad- 
vantage. An  expenditure  of  $50  will  complete  a  cabin  in  which 
a  family  can  be  comfortably  sheltered.  A  neat  one-story  frame 
house,  with  from  two  to  four  rooms,  can  be  built  at  a  cost  of  from 
Jtaoo  to  $600.  Good  stabling  for  stock  can  be  constructed  with 
but  little  expense,  by  the  use  of  a  few  posts  and  poles  covered 
with  straw  or  hay. 

Settlers  coming  West,  and  having  a  long  distance  to  travel, 
should  dispose  of  their  farming  implements  and  heavy  or  bulky 
furniture.  Bedsteads,  tables,  chairs,  mattresses,  crockery,  stoves, 
etc.,  etc.,  stock,  teams,  wagons,  tools  of  all  kinds,  and  farming 
implements,  better  adapted  to  this  country  than  those  left  behind, 
can  be  purchased  here  at  reasonable  rates,  frequently  at  less  than 
would  be  the  cost  of  transportation.  Clothing,  bedding,  table 
linen,  books,  pictures,  and  other  small  articles,  may  be  brought 
with  advantage.  It  is  also  well  to  bring  choice,  graded  stock, 
such  as  horses,  catde,  sheep,  swine,  poultry,  etc. 

Prices  at  the  West,  as  in  the  older  States,  are  regulated  by  the 
supply  and  demand.  As  a  general  rule,  groceries,  dry  goods 
and  articles  of  domestic  use  that  can  be  dispensed  with,  are 
dearer,  and  the  common  necessaries — meats,  flour,  grain,  pota- 
toes, etc. — are  cheaper  than  in  the  Eastern  States.  The  following 
may  be  taken  as  average  prices,  April  1,  1879,  and  there  has 
been  very  litde  variation  since : 

yji'i      .<Ui.  ■  iu)  f.(u.  ,ll|i;»"i  I  'r!T  i;  y(  9\f/ 1  Iinr. '.^ui-v^  '  h  no  j;'.>;»iiq   )^')f(' 


rnrcMs  of  NKKOfVL  Aurtc/Ks. 


1051 


\  credit,  with  dit* 

♦ 

ints  to  Nebraska 
ly  read  and  fot 

?ntirc"ly  destitute 

Many  have  done 

been  numben-d 

n»  of  the  State  ; 

omesicknesH  and 

land  is  secured, 

very  great  ad- 

a  cabin  in  which 

one-story  frame 

It  a  cost  of  from 

:onstructed  with 

i  poles  covered 

tance  to  travel, 
heavy  or  bulky 
crockery,  stoves, 
is,  and  farming 
liose  left  behind, 
ndy  at  less  than 
,  bedding,  table 
nay  be  brought 
e,  graded  stock. 

regulated  by  the 
rics,  dry  goods 
snsed  with,  are 
ur,  grain,  pota- 
The  following 
,  and  there  has 


Work  Mitit, ptr  yrk*  t75  Qo  lo  III}  oo 

||iir««»  «liil  muUa,  iwr  (Mil  luu  UU  li>      JJO  Ao 

lltUIng  h<if«m,  t  iih 7J  00  lu 

V»nn  wiigoa* , 70  00  to 

t|>iint<  «ir«i[iin« 7000IU 

lUlIu-  ,  •liiultit  Ml joou  lu 


too  oo 
9000 

lasoo 
40  ou 


LIVI ITOCB. 

VcurnnK* |iooo  In  ||)  00 

Iwti  yciir  ttlil* ,.    touoiii     jouo 

I  lir««  ytaroldt aj  00  l« 

('•>w» ,,.    ioooiu 

('•llv«« 5  00  III 

Sheep. •join 

I  lug«,  p«r  pound oj  to 

tW«r  c*lil«,  p«r  puuiid. ...       oj  (u 


4000 

$000 

lu  00 

400 

04 


*  i    r  Ji    !>..'Ul    .['X.l.V   ,fu,<i  ii.l./}      ^l    '    if.'l    t(-i,( 


LUMMM    AND  MIILINNa  MATUIAU 
FkMriitg,>lrt«->«i|   iHlmalched. 


p«»  M 

SMtni,  |Mr  M 

>  1 .  t » .  > 

Iwooio 

14  UO  lu 

15  do  lu 
Kiou  III 

16  00  to 
1  a5  lu 

1  as  to 

loo  lu 

IJBO* 

OilliiK,  |<  In.hwilfil.rMr  M 

(Jiimmun  buariU,  p«r  M 

JolM«,  MMtltlng,  eti-.,  Id  f««t 

•nil  umUr,  par  M 

Kencinf ,  par  M... , 

a)  OS 

It  no 

1700 
It  00 

»7S 
aoo 

•7i 
aoe 

ShingUn,  A,,Mwcil, 
Shinglri,  Nil    1,  p«r 
l.allk*,  Mr  M 

perM.. 
M 

4  (Mn«l  (loun... .... 

llrii-k,|K:r  M 

l.lnM,  (wr  barrel.. , 

••! 

AOBICVLTURAI.  IMrLRMINTa. 

Thretliing  machliM* I500  00  lu  I700  oo 

llnrvcdcri I50()ntu  300  uo 

Mower* 750010  9000 

Drill*  and  Meden 40  00  to  80  oo 

Corn  planlen J5  ou  In  55  00 

ilnnd  plnnlen I  00  lu  350 

Cum  khcllert 8  00  lu  85  00 

Corn  Mock  cutler* 40  00  tu  6000 

Cuitivatur* ao  00  lu  3500 

Cunamill* 55  00 

Feeil  rutier* 6  00  to  35  00 

Sulky  r*ke« 350010  3000 

Revolving  rnkei 5  00  to  8  00 

liurrowi 8  00  to  10  00 

Krenking  plow* 30  00  tu  35  00 

Stirring  plows lo  00  to  30  00 

(•itn;^  pliMvs 75  00 

Sulky  plow* 450010  5500 

Header* 1750010  38000 

Wind  Mill* 900010  15000 

Pump  and  bra**  cylinder. .  15  oo 

Uoe-inch  pipe,  per  foot. . .  30  to  30 


iiiii;»KiioLD  rvtNmmM. 

lUdilaada |8  00  to  I4  o<i 

Matire**** •  00  lo  400 

Tal'le* 17510  7  t.j 

'hair*,  par  dnaen , 4  75  to  10  00 

Rocking  rhair* 75  to  4(0 

l.'Hiking  glaoie* 2510  400 

Kitchen  »i»fe« ]  50  lo  10  00 

Uurviui*,  with  glMW 9  50  lo  16  <o 

WAOU. 

Carpenter*,  per  day |i  00  to    | j  00 

Maion*,  per  day J  00  to      4  oo 

faiater*,  per  day a  50  to      j  00 

Blftckiimiih*,  per  day a  50  lo      j  00 

Carriage-niaken,  |ier  day.. .  .       a  50  to      3  00 

nay-lnboren,  per  dny I  50  lo       3  00 

Shoemaker*,  per  week 15  oO  lo    ao  00 

Fornt'hand*,  per  month,  in- 
eluding  Iward 1500(0    aooo 

ClerkN,  per  annum joo  00  lu  i , joo  00 

Teachers,  per  annum 300  00  to  3,000  00 


'1   I. 


If  (ill  1 


! 


Counties  and  Towns.-— There  yrere  in  1879  sixty-eight  organ- 
ized and  four  unorganized  counties  in  the  State.  The  extraor- 
dinary influx  of  population  in  1879  and  1880  will  undoubtedly 
lead  to  the  organization  of  other  counties  by  the  legislature 
at  its  biennial  session  in  1881.  Of  tlie  cities  and  towns,  Omaha 
has  30,518  inhabitants,  and  is  an  important  railroad  cen- 
tre.    Lincoln,  the  capital,  has  13,004  inhabitants.     The  other 


viDjin  "If.  i\   )!ij  fit  .V'  'ic'i  1'' 


•I  Ai\     1 1  li    '  '•  hvi  1  n't. 


mtMi 


J 


f 

I 


i 


I 


I0(5f 


OUH    HTgsrMMN  MMriMM, 


imponant  townn  nf ;  N<*hra«kA  City,  wtth  nearly  10,000  inhiib- 
itantH,  I'luttNinouth,  Hrownvillr,  I'ViMUorU  ami  I'l-ru,  whuli  ran^^n 
between  2,500  and  5.(xx)  inhabibintN.  Kearney,  Crete.  Kulu,  He- 
atrice,  TecuniMeh.  I'ckama.  North  Hattc,  Wciit  Tuiitt,  l''all«  City 
and  (irand  Inland  arc  growing  towns. 

Heligious  DenomiHatians, — In  1874  NcbraRka  had  514  organ- 
MaiionH  of  the  different  rcligioud  denomination!!,  279  church 
edifues,  365  clergymen  or  prearhcrM,  33,749  communicantH,  ami 
an  atlherent  population  of  about  1  35,000,  or,  ponnibly,  140,000. 
Itn  church  property  wan  estimated  at  1(^665,000.  In  the  six  yearn 
which  have  nince  panned,  it  has  more  than  doid)led  itn  population, 
and  itH  religious  growth  han  kept  pace  with  the  advance  in  popu- 
lation. The  Methodist  Mpiscopal  Church  takes  the  lead  in  th^^: 
number  of  churches,  ministers  and  communicants,  but  is  closely 
followed  by  the  Maptists,  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  the  Pres- 
byterians, the  I  .uthi-rans  and  the  Congregationalists.  After  t.^ese, 
though  in  smaller  r  I'mbcrs.comc  the  I'rotcstant  ICpiscopal  Church, 
the  Roman  Catholics,  the  Disciples,  the  Evangelical  Association, 
and  several  smaller  denominations. 

Historical  Data, — Nebraska  wa«  iginally  a  part  of  the  great 
Louisiana  Territory,  and  subscque  f  Missouri  Territory.    As 

early  as  1844.  Senator  Douglas  introduced  a  bill  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  Nel)raska  Territory,  which  was  to  includtr  Kansas, 
Dakota,  Wyoming,  and  so  much  of  Colorado  and  Montana  as 
then  belonged  to  us,  but  the  bill  failed.  Ten  years  later  (in 
1854),  Nebraska  was  organized  as  a  Territory,  including  Dakota, 
Montana,  most  of  Wyoming  and  Northeastern  Colorado.  In 
1861  it  was  stripped  of  most  of  these,  and  in  1867  was  admitted 
as  a  State  with  a  population  considerably  under  100,000.  On 
the  completion  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  which  had  its  eastern 
terminus  at  Omaha,  its  population  began  to  increase,  but  its  most 
rapid  growth  has  been  during  the  last  five  years.  From  its 
location  and  its  abundance  of  good  and  fertile  lands,  it  seems 
destined  to  become  a  favorite  resort  for  farming  immigrants,  and 
will  undoubtedly  attract  a  large  body  of  intelligent  agriculturists 
from  both  Europe  and  America.  Some  very  successful  experi* 
ments  in  the  way  of  colonies  of  immigrants  have  been  made  here^ 
and  more  are  likely  to  follow  in  the  near  future. 


'^tfawBMaitoWi 


HHIiMM 


MHMMH 


BOUifl>AIHMi  4Hti  TOfOQKAfHY, 


lOJJ 


riy  to,r»o  Inhab 

Vtu,  whiih  ran^r 

',  Cntr,  Kulo,  lie- 

roiiit,  I'alU  City 

1  had  514  orjjan- 
ionti,  379  church 
HnmunicantH,  .ind 
possibly,  140,000. 
In  the  HJx  years 
ed  its  population, 
advance  in  popii- 
H  the  lead  in  tlu* 
nts,  hut  is  closely 
1  Christ,  the  Pres- 
ists.  After  tiicse, 
[episcopal  Church, 
:lical  Association, 

part  of  the  jjrcat 
iri  Territory.  As 
ill  for  the  estab- 
»  include;  Kansas, 
and  Montana  as 

I  years  later  (in 
icluding  Dakota, 

II  Colorado.  In 
[67  was  admitted 
er  100,000.  On 
:h  had  its  eastern 
*ase,  but  its  most 
^ears.  From  its 
:  lands,  it  seems 

immigrants,  and 
:nt  agriculturists 
uccessful  experi' 
been  made  herc^ 


CHAf»TKR   XV. 

UVADA, 
It!  BmmrAmi:<i,  Exteht  and  A«f.A--lT>«  Towxibawiv  and  StrnfArR—Mntm* 

TAINH,  I.AKKH  ANIi  KlVKM— Ith  (J.IMAtr.  ANU  MBTIflKiiMXIV— OlOLOOV  AMP 
MlNKHALUiiV  — MiNEKAU— UUU>  AW1>  .SU.VKM— <)IM»H  M»:lAI..<t  ANII  MlNm 
ALt»— FKHMANKNt  V  li»  I  Im  MiNI«I— TiIKIH  (iHKAl  1>»  I'l  II  — MiNINi.  iNtlCMlHY 
^ThK  COUN'IIKH  (C)NIAININil  MlN» -i  ( ONnlllKHr.li  IN  hr.fAII. — 'I'lIK  I'MOIIULY 
or  TMK  I'KKdoUH  MkTAIH  IN  NlVADA  HINi  K  TIIKIH  iMHtl  DlitOVKRV  THKRK— 
Tlir,  SlIIHO  TllNNKI.— ItH  rUMHWR  AND  OllJItCI  —  I  Is  I'lK^ir  SUtfRM  LRM 
THAN  WA«  KXCRl  TI:D— lr<«  I'KOIIAni.K  Kl/Tl'HK  'I'KIUMril— /(NII.IMiV  -AnillCUL- 
TVHAI,  l'KOUlU'tlON«— AUAI^rATION  Or  (  (tN<lll>KNAIIl.K  SKi.T|()NS   to  (}haZINCH-> 

KxTKNt'or  Akahi.k,  (iKAXiNd, 'I'imiikhku  and  Minkhai.  I.amih— 'rARLE*  of 

AdHICI'ITimAI.     PkOIUH  It    ANI>     I.IVK-HKV  K  — MaNI;»AiTI;HINi1      iNUtmi'MY — 

Kaii.koadh-— Valuation— Fopri.ATioN — Indian    Resekvaiions  —Couniim 
AND  CiTiE»— RELitiioim  Denkminationh — HmroRicAL  Data— Concj.umok. 

Nevada,  sometiiurs  called  the  Silver  State,  is  ilu;  central  .State 
of  the  seven  lyin^  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  may  be 
said  in  a  ^'rneral  way  to  be  bounded  by  Oregon  and  Idaho,  Utah 
and  Arizona,  and  California.  Its  shape  is  irre^uilar,  and  can  per- 
haps be  best  defined  by  the  ofificial  statement  of  its  boundary, 
made  in  the  act  of  Congress  settling  its  present  boundary.  This 
statement  is  as  follows:  "Commencing  at  the  nordjwest  corner 
of  Utah  Territory,  and  the  southern  line  of  Idaho,  at  the  37th 
degree  of  longitude  west  from  Washington  (and  1 1 4  degrees 
west  from  Greenwich),  and  in  latitude  forty-two  degrees  north, 
and  running  west  along  the  southern  line  of  Idaho  and  Oregon 
to  longitude  forty-three  degrees  west  from  Washington  (and  1 20 
degrees  west  from  Greenwich) ;  thence  south,  along  the  easttrrn 
line  of  California,  to  latitude  thirty-nine  d«!grees  north,  which 
falls  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Lake  Tahoe;  thence  southeasterly 
to  the  intersection  of  the  Colorado  river,  in  latitude  thirty-five 
degrees  north,  and  opposite  Fort  Mojave ;  thence  north  and  east- 
erly up  the  centre  of  the  Colorado  river  to  the  intersection  of  the 
thirty-seventh  degree  of  longitude  west  from  Washington  (and 


.>-<M<WWa«^(*Vj,:«;«is6«9Ste*fi:«*»<---'**i«*V..J»J«5:l!l-3WI 


1034 


OUR    tVESTBRN  EMPIRE.    ''^ 


the  1 14th  dejjree  west  from  Gfeenwich),  and  the  prolongation  of 
the  western  line  of  Utah  Territory ;  thence  north,  along  the  west- 
ern line  of  Arizona  and  Utah,  to  the  place  of  beginning;  contain- 
ing ^^y^n'^^^  acres,  or  112,090  square  miles." 

The  boundaries  of  the  State  have  been  changed  once  or  twice, 
but  the  actual  area  above  given  is  that  of  the  United  States  Land 
,  Office,  and  that  laid  down  in  the  act  of  Congress  enlarging  its 
boundaries.  The  area  as  given  in  the  almanacs  varies  from 
81,539  square  miles  (30,551  square  miles  below  the  fact)  to  104,- 
125  (7.965  square  miles  too  small);  but  the  actual  area  is  that 
given  above.  The  greatest  length  of  the  State  from  north  to  south 
is  about  490  miles;  its  greatest  breadth  about  300  miles.       im  ) 

Topography  and  Surface. — Nevada  is  almost  wholly  within  the 
limits  of  the  great  interior  American  Basin,  which  includes  alsc 
nearly  three-fifths  of  Utah.  This  bas'n  is  bounded  on  the  east 
by  the  Wahsatch  range,  a  continuation  of  the  Bitter  Root  and 
Wind  River  Mountains  of  Idaho  and  Wyoming,  extending  to  and 
along  the  northwestern  bank  of  the  Colorado  river,  and  on  the 
west  by  the  Sierra  Nevada.  The  two  chains  meet  in  Southeastern 
California,  and  are  connected  at  the  north  by  spurs  running  from 
east  to  west.  Within  the  basin  all  streams  are  either  lost  in 
"  sinks  "  or  discharge  their  waters  into  fresh  or  salt  water  lakes 
within  the  basin.  A  small  tract  in  Northern  Nevada  is  outside 
of  the  basin,  and  is  drained  by  the  Owyhee  river,  an  affluent  ol 
the  Lewis  fork  or  Snake  river,  one  of  the  constituent  streams  of 
the  Columbia  river.  In  the  extreme  south  two  or  three  small 
tributaries  of  the  Colorado,  as  the  Virgin  river,  Muddy  river  and 
Las  Vegas  creek,  have  cut  their  way  through  the  mountain  bar- 
riers of  the  basin,  and  discharge  their  waters  into  the  Colorado. 
Th^  Humboldt,  the  Little  Humboldt,  thf  Reese,  the  Carson,  the 
Amargosa  and  many  smaller  streams,  either  sink  through  the 
alkaline  sands  and  disappear  from  sight,  or  fall  into  deep  de- 
pressions apparently  made  by  the  giving  way  of  the  roof  of  some 
cavern,  or  fall  into  some  one  of  the  marshes  or  the  numerous 
lakes,  salt  and  fresh,  which  are  found  all  over  the  State."  f^* '' 'M-^*' 
'The  area  of  the  Great  Basin  is  traversed  from  north  to  south 
by  numerous  parallel  ranges  of  mountains^  having  an  altitude  of 


■NN 


jm.-i£S^its:'-^ 


LAXES  AND  RIVERS  CF  NEVADA. 


prolongation  of 
,  along  the  west- 
inning;  contain- 
ed once  or  twice, 
ted  States  Land 
ss  enlarging  its 
ics  varies  from 
he  fact)  to  104,- 
iia!  area  is  that 
m  north  to  south 
)  miles. 

wholly  within  the 
:h  includes  alsc 
ded  on  the  east 
Jitter  Root  and 
xtending  to  and 
ver,  and  on  the 
in  Southeastern 
rs  running  from 
e  either  lost  in 
;alt  water  lakes 
ivada  is  outside 
r,  an  affluent  ol 
jent  streams  of 
or  three  small 
[uddy  river  and 
!  mountain  bar- 
>  the  Colorado, 
the  Carson,  the 
rk  through  the 

into  deep  de- 
he  roof  of  some 
'  the  numerous 
State. 

north  to  south 
f  an  altitude  of 


»03$ 


about  9,000  feet.  These  are  separated  by  fertile  valleys,  which 
are  watered  by  streams  flowing  from  the  mountains  and  having 
their  supply  from  the  melting  snows.  These  streams  affo'd 
faci!!.ies  for  irrigation,  without  which,  in  most  cases,  the  cultiva- 
tion of  tlic  soil  is  impossible.  But  a  very  large  part  of  the  State 
consists  of  a  lofty  table-land,  with  mountain  summits  rising  to  an 
altitude  of  about  9,000  or  9,500  feet,  and  broken  mainly  by  the  deep 
ravines  or  cartons,  caused  by  the  erosion  of  mountain  torrents. 
The  long  valleys  between  have  an  elevation  of  from  4,000  to 
6,000  feet. 

Lakes  and  Rivers.— lYie  principal  lakes  are  Tahoe,  Pyramid, 
Walker,  Carson,  Washoe  and  Humboldt.  Tahoe  has  an  eleva- 
tion above  the  sea-level  of  about  6,000  feet.  It  is  about  1,500 
feet  in  depth.  It  is  situated  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains, 
fourteen  miles  from  Carson  City.  The  western  line  of  the  State 
divides  it  about  the  centre.  The  water  is  very  clear  and  cool, 
and  remarkable  for  its  specific  lightness.  The  bodies  of  persons 
drowned  in  Lake  Tahoe  never  rise  to  the  surface.  It  is  twenty- 
two  miles  in  length  by  fourteen  in  width. 

Pyramid  lake  is  thirty-five  miles  long,  and  from  ten  to  fifteen 
in  width.  Its  elevation  above  sea-level  is  about  4,000  feet.  It  is 
situated  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  Humboldt  county.  It  is 
r.urrounded  by  mountains,  which  rise  to  the  height  of  about  3,000 
feet.  It  has  been  sounded,  and  found  in  places  3,600  feet  deep. 
it  gets  its  name  from  a  rock  which  rises  600  feet  above  the  sur- 
face of  the  water  in  the  shape  of  a  pyramid.  There  is  an  island 
near  the  eastern  side  which  contains  about  600  acres  of  land,  upon 
which  ratriesnakes  and  wild  goats  abound.  It  has  no  outlet,  and 
is  fed  by  the  Truckee  river  and  other  mountain  streams. 

Washoe  lake  is  situated  in  Washoe  county.  Its  waters  are 
shallow  and  alkaline.  It  covers  about  six  square  miles.  It  is 
surrounded  by  mountains;  on  the  west  are  the  Sierras,  from 
which  it  is  chiefly  fed  by  numerous  small  streams  which  flow  out 
into  the  valley  sink,  and  then  rise  again  in  the  lake. 

Walker  lake  is  about  twenty-five  miles  long  and  ten  miles  in 
width.  Its  area  has  been  considerably  increased  of  late  years,  so 
that  the  old  stage  road,  formerly  about  five  miles  from  its  shores, 


atflsflp^*^^^^ 


•i-wS-^ 


1036  OUR   WESTERN  EMPIRR.    .    .: 

is  now  under  water.  It  is  situated  in  Mason  valley,  Esmeralda 
county.  Its  elevation  above  sea-level  is  about  4,000  feet,  and  its 
waters  are  fresh  and  clear. 

Humboldt  lake,  more  commonly  called  the  Sink  of  Humboldt, 
is  twenty  miles  in  length  and  ten  miles  in  width.  Its  waters  are 
brackish  and  strongly  impregnated  with  salt  and  soda.  It  is  sit- 
uated near  the  line  between  Humboldt  and  Churchill  counties, 
and  has  an  altitude  above  sea-level  of  4,100  feet.  It  is  about  the 
lowest  point  in  the  Great  Basin.  The  waters  from  the  east  and 
west  meet  here. 

The  Carson  lakes  are  situated  near  the  centre  of  Churchill 
county.  They  c*re  about  twenty  miles  apart,  and  spread  out  over 
a  vast  area  of  low  ground,  so  that  their  dimensions  vary  greatly 
in  proportion  to  the  dryness  of  the  season,  and  the  amount  of  the 
snow-fall  on  the  Sierras.  In  wet  seasons  they  are  connected  by 
a  slough  with  Humboldt  lake ;  and  the  waters,  like  that  of  the 
latter  lake,  are  impure,  and  contain  a  large  per  cent,  of  alkali  and 
salt. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Colorado,  none  of  the  rivers  of  Nevada 
are  navigable.  The  Colorado  forms  part  of  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  State.  Its  average  width,  is  one-half  mile.  The  average 
current  at  ordinary  low  stages,  where  no  contraction  or  special 
(»bstruction  exists,  is  about  three  and  one-half  miles  per  hour. 
IVhen  it  passes  over  rapids  and  through  narrow  caftons,  the  cur- 
rent is  more  than  twice  as  rapid,  so  that  it  is  difficult  for  steam- 
boats to  stem  it. 

The  Truckee  river  forms  an  oudet  for  Lake  Tahoe  to  empty 
its  waters  into  Pyramid  lake.  Two-thirds  of  its  entire  course  is 
in  Washoe  county.  It  affords  many  excellent  sites  for  mills,  but 
its  waters  are  chiefly  used  in  irrigating  the  fertile  lands  of  Washoe 
county.  During  the  past  few  years  many  ditches  have  been  con- 
structed for  irrigating  purposes,  and  still  diere  is  a  large  supply 
of  water  left. 

The  Carson  river  heads  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains  and 
flows  through  Douglas,  Ormsby  and  Lyon  counties.  Although 
not  so  large  as  the  Walker,  its  waters  have  been  made  much 
more  useful.     Numerous  large  quartz  mills  have  been  erected 


■».»ia.':*'')ttj.''i-..JS-''*i  ■■*.<« 


LAKEH  AffD  RIVEKS  OF  NEVADA. 


Iley,  Esmeralda 
XX)  feet,  and  its 

k  of  Humboldt, 
Its  waters  are 

soda.     It  is  sit- 

jrchill  counties. 
It  is  about  the 

m  the  east  and 

re  of  Churchill 
ipread  out  over 
ns  vary  greatly 
;  amount  of  the 
;  connected  by 
ke  that  of  the 
It.  of  alkali  and 

vers  of  Nevada 
thern  boundary 
The  average 
:tion  or  special 
liles  per  hour. 
;aftons,  the  cur- 
cult  for  steam- 

ahoe  to  empty 
entire  course  is 
:s  for  mills,  but 
nds  of  Washoe 
have  been  con- 
a  large  supply 

Mountains  and 
ies.  Although 
jn  made  much 
:  been  erected 


1037 


on  its  banks,  which  are  run  by  water-power.  It  irrigates  thou- 
sands of  acres  of  fertile  lands,  and  also  furnishes  the  means  for 
the  transportation  of  thousands  of  cords  of  wood  from  the  moun- 
tains to  the  markets.  ;r  -    '  i 

The  Walker  river  also  has  its  source  in  the  Sierras;  it  flows 
through  Esmeralda  county,  and  empties  its  waters  into  Walker 
lake.  It  is  only  used  for  irrigation,  being  situated  too  far  away 
from  the  mines  to  be  made  available  for  milling  purposes. 

The  Humboldt  river  flows  from  the  east.  It  has  its  source  in 
Utah,  and,  after  winding  through  a  succession  of  mountains  for 
a  distance  of  about  3CX)  miles,  it  empties  its  waters  into  Hum- 
boldt lake.      '>:■-'-  '  -V-      ■  •">•  ■■■•■■■■^■■'     ■  '  '••    ■:  ■  "'-i 

The  Owyhee  river  has  its  source  in  the  mountains  which  sui- 
round  Independence  valley.  It  flows  north  into  the  Snake  and 
Columbia  rivers,  and  finally  empties  its  waters  into  the  Pacific. 
It  is  the  only  river  which  rises  within  the  borders  of  the  State 
that  has  an  outlet  to  the  ocean.  Reese  river  heads  in  the  moun- 
tains to  the  southeast  of  lone.  It  flows  north,  and  sinks  before 
reaching  the  Humboldt,   f        '^'■■'    ^<'''  ;>    •  !     < 

In  all  of  these  lakes  and  streams  are  found  several  varieties  of 
food  fish,  chiefly  different  specieis  of  trout.  In  all  of  the  mountain 
streams  and  in  the  head  waters  of  the  rivers  already  described 
brook  trout  abound,  while  in  the  lakes  and  those  streams  which 
empty  into  them  are  found  silver  trout.  In  Lake  Tahoe  a  very 
large  variety  of  trout  is  found,  some  of  which  have  been  caught 
which  weighed  thirty  pounds  each.  In  the  Owyhee  river  are 
found  salmon  and  salmon  trout.  Through  the  efforts  of  the  Fish 
Commissioner  appointed  at  the  last  session  of  the  Legislature, 
Carson,  Walker  and  Humboldt  lakes  and  the  Truckee  river  have 
been  stocked  with  Schuylkill  catfish  and  Sacramento  perch.  A 
fish  hatchery  has  been  established  in  Carson,  and  20o,cxx>  Mc- 
Cloud  river  salmon  are  ready  for  distribution  in  the  different 
lakes  and  streams  in  the  State.  i^'^««  -'^ -"'  f' '   ?   -^ 

In  the  eastern  counties  considerable  game  is  found,  as  prairie 
chickens,  grouse  and  quail.  In  the  mountains  and  upland  valleys 
are  often  seen  mountain  sheep  and  antelope.  The  otter  and 
i)eiver  are  somedmes  found.    The  grizzly  bear,  cougar,  wild  cat, 


& 


.1038  V ,     OVR   WESTERS  EMPIRE. 

lynx,  wolf,  cinnamon  and  black  bears,  coyotes,  and  generally  the 
beasts  of  prey  found  in  California,  are  also  inhabitants  of  Ne- 
vada, though  not  as  abundant  as  in  some  other  States. 

Climate. — The  climate  of  Nevada,  owing  to  the  diversities  of 
surface,  variations  of  altitude  and  other  causes,  irrespective  of 
the  differences  of  latitude,  varies  greatly  in  different  localities. 
The  changes  of  the  season  are  very  irrtgnlar,  and  pass  into  each 
other  without  notice.  Generally  the  extremes  of  temperature 
are  not  great.  Within  the  Great  Basin,  during  the  summer 
months,  the  thermometer  seldom  rises  above  95'  Fahrenheit ; 
nor  does  it  often  fall  below  zero  in  winter,  except  upon  the  moun- 
tains and  in  the  most  elevated  and  exposed  valleys.  At  Carson 
City,  where  the  elevation  above  sea-level  is  4,630  feet,  the  annual 
mean  temperature  is  about  52^  the  annual  maximum  68",  and 
the  annual  minimum  34°.  At  this  point  heavy  winds  from  the 
southwest  prevail.  During  the  year  1876  there  were  316  windy 
days,  217  cloudy,  and  49  rainy.  The  fall  of  rain  and  snow  for 
the  same  year  was  17.73  inches.  The  nights  are  always  cool  in 
summer  in  all  parts  of  the  State.  This  marked  peculiarity  of 
climate  is  due  to  the  cooling  effects  of  the  many  ranges  of  snow- 
covered  mountains.  The  atmosphere  is  exceedingly  dry.  There 
are  never  any  fogs.  The  moisture  of  the  clouds  is  condensed 
on  the  mountain-tops,  so  that  the  fall  of  rain  in  the  valleys  is  very 
limited.  The  carcasses  of  dead  animals  dry  up  with  but  little 
offensive  putrefaction,  leaving  the  bones  and  hides  mummified. 
In  the  eastern  portion  of  the  State  cloud-bursts  are  of  frequent 
occurrence  from  about  the  first  of  July  to  the  middle  of  Septem- 
ber. The  climate  is  healthful.  No  country  in  the  world  is  more 
.free  from  infectious  diseases.  Epidemics  are  never  known. 
Earthquake  shocks  are  sometimes  felt,  but  rarely  severe  enough 
to  do  any  damage,      if- )  nl  rHf^Hctf^i^ti  hm-^I  p^rT  Vvffr.jiJff  <!,  T 

The  Signal  Service  Bureau  has  but  two  stations  in  NevadSi., 
and  those  have  been  maintained  less  than  three  years.  They  are 
Pioche,  in  Lincoln  county,  in  Southeastern  Nevada,  and  Winne- 
mucca,  on  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad,  in  Humboldt  county, 
Northwestern  Nevada.  We  give  the  report  of  these  for  the 
ye^r  X 3 78r  which,,  as  supplementary  to  the  above  notes  of  the 


.fc.».fWiW.'-'  >,- 


MINEJiALS  AND  METALS  OV  NEVADA. 


1039 


id  generally  the 
labitants  of  Ne- 
>tates.    u.  f  I  ' 
le  diversities  of 

irrespective  of 
'erent  localities. 
1  pass  into  each 
of  temperature 
ig  the  summer 
5**  Fahrenheit; 
upon  the  moun- 
ys.  At  Carson 
feet,  the  annual 
Kimum  68°,  and 
winds  from  the 
were  316  windy 
\  and  snow  for 
:  always  cool  in 
\  peculiarity  of 
ranges  of  snow- 
fly  dry.  There 
s  is  condensed 
e  valleys  is  very 

with  but  little 
les  mummified, 
are  of  frequent 
Idlfc  of  Septem- 
;  world  is  more 

never  known. 

severe  eaough 

tns  in  Nevada,, 
ears.  They  are 
la,  and  Winne- 
nboldt  county, 
these  for  the 
e  notes  of  the 


climate  of  Carson  City,  give  a  tolerable  idea  of  the  climate  of  the 
State.     (See  page  1040.) 

Geology  and  Minemlogy. — It  has  been  demonstrated  by  the 
geological  explorations  on  the  fortieth  parallel,  that  the  Nevada 
ranges  of  mountains  belong  to  the  same  system  of  upheavals 
which  took  place  during  the  Jurassic  period.  These  immense 
mountain  masses  are  composed  of  sedimentary  strata,  granite  and 
kindred  formations  and  volcanic  rocks.  The  stratified  beds  com- 
prise the  largest  portion,  and  extend  from  the  Azoic  age  up  to 
the  time  of  upheaval.  The  rock  formations  embrace  nearly  every 
species  of  sedimentary  or  eruptive  products  existing,  from  the 
earliest  to  the  most  recent  period.  In  the  mountains  which  skirt 
upon  the  Sierras,  the  eruptive  rocks  prevail;  while  farther  east 
are  found  the  metamorphic  and  sedimentary  formations.  Metal- 
liferous deposits  and  veins  exist  in  all  the  mountain  ranges,  the 
most  productive  of  which  still  continues  to  be  the  Comstock  lode. 

The  valleys,  in  general,  correspond  with  the  mountain  ranges. 
They  are  sometimes  short,  being  intersected  by  the  low  moun- 
tains, which  in  many  places  link  together  the  parallel  ranges, 
running  north  and  south,  but  usually  they  are  long  and  narrow. 
With  but  slight  elevations,  several  openings  are  found,  extending 
from  the  Humboldt  river  to  the  Colorado,  the  southern  limit  of 
the  State.  Many  of  the  valleys  are  dry  and  unfit  for  cultivation; 
some  are  covered  with  alkali  and  sand,  while  others  are  scarcely 
less  productive  than  the  most  fertile  valleys  of  California.  All 
have  been  mainly  filled  by  the  products  of  erosion. 

Minerals.— Oi  the  productions  of  Nevada,  silver  and  gold  are 
beyond  comparison  the  most  important.  Scarcely  twenty  years 
have  elapsed  since  this  State  was  inhabited  only  by  the  red  man, 
and  a  few  Mormon  settlers  in  Carson  Valley;  and  yet  during  this 
time  the  enormous  sum  of  $4cxd,ooo,ooo  in  silver  and  gold  have 
been  produced  from  the  Nevada  mines.  More  than  two-tJiirds 
of  this  yield  has  been  since  the  year  1871,  The  most  productive 
year  was  1877,  the  bullion  shipments  amounting  to  $51,368,917. 
The  yield  for  1878  was  $35. 18 1.949.  a  falling  off  from  the  year 
previous  of  %\  6,398,341 .  From  these  figures  it  may  be  seen  that 
these  twQ  years  have  been  a  period  of  unexampled  prosperity 

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1040 


OVR    WESTERS  EMPIRE. 


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M/A'£Jt.4LS  AND  METALS  OF  NEVADA. 


1041 


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in  the  history  of  the  State,  and  that  the  labor  of  the  miner  has 
met  with  merited  reward.  From  the  experience  of  the  past, 
coupled  with  the  condition  and  indications  of  the  various  mining 
districts  at  present,  it  may  readily  hi:  inferred  that  Nevada's  re- 
sources in  silver  and  gold  are  practically  without  limit;  and  that 
the  supply  is  still  so  great  tliat  a  long  time  must  elapse  before  it 
can  be  exhausted.  So  fruitful,  indeed,  has  been  the  yield  that 
the  last  decade  forms  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  the  precious 
metals  in  America ;  and  the  new  discoveries  being  made  in  every 
direction  promise  excellent  results  in  the  near  future. 

Although  silver  and  gold  are  the  chief  products  of  the  State, 
there  are  other  mineral  resources  which  are  of  no  mean  impor- 
tance. The  lead  product  of  Eastern  Nevada  has  increased  10 
rapidly  during  the  past  two  years,  that  Eureka  now  stands  at  the 
head  of  the  lead-producing  districts  in  the  United  States.  Tybo, 
too,  is  making  rapid  strides  in  the  way  of  advancement.  The 
product  of  these  two  districts  falls  but  little  short  of  that  of  Mis- 
souri, Iowa  and  Illinois  combined. 

The  deposits  of  borax  in  Churchill  and  Esmeralda  counties  ane 
sufficient  to  supply  the  demands  of  die  world,  but  being  situated 
so  far  away  from  the  markets,  the  expense  of  transportation  and 
the  reduced  price  of  the  article  have  placed  a  limit  upon  its  pro- 
duction. Fish  lake,  Columbus  and  Teal's  Marsh  have  an  almost 
inexhaustible  supply,  and  their  thousands  of  acres  must  some  day 
be  profitable  to  the  owners. 

The  salt  deposits  are  beyond  computation.  In  Humbokll; 
Churchill,  Esmeralda,  Lander,  White  Pine  and  Lincoln  counties 
there  are  beds  of  %At  covering  thousands  of  acres  and  of  un- 
known depths.  The  waters  of  North  Soda  lake,  in  Churchill 
county,  270  feet  in  depth,  and  covering  an  area  of  400  acres,  con- 
tain about  thirty^hree  per  cent  of  soda*  SulphUr  is  found  in 
immense  deposits  in  Humboldt  county,  and  in  a  comparatively 
pure  state.  Antimony  in  paying  qjua«cities  is  found  in  a  doeetn 
^districts,  and  miines  ritih  in  co|>per  are  being  worked  in  -  Lander 
and  White  Piile  counties.  Cinnabar,  occurring  in  brilliant  red 
i  crystals,  and  also  in  amorphbus  masses,  i!s  found  in  Washoe  and 
Nye  counties.     Gy*psunt,  plumbago,  manganese,  cobalt,  arsenic, 


; -aUSEii-SVW  i-n.,  j?(tmff^I?B 


wsSrtB*' 


1043 


OUJt    WKSIF.K.W  KAtr/KE. 


ma^^nesia,  alum,  nickel,  nitrr,  iron  of  good  quality,  coal  in  small 
quantities,  isinglass — such  arc  some  of  the  mineral  products  of 
Nevada,  which  will,  in  the  future,  produce  some  revenue  to  the 
people  and  State.     >  <  ^ 

As  was  to  be  expected,  the  great  falling  ofT  in  the  yield  of  the 
mines  in  the  years  1879  and  1880  has  raised  the  question  whether 
they  arc  approaching  exhaustion,  or  whether  there  is  to  be  a  still 
more  prosperous  future  for  them.  All  past  analogies  in  silver 
mining,  both  in  Europe  and  America,  forbid  the  idea  of  their  ex- 
haustion ;  the  only  real  question  is  whether  means  can  be  devised 
to  make  the  mining  of  low  grade  ores  profitable  when  they  are 
brought. from  a  depth  of  3,000  or  3,200  feet  below  the  surface, 
where  constant  pumping  of  the  very  hot  water  from  these  great 
depths  is  required,  ?nd  the  temperature  of  the  lower  levels  is 
156°  Fahrenheit,  and  the  mtn  can  only  work  twenty  minutes  and 
rest  twenty  in  four-hour  shifts.  If  these  lower  levels  yield  silver 
ores  assaying  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  ounces  to  the  ton,  the 
working,  even  under  thes«  disadvantageous  conditions,  may  be 
fairly  profitable ;  but  where  the  yield  is  only  from  fourteen  to 
twenty-two  ounces,  as  is  too  often  the  case,  the  margin  is  clearly 
too  narrow  to  permit  any  considerable  profit,  and  must  in  most 
cases  result  in  an  eventual  loss. 

On  this  question  of  the  permanency  of  the  mineral  production 

from  the  mines  now  opened,  the  able  and  accomplished  State 

Mineralogist,  after  a  historical  review  of  all  the  great  silver  mines 

.bf  Europe  and  America,  exhibiting  their  periods  of  decadence 

and  revival,  concludes  his  essay  as  follows:     i.t  Hiie...  .mn  muh  > 

"The  history  of  all  these  European  and  Americaii  mines  has 
been  the  same.  They  were  discovered  early;  they  have  had 
their  times  of  depression  and  times  of  extraordinary  production ; 
they  have  had  their  bonanzas  and  their  barren  levels;  they  have 
been  abandoned  at  one  time  and  energetkally  worked  at  another, 
but  throughout  all  the  ages  they  have  continued  to  be  productive 
'to  the  present  time,  and  without  floubt  will  still  continue  to  play 
ian  important  part  in  the  mining  industries  of  the  world  in  the 
future.  One  thov.sand  years  ago  the  Austrian  miner  descended 
the  same  shaft  which  the  living  descend  to-day ;  for  centuries  to 


*^t.,.. 


.v/.v/xa  rRODLXTio.s  OF  cousriss. 


lality,  coat  in  iimall 
lineral  procluciH  of 
mc  revenue  to  the 

r  in  the  yield  of  the 
le  question  whether 
here  is  to  be  a  still 
analogies  in  silver 
he  idea  of  their  ex- 
ans  can  be  devised 
ible  when  they  are 
below  the  surface, 
;r  from  these  jjreat 
the  lower  levels  is 
wenty  minutes  and 
r  levels  yield  silver 
ices  to  the  ton,  the 
conditions,  may  be 
'  from  fourteen  to 
e  margin  is  clearly 
,  and  must  in  most 

mineral  production 

ccomplished  State 

great  silver  mines 

iods  of  decadence 

nerican  mines  has 

they  have  had 

linary  production ; 

levels ;  they  have 

ivorked  at  another, 

d  to  be  productive 

1  continue  to  play 

the  world  in  the 

miner  descended 

;  for  centuries  to 


I04S 


come,  the  huge  piles  of  waste  rock  will  grow  higher  and  more 
rugged  on  the  Saxon  plains.  Empires  liave  risen  and  fallen ; 
rulers  have  passed  from  history  since  the  mines  of  Mrxico  and 
South  America  began  to  be  worked  ;  twenty  centuries  have  nut 
exhausted  the  mineral  wealth  of  Spain.  Reasoning  from  these 
facts,  it  is  safe  to  conclude  diat  the  ir<nes  of  Nevada  are  far  from 
being  worked  out.  When  the  character  of  our  mines  is  com- 
pared with  those  of  other  countries,  the  product  is  found  to  b« 
small,  and  considering  the  extent  of  territory  as  yet  undeveloped, 
the  amount  of  prospecting  done  has  not  been  great.  But  when 
a  larger  population  shall  have  permanently  settled  here ;  when 
men  shall  be  satisfied  widi  smaller  gains,  and  capital  shall  be 
more  interested  in  the  work,  then  grander  and  more  remunera- 
tive results  may  be  expected  tlian  any  which  have  yet  been  ob- 
tained. The  new  level  opened  by  the  Sutro  Tunnel  insures  the 
working  of  the  Comstock  lode  for  an  indefinite  period  in  the 
future,  and  although  the  results  have  not  tlius  far  equalled  expec- 
tations, yet  there  is  sufficient  encouragement  to  continued  perse- 
verance in  this  greatest  enterprise  of  modern  mining,  and  that 
perseverance  cannot  long  fail  to  reap  an  ample  reward." 

Mining  Industry. — Twelve  of  the  fourteen  coundcs  of  Nevada 
have  or  have  had  mines  of  considerable  importance.  We  will 
review  them  briefly  in  alphabetical  order,  showing  the  number  of 
the  mines  and  the  product  from  them  in  1877  ^"^  1878,  the  latest 
detailed  report  we  have  been  able  to  obtain :  s<'  i:>    >>A 

Elko  county  had,  in  1877,  seven  mines,  and  in  addition  an  estab- 
lishment where  the  tailings  of  the  Leopard  mine  were  worked 
over,  yielding  in  that  year  $24,799.  The  entir6  yield  of  these 
mines  in  1877  was  $1,075,968.86.  In  1878  but  two  mines  of  the 
seven  were  worked,  but  three  new  ones  had  been  opened,  and 
the  yield  for  three-quarters  of  the  year  was  %g^  i  ,9 1 8.94,  indicati  ng 
for  the  entire  year  a  considerably  larger  yield  from  the  five  mines 
than  from  the  whole  seven  the  previous  year,  although  four  of 
the  five  had  only  been  worked  for  sue  months.  The  total  yield 
of  Elko  county  from  1871  to  1878,  inclusive,  was  about  $5,- 
000,000. 

Esmtralda  county  had,  in  1877.  twenty-four  mines  and  mininjj 


-.•A»*l«ll*ft«*«»^**»*-'»S*«1»  *»*•«'■•■■'«>  • 


f 


1044 


OVIt    WKSTRKS  KMrtKR 


entablishments.  a  part  of  which  were  merely  from  the  sale  or 
trannfer  of  mineA.  Thr«,r  yielded  that  year  $1,508,491.69.  more 
than  four-fifth*  being  the  production  of  a  lingh*  mine — the  North- 
ern Belle.  In  1878  tlie  number  of  mincn  in  of)eration  had  been 
reduced  to  sixteen.  Thr  Northern  Belle  was  still  the  leading 
mine,  but  its  production  had  fallen  off  largely,  being  only  1*236,- 
373  for  thrcequartersof  the  year  against  1^1.250.757  the  previous 
ye;  r.  The  total  production  of  all  the  mines  for  thrc»!  quarters 
of  1878  was  $469,775.  The  total  production  of  Ktmeralda  county 
from  1871  to  October  ist,  1878,  was  about  $5,400,000.  r  fi     ,    > 

Eureka  county  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  mining  countfes 
of  the  State.  It  had  in  1877  between  seventy-five  and  eighty 
mines,  some  of  them  of  great  extent  and  productiveness,  among 
them  the  Eureka  Consolidated,  the  K.  K.  Consolidated,  the 
Richmond  and  the  Richmond  Consolidated.  These  four  mines 
yielded,  in  1877,  somewhat  more  than  $3,500,000  out  of  a  total 
of  $3,898,878.65  for  the  whole  county.  Of  this  la-ge  amount 
the  Eureka  Consolidated  produced  about  one-half.  In  1878  the 
number  of  mines  had  been  reduced  to  fifty-two,  though  including 
eleven  or  twelve  new  mines.  The  Richmond  was  merged  in 
the  Richmond  Consolidated,  and  this  and  the  Eureka  Consolidated 
produced  eight-ninths  of  the  whole  amount  raised  in  the  county. 
This  amount  for  the  three  quarters  to  October  i,  1878,  was 
f  4,503,268,  of  which  Eureka  Consolidated  produced  $2,295,344  and 
Richmond  Consolidated  $1,722,689.  The  only  other  mine  which 
reported  a  moderately  large  yield  was  the  K.  K.  Consolidated, 
'which  produced  $165,532.  No  mines  reported  from  Eureka 
county  till  1873,  but  between  that  year  and  October,  1878,  the 
total  product  was,  in  round  numbers,  $1  $,700,000. 
'  HumboMl  county  has  never  been  extensively  engaged  in  mining. 
In  1877  it  reported  but  three  mines,  and  in  1878  but  two.  The 
Rye  Patch  is  the  largest.  Th6  production  ©t  1877  was  $307,224, 
and  for  the  three  quarters  of  1878,  $176,403.  The  total  pro- 
duction of  this  county  from  1871  till  October,  1878,  was  about 
f3,6oo»ooo. 

Lander  county  had,  in    1877,  eighteen  or  twenty  mines,  only 
one  <A  which — the  Manhattan  mine-^produced  largely.  The  total 


MJNMa  moOVCTtCN  Of  COVNT/KS. 


I04J 


)m  the  sale  or 
18,491.69,  more 
nc — the  North- 
ation  had  b<!rn 
till  the  leading 
ing  only  $236,- 
57  the  previous 
thrc«!  quarter' 
mcralda  county 

),OCX).        M'.'    ;-  I 

nining  countfes 
ivc  and  eighty 
iveness,  among 
nftoiidatcd,  the 
lesc  four  mines 
D  out  of  a  total 

la'ge  amount 
r.  In  1878  the 
iougli  including 
vas  merged  in 
:a  Consolidated 
i  in  the  county. 
ir  1,  1878,  was 
I  Ji2, 295,344  and 
her  mine  which 
[.  Consolidated, 

from  Eureka 
:ober,  1878,  the 

;aged  in  mining. 
but  two.  The 
7  was  $307,224, 
The  total  pro- 
878,  was  about 

nty  mines,  oirfy 
g^eiy.   The  total 


pfo^nrtton  or  th**  county  was  $59.5.^29.  of  which  the  Manhattan 
wine  yirldrd  f,\\  1,066.  In  1H7K  ihrre  wrrr  nin«'le«'n  mines,  of 
which  nintortm  wtr»-  nrw.  Thr  prodiu  tion  lor  thr»T  cjuartrrsof 
the  year  was  $500,782,  of  which  ^1372,085  was  from  the  Manhattan. 
Thr  entire  production  f)f  Lander  county  from  1871  to  October, 
1878,  was  $9,380,000,  the  product  of  the  earlier  years  being  much 
greater  than  of  tlu:  later  ones. 

Lincoln  couMiy  had,  in  1S77.  twenty-six  mines,  yielding  $556,- 
095;  the  largt  st  Ixjing  tho  Raymond  and  F'ly,  which  with  its  tail- 
ings prmluced  $329,816,  or  nrarly  thrcr-fifths  of  the  whole; 
the  Mtiulow  ValU;y  and  the  Alps,  which  together  yielded 
$159,162.  In  1878  there  were  but  hineteen  mines  in  operation, 
of  which  eight  were  new ;  these  >  iolded  in  the  three  (piarters  of 
187S  reported,  $460,5 24, of  which  $1  20,605  were  produced  by  the 
Raymond  and  Kly,  and  $79,000  by  the  Meadow  Valley,  while  the 
Day,  Techatticup  and  Alps  showed  much  promise  for  tlie  future. 
The  total  amount  of  bullion  produc<'d  by  Lincoln  county  from 
1871  to  October,  1878,  was  about  $18,250,000,  the  earlier. yean 
having  been  much  more  productive  dian  the  later  ones.  ' 

LyoH  county  had,  in  1877,  ^^n  or  a  doren  mines  and  mills,  none 
of  them  yielding  a  very  large  amount.  The  total  for  the  year 
was  $406,017.  In  1878  there  were  nine  mills  and  mines,  most 
of  them  mills,  much  of  the  ore  from  the  Comstock  lodes  being  re- 
duced in  thi  county.  The  Sutro  Tunnel  has  its  entrance  in  this 
county.  The  production  for  the  three  quarters  of  1878  was 
$471,643,  of  which  $269,394  was  reported  by  the  Lyon  Mill  and 
Mining  Company  and  the  Woodworth  Mill.  The  total  produc- 
tion of  Lyon  county  from  1871  to  October,  1878,  was  about  $4,- 

255,000.  '^'t     ,<:,:.'!.'.  u.,     'I         ■,•'-'    •'-!     n       '     1''    '        «-.    >     ^    >    '  './ 

Nye  county  had,  in  1877,  twenty-two  or  twenty-three  mines, 
yielding  in  all  $842,584,  of  which  two  mines,  the  Q.  G.  and\ 
Bunk'T  Hill  and  the  Tybo  Consolidated,  yielded  $642,504,  or 
more  than  three-fourths.  In  1878  there  were  but  seven  mines 
in  operation,  producing  for  the  three  quarters  $770,088,  of  which 
the  Tybo  Consolidated  yielded  $447,780,  and  the  Alexander 
Mining  Company  $1 14,100.  The  Illinois  produced  $80,345.  The 
total  product  of  the  mines  of  Nye  c*  unty  from  1871  to  October, 
1878,  was  $5,527,000. 


IV 


1046  OUM   WKSTKHH  MM^ilfK. 

.1  OnttshY  fflunly  had  no  record  a»  a  mininf;  county  until  iRjfl, 
and  then  rathrr  for  its  millH,  whirh  rcducfd  or(*<i  from  other  coun- 
ticH,  than  tor  any  inin«-H  ol  itn  own.  lu  prmhic-t  in  the  three 
quartern  of  1S7H  rt:|x>rted  wa*  $53,666,  all  gleaned  from  the 
(Ailin^H  of  one  null. 

Stony  (ounly  in  the  jfreat  mining  county  of  Nevada,  the  minci 
of  the  Comntock  UkIc  \w\x\^  wholly  within  its  tH)undK.  I'wrtve 
of  iheHc  were  in  oprr.ition  in  1877,  the  lar^^rst  W\v\^  the  Cali- 
fornia, Consolidated  Vir^'inia,  JuHtice.  Chollar-Potoni,  Uelchcr 
and  Ophir.  The  product  of  the  twelve  mines  in  1877  was  %\i,- 
06a,3S3>  of  which  the  California  yielded  1118,913,843,  n  little 
more  than  one-half;  the  Consolidated  Virfj^inia,  1(113,735,751,  or 
more  than  one-third,  and  the  Justice,  $3,339,057.  The  tailings 
Irom  these  mines  yielded  $770,716  in  tluit  year.  In  1878  only 
nine  of  the  mines  were  operated,  and  for  the  three  quarters  of 
that  year  the  production  had  fallen  off  to  $17,989,636,  of  which 
$7,590,658  was  from  the  Consolidated  Virginia,  and  $8,343,177 
irom  the  California,  or  $15,833,835  from  the  two — fifteen-seven- 
teenths of  the  whole.  The  tailin)^'s  amounted  to  $576,109.  The 
total  production  for  the  year  was  $31,395,030,  and  that  of  1879 
only  $8,830,563,  a  material  fallinfr  off.  The  total  production  of 
Storey  county  in  seven  and  three-quarter  years,  1871  to  October, 
1878,  was  $186,853,849,  and  the  total  product  since  the  discovery 
of  the  Comstock  lode  about  $310,000,000. 

Washoe  county,  once  the  seat  of  a  larj^e  number  of  valuable 
•tlvrr  mines,  has  reported  no  minin^r  prodnds  since  1874,  and 
only  $1  ''.464  in  the  three  years,  1873,  1873  and  1874.  There 
is,  however,  a  prospect  that  its  mines  may  a);ain  be  put  in  opera- 
tion, and  that  with  new  processes  and  prudent  and  successful 
mana)^em(!nt,  it  will  again  yield  liberal  returns.    ^  '/ 

1^  White  Pine  county. — This  was  one  of  the  counties  which  was 
regarded  as  containing  .some  remarkable  bonanzas,  and  in  1869 
and  1870  was  spoken  of  as  likely  to  rival  Storey  county.  Its 
yield  of  the  precious  metals  at  first  was  very  fair,  but  for  some 
years  past  has  been  steadily  declining.  From  the  first  discovery 
of  silver  there,  early  in  1868,  to  1880.  the  entire  production  has 
been,  in  round  numbers,  $9,700,000,  but  it  wan  nearly  double  in 


foiinty  iintil  i«7f|, 
"♦  Jrom  cither  couiw 
Kluct  in  the  thre« 
Klranrtl  from  the 

VcvacUi.  th«  mines 
Jx>untU.  I'wclve 
i  Jx*in^  thr  C'nii 
ir-l'otoNi,  HrlchcT 
•n  i«77  wan  f_]7,. 
'.9»J.H43.  a    little 

•«.  l^»3735.75i.  or 
57-      The  tailin{(t 
r.     In  187H  only 
three  quartern  of 
?«9.636.  of  which 
^.  and  ^8.242. 1 77 
o— fifteen-seven  • 
•$576,109.     The 
»nd  that  of  1879 
al  production  of 
'«7>  to  October. 
Jcc  the  discovery 

fiber  of  valuable 

since  1874,  and 

If'  1874-     There 

be  put  in  opera- 

and  successful 

nties  which  was 
Jas,  and  in  1869 
•ey  county.  Itn 
ir,  but  for  some 
5  first  discovery 
production  ban 
early  double  iti 


MISISQ  rM0D(Xr/ON  Oif  CQVSrtMS, 


104; 


1868,  1869.  1870  and  1871  what  it  hun  liccn  in  any  year  iiince* 
In  1H77,  with  ncventecn  minen  in  operation,  it  priKluccd  only 
1408,493.  In  1H78,  in  the  firKt  three  (|uarti:rN  ol  the  year,  eleven 
min'-H  produced  1(1440,454,  of  whiih  ||37 5.699  came  from  two 
mincH,  the  Star  and  the  i'aymanter.  Ttiere  wore  in  Nevada  at 
the  (l(>«<-  of  187H,  153  milieu  in  operation,  and  probably  more 
titan  twice  that  number  on  which  work  wuh  MUHprnded  t(-rit|N)* 
rarily  uuil  |K)H!iibly  permanently.  The  prfHhution  of  ^'old  and 
lilvcr  in  the  State  for  that  year  was  $35. 18 1,949.  Tor  the  year 
1879  it  had  fallen  off  to  1(31,997,714,  and  the  indications  are  that 
in  1880  there  has  not  been  any  material  recovery.  The  proiluc* 
tion  of  ^'old  and  nilvcr  in  the  State  kince  1853  considerably  ex- 
ceeds $430,000,000— a  vaiit  result  to  be  accomplished  by  so  small 
a  population. 

The  Sutro  Tunnel,  though  its  entrance  is  in  Lyon  county,  was 
constructed  to  drain  the  mines  on  the  Comstock  lode.  It  is  over 
four  miles  in  length,  and  follows  the  ramifications  of  the  principal 
mines,  which  't  will  drr.in  to  the  depth  of  about  a,cx)o  feet,  and 
the  deepest  mines  will  only  have  to  pump  their  surplus  water 
from  1,000  to  i,300  feet  to  have  it  drawn  off  by  this  channel. 
The  tunnel  also  contains  railroad  tracks  to  facilitate  the  removal 
of  ores  from  the  mines.  Its  cost  was  about  $6,000,000.  The 
Tunnel  Company  own  some  mines  on  this  lode.  While  its  sue* 
cuss  has  not  thus  far  been  so  great  as  was  hoped,  it  must  event* 
ually  greatly  enhance  the  value  of  the  mining  property  connected 
with  the  Cumstock  lode.  ,     .  m 

Zoiilo^y. — The  wild  animals  of  Nevada  are  those  of  California, 
except  those  which  find  their  homes  in  the  sea  or  along  the  shores 
of  the  Pacific.  The  grizzly  bear  is  the  monarch  of  the  forest,  and 
the  black  and  the  Mexican  bear  are  sufificiendy  numerous ;  the 
cougar  or  panther,  the  wild  cat.  the  gray  wolf  and  the  whole 
marten  tribe,  the  lynx,  skunk  and  raccoon  are  abundant.  Of 
game  animals,  the  elk,  two  species  of  deer,  and  possibly  the 
moose,  though  that  animal  is  very  raire,  Rocky  Mountain  sheep 
or  big  horn  ;  rabbits,  squirrels,  the  sewellel,  the  gopher  and  other 
rodents  are  so  numerous  as  to  give  annoyance.  Birds  of  prey, 
song  birds  and  game  birds  are  plentiful.    Reptiles  are  of  the 


.-^^fe-jiriteffifc%»*fi|i 


.  ->! 


*i 


If^  OUH    WESTERN  EAIPIRE. 

same  genera  and  species  as  in  California.  Trout  and  salmon 
trout  arc  found  in  tlie  larger  lakes,  but  the  smaller  lakes  are  too 
alkaline  for  fish.     Southern  Nevada  has  few  animals. 

Agricultural  FH'oduciums. — While  Nevada  is  essentially  a 
mining  State,  and  contains  but  a  comparatively  small  proportion 
of  arable  land,  she  can,  by  the  aid  of  irrigation,  raise  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  cereals,  root  crops,  etc.,  to  supply  her  small  popula- 
tion, and  by  curning  attention  to  stock-raising  soon  export  many 
thousand  head  of  cattle. 

The  soil  of  the  State  is  generally  a  loam,  most  fertile  where 
the  underlying  rock  is  limestone,  but  nearly  everywhere  sufH- 
ciently  so  to  reward  the  labors  of  the  husbandman,  where  water 
can  be  obtained  for  the  purposes  of  irrigation.  The  immense 
stretches  of  barren  wastes  so  often  seen  are  only  bO  because  of 
the  want  of  moistening  showers  of  rain,  and  streams  suf^ciently 
numerous  to  supply  the  demands  for  agriculture.  As  a  large 
proportion  of  the  land  is  much  better  adapted  to  grazing  than  to 
tillage,  much  attention  has  been  given  to  the  raising  of  live-stock, 
and  the  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and  goats  bred  here  are  of  excellent 
quality.  The  winter  feed,  consisting  of  bunch-grass  and  white 
sage,  furnishes  the  best  of  sustenance  for  stock,  so  that,  with  rare 
exceptions,  is  any  provision  made  or  stores  of  fodder  laid  up  for 
winter  use.  During  the  summer  months  the  pasturage  in  the 
vicinity  of  springs,  brooks  and  creeks  on  mountain  sides  and  in 
the  caAons  supplies  the  feed,  but  when  winter  comes,  the  herds 
and  flocks  feed  miles  away  from  water  in  the  valleys.  The  north- 
ern and  eastern  sections  of  the  State  are  the  best  adapted  for 
grazing.  Many  of  the  loftiest  mountains  are  covered  with  a  spe- 
cies of  bunch-grass  peculiar  to  those  localities.  The  table-lands 
and  dry  valleys  in  many  pnaces  are  covered  with  the  white  sage, 
which  makes  the  best  of  winter  feed  for  stock.  When  growing  in 
tbe  spring  and  summer,  this  sage  is  bitter  and  hot  eaten,  but 
when  the  frosts  uf  fall  and  winter  come  it  is  tender,  sweet  and 
nutritious,  and  better  liked  by  stock  than  other  kinds  of  feed.  So 
extensive  has  the  business  of  stock-raising  become  that  now  the 
supply  far  exceeds  the  wants  of  the  population,  and  thousands  of 
steera  and  beef  catde  arc  yearly  shipped  by  railroad  to  the  marj^ets 


....wfca*^^... 


VARIED  PRODUCTS  OF  SOUrilRRN  VALl.HYS. 


1049 


rout  and  salmon 
Her  lakes  are  too 
imals. 

is  essentially  a 
small  proportion 

raise  a  sufficient 
ler  small  popula- 
oon  export  many 

ost  fertile  where 
iverywhere  suffi- 
lan,  where  water 
.    The  immense 
ly  so  because  of 
cams  sufficiently 
ire.     As  a  large 
)  grazing  thian  to 
ing  of  live-stock, 
!  are  of  excellent 
■grass  and  white 
io  that,  with  rare 
)dder  laid  up  for 
)asturage  in  the 
ain  sides  and  in 
omes,  the  herds 
2ys.    The  north- 
>est  adapted  for 
ered  with  a  spe- 
The  table-lands 
I  the  white  sage, 
/^hen  growing  in 
I  hot  eaten,  but 
ider,  sweet  and 
nds  of  feed.    So 
ne  that  now  the 
id  thousands  of 
d  to  the  marj^et9. 


of  Calilbrnit.  The  agricultural  lands  of  the  State  are  small  in 
proportion  to  the  area,  though  in  all  of  the  valleys  where  are 
found  streams  of  water  large  tracts  of  land  are  brought  under 
cultivation,  and  the  crops  produced  are  very  superior  in  character. 
The  best  of  these  arable  lands  are  found  in  Carson,  Eagle,  Mason, 
Wa«ihoe,  Truckee,  Humboldt,  Reese  River,  Owyhee,  Lamoille, 
Ruby,  Steptoe,  Spring,  White  River,  Snake,  Panaca,  Pahranagat, 
Paradise,  Muddy  and  Los  Vegas  Valleys.  There  are  hundreds 
of  other  smaller  valleys,  and  in  many  of  them  the  soil  is  quite  as 
productive,  though  less  water  is  found;  and  there  is  no  la'^.I  ''n 
the  State  but  what  is  benefited,  for  agriculture,  by  irrigati'  u.  ': 
the  northern  and  central  valleys  all  the  grains,  vegetabl ; .,  and 
fruits  of  a  temperate  climate  are  cultivated  with  success.  In  tne 
southern  valleys  the  proportion  of  fertile  land  is  much  less  than 
in  other  sections  of  the  State,  except  about  springs  and  str*  ams 
of  water.  The  country  is  chiefly  a  desert.  The  scarcity  of  water 
is  a  noticeable  feature,  but  where  there  is  sufficient  for  irrigation, 
us  in  the  Muddy  and  Las  Vegas  Valleys,  the  farmer  is  abundantly 
rewarded  for  his  labor.  Fruit  trees,  embracing  nearly  every  va- 
riety known  in  both  temperate  and  tropical  climates,  are  culti- 
vated. Growing  here  side  by  side  are  seen  the  olive  and  the 
plum,  orange  and  apple,  lemon  and  peach,  fig  and  apricot,  pome- 
granate and  pear,  and  the  walnut  and  pepper.  Grapes  also  grow 
io  perfection.  The  vineyards  produce  as  perfectly  ripened  and 
delicious  grapes  as  the  most  favored  localities  in  California  and 
France.  Cotton  and  sorghum  have  been  cultivated  quite  ex- 
tensively; one  acre  of  land  yielding  as  much  as  a  thousand 
pounds  of  the  former.  Melons,  squashes  and  beans  also  grow 
abundantly,  as  well  as  corn  and  all  the  smaller  grains.  Some  of 
the  hardier  vegetables,  as  potatoes,  do  not  thrive  so  well.  Two 
crops  are  raised  yearly  on  the  same  laftd.  It  js  first  sown  in 
small  grains,  as  wheat,  hurley,  rye  and  oats,  whicli  are  harvested 
about  the  first  of  June.  It  is  then  planted  in  corn,  beans,  pota- 
toes, beets,  cabbage,  onions,  squashes,  melons  and  all  other  vari- 
eties of  garden  vegetables.  The  mezquit  bushes,  which  grow  in 
some  of  these  southern  valleys,  furnish  a  very  nutritious  bean, 
which  all  animals  feed  upon  as  50on  as  the  grasses  die  in  the  fall. 


:^^|^-«■iW-i:-«^i4'^^B&J^V-«.t^V>a»..^_^  .  -L  i-tPLi.  f ■,iV.<,-.-'.--.'.^.'>j«    "■■ 


I05O 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


'm 


Stock  keep  as  fat  upon  this  feed  during  the  winter  months  as 
though  fed  upon  hay  and  grain. 

The  tables  on  page  105 1  give  the  latest  reports  yet  published  of 
the  crops  and  live-stock  of  Nevada — the  returns  of  1877  and  1 878. 
The  Legislature  has  only  biennial  sessions,  and  the  reports  of  the 
assessors  and  auditor  are  only  made  biennially.  The  amount  of 
arable  land  enclosed  or  reported  as  in  farms,  was,  in  1877,  152,- 
810  acres,  and  in  1878, 1 58,097  acres;  only  one  four-hundred-and- 
fifty-fourth  part  of  the  area  of  the  State  ;  and  of  this  small  terri- 
tory— less  than  seven  townships — only  75,743  acres  in  1877,  and 
76,358,  or  not  quite  one-half,  was  under  cultivation.  It  should  be 
said,  however,  that  there  is  no  official  record  of  the  lands  used 
for  grazing  purposes,  and  that  a  moderate  portion  of  these  is 
also  under  cultivation.*    '  ^        f 

Manufacturing  Industry. — ^The  fluctuations  in  the  population 
and  the  mining  industry  of  Nevada  make  it  exceedingly  difficult 
to  determine  the  amount  of  manufacturing  in  the  State  at  any 
given  period.  Th<;  annual  product  of  its  manufacturing  establish- 
ments in  1870  was  reported  at  $15,870,839.  We  doubt  whether  it 
is  as  much  as  that  now,  though  at  some  periods  during  the 
decade  the  amount  may  have  been  twice  as  much.  ' 

There  were  in  1878  fifteen  grist  or  flouring  mills  reported  in 
the  State,  which  were  said  to  have  produced  5,000  barrels  of 
flour  (all  from  Washoe  county,  though  only  one  mill  was  reported 
from  that  county,  the  other  fourteen  being  situated  in  other 
counties,  and  the  same  mill  ground  1,500  bushels  of  corn,  all 


*  The  State  Surveyor-General  in  1879  makes  the  following  approximate  estimate  of  the  area 
of  available  lands  in  Nevada.  It  is,  of  course,  only  an  approximation,  and  may  eventually 
prove  to  be  some  millions  of  acres  out  of  the  way : 

Approximate  area  of  agricultural  land 1,067,653  acres. 

"        "        "        grazing  land 9,708,060  acres. 

"        "        "        timbered  land 1^1410  acres. 

Mineral  lands 1,261,600  acres.    ;, ; 

■::\  I      Total  of  available  lands  now  known 13,938,723  acres.     ir\ j 

This  is  a  little  less  than  one-fifth  of  the  entire  area  of  the  State ;  but  it  must  not  be  hnKtily 
concluded  that  four-fifths  of  Nevada  is  a  desert.  There  is  undoubtedly  a  larger  amount  of  una- 
vailable land  in  the  State  than  in  any  other  State  of  "  Our  Western  Empire ;  "  but  there  will 
eventually  be  found  to  be  thirty  or  forty  million  acres  which  can  be  made  valuable.        '     -'  '* 


printer  months  as 

s  yet  published  of 
of  1877  and  '878. 
the  reports  of  the 
The  amount  of 
as,  in  1877,  152,. 
>ur-hundred-and- 
f  this  small  terri- 
cres  in  1877,  and 
3n.  It  should  be 
f  the  lands  used 
>rtion  of  these  is 

in  the  population 
eedingly  difficult 
the  State  at  any 
during  establish- 
doubt  whether  it 
•iods  during  the 
h. 

nills  reported  in 
5,000  barrels  of 
nill  was  reported 
ituated  in  other 
hels  of  corn,  all 

late  eitimate  of  the  area 
on,  and  may  eventually 

r 
1,067,653  acres. 
9,708,060  acres. 
1^1,410  acrea. 
1,361,600  acres. 


> 3.938,723  wres. 

:  it  must  not  be  h.iKtily 
a  larger  amount  of  una- 
mpire ;  "  but  there  will 
e  valuable. 


AGRICULTURAL  PRODUCTIONS  AND  LIVESTOCK. 
Agricultural  Productions. 


105 1 


Kind  of  crop. 


Wheat,  bushels. 
Barley,  "  . 
Oats,  "     . 

Rye,  "     . 

Corn,  "    . 

Buckwheat, "  . 
Peas,  "     . 

!  Beans,  "  . 
Potatoes,  "  . 
Cabbage,  tons.. 
Hay,  '•     . 

Hops, 
Betts, 
Turnips, 

Butter,  pounds 

Cheese,       "    

Wool,  "     

Grape  vines,  number. 

Wine,  gallons 

Honc/,  pounds 


<< 


Animals. 


1877. 


1878. 


Acres. 


8,444 

33.421 

7.233 
109 

449 
II 

34 

46 

4,60a 

114 

90.915 


Acres. 


8,268 
24,267 

6.739 
166 

4.23s 
»3 

18 

43 

3.575 
117 

9^344 


1877. 


1878. 


Bushels, 
tons  or 
pounds. 


Bushels, 
tons  or 
pounds. 


104,603 

546,774 
181,288 

3.035 
10,696 

»S7 

505 
1.032 

345.900 
459 

105,727 
150 
306 

313 

326,015 
33.900 

577.216 

82,959 
3,010 

»5.875 


'30,999 
544.059 
98,300* 
3.060* 

",945 

•65 

445 

1.03s 

383.397 

421.5 
107,698 

150 
196 
3o6 

337.935 
36,900 

636,807 

102,450 

2,115 
16,680 


Live-Stock. 


Horses 

Mules 

Asses 

Milch  c    ws 

Oxen  and  other  cattle. 

Bulls 

Sheep  and  lambs 

Angora  and  Cashmere  goats 

Hogs 

Chickens 

Turkeys 

Geese 

Ducks 

Hives  of  bees 


Total  values. 


1877. 

1878. 

Number. 

Number. 

39,563 

3^.496 

3.782 

7,646 

»73 

175 

46,879 

50,951 

98,849 

173.840 

1, 068 

1,032 

198,911 

311,173 

4,346 

6,698 

5.537 

6,080 

54.170 

56,830 

S."7 

5,040 

1,532 

i.S'o 

3.997 

4,483 

1.053 

1,150 

1877. 


1878. 


Value. 


11,478,000.00 

347,154.00 

13,110.00 

1,078,217.00 

1,878,131.00 

64,080.00 

397,822.00 

43,460.00 

16,611.00 

31,668.00 

7,690.00 

1,369.80 

3,998.00 

10,530.00 


$5,307,970.80 


Value. 


>i, 573,480.00 

499,666.00 

13,350.00 

1,171,873.00 

3,476,800.00 

61,930.00 

443.46300 

73,678.00 

19,760.00 

38,410.00 

7,560.00 

1,35900 

3.362.25 

11,900.00 


17,394,491 -35 


•  Assessor's  report,  evidently  incomplete. 


; ^ JtWsiWdOKMtWB'- a: *W'«^?;-l«£H-;i(  »f<.s*Jtws«{S*wi,  %a-ik.Aii' -ft;0--<Vi .  n rff  iV'-rf;  .V  Jia^ii****.'; ' 


IQ5S 


OUJt  WE&TSKN  EMPIRE. 


W 


that  was  reported,  and  50,000  bushels  of  barley);  55,000  busheh 
of  barley  were  ground  in  other  counties.  This  was  a  falling  off 
from  the  production  of  the  previous  year,  but  this  may  be  due  to 
the  fact  that  the  assessors  in  most  of  the  counties  neglected  to 
report.  There  were  twenty-seven  saw  mills  reported  ;  a  part  of 
these  sawed  27,490,000  feet  of  lumber,  and  made  100,000 
shingles.  There  were  eight  planing  and  framing  mills.  There 
were  119  quartz  stamp  mills  in  operation,  six  less  than  the 
previous  year,  and  they  crushed  659,534  tons  of  quartz,  almost 
300,000  tons  less  than  the  year  before ;  there  were  thirty-four 
smelting  furnaces,  which  smelted  154,651  tons  of  ore,  about 
70,000  tons  more  than  the  previous  year.  Seven  pan  mills  worked 
over  83,563  tons  of  tailings.  Six  borax  mills  were  operated,  but 
how  much  they  produced  is  not  told.  The  other  manufactures 
are  not  reported,  and  we  have  no  key  to  the  value  of  the 
production  of  these.  There  were  seventeen  mining  ditches  in 
operation,  having  a  total  length  of  fifty-seven  miles,  and  eight  of 
them  used  484  miner's  inches  of  water  daily.  There  were  407 
irrigatinor  ditches,  having  a  total  length  of  1,491  miles,  and 
irrigating  128,004  acres  of  land.  There  were  also  six  wood 
flumes,  fifty-three  miles  in  length,  and  75,000  cords  of  wood  were 
flumed  through  them. 

Railroads. — The  entire  number  of  railroads  in  the  State  was 
fifteen  in  1878.  The  total  length  at  the  close  of  1879  was  about 
685  miles. 

Valttaiion, — The  assessed  valuation  of  real  and  personal 
estate  in  1878  in  the  State,  with  one  county  (Elko)  missing,  were 
$26,018,392,  about  $1,400,000  less  than  that  of  the  previous  year. 
These  amounts  were  absurdly  below  the  real  valuation.  Either 
one  of  the  four  or  five  bonanza  kings  of  the  State  could 
probably  show  an  inventory  exceeding  this  amount,  and  the 
property  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad  in  the  State  alone  is 
probably  worth  considerably  more  than  the  entire  assessed 
valuation  of  all  real  property  in  the  State. 

^  PoptUation. — Nevada  is  not  a  State  of  large  population,  and 
since  1870,  the  number  of  its  inhabitants  has  fluctuated  remark- 
ably.   When  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State,  its  population 


FOPVLATtOK  OF  NEVADA. 


«0J3 


I;  55,coo  bushels 
was  a  falling  ofT 
is  may  be  due  to 
ties  neglected  to 
)orted  ;  a  part  of 
I  made  icxd.ocx) 
ng  mills.  There 
ix  less  than  the 
>f  quartz,  almost 
were  thirty-four 
5  of  ore,  about 
}an  mills  worked 
:re  operated,  but 
er  manufactures 
le  value  of  the 
lining  ditches  in 
les,  and  eight  of 
There  were  407 
,491  miles,  and 
I  also  six  wood 
ds  of  wood  were 

in  the  State  was 
1879  was  about 

.1  and  personal 
o)  missing,  were 
le  previous  year, 
.luation.  Either 
he  State  could 
mount,  and  the 
\  State  alone  is 
entire  assessed 

population,  ;^nd 
ctuated  remark- 
:,  its  population 


was  far  below  the  usual  requirement,  and  indeed  has  never  yet 
attained  to  it.  The  almost  exclusive  devotion  of  the  inhabitants 
to  mining  enterprises,  and  the  fact  that  many  of  th(.'sc  were; 
managed  by  foreign  companies,  and  the  employes  were  very 
few  of  them  citizens,  has  aidtd  in  keeping  the  population  at  a 
low  figure.  The  following  table  gives  the  particulars  of  the 
population  so  far  as  they  are  attainable : 


6.157 
5»,7J4» 

««.34« 


«.«37 
3».359t 
37.54«T 


4«i<»"3 


730   e,Hij    4j 

lo.iiaf  I  38,059  3,J09t 
"4.999T  4''.'»7   4.4131 


■o,aS> 


S3.S74 


S«U 


>«.»43 

8,000 
7,000 


» 


4^3 

»3.*90 


J6.61J 


■,o£4i  o.oA 

o»t 

OS* 
<».4» 


»».«4« 


5>9«7 

17,11 

■•03 

00.06 

7-JI 


i. 


\% 

9.4«$ 
.•74 


SI 


5.149 

J4,7«a 


i 


»i 


$.«99 
10,936 
99,780 
3u.8«3f 
3 '.4941 


Indian  Reservations, — ^The  Indian  reservations  amount  t<i» 
897,815  acres,  but  only  a  very  small  part  of  this  consists  of 
arable  lands. 

Counties  and  Cities. — There  are  fourteen  organized  counties  in 
Nevada,  viz.:  Churchill,  Douglas,  Elko,  Esmeralda,  Eureka, 
Humboldt,  Lander,  Lincoln,  Lyon,  Nye,  Ormsby,  Storey,  Washw; 
and  White  Pine ;  of  these  Storey  county,  in  which  is  situated  the 
Comstock  lode,  is  much  the  largest;  of  the  others  only  Eurekn 
and  Ormsby  exceed  5,000  inhabitants.  The  principal  cities 
and  towns  are  Virginia  City,  which  has  13,705  inhabitants; 
Gold  Hill  and  Hamilton,  mining  towns,  with  4,000  or  5,000  each; 
Carson  City,  the  capital,  with  about  4,000;  Treasure  City,  Elko, 
Reno  and  Pioche,  with  from  1,500  to  2,000  each.  -     ' 

Education, — ^The  State  has  a  moderate  school  fund  from  th* 
sale  of  school  lands,  and  the  provision  for  public  school  education 
is  very  good.     Her  fund  will  increase  witJi  the  growth  of  th6 


*Inclu(U*(  tfitwl  Indiara.  f  Bxcludinc  tribal  Indiam.  t  Ineladn  3,15*  Ctiincse.  {lacludei  3,919  ChiiMit. 
fThe  number  of  r^gintered  voten  in  1877  wu  17,761,  and  in  1878  17,166,  ahowing  that  a  brgc  number  uf  tiMM* 
•f  raliiV  age  tven  aticas. 


■  .vfca»i*Wrf:Vt»««':*^M^'''*,Kstf»*"j*«;>,i->t^Vi^J%#«^?W-Sir*.i-^iKifcf^  si-'  -lii^i-  ■^^;^'?i 


!-A 


■J 


i::n 


1054  OL'Jt    lyKSlf.KN  SMPIXB. 

State.     In  the  cities  and  towns,  the  schools  are  well  maintained. 
Among  the'  scattered  population  of  the  newer  nuninjj  districts 
and    the    {^razing  lands   there   is    more   difficulty.     The   only 
institution  for  higher  education  is  the  State  University,  which  has 
not  yet  organized  anything  beyond  its  preparatory  department.  ' 
Religious  Denominations. — In  1874  there  were  in  Nevada,  as 
reported,  forty-four  church  organizations  of  all  denominations, 
thirty-two   church   edifices,   thirty-seven    clergymen,   priests   or 
ministers,  1,132  communicants,  10,300  adherent  population,  and 
$301,450  of  church  property.     Of  these  the  Roman  Catholics 
claimed  thirteen  church  organizations,  though  but  seven  church 
edifices  and  six  priests.     They  numbered  all  the  adherents  of 
their  church  as  Catholic  population,  and  reported  them  as  5,000. 
Their   church    edifices  were    the    best    buildings  of  the   kind 
in  the  State,  and  were  valued  at  $134,000,  probably  considerably 
less  than  their  actual  worth.     The  Methodists  came  next  with 
eleven  church  organizations,  ten  church  edifices,  twelve  ministers, 
496    communicants,    2,500    adherent    population,   and    church 
property   rei)orted   at   $76,250.     There   were    nine   Protestant 
Episcopal  Churches,  six  church  edifices,  nine  clergymen,  and  269 
communicants,  with  $48,000  of  church  property.     Next  in  order 
came  Presbyterians,  with  five  churches,  three  church  edifices, 
three  ministers,  169  members,  and  $21,200  of  church  property. 
The  only  other  denominations  reported  were  the  Baptists,  with 
three    churches,   three    church    edifices,   three   ministers,    and 
$16,000  of  church  property  ;  and  die  Congregationalists,  with  one 
church,  one    church    edifice,   and    one    minister,   with   twelve 
members,  and  $6,000  of  church  property.     Nevada  could  hardly 
be  called  a  very  religious  commonwealth,  when  less  tlian  one- 
fifth  of  its  population  were  even  adherents   to  any  form  of 
religion,  and  only  one-fiftieth  were  actual  communicants.    The 
condition  of  things  is  not  much  better  now.     At  that  date  the 
Mormons  had  begun  to  plant  their  communities,  and  teach  their 
doctrines  in  the  mining  districts,  and  now,  six  years  later,  they 
claim    to  have   the    control  there,  and  we  fear  their  claim  is 
just.    This  faith,  which  is  also  an  authority  or  empire,  is  the  sum 
of  all  abominations,  and  we  cannot  look  at  its  spread  without 


HISTORICAL  DATA  AND  COSXLUSION. 


105  S 


:  well  maintained, 
r  mining  districts 
culty.  The  only 
ivcrsity,  which  has 
tory  departni(  nt.  ' 
:rc  in  Nevada,  as 
11  denominations, 
ymen,  priests  or 
It  population,  and 
Roman  Catholics 
but  seven  church 
the  adherents  of 
ed  them  as  5,000. 
ngs  of  the  kind 
•ably  considerably 
}  came  next  with 
twelve  ministers, 
ion,   and    church 

nine  Protestant 
crgymen,and  269 
'.  Next  in  order 
:  church  edifices, 

church  property. 
:he  Baptists,  with 
:  ministers,  and 
ionalists,  with  one 
ter,  with  twelve 
fada  could  hardly 
:n  less  than  one- 
to  any  form  of 
municants.  The 
At  that  date  the 
3,  and  teach  their 

years  later,  they 
ir  their  claim  is 
mpire,  is  the  sum 
s  spread  without 


horror  and  disgust.  The  prevalence  of  polygamy,  blasphemy 
lust  and  murder  in  a  State  like  Nevada,  would  portend  its 
ruin  wi:rc  its  mines  a  thousand-fold  richer  than  they  are. 

I/isfon'cal  Data. — Nevada  is  a  part  of  the  rcj^ion  acquired 
from  M(;xico  by  the  tr(!aty  of  (iuadaiupe-I  lidalgo  in  I'tbruary, 
1848.  It  was  at  first  a  part  of  California  Territory,  ami  on  the 
admission  of  that  State  into  the  Union,  was  made  a  part  of  Utah 
Territory.  It  was  set  off  as  the  Territory  of  Nevada,  in  March, 
1861,  but  had  not  then  so  large  an  area  as  it  has  now.  A  part 
of  its  present  boundaries  on  the  east  were  fixed  in  1862 ;  it  was 
admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State  in  1864,  and  received  some 
further  accessions  of  territory  in  1866.  It  furnished  its  quota  of 
soldiers  to  the  civil  war,  and  sent  material  aid  to  the  Sanitary 
Commission  to  the  extent  of  $51,000. 

Conclusion. — Nevada  does  not  offer  a  very  promising  field  for 
immigration.  Its  great  mining  operations  are  in  the  hands  of 
wealthy  capitalists,  and  are  not  at  the  present  time  very  promis- 
ing ;  there  are  probably  new  lodes  and  new  placers  which  may 
prove  very  rich ;  but  only  capitalists  will  be  able  to  hold  or  work 
them.  Grazing,  especially  with  herds  of  cattle,  might  prove 
better,  but  it  requires  a  large  capital,  and  Wyoming,  Montana, 
Oregon,  Washington  Territory,  and  perhaps  California,  are  so 
much  better  adapted  to  grazing  as  to  leave  but  small  induce- 
ments to  the  stock-grower  to  start  here.  Farming  in  some  of 
the  fertile  valleys,  or  market  gardening,  would  be  more  feasible, 
for,  with  irrigation,  crops  can  be  raised,  which  will  find  a  good  and 
ready  market  at  home.  But  the  lack'  of  any  patriotic  State 
feeling,  and  the  prevalence  of  Mormonism  throughout  the  State, 
nuike  u  ^  St^te  tQ/yv^9h  immigration  is  not  desirable. 


I        ■  i    .I'-IU     I  "(ID     '     it 

i.      .''       •       •  -It         . :     ft  •      ■  'i;  i'   •• '        ,         •    .i  -■ ,    1 ,1 1 


i.'iSiAi    i/ 


^4^«SSfel»P';J^'^5arfS'^rflW«tx.i»--jC-*^iia^»^      1:*Jl^^4^>^»Wilt■^::^fii*»^*^;^;^li'i?^'ag^!.■^X'^,*  .fii&WSfa'ti  ■;. 


J 


tWf 


toi6 


OUR   WhiThRN  MM^IMJL 


CHAFIER  XVI. 


NEW  MEXICO. 


m 


ToPOORAPHV — notTNDARIM  CrNl.AROr.D  BY  THE  CAnSDITN  TrKATY) — EXTENT 
ANU  AkT.A — MoUNIAINM — KlVRRH  AND  LaKES — (.'l.lMATK — VARIETY  IN  TeM- 
PKRATUHK— Mh.  Z.  I..  WHITE  ON  TIIK.SUMMKK  C.'l.lMAlE  Of  THK  TERRITORY— 

New  Mf.xuo  as  a  Health  Rehorv  .MKTt.oRoix)OY  and  Rainiam.  or  vari- 
ous ToiNTS  IN  THE  Territory— (J EOI.OOY  and  Minkrai.ocy— Mineral 
Wealth  ok  the  Territory — Cold  and  Silver — Other  Metai.s  and  Min- 
BRAiJi— TuRytioisK— Hot  Sprin<;«i — Coal — Biti/minous.  Lr(;NiTE  and  True 
Anthracitk — C!oAt  rouND  in  New  Mexico  or  the  imt  Quality  and  in 
Inexhaustiiile  Quantities — Arahlk  Lands — Their  Quantity  and  Quau'h 
— Native  Ackkulture— Grazing  Lands—New  Mexico  best  Adapted  to 
Sheep-earminu — Number  or  Sheep — Crops  or  1879 — Minino  Industry—- 
Governor  Wailace  on  the  Mining  Districts — The  Gold  and  Silveu 
Production— Objects  or  Interest — Thk  CaSovs  and  Terrible  Dark 
Valleys  and  Caves  or  th«  Territory — The  Seven  CiTir-s  or  Cibola- 

EVIDENCES   or    VoiiCANIC  AcTION— BURIED   CiTlES — AbO    AND    ITS    RuiNS- 

The  Indian  Skeleton  omerwhelmkd  by  Volcanic  Asmes— The  Vast 
Crater — Rock  Cities — The  Pueblo  Pot.  sy — How  it  was  and  is  Mad« 
— The  Zuni  Blankets — MANUrticTUREs — Railroads— Great  Developmeni 
<M»  Railways — Population — ^T**le — Chief-Justice  Pmnce  on  the  Thuek 
Civilizations  Found  There— The  Indian  Trires — The  Pueblos — The 
Apaches — The  Navajoes— Countifji  and  Principal  Towns — Educatiom— 
Rklioion  and  Morals — Historical  Data — Conclusion. 

'New  Mexico  is  ft  central  Territory  of  the  southern  tier  of 
States  and  Territories  of  "Our  Western  Empire."  It  is  a  portion 
of  the  te  rritory  ceded  by  Mexico  by  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe- 
HBcJalgo,  irt  February,  1 848,  and,  previous  to  the  cession,  had 
been  a  State  bf  that  rtipuWie.  ft  WkS  tt-eated  a  Tefftitory  by  Act 
of  Congress,  September  9th,  1850,  but  the  Territorial  government 
was  not  organized  till  March  i,  1851. 

The  Territory  extends  from  103®  to  109"  of  west  longitude 
from  Greenwich,  and  from  31"  20*  to  37®  north  latitude.  It  is 
bounded  by  Colorado  on  the  north,  by  Texas  and  the  Indian 
Territory  on  the  east,  Texas  and  Old  Mexico  on  the  south,  and 
Arizona  on  the  west.  It  is  almost  a  perfect  square,  a  small  tract 
projecting  into   Mexico,  which  was  acquired  by  the  Gadsden 


TOPOGRAHIY  OF  SKW  MEXICO, 


1057 


TmaTY)— EXTKNT 

— Variety  in  Tkm- 

\t  THK    TeKRITORV— 

)  Rainiai.1.  or  vari- 

KRAI.OCV — MiNRRAL 

I  Mktai-s  and  Min- 
Lrc;NiTK  AM)  True 

IT  QUAI.irV    AND    IN 
ENTITY  ANDQuAU'H 

n  nrsT  Adapted  t(i 
iliNiNo  Industry—- 
Gold  and  Silveu 
D  Trrrirlr  Dark 
^iTirs  OF  Cibola- 
I  and  its  Ruins- 
Ashes— The  Vasm 
r  WAS  AND  is  Mad*i 

^REAT  DeVELOPMENI 
NCE    on  THK  Th*«K 

"he   Pueblos — The 
wns — Education — 


outhern  tier  of 
It  is  a  portion 

of  Cuadalupe- 
ne  cession,  had 

ertitory  by  Act 
rial  government 

west  longitude 
latitude.     It  is 

and  the  Indian 
the  south,  and 

re,  a  small  tract 

!  the  Gadsden 


treaty,  in  the  southwest,  Ixring  the  only  departure  from  complete- 
ness in  its  proportions.  This  tract  contains  some  noted  mineral 
springs,  but  otherwise  is  not  at  present  known  to  be  of  much 
value.  The  greatest  length  of  the  Territory  from  north  to  south 
is  390  miles,  and  its  greatest  bn'adtli  from  east  to  west  341  miles. 
Its  area  is  131,201  square  miles,  or  77,568,640  acres. 

Mountain  Chains. —  Thf.  'itiountains  enter  the  Territory  from 
Colorado  in  two  ranges,  the  eastern,  lying  wholly  east  of  the  Rio 
(ir.nde,  being  a  continuation  of  the  Sangre  de  Cristo,  or  Park 
range,  of  Colorado,  and  continuing  below  the  37ih  parallel  under 
the  name  of  tne  Raton  Mountams.  The  whole  range  is  high,  and 
numerous  elevated  summits  and  lofty  peaks,  as  well  as  continuous 
ridges  of  great  height,  are  found  in  its  course;  but  these  termi- 
nate abruptly  a  short  distance  below  Santa  F^,  and  only  an  ele- 
vated  and  somewhat  broken  plateau  remains  of  this  range  from 
that  point  to  the  Texan  boundary.  I'he  other  range,  which 
seems  to  be  a  contii>tiation  of  tlic*  San  Juan  and  Uncompahgre 
Mountains  of  Colorado,  consij^ts  of  mail}  detached  mountains  of 
lower  altitude,  widi  passes  Ir'tween  thi-m  of  only  5,000  or  6,000 
feet  in  height.  They  are  ktK)wn  in  New  Mexico  as  the  Sierra 
Madre,  and  form  the  connecting  link  between  the  lofty  and  rugged 
mountains  of  Western  Colorado  and  tltc  equally  lofty  Sierra 
Madre  of  the  Republic  of  Mexico.  The  various  groups  of  these 
dctach'.'d  mountains  with  ihe  valleys  between  them  fill  up  almost 
the  er  tire  region  west  of  the  Rio  Grande.  Though  the  eastern 
mountains  are  much  the  highest,  yet  here,  as  in  Southern  Colo- 
rado, the  western  and  lower  mountains  form  the  water-shed  be- 
tween the  waters  flowing  to  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans. 
There  are  a  chain  of  hills  of  moderate  elevation  along  the  eastern 
bank  of  the  Rio  Pecos,  which  form  the  boundary  on  the  west  side 
of  the  vast  Llano  Estacado,  or  Staked  Plain. 

Topography. — The  face  of  the  country  is  diversified  by  moun- 
tains, valleys,  plains,  and  high  kvel  plateaux  or  mesas  ;  similarity 
of  climate,  character  and  resources,  pertaining  to  a  large  portion 
of  the  country,  excepting  in  the  highest  ranges  and  lowest  valleys. 
In  portions  of  the  Territory  the  surface  is  much  broken  and  dis- 
rupted by  chains  of  moimtains,  preserving  a  general  direction  of 


•7 


.ii'ji 


■•■yfte^-ii.  e.-jr,';.wtTO*jBe<j«i<»rrBni»i'>«!".'KW" 


F 


IO5I  OUK    WSSTKKX  KMr/A'K. 

north  and  south.  Intervening,  thrre  .irr  large  areas  of  table 
landn,  biHCCtril  by  many  largr  and  Htnall  v.ilN'yH  of  unHurpa^srd 
fertility,  and  suscrptibhr  of  the  hif^^hent  stale  of  cultivation.  Thi* 
valleys  have  a  mean  altitude  above  the  sea  of  4,500  feet,  and  the 
mountains  on  f*ithcr  side  of  the  Kio  d randc  dri  Norte  and  Kio 
Perros  of  6,000  to  8,ooo  feet.  In  the  more  northerly  poi  tionR  of 
th<;  Territory  they  rise  to  10,000  and  1  a.oov*  Ifet. 

Ktv,  rs  and  Lakti. —  rhcivcrsof  New  Mexico  (ontribule  to 
both  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  slopes.  The  eastern  is  watered  and 
dniincd  by  the  Canadian  and  its  tributarif  into  the  Mississippi, 
and  die  Rio  (irandc  del  Norte  and  its  tributaries  into  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico.  The  western  slope  is  watered  and  ilrairied  by  the 
Colorado  of  the  West  and  Rio  Gila,  and  their  tributaries,  into  the 
Gulf  of  California.  'I'he  Rio  Grande  del  Norte  takes  its  rise  iti 
the  hijjh  mountains,  north  of  the  boundaiy  line  of  New  Mexico, 
where  it  is  feil  by  numerous  springs  a  id  the  meltinps  of  the  an- 
nual snows,  and  aiij^mcnted  by  tributaries,  waterinjf  and  draininjj 
a  vast  area  of  some  of  the  finest  farming;  and  jrrazinjr  lands  on 
the  contin  W.  It  flows  south  throuj^h  tl  '•  western  division  of  the 
Territory  i  broad,  beautiful  river  tnrichinfr  with  il^  turbid  water 
a  valkv  more  than  4fK>  miles  lonjj  and  ma  y  miles  iii  breadth — 
one  of  the  moM  wonderful  for  fcrlilii>  and  beauty  in  the  world. 
The  Rio  Pecos,  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  principal  mountains, 
has  its  source  in  the  mountains  near  Santa  Fe,  waterinj;  and 
draining,  through  its  numerous  tributaries,  an  immense  district 
of  country,  and  flowing  through  its  eastern  division  into  Texas, 
through  a  valley  only  second  in  importance  to  that  of  the  Rio 
Grande  del  Norte,  vith  which  it  forms  a  junction  below  the 
southern  boundary.  The  Canadian  river  flows  to  the  east,  and 
through  its  affluents  waters  and  drains  the  entire  northeastern 
part  of  the  country.  The  Rio  San  Juan,  formed  by  the  Rio  Pie- 
dra,  Rio  Los  Pinos,  Rio  Florida,  Riod  Los  Animas,  Rio  Navajo, 
Rio  de  La  Plata  and  other  smaller  streams,  constitutes  one  of  the 
jnost  beautiful  rivers  in  the  West,  watering  and  draining  all  the 
southwestern  slope  of  the  San  Juan  Mountains.  In  the  south- 
west the  Rio  Mimbres,  Agate  creek.  Bear  creek,  and  the  San 
Francisco  river,  together  with  the  head  waters  of  the  Rio  Gila, 
water  and  drain  the  region. 


*:jejr- 


Tin  ttEW  MKXiCAN  i^/  /U.4TM. 


I0S9 


•ge  areas  of  table 
►'s  of  unsurpassed 

niltivntion.  'Ihr 
^.500  f«-'«'t,  and  fho 
rl  Norte  and  Kio 
thcrly  j>orlioni  of 
ct. 

xico  contribute  to 
M  n  is  wat(.'rcd  and 
to  tho  Mississippi, 
rics  into  the"  CJulf 
III  ilrainc'<|  by  the 
'ibutarics,  into  the 
:e  takes  its  rise  in 
;  of  Nrw  Mexico, 
rltings  of  the  an- 
rinjf  and  draininj;; 
jfrazin^r  hinds  on 
fi  n  division  of  the 
h  its  turbid  \\atiT 
lilcs  111  breadth — 
uity  in  the  world, 
ncipal  mountains, 
Pe,  waterin^r  and 
immense  district 
ision  into  Texas, 

that  of  the  Rio 
iiclion  below  the 
}  lO  the  east,  and 
ire  northeastern 
1  by  the  Rio  Pie- 
inas,  Rio  Navajo, 
titutes  one  of  the 
draining  all  the 
In  the  south- 
ek,  and  the  San 
oi  the  Rio  Gila, 


East  of  these,  uiivl  flowing, from  either  side  of  a  syntem  of 
detached  mouiitains,  occupying  nearly  the  lon^itiidinal  centr*^ 
of  the  h  rritory,  ami  extending  1  irough  its  » mire  length  from 
north  to  south,  terminating  in  ilic  Ciuuduhipi  Mountain^  on 
the  borders  of  Texas,  are  a  large  lUunber  of  small  n  ♦^rs  and 
creeks,  supplying  a  large  area  of  t^dilv  Unds  and  vail*  ys,  ui  well 
as  a  )rtion  of  the  Terraces  of  the  Hio  (Jrande  and  Rio  Pr-eoa 
with  pure  living  water,  liesidrs  thes**,  ^Imo^t  every  mountain 
and  hill  i§  supplied  with  numerous  spruigs  of  >>{iarkiing  cold 
water;  also,  there  are  many  good  springsi  founii  in  the  low  der 
pressions  ami  valleys  many  miles  distant  from  the  mountains. 
Thus,  it  will  be  set:u  that  the  watt:r  supply  is  far  more  ample 
than  the  casual  observer  or  straojer  woiilil  infer  from  an  cxan)i- 
nation  of  maps  drafted  years  ago,  or  a  ipposition  derived  from 
vague  reports  of  the  and  climate  and  hgln  rainfalls. 

Climate. — There  is  great  diversity  of  climate,  owing  to  diff<r- 
ences  in  latitude  and  altitude  between  different  portions  of  the 
country.  Almost  any  degree  of  temperature;  may  be  attained  by 
change  of  locality,  theri  being  a  wiile  range  of  extrt.'mes  in  tem- 
perature. In  the  lower  plateaux,  the  siunnier  days  are  warm,  but 
not  debilitating,  because  the  atmosphere  is  so  dry  that  perspira- 
tion is  rapidly  absorbed.  The  nights  are  always  cool  and 
bracing.  The  climate  througlout  the  Territory  is  so  mild  and 
equable,  combining  dryness  ai.l  purity,  particularly  so  on  the 
plateaux  of  mean  elevation,  that  n  :iny  persons  atillicted  with  pul- 
monary and  other  diseases  of  a  like  character,  have  tested  its 
salubrity  with  marked  benefit,  anil  in  ni.niy  eases  pernuuient 
cure.  Those  who  have  lived  in  this  delightful  climate  for  a  few 
years  believe  it  to  be  the  healthiest  location  in  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Zimri  L.  White,  the  able  corn  spot)dent  of  the  New  York 
Tribune,  writing  from  the  Territory  in  September,  1880,  says ; 

"The  summer  climate  of  the  northern  part  of  the  Territory  is 
delightful.  At  Santa  Fe,  which  has  an  altitude  of  about  7,c'^o 
feet,  the  nights  are  always  so  cool  that  heavy  blankets  upon  tiie 
beds  are  comfortable,  and  the  heat  at  midday,  although  sometimes 
great,  is  never  oppressive.  Americans  here  dress  in  h<'avy 
woollen  iabrics,  both  for  outside  and  underwear,  at  all  seasons 


.-J 


io6o 


oi'jt  trAS7ftJtjv  fiur/MM. 


I 


tti 


■  1 


of  thr  ymr.  I  .im  tnhl  that  thrwititrm  an*  miltl  and  ttinny,  with 
roinpaiiitivfly  little  hru)W.  I lu*  low  altitinUn  in  t\\f  ctntral  an<i 
(unithcri)  iH>rtionH  of  thr  Tcrrritory  arr  vfry  hot  and  «lry,  Init  of» 
acrinint  of  thr  ahnrncc  of  m(vifituru  in  thr  atmn-iphrrc  and  the  cx« 
crrdin^ly  rapid  evaporation,  thr  apparent  intrnnity  o(  thr  heal  in 
much  rtiiiK-rd.  The  tr-mpiraturc  in  thr  mountainN  in  alwayn  ari<l 
cvrrywhrnr  drli^htful 

A'i'w  Aft- 1 // 0  rfv  1$  Iffntlh  Reiorl. — Nrw  Mrxiro  han  a <lr<»rrvrdly 
hijjii  rrputation  an  a  sanitary  rrnort  in  pulmonary  disrasrs,  and 
that  its  rral  ( haractrr  ami  tlu*  diseases  which  are  hcnrhted  by  a 
rcHldrncc  there  may  be  belter  undcrjitood,  we  presrnl  the  fol- 
lowini;  leHiimony  from  eminent  [)hyMidans  and  othcra  long  resi- 
dent in  the  Territory. 

Lewis  Kennan.  M.  D.,  an  eminent  physician  of  Silver  City,  New 
Mexico,  twrnty-neven  yearn  resident  in  the  Territory,  »ay« :  "It 
Ih  certain  that  even  wl -n  the  Iiin^s  were  irreparably  diseased, 
very  much  benefit  has  resulted.  Invalids  have  come  hertt  with 
the  system  falling  into  tubercular  ruin,  and  their  lives  have  been  as- 
tonishingly prolonj^ed  by  the  dry,  bracinj^  atmosphere.  The  most 
amazing  results,  however,  are  produced  in  warding  off  the  ap- 
proaches of  phthisis,  and  I  am  sure  there  are  but  few  cases  which, 
if  sent  here  before  the  malady  is  well  advanced,  would  fail  to  be 
arrested.  Where  hardening  has  occurred  or  even  considerable 
cavities  have  been  detected  in  the  lungs,  relief  altogether  sur- 
prising has  taken  place.  The  lowest  death  rate  from  tubercular 
disease  in  America  is  found  in  New  Mexico,  notwithstanding  the 
Ikrge  number  of  cases  of  that  disease  who  resort  thither  for  heal- 
ing. The  census  of  1870  gives  twenty-five  per  cent,  as  the  death 
rate  from  this  disease  in  New  Kngland,  fourteen  in  Minnesota, 
from  five  to  six  in  the  dift'rent  Southern  States,  and  three  per 
cent,  in  New  Mexico.  I  i  ive  never  known  a  case  of  bronchitis 
or  asthma  in  the  Territory  that  was  not  greatly  improved  or 
altogether  cured.  For  rheumatism  and  diseases  of  the  heart 
with  or  withotit  a  rheumatic  origin,  I  would  not  recommend  this 
climate.  Valvular  difficulty  in  that  organ  in  invariably  made 
worse."       '  •■'  ... 

"The  tttost  wondfcrful  efifect  of  this  climate,"  says  aft  efriliMffrt 


ffMW  MMXtCO  4S  A  HhAl.lM  HhSOKT. 


1061 


III  and  itinny,  with 
in  the  crntral  ami 
>t  and  <lry,  but  «»n 
jjIhti!  and  th**  ex- 
•HJty  of  ih».  heat  in 
uiiiN  in  alwuyn  and 

ohaiadr<tcrv<M||y 
lary  disranen,  and 
ire  hrnrfittHi  by  a 
e  prenent  the  fol- 
1  othem  lonjf  reti- 

f  Silver  City,  New 

srritory,  »ayi»:  "It 

'parably  diseased, 

c  connc  here  with 

Ives  have  been  as- 

phere.    The  mo« 

irding  olf  the  ap- 

:  lew  cases  which, 

,  would  fail  to  be 

ven  considerable 

f  altogether  sur- 

r  from  tubercular 

withstanding  the 

thither  for  heal- 

ent.  as  the  death 

n  in  Minnesota, 

IS,  and  three  per 

i»e  of  bronchitis 

tly  improved  or 

*es  of  the  heart 

recommend  this 

invariably  made 

says  an  eminent 


|)liyM(un,  "in  Ncen  in  tho«.«  caacft  of  general  debility  of  all  the 

fuuciionH  of  iMxIy  anti  mind,  the  utedup  condition.     I'coplr  i  i>iiie 

\m<t  in  a  ntatr  of  languor,  having  littlr  l)n|)c  of  lilcattd  tiltrtt  little 

•\v%\tx'  to  live,  anii  the  relief  i»  no  H|)et'dy  as  to  Hcrtn  inir.i<  idoiiH. 

lor  weak  and  broken  ilown  <  hildrm  there  \%  nothing  lik«-  it  on 

(In:  fate  of  the  earth ;  with  them  thi*  law  of  the  Murvival  of  the 

stron^iritt  HceuiH  not  to  prrvail  here     I  hnvf  no  d()td)t  that  when 

tlif  nxantt  of  a< c «h>  to  thi^  country  an:  nuire   »asy,  atxl  it  i>»  in 

»(insc<|u<'nte  betH'r  known,  it  will   rival  or  HUp«'rsrdr  Ilorida, 

Madeira.  Nitf.  or  the  much  vauntid  para«liHe  of  Mentone  as  a 

>aMitarium.      Ihr  country  is  far  distant  from  either  oc(;an ;  it  IH 

al>HoliiteIy  fr«'f  from  all  causes  of  dinease."     I  )isiinguihh«'il  irav- 

t'llcrsi  who  hav<!  visited  the  Iiralth  resorts  of  all  other  countries 

nay :  "  Ihe  climate  of  New  Mexico  is  very  salubrious  and  bracing ; 

in  fact  it  is  unsurpassed  by  that  of  any  other  I'urrilory  or  State." 

The  following  tables  prepared  from  tlu-  .Sign.d  Service  Reports, 

give  the  particulars  of  the  rainfall  and  t«  nipirature  at  different 

towns  in  the  Territory,  ami  also  at  l"l  I'aso,    Texas,  which  is  on 

thi;  Rio  (irande,  just  at  the  southeastern  point  of  the  CJadsden 

Purchase. 

Hait^aliiit  Ntw  Mtxua  in  1878  an,i  1879. 


VtAB  AMD  MoHTNi 


January 

Kc-lituary 

Mitrcl) 

April 

May 

June 

July 

Auf(ui( 

Scfjtembcr, 

Ocuilier 

NovrmJ)er, 

Deccnilwr 


JN^BK.IJOK.-n    -.TMU>«e^  V.J.U.'urne.'Kl'^. 


lo6a 


OUX    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


Vt 


|*$l^ 


u 

7 

<-• 

\   & 

i  ^ 

1 

^   1  "S 
1    1    •      . 

f 

> 

8-   B    ^ 

5     -     "o     ' 

f  1 J  ? 

UI 

w 

2 

•8 

1-.^; 

0 
0 

Mean 
TiiiiipcrBtura. 

Maximum 
Temperature. 

■e    £.    00    y 

a 

■* 

5> 

y 

* 

%  %  It  a. 

i 

i 

0 

B 

M 

m 

u  «  -a      J 

0 

Minimum 
Tenpinilun. 

Ut          U           »        Ul 

oi        0       ••       M 

•a 

u 

3; 

•y 

•s  a  ?! 

UI 

§ 

o 

RanRc  of 
Tempcr^uire. 

jj   r  K  !j: 

Wl      Ui      ta      M 

4> 

M 

it 

p 

Mean 
Humidity. 

^    .8    >8    Ji 

.8 

1- 

^ 
? 

ji    ^    <!i 

8 

3> 

S' 

Mean 
Barumeter. 

a  5<  *•  •& 

-b 

a 

V 

UI 

%. 

$  £?  ar 

UI 

in 

0 

o 

Mean 
Temperature. 

Maximum 
Temperature. 

3 

% 
fe  1  r 

;§•  f  1 

§  \-: 

§  -8.  s  jr 

ff 

3 

"S> 

a 

"8 

^  5   I 

3 

in 

4  iS  y  ^ 

* 

i 

o> 

8 

*    a    3" 

i 

o 

Minimum 
Tempt:  rature. 

is   a    8  .3^ 

S 

■8 

"S 

S 

"S    5    t 

o 

Rpnge  of 
Teiiiperature. 

in 

UI 

« 

UI 

y 

UI 

o 

Mean 
Temperature, 

Maximum 
Temperature. 

en 
W 

n 

III 
1     n 

•8    5- 

I     "S" 

ff 

f 

ff 

•8 

"8   «   -8. 

% 

0 

t    t 

i  "fi 

oo 

M 
M 

u 

t! 

6    -S,   "3. 

M 

o 

Minimum 
Temperature. 

•a   ^ 

s> 

s? 

■a 

8> 

iJ    %  t 

J? 

o 

Range  of 
Temperature. 

5"  2    ?    ? 

■s> 

en 

•s 

^ 

UI 

a    8"   ff 

6i 

8" 

0 

Mean 
Temperature. 

III 

£    S    <&    S 

S" 

■a 

& 

2 

«■ 

•8    S    -§. 

1 

o 

Maximum 
Temperature. 

*  «    <«    4 

t 

iii 

t 

•3 

^  S  t 

X 

o 

Minimum 
Temperature. 

«    S    ^   6 

"C 

a 

8< 

*- 

% 

ji    S.   & 

•3 

o 

Range  of 
Temperature. 

i 

So 

In 

*^ 

O 

=9 
I 


A 


«^ 


ft 


fc  r 


an 
wrature. 

W 
P9 
O 
H 

III 
s-  1  1 

9    «, 

ximum 
«ratuie. 

timum 
erature. 

ige  of 
erature. 

in 
erature. 

Latitude  31°  46'. 
EL  PASO, 

Longitude  106°  3a'. 
TEXAS. 

Altitude  ab.  3,500  feet. 

(imum 
erature. 

imum 
erature. 

ge  of 
srature. 

MINERAL    WEALTH  OF  NEW  AfEXICO.  1063 

Geology  and  Mineralogy. — The  surface  rocks  of  the  great  pla- 
teau, which  comprises  so  large  a  portion  of  the  Territory,  belong 
to  the  cretaceous  period,  except  those  in  the  southwest  and  west, 
which  are  a  part  of  the  plateau  of  the  Sierra  Madre,  and  are  en- 
tirely oi  the  eozoic  period.  The  summits  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain system,  as  well  as  those  of  the  Sierra  Madre,  are  also  eozoic, 
but  the  peaks  are  capped  with  metamorphic  rocks,  chielly  porphy- 
ry, trap  and  basalt.  Besides  these  exceptions,  there  are  three  con- 
siderable tracts  which  are  volcanic,  and  covered  with  lava,  which 
is,  apparendy,  only  a  few  centuries  old ;  the  first  of  these  tracts  is 
in  the  Zuni  Mountains,  between  the  Rio  Puerco  and  the  Rio 
San  Jose,  including  Mount  Taylor ;  the  second  is  east  of  and 
parallel  to  th  •  Rio  Grande;  it  is  nearly  140  miles  in  length;  the 
third  is  near  the  northern  boundary  of  the  Territory,  along  the 
west  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande  and  extending  to  the  Rio  Chama. 
The  tract  east  of  the  Rio  Grande  is  called  Mai  Pais  ("  bad  coun- 
try "),  and  besides  the  lava,  has  a  broad  expanse  of  volcanic  sand, 
alternating  with  salt  marshes. 

The  valleys  of  the  Rio  Pecos  and  of  the  Canadian  river  and  its 
branches  are  triassic  or  Jurassic,  and  at  some  points  are  under- 
laid with  coal  at  such  depths  as  to  be  accessible.  The  valley  of 
the  Rio  Grande  above  the  thirty-fifth  parallel  is  tertiary:  below 
that  parallel  it  partakes  of  the  general  character  of  the  plateau, 
and  is  cretaceous.  The  foot-hills  of  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Gua- 
dalupe Mountains  are  triassic.  There  are  two  considerable  tracts 
of  tertiary  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  Territory,  the  larger 
of  the  two  lying  between  the  head-waters  of  the  Cimmaron  and 
the  north  fork  of  the  Canadian  rivers,  and  the  smaller  between 
two  of  the  affluents  of  the  Canadian. 

Mineral  Wealth. — The  geological  formations  of  New  Mexico 
form  an  extremely  interesting  study,  as  well  on  account  of 
their  peculiarides  as  of  the  vast  quantities  of  minerals,  especially 
the  precious  metals,  which  are  contained  in  some  of  them.  The 
syenitic  rocks  of  the  mountains  which  traverse  the  central  plat- 
eau between  the  Pecos  and  the  Rio  Grande,  and  the  carbonifer- 
ous limestones  found  on  the  flanks  and  sometimes  on  the  ridges 
of  these  mountains,  are  both  traversed  by  mineral-bearing  lodes. 


-J 


"■  i*3K;CHS^V'WW:^^^S^*i-''  - 


i^^'. 


1064  OUJf    tVESrEXJV  £A/J'M£. 

In  the  sandstone  formation  beds  of  lignite  and  bitutninous  coal 
.from  three  to  five  feet  in  thickness  are  found,  alternating  with 
layers  of  iron  ore  of  good  quality  and  fire-clay.  In  the  Old  Pla- 
cer Mountains  and  elsewhere,  mines  of  anthracite  of  a  superior 
quality  have  been  opened.  Marls,  gypsum,  and  other  valuable 
earths  are  abundant  and  easy  of  access,  but  little  has  been  done 
to  develop  the  deposits.  Zinc,  manganese,  quicksilver  and  some 
minor  minerals  occur.  In  the  Placer  mountains,  and  at  several 
other  points,  especially  near  Pinos  Altos  and  Fmbudo,  iron  is 
worked.  Lead  is  found  in  the  Pinos  Altos  mines,  in  the  Organ 
.mountains,  and  at  other  points.  Copper  is  even  more  abundant, 
and  some  of  the  mines  yield  large  results.  The  chief  deposits 
worked  are  those  of  the  Manzano,  Magollon,  and  Magdalena 
mountains. 

Turquoise  of  rar*^  beauty  has  been  found  in  the  Cerillos  Moun- 
tains, about  twenty  miles  southwest  of  Santa  Fe,  and  mines  of  it 
were  worked  with  great  profit  before  the  Indian  revolt  in  1680. 
The  finest  turquoise  in  Europe,  one  of  the  jewels  of  the  Spanish 
crown,  was  obtained  in  these  mountains  more  than  two  centuries 
ago. 

Hot  springs  and  other  mineral  springs  of  great  medicinal  virtue, 
abound  ir.  ""^ew  Mexico.  Governor  Wallace  says  that  excellent 
hot  springs  have  been  discovered  at  Fernandez,  in  Taos  county ; 
at  Las  Vegas,  San  Miguel  county;  at  Ojo  Caliente,  in  Rio  Arriba 
county,  near  Jemez,  in  Bernalillo  county;  near  Fort  McRae,  So- 
corro county;  Fort  Selden,  Dona  Ana  county;  and  at  Mimbres, 
in  Grant  county.  Those  at  Jemez  are  probably  unexcelled  in 
the  wo'-ld.  At  Las  Vegas  elaborate  preparations  are  in  progress 
for  the  care  and  entertainment  of  guests  and  invalids.  Any  and 
all  these  springs  are  equal  in  curative  qualities,  if  not  superior,  to 
those  in  Arkansas.  They  have  certainly  tlie  attraction  of  an 
unsurpassed  climate.  ■  >   iiiiont:;*  j.  •.  /  ■;!'!*>•■  >'>'■  *•  Hii-'iinnr-  .;  r  >■;. 

In  this  connection  mention  may  be  made  of  the  soda  springs, 
of  Vv'hich  there  are  several.  One,  east  of  Isleta  eighteen  or  twenty 
miles,  is  particularly  worthy  of  notice  as  yielding  seltzer  quite 
equal  to  the  best  imported  article. 

But  the  chief  mineral  wealth  of  this  rich  Territory  is  contained 


THE  ASrUKACJTE   COAL    OF  NEW  MEXICO. 


bitutninous  coal 
alternating  with 

In  the  Old  Pla- 
ite  of  a  superior 
'\  other  valuable 
e  has  been  clone 
:silver  and  some 
s,  and  at  several 
Fmbudo,  iron  is 
2s,  in  the  Organ 
more  abundant, 
e  chief  deposits 
and  Magdalena 

,      1  :        I  i      I   '      ■         :    , 

Cerillos  Moun- 

and  mines  of  it 

I  revolt  in  1680. 

5  of  the  Spanish 

n  two  centuries 

nedicinal  virtue, 
s  that  excellent 
n  Taos  county; 
e,  in  Rio  Arriba 
ort  McRae,  So- 
nd  at  Mimbres, 
f  unexcelled  in 
are  in  progress 
lids.  Any  and 
not  superior,  to 
:traction  of  an 

i  soda  springs, 
iteen  or  twenty 
I  seltzer  quite 

ry  is  contained 


106s 


in  its  gold  and  silver  mines,  some  of  which  have  been  worked 
since  remote  times.    The  earliest  Spanish  discoverers  found  such 
convincing  proofs  of  the  richness  of  the  gold  and  silver  deposits 
that  Uiey  gave  to  the  country  its  present  name  from  the  resem- 
blance to  die  mineral  regions  ot  old  Mexico.     Throughout  the 
periods  of  the  Spanish  and    Mexican   occupancy  the   precious 
metals  were  worked,  and  even  with  the  rude  appliances  and  de- 
sultory methods  of  those  peoples,  wonderful  results  were  obtained. 
Capital,  abundant  water  power  and  railroad  communicadon,  are 
the  dirce  desiderata  for  the  successful  development  of  the  rich 
mines  of  this  country,  which  are  believed  to  rival  the  most  pro- 
ductive deposits  known.     The  chief  gold  fields  now  operated  are 
those  of  Colfax,  Grant,  Santa  Fe  and  Bernalillo  coundes,  and  of 
die  Carrizo,  Sierra  Blanca,  Patos,  Jicarilla  and  Magdalena  Moun- 
tains, but  these  are  only  a  few  of  the  many  regions  in  which  gold 
is  known  to  exist.     So  far  litde  more  than  the  placers  have  been 
iiouched,  while  the  great  resources  of  the  quartz  lodes  still  await 
die  advent  of  machinery,  capital,  and,  above  all,  well-directed 
labor.     The  silver  mines  of  Finos  Altos,  the  Cerillos,  Sandia  and 
Magdalena  Mountains,  formerly  so  producUve,  have  been  worked 
in  a  perfunctory  way,  but  without  any  organized  system  of  pro- 
cedure, and  the  production  is  now  small.     A  few  words  should 
be  said  in  regard  to  the  coal  deposits  of  New  Mexico.     The, 
greater  part  of  the  coal  deposits  throughout  "Our  Western  Em- 
pire" are  bituminous,  and  even  where  they  are  called  anthracites, 
they  are  generally  only  a  litde  harder  or  denser  veins  of  the  bitu- 
minous coal,  and  at  most  can  be  regarded  as  only  semi-anthracites. 
Some  geologists  have  boldly  declared  that  there  was  no  anthracite 
west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  have  predicted, that  nothing  of 
the  kind  would  ever  be  discovered  there ;  but  they  are  certainly 
in  error.     Whether  the  so-called  anthracites  of  Southwestern 
Colorado,  of  Texas,  of  Arizona  and  of  Utah,  will  prove  to  be 
true  anthracites,  may  be  a  question  until  we  have  more  and  more 
careful  and  thorough  analyses  of  them  ;  but  that  there  is  anthracite 
coal  in  Northwest  Washington  Territory,  and  that  it  is  abundant 
in  New  Mexico,  seems  to  be  proved  beyond  the  possibility  of  a 
doubt.     The  only  locality  where  it  has  thus  far  been  found  is 


.'lUil'. 


fi'ii 


■jjj 


,-wi«rmrrAmmtmiiUL^:r\ 


i;t.^  jv^.*y;5*&i*s»MweiK*'^i«;««*"i-  i,* 


io66 


OUR    iVESTERN  EMPIRE, 


amon^  the  foot-hills  of  the  Placer  Mountains,  aboui*;  thirty  miles 
south-southwest  of  Santa  Fe.  The  formation  is  tertiary,  but  it 
has  been  subjected  at  various  times  to  volcanic  action,  as  the 
lava  and  metamorphic  rocks  plainlv  indicate.  Mr.  Z.  L.  White 
examined  these  coal  deposits  very  carefully  in  August,  1880,  and 
though  previously  faithless  in  regard  to  the  existence  of  anthra- 
cite anywhere  in  this  region,  became  fully  satisfied  that  it  was 
anthracite,  and  of  the  very  best  quality.  The  mines  alrtady 
opened  are  on  the  "Ortiz  Grant,"  and  the  coals  in  this,  of  which 
there  are  twenty-seven  veins,  ranging  from  a  few  inches  to  more 
than  six  feet  in  thickness,  are  easily  accessible.  The  coal  was 
probably  originally  a  lignite  of  excellent  quality  of  the  terdary, 
but  by  volcanic  action  was  changed  into  anthracite.  Mr.  White 
fortifies  his  opinion  by  the  definition  of  true  anthracite  given  in 
the  best  treatises  on  coal,  and  by  three  analyses  made  by  the  geol- 
ogists of  Lieutenant  Wheeler's  expedition  in  1875,  ^y  R-  D.  Owen 
and  E.  T.  Cox  in  1865,  and  by  Professor  J.  L.  Leconte  in  1868, 
and  in  a  fourth  column  gives  the  analysis  of  the  Pennsylvania 
anthracites  from  "  Dana's  Mineralogy."  The  economic  impor- 
tance of  this  anthracite  coal  to  the  whole  West,  it  being  very  near 
the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  Fe  Railroad,  must  be  our  apology 
for  devoting  so  much  space  to  it. 


Constituents. 


ii  1 


ANALYSES. 


W. 


Water       ....'..  2.10 

•  •'   Gas 6.63 

><   I     Fixed  Carbon    .    .    .    .  86,aa 

L>Ji  ./Ash 5.05 


!0 


Totals 


100.00 


o.  &c. 

3-5° 

4.50 

87.00 

5.00 

100.00 


Leo.        Penna.  Cool. 


a.90 

3.X8 

88.91 

5.21 


100.00 


3.84 

87.45 

737 

98.66 


'  "True  anthracite  has  a  specific  gravity  of  1.4  td  1.7  ;  it3  hard- 
ness is  2  to  2.5  ;  and  it  contains  85  to  93  percent,  of  fixed  carbon; 
aad  volatile  matcer,  after  drying,  3  to  6  per  cent.  It  is  amorphous, 
of  conchoidal  fracture,  brittle,  has  a  sub-metallic  lustre,  iron  black 
to  grayish  and  brownish  black  color,  and  when  pulverized  forms 
a  black  powder.  It  ignites  with  difificulty  and  at  a  high  tempera- 
ture, but  wheni  ignited  produces  an  intense  heat.  This  is  an  exact 
description  of  the  coal  in  the  Ortiz  mines." 


I*.- 


iboui':  thirty  miles 
is  tertiary,  but  it 
nic  action,  as  the 

Mr.  Z.  L.  White 
\ugust,  1880,  and 
stence  of  anthra- 
isfied  that  it  was 
le  mines  already 

in  this,  of  which 
w  inches  to  more 
:.  The  coal  was 
\f  of  the  tertiary, 
cite.  Mr.  White 
thracite  given  in 
tiade  by  the  geol- 
5,  by  R.  D.  Owen 
-econte  in  1868, 
he  Pennsylvania 
economic  impor- 
t  being  very  near 
St  be  our  apology 


o 


11 


o 


Penna.  Coal. 

3-84 

87.45 

7-37 


98.66 


td  1.7;  its  hard- 
of  fixed  carbon ; 
t  is  amorphous, 
ustre,  iron  black 
►ulverized  forms 
a  high  tempera- 
This  is  an  exact 


AGRICULTURAL  PRODUCTIONS.  1067 

Agricultural  Productions. — There  are  in  New  Mexico  from 
18,000,000  to  20,000,000  acres  of  arable  lands,  or  at  least  that 
much  can  be  brought  under  successful  cultivation,  when  a  judi- 
cious system  of  irrigating  canals  and  reservoirs  shall  have  been 
constructed.  More  than  three-fourths  of  all  the  waters  of  the 
Territory  run  to  waste  at  present.  The  country  is  admirably 
supplied  with  hundreds  of  natural  basins  on  the  elevated  plateaux, 
whe.-e  the  water  of  all  or  nearly  all  the  streams  could  be  stored 
by  means  of  canals  and  ditches.  The  water  supplies  would  com- 
mence accumulating  during  the  early  fall,  and  continue  through 
the  winter,  spring  and  early  summer  rises  or  freshets,  from  the 
melting  snow  in  the  high  mountains.  In  this  way  immense  reser- 
voirs could  be  accumulated,  ample  for  all  purposes. 

The  soil  of  the  valleys  throughout  the  Territory  is  a  rich  sandy 
loam,  composed  of  the  disintegrated  matter  of  the  older  rocks 
and  volcanic  ashes.  It  is  light  and  porous  and  of  surprising  fer- 
tility. Corn,  wheat,  oats  and  barley  grow  well  in  all  parts  of  the 
Territory  ;  corn  is  a  staple  product.  The  cereals  do  best  in  the 
northern  districts  and  elevated  plateaux  ;  corn,  vegetables  and  all 
kinds  of  fruit  do  best  in  the  valleys ;  corn,  in  the  rich  bottoms, 
along  the  principal  streams,  if  well  cuhivated,  may  be  made  to 
yield  over  eighty  bushels  per  acre ;  wheat  on  the  uplands  often 
yields  over  fifty  bushels  per  acre,  and  in  portions  of  the  Rio 
Grande  Valley  averages  twenty-five  bushels  under  the  rudest  and 
most  imperfect  culture.*     Farm  lands  in  the  Taos  Valley  and 

*  Mr.  White  says  of  the  native  agriculture : 

"  The  Mexican  and  Indian  methods  of  harvesting  their  grain  are  very  primitive,  similar,  in- 
deed, to  those  of  Eastern  couatries  in  Bible  times.  The  wheat  is  cut  by  band  with  a  siclde,  and 
taken,  unbound,  in  carts  to  the  threshing-floor.  This  consists  of  a  round  plat  of  level  ground  in 
an  elevated  place,  fifty,  one  hundred,  or  two  hundred  feet  in  diameter,  as  the  farm  is  a  large  or 
small  one,  the  surface  of  which  is  pounded  or  trodden  as  hard  as  a  cement  floor.  Around  the 
edges  of  this,  tall  poles  are  set  in  the  ground  five  or  six  feet  apart,  forming  a  circle.  The  un- 
threshed  grain  is  piled  up  loosely  in  the  centre,  and,  when  everything  is  ready,  a  thin  layer  is 
raked  down  between  the  central  pile  of  grain  and  the  circle  of  poles,  and  then  a  flock  of  goats 
or  sheep,  or  sometimes  of  burros,  or  ponies,  is  driven  around  over  the  grain  until  it  has  all  been 
beaten  out  of  the  heads  by  their  feet.  The  straw  is  then  thrown  outside  of  the  circle  of  poles, 
and  the  wheat  pushed  up  townril  the  centre.  Another  lot  of  the  unthreshed  grain  is  then  raked 
down,  and  the  operation  repeated  until  the  whole  u  threshed.  I  was  forcibly  reminded  of  the 
Scriptural  injunction  which  forbade  the  Hebrews  to  muzzle  the  ox  that  trod  out  the  grain.  The 
winnowiiig  is  also  done  in  the  Biblical  way.  After  the  wheat  has  been  separated  from  the 
straw,  it  is  gathered  up  into  a  heap,  and  when  a  brisk  breeze  arises  it  is  thrown  into  the  air  ia 


/fij3»-V«Mi««i®*»«<«i«»S«:Ji*!i:^«;i*A-vi»T^«'->f>'-''^.^^^^^^ 


to68 


OUK    WESTERN  EMPJRE. 


'J 


•Ml 


in  the  vicinity  of  Santa  F»  lavr  been  under  cultivation  over  aoo 
years,  and  in  all  tliat  time  .  nr  one  ounce  of  fertili/in)^  material 
ha»  been  used  to  enrich  them ;  yet  there  is  no  perceptible  dimi- 
nution in  crops.  The  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande  del  Norte,  fur 
400  miles  in  length,  averaging  five  miles  in  breadth,  can  all  be 
irrigated  with  the  turbid  water  of  the  stream  from  which  its 
name  is  derived.  This  stream,  like  the  Nile,  is  the  sole  reliance 
of  the  farmer;  the  water  is  turbid  with  sediment,  one-fifth  of  its 
weight  at  high  water.  At  such  times,  each  irrigation  is  equal,  if 
not  superior,  to  a  coat  of  the  richest  fertilizer.  El-Paso  Valley 
has  been  cultivated  in  this  way  over  265  years. 

The  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande  del  Norte  is  admirably  adapted 
to  grape  culture:  there  is  probably  no  part  of  the  world  where 
all  the  conditions  of  soil,  humidity  and  temperature  arc  united  to 
produce  this  delicious  fruit  in  greater  perfection.  The  frosts  of 
winter  are  just  severe  enough  to  destroy  insects  without  injuring 
•the  vines,  and  the  rains  seldom  fall  at  the  season  when  the  plant  is 
fk vering,  or  when  the  fruit  is  coming  into  maturity,  and  liable  to 
rot  from  exposure  to  moisture ;  as  a  result,  the  fruit,  when  ripe, 
has  a  thin  skin,  s.  arcely  any  pulp,  and  is  devoid  of  the  musky 
taste  usual  with  American  grapes.  Grapes  do  well  also  on  the 
lower  valley  of  the  Pecos,  and  in  many  other  parts  of  the 
Territory. 

Mr.  White  says  of  the  grape  culture  :  "Grapes  constitute  one 
of  the  principal  crops  of  the  Rio  Grande  Valley.  The  commonest 
variety  is  the  Muscat,  from  which  a  very  good  wine  is  made. 
The  vineyards  look  like  plantations  f»f  currant  bushes,  the  vines 


the  teeth  of  the  wind,  which  blown  away  the  cliaff  while  the  wheat  falls  by  itself  on  the  clean 
floor.  At  a  distance  the  flying  chaff  looks  like  steam  escaping  by  sticcessive  pufls  from  the  ex- 
haust pipe  of  an  engine. 

"  The  Mexicans  and  some  of  the  Indinns  are  beginning  to  adopt  modem  farming  implements, 
and  in  a  few  years  iron  ploughs  will  probably  have  replaced  the  wooden  ones  that  li.ive  been  in 
use  here  for  centuries,  and  which  are  exactly  like  those  with  which  the  Egyptians  cultivated 
the  valley  of  the  Nile  in  the  time  of  Moses.  I  saw  one  of  these  ploughs,  but  as  this  is  not  the 
season  when  the  ground  is  broken  up,  I  have  h.id  no  opportunity  to  observe  its  u'*e.  It  consisted 
simply  of  a  crooked  stick,  ujion  the  point  of  which  an  iron  point  was  fastened  by  means  of  raw- 
hide thoiiijs.  The  Pueblo  Indian  carts  are  also  curiosities.  Not  a  scrap  of  iron  is  used  in  their 
manufacture.  The  wheels  are  discs  made  of  hoards,  with  a  clumsy  wooden  hub  on  the  outside. 
The  tire  is  of  raw-hide,  and  the  body  of  the  cart  is  constructed  of  poles  rudely  framed 
together  " 


iii^  ■>i»i*-*©siS^*j-**i«.»*«*l4iAi*tei8ftiH^ 


Itlvation  over  aoo 
niVuing  matfrial 

perceptible  diini- 
It:  del  Norte,  for 
eadth,  can  all  be 
1  from  which   its 

the  sole  reliance 

It,  one-fifth  of  its 

jation  is  equal,  if 

El-Paso  Valley 

J  mirably  adapted 
the  wor/e^  where 
Lire  arc  united  to 
I.     The  frosts  of 

without  injuring 
when  the  plant  is 
rity,  and  liable  to 

fruit,  when  ripe, 
id  of  the  musky 

well  also  on  the 
2r   parts  of  the 


IS  constitute  one 
The  commonest 
wine  is  made, 
ushes,  the  vines 

by  itself  on  tlic  clean 
'Sive  puffs  from  the  ex- 

m  rnrming  implemenlii, 
ones  that  li.ive  been  in 
e  Effyptians  cultivated 
,  Init  as  this  is  not  the 
ve  its  use.  It  consisted 
lened  by  means  of  raw- 
of  iron  is  used  in  their 
ien  hub  on  the  outside, 
poles   rudely  framed 


VKGRTABLES  IN  ffEW  MEXICO.  1069 

being  planted  in  rectangular  order,  and  trained  in  the  form  of 
shrubs.  The  fruit  is  delicious,  like  that  of  California,  and  1  have 
no  doubt  that  the  wine  crop  of  the  valley  will,  before  many 
years,  become  one  of  the  largest  and  most  profitable  in  the 
Territory.  Archbishop  Lamy,  who  is  a  native  of  France,  and 
who,  during  the  almost  third  of  a  century  of  his  residence  here, 
has  travelled  thousands  of  miles  every  year  among  the  Mexican 
and  Indian  population  of  New  Mexico,  told  me  that  no  part  of 
California  is  better  adapted  for  the  culture  of  grapes  and  the 
manufacture  of  wine  than  the  Rio  Grande  Valley.  The  natives 
tread  out  the  juice  of  the  grapes  with  their  feet,  as  did  the 
slaves  in  the  great  vineyards  of  classic  times. 

"The  orchards  of  the  valley  are  remarkably  thrifty  and  prolific, 
and  the  fruit  is  large  and  fair.  I  never  saw  apple  trees  that 
were  apparently  so  free  from  disease.  The  bark  was  as  bright 
as  though  the  trunks  of  the  trees  had  been  washed  in  lye.  The 
peach  and  plum  trees  are  large  and  full  of  fruit.  The  orchards 
do  not  appear  to  have  been  planted  with  much  regularitj',  but 
the  trees  seem  to  have  been  stuck  down  by  the  side  of  the 
acequias,  wherever  they  were  certain  to  have  plenty  of  water." 

Cabbages  grow  finely,  often  weiglii ng  from  thirty  to  sixty 
pounds  each.  Onions  also  grow  very  large,  weighing  from  one 
to  two  pounds  each ;  those  raised  in  the  Raton  Mountains  are 
said  to  possess  the  finest  flavor.  Irish  potatoes  are  grown  in 
the  northern  districts,  where  they  yield  enormously.  Sweet 
potatoes  are  raised  in  the  Mesilla  Valley,  and  at  Fort  Stanton,  on 
the  Rio  Bonito  and  Ruidoso,  in  Lincoln  county. 

Beets,  radishes,  turnips,  parsnips  and  carrots  grow  well  every- 
where. Beans,  peas  and  tobacco  are  also  grown  successfully ; 
beans  to  the  native  population  are  what  the  potato  is  to  the  Irish. 
Apples  do  well  in  almost  all  parts  of  the  country.  Peaches,  pears 
and  apricots  do  well  from  Bernalillo  down ;  also  on  the  Pecos 
from  Anton  Chico  down  ;  melons  of  all  kinds  grow  to  large 
proportions,  and  of  the  most  delicious  (lavor. 

Not  more  than  one-tenth  of  the  valleys  of  the  Rio  Grande  or 
Pecos  are  occupied  or  cultivated.  The  same  may  be  said  of  an 
hundred  other  valleys  and  terraces  along  the  large  streams,  and 


/«««•«■ 


I070 


OVK   H'KSTK/IN  F.MPIKB. 


ft 


m 


especially  so  of  the  hij^hcr  plateaux.  The  most  extensive  scttlr- 
mcntH  arc  confmccl  to  the  valleys  of  the  principal  streains.l 
Those  of  the  Rio  Cirande,  Pecos,  and  Mora  contain  the  majority,! 
the  balance  beln^  located  in  the  small  valleys  and  isolatedl 
districts,  in  and  near  the  mountains,  where  their  pursuits  arc| 
divided  between  agriculture  and  stock-raising. 

The  only  forage  crop  of  the  grasses  that  has  been  attt;mptcd| 
here    is    "Alfalfa,"    the    Chilian    or    California    clover;    whcnl 
cultivated  it  yields  an  enormous  crop.    It  grows  well  throughout! 
the  Territory,  and  in  the  southern  districts  often  yields  three' 
crops  per  annum.     In  a  country  where  there  is  such  a  profusion 
of    nutritious   grasses,   as   are    indigenous   to   the   mesas   and 
mountain  slopes,  it  is  not  necessiiry  to  cultivate  forage  crops, 
except  for  the  sustenance  of  farm  animals,  and  those  in   use 
m   the   towns.     Thousands   of  tons  of   grama  grass  are   cut 
annually  to  supply  the  demands  of  military  posts  and  stage 
stations.     ,,  ,      .i.,.-.'   ,  ,  i.,;.  ,,,,         ,,,,  ..,„  j...  m;  rr  i        :, 

As  a  sample  of  what  can  be  done  in  the  valley  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  it  is  only  necessary  to  refer  to  the  beautiful  Mesilla 
Valley ;  it  is  seventy  miles  long,  and  embraces  280  square 
miles,  or  179,200  acres,  or  560  farms  of  320  acres  each.  It  is 
one  of  the  richest  and  most  delightful  valleys  in  the  world. 
There  are  farmers  who  settled  in  this  valley  only  fifteen  years 
ago,  without  one  dollar  to  start  with,  who  to-day  are  worth  from 
)j^50,0Q0  to  jji6o,ooo,  and  every  dollar  of  it  made  from  the 
products  of  the  soil.  It  is  the  rival  of  any  portion  of  California 
in  the  raising  of  all  kinds  of  fruit,  and  as  to  grapes  it  is  not  sur- 
passed by  any  district  in  the  world.  In  the  coldest  season  the 
tliermometer  never  falls  hmer  than  1 5°  above  zero.  Snow  is 
scarcely  ever  seen.  It  is  a  district  that  needs  only  to  be  seen  to 
be  appreciated.    ,,jrui,  ,  .,ti>  \<.  ■... ,  t,IU  i.>.»f,.i '  ,.:  i!-, ..  <,:,  ^M.r.jy 

The  most  valuable  timber  in  New  Mexico  is  the  pine, — its 
growth  principally  confined  to  the  mountain  districts  and  high 
rolling  lands.  Pitch,  yellow  and  spruce  varieties  grow  to  a  large 
size,  and  make  excellent  lumber.  Cottonwood,  walnut,  locust, 
box-alder  and  sugar  tree  fringe  the  streams  and  cafions  of  the 
0ipun  tains.     Also  live  oak  of  small  siz^,  and  ji.  peculiar  species 


■■-■^SfS.  ,-Sa«3SS&»<if*Pi!:A 


lost  extensive  settle- 
<;  principal  streams, 
contain  ilu;  majority, 
.allt^ys  and  isolated 
e  their  pursuits  are 

has  been  attt;mptecl 
•rnia  clover ;  when 
ows  well  throughout 
i  olten  yields  three 
-'  is  such  a  profusion 

to  the  mesas  and 
tivate  forage  crops, 
I  and  those  in  use 
ima  grass  are  cut 
•y  posts  and  stage 

e  valley  of  the  Rio 
le  beautiful  Mesilla 
braces  280  square 
)  acres  each.  It  is 
leys  in    the  world. 

only  fifteen  years 
day  are  worth  from 
it  made  from  the 
artion  of  California 
Tapes  it  is  not  sur- 

coldest  season  the 
>ve  zero.  Snow  is 
only  to  be  seen  to 

o  is  the  pine, — its 
districts  and  high 
es  grow  to  a  large 
od,  walnut,  locust, 
and  cafions  of  the 
a  peculiar  species 


SUREI^f4MM/y<i  IN  NEW  MHXICO. 


1071 


of  cedar,  called  here  "juniper."  It  grows  on  the  upland,  and  to 
large  size,  throughout  the  southern  half  of  the  Territory.  The 
nut-pine,  or  piflon,  is  abundant,  and  makes  good  charcoal  and 
firc-wood.      The  timber  su|)ply  is  ample  for  all  purposes. 

Slock  Raising. — Though  not  as  arid  as  Arizona,  good  water, 
even  in  the  mountains,  is  very  scarce.  On  the  plains  and  niesas 
and  in  the  valleys,  ruiming  water  is  seldom  seen,  and  when  it  is 
found,  it  is  so  strongly  charged  with  alkali  as  not  to  be  drinkable. 
It  is  not  an  uncommon  thing  to  travel  thirty  or  forty  miles  with- 
out seeing  a  spring  or  a  drop  of  water  in  the  river  courses 
Cattle,  horses  and  sheep  on  the  ranges  often  habitually  go  twc 
or  three  days  without  water.  About  twice  a  week  diey  gel 
around  to  some  spot  where  the  bed-rock  of  a  stream  rises  to  the 
surface  bringing  the  water  with  it,  remain  in  the  vicinity  over 
night,  and  then  wander  off  perhaps  twenty-five  miles,  returning 
again  about  the  third  day. 

Catde  and  sheep-raising  is  carried  on  very  successfully  over 
large  areas  in  New  Mexico,  and  although  the  grama  grass  is  so 
thin  that  it  will  not  support  as  many  animals  to  a  thousand  acres 
as  the  bunch  grass  of  the  more  northern  Territories,  it  furnishes 
a  wonderfully  nutri^ious  food,  and  the  country  is  by  no  means 
fully  stocked.  There  is  great  room  for  improvement  in  the 
giatle  of  nil  kinds  of  stock,  but  even  now  the  business  of 
gra?.ing  is  a  remarkably  profitable  one.  The  markets  of  Kansas 
and  Colorado  are  easily  accessible  to  New  Mexican  stock-men, 
and  this  has  given  a  great  impetus  to  the  business. 

While  there  are  considerable  tracts  in  which  catde  will  do  well, 
and  the  raising  of  beeves  for  the  market  may  yet  become  a  very 
profitable  industry  in  New  Mexico,  yet  for  the  present  and 
probably  for  many  years  to  come  it  will  be  pre-eminently  the 
country  for  sheep-farming.  The  number  of  sheep  in  the 
Territory  is  probably  not  less  than  two  millions,  of  which  half  a 
million  or  more  are  owned  by  the  Navajoes,  an  Indian  tribe 
occupying  its  western  and  northwestern  portions. 

The  Hon.  J.  Francisco  Chaves,  late  a  delegate  in  Congress 
from  New  Mexico,  in  a  letter  to  General  Brisbin,  the  author  of 
"The  Beef  Bonanza,"  written  the  past  summer,  says  of  sheep- 
farming  in  New  Mexico:    /-,  |.  ;..r.-.  ,n  rnoii  .iron    no.  n  irfi  *.!•<; 


R'^xdi^'**>s<>'*^*^i*'*'''**^''''-*'-"' 


lo^a 


OUM   l¥KSmjtAf  KMr/Ktt. 


4 

J 

1% 


■wti 


"Wlthrnit  having  the  tbta  h«forr  m»»,  and  only  judpnfi:  fr>m 

what  I  knowo(  ih«  IVrritory  and  of  thn  iir^fc  shrcp  owners  \t\  it, 

1  am  salistu-il  that  I  do  /lot  ovrrrsiimaie  the  nnmlxT  in  stating 

tht;ni  .It   i.5».M),oix)  hr;wl  of  rwes.      The  climate  is  rxofTdinj^'ly 

temiH'rattr    and    salubrious;    no    diseases,     much     ics^    those 

aAcctin^  the  skin  or  hoofs,  hrinj;  known.    Shej'j)  in  our'rrrrllory 

are  herded  and  grazed  frofn  one  portion  of  the  Territory  to 

another  durinj^  the  same  year,  thus  adopting  what  may  he  termed 

the  mijrratory  plan.     The  climate  ia  dry  and  the  soil  is  jjravclly, 

producing,'   the  most  nutritious  jjras.ses   and   shrubs.      Of   the 

fornvr  the  ^rama  and   bunch  ^^rass,  of  which  there   are    wo 

or  three  diffepMU  varirties,  and  the  latter  the  various  kinds  of 

iagc,  which  make  the  liest  and  most  nutritious  of  browsir1^^  and 

a  larj^-M'  amount  of  underbrush  and  seed  jjrass  in  the  mountains. 

Were  it  m  t  for  the  insecurity  of  life  and  property  caused  by  the 

wild,  marauding  tribes  of  Indians,  especially  the  Navajoes,  but  a 

few  years  would  elapse  l)efore  New  Mexico's  h'lls  and  plains 

would  b<!  literally  covered  with  fleecy  flocks.     It  is  but  a  fewyears 

back,  and  actually  within  my  own  personal  recollection,  when  nearly 

i.ooo.ooo  sheep  were   actually  driven    to  market  to  southern 

Mexico  from  our  Territory.     At  that  time  sheep  were  worth 

but  twenty-five  cents  per  head,  and  all  those  engaged   in  the 

business  made  money.     That  prosperity  in  the  history  of  New 

Mexico   was   superinduced   by  twelve   years  of  unintermitted 

peace  with  the  Navajoes.     A  sheep-raiser  in  New  Mexico  can 

safely  calculate  on  an  increase  of  eighty  per  cent,  at  least.     A 

sheep-raiser  in  New  Mexico,  notwithstanding  the  coarse  quality 

of  wool  of  the  present  Hock,  can  herd  his  sheep  and  make  a 

profit  from  the  product  of  his  wool,  and  have  all  the  increase  of 

hJB  stock  in  addition  thereto.     I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that 

New  Mexico  can  fairly  compete  with  Australia,  South  Africa 

and  South  America,  in  the  production  of  cheap  wool.     These 

statements  may  appear  to  you   somewhat  exaggerated,  but  I 

assure  you,  on  the  contrary,  that  they  are  within  the  limits  of 

reasonable  bounds.     I  was  born  and  raised  in  New  Mexico,  my 

fViends  and  relations  have  always  owned  sheep,  and  ^  myself 

have  to  a  large  extent  been  an  owner  of  that  kind  of  property, 

and  therefore  speak  from  personal  experiet»ce!''  •'"  ' 


lUii,  fJ 


M^XAAMMAf/JVa  AV  ATiitf  .VKXiCO. 


1073 


only  judpnp  fr  )m 
slu'cpownors  in  it, 

numlxT  ill  ntatinjj 
.il«'  is  'XcfTclinj^'ly 
much  JcM  thoHip 
t'p  in  our  Territory, 
if  t\\f  Territory  to 
/hat  may  be  irrmt-d 
the  soil  is  jjravrlly, 

shrubs.  Of  tht; 
Ich  thrre  are  wo 
p  various  kinds  of 
s  of  browsi'iv,'.  and 
^  in  the  mountains, 
criy  causrd  by  the 
he  Navajoes,  but  t\ 
's  h'Us  and  plains 
lis  but  a  few  years 
fciion,  when  nearl> 
arkct  to  southern 
sheep  were  worth 
e  cnjjaped  in  the 
he  history  of  New 

of   unintermitted 

New  Mexic6  can 
cent,  at  least.     A 

the  coarse  quality 
leep  and  make  a 
all  the  increase  of 
tion  in  saying  that 
alia,  South  Africa 
eap  wool.  These 
Kaggerated.  biit  I 
thin  the  limits  of 

New  Mexico,  my 
eep,  and  ^  myself 

kind  of  proper^, 


Sherp,  ami  espetiAlly  ewes,  are  largely  sold  from  New  Mexico 
to  otiicr  States  and  l\:rrilorie»  to  lonn  the  bisin  of  ilockt  there. 
Tlity  are  „  Id  ui  a  low  price,  from  jj^i.Sn  to  f3  each.  'Ihey 
.ire  small,  auii  yield  only  Irom  onr  .md  a  half  to  thm;  pounds  of 
a  coarse  wooH,  which  will  bring  i,  ,ually  only  from  eiglii<  er»  to 
twenty-two  cents  a  pound,  liy  breeding  them  with  pure  Meitno, 
CotswoKl,  Leicester  i>r  Lincoln  bucks,  the  si/e  is  soon  increased, 
and  the  (jualiiy  of  the  wool  ■  greatly  itnproved.  As  yet  but  little 
attention  is  paid  in  N«.*w  Mexico  to  impro\ing  the  breeds,  and 
|.  nee  the  wool  crop  there,  is  not  nearly  as  \aluable  as  it  might 
easily  be.  made,  i'he  imnn^  aiUs  who  are  timing  into  tlu:  coun- 
try in  such  nuinU'rs  are  gi'in^r  more  attention  to  improving  their 
stock.  There  is  reason  to  believe  th.  i  sheep-fa runin^  will  soon 
become  ii  profitable  and  extensive  industry  in  'he  Territory;  but, 
like  everything  else  which  is  to  be  made  |)ro'  table,  the  sheep- 
farmer  must  giv«  it  his  close  person.d  attention.  Inginning  with 
a  capital  of  alKJut  1(^5,000,  and  giving  strict  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness, improving  liis  (locks  as  tapidly  as  possible  the  wool-grower 
may  in  ten  years  fuid  hin»self  worth  from  $(k>,(xx>  to  $75,000,  and 
with  constandy  increasing  profits  from  that  time  forward.  Hon. 
Henry  M.  Atkinson,  Surveyor-deneral  of  New  Mexico,  in  his  re- 
port dated  August  27,  1879,  gives  the  following  summary  of  the 
agricultural  and  pastoral  cofulition  of  the  Territory.  We  think 
his  estimate  of  the  number  of  km^p  must  b<:  exaggerated,  or  it 
is  possibly  a  misprint ;  but  we  give  it  as  stated.  The  number  is 
undoubtedly  larger  than  has  been  supposJ,  but  this  estimate 
makes  New  Mexico  exceed  both  California  and  Texas  in  the 
number  of  its  flocks: 

••  The  crops  of  last  year  were  good  throughout  the  Territory, 
and  a  largely  increased  acreage  was  sown  over  that  of  any  previ- 
ous year  in  its  history ;  and  with  the  rapid  influx  of  population, 
new  and  previously  unexplored  and  uninhabited  sections  are 
being  setded  and  subjected  to  cultivation. 

"The  native  wine  product  in  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande,  in 
Uiis  Territory  alone,  is  reliably  estimated  at  240,000  gallons  the 
past  year,  and  in  a  few  years  that  stream  will  be  properly  desig- 
nated as  the  Rhine  of  America.     Large  crops  of  corn,  wheal; 


I'f 


in        tlMiiO 


1074 


OUM   WMSTAKM  RMrtMR. 


} 

\ 


P* 


applifi,  {irai'tttg,  ftpricotN,  pcari  and  other  fruiln  w«rc  raiicUUrrtng 
the  yrar. 

"The  buMmrts  of  atackrainin^  In  mont  ftuccran  fully  ami  pnifit* 
ably  cn^a^^rti  irt,  a«  no  (ceding  it  rr((viir(Hl  lUirin^'  thu  winter 
•cAiion,  the!  Htock  HubniHtin^;  rntirrly  u|H)n  the  rich  and  ntitritioita 
{rraxHCfl  HO  abundant  in  thr  Trrritory.  It  in  catimatcd  that  tlirrc 
arc  scx),ooo  heail  of  cattlr  and  io»ooo,ooo  thcvp  in  New 
Mexico." 

AtiHiMg  Industry. — Wc  have  jjivtrn  umhtr  thr  head  of  ftutittal 
wraith  full  |>articularH,  ho  far  as  known,  concrri!  n^  the  prchencc 
of  th<'  prectoiift  andtfthtrr  tnrtaU  in  the  Trrritory;  but  wk  adil, 
on  the  authority  of  (iovernor  Wallace  anti  Z.  L.  White,  l',!ii(.,  a 
few  |)articularit  in  regard  to  thr  mining  diAtrictn  and  iniiies  in 
actual  openition.  Governor  Wallace  Hiiyn  of  the  silver  mining 
districts:  "'rhc  be«t  known  districtn  at  thin  time  are  the  Hrcmen 
mines,  near  Silver  City;  the  Shakspeare  mines,  in  Cirant  lounty; 
the  Sandia  district,  in  Bernalillo  county  ;  the  Socorro  district,  in 
Socorro  county;  the  Cerillos,  twenty-two  miles  80uthw<!st  of 
Santa  \'k.  The  San  Juan  country,  in  the  north  part  of  the  Ter- 
ritory, and  the  No^ml,  Capit;in,  Sierraa  Blancas,  and  Iccarilla 
Mountains,  in  Lincoln  county,  aru  all  attracting  a  j^reat  deal  of 
attention." 

The  pfold  di&tricts  are :  The  Moreno  mines,  on  Ute  creek, 
Colfax  county.  One  mine  proprietor  carries  wator  to  his  claims 
near  Elizabethtown,  by  ditch  and  flumes  forty-two  miles.  At 
Pinos  Altos  oxteosivc  work  (quartz  miiMiig)  ia  goingf  on  with 
Ifood  rutums.  Ia  this  district,  gold,  silver,  copper,  zincr  lead  and 
plumbajjo  are  all  obtainable. 

Th  old  pkccrs  (Spanish  piaceres)  ace  sitcuited  twmty^six  miles 
aouthwest,  or«  rather,  south-southwest,  from  Santa  Ffe.  in  these 
.pbicers  there  are  aJsa  quart/  lodes  wliioh  are  believed  to  be  very 
valuable.  The  Orci&  mine  grant,  described  by  Mr.  Z,  L.  Whiter 
occupies  a  portion  of  this  district,  and  is  now  preparing  to  work 
aome  otf'  those  placcns,  and  bringing  water  from  the  Gafiisteo  river 
by  extensive  hydrauUc  structures,  to  work  them  succcsfiiiilly. 

The  new  placersiare  ten  milfia  sooth  of  the  old  placors.  TAif 
^cun  Podro  mine  and  the  Caflon  delt  AguHi  pnof>erty>  with  whidb 


wrr  rniifvl  tit  ring 


•Jifiilly  and  profii- 
Mfinn  »'»«  winter 
cli  «n<l  niitritioitt 
matfii  thnt  llifrc 
»li«?cp    in    New 

•  head  of  mMefttt 

n^  thr  pp'smic 
try;  hut  w«  adil, 
L  Whiif,  i;»(|.,  a 
■tu  and  mines  in 
he  silver  minirv)^ 

are  thr  Mrrtned 
in  Grant  rounty; 
)corrrt  district,  in 
s   »outhw<!st  of 

part  of  iho  Ter- 
as,  and  Iccuriila 

a  great  deal  of 

on  Ute  creek, 
tor  to  his  claims 
■two  miles.  At 
)  going  on  with 
r,  z'mcr  lead  and 
II  aU  Jo  •fnihi. 
tWQRty^six  miles 
a  Ft,  In  these 
levod  to  be  very 
►f r.  Z,  L.  WWttet 
apartng  to  work 
e  Gftlistfto  irrver 
successfully^  u.' 
1  ipbcerg.  Thf 
irtj^  with  whidb 

ha 


Jil  H         .  ijIMpl* 


.|Q^g  OLfJt    WKSTER/V  EXPIKE. 

Bonao  Stock  and  went  in  search  of  it  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Manzan.i  Mountains.  While  here  a  Mexican  hund(!d  him  a 
piece  of  ore  <or  examination,  which  he  stated  he  had  found  in 
tlic  hills  of  the  vicinity,  but  the  exact  locality  he  declined  to 
indicate.  Mr.  Livingston,  on  his  return  to  White  Oaks, 
showed  the  specimen  to  some  friends  in  camp,  among  whom 
were  Messrs.  Patterson  and  Davidson.  They  left  White  Oaks 
with  a  complete  outfit  to  explore  the  Manzana  range,  and  were 
amply  rewarded  in  the  discoveries  made.  Right  below  the  old 
mines  they  found  twenty-two  old  smelters,  and  there  were  acres 
covered  with  the  slag,  some  specimens  of  which  Mr.  Patterson 
brings  with  him.  The  smelters  were  built  of  adobe,  or  stm-dried 
bricks,  and  v/ere  elevated  some  twenty  or  thirty  feet  above  the 
surface  of  the  ground. 

In  digging  down  they  found  the  remains;  of  charcoal,  which 
was  used  for  fuel  by  the  old  smelters.  There  were  also  seen 
the  remains  of  an  aqueduct,  in  which  water  was  conveyed  from 
a  spring  three- fourths  of  a  mile  distant  to  a  dam  which  diverted 
the  water  into  the  smelting  works. 

About  five  acres  were  found  covered  with  slag,  which  Mr. 
Patterson  has  taken  up  for  a  mill  site.  From  the  old  furnaces  a 
trail  was  found,  after  considerable  exploration,  leading  directly 
from  the  smelting  works  to  the  mine  in  the  mountains,  which 
here  rise  in  peaks  to  a  height  of  io,cxxd  feet.  The  ancient  tra/1 
pursues  a  zigzag  course,  having  a  length  of  some  five  miles, 
while,  in  an  air  line,  the  distance  is  not  much  exceeding  one 
mile.  Everything  was  transported  in  those  old  mining  days  on 
men's  shoulders  to  and  from  the  mountains.  There  are  now 
trees  of  the  "  pinon  "  growing  on  the  trail  larger  than  a  man's 
body,  showing  the  antiquity  of  the  path.  Mr.  Patterson  said  he 
was  two  weeks  in  discovering  the  mines  after  finding  the  smelt- 
ing works.  The  trail  was  five  feet  wide  and  protected  by  rocks 
on  dne  side  near  precipitous  places.  Limbs  were  seen  some 
thirty  feet  high  on  trees  that  had  bten  cut  when  the  trees  were 
small  and  the  limbs  near  the  ground.  The  cutting  -was  haggled, 
and  evidently  not  made  with  sharp  toc^s.  <i /. 

The  mines  were  found  filled  with  old  timber.    The  explorers 


COS'CRAl.ED  MINKS  AiVD   THE  SKRLRTON  CHAMBER. 


1079 


mod  of  the 

{(^d  him  a 

111  found  in 

dechncd  to 

lite    Oaks, 

onjj  whom 

Vhite  Oaks 

e,  and  were 

ow  the  old 

were  acres 

r.  Patterson 

)r  sim-dried 

t  above  the 

rcoal,  which 
re  also  seen 
veyed  from 
ich  diverted 

which  Mr. 
d  furnaces  a 
ling  directly 
1  tains,  which 
ancient  trail 
5  five  miles, 
ceeding  one 
ling  days  on 
ere  are  now 
than  a  man's 
:rson  said  he 
g  the  smelt- 
ted  by  rocks 
:  seen  some 
B  trees  were 
was  haggled, 

he  explorers 


could  not  imagine  for  wlmt  purpose  the  timber  was  used,  because 
the  wallH  of  the  mine  are  quartzitc,  and,  therefore,  it  was  unneces- 
sary to  protect  the  sides  from  tumbling  in  by  timber  supports. 
They,  therefore,  made  up  their  minds  that  the  mine  was  covered 
up  \Yith  timber  to  conceal  it.  'llic  timber  h&d  rotted  and  fallen 
in  from  the  top,  choking  up  the  passage.  Thirteen  of  the  party 
worked  nearly  two  weeks  in  clearing  out  the  mine,  removing 
the  timber,  stagnant  water  and  old  leaves.  They  found  the  mine 
seventy  feet  deep,  with  several  horizontal  drifts  from  the  main 
shaft.  The  rock  is  found  to  be  very  rich,  as  appears  from  the 
specimens  brought  here. 

An  old  miner  named  Baxter  found,  in  digging  down,  a  chamber 
about  ten  feet  square,  having  on  one  side  a  fireplace,  across 
which  hung  a  crane  having  a  clay  hook,  and  at  the  end  of  the 
hook  was  a  bone.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  fireplace  was 
found  the  ^fkeleton  of  a  man  in  a  sitting  position,  who  was 
evidently  watching  the  bone  roasting  for  his  meal,  when  he  and 
his  habitation  were  overwhelmed  in  ruin  by  a  sudden  discharge 
of  lava  from  the  mountain.  There  are  lava  beds  near  there 
extending  about  fifty  miles,  and  Mr.  Patterson  is  of  the  belief 
that  the  entire  population  in  some  former  period  must  have 
been  suddenly  extirpated  by  a  great  volcanic  eruption.  lie 
thinks  at  one  time  the  crater  of  these  mountains  was  sixty  miles 
long  and  from  fifteen  to  twenty  miles  across,  an  eruption  from 
which  would  destroy  every  living  thing  within  a  hundred  miles. 
The  only  idea  we  can  form  of  its  destructive  influence  is  by  the 
ruins  seen  on  every  hand.  In  that  dry  atmosphere,  where  it 
rains  only  between  the  months  of  June  and  July,  wood  and 
animal  remains  are  long  preserved,  and  that  so  little  is  pre- 
served of  this  ancient  people  gives  us  a  good  idea  of  the  ruin 
that  ensued.  j  ;     ,   :  -  , 

All  over  Western  New  Mexico  are  ruins  of  former  cities, 
inhabited  once  perhaps  by  the  same  races  who  reared  similar 
cities  in  Arizona  and  Southwest  Colorado,  and  dosely  resembling 
(hem  in  structure  and  plan.  Some  of  diese  are  massive  stone 
fortresses  of  great  extent,  and  would  now  be  impregnable  against 
everything  except  modem  artillery.    Among  these,  two  are 


{§f&Aii;*!^*S»:-*J«V!S-  J»>'  '^  -"!  tv,UsSifc»ifi  ■-:'<!;• 


io8o 


OVJt    WESrKKf/  F.MPIRR. 


especially  worthy  of  notice  as  hcinjj  well  known  to  travellers. 
One  is  the  extensive  stone  fortifications  at  the  eastern  hase  of 
the  Sierra  Pajarito,  on  the  soiithrrn  borJer  of  Lincoln  county ; 
the  other  the  larpe  and  massive  ruins  in  Socorro  county,  east  of 
the  Mesa  Jumanes,  known  as  "La  Gran  Quwira!'  These  ruins 
are  large  enou^'h  for  a  large  city,  anil  Mr.  S.  W.  Cozzens,  who 
visited  them  in  1859,  says  that  the  city  must  have  hatl  not  less 
than  60,000  inhabitants.  The  ruins  extended  for  miles,  and 
showf'd  that  while  it  had  undoubtedly  been  a  large  city  before 
the  advent  of  the  Spaniards  in  1540,  it  had  been  captured  by 
them,  as  the  ruins  of  two  larj^a;  stoQe  churches,  over  which  the 
arms  of  Spain  were  carved,  fully  demonstrated.  There  were 
also  extensive  ruins  of  an  ancient  tem{)l(r  like  the  Casas  Grandes 
on  the  Gila,  which  we  have  noticed  under  Arizona.  The  Accquia 
or  aqueduct,  which  had  brought  water  for  this  city,  was  traced 
fourteen  miles  into  the  mountains  to  a  very  large  spring.  It  was 
built  of  stone  and  laid  in  cement,  and  was  an  admirable  piece  of 
engineering  work.  There  were  traces  also  of  silver  mines  which 
had  been  worked  for  a  long  time,  but  with  very  imperfect  tools. 
Thecity  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  "seven  great  cities  of  Cibola." 
About  eighty  or  ninety  miles  south  of  La  Gran  Quivira,  on  the 
plain  east  of  the  Organ  Mountains,  in  Dofla  Ana  county,  is  one 
of  those  rock  cities,  carved  by  the  winds  and  waters  into  the 
semblance  of  a  city  with  its  massive  wall,  its  churches,  cathedrals, 
castles  and  towers,. its  broad  streets  and  its  numerous  dwellings, 
all  carved  out  of  a  soft  white  sandstone,  and  so  perfect  an  imita- 
tion as  to  deceive  any  one  at  a  little  distance.  Near  this  are 
salt  lakes,  the  salt  of  which  is  very  pure,  and  extensive  fields  of 
gypsum,  some  of  it  in  the  crystallized  form  of  selenite,  which 
was  used  instead  of  glass  for  lighting  the  best  dwellings  of  these 
ancient  cities.  In  the  "Mai  Pais "  or  Bad  country,  in  Socorro 
county,  east  of  the  Rio  Grande,  are  vast  deposits  of  fossils  as 
remarkable  as  those  of  Colorado,  Nebraska  or  Montana. 

In  1879  the  Smithsonian  Institution  sent  a  small  party  of 
ethnologists  into  New  Mexico  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  the 
ancient  Pueblo  ruins  of  the  valleys  of  the  Rio  San  Juan  and  the 
Rio  Grande  del  Norte,  und  of  making  extensive  collections  of 


THE  POTTRHY  OF  TUP.   PUKH/m. 


1081 


travellers. 

rn  hasf  of 

In  (fjtinty ; 

ty,  cast  of 

lif'so  ruins 

zzt.'ns,  vvlu) 

at!  not  less 

miles,  and 

rity  before 

ptiir(;(l  by 

which  the 

ere   were 

as  Grandes 

he  Ac  eg  lit  a 

was  traced 

n\r.    It  was 

lie  piece  of 

r»ines  which 

rfect  tools. 

of  Cibola." 

nra.,  on  the 

iinty,  is  one 

rs  into  the 

cathedrals, 

5  dwellings, 

ct  an  imita- 

■\T  this  are 

ve  fields  of 

nite,  which 

igs  of  these 

in  Socorro 

f  fossils  as 

ina. 

II  party  of 
jloring  the 
an  and  the 
lections  of 


antiquities  and  objects  of  aboriginal  inte-rest  for  \\\v.  National 
Museum  at  Washington.  TIk;  party,  while  in  llu;  vicinity,  visiteil 
the  ancient  town  of  Zufli,  wher<!  they  have  succeeded  in  gather- 
ing tog<;ther  upward  of  two  thousand  specimens  of  modern 
pottery,  stone  implements,  images,  costumijs,  etc.  Scatten  d 
through  the  valley  of  the  Rio  (Irande  del  Norte  are  nineteen 
Pueblo  villages,  which  wen;  in  existence  long  before  the  dis- 
covery of  America ;  and  the  inhabitants  to  this  dfiy  preserve 
their  old  traditions  and  arts  comparatively  uninlluenced  by  the 
innovations  of  civilization. 

The  pottery  manufactured  in  the  town  of  Zurti  is  exceedingly 
interesting,  and  is  almost  identical  with  the  vt^ry  ancient  ware 
which  is  found  among  the  stone  ruins  which  abound  throughout 
that  section.  Attention  has  been  called  to  this  ware  by  Lieu- 
Kmant  A.  VV.  Whipple,  in  the  third  volume  of  the  Pacific  Railroad 
Reports,  and  more  recently  by  Professor  F.  V.  Hayden,  in  his 
last  annual  report  of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  of  the 
Territories  (1876).  In  the  latter  are  figured  several  fine  water 
vessels  in  the  forms  of  owls,  hawks,  ducks  and  domesticated 
fowls.  The  collection  made  by  the  Smithsonian  party  includes 
many  animal  forms  and  hundreds  of  specimens  of  almost  every 
conceivable  shape,  scarcely  any  two  of  them  being  similar.  It 
is,  without  exception,  the  finest  and  most  complete  collection  of 
modern  Pueblo  ware  in  existence.  The  methods  of  manufactur- 
ing this  pottery  are  exceedingly  interesting,  and  a  stutly  of  them 
throws  much  light  on  the  ancient  Pueblo  art,  which  produced  the 
most  superior  aboriginal  ware  yet  discovered  within  the  limits 
of  the  United  States.  The  clay  is  procured  from  the  neighbor- 
ing mesas,  and  the  vessels  are  moulded  entirely  by  hand. 
When  an  unusually  fine  piece  is  being  made,  the  clay  is  wet  and 
smoothed  by  the  lips  of  the  potter,  who  then  sets  the  vessel  aside 
to  dry.  The  paint  is  put  on  by  a  brush,  and  then  burned  in  an 
oven  surrounded  with  dry  manure. 

In  the  Pueblo  of  Laguna  pottery  is  made  in  a  similar  manner. 
A  private  collection,  just  received  in  Philadelphia  from  there, 
contains  a  number  of  vessels  in  Imitation  of  ducks,  setting  hens, 
etc.    Such  objects,  while  ornamental,  are  designed  for  use  also, 


^i^^ak^£ii!^i»<i,mmi^iM*i^iifi!,ii  <ir%ii^i*;'»f:'i^-'-  s-  '^ 


loMa 


Ot'H   WKSTKXX  tM!*/Kt. 


ami  ar<^  nnployi'il  in  cttrryin^  wateir  on  j<)urn«y!».  A  common 
ornaMK'nt  on  this  ware  iH  a  |>itinl('il  r<']>roHrnuiti()n  of  the  elk  or 
ciccr,  in  which  a  {asba^c  invariably  cxi«:m!M  front  the  mcuth  to 
the  heart,  which  latter  (h  oi  trian^uliir  form,  'llir;  tcnaluiM,  or 
earthen  basins,  are  usril  as  r»i«|>tiicle«  for  meal,  corn,  water,  or 
other  substancen  which  constitute  the  food  of  the  naliveH.  One 
very  oltl  vessel  is  covered  with  represtrniations  of  snakes,  a  rare 
lij^iire  in  the  ornamentation  of  I'lublo  ware,  nince  tht;  priests  or 
mc'licine  men  no  lonj;er  permit  the  people  to  employ  tin:  sun  or 
serpent  syml)ols,  but  monopolize  them  in  their  incantations  and 
stately  ct-remonies.  lenahas  are  made  of  all  sizes,  from  an 
incli  in  diameter  to  those  that  will  hold  from  twenty  to  thirty 
^jallons.  I'.ach  larj^'C  vessel  has  a  concave  Ijottom,  likt:  a  cham- 
pagne-bottle, for  steadying  it  on  the  head  in  carrying  water  from 
the  well. 

The  clay  used  in  the  manufacture  of  the  Laguna  pottery  is  of 
a  dark  slate  color  and  exceedingly  compact,  oftentimes  approach- 
ing soft  rock  in  texture.  This  is  taken  from  seams  or  veins  in 
the  mesa  walls.  The  Indians  soak  this  clay  in  water  for  two  or 
three  days,  when  it  becomes  perfectly  plastic.  It  is  then  kneaded 
with  the  feet  of  the  workmen  on  a  large  Hat  stone,  and  all  the 
hard  lumps  are  taken  out  carefully.  After  the  vessels  are 
mouMed  into  form  they  are  left  to  dry,  and  then  covered  with  a 
ground  work  of  white  paint.  Over  this  are  painted  fanciful 
devices  in  red,  orange  and  black.  The  lustre  of  the  ware  is  im- 
parted by  polishing  the  paint,  before  baking,  with  an  exceedingly 
smooth  stone  like  an  ordinary  seashore  pebble.  The  brown  or 
black  pigment  is  made  from  a  black  stone  somewhat  resembling 
hematite.  This  is  ground  fine,  mixed  with  water,  and  violently 
agitated  for  some  time.  It  is  then  poured  from  one  vessel  to 
another  to  remove  all  grit,  and  is  applied  to  the  surface  of  the 
vessel  to  be  ornamented,  as  commcMi  paint,  with  a  stick.  This 
paint  alone  would  rub  off,  but  to  prevent  this  it  is  mixed  with  the 
residue  of  two  plants  ox  weeds  boiled  together  for  a  long^  time 
until  it  becomes  of  the  required  consistency,  after  'which  it  is  ad- 
lowed  to  cool ;  it  then  becomes  perfectly  hard.  The  clay 
employed  for  the  red  coLor  is  of  a  yellowish  tint,  but  on  being 


hIASVFACTVnES  OF  .VKty  MK.yfCO. 


lo«5 


\  rommon 

the  elk  or 

nuntth  to 

tciuhat,  or 

1,  waler,  or 

vcs.     One 

kcs,  a  rare 
priests  or 

tin.'  sun  or 
tatiuns  and 
s,  fron)  an 
ty  lo  tliirty 
kr  a  cham- 
watcr  from 

ottery  is  of 
s  approach- 
or  veins  in 

for  two  or 
L'n  kneaded 
pind  nil  the 
vessels  are 
cred  with  a 
ted  fanciful 
ware  is  im- 
exceedingly 
e  brown  or 
resembling 
id  violently 
ne  vessel  to 
rfiice  of  the 
stick.  This 
ed  with  the 
I  long  time 
ich  it  is  a(l- 

The  clay 
t  on  being 


baked  niangc!!  to  a  brilliant  rr<l.  Thr  proccRU  of  buminff  or 
baking  rimHiRts  in  first  placing  the  vrsMels  on  stoni-n.  around  wlii(  h 
\*  parked  a  quantity  of  dry  bftrnyard  manure,  whit  h  in  onsideml 
the  bcHt  fuel.  The  vpsscI  is  covered  completely  with  this  sub* 
stance,  %t>  as  to  exclud*;  the  air,  and  a  very  hot  fire  cf  two  or 
three  hours'  tluration  is  prodiicrtl.  During  ilie  process  of  burn- 
ing the  vessels  are  closely  watched,  and  no  portion  of  them  is 
permitted  to  l)ecome  exposed  to  lh«'  atmosphj-re. 

The  pottery  of  Laguna,  and  in  fact  of  nujst  of  the  other  Putrblo 
villa;;<'s,  is  almost  entirely  made  by  the  wonvn,  who  expend 
much  of  their  leisure  time  in  moulding  and  decorating  the  ware. 
The  particular  interest  which  attaches  to  the  Pueblo  pottery  is  in 
the  fact  that  these  people  of  New  M«;xico  ami  the  Mo(|uis  of 
Arizona  are  the  only  aboriginal  tribes  in  the  l'iiit<;d  States  that 
still  practise  their  old  arts,  unchanged  by  the  influences  of  civili- 
zation. 

Manufactures. — Very  little  is  done  in  the  way  of  manufactures, 
though  the  Pueblo  Indians  and  the  Mexicans  are  both  ingenious ; 
and  with  very  imperfect  and  rude  tools  will  produce  remarkable 
results.  The  jewelry  produced  from  native  gold  and  silver  is  of 
remarkably  artistic  designs,  as  is  the  native  pottery.  The  scrapes 
and  blankets  made  from  the  coarse  wool  of  the  Mexican  sheep 
or  the  hair  of  the  goat  are  of  excellent  quality,  and  so  dense  that 
water  cannot  percolate  through  them.  The  saddles,  stirrups  and 
horse  fixtures  generally  are  of  excellent  quality,  and  the  better 
sorts  have  a  good  deal  of  bullion,  and  a  rude,  barbaric  splendor 
about  them.  Heyond  these  articles  there  is  very  litde  which  can 
be  called  manufactures.  The  rude  bateas,  or  wooden  bowls, 
which  were  their  substitute  for  the  pan  and  the  rocker  of  the 
placer  miner,  and  the  arastras,  great  boulders,  bound  lo  the  arms 
of  the  central  capstan,  with  which  they  ground  their  quartz  rock 
to  powder,  constituted  their  sole  mining  apparatus  ;.diey  had 
even  forgotten  how  to  construct  the  rude  adobe  smelters,  which 
the  Indians  used  three  centuries  ago.  But  with  railroads  and 
railroad  towns  all  over  the  Territory,  there  will  come  in  manu- 
factures, and  builders,  architects,  machinists  and  engineers  will  be 
found  in  great  numbers  through  the  Territory. 


■^•jiMih.^*^  '■'►.vcj«,v'.*(-iii;'ii  ^ 


jt 


1084 


aVK    WKXTKK^r  KMriKK, 


Railroads. —  Thr  Trrritory,  »o  lonjf  complrffly  isolatrd,  and 
whi«  h  one  year  ajjo  had  not  a  miln  of  railroad  within  itM  Uirdrrt, 
it  now  in  a  fair  way  to  have  itn  full  shn.'c  of  railroad  (ommiinica- 
tinn,  not  throii^di  thr  rntrrprite  of  itR  citizms,  l>ut  hrraiiHc  it  ifl 
on  thr  hi^dmay  to  Mrxim  ami  Southern  CaUfornia.  The  Atrhi- 
Hon,  Toprka  and  Santa  IV-  Railway,  whirh  rntrrrd  thr  I'rrritory 
from  Colorado  by  way  of  thr  Raton  I'.ish  ahmit  tlu*  hrjjituiin^' of 
18H0,  ran  its  linrs  southwrst  to  Las  Vt-j^as,  and  thrnir  firarly  due 
west  to  the  Rio  (Irandr,  throwing;  out  a  branch  to  Santa  !•>.  and 
extruding  its  linr  down  thr  Rio  (irandr,  rxpcctrd  to  nach  Me- 
Hitla  by  January,  1881,  and  V\  Paso,  'I'rxan,  by  thr  spring'  of  that 
year.  Thr  Soutiicrn  Pacilic,  rontrollr<|  by  the*  Central  Puific 
Railway,  which  had  crossrd  Soiifhrrn  California  and  briil^'rd  the 
Rio  Colorado  of  tin;  Wrst  at  Yuma  in  1S79,  travrrsrd  Arizona, 
reaching  'liicson  in  thr  sprinjj  of  iSSo.  and  crossinj^  Wrstrrn 
Now  Mtrxico  in  thr  Hiiuunrr,  will  unitr  with  tlir  Atihison  road  nt 
Fort  'I"horn(!,  on  the  Rio  Cirandr.  by  January.  1881,  and  thrnce 
proceeding'  down  thr  Rio  (irandr  to  I'.l  Paso  wil'  [)robabIy  mak" 
itH  termiiuis  at  Cialvrston  a  year  later.  Mranwhilr  the  Atchiso.' 
Toprka  md  Santa  \'i\  having  purchafjed  ih('  charter  of  the  At- 
lantic and  Pacific,  and  conttollinj^  the  St.  Louis  and  San  I'>an- 
cisco  Railway,  hav<!  commrncrd  and  are  actively  [tushin^  a  rail- 
way west  from  Albutputniue  through  the  Zuni  country,  across 
Arizona,  on  or  near  the  thirty-fiflh  parallel,  and  crossing  the  Rio 
Colorado  at  "the  Needles"  by  a  bridge  .^oo  feet  above  the  river, 
will  reach  the  Pacific  at  San  I  )irgo  and  Santa  Harbara  by  the 
end  of  18S1.  Another  branch,  following  substantially  the  line 
of  the  Southern  Pacific  to  Tucson,  Arizona,  will  turn  southward 
at  that  point,  and  reach  Guaynias,  Mexico,  on  the  California  gulf, 
probably  before  1882. 

Still  another  line  is  projected,  and  from  its  connection  with  the 
Mexican  lines  recently  authorized,  may  very  soon  be  built,  viz. : 
the  line  of  the  Denver  and  Rio  Grande,  which,  starting  either 
from  Alamosa  or  Animas  City,  Colorado,  will  proceed  nearly  due 
south  to  the  Mexican  line,  to  connect  there  with  a  road  from  the 
City  of  Mexico.  There  may  eventually  be  a  railway  down  the 
valley  of  the  Pecos,  connecting  with  some  of  the  Texas  railroads; 


itr«l.  .ind 

Twiuinicu- 

nine  it  in 

\\r  Atrhi* 

Ifrriiory 

inning'  of 

ifiirly  line 

a  I'«'',  atul 

rath   N!r- 

ij,^  of  that 

ral   P'lcific 

riil^'cd  the 

1  Arizona, 

;  WcstJ-rn 

H\  rnad  at 

nd  tlu'ncc 

ahly  mak" 

Atchiso. 
of  iIk'  At- 
San  I'Van- 
linj^  a  rail- 
itry,  across 
njr  the  Rio 
i  th('  river, 
ara  by  the 
ly  the  line 
southward 
fornia  gulf, 

3n  with  the 
built,  viz. : 
ting  either 
nearly  due 
d  from  the 
'  down  the 
railroads ; 


rorVLATtON  OF  KKW  MK;i/CO.  log) 

but  at  preteitt  there  arc  no  .lilwayK  projected  throii^di  i'.aHtern 
or  Soutlu:a»tcrn  New  Mexico.  Tho»c  alreaily  compUtJ'*!  or  in 
couriie  of  rontiriK  tion  jjive  ready  acceNM  to  the  j^Teai  tninin^  and 
■tock-raininj^  diHtrictM,  and  cniiure  the  rapid  development  of  the 
Territory. 

Population. — 'Ww  Territory  Iuih  n  larjrt-r  native  population  than 
any  other  of  the  Territorien  of  "Our  Western  Kmpire."  Thi* 
native  population  at  the  tinte  the  Uniteil  .States  jrovrrntnent  ftC* 
(|uired  the  country  consisted  of  alH)ut  three  fourths  Mexicans,  or 
Mispano-AmericanH,  and  one  fourth  I'ueblo  and  other  Indiann, 
with  a  very  few  (iertnans,  I'>en»:h  anil  Americans.  Its  population 
has  doubled  in  thirty  years,  and  to  ihis  orij^inal  element  have 
been  added  a  considerable  number  of  Irish,  (ij-rmans,  Mel^iann, 
I''rench,  S[)anish  and  AmcricauH.  The  following  table  shov^^  the 
population,  ho  far  as  it  has  been  ascertained,  and  such  other  par* 
ticulars  as  are  attainable  by  the  census  enumerators : 


CkN»UI   VlAK. 


iSto 
iSto.. 

1870,. 


n 


«S.S47 
107,  luS 

111,303 
"48.750 
i4i.Ma 


I 


3i.74Jt  a9,tto5t 

49.091 1  44.4»5t 

47.I3«»I  44.739+ 

K3.I5S  48,595 


61.5JS 

<».9»4 

90.J9J 

134,920 

1 18430 


aa 

«S 
173 

330 

4«7 


34,000 
«4.507 
30.7J8 
a3.5'» 


I 


J<),a6i 

8fi.793l 
86.354 

94.370 


Cunvi  Vkar. 


a,a86 

6.7*31 
5.6ao 

30,550 


0.30 
0,36 
0.76 
«»3 
'•35 


5«94 
19.0a 

3363 
a747 


\ 


35,089 

3».78SI 
53,330 
67.313 
69,487 


*l 


I 


a»,774 
3».796 
39.3"  a 
3».«70 
39."  17 


I 


5i 


13,698 

".37" 
30,070 


|1| 


"3.9«o 
»5.483 
«3.33» 


10,87111 
13.78 1 

33,443 


*  Inclu<1in|  iribal  Indian*.      fScs  of  Indlimi  no*  fiv«n.      { Indian  office  report.      I  £xcIu>Itc  of  iribnl  Indi 
I  PtMblo  IndUoa,  not  atUwad'  t»  vou,  riMugh  nckon«d  u  ciitMn*.    |  Uvvtmor  Wnlteca'i  MtimaM,  avldtnll] 

M»alv«. 


lian*. 

rldtnlly  t» 


■^*^wjrt>  j9»(«  ..A,."?5i-  •( .  KM 


1086 


OUR   Wn^STERN  EMPJUM, 


It  should  be  said,  however,  that  the  previous  enumerations  have 
been  very  imperfect,  because  the  canvassers  were  supposed  to  be 
unfriendly  conspirators  against  t^e  inhabitants,  Indian  and  Mex- 
ican, and  were  purposely  avoided  or  misinformed.  We  have  in- 
cluded in  these  enumerations  the  Indian  population,  both  Pueblos 
and  tribal  Indians,  so  iar  as  it  could  be  ascertai'-ed, -though  in  1850 
and  i860  the  number  of  tlie  latter  could  only  be  conjectured. 

Chief-Justice  Prince,  in  an  address  delivered  in  Brooklyn  in  the 
winter  of  18B0,  said  of  this  population: 

"There  is  grert  interesl  as  to  tliis  population,  there  beingf 
three  entirely  distinct  civilizations  and  three  distinct  epochs  of 
history  represented.  In  New  Mexico  are  found  the  only  remains 
of  the  aborigines  of  the  people  of  America.  They  arc  living  in 
the  same  kind  of  houses,  and  to  all  intents  and  purposes  existing 
as  they  did  300  years  ago.  Such  are  the  Pueblo  Indians.  Side 
by  side  with  these  are  the  Spaniards  and  American  civilization  in 
its  broader  type  esp  illy.  The  aborigines  or  Pueblo  Indians 
numbered  in  1879  9,0*3  souls,  all  told, and  occupied  nineteen  vil- 
lages. There  are  evidences  of  la.'ge  Indian  cities,  not  a  single 
Inhabitant  of  which  remains,  and  villages  have  b^en  deserted  in 
the  life  of  the  present  generation.  These  aborigines  call  them- 
selves the  children  of  Montezuma,  who  has  gone  from  them,  but 
promised  to  return,  and  left  the  sacred  fire,  which  is  still  kept 
burning  until  he  re.iuTns.  Their  religion  is  indistinct,  but  seems 
tx>  be  mainly  a  worship  of  the  powers  of  nature,  the  sun,  the 
clouds,  the  wind  and  the  rain.  Their  sacrifices  are  of  fruits  and 
flowers,  and  resinous  gums  only.  They  have  been  throughout 
New  Mexico  nominally  converted  to  Catholicism,  but  maintain 
their  old  worship  in  secret  The  men  and  women  of  this  singula 
people  are  orderly,  peaceable  and  industrious,  and  they  make 
good  citizens  of  the  Territory.  They  are  the  best  cultivators  of 
the  soil  on  the  Rio  Grande.  The  women  grind  the  com  or 
w^eat,  and  make  pottery^  very  asioni^ing  in  its  symmetrical  pro- 
portions. The  cttstoms  of  these  people  have  never  changed,«nd 
they  are  extremely  neat  and  citearty.  The*  Spanish-speaking 
people  are  generous  and  hospitable  and  moct  agreeable  in  their 
lOanners.    They  ape  a  contented  people,  perhaps  too  contented. 


tion  shave 
Dsecl  to  be 
and  Mex- 
e  have  in- 
th  Pueblos 
gh  in  1850 
ctured. 
dyn  in  th« 

lere  being 
epochs  of 
ly  remains 
c  living  in 
es  existing 
ans.     Side 
ilization  in 
ilo  Indians 
ineteen  vil- 
)t  a  single 
leserted  in 
call  them- 
i  them,  but 
still  kept 
but  seems 
le  sun,  the 
■  fruits  and 
throughout 
It  maintain 
lis  singula 
they  make 
Itivators  of 
lie  com  or 
etrical  proi- 
ianged,<^ui4 
ih-speaking 
ble  in  their 
I  contented. 


TllREF  DISTINCT  CIVILIZATIONS  IN  NEW  MEXICO.  1087 

They  have  no  ambition  to  rise,  and  their  wants  are  so  few  that 
they  even  don't  want  money.  You  cannot  buy  land  iVom  a  Mex- 
ican, even  if  he  is  not  using  it  himself,  because  it  belonged  to 
hi'i  father.  Instead  of  being  murderous  or  dangerous  in  their 
tendencies,  they  |iave  a  positive  dislike  for  murder  and  bloodshed, 
except  in  the  case  of  those  who  are  located  on  the  border.  It  is 
a  remarkable  fact  that  they  have  five  distinct  languages.  In  their 
methods  of  courtship  and  marriage  the  Spanish  differ  very  much 
from  them.  The  third  type  in  Mexico  is  the  American.  The 
typical  American  life  is  found  in  the  Texas  frontier  or  the  frontier 
of  the  Indian  Territory.  Among  these  are  many  wild  and  lawless 
men,  away  from  the  restraints  of  civilized  life,  some  of  them  being 
practically  outlaws.  The  railroads  have  just  penetrated  New 
Mexico,  and  emigrants  of  a  better  class  are  flocking  there  from 
all  parts  of  the  country." 

To  the  Chief-Justice's  list  of  civiHzations  should  be  added  two 
more — the  tribal  Indians,  of  whom  there  are  two  distinct  races—- 
tlie  Apaches,  of  three  or  four  distinct  bands,  the  Jicarillas,  Mes- 
caleros  and  Hot  Spring  Apaches,  who  occupy  Southern  and 
Southeastern  New  Mexico,  and  are,  without  exception,  the 
meanest,  filthiest,  most  treacherous,  murderous  and  degraded  of 
all  the  Indian  tribes ;  and  the  Navajoes,  in  the  northwest  of  the 
Teirritory,  a  tribe  of  muK:k  higher  character,  largely  engaged  in 
pastoral  pursuits,  owning  nearly  or  quite  a  million  sheep  and 
large  herds  of  catde.  Th»  tribes  whose  reservation  is  partly  in 
New  Mexico  and  partly  in  Ariaona,  are  possibly  of  kindred  race 
with  the  Pueblo  Indians ;  they  h^ve  been  badly  treated  by  the 
whites,  but  are  greatly  superior  to  any  of  the  other  nomadic  tribes 
of  the  West,  and  give  good  ground  tp  hope  that  they  may  yet  be 
civilized!  There  were,  in  1870,  iiJSSQ  Navajoes,  and  1,977 
Apacn6s  m  the  rerntory..^  ^  , 

Counties  and  Principal  Toitms. — There  are  twelve  counties  in 
the>  Territory,,  viz. :  Taosy  > haTing) '  in  ^  i<^i^  i%o^ff  inhabitiints ; 
Colfax,  4,290;  Mora,  11,475;  R'O  Arriba,  12,000;  Ber-rtaliik>»  19^- 
595,;  Santa .F6,.  134355 V  Sdn^MjguoI,  1-6,175:;  Valencia,  10,035  ; 
Lincoln,  4,4505  StocornDt,  j6>22q  ;  Gran(li,  ^^00;  Dofia  Ana,  7,430* 
¥he  popul^tioa  nii  aU  these  cases  is  ekclusvve  of  Indians.    Of 


.m 


."SSK®s»ii^#&Sfe*i-a*ift*-^'l*i 


1088 


OUR   WESTERN  EJUI'IRB. 


these  counties  Bernalillo,  Valencia,  Santa  Fd  and  San  Miguel  are 
of  the  most  irregular  and  peculiar  shape,  Bernalillo  and  Valencia 
having  portions  entirely  detached  and  separated  by  other  coun- 
ties *"roni  their  larger  sections.  The  other  counties  are  of  com- 
paratively regular  form.        I  .     ' 

Of  the  towns  Santa  Fe,  the  capital  and  oldest  city,  has  about 
6,500  inhabitants ;  Albuquerque,  about  5,000 ;  Las  Vegas,  Me- 
silla  and  Silver  City,  from  3,000  to  4.000  each ;  Cimarron,  Las 
Cruces,  Mora,  Placita,  Fernando  de  Taos,  Ocate,  Tome  and  San 
Marcial,  growing  towns,  each  of  1,000  or  more  inhabitants. 

Edvcation  is  at  a  low  ebb  in  New  Mexico.  The  Territory 
being  under  the  control  of  the  Roman  Catholic  hierarchy,  which 
largely  outnumbers  all  other  denominations  in  its  adherent  popu- 
lation, the  public  school  education  has  been  wholly  usurped  by 
them,  and  the  public  funds  for  school  purposes  are  entirely  ex- 
pended by  them  upon  their  own  schools.  Governor  Lew  Wal- 
lace, in  his  report  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  September, 
1879,  gives  the  following  as  the  latest  report  concerning  education 
in  the  Territory : 

.  i*'The  lands  set  apart  for  public  schools  in  New  Mexico  are  in 
very  liberal  quantity ;  nothing,  however,  has  been  done  to  make 
them  available.  -       /    wa  iu.  "       ' 

"In  1 87 1  the  legislature  passed  ^  act  establishing  a  common 
school  system,  for  the  support  of  which  there  were  set  apart  not 
only  the  poll-tax  and  a  quarter  of  all  other  taxes,  but  a  certain 
surplus  in  the  various  county  treasuries.  Four  years  afterwards 
eight  of  the  twelve  counties  reported : 


.(H 


1  >, 


I 


>  ■    f  I.  • 


I , 


,.  .iii.i;    "    'I  'i.:.iMiJ   ',.'    •Hi./     vn:     i.t       i'tya  '>  '...''.'"  .':(-'' 

,  Schools     .    .    ..    .    .,<    ,    •.    «    •    •    t..«  .  138  •  1  ) 

Pupils  in  attendance        .'..........  i  5,151  :    '•  , 

Teachers  (male  and  female) ,    ,    .  .  4,^  ^ 


Wages  of  teachers  per  month,  |i6  to  I40. 


■;f.' :. 


"The  amount  of  ac^iool  moneys  raised  by  tax  in  1874  was 

$28,523.34.  .:-'i:i  ,■  :'>!^ 

"  Education  is  chiefly  in  the  Spanish  language.    In  Grant  and 

Colfax  counties  the  English  is  the  prevailing  tonjgue.       ■  n  >  mi-.i 

il^In  addition  to  the  above  there  aze  twenty-six  private  and! 


Miguel  are 
111  Valencia 
other  coun- 
are  of  com- 

r,  has  about 

Vegas,  Me- 

narron,  Las 

me  and  San 

)itants. 

■e  Territory 

archy,  which 

lerent  popu- 

usurped  by 

I  entirely  ex- 

ir  Lew  Wal- 

,  September, 

ng  education 

dexico  are  in 
lone  to  make 

.  -:  ii.  'i-  V'- 
ig  a  common 
set  apart  not 
but  a  certain 
rs  afterwards 


138 
47 


in  1874  was 

In  Grant  aod 

e. 

c  private  and 


HELtGION  AND  MORALS.  1089 

parochial  schools,  in  the  greater  portion  of  which  the  common 
and  higher  branches  are  taught.  In  some  instances  (jcrman  and 
French,  and  the  classics  add  music,  have  place  in  the  course  of 
instruction." 

Religion  and  Morals. — As  we  have  already  said,  Roman 
Catholicism  is  supreme  in  New  Mexico.  In  1874  there  were 
198  church  organizations  and  170  church  edifices,  belonging  to 
the  Roman  Catholics,  many  of  the  latter  being  costly  buildings, 
against  ten  organizations  and  nine  church  edifices  of  all  other 
denominations,  and  the  proportion  is  about  the  same  to-day. 
The  Territory,  while  a  Mexican  State,  was,  of  course,  under  exclu- 
sively Roman  Catholic  jurisdiction,  and  so  far  as  the  great  mass 
of  the  people  are  concerned,  especially  the  Mexicans  and  Pueblo 
Indians,  it  is  so  to-day.  Unfortunately  the  Catholicism  of  the 
Territory  is  the  Catholicism  of  the  middle  ages,  and  not  that  of 
the  nineteenth  century,  aggressive,  imperious,  arrogant  and 
exclusive,  while  it  is  also  illiterate  and  with  few  exceptions 
grossly  immoral.  Its  priests  are  to  a  lamentable  extent  literally 
the  fathers  of  their  flocks ;  and  illegitimacy  is  as  common  and  as 
little  regarded  as  it  was  on  the  continent  of  Europe  three  hun- 
dred or  four  hundred  years  ago.  This  scandal  became  so  gross 
a  few  years  since  that  the  archbishop  banished  all  the  priests 
(who  were  of  Spanish  or  Hispano-American  birth)  from  the 
Territory,  and  supplied  their  places  with  priests  from  France  and 
Belgium ;  but  it  is  said  that  the  time  has  come  for  another 
expatriation.  There  is  some  reason  to  hope  that  a  portion  of 
the  large  Immigration  now  flowing  into  the  Territory  may  be  of 
a  better  class,  and  ihat  purer  morals  and  better  educational 
facilities  may  soon  prevail.      •  ! 

Historical  Data. — New  Mexico  was  first  heard  of  in  Europe 
in  1530  as  the  Kingdom  of  Cibola,  from  whence  the  Mexican 
rulers  obtained  their  gold  and  precious  gems.  It  was  reached 
in  1540  by  Coronado,  but  did  not  come  fully  under  Spanish 
domination  until  near  the  close  of  the  sixteenth  century.  The 
foreigners  were  well  received  at  first,  but  they  soon  became 
obnoxious  to  the  people.  The  religious  and  civil  authorities 
were  alike  greedy  for  gold,  and  the  gold  mines  were  made  to 

<59 


•■.■iii^ilteAis&fvSii^iriiisti&fia^ 


k\ 


lOt/O 


OUX   WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


yield  immense  sums  to  the  church  and  the  nilcri^  by  tiv:  enslav- 
ing of  the  natives,  and  the  practice  of  the  most  atrocious  cruelties 
upon  them.  The  cathedral  of  Santi  Ft*  alone  received  from  one 
mine  ;ji i o,cxx>,ooo.  At  last,  exasperated  beyond  endurance,  the 
long-suffering  natives  rose  in  rebellion  in  i68o  and  expelled  the 
Spaniards,  but  only  succeeded  in  keeping  them  out  for  thirteen 
years.  During  this  time  every  mine  in  the  country  was  filled 
up.  Peace  was  made  on  condition  tliat  there  should  be  no  more 
slavery  and  no  more  mining.  From  that  time  until  1846,  when 
the  American  army  took  possession  of  the  Territory,  the  history 
of  New  Mexico  is  almost  a  blank;  things  went  on  the  same  from 
generation  to  generation.  The  governors  of  New  Mexico  were 
|>racticaUy  independent  by  their  isolation ;  and  the  revolution 
which  threw  oft"  the  Spanish  yoke  from  Mexico  made  very  little 
difference  with  this  remote  State.  In  1846  General  Kearney  cap- 
tured Santa  Fe,  and  overran  the  entire  Territory,  which  was 
ceded  to  the  United  States  two  years  later  under  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe-Hidalgo.  The  land  south  of  the  Gila  was  obtained 
in  1853  by  purcliase  from  Mexico,  and  in  1854  New  Mexico  con- 
tained, besides  the  region  within  its  present  limits,  the  whole  of 
Arizona  and  portions  of  Nevada  and  Colorado.  So  much  of  the 
country  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  as  lies  between  the  thirty- 
seventh  and  thirty-eighth  parallels  was  annexed  to  Colorado  in 
February,  1861,  and,  two  years  later,  Arizona  was  set  ot£  Sev- 
eral attempts  have  been  made  to  secure  the  admission  of  New 
Mexico  to  the  Federal  Union,  but  so  far  witliout  success.  A  bill 
for  that  purpose  was  presented  to  the  Forty-third  Congress  in 
March,  1875,  but  faikd  to  become  a  law.  Uivtil  it  <:an  come  in 
as  a  State  having  a  republican  form  of  government  and  not 
binder  the  coatfol  of  a  religious  hierarchy  and  »n  established 
church,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  all  futui^e  applications  will  prove 
equally  unsuccessful.  But  the  vast  tide  of  immigration  now 
flowing  into  the  Territory,  and  which  is  likely  to  be  still  larger, 
wiU  soon  effect  such  changes  that  its  reception  into  the  Union 
will  be  botli  proper  and  desirable. 

Conclusion. — There  is  no  use  in  counselling  immigrants  to  avoid 
d^  region  so  rich  in  mineral  wealth,  or  so  w^  adapted  to  pastoral 


% 


OMEGON—SOi'MD^KihS, 


1091 


tlic  enslav- 
U8  criuUif s 
d  from  one 
urunce.  the 
xpellt'cl  the 
for  thirteen 
was  filled 
b'i  no  more 
1846,  when 
the  history 
same  from 
ilexico  were 
revolution 
le  very  little 
earney  cap- 
which  was 
le  treaty  of 
vas  obtained 
Mexico  con- 
:h€  whole  of 
much  of  the 
in  the  thirty- 
Colorado  in 
et  ot£    Sev- 
a\on  of  New 
cess.     A  bill 
Congress  in 
<:an  come  in 
etit  and  not 
\  established 
js  will  prove 
gration  now 
e  still  larger, 
;>  the  UnioQ 

aats  to  avoid 
d  to  pastoral 


pursuits,  as  New  Mexico;  but  there  is  a  sufficiency  of  these 
advantages  to  last  for  several  years  to  come  ;  and  the  immigrant 
who  delays  until  the  Indian  troubles  arc  fully  settled,  and  the 
country,  and  its  railways  and  highways,  its  government,  school« 
and  religious  advantages  are  more  fully  developed,  will  be  wiser 
than  those  who,  in  their  haste  to  be  rich,  rush  in  now,  and  find, 
as  they  will,  that  wealth  is  only  to  be  purchased  by  great  trials, 
privations  and  sacrifices.  > 


CHAPTER   XVII. 


.  ,  QBEGON. 

Boundaries,  Arka  and  Extent — Face  or  the  Country— Mountains,  Rivers, 
Lakes — The  Valleys  or  Oreoon — The  Willamette  Vaixev — Umpqua 
Valley — Rogue  River  Valley— The  Numerous  Valj-eys  of  Eastern 
QreiCOn — The  Elevated  Pi.*i?4S  of  Middle  and  Central  Oregon— Mr. 
Tolman's  Description  of  Eastern  Oregon— Soil  and  Vegetation — Fer- 
tility OF  THE  Soil — The  Great  Wheat  Valleys  of  Eastern  Oregon — 
Forest  Growths— Great  Size  of  Forest  Trees— Water  Supply— Climate 
AND  Rainfall  or  different  Sections — Meteorological  Tadle  or  Port- 
land, Roseburg,  Umatilla,  Astoria,  and  Corvallis— Geology  and  Min- 
eral Wealth— Fossils— Gold  and  Silver — Lead  ^nd  Copper — Iron  and 
Coal— Excellence  of  the   Coal — Zp6iX)GY — Oregon  Fishfs— Agricul- 

TtniAL  AND  Pi^STORAL  PRODUCTS — TaBLE  OF  CrOPS  AND  LiVE-STOCK— FISH- 
ERIES— The  Salmon  Trade — Timber  and  Lumber  Production  and  Exports 
— Wheat  and  Flour  Exports — Wool — Total  Exports — MANurACTURB^i 
— Labor — Wages— Price  of  Lanp  ajh>P  Facilities  fqih  Obtaining  it-^ 

ItAILROAPS  AWP   RlVE^l  NAVIGATION- FINANCES— EducaTJONAL  FaCIHT'ES — 

Higher  a^id  Special  Epucation— Population — Table — Characteristics 
OF  the  Population — Indian  Reservations  and  Tribal  Indians — Counties 
AND  Principal  Cities  and  Towns — Religious  Denominations — Historical 
Data — The  Title  op  the  United  Statu  to  Oregon.  .  .  >  i  / 

Oregow  is  one  of  the  States  of  "  Our  Western  ^jcnpire,"  situ- 
ated on  tlie  Pacific  slope,  and.ei^cept  Washington  Teirritpry,  ^s  the 
most  northwestenly  of  the  States  and  Territories  C9py>ris?d  wi^hio 
tlie  limits  assigned  to  that  "Empire."  It  is  betyv^ep  tj;^  parallels 
lof  42'  and  46"  18'  nprth  latitude,  and  betiiveen  tfee  meridians  of 


1 1 


It'.i&v  £«(l«5i*^.'^--^V;vii-0.-4f  *■*»■' 


ii 


IQQ2  f^VIt    ^VESTERf^  EMPIRK. 

1 1*^"  I'S  ^"^  '*4"  '5'  ^^^^  lonjfitude  from  Greenwich.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Washinfjton  Territory,  the  Columbia 
river  forming  the  boundary  to  the  point  where  that  river  crosses 
the  parallel  of  46**  and  the  boundary  running  thence  eastward, 
along  that  parallel,  to  the  Snake  river ;  on  the  east  it  is  bounded 
by  Idaho  Territory,  the  Snake  river  forming  the  boundary  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Owyhee,  and  thence  a  line  drawn  due  south  along 
the  meridian  of  116°  50'  west  longitude  to  the  Nevada  line ;  on 
the  south  it  is  bounded  by  Nevada  and  California,  the  parallel 
of  42°  forming  the  boundary  line ;  en  the  west  its  shores  arc 
washed  by  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Its  greatest  width  from  east  to 
west  is  360  miles,  and  from  north  to  south  275  miles;  while  its 
coast  line  is  about  300  miles.  Its  area  is  95,274  square  miles,  or 
60,975,360  acres.  It  is  a  litde  larger  than  the  two  States  of  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania. 

Face  of  the  Country. — ^The  principal  mountains  of  Oregon, 
those  having  the  highest  summits,  are  the  Cascade  Mountains,  a 
continuation  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  of  California,  which  stretch 
across  the  State  from  north  to  south,  at  an  average  distance  of 
about  1 10  miles  from  the  coast  of  the  Pacific.  Numcous  barren 
snow-capped  peaks  of  volcanic  origin  rise  from  them  to  great 
heights  within  the  limits  of  Oregon,  of  which  the  most  elevated 
are  Mount  Hood  (i  1,025  feet),  Mounts  Jefiferson,  Thielsen,  Scott, 
Pitt  and  the  Three  Sisters.  The  Cascade  Range  divides  Oregon 
into  two  distinct  sections,  known  as  Eastern  and  Western  Ore- 
gon. Of  these  the  former  contains  by  far  the  most  territory,  but 
the  latter  is  far  more  advanced  in  settlement ;  and  within  its 
natural  boundaries,  that  is,  between  the  Cascade  Mountains  and 
the  Pacific  coast,  more  than  seven-tenths  of  the  present  population 
of  the  State  are  living. 

Another  chain  of  mountains,  the  so<called  Coast  Range,  ex- 
tends also  north  and  south,  over  Western  Oregon,  at  a  distance 
varying  from  forty  to  seventy  miles  from  the  Cascade  Mountains, 
and  proportionately  nearer  to  the  Pacific  coast.  Its  elevation  is, 
however,  much  lower  than  that  of  the  latter,  its  highest  points 
being  only  a  few  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 
Eastern  Oregon  is  subdivided,  so  to  speak,  into  Middle  Oregon 


vich.  It  i» 
Columbia 
ver  cfosst's 
:  eastward, 
is  bounded 
clary  to  the 
'iouth  along 
da  line ;  on 
the  parallel 
shores  arc 
•om  east  to 
:s ;  while  its 
ire  miles,  or 
ates  of  New 

t 

of  Oregon, 
fountains,  a 
hich  stretch 
:  distance  of 
j'-ous  barren 
em  to  great 
lost  elevated 
lielsen,  Scott, 
/ides  Oregon 
Western  Ore- 
territory,  but 
nd  within  its 
ountains  and 
nt  population 

St  Range,  ex- 
at  a  distance 
le  Mountains, 
s  elevation  is, 
lighest  points 
I  of  the  sea. 
iddle  Oregon 


TOPOGRAPHY  Of  OK  KG  ON.  1093 

and  Eastern  Oregon  proper,  by  the  Blue  Mountains;  a  range 
with  a  general  northeast  and  suulhwest  direction,  at  a  distance 
of  about  150  miles  cast  of  the  Cascade  iViountains.  A  chain 
known  as  the  "Western  Spur"  of  the  Blue  Mountains  extends 
at  right  angles  with  the  main  chain  of  the  Blue  Mountains,  in  a 
direction  from  northwest  to  southeast,  from  the  mouth  of  Trout 
creek,  on  the  Ues  Chutes  river,  to  the  Malheur  river,  and  a  par- 
allel but  shorter  chain  extends  from  Camp  Curry  to  Crooked 
lake. 

The  Cascade  Mountains,  in  conjunction  with  the  Coast  Range 
and  the  numerous  chains  of  hills  flanking  and  skirting  and  run- 
ning out  from  them,  divide  the  surface  of  Western  Oregon  into 
numerous  valleys  of  varying  extent,  traversed  by  more  or  less 
important  water-courses. 

The  largest  rivers  of  Western  Oregon  are  the  Columbia,  which 
separates  it  on  the  north  from  Washington  Territory ;  the  Wil- 
lamette, the  largest  tributary  of  the  Columbia ;  Young,  and  Lewis 
and  Clarke  rivers,  also  flowing  into  the  Columbia ;  the  Umpqua 
and  Rogue,  Tillamook,  Yaquina,  Alseya,  Siuslaw  and  Coquille, 
emptying  into  the  Pacific ;  and  the  Tualatin,  Clackamas,  Yamhill, 
Santiam,  Luckiamute,  Mary  and  Long  Tom  rivers,  all  tributaries 
of  the  Willamette,  which  itself  is  formed  by  three  separate 
streams,  known  as  McKenzie's,  Middle  and  Coast  forks. 

The  principal  water-courses  of  Middle  Oregon  are  the  DeS 
Chutes,  John  Day's  and  Umatilla  rivers,  and  their  numerous  trib* 
utaries,  the  waters  of  which  unite  with  the  Columbia. 

The  principal  river  of  Eastern  Oregon  proper  is  the  Snake 
river,  which  separates  Oregon  from  Idaho,  and  its  main  tribu- 
uries,  the  G'.'ande  Ronde,  Powder,  Burnt,  Malheur  and  Owyhee 
rivers.  ' 

There  are  numerous  lakes  in  Southeastern  Oregon,  the  prin- 
cipal of  which  are  the  Klamath,  Goose,  Malheur  and  Warner's 
lakes.  Lake  Harney,  Silver,  Summer,  Albert,  Christmas  and 
Guano  lakes. 

Among  the  distinctive  features  of  Oregon  are  the  numerous 
valleys  formed,  as  already  stated,  by  the  several  mountain  chains 
and  the  minor  ranges  issuing  from  them. 


^  1 


-"SSi^sS&jiafej^i  <>ii£!:-<^ifK'i'ii^~^t'tiiiii^':C'i^'V^ 


|0»^  OUK    nmSTER/^  KMfflfK. 

Th«'  prinf Ipal  valVys  of  Wfstrrn  Orfjjon  an-  thonr  of  the  Wit- 
Iftfti'-ttfi,  Ump<|ur»  and  Rogup  rivers,  each  of  which  desrrvrn  jiar- 
ticular  mrntioh. 

The  Willam«'tte  valley  is  by  far  the  largest,  and  in  rvry  re- 
spi'ct  the  most  attractive.  It  has  been  appropriately  nanned  "the 
grarden  of  the  Northwest."  None  of  the  famous  valWys  of  the 
Old  or  New  World,  not  even  that  of  the  Nile,  or  the  Sacramento, 
ftan  Joaquin  or  Santa  Clara  valleys  of  California,  surpass  it  in 
fertility  or  salubrity.  In  beauty  of  scenery  jts  equal  is  not  to 
be  found  anywhere.  The  Hon.  .Schuyler  Colfax,  late  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  who  visited  it  some  years  since,  enthu- 
siastically pronounced  it  "as  charming  a  landscape  as  ever 
painter's  hand  placed  upon  canvas."  It  is  about  150  miles  in 
length,  from  thirty  to  sixty  miles  in  width,  and  contains  within  its 
natural  boundaries — viz. :  the  Columbia  river  on  the  north,  the 
Cascade  Mountains  on  the  east,  the  Coast  Range  on  the  w«!st, 
and  the  Callapoia  Mountains  on  the  south — about  5,000,000  acres 
of  unusual  productiveness,  of  Which  only  a  part  is  as  yet  under 
cultivation.  It  is  well  watered  throughout  by  the  Willamette 
river  and  its  tributaries.  This  valley  was  the  first  portion  of 
Oregon  to  be  settled,  and  will  always  be  the  Eden  of  the  Pacific. 
A  few  years  ago  it  contained  two-thirds  of  the  population  of  Or- 
egon, but  within  the  past  decade  other  portions  of  the  State  have 
been  Wpidly  settlihg  up,  and  its  population,  though  large  and 
permanent,  does  not  htAv  as  large  a  propol-tion  to  the  whole  as 
formerly. 

The  Umpqua  valley  lies  to  the  south  of  the  Callapoid  Moun- 
tains, and  is  watered  by  the  Uhipqua  rivet-  and  its  tributaries. 
Jts  eastern  boundary  is  forhied  by  the  Cascade  Mdunt&ins,  its 
western  by  the  Coast  Range,  and  its  southern  by  the  GraVe 
Creek  Range.     It  contains  about  2,5oo;ooo  acres. 

To  the  south  of  the  chain  of  mountains  last  n&med  lies  the 
Valley  of  Rogue  River,  whictt  has  the  same  bbUhdwries  to  the 
east  and  west  as  the  two  other  valleys  described,  and  is  bOUhdiecl 
on  the  south  by  the  SiskiyOu  Moiihtiin,  Urhich  sepai'ateS  It  from 
California.  Its  il*ea  is  about  2,400,000  acres.  There  are  sev- 
eral other  smaller  but  fertile  valleys,  the  bottom  lands  of  the 
numerous  small  streams  which  fall  into  the  Pacific. 


MR.    TOLMAN  ON  NOHrNRAHTRRN  ORKGCN, 


«<M 


111 


of  thr  WH- 
isrrvrs  par- 

rvry  TV- 

n.im<^d  "the 

ll<y«  of  thp 

■Jacramrnto, 

iirpai^M  it  in 

is  not  to 

Vicc-Presi- 

since,  cnthu- 

pc   as   ever 

50  miles  in 

ns  Mrithin  its 

le  north,  the 

on  the  w<!st, 

KXJ.ooo  acres 

IS  yet  Under 

:  Willamette 

t  portion  of 

)f  the  Pacific. 

lation  of  Or- 

le  State  have 

jh  large  and 

the  whole  as 

apoid  Mdun- 
s  tributaries, 
tduntkins,  its 
>y  the  Grave 

rtled  lies  the 
ciwries  to  the 
d  id  bounded 
ii'ateS  It  fVoin 
here  are  sev- 
lands  of  the 


Middle  Oregon  has  no  great  agricultural  vallryu,  the  region 
between  the  Cascade  Range  and  ihr  western  spur  of  the  BluQ 
Mountains  being  almost  wholly  (omposed  of  high  rolling  pla« 
teaiix,  and  the  DeM  Chut(!s  river,  as  its  name  im[)li(-s,  (lows 
through  deep  and  narrow  canons,  with  numerous  lapids  and 
cataracts.  At  the  sourcen  of  the  Des  Chutes  there  is  an  exten- 
sive sage  desert,  hut  the  sage  after  being  touchtrd  with  the  frost 
is  very  much  liked  by  cattle,  and  forms  an  excellent  forage  for 
them,  so  that  the  "Sage  Desert"  proves  to  be  exr<II<nt  grazing 
ground.  This  whole  region  of  the  plains  has  been  found  to  be 
admirably  adapted  to  grazing,  and  portions  of  it  arc  among  the 
most  productive  wheat  farms  in  the  State. 

Kastern  Oregon  abounds  in  fertile  valleys,  which  yield  immense 
crops.  The  Conimcniai  Reporter  gives  a  list  of  twenty-twO 
(not  one-half  of  those  which  are  known  there),  which  have  an 
area  of  5,891 ,200  acres,  every  foot  of  which  is  very  fertile.  These 
valleys  will  soon  have  good  access  to  markets  over  narrow-gauge 
roads,  now  in  course  of  construction  by  the  Oregon  Railway  and 
Navigation  Company  to  La  Grande,  Baker  City  and  Sparta, 
which  will  connect  them  with  Portland,  Oregon,  by  rail  or 
steamer,  and  very  soon  also  by  the  way  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
with  the  East. 

The  Surveyor-General  of  Oregon,  Hon.  James  C.  Tolman, 
Hpeaks  as  follows  of  those  sections  of  the  State  which  have 
hitherto  been  least  known,  in  his  report  to  the  Land  Office,  Au- 
gust 15,  1879: 

"A  small  portion  of  Southwestern  Oregon  is  quite  mountain- 
ous, and  is  mostly  adapted  to  mining  and  grazing.  The  area  of 
this  class,  however,  is  comparatively  small,  and  generally  contains 
sufficient  arable  tracts  to  furnish  supplies  of  garden  products  for 
local  use. 

"  That  portion  of  the  district  east  of  the  Cascade  Range  and 
north  of  the  Blue  Mountains,  generally  known  as  Northeastern 
Oregon,  consists  principally  of  high,  rolling  table-lands,  with 
occasional  river  and  creek  bottoms,  and,  with  the  exception  of  the 
eastern  and  nordiern  slopes  of  the  mountain  ranges  mentioned,  is 
scarce  of  timber.     It  comprises  an  area  of  generally  arable  land, 


10^  OUK    WRSTRRN   RMPIKE. 

of  .ihout  forty  by  eighty  miles  in  extent,  is  rapidly  settling  up  in 
Uv  more  eligible  locations,  nml  is  certain,  in  the  near  luliire,  to 
become  a  vast  wheat-growing  region.  Where,  but  a  few  y«'ars 
ago,  only  the  Indian  or  the  trapper  found  induccMnent  to  remain, 
is  now  the  scene  of  busy  activity  and  great  attraction,  it  is  in 
this  region  that  timber  is  now  in  most  demand,  and  tlependence 
is  upon  the  adjacent  mountains.  'Inhere  they  can  cut  and  saw 
timber  for  rails  and  lumlwr  and  draw  or  raft  it  to  the  farms 
below,  and  it  is  hen;  that  timber  depredations  have  been  most 
freipient.  The  land  has  mostly  remained  unsurveycd  where  the 
timber  grows,  and  the  citizens  could  not  purchase  it,  or  procure 
the  us«r  of  it,  even   by  the  payment  of  '  stumpage ; '  but  they  felt 

that  they  must  have  timber The  central  portion  of 

Eastern  On-gon  is  mainly  mountainous,  with  occasional  valleys 
and  watercourses  adapted  to  settlement  and  utilit)'.  This  tract 
is  lK)unded  on  the  north  by  the  lUue  Mountains,  on  the  west  by 
the  Cascade  Range  (the  latter  extending  entirely  through  the 
State  from  north  to  south),  on  the  east  by  Snake  river,  and  on 
the  south  by  the  spurs  and  buttes  of  the  Cascade  and  other 
ranges  of  mountains,  embracing  a  tract  of  country  near  150 
miles  square.  Although  mainly  devoted  to  mining  at  this  time 
there  are  yet  large  tracts  of  this  district  that  are  good  arable 
land,  and  which  will,  in  the  course  of  time,  be  surveyed  and  taken 
up  by  settlers.  At  this  time  it  is  so  far  removed  from  market 
that  it  affords  little  attraction  to  other  than  stock-raisers  and 
miners,  excepting  a  narrow  strip  along  the  one  overland 
thoroughfare.  ' 

"Southeastern  Oregon  comprises  about  one-fourth  the  entire 
area  of  the  State,  and  is  mainly  adapted  for  grazing.  It  is  here 
that  are  annually  reared  and  fattened  the  beeves  which  furnish 
the  markets  of  California,  Utah,  Nevada  and  most  of  Southern 
Oregon.  There  are  numerous  small  valleys,  however,  which  are 
of  most  excellent  agricultural  quality,  and  will  be  more  than  suffi- 
cient for  all  time  to  furnish  the  local  demand  for  produce.  This 
portion  of  the  country  is  composed  principally  of  vast  grassy 
plains,  interspersed  with  low  wooded  hills,  and  thickly  set  with 
beautiful  lakes.     Scattered  over  it  are  some  marshes  and  swampt, 


so  it  AND   VKGHTATION^Wt^rLKS  OKBGOS. 


109; 


tting  up  in 

r  liitiirc,  to 

f»'w  yt-ars 

to  remain, 

I.     It  is  in 

rpctxlrnce 

It  and  saw 

the  farms 

Ix-'cn  most 

where  the 

or  procure 

JUt  they  felt 

portion  of 

onal  valleys 

This  tract 

the  west  by 

throu^jh  the 

ver,  and  on 

-'  and  other 

y  near   150 

at  this  time 

good  arable 

:d  and  taken 

rom  market 

-raisers  and 

le    overland 

h  the  entire 
;.  It  is  here 
irhich  furnish 
of  Southern 
:r,  which  are 
re  than  suffi- 
duce.  This 
vast  grassy 
kly  set  with 
aind  swamptL, 


many  of  which  ar«*  suRcrptil)lc  of  easy  rtclamation.  ;intl  when 
once  redeemed  will  add  that  much  to  the  already  abuiulant 
meadow  lantl.  There  an*  nf)  «'xt<Misive-  belts  of  arid  l.ind  in  Or- 
egon, only  at  long  int<'rvals  small  tracts  of  desj-rt,  and  tlwse  gen- 
erally reclaimable.  Such  tracts  as  couUl  be  thought  worthy  of 
the  name  exist  only  in  the;  imagination  of  tliosc  really  unac* 
quainted  with  the  coimtry." 

Soil  and  I'ej^eiation. — In  Wrslern  Oregon,  l)oth  mountain  and 
valley  have  good  and  productive  soils,  th«;  valleys  Ix-ing  very 
rich,  the  mountain  slopes  hardly  less  so;  wliilf  the  mo.itJtains  arc 
rich  enough  to  be  covered  with  gigantic  growths  of  limlxr  to 
their  sunmiits,  or  whert:  this  has  been  burned,  with  a  dense 
undirrgrowth,  indicating  its  productiveness.  The  general  char- 
acter of  the  soil  in  the  valleys  is  a  dark  loam  and  vegetable 
mould  with  a  clay  subsoil.  The  soil  of  the  bottom  lands,  con- 
tiguous to  the  watercourses,  is  generally  composed  of  rich 
alluvial  deposits  of  decomposed  earth  and  vegetable  ntould. 
The  so-called  Ixuivcr-dam  lands  have  deep  accumulations  of 
humus  or  earthy  deposits,  decayed  vt;g<:table  matter  and  decom- 
posed trees,  the  work  of  beavers  during  centuries,  antl  are  of 
extraordinary  fertility,  but  are  of  limited  e.xtent.  Most  of  the 
lands  in  the  larger  valleys  have  a  rich,  very  deep  soil.  This  is 
especially  true  of  the  level  and  rolling  prairies  betwtv^n  the  river 
bottoms  and  foot-hills.  Besides  the  large  valleys  of  the  Willa- 
mette, Umpqua  and  Rogue  rivers,  and  their  tributaries,  those  of 
the  Young,  Lewis  and  Clarke,  Nelialem  and  Coquille  rivers,  and 
of  Skippanon  creek,  the  basins  of  riliamook  and  Yaquina  bay, 
and  the  so-called  Clatsop  plain,  offer  fine  fields  for  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Western  Oregon.  The  action  of  the  clay  subsoil  in 
retaining  moisture  accounts  for  the  exceeding  productiveness  of 
the  soil.  The  land,  too,  retains  its  productive  capacity  for 
unusually  long  periods  of  time,  and  seems,  indeed,  all  but  inex- 
haustible. Even  after  having  produced  crops  of  wheat,  oats  and 
barley,  for  from  fifteen  to  thirty  years,  without  any  manure,  and 
with  indifferciit  ploughing,  it  remains  as  fertile  as  ever. 

The  soil  of  the  foot-hills  and  tillable  mountain  surfaces  con- 
sists of  red,  brown,  or  black  loam ;  the  black  predominating  near 


■^"•'timSffStS^i^-^f^r 


jl 


lOQll  OVM   WHSTHmt  MMNKK. 

llio  mountain  mnjrfH.  The  rlrvated  l«n<U  not  only  aflbril  thfi 
li '  it  tutiiral  pAHiura^c,  but  pnuluct!  ^qo*\  cropn  of  hay,  ccrcuU, 
v<  ;^<-t.ihli*H  .ind  fruit. 

In  MmMIi*  Orr^'on  soil  for  .i^ritiiltunil  |>iir|HMirt  ix  not  »o  gen- 
erally ^ootl  on  the  «'lfvat«'(l  platraux  an  went  cf  the  Camailc 
MoiintainH;  th<!  htHt  opmiti^n  ur«-  in  tlu'  valt<  ys  ulon^  walur> 
courKCM.  In  some  parts  of  tlxHt;  iliHtrictt,  artiliciul  irrt^'Aiion  hut 
to  b*;  ('mploycd  tu  nukr  ilur  h(nI  produttiw,  nnil  with  this 
stimuluH,  they  yitld  nioiiDouH  iropn. 

In  l*'ast«'rn  ( )r«'^'on,  tl»r  rivrr  valUys  an,*  rit  h,  and  in«)^t  of  the 
lami,  (>v«n  in  thr  upLuuU.  is  a  stronjj  alluvintn,  produtin;;  from 
thirty  to  sixty  biiAhcU  of  wh<'at,  a  like  proportion  of  other  grains, 
ami  imntrnnt:  root  cropit.  Thcnc*  lands  are  new,  and  their  pro- 
ductivcncH!^  I>us  not  Ixien  known  until  within  the  past  five  years. 
The  CaHcadu  MountaiiiH,  thr  Coast  Kan^^c,  and  the*  Callapoia 
Mountatnii,  as  well  an  a  lar^'c  part  of  the  vallcyH  of  Western 
Orcjfon,  are  covered  with  nu^hty  forests,  affordinj^  an  inex- 
hauHtible  supply  of  hard  and  soft  tirnlnir.  In  the  valleys  different 
kinds  of  ash,  oak,  maple,  balm  and  alder,  as  well  as  fir,  cedar, 
ipruce,  pine  and  yew,  grow  in  threat  abundance.  In  the  foot- 
hills Hcatterin^r  oaks  and  6rs,  with  a  thick  second  growth  in  many 
placu!!,  are  found.  The  mountains  are  mostly  covered  with  thick 
growths  of  tall  hr,  pine,  spruce,  hemlock,  cedar  larch  ami  laurel, 
without  much  undergrowth.  Two  kinds  of  cedar,  '.wo  of  fir,  and 
three  of  pine,  are  imligenous  to  Oregon.  Trees  attain  an  unusu- 
ally Ane  development,  both  as  regards  height  and  symmetrical 
form.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  State  th<:  red  fir  abounds,  and 
often  meanures  two  hundred  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in 
height,  with  trunks  nine  feet  In  diameter,  clear  of  branchi-s  up 
for  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  Out  of  such 
trees  eighteen  rail-cuts  have  been  made,  and  five  thousand  to  ten 
thousand  Tcet  of  lumber.  I^lder  stalks  from  eighteen  to  thirty 
inches  in  circ  »mfercnce,  hazel  bushes  from  one  to  five  inches  in 
diameter,  ftn:  of  common  occurrence.  Lumber  is  cut  from  elder 
saw-logs  moAsuring  tweniy  to  thiity  inches  in  diameter.  In  the 
forests  soudi  of  tlte  Umpqua  the  yellow  pine  is  found,  as  also  an 
■ibundanoe  of  sugar  pine,  the  wood  of  which  is  in  great  demand. 


onacoN  r^trvMM  f,4iiM. 


I«09 


afforU  the 

14  y.  cereali. 

not  »u  ^en« 
II*  Caniiiile 
»n^  waUir- 

i^atiun  hut 
I   will)  tiiii 

do  it  of  the 
m  irij;  Irom 
ithcr  ^rainv, 
tl  their  pro- 
l  tivr  yi  .irs. 
(■  Calla[)()ia 
of  VVrstern 
\g  un  inex- 
eys  different 

15  fir,  cedar, 
In  the  foot- 
Wth  in  many 
■d  with  thick 
1  and  laurel, 
iTO  uf  fir,  and 
in  an  unusu- 
symmetrical 
ibounds,  and 

fifty  feet  in 
branches  up 
Out  of  such 
usand  to  ten 
;cn  to  thirty 
ive  inches  in 
It  from  elder 
L^ter.  In  the 
d,  as  also  an 
eat  demand. 


For  f«>mm«*rclA)  ami  initit<«(Hal  |Mir(»o<i«'n,  the  rrd  f»'«Ur,  rcti  fir, 
h'^mlnrk,  HUj^'ar  pint*,  mttpW*  and  anh,  art?  tlu*  mont  vahuiblir.  Th*} 
natural  ^r:iHs#«*»  of  VV'«'<trrn  Ort'jfon  i\rv  of  Wnr  r|iia)iiy  and  niain 
their  niiiriiioiiH  and  faltrnin);  ^har«<i^r  till  fatr  in  thir  auttiinn. 
The  rains  whirh  fill  regularly  in  May  and  Juii«-  kcrp  tiif  pasture 
in  a  HiKciili  nt  (ondition  throu|>h  thi*  Inter  Niimmcr  timl  autumn. 
Onr  •.\ct*'  of  thin  nitturni  paitun-  will  frrd  y  sh<fp  throu^'h  the 
yt»ar,  and  two  ai  r«*H  an  ox.  Hut  tin*  b»'*t  jjrazin>;  lan»U  are  found 
in  Nfiddli*  and  MaM^rrn  and  e«|>ecially  Southcastrrn  Orr^^on. 
'rh'-rc  an-  a  [^r^M  variety  of  natlv**  ;;raHH»  sof  thr  most  nutritioun 
chara^ttT  In  this  vast  puMturr  jrroun«l,  which  compriMS  ahout 
thirty-thr«M'  niillion  a*  r<s.  Thr  tatilr  and  shrrp  pastured  on 
thene  j^'rnssrs  thrive  Ix'ttrr  than  tho^r  f«'d  on  ^rain  in  tlu*  cast. 
Th«'  only  diffic  ulty  is  that  they  iMTome  loo  fat.  PheHc  landM, 
where  they  are  mod'  rately  accessible  to  a  market,  are  beinjf 
taken  up  «'xtensivj;ly  for  dairy  farms,  and  tin*  ^jol.len  ()rej;on 
buttiT  has  already  a  hi>;h  r«'putation  on  the  i'ai  ific  coast. 

IViitit  SMf>f>/y. — VV«stern  Oregon,  with  its  immense  annual 
rainfall,  its  streams  \rA  from  the*  snow  on  the  '.ascatU  Moun- 
tain«i,  and  the  moist  breezes  swept  in  from  the  Pacific,  is  in  no 
want  of  water.  Lakes,  |>onds,  and  fine  sprin^'R  abound.  In 
Middle  ()rej.jon,  on  the  elevati'd  plains,  there  \%  sometimes  a 
scarcity,  and  occasionally  irrijjation  is  necessary,  but  the  facilities 
for  this  are  so  amj)le,  the  cost  of  irrijjation  is  so  moderate,  and 
the  h  "lults  produced  by  it  so  vast  and  profitable,  that  irri^'ation 
is  not  .1  drawback  to  the  cultivation  of  these  lands.  In  Kastern 
Oretjrtfi  the  rainfall,  though  less  copious  than  in  the  western 
portion  of  the  State,  is  sufficiently  so  for  all  practical  purposes, 
and  the  l>(>autiful  valleys  there  do  not  suffer  from  drouj^'ht. 

^//>w<l/^'-u■The  tlimate  of  Western  C)r<gon  Is  mlKl  and  equable, 
differing  in  this  from  that  of  the  Eastern  States,  that  It  is  neither 
too  hot  in  summer  nor  tAo  cold  in  winter.  Owinjjf  to  the 
proximity  of  the  Pacific  and  the  Gulf  stream  of  that  ocean,  snow 
or  frost  t^cver  prevails  to  afiy  con*'derable  degree.  The  average 
temperawre  explain*!  this  fact.  The  average  for  spring  is  52°; 
for  sutlltfler,  67' ;  for  autumn,  53*  ;  and  for  winter,  39°  Fahren- 
heit, showirtg  a  mean  deviation  of  only  28'  during  the  year.    The 


Ji^fjil'-  ^T'-'-djwJ''-f 


Jl 


IIOO 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


3 
\ 

.f 


i 


average  yearly  rainfall  is  forty-four  inches,  about  the  same  as  at 
Davenport  (la.),  Memphis  and  Philadelphia.  Thunder-storms 
are  almost  unknown  in  Western  Oregon,  and  the  disastrous 
hurricanes  and  whirlwinds  of  the  Atlantic  Statfi)  entirely  so. 

Eastern  Oregon  lias  a  dryer  climate,  a  considerably  smaller 
rainfall,  a  somewhat  greater  heat  in  summer  and  a  lower  tem- 
perature in  winter,  assimilating  very  closely  in  these  respects  to 
the  Red  River  valley  of  Minnesota  and  Dakota,  though  in  gen- 
eral with  less  depth  of  snow  in  winter.  But  this  climate  is 
eminently  healthful,  and  the  smaller  rainfall  does  not  interfere 
with  the  production  of  the  largest  and  Bnest  crops  of  wheat 
grown  anywhere.  > 

Middle  Oregon  has  a  more  equable  climate  and  a  moderate 
rainfall,  but  on  its  elevated  plateaux  both  the  cold  and  the  heat 
are  felt  all  the  more  keenly,  that  there  is  no  kindly  forest  to 
.shelter  and  protect  the  traveller  from  the  hot  rays  of  the  sun,  or 
the  biting  cold  of  the  winter  winds. 

Rheumatic  and  pulmonary  diseases  are  excessively  rare  in  all 
parts  of  Oregon.  There  are  in  some  of  the  lowlands  near  rivers 
and  lakes  in  Southern  Oregon  occasional  sporadic  cases  of  a  mild 
intermittent  fever,  but  they  are  never  severe  enough  to  be  serious, 
and  they  yield  rapidly  to  treatment.  Some  of  the  small  towns 
on  the  Pacific,  like  Astoria,  Port  Orford  and  Umpqua  City,  have  a 
much  greater  rainfall  than  the  towns  of  the  Willamette  valley. 
In  these  towns,  in  the  past,  the  annual  rainfall  has  reached  sixty- 
four,  sixty-six,  or  sixty-seven  inches,  but  the  Coast  Range  robs 
the  weeping  clouds  of  the  skies  of  the  coast  of  a  part  of  their 
superabundant  moisture. 

According  to  the  census  of  1870,  the  death-rate  in  Oregon  iw 
lower  than  in  any  other  State  or  Territory  in  the  Union,  except- 
ing Idaho,  being  only  .69  per  cent,  of  the  population :  while  in 
California  it  is  1.16;  in  Vermont,  1.07;  Massachusetts,  1.77; 
Indiana,  1.05;  Illinois,  1.33;  Kansas,  1.25;  and  Missouri,  1.63. 

The  equable  temperature,  the  absence  of  high,  cold  winds  and 
sudden  atmospheric  changes,  render  people  less  subject  to 
bronchial,  rheumatic  and  inflammatory  complaints  than  in  other 
parts  of  the  country,  where  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  are 


■IH 


CLIMATES   OF  OR  EG  OK. 


IIOI 


same  as  at 
der-storms 
disastrous 
ly  so. 

ily  smaiUr 
ower  tcm- 
rcspects  to 
gh  in  gen- 
climate  is 
)t  interfere 
s  of  wheat 

a  moderate 
id  the  heat 
ly  forest  to 
the  sun,  or 

f  rare  in  all 
near  rivers 
es  of  a  mild 
)  be  serious, 
small  towns 
City,  have  a 
lette  valley, 
ached  sixty- 
Range  robs 
)art  of  their 

n  Oregon  ii". 
lion,  except- 
n :  while  in 
isetta,  1.77  ; 
souri,  1.63. 
d  winds  and 
subject  to 
lian  in  other 
nd  cold  are 


greater,  and  the  changes  of  temperature  more  sudden  and 
violent. 

We  give  on  page  1102  the  meteorology  of  Portland,  Oregon, 
representing  the  northwest  region  of  the  State  ;  of  Roseburg,  rep- 
resenting the  southwest,  and  of  Umatilla,  on  the  Columbia,  in  the 
northeast.  We  have  no  reports  f n  m  the  southeast,  but  only 
know  from  the  correspondence  of  those  who  have  lived  there, 
that  the  climate  has  very  much  the  same  characteristics  as  that 
of  Eastern  Oregon  generally.  We  give  also  the  average  tem- 
perature and  rainfall  of  Astoria  and  Corvallis,  representing  the 
extreme  northwest,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  and  Western 
Central  Oregon  in  the  Willamette  valley. 

PorUand,?i\ ^ragG  temperature  of  five  years:  Spring,  51°  9'; 
summer,  65"  3';  autumn,  52"  8';  winter,  40°  i .  Annual  rainfall 
for  five  years:  43.41;  53.12;  43.69;  41-45;  4770- 

Astoria,  latitude,  46°  17';  longitude,  123°  50'.  Mean  tempera- 
ture for  ten  years:  Spring,  51°  16';  summer,  61°  36';  autumn, 
53°  55';  winter,  42"  43';  year,  52"  13'.  Annual  rainfall,  60  to  67 
inches. 

Corvallis,  latitude,  44°  35';  longitude,  123°  08'.  Mean  temper- 
ature for  ten  years:  Spring,  52°  17';  summer,  67°  13';  autumn, 
53**  41';  winter,  39"  27';  year,  53°.  Annual  rainfall,  38.47  to 
42.08  inches. 

Geology  and  Mineralogy. — Much  of  the  area  of  Oregon  has 
been  subjected  to  volcanic  action  on  a  grand  scale,  and  in  Eastern 
Oregon  this  has  been  comparatively  recent  (though  probably 
not  within  the  historic  period),  and  on  the  most  stupendous  scale. 
The  Coast  Range  and  the  Blue  Mountains  and  their  spurs  are 
both  eozoic;  the  intermediate  Cascade  Range  is  volcanic  in  its 
surface  rocks,  with  indications  that  these  metamorphic  rocks  were 
originally  limestones  and  sandstones.  The  volcanic  action  in 
Eastern  Oregon  was  so  violent  as  to  leave  deep  fissures  or 
cafions  where  the  rocks  were  rent.  Some  of  these  caAons  are 
1 ,500  feet  deep,  and  on  their  perpendicular  walls  there  is  a  record 
of  the  order  of  the  geologic  strata  rarely  accessible  elsewhere. 
Near  the  bottom  of  the  fissure  are  the  cretaceous  beds,  abound- 
ing in  marine  shells,  preserved  in  perfect  form,  but  often  filled 


"*^m  -^^mmm^^BuM. 


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ii: 

GEOLOGY  AND  MINERALOGY  OF  OREGON. 


1103 


with  I  halccdony  or  calcareous  spar ;  next  above,  the  lower  ter- 
tiary strata,  with  leaf  impressions  of  great  trees — of  palms,  yews 
and  giant  ferns,  as  well  as  of  the  oak  leaf  and  acorn  ;  with  tJiese 
are  associated  fossils  of  two  species  of  rhinoceros,  four  of  the 
oredon,  a  connecting  link  between  the  camel  and  tapir,  and  sev- 
eral genera  of  the  tapir  and  peccary  families  ;  and  with  them  the 
orokippus.  Upon  these  lower  tertiary  strata  supervenes  the 
period  of  volcanic  action,  with  a  vast  overflow  of  lava,  mud  and 
ashes.  The  region  thus  rent  is  heaved  elsewhere  into  isolated 
cone-like  hills,  or  ridged  with  secondary  rocks,  thrown  up  dike- 
fashion,  their  strata  contorted  into  sharp  angles  or  broken  into 
chasms  filled  with  earth  or  lava.  Here  are  mountains  of  amyg- 
daloid, heaps  of  volcanic  conglomerate,  and  cliffs  of  columnar 
basalt  walling  in  the  water-courses.  In  the  region  of  the  upper 
Dos  Chutes  and  John  Day  rivers,  the  volcanic  action  is  less 
marked,  and  here  the  cretaceous  formation  approaches  the  sur- 
face. The  whole  of  the  Cascade  Range  in  the  State  givca  evi- 
dence of  volcanic  action,  and  this  extends  westward  into  the  Wil- 
lamette valley.  The  bed  of  the  Willamette  river  near  its  mouth 
lis  partially  basaltic,  with  perpendicular  walls ;  south  of  Oregon 
City  it  traverses  a  district  of  volcanic  debris,  and  black  trap  is 
frequently  exposed  on  its  banks.  Southward  of  this  occur  thin 
strata  of  limestone,  widi  fossil  bivalvular  shells,  granite  in  situ, 
and  again  basalt.  The  prevalent  rock  of  the  Willamette  valley 
is  trap,  wliile  at  the  head  of  the  valley  a  light-colored  clayey  sand- 
stone, possibly  tertiary,  is  found.  The  fossil  teeth  and  tusks  of 
elepha<nts  have  been  found  at  great  depths  in  the  same  valley. 
At  the  Dalles,  on  die  hillsides,  are  boulders  of  gray  and  of  ^  red 
jfranite. 

MiUierals. — The  mineral  wealth  of  Oregon  is  vety  great,  but 
as  yet  very  imperfectly  developed,  mainly  owing  to  the  want  of 
capital.  Gold  was  first  discovered  in  1 851,  in  the  counties  of 
Jackson  and  Josephine,  in  the  extreme  south  of  the  State ;  *nd 
mines  have  been  worked  in  them  ever  since.  Their  total  product 
up  to  4;he  present  time  is  estimated  zt  ^27,000,000;  but^^f  late 
years  the  yield  has  declined  in  consequence  of  the  want  of  water. 
Uaker  and  Grant  counties,  in  Eastern  Oregon,  have  also  yielded 


I . 


I : 


ife&A^^iiliW&ii-  j!-''>'&<*-'V,.  '--.*-: 


ii 


1104 


OUR    Wr.STFR.V  EMPIRE. 


many  millions  of  the  precious  metal.  In  Baker  county,  espe- 
cially in  the  vicinity  of  Baker  City,  jjold  mining  is  carried  on  very 
actively  at  this  time,  and  with  pood  results.  On  the  ocean  beach, 
near  Coos  bay,  placer  mines  are  worked  to  a  considerable  extent. 
Rich  gold  quartz  lodes  have  been  discovered  and  partially  worked 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  Cascade  Moi'ntains;  but  their  dis- 
tance from  railroads,  and  the  want  of  machinery  for  working 
them,  has,  until  now,  prevented  their  development  on  a  scale 
commensurate  with  their  richness.  Were  the  same  amount  of 
capital,  enterprise  and  trained  skill  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
gold  mines  of  Oregon,  that  is  now  again  increasing  the  gold 
product  of  California  at  a  rapid  rate,  after  years  of  decline,  the 
former  State  would  not  be  far  behind  the  latter  in  the  production 
of  precious  metals.  The  yearly  gold  product  of  Oregon  repre- 
sents now  a  value  of  nearly  $i,5oo,cxx). 

Lead  and  copper  have  been  found  in  large  quantities  in  Jack- 
son, Josephine  and  Douglas  counties,  on  Cow  creek,  a  tributary 
of  the  Umpqua,  and  also  on  the  Santiam  river.  The  mines  on 
the  latter  river  are  successfully  worked.  < 

Large  deposits  of  rich  iron  ore  exist  in  nearly  every  part  of 
the  State.  The  most  i^iportant  of  these  is  situated  near  Oswego, 
on  the  Willamette,  about  six  miles  south  of  Portland.  The  ore 
from  it  yields  about  fifty-four  per  cent,  of  pure  iron.  Other  ex- 
tensive deposits  exist  in  the  counties  of  Columbia,  Tillamook, 
Marion,  Clackamas,  Jackson  and  Coos.  A  large  bed  of  ore  has 
been  found  at  St.  Helen's,  on  the  Columbia.        '   .  ;. 

That  essential  element  in  the  development  of  mineral  resources, 
coal,  abounds  in  Oregon  no  less  than  iron.  Beds  of  great  thick- 
ness exist  on  Coos  bay,  in  Coos  county,  on  the  northern  Umpqua, 
and  in  Douglas  county.  Beds,  as  yet  but  partially  explored,  have 
been  found  on  Yaquina  bay,  at  Port  Orford,  near  St  Helen's,  oi 
Pass  creek,  and  on  the  line  of  the  Oregon  and  California  Rail- 
road, and  at  different  other  points  in  Clackamas,  Clatsop  and 
Tillamook  counties.  But  only  a  few  of  these  coa!  .^ines  are 
regularly  worked.  The  Coos  bay  mines  keep  a  fleet  of  schooners 
busy  carrying  coal  to  San  Francisco,  where  it  is  highly  esteemed, 
and  brings  about  |^i  i  a  ton.     With  the  exception  of  that  obtained 


■f  <U^AMul,*«>'4M»-M«.rl*WUNM>P<r''l»^'^ 


MINhRAI.    WEALTH  OF  OR  KG  OAT. 


IIO$ 


inty,  cr.pe- 
ed  on  very 
;ean  beach, 
ible  extent, 
illy  worked 
:  their  dis- 
)r  working 
on  a  scale 
amount  of 
'  upon  the 
g  the  gold 
decline,  the 
production 
gon  repre- 

es  in  Jack- 
a  tributary 
;  mines  on 

ery  part  of 
ar  Oswego, 
1.  The  ore 
Other  ex- 
Tillamook, 
i  of  ore  has 

l1  resources, 
great  thick- 
-n  Umpqua, 
jlored,  have 
Helen's,  oi 
fornia  Rail- 
Dlatsop  and 
1  i^Jines  are 
>f  schooners 
y  esteemed, 
bat  obtained 


from  the  Queen  Charlotte  Islands,  it  is  the  best  coal  produced 
on  the  Pacific  coast. 

What,  with  the  abundance  of  coal  and  the  immense  beds  of 
iron  ore,  the  day  cannoi  be  far  distant  when  Oregon  will  have  a 
well-developed  iron  industry. 

There  are  also  quarries  of  limestone,  brown  stone  and  marble 
in  the  State. 

Of  the  present  outlook  for  gold  and  silver  mining  in  the  State, 
the  Surveyor-General,  Hon.  James  C.  Tolman,  says  in  his  report 
of  August,  1879: 

"  The  mining  interests  of  Oregon  are  assuming  an  importance 
and  permanent  assurance  of  profit  not  heretofore  exhibited. 
Gravel  mining  is  being  extensively  prosecuted  in  some  district? 
with  the  aid  of  the  most  approved  and  extensive  machinery, 
although  the  past  year  only  has  been  witness  to  their  general  in- 
troduction. A  new  era  has  undoubtedly  dawned  upon  that  in- 
dustry in  this  State.  The  existence  in  Southern  and  Middle 
Eastern  Oregon  of  immense  deposits  of  auriferous  gravel  has 
long  been  l^nown;  but  prospectors  and  men  seeking  only  shallow 
surface  diggings  in  connection  with  water  do  not  generally  have 
the  capital  and  enterprise  necessary  to  prosecute  hydraulic  mining 
of  the  modern  kinds.  Within  the  pasf  two  or  thre-?  years  capital 
has  been  attracted  to  these  deposits,  wherein  in  two  counties  of 
Sourhern  Oregon  alone  I  am  credibly  informed  that  many  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  dollars  have  been  expended  in  opening  up 
claims — in  the  constructing  of  ditches  and  arrangement  of  ma- 
chinery principally.  Much  labor  and  time,  as  well  as  money,  is 
required  to  develop  and  put  in  paying  order  any  of  these  claims, 
and  although  numbers  of  them  are  now  in  working  order,  few  or 
none  of  them  have  yet  been  sufficiendy  tested  to  develop  their 
real  worth.  A  full  '  clean  up '  is  the  only  fair  test  of  value,  even 
after  months  of  labor  and  many  thousands  of  dollars  of  expen- 
diture. '  '  '" 

"  This  must  be  ranked  mainly  as  an  agricultural  State,  though 

mining  is,  and  will  indefinitely  continue  to  be,  a  large  factor  in 

the  sum  of  our  productions,  both  in  gravel  and  quartz  mining. 

Our  people  have  never  been  subjected  to  the  emotional  risks 

70 


'^^m^mmmimMmimim^^ 


^j.'.}^«v'&'- 


iio6 


OUR    tVKSTF.A'JV  EMP/RE. 


occasioned  by  stock  Ixiartls  and  wild  cat  speciilatioiiH  which  have 
swtpt  other  tr-'ninj^  regions,  and  are  thus  more  tUsposcd  towei{fh 
the  chances  of  profit  in  an>  enterprise  offerinjj  inducements. 
Hence  our  mining  interests  have  lagged,  only  to  hkt  placed  upon 
a  profitable  basis  when  undertaken  at  all. 

"  The  quartz  mining  of  this  district  has  also  attracted  a  re- 
newed share  of  attention.  Heretofore,  with  but  few  exceptions, 
this  class  of  mining  has  been  lightly  employed,  and  has  yieldtd 
but  small  returns,  for  precisely  the  reasons  which  have  been 
offered  in  regard  to  the  small  effort  expended  in  placers.  Some 
wonderfully  rich  deposits  were  discovered  many  years  ago,  and 
were  worked  with  immense  profit.  Notable  among  them  were 
the  Gold  Hill  and  Steamboat  or  Fowler  lands,  in  Jackson  and 
Josephine  counties  respectively.  From  tliese,  by  the  ordinary 
processes  then  in  use,  several  hundred  thousands  of  dollars  were 
taken  from  the  surface  rock  alone  in  the  space  of  a  few  months. 
In  one  instance,  from  the  Gold  Hill  ledge,  one  gendeman  secured 
a  trifle  over  i,6oo  pounds  of  surface  rock,  from  which  he  took 
$30,0(X).  When  these  surface  deposits  were  exhausted  (nearly 
twenty  years  ago)  by  crushing  in  '  arastras '  and  other  almost 
equally  primitive  methods,  and  the  serious  and  expensive  work 
of  sinking  si.  ifts,  driving  tunnels,  etc.,  began,  those  mines  were 
abandoned  and  have  lain  idle  till  diis  day,  with  the  exception 
of  an  effort  now  being  made  to  resume  work  on  the  Steamboat. 

"In  Eastern  Oregon  quartz  mining  has  been  steadily  followed, 
in  a  small  way,  by  gentlemen  of  limited  means,  for  a  number  of 
years,  yielding  fair  returns  where  effort  merited  reward.  Several 
small  mills  are  now  in  operation  there,  and  prospecting  is  pushed 
with  consideraWe  vigor.  I  have  no  data  as  to  average  yield,  but 
am  assured  that  it  has  been  uniformly  satisfactory.  The  general 
outlook,  however,  is  better  now  in  regard  to  mining  than  it  has 
been  before  for  many  years.  In  the  course  of  time  I  believe  this 
State,  to  the  extent  of  its  mining  area,  will  rank  with  the  most 
favored  mining  localities  of  the  coiist  Given  the  mines,  and  we 
certainly  possess  facilities  unsurpassed  by  any  region — cheap  fuel 
and  labor,  abundance  of  water  and  plenty  of  all  kinds  of  pro- 
visions, aU  easily  obtained." 


TObLOCY  AND  I.IVP.  STOCK. 


s  which  have 

)St'cl  to  wt'ijrh 

iiKlucemcnts. 

{placed  upon 

tractecl  a  re- 
w  exceptions, 
has  vicldtil 
:h  have  been 
actrs.  Some 
ears  ago,  and 
ig  them  were 

Jackson  and 

the  ordinary 
f  dollars  were 
a  few  months, 
eman  secured 
vhich  he  took 
lusted  (nearly 

other  almost 
tpensive  work 
se  mines  were 
the  exception 
he  Steamboat, 
tadily  followed, 
r  a  number  of 
vard.  Several 
:ting  is  pushed 
irage  yield,  but 
.  The  general 
ng  than  it  has 
e  I  believe  this 
with  the  most 
mines,  and  we 
on — cheap  fuel 

kinds  of  pro- 

r     (  .'        li.l     > 


I   107 


Zoiilogy. — The  beasts  of  prt-y  an;  identical  with  those  of  Cali- 
fornia ;  the  griz/ly  bear,  black  and  rinnanion  bears,  the  roiigar, 
or  pantlur,  and  several  of  the  sinalleryc'////r/'.  \\\v.  catamount,  lynx 
and  ocelot,  the  fisher,  otter,  marten,  mink  and  beaver,  st;veral 
species  of  fox,  the  gray  wolf,  possibly  the  rac(  oon  ;  and  of  game 
animals,  elk,  deer  of  two  species,  antt.'lop*',  bighorn,  or  Rocky 
Mountain  sheep,  rabbits  and  hares,  including  the  jackass  rabbit, 
and  two  or  three  hares  found  only  on  the  Pacific  coast ;  all  the 
rodents  of  the  coast ;  and  of  game  birds,  wild  swans,  wild  geese 
and  ducks  of  many  species,  phcasonts,  sage  hens  and  other 
grouse,  quail  and  snipe  of  extraordinary  si/e,  and  a  great  variety 
of  song  birds  and  birds  of  prey.  The  waters  of  Oregon  abound 
in  fish  of  great  delicacy  and  economic  value.  There  are  six  or 
seven  species  of  salmon  native  to  the  coast ;  and  the  Eastern 
salmon  and  lake  salmon  have  been  introduced.  The  salmon 
forms  an  important  item  in  the  products  of  the  State.  Trout  of 
great  size  and  excellence  are  found  in  the  streams ;  sturgeon, 
tom  cod,  flounders  and  other  edible  fish  are  abundant.  The 
shad  and  black  and  sea  bass  have  been  introduced.  Most  of 
the  edible  shell  fish  are  found  in  great  abundance  on  the  coast. 

The  following  table  shotos  the  estimated  number  and  value  of  live-stock  in 
January,  1879,  and  January,  1880  .• 


1879. 

Ahimaui. 


Hortc* 

MuIm  and  assc* 

Mileh  cowii  

Oxen  and  other  cattle 

Shui'p 

Swine 


ToiaU. 


Numtnr. 


io9,7cx] 

113, 4CO 
■88,300 
,160,6  >U 
Ml, 900 


Av. 

Prin. ' 


Value. 


50.05 

<5.49c.4S5 

'291 
■  8.s< 

•78.185 
9,086,144 

U.15 

1.387,845 

'57 

1,839,149 

3«9 

70T,66i 

•i I>9i579,669 

I 


iSto. 
AmMAU. 


Numbtr. 


Av. 

Price. 


Value. 


Heirvct 117,400 

Mule«  and  iMcn 3.A00 

M.lcli  cows 191,399 

Uxcn  and  other  cattle.  901,500* 

Sheep 1,365,054 

i^ine u'o.s57 


»6>« 

5>  3" 

19.10 

14.60 

165 

3-45 


<7,9 11,889 

184,680 

9,318.587 

9,941,900 

9,"87,339 

788,3111 


Total* ;, ,|i5.$3>>M> 


The  real  increase  in  the  grain  crops  and  in  cattle  and  sheep  is 
considerably  greater  than  our  tables  would  indicate. 

Fisheries. — The  canning  and  pickling  of  salmon  mainly  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Columbia  river  is  becoming  an  immense  industry. 
It  had  not  attained  any  great  proportions  until  1872,  in  which  year 


M 


*  Probably  much  below  the  actual  number. 


':^i^^&'m^g^:^M4iiii^''^if-'---i^'£>^- 


iioS 


OUK    WRSTKHN  EMPIRE. 


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T/VBKK  .4Xn   OTHI  tf   PKOlU'Cr/OXS 


1109 


1 


Hi 


i 


i70,0fX)  salmon,  wrijjhinjj  jjoo.cxx)  pounds,  and  wlun  lannrtl 
valiH'd  at  f4p,cxx),  wrrrcaniwd  and  fX|K)rti-d,;md  i62.50«)|»ic  kli-d 
fisb  valiM'd  at  f\  1 7,ofxx  In  1S7  ^  thr  <'xj)(»rt  val>u'  of  th«*  caimfd 
salmon  was  f,()^q,ooo\  in  1H74,  fi,5cxMXK);  in  1S75  it  was 
nearly  f 2, 000.000;  in  1876,  ]fl2,2i  S'^'x^ :  i"  '877.  fa, 300,000;  in 
1878,52,920,000;  In  1879  over  5V2oo.o<x>;  and  it  is  Iwlirvccl 
that  it  will  n-ach  54.000.000  in  18S0.  Hut  for  thr  larj^c  salmon 
trade  in  Pujrit  sound,  and  in  Alaska,  it  would  \\a\v  attained  even 
lar^jer  [)roportions. 

The  Timber  and  Tumber  Trade. —  The  ma}j;nificent  forests  of 
Orej^on  supply  an  immense  amount  of  timber  and  lumhrr  for 
San  I'Vancisco  and  other  California  ports,  and  also  for  the  Mexi- 
can and  South  American  markets.  For  ship-building',  mine- 
timberinjTf  and  house-building,  as  well  as  for  the  choicest  furni- 
ture, the  Oregon  woods  arc  the  best  in  the  world.  Over  100,- 
000,000  ft:ct  of  lumber  and  timber  were  exported  in  1875,  and 
the  amount  has  greatly  increased  since  that  time.  In  1877  the 
value  of  the  exported  lumber  was  set  down  as  5510.000.  It  has 
greatly  increased  since,  and  the  home  demand,  with  the  rapid 
increase  of  immigration,  is  larger  than  of  the  foreign. 

Wheat  and  Flour. — The  exports  of  wheat  in  1880  will  probably 
exceed  59>ooo>ooo>  *^c  larger  part  being  from  the  Upper 
Columbia  and  the  rich  valleys  of  Eastern  Oregon.  In  1877-78, 
seventy-»ix  large  vessels  were  loaded  with  wheat  from  Portland, 
of  which  seventy-four  sailed  direct  for  Gnat  Britain.  Oregon 
flour  has  a  very  high  reputation,  and  was  exported  in  1877  to 
the  amount  of  52,500,000. 

Wool  is  also  largely  exported,  and  about  1,500,000  pounds 
manufactured  in  the  State.  The  wool  clip  of  1878  was  over 
6,000,000  pounds,  and  that  of  1879  nearly  7,500,000  pounds. 

The  total  exports  of  the  State  in  1877  were  516,086,897, 
and  were  increasing  at  the  rate  of  four  or  five  million  dollars  a 
year. 

Manufactures. — The  leading  manufactures  of  the  State  are 
lumber,  flour,  of  which  we  have  already  spoken  ;  woollen  goods, 
especially  fancy  cassimeres  and  blankets,  which  bear  the  highest 
reputation,  and  bring  the  best  prices  of  any  in  the  market;  dressed 


.i^CfeSawweajK 


mo 


OUM   WKSTKUff  KMtfJfK. 


o 


(lax  liiK'ii  ^(xhIh,  and  linMctnl  oil,  leather,  and  rspecially  liarnrn«i 
leather  uf  cxi'vllcnt  quality,  iron  lurnaccv  ami  foundritrH,  and 
ntanufactoricH  ol  irun  and  tintu:d  ^'ooiis,  wuodcn  ware,  a^riiid- 
tiir.d  iiiiplenu'nts,  Initter,  dried  and  canninl  Iruit,  and  irtiit  juicrs 
ul  remarkable  extellence,  ttirniturc  .iiul  paper.  In  1H70  the 
manufactureil  pruduciH  ut  the  year  were  valued  at  $6,877,387. 
In  i88u  they  will  exceed  ;^70,ocx},ooo. 

Labor,  Wa^i'i, — Cuinniun  laborerH  earn  %i\  mechanic^  %\^  t 
%^\  farm-hands,  from  535  to  1(^30  a  month,  and  found.  Farm- 
laborers,  and  (;s[>ecially  tcmalc  servants,  are  in  )^ood  dcm.iml, 
The  latter  earn  as  hi^h  wa^es  as  in  California.  I'ersons  with 
some  mean.s  aiul  a  knowledge  of  farming  or  a  mechanical  trade 
can  easily  establish  themselves,  and,  with  frugality  and  industry, 
act^uirc  a  competency  in  a  few  years. 

RiUing  Prices. — I'or  the  past  three  years  wheat  in  bulk  in 
Portland  has  ru)){ed  from  80  cents  to  $1.25  per  bushel ;  oats,  50 
cents;  potatoes,  50  cents  to  75  cents;  apples,  50  cents;  corn, 
%\\  riax,  %2\  onions,  $1.50;  j^^od  average  farm-horses,  $100 
each  ;  oxen,  %\  25  per  yoke  ;  good  average  milch  cows,  $25  ;  sheep, 
;f^3  per  head ;  wool,  common-graded,  35  cents  per  pound ;  beef 
on  foot,  5  to  6  cents ;  fresh  pork,  7  cents. 

Price  of  Lcuui. — In  the  valley  of  the  Willamette  good  brush 
and  timber  lands  can  be  purchased  for  %7.lQ>  per  acre  and  up- 
wards, according;  to  soil  and  locality.  All  the  prairie  lands  are, 
however,  taken  up,  but  can  be  bought  at  from  %'6  to  $50  an  acre. 
Along  the  foot-hills,  and  near  them,  small  tracts  or  farms  can  be 
purchased,  with  ample  outside  pasturage  for  extensive  stock- 
farms.  The  Oregon  and  California  Railroad  Company,  and  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railway,  have  large  grants  of  land  from  the 
United  States  Government,  which  they  sell  on  very  liberal  condi- 
tions at  the  low  prices  of  $1.25  to  $7  per  acre.  The  purchaser 
can  pay  cash,  in  which  case  he  will  be  allowed  a  discount  of  ten 
per  cent,  on  the  purchase  price,  or  can  have  ten  years'  time  in 
which  to  make  up  the  same  by  small  annual  payments,  with 
interest  at  seven  per  cent,  per  annum.  In  this  case  the  pur- 
chaser pays  down  one-tenth  of  the  price.  One  year  from  the 
sale  he  pays  seven  per  cent,  interest  on  the  remaining  nine- 


KAII ROADH  ASD  Ktl'KK   NAVtVAriON. 


nil 


.illy  harn(*M 
ii)«lri(?M,  uiul 
.irr,  a^ritui- 

Iruit  juiccH 
n    1870  the 

f6,877.387. 

innicH,  %},  to 
tul.  I'arm- 
Oil  iIcid.ukI, 
Vrsons  wiili 
anical  tratjr 
nd  industry, 

:  in  bulk  in 
u:l :  oats,  50 
cents ;  corn, 
lorscs,  fioo 
',  $25  ;  shefj), 
)oiind;  beet 

good  brusli 
acre  and  up- 
ric  lands  are, 
%^o  an  acre, 
farms  can  be 
nsive  stock- 
any,  and  the 
nd  from  the 
liberal  condi- 
le  purchaser 
count  of  ten 
cars'  time  in 
/ments,  with 
:ase  the  pur- 
ar  from  the 
aining  nine- 


tenthfi  of  the  prinrip.d.  At  thr  rnti  of  thr  nrrond  yrar  he  payn 
onr  tenth  of  the  f>riii(  ipal  atul  one  yrar's  int«  rent  on  the  re 
nuindf'r ;  ami  thr  same  at  thr  end  of  each  smuHsivr  yrar  until 
all  han  been  pai<l  at  the  end  of  ten  years.  I'hen  in  an  alurndftnce 
of  f^'overnntent  land  surveyed  alfd  in  the  market,  subject  to  the 
lloinentcad  atul  Pre-emption  lawH. 

In  l^^iHtern  and  Middle  Orejron  the  jjovcrnment  lands  are  the 
best,  thoti^'h  partially  im[)rr)ved  farms  may  sometimes  be  ha<l. 
(jovernm«nt  lands  may  b«;  b«)uj,;bt  there*  umler  tin-  Pre  «n»|)tion. 
Homestead,  or  limber-Culture  laws,  and  in  Middh-  ( )rej;on  under 
the  Desert  Land  Act,  for  j;razinjj  purposes.  The  immi^'rant  re- 
quires a  little  more  capital  to  land  him  in  Orcj^on,  than  wouM  l)C 
necessary  for  some  of  the  States  and  Territories  farther  eaMt ; 
but  once  there,  and  a  small  capital  will  go  as  far  and  can  be  as 
readily  supplemented  by  lalxjr  for  others,  as  anywhere  else  in  the 
country. 

RuilriHids  ami  River  Navij^ation. — The  Columbia  river,  which 
forms  the  northern  Ixjundary  of  Oregon  as  far  as  nearly  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Snake  river,  is  navigable  from  its  mouth  to  this 
point,  and  above,  except  at  two  points:  the  Cascades,  where  there 
is  a  portage  railroad  of  five  or  six  miles,  and  the  Dalles,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Des  Chutes,  when;  there  is  another  portag*;  railway 
fourteen  miles  long.  These  obstructions,  requiring  two  railway 
and  three  steamer  transshipments,  have  greatly  enhanced  the  cost 
of  transportation  by  it,  but  arc  now  in  a  fair  way  to  be  removed. 
The  Northern  Pacific  Railway,  whose  Pend  d'Oreille  division 
starts  from  Ainsworth,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Snake  river,  has  built 
a  branch  to  Wallula,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Columbia,  connect* 
ing  there  with  the  Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation  line  to  Walla* 
Walla,  thirty  mi'es  east ;  and  the  Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation 
Company  have  undertaken  the  construction  of  a  railway  along 
the  south  side  of  the  Columbia  river  to  Portland,  where  the 
steamships  of  this  company  to  San  Francisco  can  receive  the 
freight.  This  road  is  now  completed  to  the  Dalles,  and  will  reach 
Portland  next  season.  The  United  States  government  are  con- 
structing canals  and  locks  around  the  Cascades  and  Dalles,  but 
so  leisurely  that  it  will  require  twelve  or  fifteen  years  to  complete 


-  t^jaiwit/^'^' I'i  >ii:i:  \  ii-'i. 


\\ 


IIIJ 


OVM    WHaTRKN  BMriKK. 


} 


\ 


them ;  no  that  thr  railway  in  the  only  hupr  for  chrnp  transport** 
tion  from  thtr  Upper  Columhiu.  Ihc  Northrrn  Pacific  will 
rvcntuully  conHtruct  a  railway  down  thr  north  luink  of  the 
Coliimhia,  and  extend  it  to  Portlaml,  which  in  not  on  the 
Colundiia,  but  on  the  Willatnrttc,  one  of  its  largest  trihiitarir*. 
Thr  VViilanu-ttr  i>«  navi^Mhlr  partly  hy  xLt  kwatcr  navigation  for 
13K  miloH  from  itn  nuxith.  Hut  thr  VVillamctte  vaiU-y  in  already 
trttverned  by  two  railroadn,  and  is  likely  rre  lonj{  to  be  ^'ridironed 
by  one  and  possibly  two  more.  The  Orrj^on  ami  California 
Railroad,  stariinj;  from  I*!ast  Portland,  extends  Hotithward  through 
the  WillametH"  an«l  Umptiua  valleyn  to  Kosebiir^',  a  distance  of 
aoo  miles.  Its  eventual  terminus  is  to  b**  Keddin)^,  in  (.'alifornia, 
where  it  will  connect  with  the  Northern  California  Railway.  The 
()r<*j(on  Central,  startinj;  from  Portland,  extends  in  a  horseshoe 
curve  to  I  iillsboro,  and  thence  south  to  junction  City,  whence  one 
branch  g"*^'*  'o  I'UIendale,  across  the  Coast  Ranj^e,  and  another 
to  Luckiamute,  with  a  probable  future  terminus  at  Harrisbiir^r,  on 
the  Orejjon  ami  California  roail.  'Ihc  Ore^'onian  Railway  Com- 
pany (limited),  a  Scottish  company,  has  undertaken  to  construct 
two  narrow  jjauj^je  railways,  close  to  the  mountains  on  either  side 
of  the  Willamette  valley,  one  to  cross  the  Coast  Ilanj^e  and  reach 
Yaquima  Buy,  an<l  the  orher  crossing  the  Cascade  Ranj^^e  to  con- 
nect with  a  road  from  the  Central  Pacific  in  Nevada.  They  also 
|)ropose  to  build  from  Portland  to  Astoria,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia.  The  Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation  Company  have 
also  commenced  several  narrow-gauge  railroads  from  Wallula 
and  Milton  southward  and  southeastward  in  Eastern  Oregon,  to 
{)oints  where  the  great  live-stock  and  wheat  crop  can  be  most 
easily  conducted  to  their  main  line  on  the  Columbia  river.  Some 
o.  these  will  eventually  extend  into  Idaho. 

Vhe  Northern  Pacific,  though  having  an  extensive  land  grant 
lit  Northern  Oregon,  from  Walla- Walla  to  the  Willamette,  has 
not,  and  does  not  intend  to  have,  any  portion  of  its  line  in 
Oregon,  except,  perhaps,  a  branch  of  some  twelve  miles,  ex- 
tending across  the  Columbia  to  Portland.  Its  present  terminus 
on  the  Columbia  is  at  Kalama,  in  Washington  Territory,  forty-five 
miles  north  of  Portland.     We  have  already  spoken  of  the  short 


MPVCATIOSAI.    fACILITIHX, 


III) 


trannpnrtA- 

I'.icitic    will 

)a(\k  of  the 

not   on   the 

trihutarie*. 

ivi^atiun  for 

y  JH  already 

<•  ^ri(lin)nr(l 

I  C'.tlilornia 

vard  through 

I  (listanct;  of 

ill  ('alifurnia, 

lilway.     The 

a  horseshoe 

,  wht-nrr  one 

and  another 

arrislnirjf.  on 

Railway  Com- 

I  to  construct 

jn  t'ithtT  side 

ij^eand  reach 

<an}^e  to  con- 

i.     They  also 

mouth  of  the 

Company  have 

from  Wallula 

rn  Orcr^on,  to 

I  can  bo  most 

I  river.    Some 

ve  land  prant 
^illamctte,  has 
of  its  line  in 
Ive  miles,  ex- 
sent  terminus 
tory,  forty-five 
1  of  the  short 


railway  porta(;e«  (kIx  and  fnurtcm  mile*)  nt  th«*  Cn^cnden  and 

the  1  )all(  •«.  With  thr  coniplrtion  of  thi-  ruilwayH  now  under  con* 
tract  or  in  rourne  of  conntruction,  Oregon  will  hftve  nearly  1,000 
milet  of  railroad  in  o|M-ratum, 

Fmamfs. —  Ihe  jjov<rniu«  nt  «)f  th«  Slate  Iuih  httvts  economi* 
cally  attministerrd  and  taxes  are  li^ht.  The  entire  int|e))tedne»a 
of  the  State,  Jamiary  1,  iHSi,  will  not  probably  e.xcrcd  ;^^)()8,ooo, 
and  there  is  Huffu  ient  money  accruing'  from  the  sale  of  swamp 
lands,  ett:.,  to  mert  it  wlwrn  it  b«?comes  <hi«\ 

luiucatwnal  /uui/iliis. —  Tlu*  school  hind  of  tlw  State  (derived 
from  the  sale  of  Hchool  lands)  amounted  in  1H7S  to  5609,000;  it 
has  since  materially  increased.  In  1H78  the  number  of  youth  of 
school  a^;e  (four  to  twenty)  was  5.^,462,  of  whom  36,992  were 
enr«)lled  in  the  public  schools,  and  tlw  avera);e  daily  attendance 
was  31,464.  Ther<!  were  904  or^'anized  districts,  of  which  865 
reported;  there  were  76H  pid)lic  schooK  of  ordinary  ^rade,  ami 
twenty  two  of  advanced  j;rad<'.  Thi;  average  tin\(  school  was 
maintained  was  four  ^nd  a  half  months.  The  valut*  of  public 
school  property  was  J»4H,vo5H.  The  total  niunlxr  of  t<  achers  waH 
1,068,  of  whom  569  wj-re  males,  and  499  femah  s.  The  av.-ragc 
monthly  pay  of  the  men  was  <*45.35;  of  the  women.  ;ji34. 33.  The 
tf)tal  rec<!ipts  for  public  schools  were  f  258, 786;  the  total  expen- 
ditures, 5375,107.  There  were  105  private  and  (olje^riale  schools. 
The  schools  of  Portland  and  .Salem  art;  of  v<ry  h'\^\\  character. 
There  is  a  normal  school  at  Monmouth,  and  a  normal  depart- 
ment of  the  State  University  at  Kujjfne  City.  There  are 
Teachers'  Institutes  held  annually  in  each  judi(  iai  district.  In 
the  way  of  higher  instruction  there  are  four  (.sucalletl)  universi- 
ties, which  arc  really  only  colleges,  vi/.:  the  Univ«:rsity  of  Oregon, 
at  Eugene  City,  with  a  normal  department  attached;  ihis  had 
a  land  grant  of  66,080  acres,  and  has  receiv«xl  5ioc:),(X)0  from 
it,  20,000  acres  being  yet  unsold;  the  Blue  Mountain  Uni- 
versity, at  La  Grande,  Eastern  Oregon,  with  a  very  thorough 
course ;  the  Willamette  University,  at  Salem,  a  Methodist  col- 
lege with  a  medical  school  attached;  and  Pacific  University  and 
Tualatin  Academy,  at  Forest  Grove,  a  non-sectarian  institu- 
tion.    There  are  also  four  colleges,  viz. :  Corvallis  College,  at 


■  .«eV&i-5<6iiitfiCi&».-?.-.  \i:- 


ii 


1 1 14 


OUR   WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


Coi*vallis,  under  the  control  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
South,  of  which  the  State  Agricultural  College,  endowed  with  the 
Congressional  land-grant  of  90,000  acres,  is  a  department;  Mc 
Minnvillc  College,  a  Baptist  institution  at  McMinnville;  Philomath 
College,  at  Philomath,  under  the  control  of  the  United  Brethren 
in  Christ  (German  Methodists) ;  and  Christian  College,  at  Mon- 
mouth, under  the  control  of  the  Christian  connection.  These 
institutions  had  1,025  students  in  1878,  675  of  them  in  the  pre- 
paratory departments.  All  of  them  admit  women  to  their  classes, 
and  there  is  also  at  Portland  a  college  for  women,  St.  Helen's 
Hall,  under  the  care  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

There  are  also  institutions  at  Salem  for  the  education  of  deaf 
mutes  and  of  the  blind. 

Population. — In  1843  there  were  not  more  than  400  white  in- 
habitants in  Oregon  Territory,  which  then  included  Washington 
Territory  also.     The  following  table  shows  the  growtli  since  that 

time: 

Population  of  Oregon. 


J1850 
1 1860 
1870 
1875 
1880 


1 


5».465 
101,883* 
laSi^bo* 


8 

-a 


1 

•s 


8,366 

3«,5»7 
49.777, 


5.'JJ6 
20,847 

37.49>' 


103,388  7>.379 


I 


13,087 

.';3,i7o 
86,929 
108,324 
163,087 


207 
128 
346 

4938 


10,960 

«,934l 


3.330 
3*4lo 
9.508 


ia,o8i 
47.34» 
79.3'3 

>44.3»7 


b. 


Ji; 


1,913, 

5,i»3  (»4.6 
11,6001  73.3 

30.6 

30,440  78  .oj 


163 
1,511 
4.4»7 


I-- 


^ 


n 


,-sa 
o 


4,533  4,923 

16,988 15,707 
29,400 123,959 

44,o6i| 
61,133 


-I 


5.6iT| 
iS,8o4' 
38,6161 


Oregon  has  been  called  the  "  New  England  of  the  Pacific 
Coast,"  and  has  probably  a  larger  proportion  of  New  England 
people  in  its  population  than  any  other  of  the  Western  States. 
Its  people  are  thrifty,  intelligent  and  moral.  They  have  reared 
the  church  and  the  school-house  in  their  villages,  even  while  their 
own  dwellings  were  of  logs  or  sods,  and  have  shown  their  New 
England  origin  by  their  early  attention  to  higher  institutions  of 
learning.  No  one  of  the  States  of  the  far  West  has,  in  propor- 
tion to  its  population,  so  many  colleges  and  collegiate  schools 

■Tribal  Indians  added,    f  A  part  of  these  Indians  are  in  Washington  Territory.     %  For  decade. 


'  ■*«v^i»oT.-i— '.^^%*'-*^;?«M««-Mi*'*'ift'>i*>'Al*t,**^'."* 


~-..'.=Mfe>.«K4^      ^.   .....1/-I-* 


INDIAN  RESERVATIONS  AND    TRIBAL   INDIANS, 


1115 


opal  Church 
wed  with  the 
rtment;  Mc 
e;  Philomath 
ted  Brethren 
ege,  at  Mon- 
tion.     These 

in  the  pre- 
their  classes, 

St.  Helen's 
hurch. 
ation  of  deaf 

400  white  in- 
Wpshington 
ivtli  since  that 


11' 


16,988 
»9,ioo 
44.06' 

Ot.lXJ 


•s  » 


^1  !l 

5^   '52- 


4.9»3 
'5.7"? 
»3.959 


■lis!,}' 

a8,6i6i 


of  the  Pacific 
New  England 
estern  States. 
J  have  reared 
en  while  their 
i\'n  their  New 
institutions  of 
las,  in  propor- 
egiate  schools 

.    X  For  decade. 


of  high  character,  or  imparts  to  the  students  so  thorough 
training. 

Eastern  Oregon,  which  is  now  receiving  avast  number  of  emi- 
grants in  its  rich  and  fertiit;  valleys,  will  have  a  larger  proportion 
of  people  of  foreign  birth,  as  well  as  a  greater  number  from  the 
Mississippi  valley  and  the  Middle  States  ;  but  the  .State  is  a  de- 
sirable one  for  the  better  class  of  emigrants,  not  only  from  its 
advantages  of  soil  and  climate,  and  its  mining  and  pastoral  facili- 
ties, but  for  its  educational  and  religious  advantages,  and  the  high 
character  of  its  inhabitants. 

Indian  Resenkitions  and  Tnbal  Indians. — The  5,818  tribal 
Indians  credited  by  the  Indian  Commissioner  to  Oregon,  though 
some  of  them  more  properly  belong  to  Washington  Territory^ 
are  of  twenty  different  bands.  Those  belonging  to  the  Grande 
Ronde,  Klamath,  Malheur  and  Siletz  Agencies,  and  most  of  those 
connected  with  the  Warm  Springs  Agency,  about  three-fourths 
of  the  whole,  have  adopted  citizens'  dress,  and  are  becoming  quite 
civilized.  They  till  about  8,000  acres  of  land  of  their  reserva- 
tions, and  a  few  have  had  lands  allotted  to  them  in  severalty. 
Their  reservations  include  3,853,800  acres,  but  less  than  200,000 
acres  of  this  is  tillable. 

Counties  and  Principal  Cities  and  Towns. — There  are  twenty- 
three  counties  in  the  State,  whose  population  in  1880,  and 
assessed  valuation  in  1879,  ^^^  ^^  follows: 


Counties. 

Baker 

Benton 

Clackamas 

Clatsop 

Columbia 

Coos 

Curry 

Douglas 

Grant 

Jackson 

Josephine 

Lake 

Lane 


Population, 
1880. 

4.615 

6,403 

9,260 

7,322     ' 

2,042 
4.834 

i,2o8 

9.596 
4.303 

8.»54 
a.485 
2,804 
9,411 


Ass'd  Valuation, 

1879. 
^874,516  00 
1,722,115  00 
1,908,580  00 
1,159,361  00 
287,837  00 
894,113  00 

243.733  00 

2,133,118  00 

1,102,327  00 

1,466,992  00 

278,290  00 

830,591  00 

3,301,368  00 


w 


H 


■■•'■Vm«!i,gmiii%--Vmii^i^m»>f-'''i^-:J-^*-.--^--'-- 


n 


iii6 


COUNTIIU. 

Linn 

Marion 

Multnomali 

Polk 

Tillamuuk 

Umatilla    . 

Union 

Wasco 

Washington 

Yam  Hill  . 

Total     . 
For  1878    . 


ouK  h'esterx  e  Mr  irk. 

Pot>uln(ion, 

iKSo. 

12,675 

14.516 
35,204 

6,601 
970 

9,607 

6,650 
11,130 

7,083 

7.945 


174,767 


Ah«'cI  Valuation, 
1879. 

,<;,490,854  00 

T,  923,358    00 
"0,633,190    00 

•.599.423  00 
83,903  00 
1,533,988  00 
1,117,099  00 
3,363,570  00 
3,069,190  00 
3,465,358  00 

$46,370,673  00 
46,340,334  00 


This  valuation  was  about  fifty  cents  on  the  dollar  of  the  true 
valuation.  In  1880  the  true  valuation,  including  property  not 
taxed,  is  not  less  than  $100,000,000. 

The  largest  city  in  the  State  is  Portland,  on  the  Willamette, 
112  miles  by  river  from  the  Pacific  Ore?*  It  is  a  place  of  con- 
siderable and  increasing  business  and  of  great  wealth.  Its  popu- 
lation in  1880  was  20,549.  Salem,  the  capital,  is  also  on  the 
Willamette,  and  on  the  Oregon  and  California  Railroad.  It  is  a 
pretty  town  of  about  5,000  inhabitants.  Oregon  City,  Albany, 
Harrisburg  and  Eugene  City,  all  on  the  Willamette,  have  over 
3,000  inhabitants  each.  Astoria,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia; 
Roseburg,  the  present  terminus  of  the  Oregon  and  California 
Railroad ;  Jacksonville,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  State ; 
Corvallis,  Junction  City, both  in  the  Willamette  valley;  Dallas, at 
the  second  rapids  of  the  Columbia ;  East  Portland,  Port  Orford 
and  Empire  City, on  the  coast;  and  St.  Helen's,  ?n  the  northwest, 
on  the  Columbia  river,  are  towns  of  2,000  or  '  •  e  inhabitants. 
These  are  all  in  Western  Oregon.  In  E^&i  1.  Oregon,  La 
Grande,  Baker  City,  Umatilla,  Sparta,  Pendleton  a.  f'  Milton  are 
the  principal  towns.  '  ' 

Religious  Denominations. — In  1875  there  were  in  Oregon  351 
church  organizations  and  242  church  edifices  of  all  denominations ; 
320  clergymen,  priests  or  ministers;  14,324  members  or  com- 
municants; 71,630  adherent  population,  and  church  property 
valued  at  $652,950.    This  with  a  population  estimated  at  1 1 2,000, 


'-  :^l^i^^.-«*-'iik*Mii^iih^A:/*a*:i^-'^ 


ii*«3iJiir<*-i:-'i  t:v«'!«''*&;- 


.A*';--.  ■-  A-i»u!!tvA*M'«*'t^*^.'',:>f-'^^'i<^<^^*fi'^ 


■■ 


nluation, 
79. 

54  oo 

S8  oo 

90  00 

\»i  00 

>02    00 

;88  00 
)99  00 

70  00 

90  00 

58  00 

73  00 
3*4  00 

of  the  true 
roperty  not 

Willamette, 
lace  of  con- 
Its  popu- 
also  on  the 
3ad.  It  is  a 
'ity,  Albany, 
;,  have  over 
e  Columbia; 
d  California 
"  the  State ; 
Y ;  Dallas,  at 
Port  Orford 
e  northwest, 
'nhabitants. 
Oregon,  La 
Milton  are 

Oregon  351 
ominations ; 
irs  or  com- 
:h  property 
1  at  1 1 2,cx)0, 


XELraroLs  deaomixa twa's. 


1117 


exclusive  of  Indians,  is  certainly  a  very  creditable  showing.  The 
Methodists  were  considerably  the  most  numerous  denomination, 
the  Methodist  i'piscopal  Church  having  i  21  church  organizations, 
63  church  edifices,  140  ministers,  5,871  members,  20,1  70  adherent 
population,  and  $139,500  of  church  property,  while  the  minor 
Methodist  denominations  (Evangelical  Association  and  United 
Brethren  in  Christ)  had  42  churches,  23  church  edifices,  19  minis- 
ters, 1,028  members,  4,200  adherent  population,  and  jji22,ooo  of 
church  property.  The  Baptists  came  next,  the  regular  Baptists 
having  59  churches,  54  church  edifices,  47  ministers,  2,052  mem- 
bers, 8,000  adherent  population,  and  $51,300  of  church  property, 
and  the  Christian  Connection,  Baptists  in  their  practice,  had  4'' 
churches,  29  church  edifices,  36  ministers,  1,867  members.  7,900 
adherent  population,  and  $42,500  of  church  property;  the  Pres- 
byterians had  28  churches,  26  church  edifices,  25  ministers, 
1 ,599  members,  7,000  adherent  population,  and  $64, 1 50  of  church 
property.  Next  in  order  came  the  Catholics  with  17  churches, 
15  church  edifices,  18  priests,  15,000  adherent  population,  and 
$124,500  of  church  property.  Then  followed  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  with  16  parishes,  14  church  edifices,  15  priests, 
607  communicants,  2,800  adherents,  and  $74,300  of  church  prop- 
erty, while  the  Congregationalists  were  nearly  equal  to  them  in 
numbers.  There  were  five  minor  sects  represented,  of  whom 
only  the  Lutherans  have  increased  very  much  within  the  past  five 
years.  Of  the  leading  denominations  there  has  been  a  very 
decided  increase,  most  marked  among  the  Baptists,  Presbyterians, 
Episcopalians  and  Congregationalists. 

Historical  Data. — Spain  seems  to  have  had  the  first  title — that 
of  maritime  discovery — to  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory, 
having  visited  and  mapped  the  coast  nearly  to  the  fifty-fifth 
degree  of  north  latitude,  in  1592  by  the  Greek  pilot,  De  Fuca, 
in  1640  by  Admiral  Fonte,  and  subseqi  <  ay  by  other  explorers. 
This  title,  with  whatever  validity  it  possessed,  was  expressly  con- 
veyed to  the  United  States  by  Spain  by  the  treaty  of  Florida, 
concluded  in  1819.  The  title  of  the  United  States  to  Oregon  and 
Washington  Territory  by  no  means,  however,  rested  on  this  alone. 
Other  valid  claims  were  the  following :  the  discovery  and  explo-^ 


\ 


•  -US*e  ^n'f-t^.tii^J^. 


.'^ii^+&f3ti^JSiv*i;^s-w..i*^^^^^ 


iiS 


OrX    IVF.STERN  EMPIRE. 


ration  of  Columbia  riv«'r  by  Captain  Robert  Gray,  commanding 
the  sliip  "  Columbia,"  in  i  792,  who  gave  the  name  of  liis  ship  to 
the  river;  his  previous  exploration  of  the  coast  in  connection  with 
Captain  Kendrick,  in  the  "Washington  "  and  the  "Columbia," 
and  his  discovery  and  naming  of  Gray's  Harbor,  and  exploration 
of  the  Straits  of  San  Juan  de  Fuca  and  Puget  Sound,  more 
fully  detailed  in  the  chapter  on  Washington  Territory ;  the 
purchase  of  Louisiana  and  all  that  belonged  to  it  from  the 
French  in  1803,  this  including  the  Spanish  tide  so  far  as  they  had 
received  it  from  the  French  in  1 762  ;*  the  exploration  of  Columbia 
river  from  Its  sources  to  its  mouth  by  Captains  Lewis  and  Clarke, 
by  order  of  our  government  in  1804,  1805,  and  its  continued 
occupation  by  American  citizens  from  iSio,  as  a  result  of  the 
knowledge  of  its  resources  gained  from  the  report  of  Lewis  and 
Clarke. 

In  1 8 10  the  first  house  was  built  in  Oregon  by  Captain  Winship, 
a  New  Englander,  but  the  house  was  carried  away  by  a  flood  the 
following  year.  In  181 1,  John  Jacob  Astor,  of  New  York,  estab- 
lished a  trading-post  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river,  which  was 
named  "Astoria"  in  his  honor.  The  venture  proved  disastrous, 
mainly  in  consequence  of  the  war  between  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain  in  181 2.  The  British  took  possession  of  the  post 
in  181 3  and  called  it  Fort  George.  Subsequently  it  became  the 
property  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  and  remained  in  its  pos- 
session until  1848.  The  Northwest  Fur  Company  disputed  for 
a  time  the  rule  of  the  latter  company  on  the  Pacific  coast,  but 
had  to  succumb  in  a  few  years,  and  was  absorbed  by  its  rival  in 
1824,  from  which  time,  till  1848,  the  latter  ruled  supreme  in  the 
valleys  of  the  Columbia  and  Willamette.  <     .    ;     m;  i 

In  1824  the  first  fruit  trees  were  planted  in  Oregon,  and  in 

*  This  oUim  to  Orc^n  in  coimqnenc*  of  the  Loviiiam  pvrchase  wu  a  very  vrealc  one,  and 
has  been  abandoned  bjr  Greenhow  and  some  other  American  authorities.  The  grcnt  name  of 
Thomas  Jefferson,  who  was  President  when  the  Louisiana  treaty  was  negotiated,  has  also  been 
cited  against  it ;  hot  the  other  claims  were  ftufficient,  and  Iheir  justness  and  completeness  cannot 
be  denied.  See  on  this  subject  two  very  able  and  conclusiv*  papen  by  John  J.  Anderson, 
Ph.  D.,  author  of  several  works  on  the  history  of  the  United  States,  entitled  "  Did  the  Louisiaaa 
Piirchue  estend  to  tkc  Pacific  Ocean  ?  "  and  "  Our  Title  to  Ortgon  "••-Sui  Prandteo  and  New 


HISTORICAL  DATA. 


III9 


ammanding 

his  ship  to 
icction  with 
CoUinibia," 
exploration 
ound,  more 
ritory ;    the 

from  the 
as  they  had 
f  Columbia 
and  Clarke, 

continued 
ssult  of  the 

Lewis  and 

lin  Winship, 
^  a  flood  the 
V^ork,  estab- 
:r,  which  was 
i  disastrous, 
d  States  and 
I  of  the  post 
:  became  the 
:d  in  its  pos- 
disputed  for 
lie  coast,  but 
y  its  rival  in 
jreme  in  the 

:gon,  and  in 


1831  the  first  regular  attempts  at  farming  were  made  by  some 
of  the  retired  servants  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company.  In  1832 
the  first  school  was  opened.  Between  1834  and  1837  missionaries 
of  various  denominations  arrived,  bringing  the  first  cattle  with 
them.  In  1838  the  first  printing  press  arrived  in  Oregon.  In 
1841  Commodore  Wilkes  visited  the  Columbia  on  an  exploring 
expedition  at  the  instance  of  the  United  States  government. 

P'rom  1 81 6  till  1846  the  American  and  British  governments 
had  held  Oregon  "by  joint  occupancy"  under  a  formal  treaty, 
but  neither  nation  had  organized  any  form  of  civil  government 
there.  In  1843  the  inhabitants  organized  a  provisional  govern- 
ment, which  continued  in  force  till  1848.  In  1846,  after  a  long 
discussion,  a  treaty  was  made  with  Great  Britain  by  which  the 
whole  territory  south  of  49°  was  ceded  to  the  United  States. 

In  1848  Oregon  Territory  was  organized,  and  in  1849  received 
its  first  territorial  governor. 

In  1859  it  was  received  into  the  Union  as  a  State.  Since  that 
time  it  has  had  some  Indian  troubles,  but  these  are  now  all 
quieted,  by  the  banishment  of  the  Indian  offenders,  and  the 
location  of  the  Indians  on  reservations  where  they  are  cared  lor 
and  educated. 


> 


cry  weak  one,  and 
he  great  name  of 
ted,  has  also  been 
npleteness  caimot 
fohn  J.  Anderson, 
Did  the  Louisiaaa 
randseo  and  New 


:  lj     ■  :  I . •    i  1 1 ,  I 


:.i ; 


I      ) 


'  '  s-    ■  . 


■  •   i\    ;    .•. ; 


1  I 


siitstutit^'^tniientjtmv  ^ 


''■^^kSy^^¥K^iiakiii'»yx»'A<^'iii-^Sh^i^'^u>^^  ^i^v-i-^^,  .-■^rja.-*--^     <f'  --  - 


J 


1 1 20 


OUR    WESTERN  EAiriRE. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

TEXAS, 

Situation  and  Boundaries  of  TfexAs — Its  Area  and  Extent — Vastnbs$  or 
ITS  Area — Comparisons  with  other  States  and  Countries — Face  of  the 
Country — Mountains  in  the  Northwest — Isolated  Summits  and  Ridoes 
Klsewiiere — Elevations  of  Various  Points — Rivers,  Bays  and  Estuaries 
IN  their  Order  from  East  to  West — Texas  Rivers  not  Navic.able — Ge- 
ographical Divisions  of  the  State  and  their  CuARAtTERisTics — Geology 
AND  Mineralogy — Minkrai^ — Forests  and  Vegetation — Zoology — Cli- 
mate— Meteorological  Tahle  (,iving  ihe  Tempera iuuk,  Rainfall,  etc., 
AT  Flight  Points  in  the  State — Mining  and  Manufai  tl'ring  Indistries 
— Agricultural  Productions— Tables  of  Agricultural  Products  and 
Live-stock— Not  all  the  Arable  Lands  of  Texas  of  the  FiKsr  Quality — 
The  Live-stock  of  the  State  Commands  Lower  Prices  than  that  of 
States  and  Territories  farther  North — Why  ? — Railroads  and  Navi- 
oable  Waters — Population — Table  of  Population— Statistics — Nativi- 
TiF^  of  the  Population — From  Whence  the  Emigration — Counties  and 
their  Finances  and  Valuation — Principal  Cities  and  Towns — Education 
-Public  Schools — Contradictory  Statistics — Lack  of  Interest  in  them 
— Universities,  Colleges  and  Professional  Schools — Institutions  for 
Blind  and  Deaf  Mutes — Lands  for  Immigrants — Relkjious  Denomina- 
noNS — Historical  Data — Early  Settlements  in  Texas— Its  Revolt  and 
Independence  OF  Mexico — The  Republic — Annexation  to  United  States 
— Progress — Secession — Reconstruction — Present  Constitution — Con- 
clusion. 


Texas  is  the  southernmost  State  of  "Our  Western  Empire," 
and  joins  on  its  western  border  the  Republic  of  Mexico,  of  which 
it  was  once  an  integral  part.  It  is  a  vast  domain,  extending  from 
the  parallel  of  25°  51'  to  that  of  36°  30'  north  latitude,  and  from 
the  meridian  of  93°  27'  lo  that  of  106**  43'  west  longitude  from 
Greenwich.  It  is  of  very  irregular  shape,  a  part  of  its  boundaries 
being  of  mathematico-geographical  lines  of  latitude  and  longitude, 
and  a  much  greater  portion  following  the  natural  lines  of  gulf 
coast,  bay  and  river.  Its  northern  boundaries  are  New  Mexico 
from  the  Rio  Grande  eastward,  to  the  103d  meridian,  the  Indian 
Territory  (the  narrow  strip  in  the  northwest  of  that  Territory) 
from  the  103d  to  the  looth  meridian,  and  the  Red  river  from  the 


^".^K5«S.SS¥ei6«;:«HS6i»5*^r4aft'.^5^Ct^^^  **t,-wrtW"*(^rt»BiS*»w«iaa'-- 


-Vastnem  or 
-Face  or  the 

•8  AND  R I  DOGS 

ND  Estuaries 

Vir.ABLE — Ge- 

fcs — Geology 
oiii.odY — Cli- 

\INKALI.,   KTC, 

n'.  Indistries 
•rouucis  and 
SI'  Quality — 
•HAN  that  or 

^DS  AND  NaVI* 

;tics — Nativi- 
counties  and 
5 — Education 
'.rest  in  them 

riTUTIONS   FOR 

js  Denomina- 
s  Revolt  and 
Jnited  States 
tution — con- 


n  Empire," 
ico,  of  which 
ending  from 
le,  and  from 
gitude  from 
boundaries 
d  longitude, 
nes  of  gulf 
«Iew  Mexico 
,  the  Indian 
t  Territory) 
^er  from  the 


ti 


fXiMts^itait>ai»stwsaskiai^^ 


^^^jfeflte!m«S^1^i'«*'-»«i^*w*^ 


.,i^:^.'**i,.;'A    iM^-.^y 


% 


■i- 


V^ 


■<V,»»  ^>t^*.i4^'««Ut«4•0«iit&•t«lM.<Mt/l^•'*■-*>^-'^'    '^-    -  •— 


r 


'"V 


'-*i-^3Si'*V,  .-«et*^-'*^  ■  -vi- " 


.!»**«-i.'a*i*i'-  (»iv-':-V-i"i*f'*»« 


roroGK.irnv  of  ikx>is. 


111! 


looth  mcriflian  to  thf  <)^\\\,  whcrp  it  r rosnc^  thr  ArknnHAN  bound- 
ary. I  his  rivrr  si|);ir.it<:H  it  Iron)  th*-  Indian  Territory.  Its  «'aHt«rn 
liinitx  art!  the  tncridian  of  94"  kV,  as  far  south  as  th(*  thirty-Hccorul 
paraMfl,  .XrkannaM  and  Louisiana  bcinj;;  itn  actual  IxxintU,  and 
from  thf  thirty- second  parallel  the  .Sahinr  river  anil  lake  or  estuary 
to  the  (iulf  of  Mexico,  and  the  ^ulf  itself  thence  to  th«:  mouth  of 
the  Rio  (irancic  del  Nori  *.  The  Riodrande  del  Norir  forms  its 
southvv*  •itern  hortler,  s<  paratin^;  it  from  the  Kepuhlir  of  Mexiro. 
as  far  as  to  VA  Paso,  where  it  passe*  into  New  Mexico.  The  103d 
mericlian,  passinji;  throujjh  the  IJano  listacado,  lornis  its  west  rn 
boundary.  Its  extreme  Ien(>;th  from  southeast  to  northwest  is 
somewhat  more  than  Soo  miles,  and  its  extreme  brtatlth  alx>ut 
750  inihs.  Its  area  is  274,365  square  miles,  or  1 75,587,840  acres. 
This  area  is  equal  to  that  of  the  (f(;rman  F'.mpire,  with  Molland, 
Hel^^ium,  Switzerland  and  Denmark  addrtd  to  it.  It  is  one-third 
larjjer  than  the  Republic  of  F'rance.  It  is  four  times  larjjer  than 
all  New  Mnjjiand,  and  nearly  equal  to  the  combined  area  of  New 
York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Michigan,  Indiana  and  Illinois. 

Face  of  the  Country. — It  is  avast  inclinetl  plane,  with  a  gradual 
descent  from  the  northern  and  northwestern  boundary  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  coast  counties  are  nearly  level  for  sixty  or 
eighty  miles  inland;  the  surface  then  becomes  undulating,  with 
alternate  gradual  elevations  and  depressions,  and  this  feature  in- 
creast'S  as  we  proceed  toward  the  northwest,  until  it  becomes 
hilly  and  fmally  mountainous  in  some  of  the  far  western  counties; 
the  Sierra  Charrotte  are  the  most  eastern  of  these  mountain 
ranges,  and  between  these  and  the  Rio  Grande,  in  Pecos,  El  Paso 
and  Pro«idio  counties,  an?  the  Guadalupe,  the  Pah-cut,  the  Apache, 
the  Sierra  Hueco,  the  Sierra  del  Diablo,  the  Sierra  del  Muerio, 
the  Chanatte  Mountains,  the  Sierra  Merino,  the  Sierra  Cariso, 
Eagle  Mountain,  the  Sierra  IManca,  and  stretching  along  the  Rio 
Grande  for  many  miles  the  Sierra  Blancha.  Most  of  these  moun- 
tains carry  leads  of  silver,  lead  and  copper.  The  highest  of  them 
do  not  attain  an  elevation  of  more  than  5,ocx5  feet.  In  other  por- 
tions of  Texas  there  are  hills,  and  occasionally  a  summit  towering 
above  the  plain,  but  no  mountains  in  the  strict  sense  of  the  word. 
The  gradual  character  of  the  ascending  slope  of  the  country  is 
7i 


1123 


ouM  WKntKHff  Kurt  UK. 


% 


imiicatcit  hy  thr  following  clcvntionii  (iHcrrtninrd  l>y  the  c< 
«urvcy  uiul  railway  Murveyt:  CiDliad,  50  fret:  iioimton,  65  ;  (lun* 
zairn,  150;  Jt-lfirrHon,  336;  Silvrr  Lake,  350;  Marnhall,  377; 
\V«:l)bcrvillf,  394;  Hrcnham,  435  ;  Dalian,  481 ;  San  Antonio,  575  ; 
lort  Worth,  639;  AiiHlin,  650;  Sherman,  734  ;  lort  In^;r.  UraUIr 
county,  845  :  VVeathcrford,  1,000;  Sistcnlatr,  in  Kendall  county, 
1,000;  Fort  Clark,  Kennry  county,  1,000;  Frcdcrickuburg,  1,614; 
Mason,  1,800;  I'ort  Concho,  1,750;  I'ort  McKavitt,  3,050;  Fort 
lilisK,  Fl  Paso  county,  3,830;  Fort  Davin,  FrcHidio  county,  4,700 
feet. 

Riven,  Pays,  Esluariis  and  Lakes. — The  State,  except  in  the 
rrjjion  of  the  Llano  Estacado,  or  Staked  Plain,  in  the  northwrnt, 
is  well  watered.  The  Canadian  river,  the  larj,'CMt  tributary  of  the 
Arkansas,  and  the  Red  river,  which  forms  a  part  of  itn  northern 
boundary,  both  have  their  head-waters  ir>  Northwestern  Texas 
and  New  Mexico,  but  neither  of  them  receive  any  very  large 
afUlucnts  in  Tcxai,  though  tlie  North,  Salt,  Middle  and  South 
forks  of  the  Red  ri^er  are  considerable  streams.  Beginning  now 
at  th«!  east,  the  Sabine  river,  which  for  nearly  300  miles  forms  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  State,  is  a  hr^rp  and  for  much  of  its  route 
a  sluggish  stream,  with  several  c  lerable  affluents ;  and  the 
Neches,  or  Nachcs,  a  river  of  ab  .ne  same  size,  runs  nearly 
parallel  with  it,  both  discharging  their  waters  into  the  Sabine 
lake.  The  affluents  of  these  streams  and  of  those  to  be  men- 
tioned interlock  with  each  other,  and  though  not  of  large  size 
water  the  country  well.  All  tlie  rivers  of  Texas  except  the  Can- 
adian and  Red  river  have  a  (general  direction  toward  the  south- 
east ;  at  first  perhaps  rather  to  the  south-southeast,  but  each 
successive  river  makes  a  larger  angle  with  the  meridian.  After 
the  Naches  come  successively  the  Trinity,  the  Brazos,  with  sev- 
eral large  affluents,  the  Colorado,  the  largest  river  of  Central 
Texas,  having  its  sources  on  the  borders  of  the  Staked  Plain,  and 
fed  by  a  hundred  or  more  tributaries,  the  Guadalupe  and  its  large 
affluent  the  San  Antonio,  Mission  river,  Aransas  river,  the 
Nueces,  with  its  tributary,  the  Rio  Frio,  the  Aqua  Dulce,  and  a 
dozen  smaller  streams;  and  on  its  southwest  border  the  Rio 
'Gcande  del  Norte  and  its  great  tributary,  the  Rio  Pecos. 


".■r«^»*^<-f -*A-. 


»jairi-<.  ni'.'^iwr  . 


rort'iAK  luiiaioss  Of  thxah. 


IIJ3 


the  coAiit 
In,  65 ;  (ion- 
IrHhall.  377; 
htonio,  575; 
in^'r.  UraUIr 
Uali  county, 
burjr,  1.614; 
1,050 ;  Fort 
i)iinty,  4,700 

xrcpt  in  tho 

«•  northwrst, 

)iitary  of  the 

its  northern 

strrn  Texan 

'  very  large 

and  South 

ijinninj^  now 

es  forms  the 

1  of  its  route 

Its ;  and  the 

I  runs  nearly 

)  the  Sabine 

to  be  men- 

)f  lar^e  size 

cpt  the  Can- 

■d  the  south- 

st,  but   each 

dian.     After 

OS,  with  sev- 

r  of  Central 

^d  Plain,  and 

and  its  lar^e 

s   river,  the 

3ulcc,  and  a 

der  the  Rio 

ecos. 


None  of  lh«  Trxim  river*  are  nnvi^nbte  U\r  any  connidcrublc 
ditlance  except  at  hi^h  wattr,  but  by  dred^in^  anti  tht-  (on<«iruc- 
tion  of  A  Hhort  canal,  (ialvcHton  bay  and  ltuff.do  iMyou  have 
been  rendered  navigable  a»  fur  ait  llou^ton,  tifty  \\\\\v%  front 
(ialveHton. 

Mo-it  c)f  the  so-called  lakes  in  Texas  arc  really  rstuarirs  and 
t)ayH,  and  when  somewhat  n.irrower  and  without  much  curr<-nt, 
they  ar-j  called  bayous.  Of  tiune  lays  an«l  cHtuaries  th'*  prin- 
cipal are  Sabine  lake,  at  the  mouth  of  the  labine  river,  ('ialv«st«)n 
bay  and  its  two  arms,  liast  anil  West  bay,  Matagorda  Ixiy  :vn(l 
I.;ivaca  lay,  connected  with  it,  l.spiritii  Santo  and  San  Antonio 
bays,  one  opening;  into  the  otlwr,  with  several  small  bays  con* 
nected  with  them,  Aransas  and  C«)pano  bays.  Corpus  Christi  an<l 
Nueces  bays,  and  the  Long  I.agoon,  or  sound,  /.ttj;ima  df  la 
Madre.  The  only  considerable  l.ike-s  not  »;stuarirs  are  Caddo 
lake,  in  the  east,  i'orked  lake,  in  Zavala  county,  I'ispantosa,  in 
Dimmiit  county,  and  three  large  s»dt  lakes  in  I'rcsidiu  county,  in 
the  northwest. 

Dr'LioHs  of  the  Siatf. — The  Stat<r  is  divitlcd  for  civil  and  de- 
scriptive purp<  'S  into — i.  'I'h<!  coast  counties;  2.  Eastern 
Texas ;  3.  Central  Texas;  4.  Northern  Texas;  5.  Western  and 
.Southwestern  Texas ;   6.   Northwestern  Texas. 

In  the  coast  counties  the  soil  and  climate  are  especially  adapted 
to  the  culture  of  the  su>;ar-cane,  sea  island  cotton,  rice  and  many 
semi-tropical  fruits  and  vegetables. 

The  eastern  |)ortion  of  the  Slate,  including  some  <;ighteen 
counties,  is  heavily  timl)ered,  and  from  here  are  drawn  nearly  all 
the  immense  supplies  of  pine  lumber  required  in  the  prairie  [)or- 
tions  of  the  State.  The  natural  resources  of  this  section  are 
varied.  In  it  are  vast  deposits  of  iron  ore  of  excellent  quality 
and  extensive  beds  of  lignite.  Large  crops  of  cotton,  corn  and 
other  grains  are  grown  in  its  valleys,  and  its  uplands  are  noted 
for  the  production  of  fruits  and  vegetables.  It  is  generally  well 
watered  by  streams  and  springs. 

Central  and  Northern  Texas,  though  generally  a  rich  prairie 
country,  is  by  no  means  devoid  of  a  sufficiency  of  timber  for  ordi- 
nary purposes,  its  numerous  streams  being  fringed  with  a  large 


1124 


OUR    WESTER!^  EMPIRE. 


:*  1 


U' 


growth  of  forest  trees.  It  is  also  traversed  by  what  is  known  as 
the  upper  and  lower  Cross  Timbers — a  belt  of  oak,  elm  and  other 
timber,  from  one  to  six  miles  wide. 

Western  and  Southwestern  Texas  are  the  great  pastoral  re- 
gions of  the  State.  The  surface  is  generally  a  high,  rolling  table- 
land, watered  by  creeks  and  ponds,  but  with  little  timber,  except 
along  the  streams  and  on  some  of  the  hills  and  mountain  region-s 
of  the  western  part,  where  forests  of  cedar,  mountain  juniper, 
oak,  etc.,  exist. 

The  luxuriant  growth  of  rich,  native  grasses  found  in  this  sec- 
tion renders  it  pre-eminently  a  stock  raising  country,  and  as  such 
it  is  unexcelled  by  any  other  portion  of  the  continent.  The  pre- 
cious metals  and  other  mineral  deposits  are  known  to  exist  in 
this  section  of  the  State,  and  it  is  believed  their  development  wil' 
be  rapid  when  railroads  shall  have  been  built  across  it. 

Northwestern  Texas  includes  not  only  the  mountainous  regiort 
comprised  in  Pecos,  Presidio  and  El  Paso  counties,  but  the  un 
organized  region  known  as  the  Territory  of  Bexar,  and  Tom 
Green  county,  and  sixty-three  counties  north  of  and  east  of  these, 
extending  up  to  the  parallel  of  36°  30',  and  eastward  to  the  me- 
ridian of  99°  30'.  This  region,  ?  part  of  which  is  known  as  the 
"  Pan-handle  of  Texas,"  has  an  area  of  more  than  90,000  square 
miles,  and  perhaps  one-third  of  it  belongs  to  the  Llano  Esiacado, 
or  Staked  Plain.  It  is  not  well  watered,  and  portions  of  it  are 
not  watered  at  all  except  by  wells.  Its  rainfall  is  very  small,  and 
the  pasturage,  though  scanty,  is  nutritious  where  any  water  can 
be  obtained.  The  mountainous  portion  is  rich  in  minerals.  Sil- 
ver, lead,  copper  and  iron  are  found  there,  and  gold  probably 
will  be.  If,  as  is  proposed,  the  great  Staked  Plain  is  rendered 
habitable  by  water  supplied  from  artesian  wells,  this  will  be  an 
,  excellent  country  for  pasturage.  Flocks  and  herds  sufificient  to 
supply  the  world  could  be  raised  there. 

Geology  and  Mineralogy. — Texas  has  never  had  a  State  geo- 
logical survey;  it  has  been  once  or  twice  attempted,  but  has  soon 
failed  for  the  want  of  means  for  its  prosecution.  It  is  said  that 
the  new  constitution  of  the  State  prohibits  anything  of  the  kind — 
a  most  unwise  provision,  if  true,  as  no  State  in  the  Union  would 


.--^^if-G^i)  «*»*?>:->(*««*".-».■--■■  ^V*ftWtWx'«*M-^if.n,fcii,. ...» 


■—  U3W-.'v.\t#^-.. 


•*^,^..-ii..]sd*.»^:-.  ^'  ,  .v^..  .1  V  j«i.i:->.v<'t 


■;iV5v.' jTi-  ~^.,-af_ynsic.,^t* 


GEOLOUY  AND  MINERALOGY. 


II25 


}  known  as 
n  and  other 

>astoral  re- 
eling table- 
be  r,  except 
tain  regions 
lin  juniper, 

in  this  sec- 
and  as  such 
.    The  pre- 

to  exist  in 
lopment  wil' 
it. 

nous  regioi» 
but  the  un 
ir,  and  Tom 
ast  of  these, 
i  to  the  me- 
novvn  as  the 
D.cxx)  square 
\no  Estacado, 
)ns  of  it  are 
ry  small,  and 
ny  water  can 
inerals.     Sil- 
old  probably 
1  is  rendered 
is  will  be  an 
i  sufficient  to 

a  State  geo- 
but  has  soon 
[t  is  said  that 
of  the  kind — 
Union  would 


be  as  much  benefited  by  such  a  survey  as  Texas.  From  some 
rapid  and  superficial  geological  reconnoissances  of  the  .State,  we 
glean  the  following  general  view  of  the  geology  and  mineralogy 
of  the  State. 

Mr.  N.  A.  Taylor,  a  Texan  geologist,  has  gathered  together  the 
sum  of  what  is  known  in  regard  to  it,  though  acknowledging  that 
extensive  districts,  like  that  from  Handera  west  to  the  Rio  (Jrande, 
and  that  from  San  Antonio  southwest  to  the  Rio  Grande,  have 
not  been  explored  even  superficially,  and  that  even  the  formations 
which  approach  the  surface  are  entirely  unknown,  though  they 
afe  conjectured  to  be  Tertiary : 

"The  coast-belt,  like  that  of  the  other  j^ulf  and  southern  Adantic 
States,  is  alluvial,  though  somewhat  less  fertile  than  the  deposits 
of  the  Mississippi  delta ;  it  is,  however,  well  adapted  to  corn, 
cotton,  sugar-cane  and  the  tropical  fruits. 

•'  From  the  best  data  and  my  own  observations,  the  Tertiary 
formations  occupy  all  Eastern  Texas  as  high  as  Red  river,  and 
all  the  lower  portion  of  the  State  from  the  gulf  100  to  150  miles, 
and  farther,  into  the  interior.  If  there  is  any  exception  to  this, 
it  is  in  the  remote  southwest,  which  I  have  not  visited.  Of  this 
great  Territory,  the  Pliocene,  or  newer  Tertiary,  occupies  the 
itide-water  region,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  Eastern  Texas 
above  tide-water.  All  this  region  is  low  and  level,  and  wonder- 
fully productive  when  well  drained  and  well  treated.  The 
Miocene,  or  middle  Tertiary,  appears  here  and  there  in  scattered 
patches  above  the  Pliocene,  and  is  quite  largely  developed  about 
Huntsville.  These  lands  are  largely  sandy,  and  usually  hilly  or 
broken.  From  the  melting  nature  of  the  soil  they  are  also  cut 
up  by  considerable  gullies  and  ravines.  Usually  productive,  but 
cannot  resist  drought.  Above  these  comes  the  Eocene,  or 
oldest  Tertiary,  which  occupies  a  larger  space.  These  lands  are 
rolling,  and  contain  much  very  graceful  and  beautiful  scenery. 
The  waves  and  swells  rise  higher  and  higher  as  you  go  north 
and  west.     This  formation  has  a  very  small  percentage  of  poor 

land. 

"  There  are,  no  doubt,  here  and  there,  many  intrusions  on  a 
small  scale  of  older  strata  through  these  formations,  but  I  know  of 


■■t-ol,»f-;?JSw;*''"' 


1 126 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE, 


■'k 


only  one  of  any  importance.  That  is  at  the  place  called  Damon's 
Mound,  in  Brazoria,  where  several  acres  of  valuable  limestone 
rise  many  feet  above  the  Pliocene  which  surrounds  it.  This 
limestone  cannot  be  later  than  Eocene,  and  may  be  older.  It  is 
the  only  stone  I  have  seen  in  the  Pliocene  territory  of  Texas, 
and  some  day  it  will  be  very  valuable  for  quicklime. 

"Above  the  Eocene,  the  Cretaceous  formation  rises  like  a 
rampart  and  extends  north  and  west  a  great  distance — how  far 
it  is  not  certainly  known.  Many  say  that  it  goes  on  northward, 
with  occasional  interruptions,  until  it  reaches  the  plateau  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  including  the  Staked  Plains.  This  is  the  idea 
of  Professor  Buckley.  With  all  deference,  I  believe  it  is  not  so. 
I  believe  there  is  very  little  Cretaceous  after  reaching  the  great 
outburst  of  Plutonic  and  Metamorphic  rocks  which  extend 
through  Burnet,  Llano,  Mason  and  Menard  counties,  and  farther 
west  to  an  unknown  distance.  After  passing  this  primitive 
region,  the  country  assumes  outlines  totally  unlike  the  Cretaceous 
as  elsewhere  seen.  I  have  no  doubt,  indeed  I  know,  that  it 
appears  here  and  there  even  to  El  Paso,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  but 
the  general  formation  I  believe  to  be  Jurassic,  including  the 
Staked  Plains,  and  have  little  doubt  that  investigation  will  prove 
it  to  be  so. 

"  Just  north  of  the  primitive  region  of  Llano,  etc.,  there  is  a 
large  development  of  Carboniferous,  extending  northeast  toward 
the  Indian  Territory,  and  embracing,  as  is  calculated,  30,000 
square  miles  of  coal-bearing  strata.  It  is  no  doubt  a  continua- 
tion of  the  Arkansas  or  Ozark  system.  The  Permian  formation 
here  and  there  crosses  this  coal  territory,  and  probably  flanks 
it  all  round.  The  Permian  is  also  undoubtedly  developed  largely 
farther  north  and  west.  Not  far  from  Fort  Concho  it  terminates, 
and  here,  closely  connected  with  it,  there  is  a  narrow  streak  of 
coal  strata,  in  which  an  excellent  coal  has  been  found.  As  in 
England,  so  in  Texas,  this  formation,  wherever  found,  seems  to 
indicate  unerringly  the  near  presence  of  coal.  I  believe  the 
Permian  may  be  found  almost  anywhere  near  the  foot  of  the 
Staked  Plains. 

"Beyond  the  Pecos,  in  that  almost  unknown  region  below  the 


% 


■  zTS^t^Miiit^M&'tr-.JSi  <nm»f\>irM''&»iiii:*ittJ,r^*A''.-^  ^'■Uk-.Sf  ki 


•V*'«'iv-i<.^tkli,'«V.'^'»?!iw-..   Zf~. 


THE  MINERALS  OF  TEXAS. 


1 1 27 


ed  Damon's 
limestone 
Is  it.  This 
older.  It  is 
y  of  Texas, 

rises  like  a 
ce — how  far 
northward, 
ateau  of  the 
is  is  the  idea 
;  it  is  not  so. 
ing  the  great 
rhich  extend 
■5,  and  farther 
his  primitive 
le  Cretaceous 
enow,  that  it 
)  Grande,  but 
ncluding  the 
on  will  prove 

;tc.,  there  is  a 
theast  toward 
ilated,  30,000 
bt  a  continua- 
lian  formation 
robably  flanks 
eloped  largely 

it  terminates, 
row  streak  of 
found.  As  in 
lund,  seems  to 

I  believe  the 
le  foot  of  the 

rion  below  the 


El  Paso  stage  route,  it  is  difficult  to  say  what  is  the  ruling 
geological  formation.  All  die  formations,  except  the  Tertiary, 
seem  to  have  been  thrown  together  in  one  vast  pile  of  ruin, 
penetrated  by  valleys  of  exquisite  beauty  and  fertility.  Here  wc 
find  all  manner  of  Plutonic  eruptions,  frequently  capped  and 
rtankud  by  Jurassic  and  Cretaceous  rocks.  Perhaps  basaltic 
rocks  predominate.  They  certainly  assume  some  very  immense 
forms,  sometimes  rising  into  perpendicular  cliffs  many  miles  long 
and  a  thousand  or  more  feet  high.  The  Permian  also  appears 
here,  filled  with  selenite  and  other  forms  of  gypsum.  This  is 
the  most  interesting  region  in  the  world  to  the  geologist. 

''Minerals. — If  we  are  filled  with  doubt  in  regard  to  the  geo- 
logical formations  of  Texas,  we  are  much  more  so  in  regard  to 
the  minerals  that  lie  hidden  in  her  strata.  As  regards  the  Ter- 
tiaries,  they  contain  many  valuable  deposits  of  iron  ore  in  East- 
ern Texas,  some  of  which  have  been  a  litde  worked  and  found 
to  yield  from  forty  to  sixty  per  cent,  of  metajlic  iron.  These  ores 
are  the  brown  oxides  or  limonite.  The  forests  are  dense  in  this 
region,  and  charcoal  is  obtainable  at  a  nominal  price.  Lime- 
stones are  usually  within  easy  distance,  sufficient  to  supply  fluxes. 
These  ores  are  also  abundant  in  Robertson,  Limestone  and  other 
counties  of  Central  Texas,  but  have  received  no  attention.  The 
Eocene  also  contains  very  large  deposits  of  lignite,  some  of 
which,  particularly  that  found  in  Limestone  county,  is  a  superior 
variety  of  that  sort  of  coal.  It  would  prove  excellent  for  gas- 
making,  but  will  not  coke.  It  burns  furiously  in  a  grate,  but 
emits  an  unpleasant  odor  in  combustion,  which  goes  through  the 
whole  house  and  may  even  be  smelled  at  a  distance  outside. 
Some  of  these  layers  of  lignite  are  said  to  be  at  least  twelve 
feet  thick.  They  are  associated  with  brown  and  blue  shales, 
and  rather  soft  brown  sand-stone.  There  is  some  gypsum  in 
the  Eocene — notably  about  the  falls  of  the  Brazos,  in  Falls 
county,  where  it  is  in  considerable  quantity.  It  is  pure  enough 
for  manufacturing  into  plaster  of  Paris,  and  there  is  none  better 
for  fertilizing.  West  of  Corpus  Christi  large  deposits  of  salt  are 
formed  annually  in  the  lagoons  near  the  gulf.  In  the  winter  these 
basins  are  filled  with  water  from  the  gulf,  which  evaporates  in 


1128 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


■A 


1;% 


summer,  leaving  the  clean  white  salt.  Enough  of  it  is  thus 
formed  here  every  year  to  salt  all  Texas,  During  the  war  these 
deposits  supplied  a  large  portion  of  Texas  with  salt. 

"The  Cretaceous  contains  a  good  deal  of  gypsum,  and  lime- 
stone for  building  or  quicklime,  without  end.  About  two  miles 
from  Round  Rock,  on  the  International  railroad,  there  is  a  great 
quantity  of  gypsum,  quite  pure.  There  is  also  a  good  deal  of  it 
about  Mount  Bonnel,  near  Austin.  Both  of  these  points  are  so 
convenient  to  transportation  that  it  is  singular  that  some  one  has 
not  engaged  in  making  plaster  of  Paris.  Nearly  all  that  article 
used  in  Texas  comes  from  Newfoundland,  and  this  when  we  have 
it  just  as  good  and  in  great  abundance  right  at  our  own  doors. 
No  chalk  has  ever  been  found  in  the  Cretaceous  system  of  Texas, 
so  far  as  I  know. 

"  The  granitic  and  metamorphic  region,  running  through  Burnet, 
Llano,  Mason,  Menard,  etc.,  abounds  in  mineral  wealth.  There 
are  probably  no  larger  and  certainly  no  better  deposits  of  iron 
ore  in  the  world  than  those  of  Llano  county ;  none  easier  to  get 
at.  These  ores  are  magnetic  and  specular,  and  often  appear  in 
immense  masses  resembling  solid  iron.  They  have  been  wrought 
to  a  very  small  extent  and  found  to  yield  from  seventy  to  eighty 
per  cent,  of  iron,  equal  to  the  best  in  the  world.  With  such 
immense  masses  of  iron  as  this,  Texas  ought  to  furnish  not  only 
her  own  railroad  iron,  but  also  ship  it  to  other  lands.  This  will 
be  done  in  time.  At  present  Austin  is  the  nearest  point  to  a 
railroad,  about  a  hundred  miles  off.  The  region  is  generally 
timbered,  furnishing  plenty  of  material  for  charcoal ;  some  coal 
has  also  been  discovered  in  this  region,  and  it  is  known  to  exist 
abundantly  in  Coleman  and  other  counties  not  far  off.  There  is 
also  abundance  of  limestone.  Soapstone,  valuable  for  furnaces, 
also  abounds.  Some  copper,  silver,  and  even  gold,  have  been 
found  in  this  region,  but  not  yet,  I  believe,  in  paying  quantities. 
Its  great  mineral  wealth  is  doubtless  its  iron.  Marble  of  excellent 
quality  is  found  in  places  throughout  this  region.  Perhaps  the 
largest  deposit  of  it  is  at  the  Marble  Falls  of  the  Colorado,  where 
the  river  for  a  consid.  i  ble  distance  cuts  its  way  through  walls 
and  mountain    oj  soil* I  marble.     It  is  not  uncommon  in  this 


If- 


a, 


■■  -m4  .  ■■■■'  ■^^'^-^]   ' 


THE  MINERALS  OF  TEXAS. 


1139 


it  is  thus 
:  war  these 

and  lime- 
two  miles 
c  is  a  great 
)d  deal  of  it 
oints  are  so 
me  one  has 
that  article 
len  we  have 
•  own  doors. 
:m  of  Texas, 

)ugh  Burnet, 
ilth.  There 
osits  of  iron 
easier  to  get 
en  appear  in 
een  wrought 
nty  to  eighty 
With  such 
nish  not  only 
Is.  This  will 
jst  point  to  a 

is  generally 
l1  ;  some  coal 
lown  to  exist 
)ff.  There  is 
;  for  furnaces, 
Id,  have  been 
ig  quantities. 
le  of  excellent 

Perhaps  the 
lorado,  where 
through  walls 
nnion  in  this 


region  to  find  the  people  living  in  huts  or  cabins  surrounded 
witli  fences  built  of  the  finest  marble.  The  marbk*  is  of  various 
shades — some  pure  white,  some  variegated  with  red  and  blue 
markings,  and  some  black.  This  place  is  about  sixty  miles  above 
Austin,  and  the  marble  might  be  brought  down  the  river  in  flat- 
boats,  but  it  is  not. 

"  In  the  same  region  there  are  numerous  salines,  issuing,  it  is 
said,  from  Silurian  rocks,  and  some  salt  of  a  very  fine  quality  is 
manufactured — enough  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  people  around 
there.  This  whole  region  is  very  picturesque,  and  has  some  of 
tlie  loveliest  scenery  on  the  American  continent. 

"  Below  this  primitive  region,  lying  out  in  the  post-oaks  to  the 
southeast,  are  numerous  strange  boulders,  which  have  been  borne 
many  miles  from  their  native  beds  by  some  remarkable  occur- 
rence which  took  place  about  the  close  of  the  Cretaceous  era. 
Some  of  these  lost  rocks  are  many  tons  in  weight.  The  Jurassic 
and  Permian  beds  are  known  to  contain  great  deposits  of  copper, 
gypsum  and  salt.  Indeed,  the  largest  deposit  of  gypsum  known 
in  the  world  is  found  in  Northwest  Texas  along  Red  river,  and 
extending  a  great  distance  into  the  State.  The  gypsum  belt  is 
a  hundred  or  more  miles  in  width,  and  of  unknown  thickness. 
The  q^psum  is  of  all  sorts,  from  the  purest  alabaster  and  selenite 
to  the  common  massive  forms.  There  is  enough  of  it  to  supply 
the  demands  of  the  universe  for  centuries.  All  the  streams  that 
wander  through  this  great  bed  are  impregnated  with  this  mineral 
and  salt — some  to  such  a  degree  that  even  the  animals  will  not 
drink  them.  The  Pecos  is  a  strange  compound,  and  one  of  the 
arms  of  the  Brazos  is  far  more  briny  than  the  ocean.  Yet  in  all 
this  region  there  are  springs  and  deep  circular  pits  of  pure  water. 
The  Permian,  in  Archer  and  several  other  counties,  is  heavily 
stored  with  copper. 

"In  regard  to  the  region  west  of  the  Pecos,  I  have  this  prophecy 
to  place  on  record — that  the  day  will  come  when  it  will  develop 
great  mineral  wealth.  We  have  every  reason  to  think  so.  No 
intelligent  man  has  ever  penetrated  that  region  without  being 
filled  with  this  conviction,  and  the  more  intelligent  and  observing 
he  is  the  stronger  is  this  conviction  upon  him.     There  is  hardly 


^' 


1 130 


OUX   WESTER  fir  EMPIRE. 


a  doubt  that  the  geological  formation  there  is  but  a  continuation 
of  the  rich  mineral-bearing  system  of  Colorado,  Nevada  and 
Chihuahua.  The  rocks  appear  the  same  ;  they  contain  silver,  cop- 
per and  lead.  These  rich  metalliferous  rocks  nm  in  great  systems, 
and  not  in  isolated  protrusions.  Thus  we  find  gold  in  the  great 
Appalachian  system  of  mountains,  reaching  out  thousandsof  miles; 
and  thus  we  find  gold  and  silver  in  the  great  Rocky  and  Andes 
Range,  traversing  the  length  of  two  continents.  For  this  reason 
I  have  ever  entertained  a  lively  hope  that  much  silver  and  gold 
will  be  found  in  the  far  isolated  group  of  Llano,  etc.  The  moun- 
tains beyond  the  Pecos  fill  every  condition  for  the  expectation 
of  great  mineral  wealth.  Here  the  systems  of  Colorado  and  the 
Sierra  Rica,  of  Mexico,  meet  and  blend.  Being  so  rich  elsewhere, 
why  should  they  not  be  even  richer  where  they  meet  and  blend? 
I  have  no  question  that  they  will  eventually  prove  so,  and  that 
those  now  utterly  lonely  mountains  will  be  filled  with  great  works 
and  the  busy  camps  of  the  miners.  Silver  will  be  the  principal 
metal,  though  copper  and  lead  will  abound." 

Forests  and  Vegetation. — Eastern  Texas,  east  of  the  Trinity 
river,  is  a  region  of  abundant  timber,  and  although  the  most 
densely  populated  portion  of  the  State,  full  one-half  of  its  surface 
is  still  covered  with  forests.  There  are  two  species  of  pine,  here 
known  as  the  "  long  straw"  and  "short  straw"  pine,  both  of  large 
size  and  producing  excellent  lumber,  while  the  long  straw  yields 
a  superior  quality  of  turpentine.  There  are  also  in  Eastern 
Texas  several  species  of  oak,  including  the  live-oak,  so  called,  an 
evergreen  oak  which  differs  somewhat  from  the  live-oak  of 
Florida,  and  which  is  found  all  over  the  State ;  the  post-oak  and 
blackjack ;  the  ash,  elm,  black  walnut,  butternut,  pecan,  box-elder 
and  pride  of  China ;  and  toward  the  coast,  the  magnolia  (here  a 
stately  tree),  the  cypress,  palmetto,  etc.  In  Northern  Texas 
there  are  two  immense  belts  of  woodland,  extending  from  the 
Red  river  southward,  called  the  "  Lower "  and  "  Upper  Cross 
Timbeis."  They  are  each  about  forty  or  forty-five  miles  wide, 
and  extend  southward  from  1 50  to  200  miles ;  the  first  com- 
mences in  Cooke  and  Grayson  counties,  along  the  Red  river, 
and  extends  to  McLennan  county ;  the  second,  which  is  smaller, 


-^ 


■'■■»-5»*^-,.*<(MI*»^'ii»**W>w»v--\;f*^/..v,»a-**-^»*w--«^ 


..  ..'■»*ti'.J'jJS*^fc  f".' 


fOUr.ST  GROWTHS  AV   TEXAS. 


II3I 


ontlnuation 

SJevacIa  and 

n  silv(;r,  a)p- 

reat  systems, 

in  the  great 

ndsof  miles; 

y  and  Andes 

r  this  reason 

^er  and  gold 

The  moun- 

expectation 

>rado  and  the 

ch  elsewhere, 

2t  and  blend? 

so,  and  that 

1  great  works 

the  principal 

)f  the  Trinity 
igh  the  most 
of  its  surface 
s  of  pine,  here 
,  both  of  large 
g  straw  yields 
io  in  Eastern 
c,  so  called,  an 
e  live-oak  of 
:  post-oak  and 
ican,  box-elder 
gnoHa  (here  a 
)rthern  Texas 
ding  from  the 
'  Upper  Cross 
ve  miles  wide, 
the  first  com- 
the  Red  river, 
tich  is  smaller, 


occupies  parts  of  Wise,  Jack,  Palo  Piuto,  Hood  and  Erath  coun- 
ties. Most  of  the  trees  in  these  forests  are  post-oak  and  black- 
jack oak,  and  they  stand  so  wide  apart  that  a  wagon  can  be 
driven  between  them  in  any  direction. 

Central  Texas  is  mainly  rolling  prairie ;  but  with  plenty  of 
timber,  generally  of  good  (juality,  though  sometimes  cottonwood, 
buckeye,  black  gum  or  sweet  gum,  in  the  river  and  creek  bottoms. 
There  are  also  islands  of  forest  trees,  live-oak,  cypress  (which 
grows  on  the  hills  here),  post-oak  and  mesquite  scattered  through 
the  prairies.  The  coast  belt  has  no  forest  trees,  but  frequent 
chai)parals,  composed  mainly  of  the  different  species  of  cactus. 
This  region  has  also  in  spring  and  early  summer  rich  and  nutri- 
tious grasses,  and  a  profusion  of  brilliant  fiowering  plants. 
Western  and  Northwestern  Texas  are  scantily  wooded,  though 
even  there  the  cypress,  the  live-oak  (more  rarely),  and  that  won- 
derful tree,  the  mesquite,  are  found.  The  Osage  orange  (bois 
d'arc)  and  the  pecan  tree  are  among  the  other  valuable  forest 
trees  of  Texas,  The  bois  d'arc  grows  in  almost  all  soils ;  its  wood 
is  very  hard  and  durable,  and  its  thorns  and  rapid  growth  make  it 
excellent  for  hedges. 

The  other  shrubs  and  plants  most  common  in  Northwestern 
Texas  and  in  the  Llano  Estacado  are  the  yucca  and  four  or  five 
genera  of  the  cactus,  among  which  are  the  prickly  pear,  the  melo- 
cactus,  the  mammelaria  and  several  species  of  cereus.  The  sage 
brush  is  not  so  abundant,  even  on  the  Llano,  as  in  New  Mexico 
and  Colorado.  The  mesquite  grass,  a  very  great  favorite  with 
catde,  is  the  best  of  the  pasturage  grasses  of  this  region. 

Zoology. — ^There  are  still  some  herds  of  buffalo  and  antelope 
in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  State,  though  the  number  is  di- 
minishing every  year.  In  Western  Texas  the  mustang  or  wild 
horse  of  Mexico  still  feeds  in  large  troops  on  the  prairies ;  the 
gray  wolf,  more  ferocious  and  stronger  than  his  northern  con- 
gener, the  black  bear,  the  puma  or  cougar,  the  jaguar  or  Amer- 
ican tiger,  the  wild  cat  and  the  lynx,  are  found  in  the  wooded  and 
thinly  inhabited  districts ;  while  deer,  peccaries,  raccoons,  opos- 
sums, foxes,  hares  and  squirrels  abound  in  the  woods. 

Among  the  feathered  tribes  are  found :  of  game  birds,  the  wild 


lija 


OL'K    H'KSrr.KS  I-Mr/KE. 


turkey,  phcasnnt,  quail,  snip<',  curlew,  many  sptcifs  of  wild  cluck!!, 
Iirant  and  teal,  wild  jfcesc,  swans,  and  a  ^rcat  variety  of  birds 
remarkable  for  sweetness  of  sonj^'  or  beauty  of  plumaj^c;  and 
amonj;  the  birds  of  prey,  the  kin^  vulture,  or  kin^'  of  the  buz- 
zards, the  common  turkey  bu/zard,  and  other  vultures,  cajjies, 
hawks,  kites,  pelicans,  herons,  kinj^-fishers,  flamin^joes,  cranes, 
etc.  The  streams  abound  in  fish,  of  which  th(!  black  bass  and  the 
war-mouth  perch  are  the  best  edible  fresh-water  varieties,  while 
the  waters  of  the  bays  and  ^ulf  yield  immense  numbers  of  the 
salt-water  fish  common  to  all  the  Adantic  antl  j^ulf  coasts.  The 
oysters  of  Galveston  bay  and  its  vicinity  are  considered  j,'ood  by 
epicures.  Allij^ators,  turtles,  etc.,  are  abundant  in  the  lower 
portion  of  the  rivers  and  bayous,  and  on  the  coast  are  seen,  thoujjfh 
less  freciuently,  the  greai  sea-turtles,  the  manaitee,  octopus  and  the 
porpoise.  In  the  mountains  ami  wooded  districts,  rattlesnakes, 
moccasin  snakes,  copperheads  the  red-mouthed  adder  and  the 
milk  adder  are  sufificiently  numerous,  and  several  species  of  the 
black  snake  (our  American  boa)  and  great  numbers  of  harmless 
snakes  are  found  almost  everywhere.  The  gecko  and  other 
lizards,  among  them  the  chameleon,  horned  toads,  horned  frogs, 
salamanders,  etc.,  abound,  and  the  insect  tribes  are  both  numerous 
and  formidable.  The  centipede,  and  on  the  lower  coast  a  small 
sand  scorpion,  the  large  jumping  spider,  horse  flies,  buffalo  gnats, 
chigoes  and  mosquitoes  are  all  more  or  less  troublesome ;  but 
they  are  not  found  in  the  same  localities  nor  at  the  same  season 
of  the  year.  The  insects  injurious  to  vegetation  are  less  numerous 
and  destrucdve  than  in  any  other  States. 

Climate. — The  climate  of  Texas  is  varied  from  semi-tropical  to 
moderately  temperate.  Snow  and  ice  are  seldom  seen  in  the 
central  portion,  and  rarely,  if  ever,  in  the  extreme  south.  In  the 
northern  part  one  or  two  snow-falls  during  the  winter,  of  from 
one  to  three  inches  in  depth,  are  usually  expected.  Occasionally 
a  much  heavier  fall  is  had,  and  ice  from  one  to  two  inches  in 
thickness  is  sometimes  made. 

In  the  northeastern  and  eastern  sections  of  the  State  the  mer- 
cury in  summer  rarely  rises  above  loo,  and  as  rarely  descends 
to  zero.     The  summers  are  long  and  the  heat  continuous,  but 


•  ifniTtl«[Ln(hi*'.i'"i  -"ii"!  tfrf ''^  'W\  fTr-i'  -   '>«-tt^^^>ihf^4**= 


I  '-riiiU=^Ki«*=^«.-i-.;-w'..%t'i^^-"''  .^*^ 


CLIMATE   Of  TEXAS. 


i«33 


irilcl  chirks, 

y  of  birds 

iia^'c ;  anil 

the  biiz- 

•es,  cajjh^s, 

•s,  cranes, 

ss  and  the 

titrs,  while 

xrs  of  the 

ists.     The 

1  j^'ood  by 

the   lower 

_'en,  tlK)u;j;h 

)iisand  the 

ittk'snakes, 

er  and  the 

icies  of  the 

jf  harmless 

and  other 

)rned  frogs, 

h  numerous 

oast  a  small 

iffalo  gnats, 

esome;  but 

ame  season 

is  numerous 

i-tropical  to 
seen  in  the 
jth.  In  the 
ter,  of  from 
Occasionally 
o  inches  in 

ite  the  mer- 
ly  descends 
tinuous,  but 


not  as  Intense  as  In  many  localities  farther  north.  The  winters 
anr  generally  n>iKl  and  for  the  most  part  pleasant.  On  tlu-  coast, 
even  at  Brownsville,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Kio  (jraiulc,  the  mer- 
cury rarely  or  never  reaches  100°,  and  as  rarely  falls  below  32" 
in  winter.     The  entire  range  of  the  year  is  not  over  66°. 

Along  the  whole  course  of  the  Rio  (irande,  and,  indeed,  gener- 
ally in  Western  and  Northwestern  Te.xas,  the  climate  is  entirely 
different,  bearing  a  greater  resemblance  to  that  of  Arizona  and 
New  Mexico.  The  summer  temperature  rises  to  110°,  112°  or 
1 16°,  and  what  is  remarkable  attains  its  great(;st  intensity  in  May, 
when  it  remains  above  100°  for  fifteen  or  twenty  days  together. 
In  winter  it  falls  to  about  20°  or  25°,  the  annual  range  being  from 
91°  to  96°.  The  rainfall  varies  as  much  as  the  temperature.  In 
Galveston  it  averages  more  than  50  inches;  in  Austin,  34.55 ; 
in  Denison,  about  31  inches;  while  west  of  the  looth  meridian 
it  gradually  diminishes  from  21.21  at  Brackettsville  to  8.99  at  Kl 
Paso.  I'Vom  the  reports  of  twenty-five  stations  of  the  Signal 
Service  Office  in  Texas,  and  reports  from  two  or  three  others 
from  private  sources,  we  have  selected  eight  points,  of  which  we 
give  temperature,  rainfall,  and,  in  two  of  them,  the  barometer. 
These  eight  points  represent  as  fairly  as  possible  the  meteorology 
of  all  parts  of  the  State.     (  See  pages  i  \  34,  1 1 35. ) 

Mining  and  Manufacturing  Industries. — There  can  be  no 
question  that  Texas  possesses  a  vast  amount  of  mineral  wealth, 
and  that  at  some  not  distant  day  the  mountain  districts  of 
Western  and  Northwestern  Texas  will  be  thoroughly  prospected, 
and  hundreds  of  mines  of  gold,  silver  and  copper  opened  and 
profitably  worked.  The  mines  of  coal,  of  rock  salt  and  of  lead, 
which  are  now  just  developing,  will  be  wrought  on  an  extensive 
scale,  and  the  soapstone,  marble,  slate  and  gypsum  will  be  largely 
exported.  The  whole  State  west  of  the  meridian  of  San  Antonio 
is  full  of  mineral  wealth.  But  at  present  there  is  a  lack  of  the 
enterprise  which  is  necessary  for  the  development  of  these  trea- 
sures. The  coal  mines  are  worked  to  a  considerable  extent,  be- 
cause the  railroads  need  and  will  have  the  coal,  and  the  salt 
mines  are  worked,  and  the  water  of  the  saline  springs  evaporated, 
because  there  is  an  importunate  and  constant  demand  for  salt  for 


V 


1134 


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<■ 


daily  conMitnittinn,  Thr  m.inkir.wturc  of  Hour,  of  luM)l»«*r,  nfmu- 
chlnrry,  furniture,  carriajfcs  ami  wa^joni*,  of  cotiDn  ^jimmU,  of 
|).i(k<(l  nuatM,  leather  and  l<  atlier  ^uuiU,  \\\\^\\.  l■a^il)  Ix'  tenfoM 
what  it  now  in  Init  fur  a  laik  of  enterprinr  ami  piinh  in  theHe  mat- 
tern.  The  annual  proiluit  of  mineH  and  manitfactorieii  in  the 
State  in  iS 70,  according  to  the  ninth  censiiH.  was  f  1 1,51  7..^03. 
It  in  safr  to  say  that  at  \\\v  |>rr«irnt  time,  inchidinj;  th<r  lar^'e  di«. 
vt-'l()|)n»'nt  of  toal  miiiitij;,  topper  mininjj,  salt  works,  cotton  j^ins 
ami  millH,  saw  mills,  etc.,  etc.,  it  in  not  lesst  than  $50,000,000.  Yet 
there  is  much  truth  in  the  wonls  of  the  eilitor  of  the  iialveston 
Paily  Ntws,  in  l)cceml>cr,  1H79: 

••  The  ^'reat  want  of  Texas  in  manufarturinf^  industry.  With 
the  oxfvption  of  her  llouiin^  mills,  coiton-seed  mills,  the  Nc:w 
Hraunfels  woollen  mills,  and  three  or  four  foimdrics  and  work- 
ghops — all  successful  testimonials,  howev«'r,  as  to  what  can  be 
accomplisheil  in  this  way — the  State  is  altoj^ether  deficit;nt  in 
m.inufa(  tures.  \vX  there  is  plenty  of  opportunity  ami  facility  in 
the  State  for  the  establishment  and  successful  operation  of  such 
in  a  variety  of  lines.  Slate  demand  is  ample,  and  the  nu-ans  are 
native  here,  awaitinj,'  the  touch  of  enterprise  and  capital.  Texai, 
as  yet,  is  dependent  upon  tin-  outer  world  for  everythinjj,  from 
ax-helves  to  farm-wagons,  from  the  hoe  to  the  sicam-enyinc;  yel 
the  State  abounds  in  mineral  wealth,  ami  the  timber  of  the  country' 
is  prftfusc  in  the  best  of  varieties  and  boundless  in  extent.  With 
the  full  achievement  of  the  manufacturinjj  era  will  come  the  in- 
dustri  1  gl^O'  of  Texas." 

Aj^ncullitml  Produi lions. — In  other  parts  of  this  work  wc  have 
devoted  much  attention  to  the  agricultural  productions  of  Texas, 
as  well  as  to  its  flocks  and  herds,  and  have  endeavored  to  show 
that  its  present  products,  large  as  they  may  be,  are  very  much 
less  than  they  might  be,  even  with  the  land  at  present  under  cuK 
ture,  and  the  present  population,  if  there  were  greater  enterprise 
and  more  skilful  farming.  We  have  shown,  also,  that  she  has 
the  land  and  the  capacity  to  grow  all  the  cotton  necessary  for  the 
world's  consumption,  and  a  sufficiency  of  grain  to  feetl  the  whole 
human  family,  as  well  as  (locks  and  herds  in  sufficient  number  to 
furnish  meat  for  every  person  on  the  globe;  yet  she  is  strangely 


■.M^-- 


auhilultvual  tMonvcjA  of  imxas. 


»j; 


|>I"T.  of  ma- 

Ix'  tin  loltl 
h  (licHir  nmt> 
•lirs  in  ilu! 

".517.30a. 
In*  larj;«»  de- 

iolt(»n  ^ins 

|H),(HXJ.        V't'l 

i«-   GaivtstoH 

stry.     With 

Is,  the   Ni:w 

I  and  work- 

vliat  (an  be 

«l<  liciint  in 

rul  lai  ility  in 

lion  of  suih 

V  means  are 

tal.     Tcxai, 

ythinjf,  from 

i-cnjijine;  yel 

f  the  country 

xtcnt.    With 

omc  llie  in- 

.'ork  we  have 
>ns  of  Texas, 
>rcd  to  show 
e  very  much 
It  under  cul- 
-T  enterprise 
hat  she  has 
ssary  for  the 
:d  the  whole 
t  number  to 
is  strangely 


apathrtir  to  her  ^'rund  <>|i|HirtiinitieN,  and  prcfeu  to  bount  uf  her 
wctlih  anil  pruilui liont,  ami  dihcournc  ol  ilttrn  in  ^littcnn^  ^l-n• 
i  raliiicH.  ruiher  than  to  work  out  hur  deminy  by  cntri^etic  und 
nkillidly  directed  lubur.  Meanwhile  other  State*,  with  not  one* 
foutih  of  her  urea  or  natural  advaiita^eH,  arc  rapidly  »ur|)aMHin^ 
her  in  population,  wealth,  and  inaiitiLK  turin^  and  ininint;  devcl* 
opinent.  'Ihe  climate,  pieuHant  a^  it  in,  may  liave  ooineihin^  to 
do  with  this  indisposition  to  vigorous  and  continued  exf;rtion  ; 
and  tli<  tormer  prevateiue  of  slavery  there  may  have  hud  its  in- 
llui-nt  e  ;  but  until  this  apathetie  uidoh-nce  in  overcome,  the  Slate 
will  m.ikc  far  less  rapid  pro^n^ss  than  she  dreaniHof  making. 

Ihe  l.tteHt  complete  staiisiics  of  a^rii ultural  productH  ot  the 
State  arr  for  1H78  and  1H79,  thone  of  iSHu  beiii^  simply  conjec- 
tural. There  has  lM;en  undoubtedly  a  considerable  increaiie  in 
many  of  the  crops  in  the  last  year,  but  nothin)^  (except  the  N|M*cial 
investi^'ation  madt;  by  llu;  ci'iisus  officf  will  account  for  it.  Ihe 
following'  table  gives  the  statistics  of  producli>  fur  1878  and  1879: 

A^ri<nltural  Proiiuitumn  of  Tfxas  in  1878  anil  1879. 


PaoDucr*,  iS7S. 


Iniliiin  vorii,  bu. 

Whrni,  ba 

Ky«,  bu 

O.llH,     l)U 

P(it«t(ic«,  bu . . . . 

May,  tuiiH 

Cutton,  |ioun(U. 


I 


1 


<      I 


'A 


i 


t 


I 

> 


TotaU . 


rxninrrTs,  1879. 

Inili*!)  cnrn,  bu 

VVIiral,  liu 

Rye.  hu 

Unit,  liu 

Piiliilixii,  hu 

H«y,  tona . 

Collon,  |)oundf 


58,396.000 
7,aoo,ooo 
J4.«» 

rx) 
Ii7,300 
497,  J  10,000 


36 
16 
ll 


icniijo  '  U 


'•59  I 

»7S       I 


39,198,000 
j454,20o 

.1».4«> 

3,962,500 

310,200 

131.000 

338,625,000 


7.6 

13 

as 

47 
1.08 

"75 


3,346,000 

45o,fx)o 

3.«» 

149.500 
7.300 

()0,(1U0 

l,So8,40O 
4.744.IOO 

3,346.000 

454.500 
2,700 

131.396 

1.935.000 


t 
7« 
4i 
99 

97$ 

8,3 


TouU i    4.9'4.S96 

1^; 


1.03 
1.15 
1.00 

.63 

1.39 

11.64 

.10 


135.094,340 

(>,i92,ux) 

3«.h«o 

i».J»3.'Jo 

59".75» 

1,340,300 

40.779,420 


176.866,733 

I30.07 1.940 

3.972.3  JO 

3».40O 

a.45''.7So 

400. 1 58 

1.534,840 

33,863,500 


173.333,918 


II jg  otrn  wjssTEJty  empire. 

Of  the  following  airticles  the  entire  production  is  unknown,  but 
as  there  are  no  large  tanneries  and  but  few  woollen  mills,  the 
ex^aorts  of  both  raw-hides  and  wool  must  cover  nearly  the  pro- 
duction.    This  is  partly  true  also  of  cotton  seed-cake  and  oil : 

Wool  exported,  14,568,930  pounds,  valued  at    .    .  12,913,784 

Hides  exported,  28,104,065     "              *'            .     .  2,810,406 

Cotton-seed  rake  and  oil, 506,063 

Of  the  nrxt  three,  probably  the  export  is  less  than 

«se-'ialf  the  production ;  lumber  and  shingles      .  1,349,691 

Sup  .r  and  molaiises, 433>96o 

Miscellaneous  products, 672,364 

,|8,686,a68 

Adding  to  these  the  live-stock  of  the  State,  January,  1879,  and 
January,  1880,  we  have  the  following  as  an  approximate  estimate 
of  the  entij:e  agricultural  and  grazing  product  of  the  State  : 


Janiiarv,  1879. 


Animals. 


Homes 

Mules,  etc .... 

Milch  caws 

Oxen  and  other  CRtlle-. 

Sheep  

Swine 

Agricultural  products^ 
Special  cjiport'i 


Number.  Price. 


Value. 


918,000  ^23. 40 
180,300^     40.93 
500 


544, 
4,Boo,ooo 
4,56j,ooo 
1,957,000 


'453 
9  >S 
1.8a 
3.91 


.1: 


Total  agricultural  and  grating  products. 


f30,s6j,3oo| 

7.»49.44* 

7.9««.5»5 

43 ,980, 00  J 

8,3o8,oou 

76,866,7i»' 
8,686,358! 


fi  79, 100,081 


Januakv,  1880. 


Animals. 


Horses 

Mules  and  atsea 

Milch  cow* 

Oxen  and  other  cattle. 

Sheep 

Swine 

AgricullMral  products. 
Special  exports 


Number. 


fe63.9°o 
191,013 
566,380 

4,464,000 

5.'9M*» 
1,917,800 


Price. 


45-90 
13.85 
10.51 

3.00 


Value. 


>33,8ii,940 

8,767.45' 

7.83».978 

40,916,640 

11,073,593 

5.753.580 

73, 333 ,9. <« 

8,686,358 


Total  agricultural  and  grazing  products j(>85, 164,357 


There  is,  in  the  vast  area  of  Texas,  much  arable  land,  and  some 
of  it;  especially  in  Eastern  and  Central  Texas,  is  of  the  first  qual- 
ity ;  that  of  the  coast  counties  is  inclined  to  be  satidy,  but  pro- 
duces excellent  crops  of  tropical  and  semi-tropical  fruits,  and 
sugar  and  rice.  But  a  very  large  portion  of  the  arable  lands 
a^e  of  the  second  or  third  quality,  and  are  not  thoroughly  culti- 
vated. The  average  yield  of  cotton,  Indian  corn  and  wheat  per 
acre  is  conekisive  evidence  either  that  the  land  is  poor  or  the 
farming  very  slovenly.  There  are  farms  in  the  State,  and  those 
not  on  the  land  which  is  considered  of  the  highest  quality,  where 
thecotton  crop  in  average  years  is  two  bales  (960  pounds)  to  the 
acre,  in  fields  of  many  hundred  acres;  and  others  where  like  corn 


:.*miSSv*WA««»i«SiS«SffiSaH«»i!ffl**^^ 


THE   r,RA?.Hfi3  INTEREST  IN  TEXAS. 


mknown,  but 
|en  mills,  the 

irly  the  pro- 
le and  oil  : 

I.9U.784 

1,810,406 

506,063 

i.  349.69* 
433.960 

672.364 


1139. 


,686, a63 

ry,  1879,  and 
jate  estimate 
State : 


Price. 

45.9« 
'3-85 
10.51 

3.D0 

Value. 

^3.811,940 

8.767.451 

7.832.978 

40,916,640 

'•,072,502 

5.753.580 

72,322 ,9. H 

8,686,258 

Ids 

*'85.i64,357 

id,  and  some 
he  first  qual- 
dy,  but  pro- 
1  fruits,  and 
irable  lands 
iughly  culti- 
J  wheat  per 
poor  or  the 
e,  and  those 
lality,  where 
ands)  to  the 
ire  ttoe  corn 


crop  IS  forty  to  forty-five  bushels,  and  the  wheat  crop  twenty-fiva 
to  thirty  bushels.  These  a.-e  not  extravagant  or  fancy  crops ;  but 
they  prove  the  truth  of  the  dd  Georgia  ada^e,  that  "it  is  as  nvuch 
in  the  man  as  in  the  land." 

The  State  is  well  adapted  to  grazing,  and  even  the  northwest- 
ern region,  with  its  small  rainfall  and  its  few  streams,  often  dry, 
is  a  fair  grazing  country,  if  water  enough  can  be  found  for  the 
cattle  and  sheep.  Texas  has  the  largest  amount  of  live-stock  to 
be  found  in  any  one  State  or  Territory  in  the  Union  ;  but  evei* 
in  this  pursuit  the  carelessness  and  shiftlessnessi  of  her  stock- 
growers  prevent  her  from  making  as  good  a  showin**^  ..  ■  her 
situation  warrants.  The  catde  of  Texas  are  very  la  v^  >  '»f  * 
comparatively  poor  breed;  long-horned,  not  very  'urge,  and 
somewhat  unshapely,  not  inclined  to  take  on  flesh  rapiuly,  and 
yet  wanting  in  the  qualities  for  good  milkers.  They  bring  in  the 
market  from  ji5  to  jj^io  per  head  less  than  steers  fA  the  .ame  age 
in  Colorado,  Kansas,  Wyoming  or  Montana,  and  the  larger 
stock-raisers,  with  few  exceptions,  take  no  pains  to  improve  the 
breed.  The  horses,  which  now  number  more  than  a  million,  are 
to  a  very  large  extent  mustangs  and  most  of  them  wild.  The 
mustang  is,  for  its  size,  the  most  vicious  hdrse  in  the  worldv 
There  are  some  bronchos,  a  cross  between  some  of  the  better 
breeds  and  the  Indian  pony ;  these  are  better  than  tijc  mustangs, 
but  are  not  very  valuable.  There  are,  of  course,  better  horses 
than  either  in  the  State,  and  a  few  of  the  more  wealthy  stock- 
raisers  are  making  efforts  to  introduce  horses  <rf  better  quality, 
but  with  indifferent  success.  ' 

The  sheep  are  also  of  poor  quality — Mexicart  sheep  which  will 
yield  only  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  and  a  h»lf  pounds  of  wool 
at  a  shearing.  The  average  weight  of  the  fleeces  on  "  King  " 
Carlin's  sheep  ranche  is  three  and  a  half  pounds,  but  these  are 
nearly  all  of  improved  breeds,  and  the  wool  clip  is  regtmled  as 
something  astonis.  ng  in  Texas;  while  in  Colorado,  Wyoming, 
Montana,  Oregon  and  Washington,  the  average  weight  is  from 
five  and  a  half  to  seven  pounds,  and  the  wool  is  of  much  belter 
quality  and  higher  price.  The  same  indifference  appears  iii  the 
rearing  of  swine.     The  average  Texas  hog  has  long  legsf,  a 


rowsraaysfei.;- 


LI40 


OVK    WESTERN   EMPIRE. 


li 


humped  back,  a  sharp  snout,  can  run  like  a  hound,  and  clear  any 
fence  without  difficulty;  but  he  is  not  given  to  taking  on  fat, and 
though  his  hams  may  have  a  gamy  flavor,  he  excels  most  in  all 
those  points  which  neither  breeder,  butcher  nor  pork-packer 
regard  as  desirable  in  a  hog.  Of  course  stich  swine  as  these 
are  not  very  profitable,  especially  when  the  adjacent,  but  much 
newer,  State  of  Kansas  has  attained  so  nearly  to  perfection  in 
raising  swine.  Of  course  there  are  farmers,  and  large  farmers, 
who  are  not  liable  to  these  criticisms  ;  men  who  endeavor  to  raise 
only  the  best  animals ;  but  these  are  the  somewhat  rare  excep- 
tions to  the  general  rule;  and  with  a  most  admirable  country  and 
climate  for  rearing  stock,  it  has  come  to  pass,  that  the  average 
Texas  horse,  the  average  Texas  steer,  the  average  Texas  sheep, 
and  the  average  Texas  hog,  are  about  the  poorest  specimens  of 
those  animals  respectively,  to  be  found  in  all  "Our  Western 
Empire,"  and  command  the  lowest  prices. 

There  is  no  good  reason  for  this  eitlier  in  the  soil,  the  climate 
or  the  location.  The  large  ranche-owner  may  say,  indeed,  that 
it  is  not  worth  his  while  to  take  any  more  pains,  or  put  himself 
to  any  more  trouble  to  raise  better  animals,  for  he  is  becoming 
rich  as  fast  as  he  cares  to,  anJ  he  wouldn't  know  what  to  do 
with  more  money  if  he  had  it ;  but  this  is  a  very  poor  argument 
for  shiftlessness  and  indolence.  No  man  lives,  or  should  live,  for 
himself  alone.  It  is  every  man's  duty  to  do  the  best  he  can  with 
the  property  which  comes  into  his  hands,  and  he  who  gives  the 
best  culture  possible  to  his  lands,  who  rears  the  best  animals,  or 
develops  most  fully  the  resources  of  his  estates,  is  not  only 
enriching  himself  thereby,  but  is  benefiting  his  neighbor  by  his 
enterprise  and  example,  and  brings  prosperity  and  wealth  to  his 
State,  by  thus  showing  its  capacity  for  future  growth  and  expan- 
sion. He  is  the  State's  best  citizen  who  does  the  most  for  its 
material  and  intellectual  advancement. 

Railroads  and  Navigable  Water s.'^Tex^s  has  over  400  miles 
of  coast  line  on  the  gulf,  though  its  harbors  are  not  of  the  first 
class.  Still  Galveston,  Indianola,  Corpus  Christi  and  Brazos  de 
Santiago  are  somewhat  important  ports,  and  have  a  foreign  com- 
merce of  about  $23,000,000  annually,  and  a  much  larger  coasting 


.  ^sfe»<!afF»i«4«lSkiSW^W«BSi«.a*^«S«£^ 


RAILROADS  AND  NAVIGABLE    WATERS, 


1141 


d  clear  any 
on  fat,  and 
most  in  all 
)ork-packer 
le  as  these 
,  but  much 
)erfection  in 
rgc  farmers, 
avor  to  raise 
rare  excep- 
country  and 
the  average 
Texas  sheep, 
pecimens  of 
'ur  Western 

,  the  climate 
indeed,  that 
put  himself 
I  is  becoming 
1  what  to  do 
)or  argument 
lould  live,  for 
t  he  can  with 
vho  gives  the 
St  animals,  or 
,  is  not  only 
ighbor  by  his 
wealth  to  his 
h  and  expan- 
;  most  for  its 

(^er  400  miles 
>t  of  the  first 
nd  Brazos  de 
foreign  com- 
irger  coasting 


trade.  With  the  exception  of  the  canal  and  bayou,  by  means  of 
which  Houston  has  water  communication  with  Galveston  and 
has  become  a  port  of  entry,  none  of  the  rivers  of  Texas  are 
navigable  for  any  considerable  distance.  The  editor  of  the 
Galveston  Daily  Nczos,  in  the  issue  of  December  29th,  1879, 
described  the  progress  of  the  State  in  railroad  construction  since 
1865  as  follows: 

"At  the  close  of  the  war  in  1865  there  were  but  six  railroads 
in  Texas  that  had  track  laid  in  running  order,  viz. :  the  Buffalo 
Bayou,  Brazos  and  Colorado  Railroad,  from  Harrisburg  to 
AUeyton,  eighty  miles ;  the  Houston  and  Texas  Central  Rail- 
road, from  Houston  to  Millican,  eighty  miles ;  the  Washington 
County  Railroad  (now  the  Austin  division  of  the  Central),  from 
Hempstead  to  Brenham,  thirty  miles ;  the  Galveston,  Houston 
and  Henderson  Railroad,  from  Galveston  to  Houston,  fifty  miles; 
the  Texas  ana  New  Orleans  Railroad,  from  Houston  to  Liberty, 
forty  miles;  and  the  Columbia  and  Brazos  River  Railroad,  from 
Houston  to  Columbia,  fifty  miles — making  a  total  of  330  miles 
of  railroad  in  actual  operation  fifteen  years  ago.  The  Southern 
Piicific  Railroad  (now  the  Texas  and  Pacific)  was  under  operation 
from  Shreveport,  La.,  to  the  Texas  line,  but  at  that  period  had 
not  penetrated  the  State.  Now  there  are  twenty-six  different 
lines  of  railroad  in  actual  operation  within  the  State,  with  a  total 
mileage  in  running  order  of  2,556  miles,  showing  that  since  the 
year  1865  no  less  than  2,226  miles  of  railroad  have  been  con- 
structed and  placed  in  running  order.  Twenty  of  these  roads 
are  standard  gauge  and  six  are  narrow  gauge  railroads.  There 
are  few  States  in  the  Union  with  a  better  record  than  this.  It 
sp  aks  volumes  for  the  future  of  the  commonwealth  in  every 
direction  toward  progress  and  prosperity,  and  to  all  appearances 
the  next  few  years  will  witness  still  further  advances  in  the  impor- 
tant work  of  railroad  construction." 

During  the  year  1880  considerable  progress  has  been  made 
in  railroad  construction,  and  still  more  in  railroad  consolidation 
in  the  State.  None  of  the  Texas  railroads  are  completed  west 
of  the  ninety-ninth  meridian,  though  the  Texas  Pacific  is,  we 
believe,  under  contract  to  El  Paso ;  while  the  Southern  Pacific 


»i«^w;RWfisss-j«s, 


H4t 


OW    trXSTMJtAT  EhtriRE. 


f 


of  California  is  already  at  or  near  El  Paso,  and  is  heading  directly 
for  Galveston  by  as  nearly  as  possible  an  air-line  as  far  as  Austin, 
where  it  will  probably  join  the  Houston  and  Texas  Central.  The 
Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  Fe  is  also  at  or  near  El  Paso,  and 
is  supposed  to  have  a  terminus  on  tlve  Gulf  of  Mexico  in  view, 
but  whether  over  the  Southern  Pacific  li«o  or  not  is  as  yet  uncer- 
tain. The  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  Railway  and  the  Sl 
Louis,  Iron  Mountain  and  Southern  are  now  virtually  under  one 
control,  and  will  probably  form  some  connection  with  Western 
Texas.  Several  short  roads  and  connections  have  been  con- 
structed in  Eastern  Texas,  and  the  first  of  January,  1881,  wiN 
probably  find  aibout  3,000  miles  of  railroad  in  operation  in  the 
$tate,  with  another  thousand  in  prospect  by  January,  1S83. 

"  "  -l      '        Population  c/  Texas.  ■ 


YlAX  OK  Enumrkation 


t8o6 

1834 
1836 

ms 

1850, 
I860, 
1870, 
1880 


1    ■ 

J 

0 

II 

(i 

»-§• 

CL, 

«* 

7.000 
21,000 

52.670 

33.500 

150,000 

91,000 

2H.592 

"3.780 

604.215 

320,167 

818,579 

443.557 

1,510,000 

19,170  30,000 

59,600 

o8,8i»j  154,034 

284,04s  420,891 

395,02»  564,700 


3 


S.0OO 

397 

3551 
3S3.475 


55 


58,161 
182,566 


i 


3„ 


17.670 


403 

7h' 


Year  of  Enu- 
meration. 


1806. 

PP34. 
4836. 

liJI: 

t»86o.. 
1870., 
i88o. 


194.433 
560.793 
756,168 


•I 


17,68 

41433 
62,411 


£ 


0.02 
Q.07 
0.19 

0'64 
0.77 

0.2D 
3.02 


300 

a!85 

41.70 
I«4t2 

16.46 


\ 

I 


10,583 

lfl.476 
431,703 


51 


83,206 

3»34*7 
3*9.233 


43.909 
>  58.7*5 


^§5 


52,666 
i43.»S«  ' 

184.P9* 

I 


X. 


..4*<4w^»«M«!SisM«3R;t*wa«i»BW  ^V*i**i»i>.  wl^ 


injf  directly 
r  as  Austin, 
lentral.  The 
1  Paso,  and 
ice  in  view, 
s  yet  uncer- 
and  the  Sl 
y  under  one 
ith  Western 
e  been  con- 
y,  1881.  win 
ation  in  the 
I,  1 883. 


& 

So 


7  5l»^6i 
51  iS2,s66 
S 


17.670 


403 
7H 


H 

and 
Males. 

r 

It 

43.909, 

1 

52.666! 

1*9.3*" 

I43.»S«  ' 

«S8.7^5 

I84.09* 

i 

rorVLATWN  OF  TJ-:XAS.  H4J 

Population. — The  growth  of  Texas  has  been  more  rapid  than 
that  of  most  of  the  Southern  States,  though  less  so  than  that  of 
some  of  the  Northern  States.  The  preceding  table  gives  the  popu- 
lation of  the  State  at  different  periods,  and  oti^er  particulars. 

Of  this  population,  the  number  of  foreign  birth  has  never  been 
very  largs;.  The  Germans  have  some  colonies  in  New  Braunfels 
and  its  vicinity,  and  there  are  a  considerable  number  of  Irish, 
English,  French  and  Spanish,  a  few  Italians  and  many  Mexicans 
and  half-breeds  of  the  lower  classes,  and  some  Indians.  The  last 
two  classes  find  employment  as  cow-boys,  shepherds,  teamsters, 
etc.  But  there  has  been  for  the  past  thirty  years  and  more  a 
steady  stream  of  emigration  into  Texas  from  the  Southern,  Gulf 
and  Atlantic  States,  and,  since  the  war,  from  the  States  of  tho 
Mississippi  valley — Illinois  furnishing,  perhaps,  the  largest  num- 
ber. The  people  are  brave,  free-hearted  and  hospitable,  and 
immigrants  are  made  welcome  there;  but  there  is  need  of  a  larger 
infusion  of  Northern  thrift,  enterprise  and  thoroughness.  The 
habits,  and  perhaps  some  of  the  vices  engendered  by  slavery,  have 
not  been  entirely  eradicated,  but  progress  is  made  every  year, 
and  eventually  this  vast  domain  will  be  developed  on  a  grand  scale 
by  the  efforts  of  the  generation  now  coming  upon  the  stage.  > 
Counties  and  Principal  Cities  and  Towns. — There  are  220 
counties  in  Texas,  of  which,  however,  only  1 54  are  as  yet  fully 
organized,  while  some  of  the  unorganized  counties  are  vast  tracts 
as  yet  unpeopled,  and  some  of  them  are  designated  as  territo- 
ries rather  than  counties.  The  assessment  valuation  of  the  year 
1 877-1 8 78,  die  last  published,  seems  to  be  made  on  a  basis  of 
fifty  per  cent,  of  the  true  valuation,  and  per^ps  on  sixty  per 
cent,  of  the  numbers  of  live-stock.     It  is  as  follows : 

Acres  of  land «•  76,480,450 

Miles  of  railroad 1,781 

Numberof  EteaanboBts  omd  other  vessels       ....  575 

Numberofcarriages  and  buggies  ,    ......  131,920          j 

Number  of  horses  and  mules     ....,..•  985,561 

Number  of  cattle 3>3i3>356 

Number  of  asses 5>37* 

"•'■^"^      Numbervof  sheep .  ^,883,378 

!'!       Number  of Koats 329,618 

Number  of  hogs 1,393,909 


'^^'jii^K^^t«^*i4ai;  ~ 


1144 


OUK   HTESTERtf  EMPIRE. 


The  total  value  of  all  property  assrssrd  was  f  31 8.985,765.  A 
true  valuation  would  be  not  less  than  ^45o,ocx3,ooo. 

Of  the  towns  and  cities,  Galveston,  the  commercial  capital  and 
chief  port  of  entry,  is  the  largest.  It  has  a  very  poor  harbor,  the 
entrance  to  the  bay  being  obstructed  by  a  bar  nearly  four  miles 
across.  Its  population  according  to  the  census  of  1880  is  22,253. 
It  is  said  not  to  be  growing,  though  it  has  a  good  back  country,  all 
of  Central  and  Eastern  Texas,  to  furnish  it  with  trade.  Houston, 
which  has  already  become  a  great  railroad  centre,  had  in  June, 
1880,  18,646;  and  San  Antonio,  which  is  called  the  capital  of 
Western  Texas,  has  a  large  trade  from  Northwestern  Texas,  as 
well  as  from  other  sections  of  the  State,  and  is  rich  in  historic 
interest,  had  at  the  same  date  20,561.  Austin,  the  capital  of  the 
State,  had  in  June,  1880,  10,960.  Waco  and  Dallas  are  of  about 
the  same  size  as  Austin,  the  latter  having  10,358  and  the  former 
a  little  less  than  10,000.  Fort  Worth  has  not  quite  10,000  ;  Sher- 
man, about  8,000  or  9,000;  Denison,  Marshall,  Paris,  Jefferson. 
Corpus  Christi,  Brownsville,  Laredo,  Brenham,  Indianola,  and 
perhaps  one  or  two  other  towns,  have  5,000  or  more  inhabitants, 
and  there  may  be  a  dozen.  New  Braunfels,  the  chief  town  of  the 
German  colonists,  among  them,  which  range  between  3,000  and 
5,000. 

Education. — Public  school  education  in  Texas  has  not  been  well 
managed.  There  is,  indeed,  nominally,  provision  for  a  school 
fund,  which  may  eventually  become  large,  but  the  school  lands 
are  held  at  a  price  considerably  higher  than  other  lands  of  equal 
value,  and  the  State  and  railroads  have  so  much  land  to  sell  that 
the  school  lands  are  neglected.  , ;    / . '  1 

During  the  late  civil  war,  the  school  fund  and  its  income  were 
diverted  to  other  purposes,  and  though  an  effort  has  been  made 
to  increase  the  aniountof  the  fund  since  the  war,  it  has  not  proved 
very  successful,  and  the  schools  have  been  much  hampered  by 
bad  legislation.  The  permanent  school  fund  on  September  i, 
1879,  was  stated  at  $3,300,581,  but  the  income  from  it,  which  con- 
stituted the  available  school  fund,  was  only  $132,883.  Three 
and  a  half  months  later,  viz.:  December  15,  1879,  the  State 
Treasurer  reports  the  permanent  school  fund  of  the  State  as  only 


.-tt<hAA«ii?  iDM<tt>'iiiyiiM^fe.'^tW>riU»«»aaMr.i . 


capital  and 

harbor,  the 

[y  four  miles 

;o  is  22,253. 

country,  all 

Houston, 

lad  in  June, 

e  capital  of 

rn  Texas,  as 

h  in  historic 

lapital  of  the 

arc  of  about 

rl  the  former 

0,000 ;  Sher- 

•is,  Jefferson, 

idianola,  and 

e  inhabitants, 

town  of  the 

en  3,000  and 

not  been  well 

for  a  school 

school  lands 

mds  of  equal 

id  to  sell  that 

income  were 
is  been  made 
IS  not  proved 
hampered  by 
September  i, 
it,  which  con- 
,883.  Three 
rg,  the  State 
State  as  only 


.^^mMH 

■^^^             ..jr"«pii^ 

ft'-««a 

1 

ET 

Ite 

Hphin^S£3i^^^^^^ 

'I 

..  a3» 

;f''" 

..    •,■  ;  .      1. 

-^^i-1           ^ri2l 

"*ll 

"^^Ti^Wjiilfl 

H 

.jy 

'  ,:   A           ■»* 

""> 

_ ^ .  --  ^-^ 

If  --— -  . 

r     ■■■'  -_: 

\\fi4.  ¥^ii%:7i^i 

i 

r 

1    ^  ■'•-  *    ■«       -mi 

^   «    r»  «     mi 

,  ■  .<  «--*■  ••.-  - . 
r"  -■  ■           1  !, 

• 

" ''  "^-^f^^ 

*'  -«B^,  \^''-"  - .-,_ 

S^" 

r 

• 

^^^I^K^^J^^^^^^^^I^I 

^ 

COTTON   TRAIN.  COTTON    PRESS.  L'ATl  I.K  STAMl'EDK.  VIKW   OK  (JALVtlSTON    IIARIIOR. 


/ 


:l 


,.,'*fe;^j«^»a3*»*ia*issssss»'ss®s 


F.DUCATION  IN  TKXAS. 


II4S 


Jil, 154,400,  and  thff  available  school  fund  as  5102,409.  Wc  can- 
not explain  the  discrepancy.  .Some  money  is  raised  for  schools 
by  taxation,  Init  the  taxes  are  not  promptly  paid.  The  whole 
actual  exjienditure  for  public  schools  does  not  probably  exceed 
5550,000  per  annum.  The  number  of  children  of  school  a^e  re- 
ported in  1879  (ei^ht  orjjani/«'d  and  all  die  unorj^Mni/ed  counties 
not  rcportinjj)  was  224,720.  The  various  reports  in  rej'ard  to 
public  school  education  are  so  conHictinj;  as  to  impair  conhden<  e 
in  their  accuracy.  That  of  the  Uniteil  States  Comnvssioner  of 
Kducation  for  the  year  1878,  from  Secretary  Hollingsworth,  of  the 
State  Hoard* of  Education,  pives  the  following  figures,  which  do 
not  agree  with  any  others:  Counties  reporting,  137  (there  are 
154  organized  counties  in  the  State) ;  youth  of  school  age  (eight 
to  fourteen),  194,353  (other  reports  for  the  same  year  give 
168,294  and  164,294);  whole  enrolment  ill  public  schools,  146,- 
946;  non-attendants,  23,963  (these  figures  again  do  not  agree) ; 
whole  number  of  illiterates  of  school  age,  61,1 23.  Whole  number 
of  organized  schools,  4,633,  of  which  905  are  for  colored  pupils; 
average  time  of  schools  in  days,  88  days;  243  school-houses  built 
within  the  year,  at  a  cost  of  $54,267.  Whole  number  of  teachers 
reported,  4.330—303  less  than  the  number  of  schools.  Of  these 
2,895  were  white  males  ;  760  white  females ;  562  colored  males, 
and  1 13  colored  females.  The  average  pay  of  all  male  teachers 
was  542  per  month,  and  of  all  females,  $33  per  month.  The  whole 
income  of  public  schools  was  stated  to  be  $859,484,  and  the  whole 
expenditure,  $747,534.  Per  contra,  it  is  stated  recently  that  the 
wages  of  the  teachers  are  sadly  in  arrears.  The  amount  of  the 
permanent  school  fund  in  1878  is  stated  to  have  been  $3,385,571, 
while  a  year  later  it  was  only  one-third  of  that  sum.  'Hiere  is 
certainly  room  for  improvement.  Some  of  the  cities,  as  Houston, 
Dallas  and  San  Antonio,  have  good  schools.  The  only  normal 
schools  are  those  sustained  by  private  enterprise  or  by  religious 
associations. 

There  are  five  so-called  universities,  viz.:  Baylor,  Southwestern, 
Trinity,  Waco  and  St.  Mary's ;  and  four  colleges :  Austin,  Mans- 
field, Marvin  and  Salado.  Five  of  them  admit  young  women  on 
equal  terms  with  young  men  as  students.     None  of  these  insti- 


gygw-jB^,- 


-4 


t»t\on%  have  more  rfian  ft  local  reputation.  Tlii^ie  and  the  T<'xim 
Military  Inttitute  ami  the  Stntc  Aj^ricultural  and  Mctliaoital 
Collej;»%  at  C\)l|fj;<'  Station,  in  UrnzoH  rounty.  had  toj^eihtr  1,984 
fttiidtMUH  in  {\h'  prtr|»ar?u»ry  and  rolU:^inte:  df|>.iiiinentH. 

There  werf  .»l»o  one  tlu«»lojiit al,  or>«*  law  and  on<'  nu-dical 
school,  and  InHtitutionH  for  tlu.>  dtraf  and  diinib,  anu  ior  th««  blind, 
in  th<'  State. 

I^nds  for  I mmi grants. ''^i\^%  is  \\\*t  only  State  or  Territory 
of  "Our  Weslrrn  Empire"  in  which  the  IJtiiu-d  Stairs  ){overn- 
ment  holds  no  lnn<l,  tlu;  State  lK;injf  ann<  od  to  the  Union  a$ 
nn  indrprndent  republic,  and  retaining  its  wnorcu|Hed  laiuU  in 
itK  own  poH»esftion.  We  have  ^ivcn  in  l^art  II.  of  this  work  a 
full  account  of  tlw?  modes  of  procuring;  Jantis  from  the  State,  and 
it  is  not  neoe*Hary  thiit  we  should  repeat  them  lie  re.     (See  jMigo 

257-) 

Rtlif^iims   Denominations. — Th<r  rer'  us   returng  of  these  for 

iSRo  are  not  yet  available,  and  would  not  give  any  inlbrination 

in  rej]rard  m  the  three  important  items  of  number  of  clerjjymen, 

ministerb.       priestK,  the  number  of  comnunicants  iUid  the  adlie- 

rent  population,  if  they  were.     Our  latest  information  on  dx.'se 

points  is  tliat  of  1875,  ^^  exiuluted  in  the  following  l^iblc: 


DaiioHiiiATiain. 


All  Umi»mi«M'i*mi 

KaplhU 

Chriilian  Cnnriectloii  and  Dl>ct^» 

Collar'  i[Ktioii.iliHi».   

Pruieotant  Kpiacopal  Church 

leiM.. 

Liiiherai» ,. 

McthoiliM  Church  Sautk 

Mclhu(ti^l  Bpi«copj|  Church 

Mcthu'llH,  ArricMi,  Ziun.  cte,. 

Mv<ho<li>t,  PniloMiint. . .    

Prnbyi-  run.  Regular..      

I'mhyi.  ri;in,  CumbcrUnd 

Koman  Caiholici 

UniOK,  >nd  raliKU  MCti 


^- 

6 

_r 

4^ 

■» 

45 

<•! 

u1 

79 


3  15 


0 
•f. 


(64 

I.*' 7 

»5J 

J90 

»9 

ai 

3^ 

7 
41 

1 

S 

,^ 

B98 

i'4 

9« 

«3 

57 

.:i 

u 

*7 

41 

M 

6 

'\ 

••7.4V. 

1.(0.. 
4.ll'7 

41.*»> 

■  0,900 

I7,c»i 

6,0]  I 

8.45" 


^t 


■  «,■■«• 

I, 4m 

ia,(Mw 

,}.»"• 

lS,(Ji)rj 

hi,oim 
64,000 
l,(iuo 
30,350 
42,150 
103,000 


5,|1K» 

ii,4<«> 

7.*5o 
Sf.auu 
ia,4m 

•ij"' 

i7,o'x> 

j.«J" 

90,300 

6t» 


4i«ft>.6oa 

447. Snu 
*7,««« 
«i,(jln 

|68,4<>> 
91, mo 
75."!" 

>7,Aoo 
41. J"" 

1 3,4(4. 
4.^1, rmo 

4,R.. 


,    NisitrUal  Daia.-^The   following    memoranda  of  dates  and 
events  in  TcKan  history  are  from  a  "Chfonological  Compend 


"«*(;- 


...  ttat>.,i»a>.t«Hta^iW,njr«»tr»C'.: 


JMftMJIfVMl  ifOJ     S  Mr  TEXAS. 


IIV 


jl  iho  Toxni 
|Mc(haniral 

\t\v  medical 
>r  th<>  blind, 

l>i  Territory 
lies  j^overn- 
<>  (<rut>ii  at 
(d  Innds  in 
tluH  wurk  a 
(.■  Sutc,  and 
(Sc;  \MgG 

of  thr.se  for 
infortnaLion 
cltTjfyincn, 

hd  the  adhe- 

ion  on  dicse 

.ible: 


li 

i 

m 

k 

\ 

B  on 

15 

> 

ni'fiUi 

^«ft>.fi<n 

89. 1<"' 

447.SOO 

5,HK. 

»?,4no 

yr^ 

»>,ua 

II, 4"' 

I6«,4<.. 

liBw 

ll.OOO  ,' 

7.*5o 

75.'So 

8f,iui 

J«|.l«' 

I3,4nn 

«7,«c« 

"•^r. 

4'.}"' 

<*.f  > 

»7.°°° 

';I9.'"" 

•  i-oo" 

4uI/ino 

i|o 

<,B- 

f  dates  aaui 
ai  Compend 


of  Texa»  Hisrory,"  pr<»|>ftr«'d  for  "  Hujrkc's  Texas  Mmanttc  for 
1880,"  by  U.  />'.  C.  IJaker.  I'Ucy  have  Lnjen  carefully  vtrilittl 
by  un: 

"  Texa^i  is  HUfiposcd  to  luv  e  its  name  from  an  Indiat\  v  illa^e 
caMt'd  TcKaH  on  th<:   r^echfs  river.     Its  uicaninj^  in  the  Indian 

"In  16.S5  a  Irr-nch  cavalior  nantf'cf  Robert  dc  I. a  Salic,  w-th  A 
imall  colony,  latul<  \  at  MaUi;,"  rda  Ijay  and  built  a  fortreHs,  which 
he  called  in  honor  ol  the  Kinjjof  lMAn<»'.  St  louis.  Ihi^  colony 
waii  Hoon  exterminated  by  disrate  and  the  hoKtility  of  the  In- 
dianM ;  and  La  Salic  was  killed  by  one  ol  lus  own  m4iltnouM  foi- 
lowers. 

"Spain  next  attempted  the  ot  ojpation  of  Texai,  and  in  1689  a 
colony  was  landed  and  a  mission  wa^  built  n^  ar  tLte  H|x>t  where 
four  years  previoukly  l.aS.dle  had  landed.  liii  ■  utlony  vsds  soon 
brok(  n  up  by  the  same  causes  us  the  former  one 

"Hetwrenthc;  years  1690  and  ijaij  tin!  SpanisJi  Roman  Catlio 
lies  (established  many  missions  and  fortresses  within  the  Ixwdeni 
of  Texas.  Thre*,'  mmnionH  w(  re  built  and  occupied  by  monks 
and  friars,  and  l>y  soldiers  who  were  Rent  to  defend  them. 

"After  many  vicisBitude^j  the  Spanish  missions  were  within  a 
century  from  their  establishment  one  after  another  abandoned, 
leaving  throughout  the  State  cruniblinj.^  ruins  of  massive  build- 
ings, wiiich  to  this  day  ufficiently  att'^st  the  self-sacrificin^i^  de- 
votion and  labor*  of  tliuse  Christian  ambassadors  from  the  Old 
World. 

"The  fate  of  tlie  inmates  of  the  mission  of  San  Salxi  was  one 
of  the  most  deplorable  recorded  in  history.  Thi;  mission  was 
established  in  1734,  and  for  a  while  the  Indians  proved  friendly. 
In  1752  a  silver  mine  was  discovered  there,  which  drew  to  the 
place  a  number  of  adventurers.  Trouble  soon  arose  between 
these  and  thct  savages,  who  in  their  ra^e  mad(  an  onslauj,du  on 
the  fortress,  and  slew  all  who  were  there,  not  one  escaping;. 

"  Thus  the  efforts  of  France  and  Spain  to  effect  a  permanent 
occupatbo  of  Texas  failed. 

"  France  formally  aijandoned  her  claims  in  1763,  and  in  1821 
Mr.xko  threw  off  the  Spanish  yoke,  and  Spatn  thereafter  ceased 


Il^g  Of  It   irHSTKItff  KMMim, 

to  prrim  hrr  cl*im«  for  it.  Texan  thu«  U;camr  a  province  of 
Mrxico  in  iRai.  At  that  time,  clrspiti<  the  hlood  and  trcaHurr 
whit  h  had  bi't-n  cxpi'n«kd  hy  the;  j{ovrrnnwtit«»  of  iht*  old  worltl 
to  hold  IVxaH,  nothirt^r  had  t>f rn  acromplisht-d.  It  wait  prai  ti<  ally 
as  ninth  a  wiUli*rnrHS  in  1831  an  wh«'n  I. a  Sallr  srt  foot  upon  itN 
short -i  in  1685,  the  white  population  bcin^  only  j.ouoin  the  whole 
Territory. 

"  Itiit  ihf  tinu-  had  nc^wcomr  when  the  An^do  Atturiian  turned 
his  Htrps  hithi'r,  and  ii^tory  has  yet  to  rerord  wh«'re  he  has  ever 
failed  of  his  undertaking.  The  permanent  colonisation  of  TexaK 
by  citizens  of  the  United  .States  b<>^ran  in  1831. 

"In  1S21-23  Stephen  I'".  Austin,  to  whom  justly  belongs  the 
title,  I'ather  of  Texas,  introduced  a  lar^'e  nundxr  of  cqlonistH,  ami 
furnishcil  them  homes.  After  tlevotin^  the  best  years  of  his  life 
to  the  acccmplishmrnt  of  his  darling'  enterprise  of  chtablishinj^' 
permanent  ami  prosperc  is  colonies  in  Texan;  after  umler^^oinjj 
hardships  and  braving  dangers  such  as  few  men  have  ever  ex- 
perienced, he  was  stricki'n  down  with  diserase  at  C'ohmd)ia, 
Hrazoria  county,  and  there  died,  December  25th,  i8j6,  in  the 
forty -fifth  year  of  his  aj;«'.  I'Vom  the  ailvent  of  Austin  until  1830 
the  American  population  of  Texas  continued  rapidly  to  increase, 
and  at  that  time  nundiered  about  20,000. 

"Then  the  government  of  Mexico  became  alarmedat  the  rapidly 
increasing  strength  and  influence  of  the  young  colony,  and  took 
steps  to  prevent  its  further  growth.  The  Dictator  of  Mexico, 
Hustameiuc,  issued  a  decree  susp«:nding  all  existing  colony  con- 
tracts, and  forbidding  under  severe  penalty  any  citizen  of  the 
United  States  from  settling  in  Texas.  This  measure  did  not 
have  the  desired  effect,  and  the  tide  of  immigration  continued  to 
pour  into  the  country. 

"In  1833  the  citizens  ol  idxas.  In  the  proper  exercise  of  their 
rights  as  freemen,  called  a  council  at  San  F(;lipe.  Of  this  council 
W.  II.  Wharton  was  president.  A  memorial  and  petition  was 
prepared,  setting  forth  in  calm  and  forcible  language  the  wants 
and  grievances  of  the  colonists,  and  praying  the  central  power 
at  Mexico  for  a  separate  State  organization.  This  memorial  was 
sent  to  Mexico  by  the  hands  of  Stephen  F.  Austin.     No  definite 


L 


-  f^TWa^iteiie 


iaEii&te^.*ft«H»t^-v'»*M««*--**M^*S»«-«5«» 


TMK    TUX  AN  WAM  OA  INDHrMNDI'NVH. 


1149 


•rovincr  of 
|i<l  trcaNiirr 
|e  old  worUl 

pradKully 
|)ot  ii|M)n  it* 
In  the  wholr 

fican  tiirnfcl 

i«-  li.is  rvt;r 

|>ii  of  i'c'xati 

•'•lonj^'s  the 
lonistii,  and 
H  of  liis  life 
•stahlislnnjf 
iindcrj^'oinjf 
v«:  <'v«r  rx 
Columbia, 
Sj6,  in  the 
)  until  1830 
to  increase, 

\  the  rapidly 
y,  and  took 
of  Mexico, 
L'olony  con- 
i/en  of  the 
re  did  not 
:)ntinued  to 

ise  of  their 
this  council 
etition  was 
the  wants 
tral  power 
morial  was 
^o  definite 


rrnpontp  wan  jjlvrn  to  thin  prtitton,  and  Au«tin  wan  thrown  int») 
pnM)n,  where  he  rrr»».un«il  many  inonthn.  IIuih  in.itt'rH  n*- 
maincd  until  i>>J5,  when  the  roioniHtu  liecomin^  fully  saii>fiMl 
that  prompt  action  could  alone  protect  thrir  intrrt%is,  hdil 
primary  mertinj^n  and  took  slrps  to  necure  a  separate  ^'ov«'rn- 
mt-nt  S;inta  Anna,  the  I  )ictatr)r,  at  once  nent  lar^c  iHMJitH  of 
tioldiern  to  (|urll  the  revolutionary  Hpirit  which  now  >howf'd 
iUelf. 

"  ( )n  the  jfl  of  Octolwr  the  opening  battle  of  the  Texan  rcvolu* 
tion  wan  fought  at  ( ion/alts. 

"On  thi'  Hih  clay  of  ()i  tolwr,  1K35,  a  force  of  Trxans  under  Cap- 
tain Collinj^sworth,  attacked  and  captured  the  fort  at  Coliad. 
On  th»*  nu)rninj,j  of  th«'  aSth  of  October  a  d<'ta(lun«*nt  of  TexanH 
under  Captains  I'annin  and  Mowir,  who  were-  ('n(ampc<|  on  the 
bank  of  the  San  Antonio  rivrr  nrar  the  Mission  of  Concrption, 
was  surrounded  ami  attacktrd  by  a  lary;e  body  of  Mexicans.  A 
short  but  decisive  action  followed,  in  which  th«'  Mexicans  were 
completely  routed,  and  lied,  leaving  one  hundred  dead  upon  the 
6eld. 

"  On  the  3d  day  of  November,  1835,  a  ^jencral  connultation,  con- 
sisting of  delegates  of  the  colonists,  assembled  at  S.in  I'elipe  for 
the  purpose  of  establishing  a  provisif)nal  government.  This  con- 
sultation (fleeted  Henry  Smith  Provisional  (iov«!rnor  of  Texas, 
and  ado[)t(rd  a  declaration  setting  forth  that  Texas  no  longer 
owed  allegiance  to  the  nominal  Mt^xican  Ke()ublic. 

"On  the  36th  day  of  November,  1835,  a  skirmish  took  place 
near  San  Antonio,  called  ihv.  grass  Jij^ht^  in  which  the  Mexicans 
were  driven  to  their  entrenchments  with  a  loss  of  fifty  men. 

"On  the  5th  day  of  December,  1835,  the  forc<;s  of  the  colonists 
in  two  divisions,  under  command  of  Col.  J.  W.  Johnsjin  and  Col. 
Benj.  R.  Milam,  made  a  series  of  determined  assaults  upon  the 
city  of  San  Antonio,  which  was  occupied  by  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy.  After  a  number  of  sanguinary  battles,  in  which  gr«at 
valor  was  displayed  on  both  sides,  the  Texan  forces  obtained 
complete  possession  of  the  city  on  the  loth  of  December,  and 
General  Cos,  with  eleven  hundred  soldiers  surrendered.  In  this 
affair  the  heroic  Milam  was  slain.  This  decisive  conquest  had 
the  effect  of  exciting  much  enthusiasm  among  the  colonists. 


1190 


CUK   tmSTJtJfAT  MMP/JfJg. 


"Santa  Anna  now  determined  to  crush  oot  the  rebellion  in 
Texas  by  one  decisive  campaign,  and  in  Jaaiiary,  1836,  he 
equipped  an  army  of  7,500  picked  men,  and  placing  himself  at 
their  head  he  marched  into  Texuij. 

"The  fortress  o(  tl-te  Alamo  was  then  garrisoned  by  a  force  of 
170  men,  commanded  by  Col.  W.  B.  Travis.  They  were  soon 
surrounded  by  the  whole  Mexican  army  and  summoned  to  sur- 
render. This  being  refused,  a  furious  bombardment  was  com- 
menced, which  was  continued  from  the  25th  of  February  until 
the  6th  day  of  March,  1836.  On  the  morning  of  the  last  named 
day  the  besiegers  made  a  desperate  assault  upon  the  garrison. 
The  particulars  of  that  strugglb  can  never  be  known.  Enough 
to  say  the  heroic  band,  exhausted  by  incessant  toil,  watchfulness 
and  privation,  were  at  length  destroyed.  Of  the  whole  number 
within  the  walls  of  the  fort  only  two  escaped,  a,  woman  and  a 
child.  This  victory  cost  Santa  Anna  1,500  of  his  best  soldier*> 
Close  upon  the  heels  of  the  dreadful  massacre  af  the  Alamo 
caime  another  equally  appaUing.  * 

"  Col.  J.  W.  Fannin,  who  was  stationed  at  Goliad  with  a  garrison 
of  500  mea  was,  on  the  19th  day  of  March,  1836,  surrounded  by 
a  vastly  superior  force  of  the  enemy.  Notwithstanding  the 
Texans  were  almost  entirely  destitute  of  supplies  and  ammuni* 
tion,  a  desperate  batde  was  fought,  in  which  after  inflicting  a  loss 
of  yx>  men  upon  the  enemy.  Col.  Fannin  was  compelled  to  sur- 
render, on  promise  of  honorable  treatment.  The  forces  thwe 
capitulated  were,  in  violation  of  the  terms  of  surrender,  marched 
out  and  inhumanly  shot  on  the  27th  day  of  March,  1836^ 

"  General  Sam  Houston,  who  had  been  appointed  Commander- 
iii'-Chtef  of  the  Texan  army,  now  fell  back  before  die  invader,  in 
order  to  draw  him  as  far  as  possible  from  his  base  of  supplies^  as 
well  as  to  recruit  his  little  army.  He  continued  his  retreat  until, 
on  the  20th  day  of  April,  he  formed  his  troops  in  line  of  batde  on 
the  banks  of  the  San  Jacinto  river. 

"The  Mexican  Gommander  eagerly  followed,  and  on  the  aist 
day  of  April,  1836,  was  fought  the  memorable  battle  of  San 
Jiaicinto.  This  decisive  encounter  resulted  in  t^e  total  rottt  q9 
the  Mexicain  army  and  the  capture  of  Santa  Anna,  and  secuced 
the  independence  of  Texas.  i.:--!i..i):i  > 


i  -'>s 


:.«;^iS*»JSafe^^»te«lk«i«iiS*»V%4i'«/*iii*J^^^^ 


I» 


TNK  REPUBLIC  OF  TEXAS. 


1151 


ebeliion  in 

1836,  he 
himself  at 

a  force  of 
were  soon 
led  to  siir- 
was  com- 
iruary  until 
ast  named 
garrison. 
Enough 
atchfulness 
Die  number 
nan  and  a 
St  soldiers. 

the  AlanM 

» 

1  a  garrison 
roundtd  by 
Binding  the 
d  ammiini- 
icting  a  loss 
lied  to  sup- 
forces  thus 
rr,  marched 

Dramandev^ 
invaxier,  in 
suppUosi  an 
Etreat  untH 
>f  batde  on 

n  the  aist 
tie  of  San 
:al  rout  o^ 
id  secufed 


"  On  the  2d  day  of  March,  1 836,  a  convention  of  ,he  people  of 
Texas  al  Washington,  on  the  Brazos,  adopted  a  declaration  of 
independence  and  established  a  government  ad  interim^  by  elect- 
ing David  G.  Burnet  President. 

"The  population  of  Texas  now  increased  rapidly. 

"The  first  newspaper  in  Texas  was  established  in  San  Felipe 
iai  October,  1833,  by  Joseph  Baker  and  Gail  and  Thomas  H. 
Borden. 

"St'ptembcr,  1836.  General  Sam  Houston  and  M,  \\.  Lamar 
elected  first  constitutional  President  and  V^ice-President  of  th« 
Republic. 

"October,  1836.  First  Congress  met  at  Columbia.  By  this 
body  wise  laws  were  enacted,  an  able  judiciary  established,  the 
army  otrgar.ized,  and  the  people  put  in  possession  of  their  civil 
and  political  rights. 

"March,  1839.  The  Congress  of  the  United  States. acknowU 
edgedi  the  independence  of  Texas. 

"October,  1839.  Seat  of  government  established  at  the  new 
city  of  Austin.  It  had  previously  been  first  at  San  Felipe,  next 
at  Washington,  next  at  Harrisburg,  next  at  Galveston,  next  at 
Velasco,  next  at  Coluimbia,  next  at  Houston.  In  1842  a  Mexican 
invasion  into  Western  Texas  induced  General  Houston  to  order 
the  removal  of  the  government  ofifices  to  Houston,  where  they 
remained  until  November  of  that  year,  when  the  seat  of  govern^ 
ment  was  removed  to  Washingto.^.  Irn  i85o»  and  again  in  1870, 
elections  weire  held  by  which  the  capital  of  Texas,  was  perma- 
nently fixed  at  Austin,  where  it  now  is.  1 

"In  September,  1838,  M.  B.  Lamar  and  David  G.  Burnet  were 
elected  Piresident  and  Vice-President.  In  1837,  the  independence 
of  Texas  was  acknowledged  by  France,  and  in  1840  by  England; 
Holland  and  Belgium^  September,  1841,  General  Hquston  and 
Edward  Burleson  were  elected  President  and  Vice-President. 
September,  1844,  Anson  Jones  was  elected  President,  and  K.  L. 
Anderson,  Vice-President.  .      .' 

"In  February,  1845,  Texas  was  annexed  Co  the  Uniced  State*. 

'*July,  1845,  first  State  Convention  met  at  Austin. 
.    "Novemhsr,  1845,  Constitution  adopted. 


wm^m^mmsi'^ 


•'h 


1152 


OVR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


w 


|l 


m 


"From  1853  to  1856,  public  buildings  were  erected  at  Austin, 
the  debt  of  the  Republic  cancelled,  the  Asylum  founded,  criminal 
code  adopted,  permanent  school  fund  set  apart,  and  aid  given  to 
railroads. 

"In  1859,  General  Sam  Houston  and  Edward  Clark  were 
elected  Governor  and  Lieutenant-Governor. 

"February,  1861,  the  ordinance  of  secession  was  passed  by 
Texas  Convention. 

"March  i8th,  1 861,  General  Houston  retired  from  office  to  his 
home  in  Huntsville,  where  he  died,  July,  1863. 

"August.  1 86 1,  F.  R.  Lubbock  and  John  M.  Crockett  were 
elected  Governor  and  Lieutenant-Governor. 

"October,  1862,  Galveston  captured  by  Federal  troops. 

"January,  1863,  Galveston  retaken  by  Confederate  forces. 

"August.  1863,  Pendleton  Murrah  and  F.  S.  Stockdale  were 
elected  Governor  ^nd  Lieutenant-Governor. 

"  In  1865,  A.  J.  Hamilton  was  appointed  by  the  President,  pro- 
visional Governor  of  Texas. 

"June  19th,  1865,  General  Granger  issued  a  general  order 
proclaiming  free    )m  of  slaves  in  Texas. 

"February  loth,  1866,  first  reconstruction  convention  assem- 
bled at  Af  -:tin,  and  framed  constitution. 

"July,  1866,  J.  W.  Throckmorton  and  G.  W.  Jones  were 
elected  Governor  and  Lieutenant-Governor.  ' 

"  March,  1867,  Texas  again  under  military  rule. 

"August,  1867,  E.  M.  Pease  appointed  provisional  Governor. 

"June,  1868,  second  reconstruction  convention  met  at  Austin 
and  framed  constitution. 

"November,  1869,  E.  J.  Davis  and  J.  W.  Flannagan  were 
.elected  Governor  and  Lieutenant-Governor. 
1  <:«'In  1870,  Senators  and   Representatives  from  Texas  again 
admitted  into  Congress.       >    !    i    ■  -;    .    ,>      ii-'i       ^   /!    ; 

"December,  1873,  Richard  Coke  and  R.  B.  Hubbaid  were 
elected  Governor  and  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Texas,  and  they 
were  re-elected  to  these  positions  in  February,  1876. 

"  The  present  State  Constitution  was  framed  by  a  Convention 
which  assembled  at  Austin,  September  6th,  1875.  Governor  Coke, 


.  ^?r5s(i^iS-S^ifc'SSj»asSs8fe:Si^ 


ADVANTAGES  OF  SETTLEMENT  IN  TEXAS. 


II53 


I  at  Austin, 
:d,  criminal 
id  given  to 


oops. 
e  forces, 
ckdale  were 

esident,  pro- 

meral  order 

ition  assem- 

Jones  were 


I  Governor, 
let  at  Austin 

inagan  were 

Texas  again 

ubbaiU  were 
:as,  and  they 


having  been  elected  United  States  Senator,  resigned  the  office 
of  (iovcrnor,  and  R.  B.  Hubbard  became  Governor  of  Texas, 
December  ist,  1876. 

"November,  1878,  O.  M.  Roberts  and  J.  D.  Sayers  were 
elected  (Governor  and  Lieutenant-Governor,  which  positions  they 
now  hold. 

"At  the  first  election  for  President  of  Texas  in  1836  the  whole 
vote  cast  was  only  5.704;  in  1838  the  vote  was  7.247;  in  1840 
it  was  11,531  ;  in  1844  it  was  12,752;  in  1845  the  vote  for  Gov- 
ernor was  only  9,578,  because  many  neglected  to  attend  the  polls; 
in  1847  it  was  14,476;  in  1849  it  was  21,715;  in  1851  it  was 
28,309;  in  1853  it  was  36,152;  in  1855  it  was  45.339;  "i  1857 
it  was  56,180;  in  1859  it  was  64,627;  in  1861  it  dropped  to 
57,443  on  account  of  the  neglect  of  people  to  vote,  while  in  1863, 
when  most  of  the  voters  were  in  the  Confederate  army,  it  was 
only  31,037.  In  18B6  it  rose  to  60,682  ;  in  1869  it  was  79.373  ; 
in  1873  it  was  128,361  ;  in  1876  it  was  198,137 ;  in  1878  it  was 
236,917  ;  in  1880  the  vote  for  President  was  237,337." 

Conclusion. — Land  is  so  cheap  in  Texas,  and  some  of  it  so 
good,  the  facilities  for  stock-raising,  as  well  as  for  farming,  are  so 
desirable,  the  climate  so  mild  and  healthful,  and  the  greater  part 
of  the  State  is  now,  or  soon  will  be,  so  accessible  by  steamers  and 
railroads,  that  it  presents  great  advantages  to  immigrants. 
There  should  be  better  farming,  more  care  in  improving  live- 
stock of  all  kinds  ;  more  enterprise  in  engaging  in  manufacturing 
and  mining,  and  generally  less  brag  and  bluster  and  more 
industry,  thrift  and  hard  work.  The  public  schools  should  be 
elevated  and  improved,  and  the  laws  somewhat  more  rigidly 
enforced.  We  think  immigrants  from  our  Southern  States,  and 
from  Central  and  Southern  Europe,  will  be  more  welcome  and 
be  better  pleased  with  the  country  than  those  from  more  north- 
ern climates ;  but  in  many  respects  Texas  is  a  very  good  State 
for  immigrants.  .:    t  ^i  ■ 

^-ivc.  illi-.    .. 


I  Convention 
vernor  Coke, 


.';  )i. 


!  y 


1154 


OUR   WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 
VTAH  TERRITORY. 


t 


Utah  a  Peculiar  Territory— It^!  i^cation,  Boundaries,  Area  and  Extent 
— Forests  and  Vegetation — Altitude  of  its  Mountains  and  Valleys — 
ZoSlogy — Geology — Mineraix)cy — Topography  and  General  Features — 
The  Great  Salt  Lake  Basin— Cache,  San  Pete  and  Sevier  Valleys — 
The  Colorado  Basin,  East  or  the  Wahsatlh  Mountains — Climate — 
Meteorology  or  Salt  Lake  City  and  Camp  Douglas — Notes  on  the  Thm- 
PERATURE,  Rainfall,  etc.,  of  other  parts  of  the  Territory — Advan- 
tages of  U  taii  as  a  Sanitary  Resort — Diseases  for  which  its  Climate  is 
beneficial — Opinion  of  Eminent  Army  Surgeons  on  the  Subject — Soil 
AND  Agriculture — Irrigation  very  generally  Required — Immense  Crops 
where  it  is  practised — Non-irrigable  Lands  sometimes  productive  with 
Deep  Plowing — Timber — Yield  of  Cereal  and  other  Products — Fruit- 
Culture — Stock-Farming — Sheep-Farming — EvilS  of  Migratory  Herds 
— Gov.  Emery's  Complaints  of  California  Flocks — Mines  and  Mining 
Products — Wide  Distribution  of  Gold,  Silver,  Lead,  Copper,  Iron, 
Coal,  Sulphur,  Soda,  Salt,  and  Borax — The  Mines  of  the  Precious 
Metals  in  the  Salt  Lake  Basin  very  rich  and  easily  accessible — Rail- 
roads— Objects  of  Interest — The  "Temple  of  Music  "  on  the  Colo- 
rado— Temples  on  the  Rio  Virgen — The  American  Fork  Canon — Ir  is 

:  called  the  "  Yosemite"  of  Utah — The  GreatSalt  Lake  Mineral  and 
Hot  Springs — Finances — Population-Table — The  Population  of  Utah 
peculiar — Its  early  Setixement  by  the  Mormons — Motives  which  led 
TO  their  Migration — Mormonism  a  Religious  Oligarchy — Its  Despotic 
Rule — Its  Crimes — Polygamy  its  Corner-Stone — Its  Defiance  of  the 

GOVERN.MENT — ItS  PrOPAGANDISM — RELIGIOUS  LSNOMINATIONS — EDUCATION 

— Moral  and  Social  Condition — Counties  and  Principal  Towns — His- 
torical Data. 


Utah  is  a  peculiar  Territory ;  peculiar  in  its  situation,  half 
in  the  Great  Salt  Lake  basin,  and  half  in  the  equally  wild  and 
deeply  grooved  basin  of  the  Colorado  river;  singu'ar  in  its  geol- 
ogy, its  min'irak,  its  Siit  and  fresh  water  lakes  and  rivers,  with 
no  outlet  beyond  its  walls  of  rock;  peculiar  in  its  deposits  of  the 
precious  metals  and  coal;  peculiar  in  its  deserts,  and  still  more 
peculiar  in  the  character,  religious,  political,  and  social,  of  the 
■majority  of  its  inhabitants. 

It  is  tone  of  the  central  Territories  of  the  middle  belt  of  States 


•JipfJt      v.^eilfeis^ilbWitf'ft 


■u^iipi  ^■imi!^^^'m^fmmmi^?-ms^ 


/OM£SrS  AND   Vi:aLTAr!ON. 


H-SS 


F.A  AND  Extent 
ANi>  Vai.i.eys — 

KAL  FkATURES — 

VI KK  Valleys — 
Ns — Climate — 

FES  ON  THE  TnM- 
ITOKY — AdVAN- 

ns  Climate  is 
!  Subject — Soil 
-Immense  Crops 

KODUCTIVE  with 

loducts— Fruit- 
iGRATORY  Herds 

ES    AND    MiNINO 

Copper,  Iron, 
F  THE  Precious 
xessible — Rail- 
"  ON  THE  Colo- 
nic Canon — It  is 
KE  Mineral  and 
LATioN  OF  Utah 

TIVES  WHICH    led 

lY — Its  Despotic 

)EFIANCE    OF   THE 

IONS — Education 
'AL  TowN^—His- 

situation,  half 
[ually  wild  and 
liar  in  its  geol- 
id  rivers,  with 
deposits  of  the 
and  still  more 
social,  of  the 

!  belt  of  States 


and  Territoriesof  "Our  Western  limpire."  It  is  bounded  wholly 
by  mathematico-geographical  lines,  lying  b(!twet;n  the  parallels 
of  ^j°  and  42°  north  latitude,  and  109°  anil  1 14°  west  longitude 
from  Greenwich.  Its  northern  boundaries  are  Idaho  and  Wyom- 
ing; its  eastern,  Wyoming  and  Colorado;  its  southern,  Arizona, 
and  its  western,  Nevada,  it  is  not  quite  a  square,  a  tract  which 
extends  from  the  41st  to  the  42d  parallel  and  from  the  1 1  ith  to 
the  114th  meridian  being  added  to  it  on  the  north  to  include 
Great  Salt  lake,  Bear  lake,  etc.,  and  to  make  a  part  of  its 
northern  boundary  coterminous  with  that  of  Idaho  and  Nevada. 
It  has  a  maximum  length  of  325  miles  by  a  breadth  of  300 ;  area 
84,476  square  miles,  or  54,064,640  acres. 

Forests  and  Vegelation. — On  the  mountains  and  along  the 
water-courses  are  found  the  following  trees,  shrubs  and  vines,  to 
wit :  Cottonwood,  dwarf  birch,  willow,  quaking  aspen,  mountain 
maple,  box-elder,  scrub  cedar,  scrub  oak,  mountain  oak,  white, 
red,  yellow  and  piflon  pine,  white  spruce,  balsam-fir,  mountain 
mahogany,  common  elder,  dwarf  hawthorn,  pumac,  wild  hop,  wild 
rose,  dwarf  sunflower,  and  of  edible  berries,  service  berry,  bull- 
berry,  wild  cherry,  wild  currant,  etc.  Most  of  the  plants  belong 
to  the  compositece,  crucifera,  legiiminosa,  boraginacecPy  or  rosa- 
ce ce. 

Altihide  of  Mountains  and  Valleys. — It  is  intersected  from  north 
to  south  by  the  Wahsatch  mountains,  dividing  it  nearly  equally 
between  the  Great  Basin  and  the  basin  of  the  Rio  Colorado. 
The  altitude  of  the  surface  on  both  sides  of  this  mountain  range 
is  about  the  same,  the  valleys  4,000  to  6,000  feet  above  sea- 
level;  the  mountains,  6,000  to  13,000.  West  of  ti^e  Wahsatch. 
the  drainage  is  into  lakes  and  sinks  which  have  no  cutlet,  the 
largest  of  which  is  Great  Salt  lake,  with  an  elevation  of  4,260 
feet,  a  shore  line  of  350  miles,  and  an  area  of  3,000  to  4,000 
square  miles.  It  receives  the  Bear  and  Weber,  and  many 
smaller  streams,  and,  also,  the  discharge  from  Utah  lake 
through  the  River  Jordan.  The  latter  is  fresh  water,  about  ten 
by  thirty  miles  in  extent,  the  receptacle  of  American,  Provo,  and 
Spanish  rivers.  There  are  numerous  valleys,  the  lowest  of  them 
higher  than  the  average  summit  of  the  Alleghanies.     Following 


■if: 


M 


!  :'^ 


,,56  oi/K  yvEsrriRx  e  Mr  ire. 

arc   the   ascertained  altitu     s   of  representative  lakes,    rivers, 
springs,  valleys,  and  towns,  ..  imely: 


(ircat  Salt  Luke. 

Utah  Lake 

Sevier  !,akc 

l.iltleSalt  Lake, 
near  Lake, 
Hear  River, 
Hear  River, 
Weber  River, 
Wclier  River, 
Provo  River, 
Provo  River, 
Snn  Pitch  River, 
San  Pitch  River, 
Sevier  River, 
Sevier  River, 
(-'iche  Valley, 
Salt  Lake  City, 
Fort  Douglas, 
Hush  Valley, 


Paragoonah 

Laketown 

Randolph 

Hampton's  Bridge... 

Kamas 

Ogden 

Ileber 

Provo 

Mt.  Plea-iant 

Gunnison 

Pangniich 

Bridge 

Logan 

Signal  Office 

Near  Salt  Uke  City. 
Tooele  County 


4,260 

4.500 
4,600 

6,220 

6,000 

6,440 

4.540 
6,300 

4f30o 
5.574 
4.520 
6,090 

5. '44 
6,270 

4.76s 
4.550 
4.350 
4,800 
5.200 


Skull  Valley, 

Deep  Creek, 

Nephi, 

Fillmore, 

Antelope  Springs, 

Heaver, 

Fort  Cameron, 

Wah  Wall  Springs, 

Huckhorn  Springs, 

Desert  S|>rings, 

Iron  City, 

Cedar  City, 

St.  George, 

Diamond, 

Strawberry  Valley, 

Rabbit  Valley, 

Kanab, 

Pari  a, 

Kanarra, 


Tooele  County 

Tooele  t'ounly 

Juab  County 

Millard  County.  .  . . 
Millard   County,  .  . . 

Beaver  County 

Denver  County 

Henver  County. ,  . .. 

Iron  C'ounty 

Iron  County 

Iron  County 

Iron  County 

Washington  County. 

Tinlic  Mines 

Wahsatch  County.. 

Sevier  County 

Kane  County 

Kane  County 

Rim  of  Basin 


4,850 
5.230 
4.937 
6,024 
5,850 
6,050 
6,100 

5.450 
5.6<>) 
5,880 
6,100 
S.726 
2,900 
6,J7o 
7,7i(. 
6,820 
4.900 
4,562 
5,420 


Zoolojry- — Among  the  animals  are  the  coyote,  gray  wolf,  wol- 
verine, mountain  sheep,  buffalo  (now  extinct  in  Utah),  antelope, 
elk,  moose;  blat  I;- tailed,  white-tailed,  and  mule  deer;  grizzly, 
black,  and  cinnamon  bear ;  civet  cat,  striped  squirrel,  gopher, 
prairie-dog,  beaver,  porcupine,  badger,  skunk,  wild  cat,  lynx,  sage 
and  jack-rabbit  and  cottontail.  Birds :  golden  and  bald  eagle 
and  osprey;  horned,  screech  and  burrowing  owl;  duck;  pig- 
eon ;  sparrow,  sharp  shinned  and  gos-hawk  :  woodpecker,  raven, 
yellow-billed  magpie,  jay,  blackbird,  ground  robin,  song  sparrow  ; 
purple,  grass  and  Gambell's  finch  ;  fly-catcher,  wren,  water  ouzel, 
sky  lark,  English  snipe,  wm  -r  yellow-legs,  spotted  sand  piper, 
great  blue  heron,  bittern,  stork,  swan,  pelican,  Peales  egret, 
ground  dove,  red  shafted  flicker,  mallard  and  green-winged  teal, 
goose,  ptarmigan,  humming  bird,  mountain  quail,  sage  cock  and 
pine  hen.  Reptiles  :  Rattle-snake,  water-snake,  harlequin-snake, 
and  lizards.     The  tarantula  and  scorpion  are  found,  but  are  not 

common.  .       ■      .    ■  .  t  11  ;;;    r        / 

Geology. — The  greater  part  of  the  rock  of  the  interior  moun- 
tain area  is  a  series  of  conformable  stratified  beds,*  reaching 

*  Clarence  King's  Explanations  40th  poralleL 


l\ 


._-ieSiS»'t*fc^»j>;!i**s5«a«iJ!(.-;te?Aii'^^^ 


•V  Aiffisr-^  • 


CkOLOGY  OF  UTAH. 


H57 


kcs,   rivers, 


uunty 4>85o 

mnly 5,230 

"ly 4.9*7 

County ....  6,034 
I'ounly.,..  5,850 

ouiity 6,050 

louiity 6,ico 

Jounty 5,450 

my 5,690 

unly 5,880 

unty 6,100 

unty 5,726 

;ton  County.  J.yoo 

lines 6,370 

h  County..  7,7i<> 

'ounty 6,820 

aunty 4,90U 

ounty 4i562 

Baiin 5420 

•ay  wolf,  wol- 
ih),  antelope, 
leer;  grizzly, 
rrel,  gopher, 
:at,  lynx,  sage 
d  bald  eagle 
;  duck;  pig- 
aecker,  raven, 
ong  sparrow ; 
I,  water  ouzel, 
:1  sand  piper, 
Peale's  egret, 
fi-winged  teal, 
iage  cock  and 
rlequin-snakf, 
d,  but  are  not 

nterior  moun- 
:ds,*  reaching 


from  the  early  Azoic  to  the  late  Jurassic.  In  the  latter  these 
beds  were  raised,  and  the  Sierras,  the  Wahsatch,  and  the  par- 
allel ranges  of  the  Great  Uasin  were  the  conse(|uence.  In  this 
upheaval  important  masses  of  granite  broke  through,  accompanied 
by  quartz,  porphyries,  felsite  rocks,  anil  notably  sienitic  granite, 
with  some  granulite  andgretsen  occasionally.  Then,  the  Pacific 
Ocean  on  the  west,  and  the  ocean  that  filled  the  Mississippi 
Basin  on  the  east,  laid  down  a  system  of  Cretaceous  and  Tirriiary 
strata.  These  outlying  shore  beds,  subsequently  to  the  Miocene, 
were  themselves  raised  and  folded,  forming  the  Pacific  Coast 
Range  and  the  chains  east  of  the  Wahsatch  ;  volcanic  rocks  ac- 
companying this  upheaval  as  granite  did  the  former  one.  Still 
later  a  final  series  of  disturbances  occurred,  but  these  last  had 
but  small  connection  with  the  region  under  consideration. 

There  is  a  general  parallelism  of  the  mount?  in  chains,  and  all 
the  structural  features  of  local  geology,  the  ranges,  strike  of 
great  areas  of  upturned  strata,  larger  outbursts  of  gigantic  rocks, 
etc.,  are  nearly  parallel  with  the  meridian.  So  the  precious 
metals  arrange  themselves  in  parallel  longitudinal  zones.  There 
is  a  zone  of  quicksilver,  tin,  and  chromic  iron  on  the  coast  ranges  ; 
one  of  copper  along  the  foot-hills  of  the  Sierras ;  one  of  gold 
farther  up  the  Sierras,  the  gold  veins  and  resultant  placers  ex- 
tending far  into  Alaska ;  one  of  silver,  with  comparatively  little 
base  metal,  along  the  east  base  of  the  .Sierras,  stretching  into 
Mexico ;  silver  mines  with  complicated  associations  through 
Middle  Mexico,  Arizona,  Middle  Nevada,  and  Central  Idaho;  ar- 
gentiferous galena  through  New  Mexico,  Utah,  and  Western 
Montana;  and,  still  farther  east,  a  continuous  chain  of  gold  de- 
posits in  New  Mexico,  Colorado,  Wyoming  and  Montana.  The 
Jurassic  disturbances  in  all  probability  are  the  dating  point  of 
a  large  class  of  lodes  :  a,  those  wholly  enclosed  in  the  granites, 
and  b,  those  in  metamorphic  beds  of  the  series  extending  from 
the  Azoic  to  the  Jurassic.  To  this  period  may  be  referred  the 
gold  veins  of  California,  those  of  the  Humboldt  mines,  and  those 
of  Wijite  Pine,  all  of  class  b;  and  the  Reese  river  veins,  partly  a, 
and  partly  b.  The  Colorado  lodes  are  somewhat  unique,  and  in 
general  belong  to  the  ancient  type.     To  the  Tertiary  period 


i5« 


OUK   WA57/?^A'  KAfriKK. 


may  be  dcfmiU-'ly  assigned  the  mineral  veins  traversing  the  early 
volcanic  rock  ;  as  the  Comstock  Lode  and  veins  of  the  Owyhee 
District,  Idaho.  By  far  the  greater  number  of  metalliferous 
lodes  occur  in  the  stratified  metamorphic  rocks  or  the  ancient 
eruptive  rocks  of  the  Jurassic  upheaval ;  yet  very  important, 
and,  perhaps,  more  wonderfully  productive,  have  been  those 
silver  lodes  which  li(r  wholly  in  the  recent  volcanic  formations. 

Mmcralogy. — Utah  is  probably  the  riche-st  Territory  in  "Our 
Western  Kmpire"  in  its  <lti)osits  of  gold  and  silver,  though 
Arizona,  Colorado,  Montana,  Nevada  and  California  might  be 
inclined  to  dispute  the  justice  of  her  claim.  The  region  south 
of  Great  Salt  Lake,  between  the  Jordan  river  and  the  Oquirrh 
Mountains,  and  the  whole  of  the  Oquirrh  range  on  both  sides,  is 
full  of  gold  and  silver  veins.  Ne.xt  south  of  these  comes  the  Tintic 
Silver  district,  ami  as  we  proceed  south,  still  in  the  Great  Salt 
Lake  Basin,  the  whole  region  from  Sevier  lake  to  the  Arizona  line 
abounds  in  lodes  of  silver,  gold  and  copper,  with  occasional  beds 
of  coal,  iron  and  alum.  On  the  western  slope  of  the  Wahsatch 
Mountains,  which  forms  the  eastern  wall  of  the  basin,  there  are 
numerous  silver  mines,  and  they  extend  also  east  of  the  Wahsatch, 
especially  along  the  line  of  the  Uintah  Mountains.  Rut  those 
counties  in  the  Colorado  Basin  are  especially  rich  in  coal,  much 
of  it  adapted  to  smelting  purposes.  There  are  twelve  counties 
in  which  extensive  coal  lands  have  been  found.  The  iron  deposits 
of  all  varieties  are  of  enormous  extent  in  every  part  of  the  Terri 
tory.  Utah  could  produce  all  the  iron  and  steel  needed  in  the 
United  States  more  cheaply  than  any  other  section.  Sulphur 
exists  in  immense  beds,  Salt  abounds  everywhere.  Other 
niini;rals  are  copper,  h^ad,  manganese,  antimony,  chrome,  red 
and  white  ochre,  jet,  asphalt,  i/nneral  wax  and  mineral  waters. 
The  mines  of  antimony  in  Souther/J  Utah  are  said  by  Professor  . 
Newberry  to  be  richer  and  more  easily  worked  than  any  other 
in  America.  ' 

Topography,  General  Features. — The  settled  part  of  Utah  lies 
along  the  western  base  of  the  Wahsatch  Mountains,  which  run 
through  the  heart  of  the  Territory  from  north  to  south,  reaching 
their  greatest  altitude  near  Salt  Lake  City  (where  they  abut  on 


■^■!^<^iii.''ii^^tiAi^Wtm*m)i^'i*'^-:i 


TOrOGKArilY- GESEk.il.   FEA TURES. 


1159 


iin^'  the  early 

tlic  Owyhcr 

ine'tallifrroiis 

■  the  .indent 

•y  important, 

been    those 

oiinations. 

tory  in  "Our 

ilver,  thou^^h 

nia  mij^Mit  he 

region  south 

the  Oquirrh 

both  sides,  is 

nes  the  Tintic 

le  dreat  Salt 

^  Arizona  hne 

:casional  beds 

tlic  Wahsatch 

isin,  there  arc 

the  Wahsatch, 

s.     Rut  those 

in  coal,  much 

/elve  counties 

e  iron  deposits 

t  of  the  Terr! 

needed  in  the 

ion.     Sulphur 

'here.      Other 

r,  chrome,  red 

ineral  waters. 

I  by  Professor 

han  any  other 

rt  of  Utah  lies 
ins,  which  run 
outh,  reaching 
e  they  abut  on 


the  Uintah  Range  coming  from  the  east,  forming  the  cross-bar 
of  a  1),  and  almost  losing  themselves  in  the  sandstone  plateau 
of  the  Rio  Colorado  in  the  south.  Abnast  of  Salt  I-al«e  City 
the  Wahsatch  Range  is  lo.cxx)  to  12,000  feet  in  altitude.  Here, 
within  a  small  area,  rise  the  Bear  and  VWber  rivers,  which  empty 
into  S.'dt  lake ;  the  IVovo,  which  empties  into  Utah  lake ;  and 
some  of  the  main  affluents  of  the  Cjreen  river,  which,  with  the 
(irand,  become  the  Rio  Colorado,  low(-r  down.  It  is  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  heads  of  these  rivers  that  the  Kmma,  the  l-Iagstaff, 
the  Vallejo,  the  Ontario,  Mi  Henry  and  various  other  well-known 
mines  are  situated.  Nearly  one-half  of  the  Territory  lies  south 
of  the  Uintah  Range,  and  east  of  the  Wahsatch  Range  proper, 
and  is  drained  by  the  Green  and  Colorado  rivers  and  their 
tributari<;s.  Its  general  altitude  along  these  streams  is  between 
4,000  and  5,000  feet;  it  is  much  bn  ken  by  mountains,  and  is  but 
partially  explored  and  not  settled  at  all.  It  contains  many  thou- 
sand square  miles  of  fmc  grazing  country,  above  the  Grand  caAon, 
with  more  or  less  arable  land,  and  no  one  yet  knows  what  min- 
eral treasures.  It  is  believed  that  the  Denver  and  Rio  (irande 
Railroad,  after  being  drawn  to  the  head  of  the  Arkansas  river 
by  the  mineral  attractions  of  Leadville,  will  find  an  easy  way 
through  this  region,  entering  the  Great  Basin  via  some  of  the 
feasible  railroad  passes  of  the  Wahsatch.  A  wide  strip  of  the 
western  part  of  the  Territory  is  lake,  sink,  mountain  or  de.sert. 
The  inhabited  part  is  chiefly  a  narrow  belt,  watered  by  the 
streams  of  the  western  slope  of  the  Wahsatch  Range,  which  lose 
themselves  in  Inland  lakes  or  basins.  The  largest  and  best  known 
of  these  is  the  Great  Salt  '  ake  Basin. 

Great  Salt  Lake  Basin. — Fncluding  the  valley  of  Bear  river  up 
to  the  Gates  on  the  north,  the  Utah  Basin,  on  the  south,  whose 
waters  are  discharged  into  Great  Salt  lake,  through  Jordan 
river,  it  is  200  miles  in  length  by  forty  or  fifty  in  width.  The 
principal  streams  which  are  lost  in  Great  Salt  lake  are  the  Malad 
and  Bear,  the  latter  yco  miles  long,  on  the  north ;  Box  Elder 
and  Willow  creeks,  Ogden  and  Weber  rivers  on  the  east ;  and 
City,  Mill  and  the  Cottonwood  creeks  and  the  river  Jordan  on 
the  south.    Into  Utah  lake  flow  the  American,  Provo  and  Spanish 


dSn 


:,ir 


1160 


OUK   WHSrSRN  tMriRE, 


■5 


:■  M: 


1 


^^j 


tbrkM,  thou){h  they  are  nul  forks  but  indepcndt^nt  mountain 
stroamti,  and  Salt  i  reck.  All  ot  thcin  but  ihr  Mul.id  have  th  ir 
sources  in  tlu;  Wahsatch  Ran^e,  whu  h  collects  the  shows  in 
winter  that  yivc  them  lift:  and  beini,^  Where  they  emerge  from 
their  caAons,  settlements  have  be(;n  made  on  them,  iiud  their 
waters  appropriated,  so  far  as  it  can  Ix:  cheaply  done,  fi^r  the 
purposes  of  irrigation,  and  in  some  cases,  of  furnishing  power 
for  mills.  Of  these  settlements,  the  largest  is  Salt  Lake  City, 
located  al)our  centrally  as  regards  the  length  of  the  riuire  banin, 
at  the  base  of  the  Wahsatch  Range,  ten  or  twelve  miles  from  the 
southeast  shore  of  Salt  lake,  containing  a  p()[)ulation,  Juue,  iHKo, 
of  20,768.  The  city  is  supplied  with  water  by  City  creek.  It  r^ 
laid  out  with  broad  streets  and  sidewalk.s,  and  is  built  up  more 
or  less  for  two  miles  square,  shade  and  fruit  tr;es  largely  luding 
the  buildings  in  the  summer  season.  It  has  ample  hotel  accom- 
modations, gas,  water  and  streetcars;  is  peaceful  and  orilerly; 
is  connected  with  the  outside  world  and  adjacent  points  of  inter- 
est or  business  by  rail.  Hnjoying  the  most  healthy  and  agree- 
able climate  of  perhaps  any  large  town  in  the  United  States,  with 
street  cars  running  to  the  famous  Warm  Springs,  and  the  bath- 
ing shores  of  Salt  lake  but  a  half-hour's  ride  on  the  rail  lisiant ; 
with  the  peaks  of  the  Wahsatch,  the  Oquirrh,  and  other  ranges 
ruffiing  the  clouds  at  every  point  of  the  horizon  ;  with  picturesque 
mountain  caAons  threaded  by  trout  streams  accessible  by  rail,  it 
is  one  of  the  most  attractive  places  of  summer  resort  for  tourists 
seeking  health  or  pleasure  m  all  the  world.  The  eastern  edge 
of  Salt  Lake  Basin  is  dotted  with  settlements,  and  is  highly  culti- 
vated wherever  water  can  be  got  on  the  ground.  There  are  the 
North  String,  Bear  River  City,  Corinne,  Brigham  City,  Willard. 
North  Ogden,  Ogden,  Kaysville,  Farmington,  Centerville,  Bounti- 
ful, Salt  Lake  City,  the  Cottonwoods,  Sandy,  West  Jordan,  Dewey- 
ville,  Lehi,  American  Fork,  Pleasant  Grove,  Provo,  Springviile, 
Spanish  Fork,  Salem,  Payson,  Santaquin,  Mona,  Nephi  and  Levan. 
Ogden,  at  the  intersection  of  the  east  and  west  and  north  and 
south  railroads,  is  the  town  next  in  importance  to  Salt  Lake  City, 
tlie  capital.  It  is  in  the  forks  of  Ogden  and  Weber  rivers,  is 
within  a  short  drive  of  fine  fishing  and  mountain  sceneiy,  and  is 


-iaaiSiSdin.Wfe?--' v.>  ,'<jflk«i«A**)»i.lviifo>^^^ 


CACHE,  SAS  fKTE  ASP  SBVtElt    y.il.t.iiYS, 


Il6l 


mountain 
havf  ilvMr 
hhows  in 
Mcr^^e  from 
iiud  their 
)ne,  lor  the 
\n\)f^  |K)Wcr 
1-akc  City, 
iuir«!  banin, 
cs  Iroin  the 
June,  1880, 
;rock.     It  iMt 
uilt  up  more 
r)^'cly  hiding 
lotol  accom- 
intl  orderly; 
ints  of  inter- 
y  and  agree- 
l  States,  with 
nd  the  bath- 
rail  'listant ; 
other  ranges 
\  picturesque 
ble  by  rail,  it 
•t  for  tourists 
eastern  edge 
s  highly  culti- 
fhere  are  the 
[^ity,  Willard, 
•ville,  Uounti- 
rdan,  I  )ewey- 
,   Springville, 
\\\  and  Levan. 
id  north  and 
lit  Lake  City, 
iber  rivers,  is 
;enei  y,  and  is 


rapitlly  improving.  The  Salt  Lake  Hasii\  at  large  has  an  altitude 
of  about  4,3(X)  iv.vi  alK>vf  the  sea,  and  is  the  paruiisc  of  the 
farmer,  the  horticulturist,  and  the  ^^rown  of  fruit.  Cut  off  from 
it  by  a  low  range,  now  surmounted  by  th«r  Utaii  and  Nurthern 
Railway,  toward  the  northeast,  is  Cache  Vallt?y. 

(idcke,  San  PieU  and  Sei'ut  yaiteys. — Cache  X'alley  is  oval  iii 
shap<  ,  and  jxrhaps  ten  by  fifty  milctH  in  extent,  watered  by  Logan 
ami  nia(  ksmith  lorks  of  lUiar  river,  and  by  the  latttr  itself,  ind 
sustaining  a  settlement  wherever  a  strcain  breaks  out  of  the  en- 
closing mountains.  Lo};an  is  the  princi))al  town  of  Cache  Valley, 
and  thence  one  drives  f  stward  through  Logan  Carton  forty  or 
fifty  milt^s  to  Bear  Lake  N'a.ky,  Bear  river  here  llowmg  toward 
the  north.  I'arther  o\\  w.  bends  to  the  west  and  southward,  and 
down  through  Cache  Valley,  finds  is  way  to  Salt  Lake.  Cache 
and  Hear  Lake  Valleys  have  a  score  of  to  sns  ;ind  15.000  inhab- 
itants. To  the  southeast  of  Salt  Lake  H  i^  ,and  to  be  coimrct<  1 
with  it  by  rail  through  Salt  Crt  ck  or  Nephi  Cafion,  this  season, 
lies  San  I'cte  Valley,  called  the  granary  of  Utah,  surrounded  by 
mountains,  except  on  the  south,  where  the  San  Pitch  river  breaks 
through  into  the  Sevier,  and  sustaining  eight  thrivmg  towns,  all 
still  m  their  infancy,  though  founded  several  years  ago,  San  Tete 
and  Cache  Valleys  are  tine  grain-growing  sections,  but  having 
colder  winters  are  not  so  well  adaptrd  to  fruit-raising  as  the  Salt 
Lake  IJasui.  Ne.xt  soudi  '  ird  is  the  S<  vier  riv»*r,  which  has  its 
source  in  Fish  (Indian,  P.i  quitch)  lake,  near  the  southern  bound- 
ary of  the  Territory,  and  runs,  like  Ben?"  river,  a  long  way  north 
before  it  finds  a  way  out  of  the  mountains,  and  turning  to  the' 
southwest  is  finally  lost  in  Sevier  lake.  Most  of  the  streams  in 
the  southwest  lose  themselves  in  small  lakes  or  sinks,  that  is, 
such  as  rise  to  the  northward  of  the  divide  between  the  (ireat 
Basin  and  the  Rio  Colorado  country.  The  Sevier  River  Valley 
is  occupied,  like  all  the  other  Utah  valleys  (and  there  are  many  in 
the  recesses  of  the  VVahsatch,  nnd  some  outlying  and  dis(  onnected 
with  that  range,  although  of  minor  importance,  which  have  not 
been  particularly  noticed),  where  a  stream  breaks  out  of  the 
adjoining  mountains,  by  a  settlement;  but,  like  the  other  streams, 
tile  full  capacity  of  the  Sevier  river  for  irrigation  has  not  been 
called  into  requisition. 


«SnWijv-'jM4MU^..> 


iT 


ii6j 


OVM   WWnUN  KMnitM. 


4; 


The?  wrstrrn  thinlfif  the  Trrritory  from  md  to  rn«l  In  no  nltrr 
natioti  ol  mountain,  clrscrt,  kink  and  lake,  with  a  lew  oa  .o.  of 
arable!  or  (;ru/in);  latuU.  ifrt'at  Salt  lakr  covitrH  an  arm  ol  .>,ooo 
to  4,oo()  v|iian!  inilcn,  and  the  dcMcrt  wrnt  of  it  a  Mtill  hir^itrartra. 
Th«:  Sevier,  IVcuhh  and  Little  Salt  lakes,  all  toj^fthrr,  are  hi.uiII. 
in  compariMon.  Formerly  a  n)i){hty  river  Mowed  northward  frmu 
the  vicinity  f>f  Sevier  lake  to  the  westward  of  (Ircat  Salt  lake, 
the  dry  bed  of  which,  nearly  a  niil<!  in  wiilth,  1  uist  !»<•  crosseil  in 
jjoin^  w<'st  Irom  Salt  Lake  City  to  I  )cre|)  Cr<*f'k  Since*  it  dri»'d 
up,  hills  and  spurs  of  mountains  haver  bee-n  upli'  tved  in  its  course', 
but  the  old  channel  continuefi  on  its  way  up  lull  and  ilown,  and 
over  them  all.  Divideel  off  from  (ireat  Salt  lake  by  a  Hort  of 
causerway  S(»  feet  hij^h  \%  Rush  Valh'y,  containing  a  lake  cover- 
ing twenty  to  thirty  square  miles,  wherre  twenty  years  a^o  therrt; 
was  hay  land  and  a  military  reservation.  'I'his,  as  we;ll  as  the 
accompanying  (illinj^  up  of  (ireat  Salt  lake,  shows  a  decided 
aqueous  increase  in  Salt  Lake;  Hasin  within  that  time*.  Rush 
Valley  has  mininj^  and  agricultural  settlements,  but  much  more 
pastoral  than  arable  land ;  and  so  has  Skull  Valley,  to  the  werst- 
ward.  Hut  from  these  south  to  the  rim  of  the  Hasin,  there  are 
only  occasional  habitable  spots,  and  they  are  due  to  sprinj^s. 
The  mountains  are  the  source  of  the  wealth  of  Utah,  present  and 
prospective,  which  consists  in  water  and  metals.  They  ^Mther  the 
snows  in  winter  which  feed  the  streams  in  summer.  In  the 
northern  part  of  the  Territory  the  Wahsatch  Range  attains 
generally  a  high  altitude,  with  a  mass  in  proportion.  There  is  a 
large  accumulation  of  snow  In  winter,  and  the  streams  are  corre- 
spondingly large  and  numerous.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  Ter- 
ritory the  main  range  is  lower  and  less  massive  ;  the  average 
temperature  is  higher,  of  course;  there  is  less  snow,  smaller  and 
fewer  streams,  and  more  desert  in  proportion.  This  part  of  the 
Territory  is  not  rich  in  agricultural  resources.  The  isolated 
ranges  in  the  Great  Basin  seldom  give  rise  to  streams  of  much 
magnitude,  and  the  intervening  valleys  partake  more  of  the 
desert  character.  But  all  the  mountains,  so  far  as  known,  are 
full  of  minerals,  and  there  is  generally  water  enough  for  the  pur- 
poses of  mining  and  reducing  them. 


t**ki«*i6ifeiiMBa*«*^'S"iraMii®i»ii'ilS«C^^  -iasasia- 


V 


it  an  nitrr 

i\\,    O.I  .«'      of 
II  •   .1  ot    ^,(K)I) 

l.ir^cr  an ,». 

•r,  urtr  M.»all, 

tluv.inl  frnni 

tt  Salt  lake, 
)(•  croHHtil  ill 
'>iiu«*  it  tlrirtl 

ill  itH  course, 
ilown,  and 

hy  i\  sort  of 
ft  lake;  covcr- 
ars  a^^'o  tluTt* 
s  w(rll  as  l\\v 
ws  a  lUtiilcd 

tiinr.  Rush 
t  much  inoro 

,  to  the  w(!St- 
sin,  there  arc 
^c  to  sprinj^s. 
Ii,  prfscnt  and 
licy  j^^athcr  the 
iinn.T.  In  the 
<ange  attains 
n.  Thero  is  a 
ims  arc  corre- 
lart  of  the  Ter- 
;  the  average 
w,  smaller  and 
liis  part  of  the 

The  isolated 
earns  of  much 

more  of  the 
as  known,  are 
jh  for  the  pur- 


SKJSwwssdiS -^BSia*' ' 


W-l 


ts 


if,' 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (M.T-3) 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)872-450a 


ma^ 


mtk 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historicai  l\/licroreproductions  /  Snstitut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


r^ 


CLIMATE   OF  UTAH.  1163 

The  region  east  of  the  Wahsatch  Mountains  and  south  of  the 
Uintah  Range,  is  wholly  in  the  Colorado  Basin.  It  is  not  as  yet 
settled  to  any  considerable  extent,  but  the  deep  caftons  ol  the 
Grand,  Green,  San  Juan  and  Rio  Colorado,  which  traverse  it,  arc 
full  of  wonders  and  terrors.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe 
that  the  mineral  wealth  of  this  region  is  fully  equal  to  that  of  the 
Great  Salt  Lake  Basin,  and  unless  the  lack  of  water  shall  prevent 
their  successful  working,  the  whole  region  will,  a  few  years 
hence,  be  honeycombed  with  mines  of  gold  and  silver,  lead, 
copper,  iron  and  coal. 

Climate. — The  climate  of  a  mountainous  countiy  like   Utah 
will  vary  considerably  with  its  varying  altitudes  and  exposures. 
The  inhabited  parts  of  the  Territory  range,  in  general,  between 
4,3CX)  and  6,300  feet  above  the  sea ;  but  seventy  per  cent,  of  the 
population  is  settled  in  valleys  not  exceeding  4,500  feet  in  eleva- 
tion, and  probably  fifty  per  cent,  in  the  basin  of  Great  Salt  lake. 
In  these  lower  valleys  the  climate  is  mild  and  agreeable.     Its 
perpetual  charm  cannot  be  conveyed  by  meteorological  statistics. 
The  atmosphere  is  dry,  elastic,  transparent  and  bracing ;  and  the 
temperature,  while  ranging  high  in  summer,  and  not  altogether 
exempt  from  the  fickleness  characteristic  of  the  climate  of  North 
America  in  general,  compares  favorably  in  respect  of  equability 
with  that  of  the  United  States  at  large,  and  especially  with  that 
of  Colorado  and  the  Territories  north  and  south  of  Utah.     Its 
range  upwards  is  less  than  that  of  St.  Louis,  Philadelphia  and 
New  York,  to  say  nodiing  of  that  of  Arizona ;  while  in  the  other 
direction  there  is  no  comparison,  either  with  the  Eastern  States, 
intersected  by  the  same  isothermal,  or  with  Colorado,  Idaho  and 
Montana.    This  description  applies  mainly  to  Northern  and  Cen- 
tral Utah  within  the  Great  Salt  Lake  Basin.    Outside  that  Basin, 
across  the  Wahsatch  Mountains,  and  at  an  elevation  not  much 
greater,  at  Coalville,  for  example,  not  more  than  seven  or  eight 
miles  farther  north,  and  perhaps  thirty-five  miles  east,  the  differ- 
ence of  climate  is  very  marked.     The  annual  mean  temperature 
at  Salt  Lake  City  is  si*  9';  at  Coalville,  48°  65';  the  spring  means 
at  the  two  places  are  51°  7'  and  45°  9';  the  summer  means  75* 
9'  and  69°  2';  the  autumn,  54*  8'  and  48°  v'J  ^"d  the  winter 
means,  32°  i'  and  21°  9'. 


1, 


1^  '\ 
t 


III 

if  i! 


''^^aSiM^^t. 


v^i^^gi^m^iimVIsM^^'^ 


1,5^  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

In  Southern  Utah,  both  within  and  without  the  Basin,  the  cli- 
mate is  much  more  tropical,  approachinjr  to  that  of  Arizona. 

Meteorolo^  0/ Sa/t  Lakt  City  and  Canif>  Douglas. 


1877. 


MONTHS. 


TEMl'KRATURE. 


Menu.  I  Max. 


JAMuary  .... 
February  . .  . 

Mnrch 

April 

May 

June 

J»iy 

.\UgUflt 

September.. . 

October 

November. . . 
December . .  . 

For  the  Year 


37.9 
33.7 
48.0 
48.6 
56.7 
65.9 
78.2 

76.3 
65.0 

40.1 
3'7 


50 
SS 

73 
70 

83 
90 
98 
96 
90 
80 
60 
S' 


51.9  I    98 


Min.   I   Rnj;. 


'A 

30 
34 
43 

:3 

4.1 

25 

'I 


47 
40 

45 
40 

49 
47 
48 

43 
48 

55 
45 
43 

95 


HUMIDITY. 

Per  Ct. 

Rainfall 
Inches, 

74-9 
753 

.87 
■3« 

529 
48.6 

2-93 
a.14 

42.1 

29.7 

349 
.80 

24.1 

25.' 

.02 

.28 

3'5 

.90 

41.0 

2.41 

55-4 
68.1 

1.02 

Ml 

47-4 

16.35 

MEAN 
PRESSURE. 

Ilnrcimetcr 
Inches. 


30.071 
30.076 
29.894 

29.«34 
29.791 
20  927 
29.919 
29.971 

29937 
29.971 
30.078 
30039 


29.950 


MONTHS. 


January . . . 
February  . . 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August   , . 
September. 
October.  . . 
November . 
December . 


1878. 


For  the  Year. 


TEMPERATURE 

HUMIDITY. 

Mean. 

Max. 

Min. 

Rng. 

Per  Ct. 

Rainfall 
Inches. 

0 

0 

0 

0 

30,0 

52 

5 

47 

64.8 

1.07 

32.S 

60 

20 

40 

66.2 

3-49 

46.6 

73 

27 

46 

52.6 

2.54 

49.8 

73 

30 

43 

43-4 

2.63 

S6.2 

83 

34 

49 

39.0 

2.50 

69.4 

93 

45 

48 

30.7 

■^l 

77-7 

96 

52 

44 

26.2 

1.08 

78.S 

97 

60 

37 

33-7 

.81 

60.S 

92 

38 

54 

370 

3-'S 

48.5 

78 

22 

56 

44-5 

1-39 

42.7 

68 

22 

46 

54.6 

.63 

29.7 

56 

8 

48 

59- > 

.11 

5'-9 

97 

J 

46 

45-9 

19-75 

MEAN 
PRESSURE 

Barometer 
Inches. 


30-035 
29.882 
29.926 
29.817 
29.882 

29-939 
29.900 
29.956 

29975 
30.05s 
30.081 
30.091 


29-979 


We  have  no  meteorological  statistics  of  any  points  in  the  Ter- 
ritory, except  Salt  Lake  City  and  Camp  Douglas,  which  is  near 
it,  but  500  feet  higher.    The  above  tables  give  the  tempera- 


•,iUi.\     ! 


- !  1  n 


Itv 


isin.  the  cli- 
rizona. 


.1 

/. 

MF.AN 

PRKSSUKE. 

fall 

Ilnrdinetcr 

IfS, 

InchcH. 

87 

30.071 

.!« 

30.076 

<).\ 

29.894 

14 

29^«34 

49 

29.791 

80 

29  927 

02 

29.919 

2K 

29.971 

90 

29937 

4' 

29.971 

02 

30.078 

II 

30.039 

35 

29.950 

Y 

MKAN 

PRESSURE. 

ifall 

BarDiiieter 

hes. 

Inches. 

.07 

30.035 

•49 

39.882 

•54 

29.q26 

•6,? 

29.817 

•50 

29.882 

•35 

29939 

.08 

29.900 

.81 

29.956 

."5 

29-975 

•39 

3005s 

.63 

30.081 

.11 

30.091 

1-75 

29.979 

5  in  the  Ter- 
^hich  is  near 
le  tempera- 


CLIMATE   OF  VTA  11.  1165 

ture,  rainfall,  humidity  and  mean  barometrical  presr.ure  at  Salt 
Lake,  and  such  particulars  as  are  at  hand  concerninjjf  Camp 
Douglas.  The  latitude  of  Salt  Lake  City  is  41°  10';  the  longi- 
tude, 112*";  the  elevation,  4,362.25  feet. 

The   mean   air  pressure   at  Salt  Lake  City  is  25.63  inches; 
water  boils  at  204.3°.     The  prevailing  winds  are  from  the  north- 
northwest,  and  the  most  windy  months  are  March,  July,  August 
and  September.     The  mean  velocity  of  the  winds  during  the 
entire  year  is  5*^  miles  an  hour.     On  the  ocean  it  is  18  miles; 
at  Liverpool  it  is  1 3  ;  at  Toronto.  9 ;  at  Philadelphia,  1 1 .     The 
climate  of  Utah,  on  the  vhole,  is  not  unlike  that  of  Northwestern 
Texas  and  New  Mexico,  and  is  agreeable  except  for  a  month  or 
so  in  winter,  and  then  the  temperature  seldom  falls  to  zero,  or 
snow  to  a  greater  depth  than  a  foot,  and  it  soon  melts  away,  al- 
though it  sometimes  affords  a  few  days'  sleighing.     The  spring- 
opens  about  the  middle  of  March,  the  atmosphere  becomes  as 
clear  as  a  diamond,  deciduous  trees  burst  at  once  into  bloom,  and 
then  into  leaf,  while  the  bright  green  of  the  valleys  follows  the 
retiring  snow-line  steadily  up  the  mountain  slopes.    The  summer 
is  not  unpleasant  in  its  onset,  accompanied  as  it  is  by  refreshing 
breezes  and  full  streams  from  the  higher  melting  snow  banks. 
Springs  of  sweet  water,  fed  largely  from  the  surface,  bubble  forth 
everywhere.     But  as  the  season  advances  the  drought  increases, 
every  stirring  air,  near  or  far,  raises  a  cloud  of  alkaline  dust  until 
the  atmosphere  is  full  of  it.     Sometimes  a  shower  precipitates  it, 
but  there  are  more  dry  than  wet  storms.     The  springs  fail  or 
become  impregnated  with  mineral  salts,  and  the  streams  run  low 
or  dry  up.     Vegetation  dies  in  the  fierce  and  prolonged  heat  and 
drought,  if  not  artificially  watered.     Still,  from  the  rapid  radia- 
tion of  the  earth's  heat,  the  nights  are  always  agreeably  cool, 
and  the  heat  itself  seems  to  have  but  slight  debilitating  quality. 
The  presence  or  absence  of  the  sun  has  a  marked  effect  on  the 
temperature  from  the  great  transparency  of  the  air.     Let  his 
rays  be  cut  off,  even  in  July,  and  a  fire  is  pleasant ;  while,  if  they 
have  free  passage,  the  fires  are  allowed  to  go  out  even  in  January. 
October  ushers  in  a  different  state  of  things.    The  atmosphere 
clears  up  again  as  in  spring,  and  the  landscape  softens  with  the 


iv.,^S^i^*8#ft'JJ»«(^s^«i*^'«&«^ 


''mMMs^^fii»-«9^^- ' 


Ii66 


OUR    ty£S7K/i/^  EMPIRE. 


rich  browns,  russets  and  scarlets  of  the  tlyinjj  vegetation,  which 
reaches  ii|)  the  mountain  sides  to  their  summits  in  places; 
but  on  them  the  gorjreous  picture  is  soon  overlaid  by  the  first 
snows  of  appnachinj;  winter.  The  fall  is  a  delij^htfu)  season,  and 
is  jjenerally  ilrawn  out  nearly  to  the  end  of  the  year. 

We  have  been  more  particular  in  statinjj  the  peculiarities  of 
the  climate  of  Utah  because  it  is  just  now,  and  as  we  think  justly, 
recommended  for  its  sanitary  qualities  in  certain  diseases.  'I'lie 
followinj^  summary  of  the  classes  and  forms  of  disease  in  which 
it  has  been  found  most  beneficial  has  the  authority  of  four  very 
eminent  army  surgeons — Surijeons  P.  Moffait,  Charles  Smart, 
E.  P.  Vollum  and  J.  F.  Hamilton  ;  and  will,  we  believe,  be  found 
to  be  sustained  by  the  experience  of  most  of  those  who  have  gone 
thither  for  health.  It  is  important,  iiowever,  that  health-seekers 
should  spend  as  much  of  every  day  as  possible  in  the  open  air. 

High  altitudes  and  areas  of  low  barometric  pressure  quicken 
the  respiration  and  circulation,  and  are  tlierefore  unfavorable  in 
cases  of  pulmonary  disease  that  are  far  advanced,  and  also  in 
heart  disease,  and  that  form  of  chronic  bronchitis  associated 
with  it.  The  other  forms  of  chronic  bronchitis,  chronic  pneumo- 
nia, and  phthisis,  are  the  diseases,  par  excellence,  upon  which 
such  localities  exercise  a  favorable  influence.  Consumption  does 
not  oriiLjinate  here,  and  where  the  monthly  fluctuation  of  the  ther- 
mometer does  not  exceed  50°,  and  the  mean  monthly  tempera- 
ture is  at,  or,  within  limits,  above  50°,  and  the  humidity  is  unde;' 
50  per  cent.,  a  residence  is  beneficial  to  consumptives,  if  com- 
menced early  enough.  The  best  treatment  known  for  consump- 
tion is  a  year  of  steady  daily  horseback  riding  in  a  mountainous 
country,  diet  of  corn  bread  and  bacon,  with  a  moderate  quantity 
of  whiskey.*  The  beneikial  influence  of  the  climate  on  asthma 
is  decided.  It  cannot  exist  here,  except  in  a  relieved  and  modi- 
fied condition.  Bronchitis  appears  in  a  mild  form  during  the  wet 
and  thawing  periods  of  spring  and  fall,  but  it  always  yields  to 
treatment  Rheumatic  fevers  are  scattered  over  the  months 
withe  at  reference  to  season ;  but  very  few  cases  become  chronic. 


-1..  iii 


*  The  more  fioUerate  rthe  bcuer,— L.  P.  B. 


tion,  which 
in  places ; 
l)y  tlic  first 
season,  and 

jliarities  of 
hink  justly, 
asi's.     Tlie 
,se  in  which 
if  four  very 
rles  Smart, 
e,  be  found 
)  have  gone 
ilth-seekers 
3  open  air. 
ire  quicken 
favorable  in 
and  also  in 
5  associated 
lie  pneumo- 
upon  which 
mption  does 
,  of  the  ther- 
ily  tempera- 
lity  is  undei' 
ves,  if  com- 
or  consump* 
nountainous 
ate  quantity 
e  on  asthma 
:d  and  modi- 
iring  the  wet 
lys  yields  to 
the  months 
ome  chronic. 

-',    M       'I  "  >;    <  I 


VTAII  AS  A  S    X/TARY  flKSOKT.  n^j 

The  intcrmittcnts  jre  imported,  and  the  tendency  In  them  is  to 
longer  intervals  and  ultimate  recovery.  A  remittent,  called 
"  Mountain  I'ever,"  is  indigenous.  It  yields  readily  to  simple 
treatment  if  attended  to  in  time,  but  if  not  develops  into  a  modi- 
fied typhoid,  which  is  liable  to  prove  fatal.  Kxpericnce  in  ihc 
miners'  hospitals  at  Salt  I-ake  City  shows  that  the  climatic  con- 
ditions are  very  favorable  to  recovery  from  severe  injuries.  The 
summer  heat  is  great,  but  not  debilitating,  and  the  dry  pure  air 
and  cool,  invigorating  nights,  enable  patients  to  sustain  the  shock 
of  surgical  operations  that  could  not  often  be  safely  attempted  in 
more  humid  climates.  Pyemia,  or  blood  poisoning,  the  frequent 
accompaniment  of  severe  injuries  and  of  surgery,  is  of  extremely 
rare  occurrence.  One  has  a  choice  of  altitude,  ranging  from 
4,300  to  7,000  feet  above  the  sea,  with  access  to  mineral  springs, 
hot  and  cold,  of  decidedly  efficacious  qualities  in  the  cure  of  many 
ills,  as  experience  has  amply  shown  ;  and  for  the  whole  of  Salt 
Lake  Basin,  the  softening  and  other  healthful  influences  of  at 
least  3,000  square  miles  of  salt  water,  giving  off  a  saline  air,  and 
affording  the  benefits  of  ocean  bathing  without  its  discomforts 
and  dangers.  The  waters  of  the  lake  are  so  dense  with  the  salt 
in  solution  that  it  is  impossible  to  sink  in  it,  and  at  the  same  time 
so  pleasant  that  the  bather  can  remain  in  the  water  all  day  with- 
out serious  inconvenience  or  injury. 

Temperature,  etc.,  at  Camp  Douglas, 


MONTHS. 


January... 
February. . 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September 
October..., 
November. 
December. 


7  A.  M. 

3  P.  M. 

1 

9  P.  M. 

28 

35 

29 

n 

34 

24 

33 

47 

39 

3« 

50 

41 

4S 

55 

47 

61 

77 

65 

68 

85 

73 

65 

80 

69 

56 

74 

62 

41 

50 

45 

3« 

^l 

41 

22 

SI 

24 

Diurnal 
Variation. 


7 
II 

14 
12 
10 
16 
17 

15 
18 

IS 

«s 

9 


Percentage 
of  Sick 


3360 
31-30 

3233 
36.42 

28.74 
29.28 
23.86 
2538 
20.00 
21.97 
38.68 
40.50 


The  preceding  table  relates  to  Camp  Douglas,  which  is  on  an 


r|s;^^W?i»s«t*?«^6H»*?*55&4Si&f*rw3ii;*;w^ 


Il68 


OUlt    IVKSTFJty  RMriRE. 


elevation  two  miles  east  of  Salt  Lake  City  and  500  frot  above  it, 
btiing  4,862  feet  above  the  sea.  This  table  j^ivcs  ihr  iliiirnal 
variation  of  temperature  at  7  a.  m  ,  a  p.  m.  and  9  \\  m.  for  each 
month  of  the  year,  and  the  effect  of  this  variation  in  reducing  or 
increasing  the  percentage  of  the  sick  in  the  hospital  connected 
with  the  camp. 

The  mean  temperature  of  June  to  September  inclusive  at  1  v  m. 
was  79°  ;  at  9  \\  m.  57"  ;  difference  22°  ;  mean  percentage  of  sick 
for  those  months, 24.63.  For  the  other  eight  months  the  mean  at 
a  p.  M.  was  47* ;  at  9  w  m.  36°  ;  difference  1 1°.  Mean  percentage 
of  sick  for  these  months,  32.93.  The  months  of  greatest  mean 
diurnal  vnriadon  seem  to  be  the  healthiest  months.  Attention  is 
called  to  the  mean  temperature  of  the  four  warmest  months,  at 
9  o'clock  in  the  evening,  viz.,  57° ;  a  night  temperature  which 
ensures  quiet  sleep. 

The  second  of  these  tables  shows  the  annual  mean,  maximum, 
minimum  and  range  of  temperature,  and  annual  rainfall  at  Camp 
Douglas  for  sixteen  years,  1 863-1 878.  '        ■  ■ 


YEARS. 


1863 

1864 

1865 

1866 

1867 

1868 

1869 

1870 

I87I 

187a \ 

1873 

1874 

187s 

1876 

1877 

1878 

Mean  for  16  yean., 


Mean. 


Sa-93 
53.22 
50.11 
5«-87 

S3-7« 
50.66 

53-6> 
51.66 

5309 
5o-4» 
49.26 
50.18 
51.26 
50.64 
51.00 
5»»9 


5»-43 


TEMPERATURE. 


Max. 


»03 

97 

100 

94 

95 
96 

97 

96 

104 

9» 
98 

97 
95 
99 
98 

93 


97 


Min. 


7 

-4 

6 

9 
o 

5 
7 
4 
8 
o 

-3 
8 

9 
8 

5 
8 


Range, 


96 

lOI 

94 
85 
95 
9» 
90 
93 
96 
91 

lOI 

89 
86 

9» 
93 
85 


93 


RAINFALL. 


Inches. 


7-47 
14^2 

«S.5« 

23.20 
26.14 

»7.3S 

22.33 

to.  96 

23.13 
18.13 
17.37 

'955 
31.07 
18.31 

14.53 
17.86 


18.58 


n>-.  n> 


II  illiV.' 


■i,r.-:jw'. 


iiiii..'  K'^   ^;>}i..  'T  'jiii/.J    \.\\\\>'j y <K\ 


rt  above  it, 
ihr  (liiirnnl 
M.  for  each 
r(?ducing  or 
1  connected 

vcat  3  P  M. 
tage  of  sick 
he  mean  at 
percentage 
latest  mean 
Attention  is 
I  months,  at 
aturc  which 

I,  maximum, 
all  at  Camp 


RAINFALL. 

e. 

Inches. 

7-47 

14.9a 

•S-5I 

23.30 

36.14 

17- 25 

12.33 

to.  96 

33.13 

iS.ia 

1737 

«9SS 

31.07 

18.31 

1453 

17.86 

18.58 

AGRICVLTVItK  ANl>  IKK  Id  A  HON.  \\(nj 

Soil  and  Ajp'iiHttun'. — 'rh«;rc  were  surveyed  of  public  lands 
in  Utah,  down  to  June  jotli,  1X79,  anonling  to  thr  Land  Office 
Report,  9.341,375  acrtrs,  incluilin);  arable,  tindirred,  coal  and 
mineral  lands.  It  is  impossible  to  tell  from  any  accessible  data 
what  proportion  is  arable  land.  Perhaps  an  estiruate  that  onr- 
fourlh  or  about  2,350,000  could  be  cultivated  by  the  aid  of  irriga- 
tion, would  not  be  far  out  of  the  way.  < 

We  have  in  other  parts  of  this  book  discussed  fully  the  advan- 
tages and  disadvantages  of  irrigation,  and  need  not  repeat  here 
what  has  been  already  saiil  elsewhere.  Irrigation  is  almost 
universally  required  in  Utah,  but  in  different  ((uantities  in  different 
localities,  and  it  is  usually  done  by  colonies  or  communities 
uniting  to  divert  part  or  the  whole  of  a  stream  from  its  natural 
channel  to  the  adjoining  land,  each  member  of  the  association 
there  having  his  proportional  right  to  the  use  of  the  water.  But 
few  of  the  standard  crops  of  Utah  ever  require  n)ore  than  two 
or  three  waterings  to  perfect  them,  some  of  them,  especially  fall 
wheat,  seldom  needing  more  than  one.  Most  of  the  smaller 
streams  in  Utah,  that  could  easily  be  diverted  from  their  natural 
channels,  have  been  already  utilized ;  but  their  full  capacities  a?) 
irrigating  supplies,  which  can  only  be  exhausted  by  means  of 
dams,  reservoirs  and  canals  of  considerable  importance,  have 
not  as  yet  been  called  into  requisition.  Irrigation  by  means  of 
artesian  wells  has  not  yet  been  seriously  attempted  in  the  Terri- 
tory, probably  because  the  necessity  for  it  has  not  been  seriously 
felt,  but  the  few  experiments  in  that  line  made  by  the  Union 
Pacific  Railroad  have  been  so  successful  as  to  encourage  a  resort 
to  it  hereafter.  Flowing  water  was  obtained  at  a  depth  of  less 
than  a  hundred  feet.  From  a  report  made  to  the  Legislature  in 
1875  it  appears  that  one-third  of  the  land  under  cultivation  at 
that  time  in  the  Territory  required  no  irrigation  (this  propor- 
tion since  that  time  has  been  largely  increased,  it  having  been 
discovered  that,  by  deep  plowing,  lands  apparently  entirely  barren 
would  yield  twenty-five  to  thirty  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre 
without  irrigation  for  many  successive  years).  Of  the  lands  re- 
quiring irrigation,  one-fifth  only  needed  one  or  two  waterings ; 

74  .;:m'-'/ 


I  J 


v: 


■■  1; 


i1! 


.:.^il!«ii'S^tf!4Mi*ffrfii*-fcW.te^-'4><»iA^^^^^^^^^^^ 


:.S«'  V;  •■    i  '-.iV/ii-i 


II70 


OUIt   WKSTEUff  MMrmR. 


five-irvcnths  required  from  three  to  four,  and  about  onr-cighth 
from  four  to  ten. 

The  soil  of  Utah  is  partly  volcanic,  and  contains  elements  of 
fertility  which,  when  moisture  can  be  had,  cause  it  to  !>roduc(* 
enormous  crops. 

Timbef. — Utah  holdn  an  intermediate  position,  with  njHpect  to 
its  supply  of  timber,  In.'tween  the  Atlantic  and  prairie  States. 
Its  arable  lands  arc  not  interspersed  with  forests,  nor  yet  is  it 
without  an  adequate  supply  of  timber  within  its  own  limits  for 
building',  fencinjf,  mininj;  and  fuel.  The  valleyn  oi*  plain.s  are 
destitute  of  forest  growth,  and  in  early  times  willow  bruhh  was 
resorted  to  for  ivx\c\n^,  adobe  bricks  for  buildin^^,  and  sa^e  brush 
for  fuel.  But  the  mountains  are  generally  more  or  lesu  wooiied, 
almost  wholly  with  evergreens,  however.  The  best  trees  furnish 
lumber  nut  technically  clear,  but  the  knots  are  held  so  fast  that 
they  are  no  real  detriment,  and  the  lumber  is  practically  clear. 
The  red  pine  and  black  balsam  indigenous  to  the  mountains 
make  a  fence  post  or  railroad  tie  that  will  last  ten  years.  The 
white  pine  's  not  so  ^ood.  More  than  half  of  the  forest  growth  of 
the  Wahsatch  is  of  the  white  or  inferior  variety.  On  the  Oquirrh 
the  trees  are  chiefly  red  pine.  Scrub  cedar  and  piHon  pine  arc 
quite  common  in  the  south  and  west.  They  arc  of  Itttle  value 
for  anything  but  posts,  ties  and  fuel.  In  1875  there  were  perhaps 
100  saw-mills  in  existence,  if  not  in  operation,  in  the  Territory. 
Ordinary  rough  building  and  fencing  lumber  ranges  in  price  from 
$20  to  $25  a  thousand.  Flooring  and  finishing  lumber  is  im- 
ported, and  costs  about  $45  a  thousand.  Wood  Is  obtained  from 
the  canons  for  fuel,  and  soft  coal  of  good  quality  can  be  had  for 
$8  to  $12  a  ton  in  all  Northern  Utah.  When  the  coaj  deposits 
of  the  Territory  shall  have  been  developed  and  made  accessible 
by  railroads,  the  price  should  be  less  by  one-half,  for  there  is  an 
abundant  supply  and  it  is  widely  distributed.        i,,,n.  .c^,,,    ,;,»;. 

Products,  Yield, — Ail  of  the  products  of  the  same  latitude,  east 
or  west,  on  or  about  the  level  of  tide  water,  with  the  exception 
of  Indian  corn  (for  which  the  nights  are  too  cool),  are  grown  in 
Utah  with  great  success,  and  the  soil  and  climaite  seem  peculiarly 
adapted  to  the  growth  of  wheat  and  fruit.    Following  are  j»tatistics 


onr-clghth 

•IcmcntH  of 
to  [>riHiuce 

h  r«!si)cct  to 
airie  StatcH. 
nor  yot  is  it 
rn  limits  for 
I'  plain.4  are 
w  biuKh  was 
,1  saj{c  hruhh 
Icsu  wooded, 
trees  furnish 
i  HO  fast  that 
:tically  clear, 
e  mountains 
years.     Thr 
est  growth  of 
I  the  Oquirrh 
fton  pin«^  are 
)f  IittJe  value 
were  perhaps 
he  Territory, 
in  price  from 
imber  is  im- 
Dbtained  from 
»n  be  had  for 
coal  deposits 
ide  accessible 
or  there  is  an 

>  latitude,  east 
the  exception 
are  grown  in 
•em  peculiarly 
^  are  statistics 


AGMtcvuvMAi  fKouvcn  or  VtAlt.  1171 

of  ihc!  ar  1  and  yield  of  various  crop*  for  the  year  1875,  on  the 
authority  of  a  Irgislative  cotumiuiion  : 

AMiclM  k*t^.  T«««IVi«M  YMidiwrAcM 

Wheftt 7t,oio  1,418,783  l)n«hcU.     jo  bu»hcU. 

Barley 13,847  359.5*7      "         "5       " 

Oatf 19.706  5''i.*49      "         30       " 

Rye      447  «.9«7       "          »o       " 

Corn i6,45«  3»7.»5J       "          •«       " 

Buckwheat II  MJ       "         la       " 

I'cM i,7'-'i  3o.'»«'       "          »■       " 

Bfani H7  J."?^       "          «5       " 

Poftttoc* 10,306  1,306,957       "  130       •« 

Other  RooU 433  »7».7«a       "  «»5        " 

Sfcdii I  as  49.5o«  '*>••  396H*- 

Broom  Corn aoo  713  ton*.  3?)  t<>n». 

Sugar  Cane 1,43*  103,164  gain.         7a  ga'*- 

Meadow 81,788  iij,5»9  ton*.  i>4  ton*. 

Lucerne 3.587  13,189  ton*.  3j^  ton*. 

Cotton 113  31,075  lt)«.  875 '*»• 

Flax 5  i,J5oll>B.  150  lb*. 

Total  acre*,  123, 300.     Total  value  of  protluct*,  about  17,500,000. 

Of  tne  wheat  crop  of  1873,  100,000  bushels  were  exported. 
There  was  no  surplus  for  export  in  1874-75.  Of  the  crops  of 
1876-77,  50,000  to  60,000  bushels  were  exported.  There  wus  a 
surplus  of  about  270,000  bushels  raised  in  1878,  one-half  of  which 
was  shipped  to  England  via  San  Francisco ;  the  rest  remains  in 
stock.  Probably  the  acreage  in  wheat  has  not  increased  much 
since  1875,  nor  the  hay  crop,  but  dry  farming  has,  and  the  growth 
of  lucerne  has  doubled. 

Improved  lands  are  held  at  from  $25  to  $100  an  acre,  according 
to  location.  They  are  almost  all  adjacent  to  either  towns  or  mines, 
or  both.  There  are,  in  different  localities,  comparatively  large 
bodies  of  government  lands  unoccupied,  which  can  be  entered  at 
the  Salt  Lake  Land  Office  under  the  United  States  land  laws,  the 
same  as  in  other  States  and  Territories,  or  bought  of  the  Pacific 
Railroad  companies  at  low  rates,  and  on  easy  time ;  although,  as 
a  general  thing,  agricultural  settlement  and  improvement  in  Utah 
will  be  undertaken  to  better  advantage  by  colonies  than  by 
individuals.    The  construction  of  the  main  irrigating  canals  may 


I  I 


iV 


!l|i 

n 


!!■ 


\ 


'  \ 


■ij^iy^^^^**^"^"^**''^'^  ,ji^*^v*---:iite^^ii^s^>-^'''j*  ''■*^'^  .  ■**>!":  -*■' 


II7J  ovu  wk^rnnN  i).NPiHti. 

uftually  Iw  accomplinhM  \^y  plow  and  Mrapcr,  each  ncijnininf; 
Undowii'-r  rontrilnitiii^  In .  ([iiotn  of  tht*  «xprn§«*,  iiiul  having'  u 
perpetual  ri^ht  to  the  water  at  the  :i<Mitional  cost  for  nrpairn. 
Under  th(*  Desert  Land  I^iw,  each  person  joining  in  mich  an 
enicrpri»c  it  entitled  to  |ire»mpt  640  acres  ol  land,  paying  on^« 
fifth  down  ami  tho  rc«t  in  three  years,  on  condition  that  the 
enterprise  he  consut'unaled  within  that  time. 

/•/////. —  The  Salt  Lake  Basin  throii^dioiii  is  tinHurpassed  In  the 
adaptation  of  its  soil  and  climate  to  the  )^'rowth  of  all  kinds  of 
fruit  common  to  the  latitude  ,  in  the  soutli,  on  the  waters  of  the 
Kiu  Colorado,  grape  culture  is  followed  with  great  huccckh,  and 
wine  making  is  there  a  growing  industry ;  but  in  the  higher 
mountain  valleys,  as  well  as  in  Cache  ami  San  IV;te,  tho  seisons 
are  too  short,  anti  not  so  nuuh  alienlion  has  been  devoted  to  it. 
The  following  table  shows  the  area,  the  pro<luct.  and  the  yield 
per  acre,  of  fruits,  fur  the-  year  1875,  as  returned  and  publiihcd 
by  order  of  the  Lc^inlature : 

rruli  A«ra*  T»i*t  VUM  YlaM  \4i  A>t>. 

Apples 3i9JS  3S^>'77  l»»licU.       90  uiuhck 

Pc«rt laH  10,560       «•            75       '• 

Peaches      8,687  330,535       "  tao       " 

Plum*        159  43.S''5       "  165       " 

Apricots 305  44ii6o       "  145       " 

Cherries 63  4,661       "            75       " 

Orapes 544  3.409>>oo  lbs.        6,a6o  11m. 

Total  acres,  7,910.     Value,  |i,o38,6i6. 

No  finer,  thriftier  trees,  no  fairer,  better  flavored  fruit  is  pro- 
duced anywhere.  The  trees  are  extremely  bounteous  bearers, 
having  to  be  propped  up  to  enable  them  to  sustain  the  weight 
of  their  enormous  burdens.  The  fruit  market  in  Salt  Lake  Cty 
is  almost  perpetually  deriving  its  supply  from  California,  when 
native  fruits  and  berries  are  not  in  season.  This  applies,  too,  to 
many  kinds  of  vegetables,  cauliflower,  lettuce  and  asparagus.  The 
season  for  most  fruits,  berries  and  vegetables  begins  in  California 
a  month  or  six  weeks  in  advance  of  the  same  in  Utah,  and  pro- 
portionally lengthens  it.  The  extreme  southern  part  of  the 
Territory  is  adapted  to  the  production  of  many  semi-tropical  and 


FnUtT  ASn  STOCK  fAKMINQ. 


»I7J 


n«l)oining 

having  a 

r  r<'|>airH. 

I  Huch  an 

tluit  the 

scmI  in  the 
kinds  of 
fTH  of  the 
cccHH,  and 
\\v.  hi^hf!r 

W.  »»•  ''iDrtH 

/otrcl  to  it. 
the  yirld 
pubUihcd 


kl  (.4/  Acrr. 
UUHhcls. 
<i 

<« 
II 
II 
II 


; 

5 

5 
>IU. 


fruit  is  pro- 
•us  bearers, 
the  weight 
t  Lake  City 
brnia,  when 
plies,  too,  to 
iragus.  The 
n  California 
ih,  and  pro- 
part  of  the* 
tropical  and 


■ome  tropical  fruits,  htit  not  much  has  liern  done  in  that  line  as 
yet.  Cotton  is  grown  in  i  Mii.tll  w.iy,  for  unr  in  the*  making  ul 
doth.  I''igH  and  almonds  havi;  aUo  Ix  •  n  tried  a  little.  The 
climate  i»  not  greatly  different  from  that  of  .Southern  California. 
where  orangey  and  nuiny  tropical  fruits  do  as  well  as  anywhere 
in  the  world. 

Stoik'l'iV tmfi(^. — One  great  resource  of  Utah,  arid  one  ea  ily 
dis'.ctimtt.d,  so  to  sjxak,  is  the  very  extensive  stock  rang*;. 
There  is  in  such  a  loiintry  neieisarily  a  great  de.il  oi  latjil  on 
the  fool-hill  slopes  anil  river  terraces  which  cannot  be  artificially 
watered,  and  yet  is  nitt  cut  off  from  water.  The  native  grasses 
generally  are  possibly  not  as  ['ood  as  the  buffalo  and  gramma 
grasses  of  the  pl.iins  east  of  th«;  Rocky  Mountains,  but  the  bunch 
grass,  which  seenv;  to  be  imligenous  to  the  broken  and  elevated 
r<'gions  betwei  rj  the  .Sierra  Madre  and  lh»!  .Sierra  Nevada,  is  un- 
surpassed in  rxtelli-nce.  Througlioui  this  interior  basin  millions 
of  acres  are  not  absolute  desert,  only  becau.se  of  the  existence  of 
this  grass.  It  grows  in  bimches  in  apparently  the  most  barren 
places.  Early  in  the  season  it  cures,  standing,  retaining  all  its 
nutriment,  and  being  hard  to  cover  with  snow  beyond  the  reach 
of  stock.  Its  seed  is  pyriform,  and  has  remarkable  fattening 
properties.  In  the  high,  dry,  bracing  altitudes  of  the  interior, 
cattle  grow  and  fatten  on  much  less  than  on  the  sca-lcvcl,  and 
the  .me  degree  of  eith<'r  heat  or  cold,  as  mark«!d  by  the 
iherinomoter,  appears  to  affect  them  less.  The  j.,ra/ing  lands 
of  Ut«h  are  almost  unlimited  ;  incUnIing  the  uecond  ta'  les  of  the 
river  courses,  the  slopes  of  the  foot-hills  and  lesser  .anges  not 
too  far  from  water ;  the  shores  of  the  sinks  and  hikes,  and  the 
coves  and  valleys  of  the  mountains,  In  the  Salt  Lake  Dasin, 
generally,  stock  winter  without  fodder ;  farther  south,  they  not 
only  subsist,  but  thrive  on  the  range  the  year  round.  In  Cache, 
Bear  lake,  and  other  valleys  more  elevated,  they  require  more 
food  and  shelter ;  and  the  stock-grower  will  do  well  to  prepare  for 
occasional  cold  and  snowy  spells  in  all  the  northern  parts  of  the 
Territory.  There  is  ample  hay  ground  for  this.  Under  ordinary 
circumstances,  a  five-year-oId  steer,  worth  %2^,  can  be  turned 


II 


■  J»«*i:a..'«*3,fi«*'i(i'*i'. 


1174  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

out  at  a  cost  of  1^5.    The  statistics  returned  of  stock  in  Utah  in 
1875: 

Stalliuns 108 

Marcs        .  i>349 

Mules        4>737 

All  others,  not  horned 4i)>3o6 

Thoroughbred  horned  stock 510 

Graded                "         "        3,511 

All  other             "         •'        107,468 

Thoroughbred  sheep r5,6ao 

All  other  sheep a8;,6o8 

Gonts 304,806 

Graded  swine i>397 

Common  swine 26,540 

Total  value,  including  poultry  and  bees,  placed  at  about  {6,500,000. 

The  number  of  blooded  and  graded  animals  has  probably  in- 
creased 200  per  cent,  since  1875,  and  that  of  sheep  150  per  cent., 
while  the  strain  of  ^'ood  in  all  sheep  has  been  so  improved  that 
double  the  wool  is  leared  from  the  same  number.  Consider- 
able stock  is  kept  in  adjoining  Territories  by  residents  of  Utah. 
It  is  estimated  by  stock-growers  and  drivers  that  the  Territory 
turns  out  yearly  40,000  head  of  stock  from  one  10  five  years  old, 
averaging  in  value  $15  a  head ;  a  total  of  ]$^6oo,oc>o. 

Sheep-Farming. — The  wool  clip  of  1875  was  returned  at  ^85,- 
000  pounds,  but  it  has  quite  doubled  since.  Mr.  James  Dunn, 
of  the  Provo  WooDen  Mills,  estimates  the  clip  of  1877  at  i,200>- 
cxx)  to  1,300,000  pounds;  for  1878,  at  1,600,000  to  i, 700^x3 
pounds.  Other  large  growers  and  dealers  concur  in  this  esti- 
mate. The  clip  of  1879  was  nearly  2,000,000  pounds,  and  that 
df  1880  over  2,500,000  pounds.  Of  the  clip  of  1878  about  1,250,- 
Ooo  pounds  was  exported,  and  the  remainder,  say  400,000 
pounds,  was  used  by  the  Utah  mills.  Fleeces  average  about 
four  pounds  for  ewes,  six  for  wethers;  part  of  tiie  wool  lunges 
ttrith  the  best  California  wools  as  to  quality,  while  part  of  it  is  in- 
ferior. Utah  and  Moniana  wools  are  considered  better  than  the 
wools  of  the  other  Territories.  Most  of  the  Utah  sheep  came 
from  New  Mexico  down  to  1870.  .  Since  then  ewes  have  been 
brought  in  from  California,  generally  fine-wpoled  Spanish  Mer- 


IT 


STOCk'RAfSmC  A.WD  SHEEP- J- ARMING. 


t»7S 


in  Utah  in 

1 08 

».349 

4,737 

4i„ao6 

3.5«« 
107,468 

15,620 

187,608 

)04,8o6 

1,397 
26,540 
6,500,000. 

probably  in- 
50  per  cent, 
iproved  thai 
Consider- 
nts  of  Utah. 
lie  Territory 
/e  years  old, 

•ned  at  ^85,. 
ames  Dunn, 
77  at  i,20CS- 
to  1,700,000 

in  this  esti- 
ids,  and  that 
about  1,250,- 
say  400,000 
erage  about 
wool  tanges 
irt  of  it  is  in- 
tteir  than  the 

sheep  came 
IS  have  been 
ipanish  Mer- 


inos, but  little  mixed ;  fine-wooled  bucks  from  Ohio,  and  long- 
woolcd  from  Canada.  The  same  strain  of  blood  in  sheep  docs 
not  produce  quite  so  long  a  wool  as  in  the  East.  It  is  so  dry  and 
dusty,  the  grtia.ie  seems  to  absorb  the  alkali  and  mineral  dust, 
which  makes  it  harsli^^r  and  more  britdo.  But  since  the  large 
infusion  of  Merino  blood,  which  has  taken  place  in  late  years, 
there  has  been  a  marked  improvement  in  the  quality  of  Utah 
wool,  in  respect  of  length,  softness  and  fineness  of  fibre.  It  re- 
alizes to  the  grower,  here,  crude,  about  twenty  cents  a  pound. 

Mr.  Daniel  Davidson,  who  has  imported  ijljo.ooo  worth  of 
bucks  within  a  few  years,  has  a  flock  of  16,000  sheep,  from  which 
he  sheared  90,000  pounds  of  wool  in  1878.  Among  other  large 
owners  are  the  Provo  Manufacturing  Company,  with  13,000; 
a  Mr.  Mclntyre,  with  9,000.  Mr.  Davidson  thinks  there  are 
550,000  sheep  in  the  Territory.  Castle  Valley,  near  the  corner 
post  of  Wahsatch,  San  Pete  and  Utah  counties,  is  a  great  sheep 
range,  several  large  flocks  being  kept  there.  They  are  worth 
about  $2.25  a  head  as  they  run,  do  not  require  feeding  in  winter, 
and  if  properly  attended  to,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  will 
yield  a  profit  of  forty  per  cent,  a  year  on  the  investment.  They 
are  beginning  to  be  bought  up  to  be  driven  away.  A  flock  of 
5,000,  costing  from  ^2  to  $2.50  each,  including  lambs,  was  picked 
up  and  taken  to  Motitana  in  the  spring  of  1878.  By  the  time 
they  got  there  the  lamb;:  were  worth  as  much  as  the  sheep,  re- 
ducing the  price  in  reality  to  about  $1.50. 

Governor  Emery  says  on  this  subject : 

Another  serious  drawback  to  the  stock-growers  of  this  country 
are  immense  herds  of  sheep,  which  have  been  driven  into  the 
Territories  from  California.  Large  flocks  of  fifteen,  twenty  and 
thirty  thousand  sheep  not  unfrequently  make  their  appearance 
here  from  the  West.  It  is  not  so  much  the  grass  they  eat  that 
the  settlers  complain  of,  but  they  poison  and  kill  out  what  is 
known  here  as  the  bufifalo  or  bunch-grass,  which  is  the  only 
grass  of  any  value  indigenous  to  this  soil.  Where  sheep  range 
for  one  season  there  is  left  a  burren  waste  upon  which  grass  will 
not  grow  for  several  years  after.  If  Congrcbs  would  pass  some 
law  whereby  parties  can  acquire  rights  to  this  pasturage,  it  would 


|!i. 


;.. 


ill 


IH 


■■s^mWm»j'0i.Mi^'M>«SMm.m:iij'-ism0&-^Jii^ 


,1^5  OUR  WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

undoubtedly  b<»  a  source  of  revenue  to  the  government  as  well 
as  to  parties  engaged  in  stock  and  wool-grov/ing. 

Mines  and  Mining  Products. — With  her  increasing  population, 
it  is  hardly  probable  that  Utah  will  produce  more  grains,  «:tc., 
than  sufficient  to  supply  the  home  demand  for  agricultural  pro- 
ducts. She  may  export  some  wheat,  but  she  will  import  more 
corn  ;  she  may  have  more  than  a  supply  of  some  fruits  and  root 
crops,  but  she  will  import  as  much  or  more  of  others. 

She  may  have  cattle,  sheep,  and  possibly  horses  and  mules  to 
export,  and  as  her  grazing  lands  become  developed,  there  may 
be  a  large  traffic  in  live-stock,  for  which  she  has  good  facilities. 

But  the  chief  attraction  which  Utah  possesses  for  immigrants 
is  its  mineral  wealth.  Looking  southward  from  one  of  the  sum- 
mits of  the  Wahsatch  Mountains,  just  above  their  junction  with 
the  Uintah  Range,  and  the  smoke  of  the  smelters  and  stamp 
mills  is  seen  in  the  clear  pure  air  for  a  hundred  miles,  and  on 
both  sides  of  the  Wahsatch  ;  while  to  the  east  and  southeast  the 
mines  of  copper,  coal,  sulphur,  alum,  borax,  graphite  and  other 
minerals,  with  some  gold  and  silver,  are  found  in  great  abun- 
dance. 1 

There  is  not  a  county  in  the  Territory  where  mines  have  not 
been  located,  and  mining  districts  in  greater  or  lesser  number 
organized.  These  mining  districts  now  cover  over  1,200,000 
acres.  They  are,  perhaps,  most  numerous  in  Salt  Lake,  Utah, 
Jusb,  Beaver,  Box  Elder,  Tooele,  Millard,  Pi-ute  and  Iron  coun- 
ties, but  Washington  county,  Weber,  Davis  and  Summit  are 
coming  into  prominence  either  for  their  silver  mines,  gold  placers, 
or  deposits  of  coal,  sulphur,  borax,  alum,  etc.  We  cannot  under- 
take to  name  all  these  mines  or  mining  districts ;  but  a  few  notes 
in  regard  to  some  of  the  most  prominent  of  them  will  be  interest- 
ing. Bingham  Cafton  and  its  chief  town,  Bingham  City,  is  about 
thirty  miles  southwest  of  Salt  Lake  City,  and  is  a  rift  or  cafion 
of  the  Oquirrh  Mountains,  through  which  a  small  muddy  creek 
flows  on  its  way  to  the  Jordan  river,  about  twelve  miles  south  of 
Salt  Lake  City.  It  has  had  strange  vicissitudes.  In  1859  rich 
gold  placers  were  found  there  by  General  Conner's  soldiers,  and 
were  extensively  worked  and  still  yield  fair  pay  for  working.    In 


H 


MINES  AND  MINING  IN  UTAH. 


1177 


nent  as  well 

population, 
j^rains,  «;tc., 
ultural  pro- 
mport  more 
I  its  antl  root 
s. 

nd  mules  to 
1,  there  may 
d  facilities, 
r  immigrants 
:  of  the  sum- 
junction  with 
s  and  stamp 
niles,  and  on 
southeast  the 
te  and  other 
I  great  abun- 

nes  have  not 
esser  number 
ver  1,200,000 
t  Lake,  Utah, 
nd  Iron  coun- 
i  Summit  are 
J,  gold  placers, 
cannot  under- 
ut  a  few  notes 
/ill  be  interest- 
i  City,  is  about 
I  rift  or  cafion 
I  muddy  creek 
miles  south  of 
In  1859  rich 
's  soldiers,  and 
r  working.    In 


1869  extensive  beds  of  silver  lead  ore  were  discovered  and  mined 
with  decided  pro6t,  and  some  of  the  mines  are  still  profitably 
worked;  in  1876  it  was  discovered  that  the  disintegrated  rock 
which  had  been  thrown  aside  from  the  silver  mines  as  waste 
really  contained  from  f,ig  to  '^2$  of  gold  to  the  ton,  and  was  very 
f-asily  reduced,  and  as  this  paid  better  than  the  silver,  the  mining 
for  these  quartz-gold  ores  was  immediately  resumed.  Mean- 
while, however,  some  of  the  silver  mines  in  the  cafion  had  been 
written  up  and  their  productiveness  eulogized,  and  one  of  these, 
the  Old  Telegraph,  which  was  really  worth  perhaps  from  ;jt7oo,oc)0 
to  ji 1, 000,000,  was  sold  after  examination  to  a  French  company 
for  ;j5j,ooo,ooo.  The  mine  has  not  only  never  paid  a  dividend, 
but  is  run  either  at  a  loss  or  without  profit,  although  all  its  re- 
duction works  and  the  appointments  of  the  mine  are  of  the  first 
class.  It  was  another  instance  in  which  silver  mines  in  Utah 
have  been  sold  to  European  capitalists  at  prices  far  beyond  their 
actual  value.  The  sales  of  the  Litde  Emma,  Flagstaff  and 
McHenry,  all  Utah  mines,  are  still  fresh  in  the  public  memory, 
and  have  entailed  an  unwarranted  disgrace  upon  mining  proper- 
ties, especially  in  Utah.  The  Little  Cottonwood  Mines,  which 
included  the  Emma  and  Flagstaff,  are  now  developing  other 
mining  properties  there;  but  the  frauds  connected  with  those 
mines  have  destroyed  confidence  in  them,  and  the  present  and 
prospective  yield  is  not  sufficient  to  restore  it.  The  Parley's 
Park  Mines,  in  the  vicinity  of  Park  City,  of  which  the  Ontario 
Mine  is  the  principal,  have  aii  excellent  property,  though  in  their 
case  the  failure  of  the  McHenry  Mine  to  make  good  the  repre- 
sentations under  which  it  was  sold,  has  proved  a  serious  draw- 
back. The  mill  connected  with  this  mine  shipped  East,  monthl)', 
in  1879,  from  jji  35,000  to  $145,000,  and  new  mines  in  the 
vicinity  are  promising  well.  On  the  Oquirrh  Mountains  there 
is  also  the  Ophir  District,  which  has  the  Hidden  Treasure  and 
many  other  silver  mines  of  note ;  the  Stockton  Mines,  which 
have  already  yielded  largely ;  and  the  Tintic  Silver  District,  the 
mines  in  which  carry  gold,  silver  and  copper.  In  Southern  and 
Southwestern  Utah,  within  the  Great  Basin  and  south  of  Sevier 
lake,  there  are  many  silver  mines  of  great  value,  and  which  are 


ft- 


i;! 


H 


\  ■ 


lii 


.,a4S!ii*eKSIAifeia&rt4*s4^«;»iS?&SM5te^  i&i-^-v'fcw*-'  ■■ :  4Pit&Stp^ 


11^1  OUR   WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

conducted  on  sound  business  principles.  In  this  region  the 
mines  are  richer  as  we  proceed  toward  the  southern  boundary. 
In  the  Bouver  l^ke  District  there  are  valuable  copper  mines,  and 
a  litth;  to  the  east  and  southeast  are  silver  mines  in  the  same 
district,  and  some  valuable  mines  in  the  Ohio  District.  A 
little  farther  south  are  the  PVisco  Silver  Mines,  to  which 
point  a  branch  of  the  Southern  Utah  Railway  is  running. 
Among  these  mines,  the  Horn  Silver  Mine,  about  ont*  mile  from 
the  village  of  Frisco,  is  said  to  be  the  richest  silver  mine  in  the 
world.  Professor  J.  S.  Newberry,  who  visited  it  in  the  autumn 
of  1879,  and  examined  it  very  carefully,  estimated  that  there  was 
not  less  than  $15,000,000  worth  of  ore  in  sight,  and  a  fair  pros- 
pect of  at  least  as  much  more  when  the  mine  was  fully  developed. 
This  ore  is  chlorides  and  horn  silver.  The  Carbonate  and 
Rattler  Mines,  and  the  Cave  Mine  in  the  same  vicinity,  arc  car- 
bonates easily  reduced  and  very  rich;  the  last  named  carries 
considerable  gold ;  as  do  the  Picacho  Mines.  Around  and  just 
below  Little  Salt  lake  are  the  Silver  Belt  and  the  Sumner  Mining 
Districts,  and  in  the  same  vicinity  immense  coal  beds  and  exten- 
sive  deposits  of  iron  and  alum.  Other  coal  measures  are  still 
farther  south,  and  in  the  extreme  southwest  is  the  Leeds  Silver 
Mining  District,  which  has  many  rich  mines ;  most  of  these  are 
chlorides  and  easily  reduced.  East  of  the  Leeds  District,  and  on 
and  near  the  Rio  Virgen,  is  the  Harrisburg  District,  in  which  are 
a  large  number  of  excellent  mines.  Among  these  are  those  of 
Silver  Reef,  where  sandstone  beds  of  cretaceous  or  tertiary  age 
are  found  impregnated  with  silver,  either  native  or  in  chlorides. 
The  Stormont  Silver  Mining  Company  owns  several  mines  on 
Silver  Reef,  and  is  steadily  producing  from  $40,000  to  $50,000 
of  bullion  per  month,  with  a  fair  prospect  of  increase  with  larger 
facilities  for  reduction.  No  smelting  is  needed,  but  the  reduction 
is  effected  through  stamp*miils  and  wet  amalgamation.  Just  at 
the  boundary  of  Utah,  Arizona  and  Nevada  is  the  Silver  Park  Dis- 
trict, where  the  argentiferous  deposit  is  an  enormous  but  irreg- 
ular vein  lying  in  the  contact  between  porphyry  and  limestone. 
Some  of  the  ore  is  very  rich,  and  Professor  Newberry  says  that 
"iiC  seems  to  present  very  much  the  same  problems  as  the  gr6at 


It,. 


MINING  EAST  OF  THR   WAHSATCH  MOUNTAINS. 


wro 


region  the 
I  boundary, 
r  mines,  and 
n  the  same 
)istrict.      A 
IS,  to   which 
is   running, 
je  mile  from 
mine  in  the 
the  autumn 
at  there  was 
\  a  fair  pros- 
y  developed, 
rbonate   and 
lity,  are  car- 
imed  carries 
md  and  just 
nner  Mining 
is  and  exten- 
ires  are  still 
Leeds  Silver 
of  these  are 
strict,  and  on 
,  in  which  are 
are  those  of 
r  tertiary  age 
•  in  chlorides, 
ral  mines  on 
X)  to  5(^50,000 
«  with  larger 
the  reduction 
;ion.     Just  at 
ver  Park  Dis- 
3US  but  irreg- 
rad  limestone, 
erry  says  that 
\  as  the  great 


veins  of  the  Shakspeare  District,  Ni:w  Mexico,  or  the  Ruby  liill 
District,  Nevada;  that  is,  they  are  very  good  or  good  for  nothing, 
and  considerable  time  and  money  will  be  required  to  decide  which 
is  true." 

The  eastern  slope  of  the  Wahsatch  Mountains  undoubtedly 
contains  both  silver  and  gold,  though,  whether  it  is  likely  to  be  of 
ores  which  will  prove  profitable  for  present  working,  is  a  question. 
The  Cireat  Colorado  Basin,  which  has  shown  itself  so  rich  in  the 
precious  metals  in  Colorado  and  Arizona,  is  probably  equally  rich 
here.  But  we  know  that  copper,  and  iron,  and  coal  are  not  only 
abundant  but  that  they  are  of  excellent  quality  and  easily 
worked.  The  coal  beds  of  Utah  contain  coal  of  good  quality, 
sufficient  to  supply  the  entire  region  west  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. It  in  bituminous  or  semi-bituminous  in  character,  and 
ma  y  of  the  beds.  Professor  Newberry  says,  are  excellent  cok- 
ing coals.  Whether  it  is  a  lignite  of  the  Tertiary  formations,  or 
a  true  coal  of  the  Carboniferous  era,  does  not  seem  to  be  fully 
setded.  Possibly  the  deposits  of  the  north  are  of  a  later  geo- 
logic age  than  those  of  the  south.  Volcanic  action,  here  as  in 
New  Mexico,  may  have  wrought  some  changes  in  it.  The  iron 
is  of  all  varieties,  and  is  pronounced  by  skilful  iron  masters  equal 
in  quality  to  any  in  the  world,  and  the  quantity  is  vast  beyond 
conception.  Its  close  proximity  to  good  coking  coals  and  the 
excellent  fluxes  close  at  hand  insure  very  cheap  production  of 
the  best  qualities  of  iron,  and  already  several  large  furnaces  are 
at  work. 

Recently  antimony  has  been  discovered.  The  antimony  mines 
are  situated  200  miles  south  of  Salt  Lake,  and  on  the  headwaters 
of  the  ^evier  river.  The  mineral  occurs  as  a  bedded  or  sedi- 
mentary deposit,  in  interrupted  layers  from  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
to  two  feet  in  thickness.  Its  line  df  outcrop  forms  an  irregular 
contour,  which  follows  the  windings  of  the  cliffs.  The  quantity 
exposed  varies  greatly ;  in  some  places  perhaps  a  thousand  tons 
could  be  obtained  immediately.  There  are  large  deposits  of  sul- 
phur of  great  thickness,  which  are  worked.  Salt  is  produced 
from  the  Waters  of  Great  Salt  Lake  and  other  lakes  in  con- 
siderable quantities  and  of  excellent  quality.     There  are  large 


',m^-.- 


:^0^^miS£;mi0Mmi»!Ssm»rit<i^''*M^^^^:<»'i^' 


ii8o 


OC/X    WESTKRU  EAfPlKR. 


deposits  of  rock-salt  in  the  Territory.  Ozocerite,  asphalt,  jet  and 
other  minerals  arc  known  to  exist  in  lar|^e  quantities.  Alum,  Ix)- 
rax,  bicarbonate  of  soda  and  caustic  soda  can  also  be  produced 
pure  for  market,  with  very  little  trouble. 

Railroads. — There  are  now  in  operation  in  Utah  somewhat 
more  than  700  miles  of  railway,  all  of  it  except  the  small  portion 
of  the  Union  Pacific,  between  Evanston,  Wyoming,  and  Devil's 
Gate,  Utah,  beinjj  within  the  Great  Salt  Lake  Basin.  All  the 
railroads  of  the  Territory  belong  to  the  Union  and  Central  Paci- 
fic system,  with  which  they  connect  at  Ogden.  Aside  from  the 
main  line  (the  Union  and  Central  Pacific)  they  consist  of:  The 
Utah  and  Northern  Railroad,  now  extending  from  Ogden  to 
Helena,  Montana ;  the  Utah  Central,  from  Ogden  to  Salt  Lake 
City ;  and  the  Utah  Southern,  a  continuation  of  the  last,  already 
constructed  to  the  Beaver  river,  with  branches  of  narrow  gauge 
to  Stockton,  to  Bingham  Cafton,  to  Alta,  to  Deer  Creek,  to  Con- 
nelsville  and  the  coal  mines,  and  from  Beaver  river  to  Frisco. 
It  may  throw  out  another  branch  to  Pioche,  Nevada,  where  a 
short  line  running  eastward  has  already  been  constructed,  but  its 
eventual  destination  is  probably  to  a  union  with  the  Atlantic 
and  Pacific  at  some  point  in  Arizona,  or  in  California  west  of  the 
Rio  Colorado,  The  extensive  coal  lands  and  grazing  lands  in  the 
Colorado  Basin  must  eventually  lead  to  the  crossing  of  the  Wah- 
satch  by  some  of  the  branches  of  the  Utah  Central  or  Southern, 
unless  the  Denver  and  Rio  Grande,  or  the  Denver  South  Park 
and  Pacific,  both  of  which  are  building  rapidly  toward  Grand 
and  Green  rivers  in  Western  Colorado,  should  enter  Utah  from 
the  east,  and  thus  form  another  route  to  the  Pacific.  The  local 
business  on  these  Utah  roads  is  sufficient  to  make  them  profita- 
ble stock. 

Objects  0/  Interest. — In  wild,  grand,  and  terrible  displays  of 
the  power  of  the  forces  of  nature,  Utah  is  perhaps  unsurpassed 
by  no  State  or  Territory  of  "Our  Western  Empire."  The 
cafions  of  the  Green  and  Grand  rivers  and  of  the  Rio  Colorado, 
which  they  unite  to  form,  as  well  as  those  of  the  San  Juan,  have 
been  most  graphically  described  by  Colonel  J.  W.  Powell  and 
other  writers  Who  have  descended  these  rivers  for  a  part  or 


OBJECTS  OF  rNTKRKSr. 


I18I 


balr,  jet  and 

Alum,  bo- 

)c  proUuct'd 

\\  Romrwhat 
mall  portion 
and  Devil's 
in.  All  the 
Central  Paci- 
ide  from  the 
sist  of;  The 
n  Ogden  to 
to  Salt  Lake 

last,  already 
arrow  gauge 
reek,  to  Con- 
rer  to  Frisco, 
ida,  where  a 
ucted,  but  its 

the  Atlantic 
ia  west  of  the 
g  lands  in  the 
g  of  the  Wah- 

or  Southern, 
:r  South  Park 
oward  Grand 
ter  Utah  from 
ic.     The  local 

them  profita- 

■  i  ■ ;        ■"■;'-■ 

2  displays  of 
s  unsurpassed 
npire."  The 
Rio  Colorado, 
an  Juan,  have 
N.  Powell  and 
for  a  part  or 


the  whole  of  their  course.  The  greater  part  of  the  main  stream 
of  the  Green  river,  more  than  a  hundred  miles  of  the  (irand  river, 
and  about  250  miles  of  the  course  of  the  Co! wrado,  including  some 
of  the  most  remarkable  cartons  of  each,  are  within  the  bounds  of 
Utah,  and  east  of  the  Wahsatch  Moimtains.  Near  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  Territory  the  Monument  Cafion  of  the  Colorado 
commences,  an(l  at  the  mouth  of  the  San  Juan  is  the  famous 
Temple  of  Music,  one  of  the  most  wonderful  of  the  results  of 
erosion  on  these  rocks.  But  it  is  not  the  Colorado  Basin  alone 
which  abounds  in  remarkable  natural  scenery.  The  Great  Inte- 
rior or  Salt  Lake  Basin  is  full  of  wonders.  Among  these  are  the 
Temples  on  the  Rio  Virgen,  the  only  affluent  of  the  Colorado 
which  has  its  sources  in  the  Great  Salt  Lake  Basin;  while  the 
Little  Zion  Valley,  north  of  that  river,  is  remarkable  for  its  quiet; 
beauty.       '  1  , 

Farther  north,  in  the  Great  Basin,  are  some  very  extraordinary 
combinations  of  cafton,  cataract,  valley  and  mountain  spires.    Of 
one  of  these — the  American  Fork  Cafton  of  the  Wahsatch  Moun- 
tains, which  opens  upon  the  minor  Basin  of  Utah  lake,  and  has" 
been  called  the  Yosemite  of  Utah — a  recent  writer  thus  speaks : 

"  This  cafton  is  noted  not  only  for  the  towering  altitude  of  its 
enclosing  walls,  but  for  the  picturesqueness  of  the  infinite  shapes, 
resembling  artificial  objects,  towers,  pinnacles  and  minarets 
cliiefly,  into  which  the  elements  have  worn  them.  At  first  the 
formation  is  granite  and  the  cliffs  rise  to  a  lofty  height  almost 
vertically.  Then  come  quartzife  or  rocks  of  looser  texture, 
conglomerates  and  sandstones ;  the  cafton  opens  to  the  sky  and 
you  enter  a  long  gallery,  the  sides  of  which  recede  at  an  angle 
of  forty-five  degrees  to  a  dizzy  height,  profusely  set  with  these 
elemental  sculptures  in  endless  variety  of  size  and  pattern,  often 
stained  with  rich  colors.  '  Towers,  battlements,  shattered  castles, 
and  the  images  of  mighty  sentinels,'  says  one,  '  exhibit  their  out- 
lines against  the  sky.  Rocks  twisted,  gnarled  and  distorted  ;  here 
a  mass  like  the  skeleton  of  some  colossal  tree  which  lightning 
had  wrenched  and  burnt  to  fixed  cinder;  there  another,  vast 
and  overhanging,  apparently  crumbling  and  threatening  to  fall 
in  ruin.    At  Deer  creek  the  cafton  proper  ceases,  the  road  has 


•p: 


'\4 


id§&Mii^iu;t-X^ 


ii8j 


OVK   WRSTERN  KXiPlKM, 


climbed  out  of  it  3,500  feet  in  right  miles.  This  is  the  main  resort 
of  pleasure  parties.  Since  the  railroad  was  taken  up,  its  bed  h.is 
bt;come  a  wajjfon  road,  which  continues  to  I-'orest  City,  eij,'ht  miles 
above.  The  iurroundings  are  still  mountainous,  but  there  are 
breaks  where  the  brooks  come  in,  grassy  hills,  aspens  and 
pin«!s. 

"To  the  sublimity  of  the  canon  scenery  in  summer  an  inde- 
scribable beauty  is  added  in  the  autumn,  when  the  deciduous 
trees  and  shrubbery  on  a  thousand  slopes,  touched  by  the  frost, 
present  the  colors  of  a  rich  painting  and  meet  the  eye  wherever 
it  rests.  To  get  the  full  benefit  of  this,  one  must  go  up  and  up 
till  there  is  nothing  higher  to  climb.  In  winter  another  and  very 
different  phase  succeeds.  The  snows,  descending  for  days  and 
days  in  blinding  clouds,  bury  the  forests  and  fill  the  caflon. 
Accumulating  to  a  great  depth  on  high  and  steep  acclivities,  they 
start  without  warning  and  bury  in  ruin  whatever  may  be  in  their 
track.  Hardly  a  year  passes  that  miners  and  teamsters,  wagons 
and  cabins  are  not  swept  away  and  buried  out  of  sight  for  months. 
The  avalanche  of  tlie  Wahsatch  is  quite  as  formidable  as  that  of 
the  Alps.  Probably  forty  feet  of  snow  falls  on  the  main  range 
every  winter.  Seven  miles  of  tramway  in  Little  Cottonwood 
Caflon  are  closely  and  strongly  shedded  for  defence  against  the 
awful  avalanche.     Even  this  is  not  always  effectual."  >' 

•  The  Great  Salt  lake  itself  is  an  object  of  great  interest.  The 
remarkable  density  of  its  waters,  which  at  some  seasons  and 
particularly  in  times  of  great  drought,  is  so  strong  a  brine  as  to 
contain  two  pounds  of  salt  to  the  gallon  of  water,  its  islands 
which  contain  rich  deposits  of  silver  and  copper  and  abound  in 
game,  its  shores  covered  with  salt,  and  the  buoyancy  of  its  waters, 
in  which  one  cannot  sink,  all  excite  the  wonder  of  the  visitor. 

The  mineral  and  hot  springs,  which  abound  throughout  the 
Territory,  are  worthy  of  notice.  The  hot  springs  near  Ogden 
are  a  favorite  resort  for  tourists.  >>i     <;       ''>'>  J-     '    - 

/r«a«r^j.w  The  finances  of  the  Terntbry,"  says  Governor 
Emery',  in  his  report  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  October 
a^th,  1879,  **are  in  a  most  satisfactory  condition.  There  is  no 
indebtedness  that  is  nqt  covered  by  uncoUected  taxes.     The 


I'f 


c  mam  resort 
p,  its  lu;(l  has 
y,  cij,'ht  milcB 
)Ut  there  aru 
aspens   and 

ner  an  inclc- 
\c  dcciduouR 

by  the  frost, 
;ye  wherever 
yo  up  and  up 
her  and  very 

fur  days  and 
II  the  caflon. 
xlivities,  they 
ay  be  in  their 
stcrH,  wagons 
It  for  months. 
ble  as  that  of 
>  main  rang« 

Cottonwood 
:e  against  the 

merest.    The 

seasons  and 

a  brine  as  to 

;r,  its  islands 

ind  abound  in 

'  of  its  waters, 

the  visitor.   ! ' 

roughout  the 

near  Ogden 

lys  Governor 

irior,  October 

There  is  no 

taxes.     The 


FOrVLATION  OP  VTAIt.  ngj 

territorial  scrip,  which  three  or  four  ytars  since  was  worth  only 
forty  cents  on  the  dollar,  to-day  is  worth  nin<ty  eight  cent*  on 
the  dollar.  There  is  assessed  annually  an  ad  valorem  tax  on  the 
taxal)l<*  property  in  the  Territory  of  Utah,  as  follows  :  thrr<'  mills 
on  the  dollar  for  territorial  purposes;  three  mills  on  the  dollar 
for  the  benefit  of  district  schools  ;  and  such  sum  as  the  county 
courts  of  tht;  several  counties  may  designate  for  county  purposes, 
not  to  exceed  three  mills  on  the  dollar." 

Population. —  The  growth  of  Utah  has  been  moderately  rapid, 
as  much  so  perhaps  as  could  be  cxp<'cted  under  the  circum- 
stances. The  following  tabh  gives  the  particulars  of  it  so  far  as 
tliey  are  attatna'  !e  : 


\\  } 


i 


:!£ 


Il,^lu*  A1O46 
4«),t»j*  to.tu 
.5*it 


1 


I 


5.334    ".31" 

n,ulBi   fn,l>5 

i>7ci     i)9,5tlt  il.liil'    4>,Mt     M.U44 

llM  140.000+  M,in|i   «3,l7j|i|o,uM) 

■  Mo  M4.6s9t|74.4rit!  «».4J*,  >4i.J»" 


JO  ;  9,ji« 

<49  !  'J.*'? 

<H)»  I  5*,"«4 

10,000  I  ll.onn 

IJ»«1    99  A1* 


1,094  O'" 
H.T54 

49/«o  i.;j,    4e.jg 


"J  

ll  isto 

«3 
43.933i ■  7* 


lo.l 


iJ 


"J4    4.015 
J»l  I3.>* 
7  1«3  3J.3»7 
V>,7ft 


i 


i 


i 


1.54" 
•4.i»J 


1 


J 


•  ,7*S 


I 
I 


■.>3S 

4.SIO 
<P,"47 


The  population  of  Utah  is  very  peculiar.  It  is  the  only  one 
of  the  States  or  Territories  of  "Our  Western  Empire"  which 
was  settled  on  a  professedly  religious  basis.  The  Mormons  came 
here  when  the  country  was  a  howling  wilderness,  and  established 
themselves  as  a  religious  hierarchy,  and  their  plan  of  settlement 
from  the  first  contemplated  an  empire  as  well  as  a  faith.  They 
have  been  from  the  first  intolerant  of  any  government  except 
their  own,  of  any  immigrants  who  were  not  converts  to  their 
faith ;  of  any  business  which  did  not  contribute  to  the  support  of 
Mormonism ;  of  any  worship  which  did  not  recognize  the  supreme 
authority  of  their  leaders ;  of  any  social  order  which  did  not  recog- 
nize polygamy  as  a  revealed  ordinance  of  God,  and  did  not  give 

•Tribal  Mhuu  Mt  iadud«l.  tlotlMdlat  ttilal  and  mkcr  IndUn*.  t Sex  of  Indiana  nai  Mccriained. 
I  Territorial  rtport— only  chllHrtn  from  nix  to  >lxtecn.  {including  104  negro**  ami  mulatlocs,  301  Chincw,  804 
tadiam  and  half-brcadk  aadaey^nHaq  |'-a>t  M>>*"  M«l  hai/'b^d*. 


;i" 


II' 


,-«t»>ipf.i~' 


-%:.J*>**t-.«;-'-.Hl..l*.Ai'~*«""--J 


..,■.■  aT";' 


1 1 8^  OUK  trjtsrg/tjv  mmp/mx. 

free  rein  to  lu«t.  Thtrir  powrr  was  for  many  yrarn  so  ahsoliite 
that  the  scttlt'rn,  who  profi'sscd  aiiothrr  faith.  wn«*  lial»l«'  to 
as^asHination  and  to  «vpry  indi^jniiy  r.nd  opprrssion.  SiiK <•  the 
nunrral  w«  alth  of  the  'I'rrritory  was  diH<:ovrr«:il,  settUrs  have 
been  ()oiirinj;  in,  and  in  nome  of  th«*  mining  cantps,  rspj'ci.illy  in 
Tooele  county,  the  "(icntiles,"  an  tiic  Mormons  contem|)tnoiisly 
call  them,  ar<;  in  the  majority.  The  present  census  nIiowh  that 
about  io7.cxx)of  the  143,807  white  inhabitants  are  Mornu»nH  and 
the  remainder  "  Cicntiles  ;  "  a  decided  jjain  since  1870,  when  there 
were  not  more  than  1 5,000  Cientiles  in  the  Territory.  Hut  the 
Mormons  are  artful  and  shrewd.  Knowin)»  that  their  poly^'amy 
and  other  offi'nrr'H  against  society  and  jjood  order  are  violations  of 
the  laws  of  the  United  Slates,  they  are  yet  determined  to  hold 
on  to  them,  and  to  diffuse  them  in  other  States  and  Territories, 
and  with  an  atfgressiveness  worthy  of  a  better  cause  they  are  plant- 
in}^  their  mission  towns  in  Idaho,  Nevada,  Montana,  Wyoming;, 
Colorado  and  Arizona,  and  have  even  obtained  some  footing;  in 
California.  In  Idaho  and  Nevada  they  claim  to  have  a  majority 
of  the  inhabitants  under  their  control.  They  send  their  missionaries 
to  England,  Wales,  Scotland,  Sweden,  Norway  and  I  )enmark, 
and  by  a  specious  and  plausible  presentation  of  some  of  their 
doctrines  (those  that  are  objectionable  being  kept  in  the  back- 
ground), and  of  their  country,  they  persuade  many  of  the  i^^norant, 
excitable  and  superstitious  class  to  emigrate  to  Utah.  Once  here 
they  are  completely  under  the  control  of  the  leaders ;  all  that 
they  have,  and  all  that  they  can  earn,  belongs  to  the  hierarchy,  and 
if  it  is  decided  that  they  must  go  to  the  most  unpromising  desert 
region  in  Nevada,  Arizona  or  Idaho,  and  aid  in  establishing  a 
new  town,  however  inconvenient  or  distressing  it  may  be  for 
them  to  break  up  their  homes,  there  is  no  alternative ;  they  must 
go,  or  death  and  eternal  destruction  will  be  their  portion.  If  it 
is  deemed  desirable  to  put  some  troublesome  or  inquisitive  Gen- 
tile out  of  the  way,  the  means  and  the  men  for  the  work  are 
speedily  found.  The  large  influx  of  "Gentiles"  to  the  mining 
camns  and  to  business  connected  with  the  railroads  and  mines  has 
modified  their  open  and  outspoken  opposition  to  non-Mormon 
immigration;  but  at  heart  they  are  as  much  opposed  to  this 


r"! 


Ml  al)HoUite 

if  liahlr  to 

Sinccr  the 

tflirs  have 

csprt  i.illy  in 

trnipt\iousIy 

nhowH  that 

(irtnons  and 

I,  whtrn  there 

ry.     Hut  the 

ir  |M)lyj;amy 

violations  of 

ined  to  hold 

I    Territories, 

ley  are  plant- 

la,  Wyotninjf, 

me  footing  in 

ve  a  majority 

r  missionaries 

nd  Denmark, 

some  of  their 

t  in  th(*  back- 

f  the  ij^norant, 

h.    Once  here 

ders;  all  that 

hierarchy,  and 

>mising  desert 

establishing  a 

it  may  be  for 

ve ;  they  must 

portion.     If  it 

quisitlve  Gen- 

the  work  are 

to  the  mining 

and  mines  has 

non-Mormon 

>posed  to  this 


MRUUiOVS  DhmiMINAritiSS,  ||9| 

Immigration  at  ever,  and  more  to  the  Tnitcd  States  govi-rnmcnt 
than  at  any  time  in  thtr  pant,  At  the  name  time  they  are  very 
ijoiroiiH  of  being  adinitteil  into  the  Tnion  ah  a  Slate,  that  they 
may  I)';{ilimi2e  polygamy:  and  when  in  their  Midgment  the  lilting 
time  has  come,  they  propone  to  v  (rdc,  taking  with  them  the  other 
Suites  ami  TerritorieH  they  have  won  over  to  their  viewH.  and 
star:  a  polygamous  empire.  They  have  offered  their  vote  and 
sup|)C)rt  to  whichever  of  the  two  great  parties  will  necure  their 
admission  into  the  Union ;  but  their  practices  arc  so  palpably  in 
violation  of  the  constitiiiion,  that  their  admission  is  not  probabit!. 
Ktlij;;ioiis  Dtnominations. —  Ihe  nun  Mormon  inhabitants  of 
Utah  are  of  all  religious  denominations,  or  of  none ;  but  they 
have  a  great  abhorrence  l>oth  of  polygamy  and  of  religious  des- 
potism.  In  1878  there  were  167  Mormon  church  ediliees,  and 
four  temples  built  and  in  coursi;  of  construction  at  St.  George, 
Logan,  Manti  and  Sale  l^ke  City,  by  the  Mormons.  I'Sey 
claimed  at  that  time  108,907  souls  as  belonging  to  their  church. 
Since  that  time  they  have  sent  out  al)out  io,ocx>  to  other  States 
and  Territories,  and  have  received  about  8,000  immigrants  from 
abroad.  Mormonism  does  not  increase  by  conversions  at  home, 
but  by  the  immigration  of  converts  from  abroad.  At  the  same 
time  there  were  thirty-five  Protestant  congregations,  having 
twenty-two  church  edifices  and  twenty-eight  regular  pastors,  sus- 
taining as  a  part  of  their  work  twenty-five  mission  schools,  in 
twenty  towns,  with  an  enrolment  of  nearly  2,000  scholars.  The 
nimiber  of  communicants  was  about  1,400,  and  of  adherent  pop- 
ulation about  8,000.  Their  church  property  amounted  to  about 
$250,000,  while  that  of  the  Mormons  exceeded  $3,200,000.  There 
has  been  some  improvement  in  these  particulars  within  the  past 
two  years.  The  number  of  Protestant  churches  now  exceeds 
forty,  the  number  of  communicants  is  more  than  2,500,  and  of 
adherent  population  about  13,000.  There  is  also  a  much  larger 
amount  of  church  property,  and  an  increase  in  the  number  of 
church  edifices  and  schools.  All  the  principal  Protestant  de- 
nominations have  churches  in  tlie  larger  towns  of  the  Territory, 
and  there  are  Roman  Catholic  churches  in  Salt  Lake  City  and 
Ogden,  artd  perhaps  at  some  other  points.       .••  v    .   ,    ,mv.  :^ 


yl 


i«t»i.'*W4Wc:.lij6a-:iO!.vT:-'jN*l'J»..*,--.'5WiV.»/>~>ail.  .»»*■.  ..'■/.  *• 


Ii86 


Ot'lt   trKXr^KN  KMriMM. 


Eiiufatitm — Amonjj  thr  Mormon*  rdtirntlon  \%  nt  a  low  fhK 
Tlu*  »thtM»l  poptilftiion  in  rrrkonrtl  only  hrCwrrn  thr  aj^»'n  of  nix 
and  iiixtrrn,  and  of  thin  nranty  rnrolmrni  \r%%  than  thirty  nini? 
percent.,  or  only  ahotit  ij,cx)0  to  13.000,  attended  nchool.  'Hir 
whol<?  numl)cr  of  nchooU  in  187R  woa  346;  th«*  timr  thr  nrhooh 
were  tauj^tt  In  dayn,  i^^7;  mtimatrd  value  of  school  pro|nrty, 
138  j,l  1 1 ;  the  whole  ntimher  of  pid»lir  school  teachern  wan  4H9; 
pay  of  men,  ||35  p«'r  monih ;  of  women,  |l2}  per  month.  The 
total  income  ft>r  <i<hool  purpon<'«»  was  %\  13,413  .  the  total  expen* 
dilure,  $113,193.  There  is  no  nchool  fund.  'Htrr**  arr,  an 
already  stated,  twenty-five  or  thirty  mission  nchools  iiudi-r  "(Jen- 
tile"  control,  which,  th<Mij;h  opposrd  l»y  the  Mormon  leaders,  are 
prosperous,  and  afl<>rd  Ix'tter  instruction  than  the  Mormon 
schools.  There  are  two  or  three  sccomlnry  nchooU,  especially 
the  Salt  l^ike  Academy  ("Gentile"),  in  S(dt  Lake  City;  the 
Brij^ham  Young  Academy,  at  IVovo.  and  two  smaller  institutions, 
one  at  Lojjtin,  atid  the  other  at  Salt  Lake  City — emiowed  by 
Young  with  lands.  These  are  all  Mormon.  The  so-cnileil  Uni- 
versity of  I>rsett:t,  which  is  as  yet  only  a  preparatory  school  with 
a  normal  class,  Is  also  Mormon. 

Morals  d.Mi  Sbtia/  Cauititian. — The  moral  condition  of  Utah  Is 
very  low.  So  far  as  the  distinctive  Mormon  institution — polyf;^- 
amy— i*  concerned,  it  could  not  well  be  worse.  Lkentiousness 
in  all  It?  wofst  forms,  is  openly  sustained  un^  t  the  forms  of  po- 
lyjjamous  msrtiage,  and  incest  of  the  grossest  character  is  not 
uncommon.  Thefc  Is,  among  the  Mormon  population,  nothing  of 
the  fkmlly  reltetion,  and  the  Mormon  youth,  the  boys,  especially, 
are  early  taught  the  most  atrodmis  depravity.  This  condition  of 
tlungs  has  exerted  \t\  mtiny  Ihstant^s  nn  untoward  influence  upon 
the  '"Gentile"  {)Opulbtbn.  No  man  should  emigitile  to  Utah  who 
has  not  his  motal  principles  firmly  fifjfed.  But  to  men  of  prinelple 
and  charactter  there  i^  an  opportunity  df  ttceompllslhing  much  good 
by  engaging  In  Such  e»itei*f)Hscs  *s  wIM  aifd  in  rescuing  tfiis  rich 
and  valuab;2  Tfenfltofy  from  the  contfol  of  the  most  c'epraved 
and  vill^oUs  despotism  which  ever  prevailed  in  any  country,  in 
ancient  or  »tw^«¥n  t?nj«. 

Counties  and  Principal  Tdums. — Thtitt  ^€  TWenty^Af ee  ^n- 


p  a^^rn  of  hIx 

n  thirty  nirif 

school.     'Mir 

fhr  nrhooU 

)i)I  propcTty, 

rn  w;iH  489 ; 

inonih.     'I'hr 

total  rxprn 

uTr   arr,  as 

iiiuNt  "Cicn- 

n  Icaderd.  are 

thr    Mormon 

nU,  <'sprcially 

<»•  City ;    thr 

•r  inntituttons, 

-cmlowcd  by 

»oonll<*il  Uni- 

ry  school  with 

Ion  of  Utah  is 
mtion — i»olyp- 
[.kcntioujine»R 
5  forms  of  po- 
tmrictcr  is  not 
on,  nothing  of 
ays,  especially, 
is  condition  of 
influence  upon 
c  to  Utah  who 
en  of  prinriplf 
kif;  much  good 
cuing  tfiis  rich 
Host  c'epravcd 
iny  country,  in 

ity*three  cotin- 


cotwr/Ms  MA/>  fMMfafAi  roh'As,  tit; 

ties  In  Utah.  The  Miicticcl  valuation  of  th«t«  'n  1877,  exclu»ive 
of  mincH  and  mining  improvement*,  ncitht:r  of  which  were  thrn 
tAxtd,  wa«  a*  follow* : 

t'.^mAU»  F»Hml4li<m,       Ah'iI  Vitlua  of  Prii|»r1)f, 

tmU  iJkt Jii97i  fS,i7i,tlto 

W«kMr  ......  11.597  •,te5,4t<i 

VuU I  lift  I  •.eBj,vo4 

Ikix  Elder  .        .        .        .        .        ,6,761  1,(1*7,510 

C«('he It, 561  >i'o5.|<»7 

Toocit  ,        .        ,        .        .        .  4il97  1,060,190 

Atimmit 4.<40  A6'<,;)6 

Duvu $,oi6  Ni*,!,)! 

Han  I'ctt ii>9S7  664,071 

Wa»hiMKti»n 4,tjj  6«S>S7> 

J»«^ J.47J  459.*V'i 

Iron  4>oi.)  446,056 

Morgnn 1,78.)  418,918 

K«i»« 3,o«J  34J.944 

Bmvot  ......  3^i8  4io,j9o 

MilUkd s>7'7  joo,Si6 

Sevier s.ijB  9lihS»i 

Wahutch '>9>7  18}, 760 

Rich  t,a6j  168,940 

I'i-ute 1,651  ii9i5ia 

Emery  ......  556 

San  Juan 104                                 * 

Uintah 799 

Totals 1431907*        l»>553r6oo 

The  very  large  mining  interests  would  much  more  than  double 
these  assessed  values. 

Of  the  towns,  Salt  Lake  City  had  in  1870  a  population  of 
12,854.  Its  population  in  June,  1880,  was  20,768.  It  is  the 
chief  seat  of  Mormonism,  has  the  Tabernacle  and  the  yet  uncom- 
pleted Temple,  and  many  other  attractive  public  and  private 
buildings.  Ogden,  on  the  Union  Pacific,  is  a  thriving  town 
of  5,000  or  6,000  inhabitants.     Pi  ovo,  Logan,  Ephraim  City,  St. 

*  Exdiuiv*  of  tribftl  IndiuM. 


i 


m88 


OUR   WBSTERN  EMPIRE. 


George,  Manti,  Iron  City,  Frisco,  Tooele,  Mount  Pleasant,  Silver 
Reef,  etc.,  are  towns  of  considerable  importance.      •'•      ii" 

Historical  Z><i/a.— Utah  derives  its  name  from  the  Utes,  a  tribe 
of  Indians  who  were  its  original  inhabi  ants.  The  Mormons, 
driven  from  Illinois  and  Missouri,  emigrated  hither  in  1847  and 
1848,  and  established  themselves  in  a  region  then  remote  from 
other  inhabitants.  The  title  of  this  region  passed  from  Mexico 
to  the  United  States  with  that  of  New  Mexico  and  California,  in 
1848,  by  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe-Hidalgo.  It  was  organized  as 
a  Territory  in  1850  b>  the  name  of  Utah;  but  the  Mormons  called 
it  "Deseret,"  and  in  1863  formed  a  Constitution,  and  demanded 
admission  into  the  Union  under  that  name.  This  was  refused, 
and  there  has  been  much  controversy,  and  sometimes  threatened 
violence  by  the  Mormons,  since  that  time.  In  1857  a  most  atro- 
cious massacre  of  a  large  party  of  emigrants  was  perpetrated 
under  Mormon  direction  at  Mountain  Meadow,  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  Territory.  Some  of  the  actors  in  that  massacre  were 
hung  for  it  in  1877.  Most  of  the  mining  enterprises  which  have 
brought  in  so  considerable  a  non-Mormon  population  have  been 
undertaken  since  1869. 


..of 

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■  a.vi'iq  l-fui    .-il(I<;i|   :>  ,-ij  ji.ijtr.   'i^hn  viii,r/(   i'  u;  ,  Iqiirj'r.  f.  ii-jlq 


;■.::. ;'!.fil  \a.M'-  V  !>■<•'.•-«■[;. .'f 


..■'.SfeV- 


'^^''^^^I'^hTS?^  '"^'^ 


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Pleasant,  Silver 


ll!ii. 


he  Ute«,  a  tribe 
The  Mormons, 
er  in  1847  and 
in  remote  from 
d  from  Mexico 
id  California,  in 
IS  organized  as 
VIornions  called 
and  demanded 
is  was  refused, 
mes  threatened 
57  a  most  atro- 
as  perpetrated 
in  the  southern 
massacre  were 
ses  which  have 
tion  have  been 


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■  vi  :-■-''■ 


^    / 


i 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  WASHINGTON  TERRITORY. 


1189 


i  * 


CHAPTER  XX. 
WASHINGTON  TERRITORY. 

Situation  or  Washii)gton  Territory — Boundaries — The  Boundary  LiNi 
AT  the  Northwest,  and  North — Irs  Area — LENciTH  and  Breadth — Com- 
parative Size — Topo<iraphv  and  Divisions — Western  Washington — The 
PuGET  Sound  Basin — What  Puget  Sound  includes — The  Beauty,  Value, 
and  Importance  or  this  Great  Inland  Sea — The  Lowlands  and  the 
Mountain  Slopes  or  Western  Washington  —  Rivers  and  Hariiors  or 
WEs-aRi;  Washington — Eastern  Washington — Its  Rivers — Its  Lakes — 
The  Great  Plains  ok  the  Columbia— River  Valleys — Geology — Miner- 
ALOGV— ZoijiXKJV — Climate  —  Meteorology  ok  Western  Washington — 
Governor  Ferry's  Remarks  on  the  Mildness  or  the  Climate,  and  the 
Reasons  for  it — The  Climate  of  Eastern  Washington — The  Chinook 
Wind — Soil,  Vegetation,  and  Agricultural  Productions — The  Allu>  ial 
Farming  Lands — Table  Lands — Forest  Growths — Agricultural  Pro- 
ducts— Timber  and  Lumber — Soil  and  Productions  of  Eastern  Wash- 
ington— The  Yakima  County — Remarkably  Fat  Cattle — From  whence 
they  come — The  wonderful  Fertility  of  the  Soil — The  Mountain 
Slopes  and  Mountain  Tops  as  rich  as  the  Valleys — The  Immense  Yield 
or  Wheat — Thirty-five  to  Fifty  Bushels  to  the  Acre — Exports — Pop- 
ulation-Table— Indian  Tribes  and  their  Reservations— Partial  Civil- 
ization or  the  Indians — Their  Industry — Education — Counties  and 
Principal  Towns — Table  of  Population  and  Valuation  of  Counties — 
Chief  Towns — Religious  Denominations  and  Public  Morals — Historical 
Data — The  American  Title  to  Washington  and  Oregon — The  Arbitra- 
tion IN  REGARD  TO  THE   ISLANDS  IN   THE  GULF  OF  GEORGIA — ^ThE    EarLY 

Settlers — Indian  War  in  1855 — Conclusion— Washington  Territory 
Desirable  for  Immigrants— The  best  Routes  thither — The  early  Com- 
pletion OF  the  Northern  Pacific  probable. 

Washington  Territory  is,  with  the  exception  of  Alaska, 
which  is  not  yet  organized,  the  extreme  northwestern  member  of 
"  Our  Western  Empire,"  lying  between  the  parallels  of  45*  32'' 
and  49°  north  latitude  ;  and  between  the  meridians  of  117"  and 
1 24°  28'  west  longitude  from  Greenwich.  It  is  bounded  on  the 
north  and  northwest  by  British  Columbia,  the  boundary  line  being 
a  zig-zag  one  to  give  Great  Britain  the  settlements  and  lands 
she  claimed.    Our  title  ran  legitimately  along  the  49th  parallel 


V 


K  '. 


;;ja^iiKSSS*sS&csi»awm>^^^«^.^'^^'''^'K5'*''^ 


T       ] 


1190 


Ol/Jl   WBHTERN  EAtriKM. 


to  the  Pacific ;  but  to  have  insisted  on  this  would  have  given  us 
the  greater  part  of  Vancouver  Island,  on  which  were  already  im- 
portant British  settknrjnts.  The  line  was  finally  run,  not  with- 
out a  long  and  tedious  arbitration,  through  the  centre  of  .he  Strait 
of  Juan  de  Fuca,  the  Canal  de  Haro,  and  the  Gulf  of  (ieorgia  as 
far  as  to  the  49th  parallel.  From  the  centre  of  the  (iulf  of 
Georgia  to  the  west  line  of  Idaho,  the  northern  boundary  is 
along  the  49th  parallel.  The  eastern  boundary  is  the  Territory 
of  Idaho,  along  the  1 17th  meridian  to  Lewiston,  where  the  Snake 
river  makes  a  sudden  bend  southward,  when  that  river  becomes 
the  eastern  boundary  to  the  Oregon  line ;  southward,  Oregon 
forms  its  limit,  the  line  running  along  the  46th  parallel  till  it 
reaches  the  Columbia  river  at  about  the  119th  meridian,  when 
the  Columbia  becomes  the  southern  boundary  to  the  Pacific;  on 
the  west,  it  is  washed  by  the  waves  of  the  Pacific  as  far  as  the 
Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca.  Its  length  from  north  to  south  ranges 
from  200  to  250  miles,  its  greatest  breadth  from  east  to  west  about 
360  miles.  It  is  smaller  than  most  of  the  Territories,  and  sev- 
eral of  the  States  of  "Our  Western  Empire,"  having  but  69,994 
square  miles,  or  44,796, 160  acres ;  yet  this  area  is  one  and  a  half 
times  that  of  New  York  or  Pennsylvania. 

Topography  (  nd Divisions. — ^The  Territory  is  popularly  divided 
into  Eastern  and  Western  Washington  by  the  Cascade  Range 
of  mountains,  which  trend  north- northeast  from  Oregon  in  a  very 
disorderly  fashion  from  the  Dalles  of  the  Columbia  river  to  the 
line  of  British  Columbia,  following  for  most  of  the  distance  the 
west  bank  of  the  Columbia  river,  and  extending  in  parallel  ridges 
west-southwest  to  Puget  sound,  and  eastward  in  several  spurs 
north,  east-northeast,  and  east-southeast.  Almost  the  entire 
region  between  the  47th  and  the  49th  parallels  lying  between 
the  Columbia  river  and  Puget  sound  is  broken,  rolling  and 
mountainous,  though  the  mountains  are  not  high. 

\  Western  Washington,  the  part  of  the  Territory  first  settled, 
consist  of  a  valley  or  basin,  known  as  the  Puget  sound  basin, 
and  which  lies  between  two  ranges  of  mountains,  the  Cascade 

Mountains  on  the  east  and  the  Olympian  or  Coast  Range  on  the 
west    The  Puget  sound  or  archipelago,  the  Mediterranean  of 


'f 


SAFETY  AND  BEAUTY  OF  fUUET  SOiND. 


II9I 


'C.  given  US 

ilrcatly  im- 

1,  not  with- 

f  .he  Strait 

( leorj^ia  as 

le  (iulf  of 

loundary  is 

e  Territory 

the  Snake 

er  becomes 

rd,  Oregon 

rallel  till  it 

idian,  when 

Pacific;  on 

s  far  as  the 

(uth  ranges 

)  west  about 

es,  and  sev- 

:  but  69,994 

c  and  a  half 

arly  divided 
cade  Range 
on  in  a  very 
river  to  the 
distance  the 
rallel  ridges 
iveral  spurs 
the  entire 
ing  between 
rolling  and 

irst  settled, 
>ound  basin, 
he  Cascade 
ange  on  the 
erranean  of 


the  Western  Continent,  as  it  is  often  called,  extends  from  the 
Hritish  line  on  the  north  (the  (julf  of  Georgia  penetrating  sev- 
eral hunilred  miles  into  British  Columbia)  to  Olympia  on  the 
south.  It  includes  the  Straits  of  Juan  dc  Fuca,  which  furnish  a 
broad  channel  into  the  Pacific,  the  Canal  dc  I  laro.  Washington 
Sound,  the  Gulf  of  Georgia,  Pellingham  Bay,  Kokariu  Strait, 
Admiralty  Inlet;  Hood's  Canal,  Lake  Washington,  several 
smaller  passes  and  inlets,  and  Anderson's  Bay,  the  latter  items 
and  some  others  going  to  make  up  the  smaller  Puget  sound. 
It  has  a  coast  line  in  the  Territory  of  1,594  miles,  and  its  area 
within  the  limits  of  the  Territory  is  over  2,ocx3  square  miles.  More 
than  thirty-five  years  ago  Captain  (afterwards  Rear  Admiral) 
Wilkes,  who  liad  been  engaged  on  a  protracted  voyage  of  ex- 
ploration of  the  Pacific  coast,  said  of  this  sound: 

"Nothing  can  exceed  the  beauty  of  these  waters  and  their 
safety.  Not  a  shoal  exists  within  the  Straits  of  Juan  dc 
Fuca,  Admiralty  Inlet,  or  Hood's  Canal  that  can  in  any  way 
interrupt  their  navigation  by  a  74-gun  ship.  I  venture  nothing 
in  saying  there  is  no  country  in  the  world  that  possesses  waters 
equal  to  these.  They  cover  an  ar'^a  of  about  2,cxx:)  square  miles. 
The  shores  of  all  these  inlets  and  bays  are  remarkably  bold ;  so 
much  so  that  in  many  places  a  ship's  side  would  strike  the  shore 
before  the  keel  would  touch  the  ground.  The  country  by  which 
these  waters  are  surrounded  is  remarkably  salubrious,  and  offers 
every  advantage  for  the  accommodation  of  a  vast  commercial  and 
military  marine,  with  convenience  for  docks,  and  a'  great  many 
sites  for  towns  and  cities,  at  all  times  well  supplied  with  water 
and  capable  of  being  well  provided  with  everything  by  the  sur- 
rounding country,  which  is  well  adapted  for  agriculture. 

"The  Straits  of  Juan  de  Fuca  are  ninety-five  miles  in  lengtli, 
and  have  an  average  width  of  eleven  miles.  At  the  entrance 
(eight  miles  in  width)  no  danger  exists,  and,  '\X  may  be  safely  navi- 
gated throughout  No  part  of  the  world  affords  finer  inland 
sounds,  or  a  greater  number  of  harbors,  than  are  found  within 
the  Straits  of  Juan  de  Fuca,  capable  of  receiving  the  largest 
class  of  vessels  and  without  a  danger  in  them  which  is  not  visi- 
ble.    From  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  tides   (eighteen  feet)  every 


.-iSi(8«<rtSE««^-K«K.:ww.i»;i 


'>Y<^'y;jS^^>:Z^liiSK^^TK-^^sf^^t!^i.ii.!^»T-'lw. 


J 


I  iqa 


OVR    WESTEKN  EMPIKB. 


facility  is  offcioci  for  the  erection  of  workn  for  a  j^rcat  maritime 
nation.  The  country  also  affords  as  many  sites  for  water-power 
»s  any  other." 

The  foothills  and  slopes  of  the  mountains  on  both  sides  are 
almost  wholly  covered  with  immense  forests  of  fir  and  cedar, 
nachinjjf  to  the  very  summits  of  the  mountains.  Flowinjj  down 
from  the  western  slope  of  the  Cascade  Range,  ten  rivers  empty 
into  Pugct  sound,  vi;:.:  the  Nisqually,  Puyallup,  Whitr,  Cedar, 
Snoqualmie,  Snohomish,  Stillaguamish,  Duwamish,  Skagit,  and 
Nooksakh,  affording  many  hundred  miles  of  inland  shore  line  for 
logging  purposfrs,  and  having  in  their  valleys  an  estimated  area 
of  two  thousand  square  miies  of  alluvial  agricultural  lands. 
Most  of  these  rivers  are  navigable  for  steamers  of  light  drr.ft, 
generally  as  far  up  as  the  alluvial  deposits  extend.  The  streams 
descending  eastward  from  the  Olympian  or  Coast  Range,  except 
the  Skokomish  and  the  Dungeness,  are  shorter  and  of  less 
importance.  The  mountains  approach  close  to  the  western  shores 
of  the  sound,  limiting  the  area  of  available  territory ;  but  their 
sides  are  covered  with  vast  forests  of  valuable  timber  already 
known  to  the  markets  of  the  world.  Between  the  Olympian  or 
Coast  Range  and  the  Pacific  are  some  arable  lands,  but  the  soil 
is  not  so  rich,  though  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  timber. 
There  are  two  moderately  good  harbors  here — Gray's  Harbor, 
and  Shoal-water  bay,  extensive  and  partially  land-locked  bodies 
of  water,  but  in  respect  to  depth  and  facility  of  loading  and  un- 
loading bearing  no  comparison  to  the  magnificent  harbors  of 
Puget  sound.  The  Chehalis  is  the  principal  stream  flowing  into 
Gray's  Harbor ;  it  has  numerous  affluents.  The  Willopah  and 
some  smaller  streams  fall  into  Shoal-water  bay.  There  are 
numerous  small  rivers  flowing  into  the  Pacific  and  the  Straits  of 
Juan  de  Fuca.  The  other  streams  of  Western  Washington  are 
aflluents  of  the  Columbia.  The  Cowlitz  and  Klikitat  are  the 
most  important.     All  of  Western  Washington  is  well  watered. 

Easteitt  Washington  includer.  all  that  part  of  the  Territory 
lying  east  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  and  consists  of  the  Great 
Plains  of  the  Columbia  river,  the  Great  Plateau  of  the  Spokane, 
and  numerous  valleys  or  river  bottoms,  as  of  the  Columbia,  Snake 


0  BO  LOGY  Atfti  UmP.KAlOGY. 


iigj 


;  maritime 
itcr-powcr 

\  sides  are 
tnd  crdar, 
linj^  down 
crs  cm[)ty 
itr-,  Cedar, 
kagit,  and 
»re  line  for 
latcd  area 
ral  lands. 
ij,du  drr.ft, 
he  streams 
ige,  except 
id  of  less 
ern  shores 

but  their 
cr  already 
ympian  cr 
jt  the  soil 
of  timber. 
's  Harbor, 
Iced  bodies 
ig  and  un- 
harbors  of 
lowing  into 
illopah  and 
There  are 
5  Straits  of 
lington  are 
tat  are  the 
watered. 
:  Territory 

the  Great 
e  Spokane, 
tibia,  Snake 


river,  Walla-Walla,  Clarke's  fork,  the  Okinakanc,  Wt-natthrr  or 
ris(|iioiisr,  Lake  Chclann,  the  (irand  Coiilci'-,  or  Old  WvA  of  the 
Coliiinbia,  the  Spokane,  Colville  and  Paloust;  rivrrs.  This  whole 
nr^ion  is  nil  elevated  plateau,  with  a  riiiisoil,  well  adapted  to  the 
culture  of  the  cereals,  and  one  of  tlic  finest  grazing  countrii.s  in 
the  world. 

There  arc  many  lakes  in  Washington,  some  of  them  of  con- 
siderable size  ;  Lake  Chclann  is  the  largest,  but  Lakes  Kahchess, 
Waslilngton  and  Whatcom  arc  also  im[)ortant  lakes. 

C<r<?/(U»;'7.— The  shores  of  the  Pacific,  the  lower  valley  of  the 
Columbia,  and  the  great  vallry  drained  l)y  Puget  sound,  are 
Tertiary  and  Quaternary ;  the  islands  west  of  the  Canal  de 
Haro  in  the  Gulf  of  Cieorgia  are  Cretiiceous ;  the  vicinity  of 
Hellingham  bay  is  Carboniferous ;  the  Coast  Range  is  Kozoic ; 
the  Cascade  Mountains  to  alxjut  47°  4cy,  and  the  (ireat  Plains  of 
the  Columbia  river  in  Central  and  Lastern  Washington,  south  of 
the  Spokane  river,  are  volcanic  ;  Northern  Washington  is  Eozoic, 
except  two  narrow  and  small  outcrops  of  Silurian  age  in  the 
extreme  northeast,  one  east,  the  other  west  of  Clarke's  fork. 

Mineraloj^y. — Washington  has  probably  some  deposits  of  the 
precious  metals  in  the  extensive  volcanic  regions  already  noticed, 
but  they  have  not  yet  been  developed  to  any  great  extent.  Gold 
has  been  found  in  the  northeast  near  the  Columbia  river.  There 
were  discoveries  of  placer  gold  made  in  1879,  on  the  Skagit 
river  in  Whatcom  county.  Western  Washington.  The  quartz 
lodes  near  the  Columbia  river,  in  Stevens  county,  yielded  in  1879 
about  $300,(XX).  All  the  different  ores  of  iron  are  plentiful ;  but 
the  greatest  mineral  wealth  of  the  Territory  consists  in  its  exten- 
sive beds  of  excellent  coal.  The  coal  near  Bellingham  bay  and 
Lake  Whatcom,  in  Whatcom  county,  is  of  excellent  quality  and  is 
extensively  mined.  Much  of  it  is  sent  to  San  Francisco,  where 
it  is  in  great  demand.  This  is  a  true  coal  from  the  coal  measures, 
and  is  bituminous  in  its  character.  There  is  also  a  very  good 
coal  (probably  lignite)  back  of  Seatde,  in  King  county,  near  Lake 
Washington,  and  also  in  the  Coast  Range.  This  coal  is  mostly 
bituminous,  but  it  is  claimed  that  deposits  of  anthracite  coal  have 
been  found  in  Puyallup  valley  and  on  the  Green  river.     This  is 


I'.ffrfilff'^-^ir'^'^'^*'^'*"'*^-'"^'"' *•*''' '^^*'^^"^''*'  •- 


.. .-it  'A-tiHt: 


•-R  !•« 


-.-^ 


Ii»i 


OUH   WMSl'UKN  SMtJIUt. 


poAHiblc.  a«  thin  U  within  the  limit*  of  the  votciinic  region,  but  it 
IH  probable  tliat  thiH  in  at  moMt  only  »cini-antliracitc. 

Zoiilogy. — Tlu!  wilil  animals  arc  the  same  ah  in  Oregon.  In 
tlic  northrrn  part  of  thu  Torritory  ntooae  arc  found  in  conHider* 
able  niunUrrn.  Elk  arc  also  plenty.  Tlu;  cougar  or  panther  ii 
large  and  fierce,  (iamc  is  abundant.  Salmon  are  fotind  in  great 
numbers,  no|  only  in  the  Columbia  but  in  i'ugrt  Hound,  and 
Home  of  the  rivers  (lowing  into  it 

C/imatc. — The  climate  of  Wentern  Washington  is  remarkably 
mild  and  temperate,  notwithstanding  itn  high  latitude,  resembling, 
in  tlu!)  respect,  that  of  the  UritisJ)  Ules,  and  demonHtrating  the 
truth  of  the  law  laid  down  by  physical  geographcrn  that  the 
tuiSlem  coast  of  a  continent  always  haa  a  much  milder  and  more 
equable  temijcrature  than  the  caslcfu.  Ciovcrnor  I'erry,  in  pre- 
senting, in  his  report  of  October,  1879,  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
iDterior,  the  meteorological  table  of  I'^ort  BlakeUy.  which  we 
give  on  page  1 195,  mak«»  some  very  judicious  notes  and  explan- 
ations in  regard  to  it,  and  the  climate  of  Western  Wasliington, 
which  we  here  insert  in  full,  and  which  are  fully  corroborated 
by  the  corresponding  table  of  Olympia,  which  we  have  placed  by 
its  side.  One  point,  which  the  governor  has  omitted,  is  worthy 
of  notice,  viz.:  tliat  where  the  extreme  annual  range  of  the 
thermometer  does  not  exceed  from  64*  to  74°,  its  maximum  not 
being  over  95"  nor  its  minimum  less  than  19*  to  25°,  the  result- 
ing climate  is  as  agreeable,  healthful  and  productive  as  can  be 
desired.  The  rainfall  is  by  no  means  excessive,  but  exerts  a 
decided  influence  in  promoting  the  gigantic  growth  of  the 
timber,  which  crowns  the  mountain  slopes  and  extends  even  to 
the  summits  of  the  Cascade  and  Coast  Ranges.  1 

Governor  Ferry  says : 

"It  will  be  seen  that  the  lowest  temperature  during  this  period 
of  twenty-six  months  was  25°  above  zero,  in  January,  4879,  and 
the  next  lowest  26+",  in  January,  1878.  The  highest  temperature 
in  1877  was  88®;  in  1878,  94";  and  in  1879,  86**.  The  highest 
monthly  average  was  67^",  in  July,  1877,  and  the  lowest  40^^*, 
in  January,  1878,  It  will  also  be  seen  that  the  annual  average 
rain£U)  is  very  little  greater  than  in  tlie  Eastern  and  Western 


i 


un,  but  it 

gun.     In 

conHidcr- 

antlicr  if 

i  in  ^reat 

Kind,  and 

markitbiy 
scinbling, 
atin^  the 
i  that  the 
and  more 
ry,  in  prc- 
ary  of  the 
which  we 
nd  cxplan- 
asliington, 
rrub>^rated 
placed  by 
,  is  worthy 
nge  of  the 
kximum  not 
the  result- 
as  can  be 
Lit  exerts  a 
ivth  of  the 
ids  even  to 


this  period 
',  »879,  and 
emperature 
rhe  highest 
west  40>i*, 
ual  average 
kI  Western 


li!:;tt 

(  I  I  !  »      t 

t  I  :  t  :     { 
f  J  !  f  ;     i 


CI.  I  MATH  OP  WtaiiHN  WASUISiitON, 


\i  f.*.'  t 


t  I  t  t  r.  I , 


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lO. 


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i^»^**i^M.  I  fcSi'Si'li 


Hl|»MM 
l.uwt*l. 


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I 

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ss43:;v: 

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tiityt. 

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tlRfw^iVAr,*^:* 


I  |g6  OVU    WKXTKKN  HMflKK, 

Sutcn.  From  Jiinr,  1877,  to  January,  1K79,  a  period  of  nineteen 
montlu,  cmhracin^j:  all  of  on<:  winter  and  half  of  another,  there 
was  no  Nttowfall,  and  in  January,  I'Chruary  and  M.irth,  1K79, 
only  lY^  indu'H,  whith  diHapixrarcd  alntont  an  rapidly  an  it  fril. 
The  jjrtatfst  rainfall  is  Ixtwcrn  thr  months  of  October  and  April, 
a]thou){h,  during'  this  pericMl,  it  will  Im:  »ccn  tliat  the  cloudy  day* 
are  very  littU-  in  excruN  of  the  i  lear. 

"The  climatic  phenomena  indicated  by  these  observations  arc 
readily  aciounti'd  for.   '. 

"A  thernud  current,  known  as  the  Japan  Current,  having  its 
oritfin  at  the  e(|uator,  near  the  one  hundred  and  thirtieth  decree 
of  east  lonjijituile,  (irecnwich,  flows  northwardly  to  the  Aleutian 
islands,  wher<"  it  separates,  one  branch  flowinj,'  eastwardly  alonjj 
the  peninsula  of  Alaska,  and  then  southwardly  alon^  the  coast 
of  Itritish  Columbia,  Washinjfton  Territory  and  Oregon.  This 
thermal  stream,  with  its  concomitant  heated  atmospheric  current, 
striking  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  operates  powerfully  in 
mitigating  a  climate  which  otherwise  would  be  cold  and  rigorous 
in  the  extreme.  The  effect  of  these  currents  upon  the  western 
portion  of  this  Territory  is  the  same  as  the  effect  of  the  Gulf 
stream  upon  the  northwest  coast  of  Euicpe.  In  luct  the  climate 
and  natural  productions  of  England  are  essentially  the  same  as 
those  of  Westt-in  Washington.  In  addition  to  this,  the  prevail- 
ing winds  in  the  winter  are  from  the  southwest.  These  warm 
atmospheric  currents,  coming  from  the  tropical  re^jions  of  the 
Pacific,  laden  with  moisture,  meeting  the  cooler  currents  from 
the  Coast  Range  and  Cascade  Mountains,  produce  the  winter 
rainfall.  These  southwest  winds  also  moderate  the  temperature 
during  the  winter. 

"The  prevailing  winds  during  the  summer  are  from  the  north* 
west,  which  is  the  cause  of  the  dry,  cool  weather  during  that 
period.  There  is  a  marked  difference  between  the  climate  of 
Western  and  Eastern  Washington.  In  the  latter,  being  that 
portion  of  the  Territory  lying  east  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  the 
four  seasons  are  plainly  distinguishable.  I  am  unable  to  present 
meteorological  statistics  of  this  portion  of  the  Territory,  and  can 
only  say  that  the  temperature  is  lower  in  winter  and  higher  in 


sou   ANP   yneBTATtOM  OP  WKSTKKN  WAVUffV.TOS. 


1107 


th«r,  there 
ir»h,  1H79, 
r  an  il  f<ll, 
■  ami  April, 
loutly  tlay» 

vattuns  are 

having  its 
I'th  tlr^rcc 
\v.  Aleutian 
arilly  aU)n|,j 
r  tin*  coast 
yon.  Thin 
!ric  current, 
owcrfully  in 
ml  rigorous 
the  western 
of  the  Gulf 

the  clim.itc 
the  same  as 
the  prevail- 
These  warm 
[jions  of  the 
J r rents  from 
c  the  winter 
temperature 

•m  the  north- 
during  that 
je  climate  of 
r,  being  that 
lountains,  the 
)le  to  present 
tory,  and  can 
ind  higher  in 


■ummrr,  and  that  the  rainfall  in  olM)ut  onr  half  \v%\  than  on  Pugct 
•ouml.  The  av(*rag(*  annual  trmpcraturi*  in  rcfKirti-d  ah  follows: 
spring,  5a*,  summer,  73",  autumn,  53",  and  wintrr,  \.\'\'' 

The  Nummcrn  art-  at  timt-H  very  hot,  though  with  cool  nights 
generally.  A  part  of  thr  wint(>r  is  cold,  and  there  are  usually  a 
few  days  in  whii.h  the  mercury  falls  to  /em,  or  Ixlow;  hut  with 
few  excepiiims  thr  fall  of  Nnow  is  not  heavy.  The  rainfall  aver- 
ages from  tw<nty  to  twenty-two  inches  for  the  yar. 

The  "Chinook  wimls,"  alreaily  spoken  of  imder  Montana, 
periinlical  warm  breez«;»  from  the  Houtliwest,  blow  up  thtr  channel 
of  the  Columbia  river,  through  the  fall  and  winter,  and  along  the 
foot  lulls  of  the  Blue  Mountains,  anil  in  a  lew  hours  remove 
every  vestigt;  of  snow  in  their  path.  I'heir  influence  is  felt  tii 
over  liaslern  Washington  and  Idaho  and  into  Montana. 

Soil,  I'ei^ftatioH  ani/  Af^ntu/tunil  Protiuctions, — The  soil  of 
Westtrn  Was/iinti'/oH  is  of  various  cpialities,  and  may  be  divided 
into  river  Ixntoms,  lands  along  the  sound,  table-lands  and  moun- 
tain slopes. 

The  alluvial  farming  lands  are  subject  to  overflow,  near  the 
sound,  but  not  usually  to  an  injurious  extent.  The  freshetft  gen- 
erally occur  during  the  months  of  January  and  June,  and  rarely 
last  more  than  three  or  four  days.  The  soil  is  com|>osed  of  clay, 
sand  and  gravel — detritus  washed  from  the  mountains — mingkd 
with  decayed  vegetation,  the  rank  growth  of  centuries.  Under 
cultivation  it  is  quick,  light  and  friable,  and  yields  astonishing 
crops  of  hay,  grain,  hops,  fruits  and  vegetables.  Tlu!se  lands  are 
mostly  covered  with  vine-maple,  alder,  crab-apple  and  salal,  with 
an  occasional  fir,  spruce  or  cedar,  and  as  a  rule  are  confmed  to 
narrow  valleys  and  limited,  detached  areas.  Being  covered  with 
this  deciduous  forest  growth,  they  are  not  like  prairie  lands, 
where  the  plow  can  be  started  as  soon  as  a  claim  is  staked  out— • 
but  as  compared  with  the  more  heavily  timbered  uplands,  they 
are  easily  cleared— at  an  approximate  cost  of  $10  to  |^i  5  per  acre. 
The  wood  and  lumber  will  usually  pay  for  the  work ;  and,  for 
farming  purposes,  the  settler  will  find  no  more  desirable  location 
west  of  the  Cascades.  u.  .rl-. 

Between  these  bottoms  and  the  mountains  are  large  areas  of 


r.JMglfaffa'  'jttrfftriU*-*.**  -^W.'-  M<M»xA'^-'> 


— *>* 


II^S  'OVR   WESTEKff  XUPZhB. 

table-lands,  quite  level  or  gently  undulating  near  the  rivers; 
broken  and  rugged  toward  the  foot-hills.  The  soil  of  these  up- 
lands is  inferior  to  that  of  tlie  river  lands,  varying  from  sandy- 
loam  to  clay-loam  and  unproductive  gravel.  The  growths  here 
are  principally  fir  and  cedar,  with  some  hemlock,  maple,  willow, 
cherry,  etc.  South  and  east  of  the  sound  is  a  district  where 
coaise  gravel  is  found,  with  occasional  granite  boulders,  extend- 
ing back  from  the  shore  from  ten  to  thirty  miles  in  streaks  and 
patched,  and  covering  perhaps  half  the  land.  In  the  intervals  the 
soil  is  a  strong,  brown  clay-loam  of  excellent  quality  for  farming. 
Owing  to  the  durability  of  the  fir  and  cedar,  and  the  difficulty  and 
expense  of  removing  their  stumps  from  the  ground,  it  will  be  a 
considerable  time  before  the  lands  now  covered  with  these  fir 
forests  will  be  cleared  and  devoted  to  agricukure — but  fortu- 
nately the  timber  is  worth  far  more  to  its  owners  and  to  the 
country  than  the  best  open  prairie  would  be.  Considering  the 
great  diversity  of  tihe  soil  and  the  wooded,  broken  character  oif 
the  country,  West  Washington  is  likely  to  be  a  region  of  smiill 
farms,  devoted  to  a  variety  of  crops,  rather  than  to  growing  grain 
pr  stock  on  a  large  seals. 

.-'  With  the  above  explanati<Mi  it  is  safe  to  say  (that  in  connectiGfi 
with  the  mild  climate,  the  productive  capacity  < of 'the  soil  oif  the 
Puget  sound  region  is  great,  both  as  to  quantity  fthd  quality. 
Tlie  small  grains  are  at  heme  in  Wa^ngton  Territory.  The 
quality  and  yield  of 'vtdieait  on  the  Fattifie  slope  iai«  Mrell  known  to 
be  good,  and  in  this  nsgard  Puget  soaiid  todin  is  no  exception  to 
the  rule.  Much  of  the  finest  porition  of  the  grain  that  readier 
the  Eastern  market  as  "Catefomia  wheat"  is  grown  in  Washings 
tdn  Territory  and  NoPtbern  Ot«goii.  All  otii«r  cereals  a¥fc 
grown  td  perfection ;  oats  are  parttoularly  pUimp  and  heavy.  In- 
dian corn  (maize)  has  been  ripeKed  thitteefi  ifear&ln  succession 
in  one  locality,  and  as  many  as  forty  bushels  to  the  acre  have 
been  raised,  but  this  is  exceptional,  and  ais  a  nile  the  nights  at^ 
too  cool  for  the  ripening  of  tiiis  crop.  Pork  is  usually  fattened 
upon  f>eas,  wheat  and  barley,  and  it  is  claimed  can  be  made  ks 
cheaply  as  upon  corn  in  the  Western  States.  '^3'^^^  ■j'^^^  ••>  -f?-"'^' 
\,  Fruits  of  all  kinds,exo8ipt;theipeadi«nd!the^rapet  are  mfsed 


BEAV'iil  DAM  LAKDS  AKD   TtMBRR. 


'119$ 


the  rivers; 
f  these  up- 
•om  sandy- 
owths  here 
pie,  willow, 
trice  where 
srs,  extend- 
itreaks  and 
ntervals  the 
for  farming, 
lifficulty  and 
it  will  be  a 
ith  these  fir 
—but  fortu- 
and  to  the 
sidering  the 
character  oif 
rion  of  smftll 
•owing  grain 

n  connection 
ke  soil  bf  the 

and  quality, 
rrltory.  iTife 
irell  known  to 
\  exception  to 

that  readies 
I  in  Washing»- 
r  cereals  «Wfe 
id  heavy.  1ft- 
>ln  succession 
he  acre  hewe 
the  nights  ai?e 
lually  fattened 
I  be  made  bs 

ipet  stre  M<sed 


in  great  profusion,  and  are  remarkable  for  size  and  flavor.  Al- 
though California  fruit  is  justly  in  good  reputation,  Oregon  and 
Washington  apples  are  exported  to  San  Francisco,  where  they 
bring  an  advanced  price  on  account  of  their  excellence.  The 
potatoes  and  other  vegetables  grown  on  the  north  coast  are  also 
in  high  favor  in-  the  San  Francisco  market. 

A  resident  of  Washington  Territory,  who  has  had  extraordi- 
nary facilities  for  acquiring  personal  knowledge  of  the  lands  there, 
says: 

"  The  agricultural  lands  of  the  Territory,  whtle  generally  con- 
fined to  the  river  bottoms,  are  not  entirely  so.  It  is  frequently 
found  that  even  on  die  sides^  and  sometimes  near  the  summit  of 
a  hill  or  mountain,  considerable  tracts  of  rich  beaver  dam  lands 
exist.  A  noticeable  ifif^tance  is  near  die  summit  of  the  immense 
hill  immediately  in  the  rear  of  Kalama.  The  river  bottoms  of 
the  Columbia  and  its  confluent  strums,  as  well  as  the  valley  of 
the  Cowlitz,  contain  large  tracts  of  lands  of  unexcelled  fertility. 
About  midway  between  Kalama  and  Tacoma  is  the  Chehalis 
Valley,  embracing,  with  its  conflueMts,  over  2,000  square  miles 
of  the  best  agricultural  lands  in  the  Territory.  This  valley  is  to 
Washington  what  the  Willamette  is  to  Oregon.  It  varies  in 
width  from  five  to  fifteen  miles,  and  extends  from  the  base  of  the 
Cascade  Range  to  Gray's  Harbor.  Large  quantities  of  rich  lands 
lie  in  the  bottoms  of  its  lower  tributaries.  Flowing  into  Puget 
sound  there  are  the  Cedar,  Nisqually  and  Puyallup  rivers,  on 
which  are  some  fine  arable  la^nds.  These  river  bottoms  are 
usually  sparsely  timbered  with  ^Ider,  vinfe  ma{>le,  crab  apple,  etc., 
which  are  quickly  and  easily  citettred,  at  an  elxpense  'ranging  from 
five  to  thirty  dollars  per  atlrie,  and  "Wni  fhen  yield,  on  an  avert^e, 
from  forty  to  sixty  bushels  Of  ^hefeit  J>eracre.  The  small  graftrs 
are  produced  most  abundantly,  wi^^H  a  larger  average  yield  than 
obtains  in  almost  any  othdr  lo<%ilitfy  or  settion  of  the  cOun'try,  and 
^ottimand  the  highest  market  prici  at  home.  And  so  long  as  we 
have  the  large  non-producing  lumbering  population,  the  fafn.jrs' 
market  wil!  Ibe  at  home." 

TimS^. — At  pfeisiefftithteiteadlUg^nAiStry  of  Ae  P&get  sound 
region  is  the  manufacture  and  shipment  of  t^bigr.     This  timber 


^•«(»*;■»^i«o*ti**^■''■«•«'a'^'''«*>lS^jiSSSi•-,^^^ 


^ll 


,^ 


laoo 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


has  carried  its  own  fame  to  all  parts  of  the  world.  In  the  East 
Indies,  in  Egj'pt,  in  the  maritime  States  of  Europe,  in  South  Amer- 
ica, the  Pacific  Islands,  China  and  Japan,  the  fir  timber  of 
Washington  Territory  is  an  article  of  commerce. 

Washington  Territory,  west  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  covers 
an  area  of  about  20,000  square  miles  (exclusive  of  interior  waters), 
three-fourths  of  which  are  timbered  lands.  The  timber  consists 
of  yellow  fir,  cedar,  pine,  spruce,  hemlock,  oak,  maple,  cotton- 
wood,  ash,  dogwood,  alder  and  some  of  the  smaller  varieties. 
The  amount  of  the  fir  exceeds  all  the  other  varieties  combined, 
and  the  cedar  stands  second  in  quantity.  As  the  fir  exceeds  all 
other  varieties  in  quantity,  so  also  it  does  in  utility,  being  valu- 
able for  ship-building,  house-building,  fencing,  spars,  and  indeed 
almost  every  purpose  for  which  wood  is  used,  i  •/  ::<  m  /       1. ;  v. 

The  quantity  of  all  kinds  of  lumber  produced  in  the  Territory, 
in  1875,  was  estimated  at  250,000,000  fe  t.  valued  at  $3,000,000, 
and  though  the  market  for  it  was  ttni^iw.iarily  depressed,  the 
demand  is  now  rapidly  increasing. 

The  size  of  the  fir  trees  and  the  number  growing  on  given 
areas  in  good  timber  districts  are  almost  incredible  to  those  who 
have  not  visited  the  north  Pacific  coast.  Trees  are  not  uncom- 
mon which  measure  300  feet  in  length,  two-thirds  of  the  distance 
being  free  from  limbs.  Fifty,  sixty,  and  sometimes  eighty  good 
timber  trees  grow  upon  an  acre  of  ground.  It  is  not  seldom  that 
200,000  feet  of  merchantable  fir  lumber  is  taken  from  a  single 
acre.  The  rule  with  Washington  lumbermen  has  been  to  work 
no  tract  of  (fir)  timber  producing  less  than  30,000  feet  per  acre; 
,  Although  lumbering  has  been  carried  on  alo  t  the  shores  of 
the  sound  for  twenty  years,  vp  to  the  present  tiiifv-  lo  ;s  have  sel- 
dom been  hauled  more  than  a  mile — to  the  esu^  -^  of  the  sound, 
or  some  convenient  stream  where  rafts  are  prepa  "  i  for  towing 
to  the  mills.  The  main  timber  region  of  the  sound  and  lower 
Columbia  has  not  yet  been  invaded  by  the  ax.  Many  rivers  and 
arms  of  the  sound  extend  into  the  very  heart  of  this  vast  Forest 
Preserve,  and  by  clearing  the  river  channels  of  drift  the  spring 
freshets  can  be  availed  of  to  run  Out  the  logs  to  the  mills  and 
the  lumber  to  marketl.>-.*num«ir(?rl'!m  'y\\rV\^iU'^u^  '».it -'i  rrivhrn 


r 

I 


ARABLE   LANDS  OF  EASTERN  tVASmVGlO.V. 


I20I 


the  East 
ith  Amer* 
imber  of 

ns,  covers 
>r  waters), 
r  consists 
e,  cotton* 
varieties, 
combined, 
xceeds  all 
leing  valu- 
nd  indeed 

Territory, 
t3,ooo,cxX), 
essed,  the 

I  on  given 
those  who 
lot  uncom- 
he  distance 
iighty  good 
•eldoni  that 
m  a  single 
en  to  work 
2t  per  acre* 
e  shores  of 
,s  have  sel- 
r  the  sound, 
lor  towing 
and  lower 
f  rivers  and 
vast  Forest 
:  the  spring 
,e  mills  and 


The  regular  correspondent  of  the  San  Francisco  Chronicle, 
writing  under  date  of  December  i8,  1879,  gives  the  following  in- 
teresting account  of  the  soil,  situation  and  productions  of  Eastern 
Washington:  Eastern  Washington  Territory  is  probably  destined 
to  become  the  richest  and  most  renowned  wheat-growing  region 
in  the  world.  The  great  body  of  its  arable  land  is  the  southern 
portion,  known  locally  as  the  Walla- Walla,  Palouse  and  Yakima 
countries,  which  have  an  unbroken  area  more  than  1 50  miles 
square,  extending  from  the  foot-hills  of  the  Cascade  Mountains 
'eastward  to  the  Idaho  boundary  line,  and  from  the  Oregon  line 
northward  beyond  the  Great  Bend  of  the  Columbia  river.  But 
Eastern  Washington  in  its  entirety  is  distinctively  an  agricultural 
region  of  great  fertility ;  for,  in  addition  to  its  vast  scope  of  rolling 
prairies  and  plains  in  the  southern  and  middle  sections,  there  are 
in  its  more  northerly  portion,  and  extending  as  far  as  to  the  British 
possessions,  numerous  rich  and  well-watered  valleys,  such  as  the 
Chemakane  and  Colville  Valleys,  the  latter  of  long-standing  fame. 
Eastern  Washington  has  been  described  as  the  "  valley  of  the 
Columbia  river  in  Washington  Territory,  lying  east  of  the  Cas- 
cade Mountains."  The  appropriateness  of  this  description  will 
readily  appear  by  an  examination  of  the  map,  showing  the  courses 
of  this  river  and  its  numerous  tributaries.  Here  the  climate  is 
most^  favorable  to  health,  the  soil  yields  the  largest  average  re- 
turn of  wheat,  drought  is  unknown,  the  crops  never  fail,  and  the 
ultimate  capacity  for  production  of  cereals  of  the  highest  grade 
has  been  estimated  by  good  judges  as  high  as  i5o,ooo,oc» 
bushels  per  annum. 

The  Yakima  country  is  in  the  southern  central  portion  of  the 

Territory,  between  the  Cascade  Mountains  on  the  west  and  the 

Columbia  river  on  the  east,  and  embraces  the  northern  half  of 

Klickitat  and  all  of  Yakima  counties.     It  is  traversed  by  a  river 

of  the  same  name,  which,  rising  in  the  northern  central  portion 

of  the   Territory,  flows  southeastwarc,  and   empties   into  the 

Columbia  a  short  distance  from  Ainsworth,  at  the  mouth  of  the 

Snake  river,  the  present  western  terminus  of  the  Pend  d'Oreille 

division  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad.    The  fertility  of  tht 

Yakima  country  is  declared  to  be  not  inferior  to  that  of  any  othei* 
76 


<i'«(«*K*AW. r*"*4(aaa^!4»«»ii«'a!S?i>J*  'vJS^^^ 


I 


I 


I 


1203 


9VK   WMSrKRK  EMPIRE. 


part  of  this  great  wheat-field,  not  even  excepting  the  Walla-Walla 
valley,  farther  east.  The  projected  line  of  the  Noithern  l^acific 
Railroad  from  the  Columbia  river  at  Ains worth,  across  the 
mountains  to  Paget  sound  at  Tacoma,  passes  through  the  heart 
of  this  region ;  and  the  construction  of  a  road  over  it  is  all  that 
is  needed  to  fill  up  the  country  speedily  with  a  teeming  popula- 
tion. It  is  yet  sparsely  settled,  but  new-comers  in  their  prairie- 
schooners  are  fast  encroaching  upon  its  unoccupied  lands.  Its 
climate  and  soil  are  admirably  adapted  for  stock-raising,  which 
is  the  chief  occupation  of  its  inhabitants.  The  food  for  cattle  is 
a  very  rich,  nutritious  bunch-grass,  almost  as  strong  as  grain, 
with  \^hich  the  prairies  and  hills  are  covered  throughout  all 
seasons  of  the  year ;  and  as  the  winters,  with  rare  exceptions, 
are  mild  and  dry,  there  is  no  need  of  housing  and  feeding  the 
cattle,  but  they  are  without  fear  suffered  to  roam  at  will  in  the 
winter  months,  and  grow  fat  on  this  remarkable  grass.  This 
bunch-grass  is  common  all  over  that  country,  covering  the  foot- 
hills and  plains  alike,  and  sometinnes  even  reaching  to  the  moun- 
tain-tops, i.  I    ,\'ll  ._!     {I   '.:  I     .1' ■,..'«n,i -).   ■/    i\x    iljJW     LliifMUlO    * 

J.  Ross  Browne,  in  an  official  report,  says,  "  For  grazing,  these 
table-lands  and  side-hills  of  Eastern  Washington  cannot  be  ex- 
celled. They  are  covered  with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  native  bunch- 
grass,  of  nutritious  quality.  During  the  rains  of  spring  it  seems 
to  attain  its  growth ;  and  through  the  dry  season  which  follows, 
it  stands  to  be  cured  into  the  best  of  hay,  preserving  its  strength 
and  esculent  properties  all  winter.  Stock  abandon  the  green 
grass  of  the  bottom-lands  to  feed  upon  it,  and  on  it  they  keep 
&t  the  year  round."  The  Yakima  country  produces  the  cattle 
for  supplying  the  market  on  Puget  sound  and  elsewhere  in 
Western  Washington,  as  well  as  in  British  Columbia,  whither 
they  are  driven  through  the  several  pLi^ses  in  the  mountains ; 
and  large  droves  of  exceptionally  fat  catde  go  annually  out  to 
the  Utuon  Padfic  Railroad,  and  are  transported  to  Chicago. 
Such  is  the  great  value  of  this  region  for  stock-raising ;  but,  as 
theaoJt  is  of  a  charat:ter  and  productiveness  that  invite  the  change, 
the  eattle-range  on  the  lowlands  must  give  way  before  the  more 
pnofiuhk  wheat-fifiki  and  ooafine  itself  higker  up  on  the  fbot- 


Tirr.    WALt.AWALLA    VALLEY. 


1203 


Valla-Walla 
Lhern  Pacific 
across   the 
h  the  heart 
it  is  all  that 
ing  popula- 
hcir  prairie- 
lands.     Its 
using,  which 
for  cattle  is 
ig  as  grain, 
roughout  all 
I  exceptions, 
feeding  the 
at  will  in  the 
grass.     This 
ng  the  foot- 
to  the  moun- 

jazing,  these 
annot  be  ex- 
lative  bunch- 
ring  it  seems 
rhich  follows, 
y  its  strength 
>n  the  green 

it  they  keep 
es  the  cattle 
elsewhere  in 
nbia,  whither 
:  mountains; 
nually  out  to 

to  Chicago, 
sing ;  but,  as 
e  the  change, 
are  the  more 
ott  the  fbot- 


hills  and  mountain- sides.  To  the  limited  extent  to  which  the 
Yakima  country  has  gone  in  wheat-raising,  it  may  safely  chal- 
lenge the  best  record  of  Illinois,  Ohio,  or  any  of  the  other  East- 
ern or  Middle  States ;  for  it  has  performed  some  wonderful  feats, 
as  well  as  to  quality  and  size  of  grain,  as  to  the  amount  of  yield 
per  acre.  The  railroad  only  is  needed.  Even  thus  early  in  the 
agricultural  history  of  Eastern  Washington,  it  is  to  be  recorded 
that  the  last  crop  was  of  such  dimensions  as  to  defy  the  present 
facilities  for  moving  it  to  market ;  the  approach  of  cold  weather 
and  low  water  in  the  river,  finding  still  on  hand,  in  the  store- 
houses at  Wallula,  a  large  residue  of  20,000  tons — the  year's 
production,  there  to  remain  until  the  opening  of  spring.  This 
fact  is  a  very  persuasive  appeal  for  the  building  of  a  railroad  to 
Puget  sound. 

Passing  eastward  from  the  Yakima  across  the  Columbia,  we 
enter  the  already  famous  Walla-Walla  Valley,  which  is  bounded 
on  the  south  and  east  by  the  Blue  Mountains,  and  on  the  west 
and  north  by  the  Columbia  and  Snake  rivers.  Its  area  runs  into 
millions  of  acres,  as  does  that  of  the  Palouse  country  to  the  north 
of  Snake  river,  watered  by  the  Palouse  river,  and  extending  far 
northward  to  the  Spokane.  The  Walla- Walla  and  Palouse  coun- 
tries are  being  rapidly  setded  by  people  from  all  parts  of  the 
United  States.  These  two  regions  of  Soutiieastem  Washington 
do  not  materially  differ  in  their  general  character ;  so  little,  in- 
deed, that  a  description  of  the  soil,  products,  and  climate  of  one, 
may  answer  for  all  three.  The  soil  is  of  an  appearance  likely  to 
surprise  the  average  wheat-grower,  being,  except  in  the  bottom- 
lands, a  very  light-colored  loam,  containing  an  unusually  large 
percentage  of  the  alkalies  and  fixed  acids,  and  covering  prac- 
tically the  whole  of  Eastern  Washington  to  a  depth  of  from  one 
to  twenty  feet  Near  the  base  of  the  mountains  k  is  mixed  with 
a  larger  proportion  of  clay,  which  renders  it  somewhat  darker  in 
appearance ;  but  in  no  respect  does  it  resemble  the  black  soils 
'of  the  Mississippi  valley.  One  of  the  most  remarkable  features 
of  this  country  is,  that  the  soil  on  the  tops  of  high  hills  yields  as 
many  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre,  as  does  that  (^  the  lowlands 
or  praifies.     This  fact  is  sougl^t  to  be  explained  by  the  theory, 


i«SE!ii»'i9ai.i«*S!i&isai(SJaBr-  .ass5G7;T!?r?EsrA':£3S5:55ssr 


^VSi-i-^T^^  .■.■5r-T=5=^fi*' 


I 


1304 


OUJt    It'ESrSXA    FMriRR. 


that  this  soil  on  both  hill  and  plain  was  once  the  bed  of  a  system 
of  lakes,  and  was  greatly  enriched  by  volcanic  ashes  blown  from 
the  Cascade  Range,  or  thence  carried  by  the  streams  into  the; 
lakes,  and  thus  widely  distributed  over  the  entire  basin,  including 
the  hills  in  question,  which  are  supposed  to  have  been  under 
water.  In  the  WallaAValla  and  Palousc  countries,  towns  arj 
springing  up  in  all  directions — mere  trading-camps  at  the  outset 
for  the  farmers  who  are  crowding  in  round  about ;  and  tl)e  hurry 
and  Hurry  of  settlement,  and  bustle  and  haste  of  preparation  for 
wheat- raising,  lends  to  some  of  the  settlements  an  appearance 
resembling  that  of  a  mining-camp  hastily  pitched  togeth(T,  with 
many  of  the  incidents  common  to  the  latter.  The  Palouse  coun- 
try is  traversed  about  through  its  centre  by  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railroad,  Pend  d'Oreille  division,  and  extends  from  the  Columbia 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Snake,  northeast  to  Spokane  falls,  about  a 
hundred  and  fifty  miles.  To  Dr.  Bingham  is  credited  the  dis- 
covery that  this  was  valuable  agricultural  land.  Ahhoiigii  it  wa.« 
.subject  to  entry  at  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre,  no  one  tiioughc 
it' worth  taking,  until  the  doctor  got  an  idea  to  experiment.  He 
planted  twelve  acres  in  alfalfa ;  and,  to  the  amazement  of  himself 
and  neighbors,  it  grew  more  profusely  and  to  a  greater  height 
than  they  had  ever  before  known  it  to  grow.  Elated  at  this 
splendid  success  of  his  experiment,  he  at  once  set  about  procur- 
ing all  the  land  he  was  able  to  buy,  and  is  now  said  to  be  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  planters  in  the  northwest.  He  tried  wheat 
with  a  like  brilliant  result,  securing  an  average  yield  per  acre 
that  paid  for  the  land  over  and  over  again  ;  and  thus  suddenly 
the  good  people  of  that  region  were  awakened  to  the  astounding 
revelation  that  their  vast  expanse  of  country  known  as  the  Plains 
of  the  Columbia,  and,  indeed,  the  whole  of  Southeastern  Wash- 
ington, instead  of  being,  as  it  had  always  been  regarded,  an  almost 
useless  waste,  had  a  wealth-producing  capacity  far  exceeding  that 
of  all  the  gold  and  silver  mines  of  California  and  Nevada.  Im- 
mediately scores  and  hundreds  of  people  jumped  into  the  business 
of  wheat-raising;  and  the  fame  thereof  went  abroad,  starting 
westward  and  northward  large  numbers  of  farming  people,  some 
going  through  California  and  by  sea,  but  a  larger  proportion 


YIELD   OF  WHEAT  IS  WASIIlNClOM  TEKhllOKY. 


1205 


of  a  system 

blown  from 

ms  into  thr 

in,  including 

been  under 

towns  ar.: 

It  the  outset 

id  die  hurry 

paration  for 

appearance 

>geth(;r,  with 

alouse  coun- 

■thern  Pacific 

he  Columbia 

falls,  about  a 

iteil  the  dis- 

:liouj4h  it  was 

one  thought 

jriment.     He 

!nt  of  himself 

reater  height 

elated  at  this 

fibout  procur- 

to  be  one  of 

ie  tried  wheat 

ield  per  acre 

hus  suddenly 

le  astounding 

as  the  Plains 

astern  Wash- 

ied,  an  almost 

exceeding  that 

Nevada.     Im- 

o  the  business 

road,  starting 

people,  some 

er  proportion 


arriving  from  surrounding  Territories  in  their  prairie-srhoontrs 
drawn  by  oxen.  The  experience  of  Dr.  Hlalock  near  Walla- 
Walla  illustrates  what  may  be  done  in  th<!  way  of  farming'  in 
Washington  Territory.  He  be<^an  romparativdy  poor  a  frw 
years  l)ack,  and  has  now  the  largest  farm  in  the  Territory.  I  It- 
has  one  large  field.of  nearly  two  thousand  acres,  which  was  partly 
in  wheat  and  partly  in  barley  during  the  season  just  closed,  and 
the  average  yield  per  acre  is  reporttrd  to  have  \"A'.x\  forty  bushels. 
.\t  the  last  harvest,  it  was  not  regarded  as  extraordinary  for 
particular  fields  to  yield  an  average  as  high  as  forty-five  and  fifty 
and  even  sixty  bushels  to  the  acre. 

Of  the  enormous  average  yield  of  wheat  on  these  "Great 
Columbia  Plains,"  Mr.  Philip  Ritz,  for  fifteen  years  a  farmer  in 
the  Walla-Walla  valley,  wrote  in  1869:  **I  have  seen  large  fields 
of  wheat  average  fifty-six  bushels  to  the  acre,  and  weigh  sixty- 
two  pounds  per  bushel ;  and  have  seen  fields  which  yielded  forty 
to  fifty  bushels  per  acre  from  a  volunteer  crop;  that  is,  produced 
the  second  year  from  grains  scattered  out  during  harvest,  sprout- 
ing during  the  fall  and  growing  even  without  harrowing."  Ten 
years  later,  in  the  autumn  of  1879,  the  same  gentleman  wrote: 
"  We  are  just  about  finishing  our  harvest,  and  such  a  harvest  I 
am  sure  the  world  never  saw  before.  Our  *  Great  Columbia 
Plains,'  famous  for  her  magnificent  wheat  crops,  has  this  year 
outdone  herself  She  never  had  such  a  crop  before.  Our  small, 
sparsely  setded  country  has  this  year  about  two  million  bushels 
of  surplus  wheat  The  average  is  reckoned  by  the  best  judges 
at  from  thirty  to  forty  bushels  per  acre.  My  own  judgment  is 
that  the  whole  country  will  go  over  thirty-six  bushels  to  the 
,acre.  A  great  many  large  fields  will  average  over  fifty,  and  a 
field  that  would  not  average  over  twenty-six  is  hardly  considered 
worth  cutting.  There  is  probably  no  country  in  the  world, 
climate  and  other  advantages  considered,  equal  to  this  for  grow- 
ing wheat."  In  October,  1879,  more  than  20,000  tons  of  wheat 
were  stored  at  Walla- Walla  and  vicinity  awaiting  shipment,  the 
facilities  for  transportation  on  the  Columbia  river  being  inadequate 
for  the  carriage  to  that  extent. 

A  large  part  of  this  production  was  not  on  new  lands,  but  on 


V  ^J^Y^4ii*<W*At*wH*».WH<i^-VJi»^»;.lg?\V4.?C«,- 


f 


IX)6 


OUR    WESTBKN  K  MP  I  KB. 


lands  which  had  been  cultivated  with  the  Mime  crop  for  ten  or 
twelve  y<;ar».  The  crop  of  1H80  was  Ktill  larjjcr,  and  its  net  cash 
vaKie  to  tht:  farmers  of  Washington  Territory  is  reckoned  at  ovrr 
$9,000,000. 

Exports. — In  addition  to  the  exports  of  wheat  already  rcferrnl 
to,  writes  Governor  Ferry  in  October,  1S79,  there  have  also 
been  larj^e  exports  of  other  cereals,  wool,  tlour,  and  live-stock 
from  liastern  Washinj^ton.  Largv,  shipments  of  Hour  have  b«*t  n 
made  direct  from  Walla-Walla  to  Liverpool.  From  the  lower 
counties  on  the  Columbia  river  there  have  also  been  exporta 
tions  of  grain  and  canned  salmon;  of  the  latter,  160,000  cases, 
of  forty-eight  cans  each. 

From  Puget  sound  the  exports  have  been  lumber,  coal,  tisli. 
grain,  potatoes,  wool,  hops,  hides,  barrels,  lime,  etc.  The  export 
of  coal  for  the  past  year  has  been  190,000  tons. 

The  lumbering  interests  are  sontewhat  depressed  at  pfesent, 
owing  to  a  falling  off  in  the  foreign  demand.  This  depression 
is  regarded  as  temporary  only. 

ManufmctMTts  are,  of  course,  but  of  moderate  extent  in  so  new 
a  Territory,  and  with  as  yet  but  a  scanty  population.  The  prin- 
cipal is  lumber,  of  which  250,000,000  feet  or  more  are  produced 
annually.  There  are  many  flouring  mills,  establishments  for 
canning  and  barreling  salmon  and  other  fish,  barrel  factories, 
some  of  tlicm  of  great  extent,  etc.,  etc.  The  production  of  man- 
ufactured goods  in  1 880  was  about  $8,000,000. 

Population. — ^The  following  table  gives  the  population  of  Wash- 
ington Territory  at  different  periods :     "I  /Jiol  m  /null  m..it  j, 


■i860 

J1870 

iRm 


I 


I '.594 

37.43»* 


8.446J 


4*      11,138 

est,  «»,«95 


45.»77 


«9.»4I   *7,349 


436 
«5.»37 
iJ.Mu 
16,098 
»,o]S) 


«.4!»o| 
•».93«  1 


3.'44 

5."»4 


».«S9  I  15,861 


e.o6 
034 
0.91 


4,»3< 
7*M 


*  Including  13,477  tribal  Indiant  on  retcrvation*  in  the  TcrrltMy. 
13,960      " 


t  Sm  of  l«Mann  im  gIfM. 


o[)  for  ten  or 
d  itH  net  cash 
coned  at  over 

eady  referred 
re  have  also 
nd  live-stock 
ur  have  b«'i  n 
)in  the  lower 
>een  exporta 
6o,cx»  cases, 

ber,  coal,  tisli. 
The  export 

•r.  <i\t.>    ' 

ed  at  present, 
lis  depression 

tent  in  so  new 
)n.  The  prin- 
are  produced 
blishments  for 
arrel  factories, 
uction  of  man- 

ation  of  Wash- 


1 


5,8«» 
7333 


t.M 
9,**' 


«.»3' 
7,90-j 


ladtansiMiglvN. 

J-f/.iI       t'.lC!     ; 


tSDIAS  rit/BKS.  i]o^ 

The  population  of  the  Territory  is,  to  a  vrr>'  larjje  extent,  com^ 
posed  of  citizens  of  the  liastern  States,  with  a  moderate  propor 
tion  of  sturdy  and  industrious  Scandinavians  and  (icrmans,  and 
some  I'ln^'lish,  Irish,  Scotch  and  IJritish-Ainericans. 

Ittdwn  Tribes  and  their  Rrstrvaiioms. — There  were,  in  the 
autumn  of  1S79.  14,268  tribal  Indians  in  VVasJiin^'ton  I'erritory. 
They  were  collected  on  seven  reservations  imder  as  many  dis- 
tinct agents,  and  belonged  to  forty-tliree  or  forty-four  bands  or 
sub-tribes,  many  of  ihem  of  most  unpronounceable  names.  All 
of  the  tribes  of  this  region  belong  to  the  Athabascan  family,  and 
their  langua;;;cs  have,  for  tlie  most  part,  a  sharp  click,  which  dis- 
tinguishes them  from  most  of  the  other  tribes  of  the  West. 
There  was  a  severe  war  with  the  Indians  in  1855.  when  they  had 
nearly  double  their  present  numbers ;  but  since  their  defeat  at 
that  time,  they  have  been  generally  very  quiet  and  friendly  to 
the  whites.  In  May,  1879,  the  non-treaty  Indians  in  ICastern 
Washinj^ton  were  removed  to  a  reservation  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Okinakanc  river,  in  Stevens  county.  These  Indians  have 
made  j^reater  advances  in  civilization  than  most  of  those  farther 
east.  Of  the  14,268,  11,763  wear  citizens'  dress;  1,548  families 
are  enga<^ed  in  agriculture ;  3,444  male  Indians  are  engaged  in 
other  civilized  pursuits ;  980  houses  are  occupied  by  Indians,  and 
of  these  houses  82  were  built  during  »lie  year ;  510  of  their  chil» 
dren,  255  of  each  sex,  were  in  school  i  1879.  The  government 
spends  $28,783  annually  for  their  education.  Of  the  adult  In- 
dians, 802  can  read.  They  have  18  church  edifices  and  1 1  mis- 
sionaries among  them.  The  land  of  all  their  reservations  amounts 
to  3,933,504  acres,  of  which  145,662  is  reported  tillable,  and  nearly 
all  the  rest  good  grazing  land.  A  fair  proportion  of  them  are 
good  farmers.  Over  io,cX)0 acres  are  cultivated,  and  they  raised, 
^  in  1 879,  46,950  bu.shels  of  wheat ;  3,080  bushels  of  com ;  16,265 
bushels  of  oats  and  barley ;  36,810  bushels  of  vegetables ;  3,1 7^ 
tons  of  hay ;  and  they  own  23,313  horses  and  mules  (very  few  of 
the  latter) ;  8,1 78  catUe ;  1,182  swine,  and  408  sheep.  A  fair  per- 
centage of  them  earn  from  one-half  to  the  whole  of  their  living  by 

civilized  pursuits.  •■ '  f■l^•^^^•^  Ixj,:.  ^\/ll,\        ','t  <:.  ,..,..]   /.'ti:-.Mi 

Education. — The  Territory  is  awake  to  the  advantages  of  public 


s'*«*.'t-»tmi(Wh4*n-**:  :, 


f 


tX>6  OVK    WMSTKHN  KMI'.'HR. 

•chool  education.  I  .wi  nchool  lands  hnvr  not  a»  yet  been  «ol(l 
in  mifificirnt  amounts  tonflbrd  anytliiof;  inorr  than  a  nudeiis  for  a 
ichool  fund,  hut  a  hrjfinninjf  has  lx:cn  made.  Wf  have  no  offi- 
cial reports  of  a  date  hitrr  than  1877,  since  which  time  education 
as  well  as  popidation  has  made  a  [;rent  advance  thrre.  At  that 
time  there  were  12,997  children  of  school  aj^* ,  of  whom  5,38«i 
were  enrolled  in  the  public  schools.  There  were  aoa  school 
houses  and  school-rooms,  and  the  averaf^e  duration  of  the  schools 
in  days  was  130  days.  There  were  279  teachers  employed,  of 
whom  134  were  men  and  145  women.  The  averaj^e  monthly 
pay  of  the  men  was  ^40,  and  of  the  women  %y:>.  The  amount 
received  and  expended  for  school  purposcrs  was  about  ]j^5o,oor). 
There  were  graded  schools  in  the  principal  towns,  a  normal  de- 
partment in  Washinjjton  University,  covering  two  years'  instruc- 
tion ;  and  schools  of  higher  instruction  af  Walla-Wnlla,  S'*attle 
and  some  other  points.  The  University  of  Washington  T»*rri- 
tory,  at  Seattle,  is  a  part  of  the  public  school  system,  and  is  aideil 
by  the  Territorial  Legislature.  It  had,  in  1879,  eleven  instructors 
and  professors,  i30  students,  and  four  courses  of  study.  It  has 
the  nucleus  of  a  library  and  museum,  and  an  appropriation  has 
been  made  for  neces.sary  apparatus.  Tiie  Holy  Angtils'  College, 
at  Vancouver,  in  this  Territory,  is  a  Roman  Catholic  institution, 
having,  in  1878,  four  professors  and  eighty-five  students,  and  a 
library  of  nearly  i,ocx)  volumes. 

Counties  and  Principal  Towns. — Olympia,  the  capital,  has  about 
3,000  inhabitants;  Walla-Walla,  between  4,000  and  5,000;  Se- 
atde  and  Steilacoom  nearly  as  many;  while  Port  Townsend, 
Vancouver,  Kalama,  Tacoma,  and  in  Eastern  Washington,  Ains- 
worth,  Wallula,  Palouse,  Spokane  Falls  and  Colville  are  thriving 
and  growing  towns. 

Religious  Denominations  and  Pubiic  Morals. — No  one  of  the 
States  and  Territories  of  "Our  Western  Empire"  has  a  better 
moral  and  religious  record  than  Washington  Territory.  Setded 
very  largely  by  the  best  people  from  New  England  and  the 
Middle  States,  its  churches  and  religious  institutions  have  more 
nearly  kept  pace  with  the  growth  and  progress  of  the  population 
than  those  of  any  other  part  of  the  West.     In  1875,  with  a  pop- 


4, 


KKLIGIOVS  nRSOMISAI'IONS. 


IMP 


hern  told 
udrus  for  a 
iv<;  no  oflfi- 
v  education 
At  ihnt 
vhom  5,385 

3()3    flchool 

tlur  schools 
nployed,  of 
I'ft  monthly 

he  amount 
lilt  fso.ocxj. 

normal  de- 
ars' instruc- 
alla,  S'-nttlc 
i^ton  Tt-rri- 
and  is  aided 
1  instructors 
idy.  It  has 
priation  has 
;«:ls'  College, 
c  institution, 
dents,  and  a 

al,  has  about 
I  5,000;  Se- 
t  Townsend, 
ngton,  Ains- 
arc  thriving 
\  ,,..  /  t^.- 

o  one  of  the 
has  a  better 
)ry.  Settled 
and  and  the 
}  have  more 
iC  population 
,  with  a  pop- 


ulation estimated  at  not  more  than  36,000,  there  were  94  church 
or^'ani/ations,  73  church  cdificeH,  58  clergy uxn,  priestM  or  minis- 
ters, 3,398  communicants,  and  31,465  adherent  population,  and 
churth  property  valued  at  f  105,70x1.  Situ*-  1S75  the  popidation 
of  the  territory  has  more  than  doubled,  and  from  the  character 
of  that  incrt*asc,  :uul  the  sacrifices  it  ^dories  in  tn.tking  to  establish 
religious  institutions  at  the  earlit^st  possible  moment.  W(;  arc 
warrantJ'd  in  l)eli«!ving  that  ilu:  churches  and  religious  denomi- 
nations have  kept  ()ace  with  the  population  in  their  growth.  Of 
these  denominations  the  Methodists,  under  two  or  thn:e  di  .linct 
organizations,  are  h<'re,  as  in  most  of  the  .States  ami  Territories 
of  the  West,  the  most  numerous.  Ihe  census  of  1S70  recognized 
only  two,  viz. :  "  Methodists"  and  "  United  brethren  in  Christ." 
It  may  be,  there  were  no  Southern  Methodist  churches  then,  but 
there  were  certainly  Protestant  anil  prolably  Primitive  Metho- 
dists there,  as  well  as  some;  Albrights  or  ICvangelical  Association 
Methodists  there  then  and  now.  Of  all  these,  the  f)resent  num- 
ber cannot  be  less  than  68  churches,  with  about  50  church  edifices, 
about  38  ministers,  3.000  members,  ami  ?>x  least  1 5,(XX)  ailherents. 
'llieir  church  property  might  safely  be  reckoned  at  ;j;6o,ooo.  The 
Catholics  were  next  in  1875,  and  m.iy  be  now,  but  at  a  long  in- 
terval, with  po.ssibly  32  congregations,  30  church  edifices,  and  the 
same  number  of  priests,  an  adherent  population  of  about  13,000, 
and  church  property  worth  $35,000.  The  Baptists  and  the  Chiis- 
tian  Connection  come  ne.\t,  with  at  least  35  congregations,  per- 
haps 38  church  edifices,  and  about  the  same  number  of  ministers, 
a  combined  membership  of  about  1,100,  and  an  adherent  popu- 
lation of  over  6,000,  and  church  property  worth  about  #18,000. 
After  these  come  in  their  order  Hpiscopalian.s,  Presbyterians, 
Congregationalists  and  five  or  six  smaller  denominations,  the 
whole  having  an  adherent  population  in  all  of  perhaps  10,000  or 
12,000.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  five-eighths  of  the  population  are 
nominally,  at  least,  the  adherents  of  some  religious  denomina- 
tion. 


f 


f^ 


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11.1*4     I      «.Ho*       ll,«lP.««4  v»     •t.nk,,lj«  •• 


Historical  Data. — The  region  about  Pugct  sound  was  a  favorite 
resort  of  tlic  Indian  tribes  for  centuries.  Hoth  the  hunting  and 
fishing  were  such  as  to  render  th'  egular  supply  of  food  easy 
and  certain.     In  1840  there  we  ocxj   hidians  who  claimed 

Pugct  sound  as  their  hoin*-.  The  number  in  the  whole  Territory 
is  now  but  a  little  more  than  half  as  many,  and  the  greater  part 
of  these  are  now  domiciled  along  the  upper  Columbia  river.  As 
we  have  already  said  under  Oregon,  the  .Straits  of  San  Juan  de 
l'\ica  were  first  entered  by  a  (Ireek  navigator  of  that  name  in 
the  .Spanish  service,  in  1592;  the  coast  was  revisited  in  1775  by 
Heceta,  a  Spanish  navigator,  and  in  1787  and  1788  two  Knglish 
captains,  Berkeley  ond  Meares,  successively  entered  the  straits, 
and  the  latter  revived  the  name  of  the  old  Creek  discoverer.  The 
priority  of  discovery  of  the  coast  and  the  straits  certainly  lay  with 
the  Spanish.  In  1789  an  American,  Captain  Robert  Gray,  in  the 
sloop  "Washington,"  discovered  and  entered  several  of  the 
smaller  bays  and  harbors  along  the  coast,  both  in  the  Straits  of 
San  Juan  de  Fuca  and  below;  and  in  1790  Captain  Kendrick,  in 


'Tribal  Indiana  not  Inclutltd. 


I 
^■iiiiM 


tmrOlUCAl   DATA. 


nil 


9  (iHii  I  KM*, 


II  AlloN 


'.•)««,"V'  •» 

<<W.I«I  M 

'.•■44,»»|  •» 
»I'.7I»  "• 
f4l  <M  •« 
<^MI«  • 
JM  Ml  •"• 

■  ••,Mr  •■ 

4»4.  r  *  «• 
l/lt,ll4  •»» 

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|.«I7,|«9  au 


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I.,  ..I 

..;   ... 

It   .•■ 
«('.. 

i«  v> 

J.    .., 

1B4  y*     (Vik.,!!!  ■• 


vas  a  favorite 

hunting'  and 

of  food  easy 

who  claimed 

jok*  Torrilory 

i;rpaU'r  part 

3ia  river.    As 

San  juan  do 

that  name  in 

d  in  1775  by 

two  English 

:d  the  straits, 

:overer.    The 

:ainly  lay  with 

t  Gray,  in  the 

jveral  of  the 

he  Straits  of 

Kendrick,  in 


the  HAmr  vcNHcl,  (KiHiicd  ihroti^li  the:  mttrr  lcn};th  of  the  Straits 
of  San  Juan  dr  Fuca.  In  1791  Captiiin  (jray  rrturncd  to  tlu! 
coatt,  and  diNCuvcrcd  and  cxplorrd  ami  ^avc  hit  nainr  to  ( irayn 
KarlKir.  It  wan  in  tluH  haww  yrar  aUo  that  \\v  distovcrc-d  and 
asLXMulcd  die  Coltiiiil)ia  river  about  thirly  iiuI<-h.  h\  iSos  Lfwin 
and  Clarke  reaihcd  and  explored  the  uuxsi  from  tli«r  l.md  niile, 
having  cronncd  the  (ontintMit  for  diat  puriMHir.  Meanwhile  the 
titKr  of  the  United  States  10  the  whole  re|{ion  watered  by  die  Co 
luirbia  river  was  fiirdier  fortified  by  the  nettlement  of  Astoria,  at 
the  nujuth  of  that  river,  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Antor,  in  iHi  1,  and  thc  title 
was  perfected  an  against  any  luiropean  pow«T  by  the  treaty  of 
llorida  with  Spain  in  1819,  which  exprcHsly  ceded  to  the  United 
States  all  the  rights,  claims  and  |)reli:nsions  of  the  Kin^'  of  Spain 
to  any  Territory  north  of  the  forty-second  parallel  of  n«>rth  lati- 
tude. The  liuilson's  Bay  Company  attcnipt'd  to  takt;  possession 
of  it  between  1825  and  1H30,  and  from  iKjS  to  1841  it  was  held 
in  joint  occupancy  by  (jreat  Britain  ami  the  United  States  widi* 
out  prejudice  to  the  title  of  either.  The  Ashburlon  Treaty  of 
1845  fmally  settled  the  rij.jht  of  the  United  States  to  the  I'l  rritory 
u()  to  the  li'  of  49*^  north  latitude,  except  at  the  Straits  of  San 
juan  i\ii  I'lica  and  die  (julf  of  (ieorgia.  It  was  umlerstood  by 
that  treaty  that  the  American  title  took  to  die  middle  of  the  chan- 
nel of  those  waters ;  but  as  there  were  several  channels  and  some 
valuable  islands  in  controversy,  the  matter  was  defuiitety  and 
fmally  settled  by  arbitration  in  1873,  the  ICmperor  of  Ciennany 
\mn^  arbiter.  American  settlers  began  to  come  into  the  'Terri- 
tory in  1845.  It  was  originally  a  part  of  Oregon  Territory,  but 
was  organized  as  a  separate  Territory  in  1853.  and  had  a  severe 
Indian  war  in  1855.  From  1859  to  1863  it  included  most  of 
Idaho  Territory,  but  since  that  time  it  has  had  it^  present  bound- 
aries,    r  .^     ..:,    i  '!       .  ,  .     ;.l  !   ■     .    ,  ■       .■•*         '■•'■) 

Conclusion, — It  may  be  inferred  from  our  sketch  of  Washing- 
ton Territory  that  we  regard  it  as  a  very  desirable  n  gion  for 
immigrants  who  desire  to  engage  in  farming,  stock-raising,  the 
preparation  of  timber  or  lumber  for  the  market,  or  the  packing 
and  exportation  of  fish.  Its  luining  districts  are  not  yet  developed 
to  such  an  extent  as  to  justify  any  immigration  to  them,  but  for 


►  «*.*i':rf«»«i*f^L**">#»-'i'*«'~"''*'«**«*''^-'<***  ■' 


M 


1212 


OCK    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


the  Other  pursuits,  and  for  many  of  the  trades,  there  is  certainly 
no  section  of  "Our  Western  Empire"  which  offers  greater 
opportunities  for  success  to  an  enterprisinj^  and  energetic  man. 
As  to  the  best  route  thither  there  is  some  room  for  an  honest 
difference  of  opinion  now,  and  will  be  more  in  a  few  months. 
Probably  the  best  plan  nmv  is  to  take  passage  for  San  Francisco 
either  by  rail  or  by  the  Isthmus  if  Panama.  From  San  Francisco 
a  steamer  may  be  taken  for  Portland,  Oregon,  and  if  by  the 
Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation  Company's  line,  and  it  is  desired 
to  go  to  Eastern  Washington  Territory  the  immigrant  can  pur- 
chase  a  through  ticket  to  Walla-Walla,  or  to  any  point  on  the 
Pend  d'Oreille  division  of  the  Northern  Pacific,  or  to  the  termini 
of  the  narrow  gauge  railroads  from  Ainsworth,  Walla-Walla  or 
Wallula.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  his  destination  is  to  any  point  i 
Western  Washington,  he  should  not  go  on  to  Portland,  Oregon, 
but  land  at  Kalama  some  forty  miles  nearer  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia  river,  anc'  take  the  North»':rn  Pacific  thence  to  Olympia, 
Tacoma  or  Wilkeson.  If  his  destination  is  to  Western  Wash- 
ington he  may,  if  he  chooses,  take  the  Puget  sound  steamer 
from  San  Francisco  and  land  at  Bellingham  bay,  Port  Townsend, 
Seattle,  Tacoma  or  Olympia.  These  routes  are  long  and  some- 
what wearisome,  but  safe  and  without  other  difficulties.  There 
will  soon  be  two  other  routes  available.  The  best  and  most 
direct  will  be  by  way  of  the  Northern  Pacific,  either  from  Duluth 
or  Chicago,  through  Minnesota,  Dakota,  Montana  and  Idaho, 
which  will  traverse  Eastern  Washington  diagonally  from  north- 
east to  southwest,  cross  by  one  branch  (the  Cascade  Mountain 
division)  from  Eastern  to  Western  Washington,  and  make  its 
terminus  at  Tacoma  on  Puget  sound,  while  the  Columbia  River 
division  will  follow  the  north  bank  of  the  Columbia,  and  sending  a 
branch  to  Pordand,  Oregon,  traverse  by  the  Pacific  division  the 
greater  part  of  Western  Washington.  More  than  one-half  of 
this  long  route  is  already  completed,  and  with  the  ample  funds 
they  have  at  command  this  company  will  probably  have  the  whole 
in  operation  by  the  spring  of  18S3. 

The  other  route  by  the  Union  Pacific  and  Utah  and  Northern, 
in  connection  with  the  Oregonian  railway  (limited),  is  not  yet  fully 


SITUATION  OF  WYOMING    TERRITORY. 


I213 


^  certainly 
•s  greater 
retic  man. 
an  honest 
w  months. 

Francisco 
1  Francisco 
i  if  by  the 
t  is  desired 
it  can  pur- 
)int  on  the 
the  termini 
la  Walla  or 
iny  point  i 
nd,  Oregon, 
louth  of  the 
to  Olympia, 
item  Wash- 
ind  steamer 
t  Townsend, 
y  and  some- 
ties.     There 
St  and  most 
from  Duluth 
I  and  Idaho, 
^  from  north- 
,de  Mountain 
md  make  its 
>lumbia  River 
ind  sending  a 
,c  division  the 
n  one-half  of 

ample  funds 
lave  the  whole 

and  Northern, 
is  not  yet  fully 


laid  out,  but  will  probably  penetrate  Southeastern  Washington, 
and  its  principal  connections  will  be  with  Portland,  Oregon. 
With  the  completion  of  these  lines  Washington  Territory  will 
be  as  easily  and  readily  accessible  as  Utah,  Nevada,  New  Mexico 
or  Arizona,  and  for  a  quiet  and  pleasant  home  much  more 
desirable. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

WYOMING    TERRITORY. 

Situation — Boundaries — Length  and  Bre/.dth — Form — Area — Topography 
— Mountains — Elevation  of  various  Points — Rivers,  Lakes,  etc. — Re- 
markable Character  ov  its  Drainage — Irs  Waters  Discharged  into  the 
Pacific  by  the  Columbia  River,  into  the  Gulf  of  California  by  the 
Colorado,  into  the  Salt  Lake  Basin  by  the  Bear  River,  into  the  Upper 
Mis.;ouRi  by  the  Madison  and  Gallatin,  into  the  Middle  of  Missouri 
by  the  Yellowstone  and  Bio  Cheyenne,  into  the  Lower  Missouri  by 
Tr'.a  Niobrara  and  Platte,  and  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  by  all  these — 
Geology  and  Mineralogy — Coal — Petroleum — Gold  and  Silver — Other 
Metals — Mining  of  Precious  Metals  not  much  Developed— ^Marble  and 
OTHER  Mineral  Products — Forests,  Soil  and  Vegetation — Zoology — 
Climate — Meteorology  of  Cheyenne — Agricultural  Productions  and 
Stock-raising — Manufactures  and  Mining — Mining  Products — Rail- 
ways, Existing  and  Projected — Population  and  its  Distribution — 
Education — Religious  Denominations — Counties — Area — Population  in 
1880,  AND  Valuation  in  1877 — Principal  Towns— Objects  of  Interest — 
The  Yellowstone  National  Park  made  a  Separate  Chapter — Historical 
Notes — Early  Spanish  Occupation  of  Wyoming — Discovery  of  Arastras 
and  Spanish  Buildings — Father  de  Smet — Captain  Bridger — His  Occu- 
pation running  back  to  a  time  "  When  Laramie  Peak  hadn't  begun  to 
Grow" — Organization  of  the  Territory — Indian  Conflicts — The  Cus- 
ter Massacre — Advantages  of  Wyoming  for  certain  Classes  of  Immi- 
grants— Prospects  in  the  near  Future. 

Wyoming  is  one  of  the  central  Territories  of  "  Our  Western 
Empire,"  both  in  its  position  on  an  east  and  west  line,  and  in  its 
relations  to  die  States  and  Territories  north  and  south  of  it.  It 
lies  between  the  41st  and  the  45th  parallels  of  north  latitude, 
and  between  the  104th  and  iiith  meridians  of  west  longitude 
from  Greenwich.    It  Is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Montana,  on 


,i«iajs«rf«*S«Si»sJSSWS(SA^t«»<««"iAiKi,«Sl^S;:a^ 


Itl4 


OVR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


the  east  by  Dakota  and  Nebraska,  including  in  the  northeast  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  Black  Hills  region ;  on  the  south  by 
Colorado  and  Utah;  and  on  the  west  by  Utah,  Idaho  and 
Montana.  Its  length  from  east  to  west  is  335  miles,  its  width 
from  north  to  south  is  276  miles.  It  is  a  perfect  parallelogram, 
all  its  boundaries  being  astronomico-geographical  lines.  Its  area 
is  97,883  squares  miles,  or  62,645,1 20  acres,  of  which,  up  to  June, 
1879,  only  about  one-seventh  had  been  surveyed. 

Topography. — The  main  divide  of  tlie  Rocky  Mountains,  which, 
after  traversing  Northwestern  Montana,  turned  suddenly  south- 
westward  and  formed  the  southeast  boundary  of  Idaho,  separates 
again  into  two  chains  at  the  Yellowstone  park,  and  enters  Wyom- 
ing from  the  northwest  in  two  distinct  and  nearly  parallel  ranges, 
the  easternmost  being  known  as  the  Shoshone  range,  and  the 
westernmost  as  the  Wind  River  range.  Near  the  forty-third 
parallel,  the  Big  Horn  Mountains,  a  somewhat  lower  range  from 
the  north-northeast,  meets  them  almost  at  a  right  angle,  and  from 
this  point  to  the  Colorado  line  both  ranges  break  into  a  number 
of  mountain  groups  extending  in  all  directions,  and  rendering  it 
difficult  to  define  which  has  the  best  right  to  the  name  of  the 
main  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Among  the  groups  of  this 
confused  mountain  mass  may  be  named,  beside  the  Big  Horn 
range  already  mentioned,  the  Owl  Creek  Mountains,  a  spur  of 
the  Shoshone  range,  the  Rattlesnake  Mountains,  and  the  Laramie 
Mountains,  still  farther  east ;  the  Sweet- Water  and  the  Seminole 
Mountains,  which  seem  to  be  continuations  of  the  Wind  River 
range.  Near  the  forty-second  parallel  these  mountain  ranges 
subside  into  an  elevated  plateau  from  8,000  to  9,000  feet  above 
the  sea,  with  occasional  elevated  summits,  rising  again  to  higher 
elevations  on  either  side  of  the  North  Park  in  Colorado.  This 
elevated  plateau  extends  westward  and  southwestward  to  the 
foot-hills  of  the  Bear  River  range  on  the  west,  and  the  Uintah 
Mountains  on  the  soucK  both  in  Utah  Territory.  In  the  south- 
east there  are  the  Medicine  Bow  Mounteins,  and  some  isolated 
peaks,  like  Laramie  Peak,  Iron  Mountain,  the  Red  Buttes,  etc.; 
and  in  the  northwest  the  Heart  Mountains  ftnd  the  isolated  peaks 
of  the  Yellowstone  Park.    In  the  northeast,  east  of  the  Big  Horn 


AtOUNTAlXS,  K/VEJIS  AND  LAKES. 


1215 


ortheast  a 
le  south  by 
Idaho  and 
•s,  its  width 
•allclogram, 
i%.  Its  area 
up  to  June, 

ains,  which, 

enly  south- 

o,  separates 

ters  Wyom- 

allel  ranges, 

ge,  and  the 

I  forty- third 

range  from 

le,  and  from 

to  a  number 

rendering  it 

name  of  the 

roups  of  this 

le  Big  Horn 

lis,  a  spur  of 

the  Laramie 

the  Seminole 

Wind  River 

intain  ranges 

)0  feet  above 

ain  to  higher 

orado.    This 

tward  to  the 

1  the  Uintah 

!n  the  south- 

off»e  isolated 

Buttes,  etc.; 

solated  peaks 

he  Big  Horn 


and  north  of  the  Laramie  Mountains,  there  is  an  extended  plateau 
of  4,000  to  7,000  feet  elevation,  rising  at  the  east  into  the  Black 
Hills,  and  in  the  northeast  and  nor ih  to  the  Powder  River  range 
and  the  Wolf  Mountains. 

The  highest  elevation  in  the  Territory  is  probably  Snow's 
Peak,  in  the  Wind  River  Range,  which  is  reported  as  13,570 
feet:  the  next  is  Gilbert's  Peak,  13,250;  Cloud  Peak  probably 
exceeds  13,000;  and  Lake  Carpenter,  in  the  Big  Horn  Moun- 
tains, is  11,000  feet  above  the  sea.  The  average  elevation  of 
Yellowstone  Park  is  7,403  feet.  The  highest  summit  in  the 
Wyoming  portion  of  the  Black  HiUs  is  Harney's  Peak,  7,700 
feet,  while  Red  Buttes,  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  Territory, 
is  7.336  feet,  and  Laramie  City,  7,123  feet  Laramie  Peak  is 
1 0,000  feet  and  possibly  a  little  more. 

Rivers  and  Lakes. — No  State  or  Territory  of  "Our  Western 
Empire,"  or  of  the  United  States,  is  drained  by  streams  which 
find  their  way  to  such  widely  separated  seas,  as  Wyoming.  In 
the  northwest  and  west  the  Shoshone  lake  and  its  outlet  through 
Jackson  lake,  the  Gros  Ventres  creek,  and  the  John  Gray  river, 
are  all  tributaries  to  the  Lewis  fork  of  Snake  river,  itself  one  of 
tile  constituents  of  the  Columbia  river,  and  these  waters  find 
their  way  to  the  Pacific  by  that  route.  In  the  southwest  Bear 
river  traverses  Uintah  county  for  fifty  miles,  and,  flowing  north- 
northwest  around  the  range  of  the  same  name,  turns  suddenly 
south  and  discharges  its  waters  into  the  Great  Salt  lake  of  the 
Utah  Basiru  Far  up  in  the  Wind  River  range  the  Green  river 
has  its  sources,  and  receiving  ten  or  a  dozen  afifluents,  flows 
southward  through  Northwestern  Colorado  and  Eastern  Utah  to 
its  junction  with  the  Grand  river,  with  which  it  forms  the  Rio 
Colorado  of  the  West,  and  discharges  its  waters  into  the  Gulf  of 
California.  In  the  northwest  of  the  Territory  we  find  the  Madi- 
son and  Gallatin,  two  of  the  sources  of  the  Missouri,  both  rising 
in  the  Yellowstone  National  Park;  the  Yellowstone  river,  the 
largest  tributary  of  the  Missouri,  rising  in  the  Wind  River  Moun- 
tains, and  traversing  Yellowstone  National  Park  and  the  Yellow- 
sitone  lake ;  East  fork,  Clarke's  fork,  the  Big  Horn  river  and 
its  numerous  bcancMes;  the  Tong^  river,  the  Powder  river  and 


:  >!«*!«f)!Sf^-*»«»  (^S^ 


aKSiiars^-::sgy--gr:i:E:gp^g/j"-igsr^-:T>-g?-  ■-•- 


I2l6 


OUK    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


w  - 


its  tributaries,  all  affluents  of  the  Yellowstone ;  while  the  Little 
Missouri,  the  North  fork  or  Belle  Fourche  river,  and  the  Big 
Cheyenne  with  its  forks  and  branches;  the  Eau  qui  Court  or 
Niobrara  and  the  North  fork  of  the  Platte  river,  which  traverses 
half  the  Territory,  are  all  affluents  of  the  Missouri  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Yellowstone,  watering  the  northern,  eastern  and 
southeastern  portions  of  the  Territory.  All  of  these  carry  their 
waters  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

There  are  two  lakes  of  considerable  size,  Yellowstone  and 
Shoshone,  in  the  Yellowstone  National  Park,  and  several  of 
somewhat  smaller  dimensions,  in  the  southern  and  central  por- 
tions of  the  Territory,       i.t  ..ili'o.r  'II  .1!  i   >>l     li.i  .    Vi   .1 

Geology  and  Mineralogy. — The  crests,  and,  indeed,  the  bulk 
of  the  mountain  masses  of  all  the  ranges  of  the  Territory  are 
eozoic,  being  composed  mainly  of  red  feldspathic  granite  and 
syenite  and  gneiss,  while  the  lower  slopes  are  silurian,  forming 
narrow  belts  around  the  higher  mountain  slopes.  To  these  suc- 
ceed the  more  distinctly  fossiliferous  formations,  Devonian,  car- 
boniferous, triassic,  Jurassic  and  cretaceous  rocks,  succeeding 
each  other  in  regular  order.  Between  the  Big  Horn  and  Wind 
River  Ranges,  the  plateau  is  mainly  carboniferous,  triassic  and 
Jurassic,  with  a  small  tract  of  cretaceous  groups  in  the  centre. 
The  elevated  plains  are  mosdy  cretaceous,  but  overlaid  with  ter- 
tiary sands,  gravel  and  drift,  with  occasionally  extensive  deposits 
of  lignite  or  brown  coal.  The  coal  beds  along  and  near  the 
Union  Pacific  Railway,  near  Evanston,  at  Rockspring,  from  Point 
of  Rocks  to  Table  Rock,  at  Carbon  Station,  and,  indeed,  all  along 
that  road,  are  probably  lignite,  as  they  occur  in  tertiary  deposits, 
but  they  differ  in  appearance  and  quality  from  the  European  lig- 
nites, containing  from  fifty  to  seventy-six  per  cent,  of  fixed  carbon, 
and  are  equal  to  most  of  the  best  bituminous  coals  for  all  pur- 
poses of  combustion.  Some  of  them  are  true  coking  coals.  1  hey 
arc  used  not  only  on  the  Union  and  Central  Pacific  Railways,  but 
in  the  villages  and  towns  on  the  line  of  those  roads  between 
Omaha  and  San  Francisco.  Recently  the  coal  of  Utah  and  Col- 
orado has  come  in  competition  with  them,  and  that  of  New  Mexico 
IwiU  do  so.     The  consumption  of  Wyoming  coal  in  1876  was 


CEOLOaV  AND  MINERALOGY  OF  WYOMING. 


I217 


the  Little 
id  the  Big 
li  Court  or 
\  traverses 

below  the 
astern  and 
carry  their 

/stone  and 
several  of 
entral  por- 

J,  the  bulk 
;rritory  are 
rranite  and 
an,  forming 
>  these  suc- 
kronian,  car- 
succeeding 
\  and  Wind 
triassic  and 
the  centre, 
lid  with  ter- 
ive  deposits 
id  near  the 
,  from  Point 
:d,  all  along 
ry  deposits, 
jropean  lig- 
xed  carbon, 
for  all  pur- 
oals.  i'hey 
ail  ways,  but 
ds  between 
ah  and  Col- 
Jew  Mexico 
1  1876  was 


534,000  tons,  and  has  since  largely  increased.  But  if  these  coal 
beds  in  Southern  Wyoming  are  lignite,  there  is  undoubtedly  an 
abundance  of  true  coal,  from  the  coal  measures  of  the  carbonif- 
erous era,  on  the!  North  fork  of  Platte  river,  above  and  below  Fort 
Fetterman,  at  the  head  waters,  and,  indeed,  along  the  whole  line 
of  Powder  river,  on  the  North  fork  or  Belle  Fourche  river,  and 
on  the  Big  Cheyenne.  There  is  also  reason  to  believe  that  it 
will  be  found  on  the  plateau  between  the  Wind  river  and  Big 
Horn  Mountains. 

At  numerous  points  throughout  the  Territory  there  have  been 
found  petroleum  springs,  and  wells  have  been  sunk  which  have 
proved  moderately  profitable.  These  springs  have  been  found 
on  the  Bear  river,  in  the  extreme  southwest  of  the  Territory,  at 
several  points  on  the  North  fork  of  Platte  river,  particularly  near 
South  Pass  City,  and  near  Fort  Casper,  and  on  the  branches  of 
the  Big  Cheyenne.  The  petroleum  springs,  near  South  Pass 
City,  are  said  to  yield  a  very  large  supply,  and  are  adding  mate- 
rially to  the  freight  receipts  of  the  Union  Pacific. 

The  precious  metals  are  found  at  many  points  in  the  Territory, 
gold  predominating,  either  in  placers  or  in  quartz  veins  in  most 
cases,  though  in  a  few  instances  silver  and  gold  occur  together. 
On  Crow  creek,  twenty  miles  west  of  Cheyenne,  in  tlie  Seminole 
Mountains,  and  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Big  Horn  Mountains, 
and  at  some  other  points,  silver  (argentiferous  galena)  has  been 
discovered  in  proximity  to  the  gold.  In  the  Bear  Lodge  Range, 
in  the  Black  Hills,  at  Inyan  Kara  and  other  points  in  that  region, 
in  the  vicinity  of  Laramie  Peak,  directly  north  of  the  North  Park 
in  Colorado,  in  the  Sweet  Water  Mountains,  on  the  Wind  river, 
and  at  the  sources  of  Crazy  Woman's  fork,  quartz  mines,  yielding 
fair  amounts  of  gold,  as  well  as  rich  placers,  have  been  found. 
Doubtless  these  deposits  are  not  as  rich  nor  as  actively  worked 
as  those  of  some  of  the  other  States  and  Territories  adjacent ; 
for  all  of  the  mining  enterprises  of  Wyoming  have  been  but  lan- 
guidly pushed,  either  from  the  want  of  men,  of  means,  of  water, 
or  of  yield  sufficient  to  stimulate  active  enterprise.  The  whole 
gold  and  silver  production  of  Wyoming,  which  was  known  to 
have  been  deposited  in  the  mints  and  assay  offices  of  the  United 
77 


■;j^j-,-'^-,>.-g^(^y-^.j.--4'L&ir  /^:23i;5v*ivfri.*rt?q;*flF*'-^»a?.'*saPi'Ka>;'.'s*." 


I3l8 


OVX   WE5TRRS  KMPIRR. 


States  from  the  first  discovery  of  gold  and  silver  there  to  Jun«> 
50,  1880,  was  but  1728,760.33.  Doubtless  considerable  amounts 
were  sent  through  other  States  and  T<.Tritories,  and  some  was 
not  deposited;  but  even  if  we  allow  an  much  more  for  these  con- 
tingencies, the  amount  would  be  but  little  more  than  1^125,000 
per  year. 

Of  otlier  metals  and  minerals,  several  ores  of  iron,  particularly 
haematite,  magnetic  oxide,  and  red  oxide  of  superior  quality,  occur 
in  immense  quantities.  The  red  oxide,  at  Rawlins'  Springs,  is 
used  for  making  a  mineral  paint  of  great  excellence.  Copper 
and  lead  are  found  in  paying  quantities,  but  are  not  as  yet  de- 
veloped. Near  Laramie  City  are  a  cluster  of  lakes  which  yield 
a  pure  sulphate  of  soda,  many  feet  in  thickness ;  and  about  sixty 
miles  north  oi  Rawlins  are  two  soda  lakes,  estimated  to  contain 
I  >5,ooo  tons  of  carbonate  of  soda  of  great  purity.  There  are 
also  soda  springs  near  Fort  Bridger  and  at  other  points  in  the 
Territory,  !■'-  '<if,  bn.,  ..I'l'i.-*-  /yuii  vi'-  i.  I"  "/  <■';  '"fi---  '■!  ■  .I'lT  ' 
.Sulphur  deposits  and  sulphurous  springs  occur  at  many  points. 
Wyoming  claims  that  she  has  the  finest  beds  of  statuary  marble 
in  the  United  States,  twenty-five  miles  north  of  Laramie,  and 
easily  accessible  by  way  of  Cooper  Lake  Station,  on  the  Union 
Pacific  Railway. 
"fbrestSt  Soil  and  ^^^Ai/wm.— The  explorations  of  Professor 
Hayden  and  his  party,  and  those  of  stUl  later  surveyors  and  ex- 
plorers, justify  the  estimate  that  there  are  not  less  than  6,000,000 
acres  of  arable  lands,  and  that  ^e  graaing  lands  are  not  far 
from  35,000,000  acres.  Most  of  the  arable  lands  require  irrigation 
for  successful  oukivation,  but  this  is  easily  obtainable  in  all  the 
lands  fit  for  cultivation ;  and  under  its  influencev  even  the  alkaline 
and  sage  brush  lands  yield  bountiful  crops.  (-M!!t 

ir^  The  grazing  lands  are  very  generally  covered  witii  buffalo 
grass,  and  even  the  desert  lands  have  an  abundance  of  the  white 
sage  brush,  Which,  after  it  is  touched  with  the  frost,  i&  preferred 
by  catde  to  almost  any  other  food.  Tlie  mountains  are  clothed 
with  a  thick  growth  of  pine,  spruce  and  hemlock  trees,  of  large 
size;  the  foot-hills  have  some  pine,  spruce,  aspen,  walnut,  ekn, 
ash.  box-elder,  hackberry,  and  red  cedar  of  smaller  growth,  while 


XOO/AKiy  A-ND  CLIMATE. 


BPC  to  Junt- 
le  amountK 
some  was 
r  these  con- 
n  $125,000 

particularly 

iiality,  occur 

'  Springs,  is 

.     Copper 

as  yet  de- 

which  yield 

about  sixty 

id  to  contain 
There  are 

»oints  in  the 

many  points, 
luary  marble 
^ramie,  and 
n  the  Union 

of  Professor 
yors  and  cx- 
lan  6,000,000 
\  are  not  &r 
ire  irrigation 
>le  in  all  the 
\  the  alkaline 

with  buffalo 
of  the  white 
i&  preferred 
s  are  clothed 
ees,  of  large 
walnut,  elm, 
growth,  while 


iai9 


the  rfvef  bottoms  are  abundantly  Kupplicd  with  two  species  of 
Cottonwood  and  thicketn  of  willows.  There  are  considerable 
tracts  of  alkaline  lands  among  them.  The  United  States  ICx* 
ploring  Expedition,  under  Professor  Hayden,  described  and 
named  195  species  of  plants,  many  ui  them  peculiar  to  the 
Territory.  i 

iT/w/p/jy.— The  wild  animals  of  Wyoming  are  :  the  grizzly  bear 
(not  very  common),  black  bear,  gray  wolf,  prairie  wolf,  or  coyote, 
badger,  wolverine,  otter,  hsher,  porcupine,  mink,  skunk,  little 
ermine,  buffalo,  elk  (more  abundant  in  Wyoming  and  Colorado 
than  anywhere  else  in  the  West),  mule,  or  black-tailed  deer,  the 
common  deer,  bighorn,  or  mountain  sheep,  prong  horn  antelope, 
the  Rocky  Mountain  goat,  or  goat  antelope,  four  species  of  harq 
or  rabbits,  four  of  squirrels,  two  of  prairie  dogs,  gopher,  muskrat, 
two  species  of  mouse,  etc.  In  all,  more  than  thirty  species  of 
mammals  have  been  described  in  the  Territory,  and  1 24  specie-* 
of  birds,  including  twelve  or  thirteen  birds  of  prey ;  many  game 
birds,  including  a  dozen  or  more  of  the  duck  and  teal  family,  six 
species  of  grouse,  ptarmigan,  etc.,  and  a  large  number  of  song 
birds ;  there  are  more  than  eighty  species  of  moUusks.  Reptiles 
are  not  numerous.  Trout  are  abundant  in  the  mountain  streams, 
and  other  fresh  water  food  fishes  are  plentiful. 

Climate. — ^The  average  mean  temperature  of  the  whole  Terri- 
tory is  about  44°  Fahrenheit.  In  the  mountains  it  is,  in  some  years 
as  low  as  36**,  while  on  the  plains  in  the  east  it  averages  45°  to 
46",  and  in  the  Green  river  region,  in  the  southwest,  it  is  about 
42**.  The  summers  are,  for  the  most  part,  cool  and  comfortable, 
though  in  some  years  the  temperature  rises  to  103°  in  the  hottest 
part  of  the  day.  The  nights  are  cool.  The  cold  of  winter  is  at 
times  intense,  the  winds  and  snow  sweeping  over  the  vast  plains 
with  almost  irresistible  fury.  The  "blizzard"  is  a  painfully  fami- 
liar term  in  the  winter  months.  The  mercury  falls  from  15°  to 
25°  below  zero.  Stock  requires  to  be  sheltered  for  two  or  three 
months,  though  stock-raisers  too  often  neglect  this^  to  their  great 
loss.  The  annual  rainiiall  ranges  from  8  to  13.5  inches*  and  it  is 
an  objection,  though  not  an  insuperable  one,  to  the  settlement  of 
the  Territory,  for  irrigation  can  be  resorted  to  at  less  expense 


-  m«^»P>iV*»fc*<ii*B.U«*  IWk'WJl^^tr^a*'- 


r^^ 


laao 


OVM  wtsrtRN  hMema. 


and  with  an  much  certainty  of  ^ood  crops  resulting  at  in  any 
State  or  Terrilor>'  of  "Our  VV»?stern  I-'mpirc."  Wc  give  below 
the  meteorology  of  Cheyenne,  which  is  nearly  a  fair  average  of 
that  of  the  whole  Territory. 

Meteorology  of  Cheyenne,    Wyoming  Tirrilory, 


l.jititude,  41°  is' north.   Longitiulc,  104"  43'. 


Elevation  above  tea,  6,057.35  fn-t. 


Dati. 
JUmikt. 


••77 
July.....".. 

AuguM 

S«pwmb«r.  ■ 

(kloWr 

Novtmbar. . 
l>«c«Mb«r .. 

hnuary . . . . 
ribnury... 
M>rah...... 

April  

May 

June 


TouUafor  ymr. 


July 

Augwi... 
S<pi«mb«r 
Ociolwr  . . 
November 
D<c*mb«r 


-•79. 
Jninnry  . . . 
Fehnury , , , 
March. 
April. 


April. 
May. 
Juna. 


Tolik  fer  ywr. 


SI 


•S'3 

309 

3«r 

43S 

JJ1 


44t 


fi:-3 

9» 

B 

S*'4 

3«7 
aoja 

§ 

•4' 3 

60 

3'3 

59 

Ml 

77 

21 

9» 

4SS 


70 

H 


¥> 


i 


>3 
IS 


44 
45 
«3 

-  4 

t 

-la 


9« 


Tmwimivu. 


0 

0 

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W 

44 
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77 

« 

— le 

—10 

I 


S    I  eg 

n        so 


-■S     1 107 


19  Ml 

»9  77J 

■■">  VI 
30.015 


>9'93} 


30049 
30.094 

JO.U9] 

>9.97« 
39998 
•9  947 


•9.874 
•99J7 
»99»5 
»9947 
>9  90« 


•997' 


WlHBt. 

1  > 

!' 

'1  ill 
in" 

I 

1 

par  CI. 

%% 

St.i 
4»4 
5«9 
4J9 

5«3 

579 

So.« 

5».l 
59-» 

Mi 

•t.S 
5«.5 
44.» 

Si.l 

41.6 
334 

s. 

s. 
w. 
w. 
w. 
w. 

N  W. 
N.W. 
N  W 
N.W. 
N,  W. 
N.W. 

«.*54 
I^J 
•970 
7.155 

7.493 

lo,.n4 

\% 
••.153 

Inchaa 

>  OJ 

'•99 
0.17 

033 

o.ot 
0.11 
■  .■0 
o.  ig 
4.4» 
1.71 

4 
1 
5 

'I 

5 

4 
7 

J 

•0 
■4 

100 

N.W. 

9. 
N.W. 
N.W. 
N.W. 
N.W. 
N.W. 

N.W, 

W. 

N.W. 

N.,N.W,ftW. 

8. 

w. 

>347 

••41 

•  SO 
075 
0.04 
o.oo 

0.19 

0-3» 
o.*o 

1.30 

0.07 

N.W. 

•90 

.... 

5«.3 

Agricultural  Productions  and  Stock- Raising. — It  is  impossible 
ro  give  any  very  definite  estimates  of  the  amount  of  agricultural 
productions  of  Wyoming  Territory,  until  the  census  report  on 
that  subject  is  made  public.  There  is  very  little  land  in  the  Ter- 
ritory which  at  the  present  time  will  produce  good  crops  without 
irrigation,  and  the  poorest  arable  lands  of  the  Territory  lie  along 


STOCK  K A !S INC,    IN  WYOMING. 


1331 


as  in  any 

give  below 
average  of 


6.oS7-»5ff'''' 


HuMroiTV. 

!l  1 

fr 

1 

1 

chn   1 

p«rci. 

o.iij        ^ 

Ji:l 

•99          11 
o.i;            A 

:J:'o 

OS  J 

S 

o.o* 

4 

Sl.i 

rx 

r 
J 

to 

S>9 

O.  lO 

4- 4* 

S«3 

1.71 

>4 

579 

'J.47 

loe 

J0.8 

>'43 

.... 

5t.i 

ty» 

...   * 

59» 

075 

•  •ft 

U:l 

0.04 

.... 

0.00 

...  • 

21:^ 

0.19 

.... 

0.31 

61.S 

o.ao 

.... 

5i» 

r« 

.... 

44.» 

St.l 

1.30 

.  .■  • 

4i.« 

0.07 

.... 

33-4 

•  90 

....      5.., 

is  impossible 
r  agricultural 
lis  report  on 
d  in  the  Ter- 
:rops  without 
tory  lie  along 


the  route  of  the  Union  Pacific.  The  v.illcys  in  the  \\\^  I  lorn 
and  Wind  River  Mountains,  cHpccially  the  former,  are  very  fertile 
and  easily  irrigated.  Probably  not  more  than  300,OCK)  acrcM  of 
the  6,000,000  acr<-H  of  fertile  lands  are  as  yet  under  cultivation,  per- 
haps even  less  than  that.  Cjood  crops  of  the  certals,  except  In- 
dian corn  ;  potatoes  and  other  root  irops,  and  sonic  of  the  varieties 
of  sorghum,  can  be  grown  lu;re;  and  when  once  the  tideof  dev<l- 
opment  begins,  Wyoming  wilt  be  uhlc  to  provide  breadstuffs  and 
vegetables  for  her  own  markets,  and  very  possibly  a  surplus  for 
the  general  market.  « 

Her  live-stock  production  is  more  encouraging.  More  than 
one-half  of  the  area  of  the  Territory  is  well  adapted  to  grazing, 
and  the  buffalo-grass  and  bunch-grass  are  the  best  and  most 
nutritious  food  for  cattle  to  be  found  anywhere  on  the  continent. 
The  stock-growers  have  not  given  so  much  attention  as  they 
should  to  improving  the  breeds  of  their  cattle  and  sheep,  pur- 
chasing Texas  cows  and  steers  and  fattening  them  for  market, 
though  some  of  them  are  now  introducing  Durham,  Devon  and 
Holsteip  bulls,  and  improving  their  poor  and  scrawny  Mexican 
sheep  by  an  infusion  of  the  best  Merino,  Southdown,  Cotswold 
or  Lincoln  blood ;  but  a  large  majority  content  themselves  with 
raising  Texan  steers,  which,  at  four  years  old,  sell  for  ;|^28,  when, 
at  an  expense  of  not  more  than  fifty  cents  per  head  more,  they 
might  raise  a  grade  Devon  or  Durham  steer,  which  at  the  same 
age  would  bring  JJ45  ;  or,  if  they  are  sheep-farmers,  will  rear  th«j 
Mexican  sheep,  which  will  yield  from  two  and  a  half  to  three  and 
a  half  pounds  of  long,  coarse  wool,  when  they  might,  for  fifteen 
cents  a  head  more,  raise  a  grade  Cotswold  or  Merino,  which  would 
yield  from  five  to  seven  pounds  of  better  wool.  In  1877  a  careful 
examination  indicated  that  there  were  150,000  catde  and  100,000 
sheep  in  the  Territory.  General  Drisbin  thinks  that  in  1880 
there  were  about  250,000  cattle  and  over  200,000  sheep  there. 
The  cattle  sent  to  Chicago  and  St.  Louis  from  Wyoming  in  1880 
brought  a  little  more  than  |2,ooo,ooo,  and  the  wool  about  $250,- 
000.  The  number  of  horses  is  rapidly  increasing,  and  several 
wealthy  stock-growers  have  gone  into  this  business  very  largely. 
There  are  probably  100,000  horses  and  mules  in  the  Territory. 
.1  i."-:i  I  ■;./,  '■'  Jc-  •  '■■■:  ■  .f.i  'in  ■>  ',f ;    ,(|j    ••   lA  t!iu(i 


-  ^if%.-.it.A\M»tX*i'tm '  «i^VTawH:''.< 


.■;*.rv-  1  "J  i"^****' <*■'»»-" 


r 


I2i2 


OL'Jt   lyAXIUMJy  AMr/MJt. 


The  Territory  in  Icm  (kvorabte  for  swine -breedinf;,  and  there  h«« 
not  been  much  done  in  that  line. 

Manmfmelurts  amd  Mimng. — Manufactures  ara  yrt  in  their  in- 
fancy in  the  Territory.  In  1870  the  product*  of  inanuUiclurfH 
were  Htatcd  in  the  census  an  ^874,824.  In  1877  Mr.  Robert  K. 
Straliorn,  after  careful  in([uiry,  estimated  the  amount  of  producth  at 
1^3,918,1  20.  The  larjfCHt  items  wen:  machinery,  railroad  repairing', 
etc.,  which  amounted  to  $1,4^9,430;  railroad  tics,  poles,  pontH, 
etc.,  1^455.360;  sawed  lumlxir,  {^345,000;  Halen  of  tanned  ruU  s, 
hides  and  furs,  ^^295,000;  charcoal,  ;j;340,ooc) ,  and  miQcd  quaru, 
$315,000;  and  blacksmithi(%  $233,500;  in  all,  about  |((3,20O,oou 
of  the  1^3,900,000  in  manufactures,  requiring  very  little  skilled 
labor.  Some  branches  of  manuhcturc  have  U-en  largely  devel- 
oped since  1877,  and  the  amount  of  products  is  not  now  probably 
less  than  $4,500,000.  Mr.  Straliorn  estimated  the  mining  pro- 
duct in  1877  at  53,911,000,  of  which  the  greater  part  was  coi!. 
There  arc  now  somt;  iron  mines  and  petroleum  wells,  which  hail 
not  then  been  diiicovered  or  worked,  and  the  i.aning  product. 
though  there  has  bcc.i  some  falling  off  in  gold»  has  probably  tn< 
creased  in  all  to  about  $3,500,000. 

'  Railways. — The  Union  Pacific  Railway  traverses  the  southern 
part  of  this  Territory  from  east  to  west,  having  a  length  of  470 
miles  in  it.  There  is  no  other  railway  in  operation  in  the  Terri- 
tory except  five  or  six  miles  of  the  Colorado  Central,  extending 
from  Cheyenne  to  Denver.  Two  or  three  other  railways  have 
been  projected,  but  none  of  them  are  yet  built.  One  was  pro- 
posed to  the  Black  Hills  from  the  Union  Pacific;  but  if  it  is  ever 
built,  it  will  probably  start  from  Sidney,  Nebraska,  and  may  not 
enter  Wyoming  at  all.  Another  was  [)roposed  from  Point  ol 
Rocks  or  Green  River  City  to  tlie  Yellowstone  Park,  but  this  has 
been  forestalled  by  the  construction  of  the  Utah  and  Northern 
Railroad,  which  now  proposes  to  build  a  branch  from  Market  lake 
or  some  other  point  in  that  vicinity  to  Shoshone  lake,  in  the 
Park,  and  in  that  case  will  not  enter  Wyoming.  Lastly,  tlie 
Northern  Pacific  has  projected  a  branch  from  the  point  where  its 
Yellowstone  Division  crosses  the  Yellowstone  river,  to  follow  that 
river  up  to  Yellowstone  lake,  in  the  Park.  This  road  may  be 
built  before  the  close  of  the  present  year  (1881). 


torVLAriON  A*>H>.  MJ>iXAriOS. 


«"3 


n 


1(1  therr  hii« 

t  in  their  in- 
imnulacluruH 
Robert  L. 

fproducthat 
ad  repairing, 

poles,  pOHtH. 

nned  roix  s, 
itled  quaru, 

Jt  Jl3,20O,OCHJ 

little  skillcil 
ar^^cly  devcl- 
low  probably 

mining  pro- 
>art  was  co-it. 
IIh,  which  hail 
iiin^  product, 
i  probably  in< 

the  southern 
length  of  470 
I  in  the  Terri- 
ral,  extending 
railways  have 
Dnc  was  pro- 
ut  if  it  is  ever 

and  may  not 
rom  point  of 
k,  but  thia  has 
and  Northern 
1  Market  lake 
B  lake,  in  the 
Lastly,  tlie 
oint  where  its 
,  to  folbw  that 

road  may  be 


Pi^iafim. — The  following  tabic  give*  the  particulars  of  the 
populati')n  of  Wyoming  in  1870  and  18H0,  the  only  years  in 
which  anything  like  an  iiiuinrraiion  lus  been  luul; 


r,i  I 


i 


1870 
1M80 


7. "9 
«4.»57 


I 


i,»99 
«,637 


ti 
3 


5.40S 

U,943 


3.5 « J 
5.«45 


I 


8,7t6 
•9. 4 J* 


«99 


a.  466 
j,j89 


1870 
1880 


»43 
914 


0.09 
0.18 


Education, — The  educational  statistics  of  Wyoming  are  not  so 
late  as  could  be  wished.  There  were  in  the  Territory  in  1877, 
which  is  the  latest  report  which  we  have  been  able  to  obtain,  16 
school  buildings,  27  schools,  a  school  population  of  1,690  children, 
1,54  ^pupils  enrolled  in  the  schools;  the  amount  of  wages  paid 
to  teachers  was  1(^18,169;  llu:  value  of  school  property,  ;jJ6o,5oo. 
All  the  counties  had  surplus  school  funds,  and  some  of  them  were 
arranging  to  erect  new  buildings  and  make  other  improvements. 
Th«:re  are  good  schools  at  Cheyenne,  Laramie  and  one  or  two 
other  points.  There  are  no  collegiate  schools,  colleges  or  univer- 
sities in  the  Territory.  Provision  is  made  at  the  expense  of  tlie 
1    I  ritory  for  deaf  mutes  and  the  blind. 

Religious  Denominations, — Ther«;  were,  in  1875,  ^o  church 
organizations,  17  church  edifices,  11  clergymen,  ministers  or 
priests,  427  communicants,  3,570  adherent  population,  and  $56.- 


•  Including  3,400  Uibai  ludliM. 


■,i$o  tribal  Indiani. 


l»M 


Otfit   WKXTKHl^  KMPtMM. 


I* 


500  of  church  property,  Amonj;  thrnr  thrrr  wprc  2  Raptitt 
churchcN,  1  ordained  minister,  50  m«ml»rrH.  300  •dhrrrnt  [)opii 
Intion.  ami  I7.000  cfwirch  prop«  rty  ;  ihr  Conf^regationalintM  ha<l 
atioiit  thr  fiamr>  nntnltrrH  lhr«>(t;,d)oiit.  Thfrr  wrrc:  4  i'ipiNcopal 
chiirchcu.  with  3  church  rdificrn,  a  cirrjj)  rtirn,  1 16  c()mmuni«atw>, 
696  atlherrcnt  population,  and  ^i3,<>''>o  <hurch  property.  Tlu' 
M»*tho<li»itH  hnci  jnnt  ahout  tlw  sanw  ruimluTs,  hut  their  church 
proprrty  was  not  •■ttitnatcd  at  morr  tliart  |(lc;,(xv);  th«*  iVrnhytr 
rian**  ha<l  nlmont  ihr  same  li^Mirrn,  and  f,\  j.rxK)  of  church  prop»;rty, 
The  Roman  CatholicH  had  3  chun  hfs  anil  10  stationN,  3  prirsitu, 
ahout  1,000  adhrrrnt  poptdntion,  and  J r 0,000  of  church  prop- 
erty. Thrrr  wrrr  two  or  thrrr  of  thr  minor  d*  nominations,  with 
onr  church  rach.  Sincr  875  thrsr  nuinlxTs  hav«r  materially  in- 
crcasrd,  hilt  we  cannot  ^jivr  exact  flj,jiires, 

C0UMti4s. —  Ihrre  arr  srv«'n  counties.    Thir  followinj^  tabic ^ivcs 
the  names,  area,  population  and  asHeH»rd  valuation  of  each : 


C0t;NTIE8. 


Albany 

Carbon..,.. 

Crook 

I.animie.... 

IV-   • 

St  <   t  water 
Uintah 


-rrri- 


B 

sr 

I 


10,400 

a  a, 080 
new 

16,800 
new 

»9.S.1« 
17,064 


95.876 


i 


»39 

6,409 

i,S6i 
2,879 


ao,7«8* 


f  1,850,000 
I ,900,000 

3,500,000 

1,918,449 
800,000 


Principal  7<w« J.— Cheyenne,  the  capital,  has  a  good  location 
and  good  trade.  The  population  probably  exceeds  4,000.  Lar- 
amie, fifty-six  miles  farther  west,  is  a  thriving  town  of  over  3,000 
inhabitants.  Rawlins  and  F^vanston  have  each  over  1,000,  and 
Green  River  City,  Rock  Springs,  Hilliard,  South  Pass  and  At- 
lantic City  are  growing  towns.         'f    '""  '  "  "  '       ■    '-i'>n»| 

•  WiUMwt  Irib*!  IndiM*. 


)'«& 


<<aancBim: 


rr  3  Paptitt 
»*rrnt   \H^y\\ 

:i(>naliHtM  IkkI 
4  I'.piHcopal 

)inmiiniiantN, 
•'•rty.  'Ilw 
their  church 
!«•  iVrnbytf 

reh  property. 

)nft.  2  |)rir!itii, 
hiirdi  prop- 

inatioHH,  with 

iiiaKrriully  in- 

njT^  table  gives 
of  each : 


^1,850,000 
1 ,900,000 

3,500,000 

1,918,449 
800,000 


ijood  location 
1  4,000.  Lar- 
of  over  3,000 
er  1,000,  and 
Pass  and  At- 


marontCAi.  xortci  os  wyomisq,  \%i^ 

Objt<ts  of  InttrtiL — There  «r«-  many  of  thi.-»e  in  the  Territory, 
some  the  rcMultn  of  cronion,  othcrn  of  voUanic  action,  and  othem 
fttill  of  KubtrrrantroitH  convlllHion^  and  chrmical  at  tion  in  tlur  ^rrat 
latjoratory  of  nature.  But  the  ^rcatcnt  worn'  r  of  all — rather  thu 
jjriMtfHt  collection  of  wondcm — the  Y<llowntonr  National  Park— 
dcHcrveH  and  ithall  have  a  conHid<  r.ition  more  lull  than  y^M\  \vt 
given  to  it  in  a  Hin^le  para^jraph,  for  it  iit  imrivatlvd  in  the;  variety 
and  grandeur  of  itn  attractions  by  any  other  known  tract  of  the 
eartliH  nurface.  Hut  before  proceeiling  to  portray  an  vividly  aH 
we  may  this  wonderland  in  the  heart  of  the  continent,  wt  nuiNt 
give  a  little  npacc  to  the  early  hihtory  of  thiit  territory  and  its 
natural  womlers. 

Hiiloridil  A^c;/*'^.— Wyoming  Territory,  and  especially  ihc  liig 
Horn  region  ami  the  (ountry  about  Yellowstone  lake  and  the 
sources  of  the  Yellowstone,  wa.s  probably  known  to  the  S|)ani)»h 
adventurers  of  the  larly  part  of  the  seventeenth  century.  That 
they  were  cut  off  by  the  Indians  some  time  between  1650  and 
1680  is  a  matter  of  tradition  among  the  Mexican  priests.  More 
than  a  r'.tr/iury  later  (in  1781),  an  expeilition,  accom|)anied  by 
Jesuit  missionaries,  set  out  for  this  region  from  Santa  I'Y*,  but  did 
not  return.  In  1866  tlic  remains  of  an  old  Spanish  arastra — a 
contrivance  for  crushing  quartz,  which  wc  have  elsewhere  de- 
scribed — was  found  near  Lake  de  Smet,  in  the  Big  Horn  Moun- 
tains, and  subse(|uently  other  Spanish  ruins  of  houses  and 
fortifications  were  found  in  the  same  vicinity.  The  more  recent 
discoveries  in  Wyoming  arc  due  mainly  to  two  men,  lather  Peter 
John  dc  Smet,  a  Jesuit  priest  and  missionary,  who  visited  and 
explored  much  of  the  Territory  in  1838  and  1839,  and  Captain 
James  Bridger,  who,  with  his  partner.  Vasquez,  built  a  trading 
fort  near  the  present  site  of  Fort  Laramie.  There  had  been, 
however,  a  fur-trading  post  established  in  that  vicinity  as  early 
as  1834,  and  rebuilt  by  the  American  Fur  Company  in  1836. 
Captain  Bridger  says,  with  the  Western  habit  of  humorous  exag- 
geration, that  he  was  there  when  Laramie  Peak  hadn't  begun  to 
grow,  and  was  a  hole  in  the  ground  (Laramie  Peak  being  now 
10,000  feet  above  the  sea),  but  he  probably  does  not  much  ante- 
date 1839.     Fort  Bridger  was  held  by  Messrs.  Bridger  and  Vas- 


MrMWGIWmvrAKt 


1226 


OUR  WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


quez  till  1854,  when  they  sold  it  to  the  Mormons,  who  burned  it 
in  1857,  but  it  was  rebuilt  by  the  United  States  in  1858,  Several 
forts  and  camps,  six  in  all,  have  since  been  built  for  the  protection 
of  the  Union  Pacihc  Railway  and  the  mining  settlements.  The 
Territory  was  organized  by  Act  of  Congress,  approved  July  35, 
1868.  Its  growth  has  been  slow,  partly  because  the  Indians  were 
troublesome,  an*^!  partly  because  the  land  was  not  as  easily  or 
successfully  c<- itivated  as  in  some  of  the  other  Territories.  There 
had  been  ro  serious  fighting  with  the  Indians  until  1876,  when 
the  Sioux,  in  the  extreme  northeast  of  the  Territory,  in  the  Black 
Hills,  attacked  General  Custer's  command  and  completely  de- 
stroyed it.  The  Sioux  have  since  been  expelled  from  the  Terri- 
tory, and  there  are  now  only  a  band  of  the  Eastern  Shoshones, 
numbering  1,250  and  partially  civilized,  and  a  smaller  band  of 
the  Northern  Arapahoes,  numbering  900,  in  the  Territory.  These 
are  both  on  the  Shoshone  Reservation,  which  contains  1,520,000 
acres,  with  a  fair  proportion  of  tillable  land,  and  are  pe^eable 
and  quiet,      'i    •!-'•!''    -vx  ,y.'<v.\u>'\-  "^    ;;r  ;i)' -    :.j.';i  ;;  i^i  <.'.-u)' 

The  Territory  ig  deserving  of  a  better  reputation  than  it  has 
had  in  the  past,  and  will  be  found  desirable  for  those  who  are 
disposed  to  engage  in  stock-raising  or  the  breeding  of  horses ; 
while  parties  who  have  some  means  can  invest  them  very  profit- 
ably in  some  of  the  rich  valleys  of  the  Big  Horn  or  Wind  River 
Mountains,  and  with  a  moderate  irrigation  can  produce  abundant 
crops,  for  which  they  will  find  a  ready  home  market  The  con- 
struction of  railways,  to  render  the  Yellowstone  National  Park 
readily  accessible,  will  not  only  call  many  thousands  to  Wy- 
oming, but  will  greatly  increase  the  demand  for  agricultural 
products,  which  ought  to  be  supplied  by  Wyoming  farmers. 


I  i  i\) 


..}/ 


f':    ^;n,a(  ■■,>  :.'  ■••.  i    n,i.  tri  mm/, 
■  •         1  . , '        ' '        '1 


>.■"' 


V  -  - 

■  V 

-«*jiV  bur.  'V'-jSiruX  .y.t'  f  I/i  vfi  l-^yd  tt-'i  v.i)>.\iriii  .yi.i'i     .of 'jr  'aU',l.> 


burned  it 

Several 

protection 

nts.    The 

d  July  25, 

dians  were 

easily  ox 

|es.    There 

876,  when 

the  Black 

jletely  de- 

the  Terri- 

Shoshones, 

;r  band  of 

ry.    These 

5  1,520,000 

peaceabks 

than  it  has 
se  who  are 
of  horses; 
very  profit- 
A^ind  River 

• 

:e  abundant 
The  con- 
tional  Park 
ds  to  Wy- 
agricultural 
rmers.    -^'i 


BOUHD ARIES  OF   YELLOWSTONE  PARK 


i>3; 


^iU 


,r,>v 


lutj;  .v.'Oi;,, 
\'-^■;^\  (X><';i.<>. 
.Of  ilr  .'jjjf;;. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

mi  YELLOWSTONE  NATIONAL  PARK. 

Situation — Boundaries  and  Area-  Its  Recent  Discovery  and  Exploration 
—The  Act  of  Congress  setting  it  apart  as  a  National  Park — The  Park 

DRAINED  INTO  THE  PACIFIC  AND  THE  GULP  OF  MEXICO — ItS  VoLCANIC  CHAR- 
ACTER— Not  of  much  Value  as  an  Agricultural  Region — Inaccessible 

EXCEPT  FROM  THE  NoRTH  AND  WEST — EASTERN   PaRI'  NOT  FULLY  EXPLORED — 

No  Mineral  Wealth  YF/r  Discovered  excepiinthe  Northf  .i  ''orner — 
The  Approach  to  the  Park  at  the  North — The  CaSon  ».•  ;»'•  V'ellow- 
stone,  outside  the  Park — Cinnabar  Mountain — •'  The  T  "•'II'^  Lv  .iok  '' — 
Entrance  to  the  Park — Rapid  Review  ov  the  Ohjects  to  .<»■  Visited — 
Sepulchre  Mountain— CaSon  of  Gardiner's  River — Mammoth  Hot 
Springs — Tower  Creek  and  Falls — The  Columns  and  Towers  ok  Tower 
Creek  CaSon — Mount  Washburn — The  Grand  CaSon  o;'  the  Yellow- 
stone— Yellowstone  Lake — The  Lakes  of  the  Southern  Tour,  Heart, 
Lewis  and  Shoshone— The  Cross  Cut  which  avoids  these — The  Upprr 
AND  Lower  Geyser  Basins  of  the  Fire  Hole  or  Upper  Madison  River— 
The  Geyser  Basins  of  Gibbon's  Fork — The  Wonders  of  Beaver  Lake 
and  the  Obsidian  Cliffs — Return  to  Mammoth  Hot  Springs — Time  in 
which  the  Trip  can  be  made— The  Wonders  in  Detail — Mammoth  Hot 
Springs— Mr.  Strahorn'^  Description— The  Route  to  Tower  Creek 
Falls  and  CaSo?<— Hon.  N.  P.  Langford  and  Lieut.  Doane's  Eulogy  or 
■  them — The  Ascent  to  Mount  Washburn — Rev.  Da.  Hoyt's  Eloquent 
PiCTURB  OF  the  View  from  its  Summit — The  Descent  from  Mount  Wash- 
burn— The  Old  and  the  New  Trail — The  Grand  CaSon  of  the  Yellow- 
stone—Its Bed  Inaccessible  at  most  Points — The  Upper  and  Lower 
Falls  of  the  Yellowstone — The  Latter  at  the  Head  of  the  Grand 
CaSon — Dr.  Hoyt's  Eloquent  Description  or  the  Falls  and  the  CA5k>N 
— The  TraV'  to  Yellowstone  Lakk — Thb  Lake  Itself- -Its  Shape  Com- 
pared TO  THE  Human  Hand — Professc«  Raymond's  Criticism  of  the 
Comparison — The  Elevation  of  the  Lake — Professor  Hayden's  State- 
ment only  Correct  if  applied  to  Large  Lakes — Height  of  Colorado 
Lakes— The  Yellowstone  River  Flows  through  the  Lake — Thb  Lake 
mot  its  Source— *iffluints  or  the  Lake — Mineral  and  Hot  Springs  on 

1T$   B^K3r-I-f»  '  '  ATBRS  GENERALLY   VERY  PURE  AKD    SWBET — ThE   TrOUT 

iNKisri'^n  WITH  WoKMS — Beauty  of  the  Lake — Marshall's  Description 
— Strahorn's  Poetical  Picture — Professor  Raymond's  Eulogy — Rev.  Dr. 
Hoyt's  Pen  Portraiture  of  it — Moving  Forward — "The  Upper  and  Lowkr 
Oevser  Bastns — Explanations  m  regard  to  Geysers — ^ThosE  ov  Iceland 


-^■:5«TK5r'«T«««atia:30-*fi3'i»,^»t':»*iaiyf»SLX^*»^n=»sw* 


,^ 


1228 


OVR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


THE  ONI-Y   OTHERS   OF    NoTE    IN    THE    WoRLD — CHARACTER    OK  THE   GeYSER 

Eruption — Old  and  Recent  Geysers — The  Upper  Gryser  Basin — Rev. 
Edwin  Stanley's  "  Parade  of  the  Geysers  " — The  Geysers  not  all  in 
Action  at  once — Lieutenant  Barlow  on  the  Fan  and  Well  Geysers— 
The  Grotto — Mr.  Norton's  Description — Lieutenant  Doane  on  thf. 
Grand  Geyser — Professor  Raymond  on  the  Lower  Geyser  Basin — Thf. 
Langs  OR  Extinct  Geysers — Gfyserdom  not  Paradise— Dr.  Hoyt's  Df- 
scRiPTiON  or  the  Desolation — The  Geysers  and  Hot  Springs  of  Gib- 
bon's Fork — Beaver  Lake — The  Obsidian  Cliffs — Mountains  of  Glass — 
Reviisw  of  the  whole — Accessibility  of  the  Park — Its  Future  Attrac- 
tions— Its  Quiet  and  Beautiful  Valleys  and  Glades — Distances  withi.n 
the  Park. 

The  Yellowstone  National  Park  is  a  region  about  sixty-five 
miles  long  by  fifty-five  miles  wide,  situated  mostly  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  Wyoming  Territory,  but  on  its  north  and  west  sides 
stretching  a  few  miles  into  the  adjacent  Territories  of  Montana 
and  Idaho.  It  covers  an  area  of  about  3,578  square  miles,  or 
;:, 298,920  acres,  having  an  extent  a  little  greater  than  that  of  the 
combined  States  of  Rhode  Island  and  Delaware.  In  this  region 
there  are  assembled  so  many  grand,  sublime  and  piriuresque 
natural  objects,  and  such  a  variety  of  unique  and  marvellous 
phenomena,  that  when  an  account  of  some  of  the  most  remarkable 
of  these  wonders  was  brought  before  Congress  in  the  report  of 
the  United  States  Geological  Survey,  under  Professor  Hayden, 
an  act  was  passed  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  both  Houses,  and 
approved  by  the  President,  March  i,  1872,  withdrawing  from 
sale  and  occupancy,  and  setting  apart  as  a  National  Park,  or 
perpetual  public  pleasure  ground,  for  the  use  and  enjoyment  of 
the  people,  the  area  above  described,  with  boundaries  designed 
to  include  the  chief  wonders  of  the  region,  and  described  as  fol- 
lows :  "Commencing  at  the  junction  of  Gardiner's  river  with  the 
Yellowstone  river,  and  running  east  to  the  meridian  passing  ten 
miles  to  the  eastward  of  the  most  eastern  point  of  Yellowstone 
lake ;  thence  south  along  said  meridian  to  the  parallel  of  latitude 
passing  ten  miles  south  of  the  most  southerly  poirit  of  Yellowstone 
lake ;  thence  west  along  said  parallel  to  the  meridian  passing  fifteen 
miles  west  of  the  most  western  point  of  Madison  lake ;  thence 
north  along  said  meridian  tp  the  l^ititude  of  the  junction  of  ,^he 


BOVNDARJES  FIXED  BY  CONGRESS. 


1229 


F.  Geyser 
SIN — Rev. 

OT   AIX   IN 

EYSERS— 
E    ON    THE 
\SIN — TlIF. 

ovt's  Df- 
s  OF  G:u- 
3F  Glass — 
E  Attrac- 

[CES  WITHIN 


sixty-five 

northwest 

vest  sides 

Montana 

miles,  or 

hat  of  the 

his  region 

ifiuresque 

narvelloiis 

emarkable 

report  of 

r  Hayden, 

ouses,  and 

wing  from 

1   Park,  or 

oyment  of 

s  designed 

bed  as  fol- 

tr  with  the 

assing  ten 

ellowstone 

of  latitude 

ellowstone 

sing  fifteen 

ke ;  thence 

tion  of  the 


Yellowstone  and  Gardiner's  rivers  ;  thence  east  to  the  place  of 
beginning." 

The  region,  thus  bounded,  stretches  a  few  miles  east  of  the  me- 
ridian of  1 10°,  and  about  as  far  west  of  the  meridian  of  1 1 1  °  west 
longitude  from  Greenwich,  and  a  few  miles  north  of  the  parallel 
of  45°,  and  not  quite  so  far  south  as  44°  north  latitude.  These 
boundaries  show  at  once  that  this  Nitional  Park  is  not  like  the 
parks  of  Colorado,  which  are  strictly  natural  divisions  of  land, 
being  great  areas,  level  or  slightly  undulating,  enclosed  by  a  rim 
of  lofty  mountains,  whereas  the  boundaries  of  the  National  Park 
are  purely  artificial,  merely  referring  to  certain  natural  objects 
for  their  location.  i"         ;,/■•  r 

"Situated,"  says  Professor  William  I.  Marshall,  who  has 
made  this  great  wonderland  a  special  subject  of  study,  "  along 
the  highest  part  of  that  great  culminating  area  of  North  America 
which  has  been  aptly  termed  '  The  Crown  of  the  Continent,'  and 
from  which  pour  down  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  on  the  southeast, 
to  the  Gulf  of  California  on  the  southwest,  and  to  the  open  Pa- 
cific on  the  northwest,  the  mightiest  rivers  of  both  coasts  of 
the  continent,  the  Park  embraces  within  its  boundaries,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  main  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  country 
about  some  of  the  headwaters  of  the  Lewis  or  Snake  river,  the 
great  southerly  fork  of  the  Oregon  or  Columbia,  the  greatest 
river  of  the  Pacific  slope,  which  no  longer 


'•i 


*'  <  Hears  no  sound 
■'    '       '     *■''■■■    '  Save  its  oMm  dashings,' 

"l>ni  ■  •  ::\)i\   "  .' 

since  the  steamer's  wheels  now  vex  its  waters,  the  hum  of  varied 
industry  rises  from  its  fertile  valleys,  and  the  roar  of  the  railroad 
stardes  the  echoes  along  its  dales.  Most  of  the  Park,  however, 
is  on  the  east  side  of  the  main  range,  and  embraces  the  country 
about  the  headwaters  of  the  Madison  and  Gallatin  rivers,  which 
are  the  middle  and  eastern  of  the  three  streams  which  unite  to 
form  the  Missouri  river,  and  much  of  the  upper  valley,  though 
not  the  extreme  headwaters  of  the  Yellowstone  river,  which  is  a 
stream  as  long  as  the  Rhine -or  the  Ohio,  far  surpasses  them  in 
the  sublimity  of  its  scenery,  and  is  the  greatest  tributary  of  the 
upper  part  of  the  Missouri  river. 


.v?-<«nss«asusr»saSr .  J 


1330 


OUR    WESTERS  EUPUtS, 


"  Being  a  volcanic  region,  the  Park  (except  a  littye  of  the  north- 
east corner  of  it,  where  silver  mines  exist)  is  valueless  for  mining 
puqx)ses,  except  for  sulphur,  and  as  that  exists  in  unlimited  quan- 
tities at  points  nearer  the  main  line  of  the  Union  Pacific,  notably 
at  a  point  forty  miles 'southeast  of  Evanston,  the  extra  freight  on 
it  will  make  the  Park  deposit  economically  valueless.  As  the 
lowest  valleys  of  the  Park  are  more  than  6,000  and  most  of  them 
from  7,000  to  8,000  feet  above  the  sea,  its  altitude  and  latitude 
make  it  worthless  for  farming  purposes,  there  being  few  nights 
without  frosts.  Though  not  adapted  for  a  permanent  residence 
of  any  considerable  population,  die  Park,  with  its  opportunities 
for  sailing,  and  rowing,  and  fishing,  and  hunting,  with  the  grandest 
of  mountains  within  it  and  upon  its  borders,  and  the  purest  of  air 
ever  sweeping  over  it,  and  with  the  inducements  to  open  air  life 
and  exercise  offered  by  its  unique  and  enchanting  scenery,  is  pre- 
eminently fitted  for  a  public  pleasure  ground,  from  June  to  Oc- 
tober, and  especially  from  »bout  the  first  of  August  to  the  middle 
of  October.  Tiiough  a  vi  ^nic  region,  there  isi  nowhere  in  the 
Park  any  opehing  from  which  flame,  smoke,  ashes  or  lava  issues 
now,  or,  as  far  as  known,  has  issued  for  ages  past,  the  only  mani- 
ff^stations  of  the  volcanic  forces  now  being  limited  to  eruptions 
of  steam  and  hot  water ;  though  almost  everywhere  in  the  Park, 
and  outside  its  boundaries  m  many  directions,  are  vast  beds  and 
streams  of  ancient  lava,  showing  how  terrific  was  the  former  in- 
tensity of  the  volcanic  forces,  whose  declining  activity  now  only 
suffices  to  produce  steam  and  spout  boiling  water,  instead,  as 
anciently,  of  melting  down  into  indistinguishable  ruin  the  ada- 
thatttinfe  framework  of  the  continent,  and  spreading  it,  as  a  foam- 
irtg  torrent  of  fiery  devastation,  over  the  Si^ffkce  df  mountains 
and  plains  for  an  area  of  scores  of  thousands  of  square  miles.** 

The  Park  is  not  readily  accessible  from  Wyoming ;  on  its  east- 
ern side  the  Wind  River  Range  presents  an  impassable  barrier 
of  lofty  walls  of  rock,  through  which  none  of  the  exploring  parties 
have  ever  been  able  to  find  a  practicable  pass  even  for  pack 
animnls;  on  the  southern  side  a  stage  road  exterids  from  Green 
River  City  to  Camp  Brown,  a  distance  of  155  nwles;  thence  a 
tolerabJe  wagon  road  exists  to  the  head  of  Wind  river,  a  distance 


AFPMOACNES  TO   TJTE  PARK. 


U3« 


■  the  north- 

for  mining 

litcd  quan- 

ific,  notably 

frciy;lit  Oft 

,     As  the 

ost  of  them 

nd  latitude 

few  nights 

»t  residence 

pportunities 

;he  grandest 

jurest  of  air 

open  air  life 

nery,  is  pre- 

June  to  Oc- 

o  the  middle 

where  in  the 

rlava  issues 

le  only  mant- 

to  eruptions 

in  the  Park, 

rast  beds  and 

le  former  in- 

/ity  now  only 

;r,  instead,  as 

ruin  the  ada- 

it,  as  a  foam- 

c^f  meuntains 

are  milesj'* 

r ;  on  its  ea^t- 

ssable  barrier 

loring  parties 

ven  for  pack 

s  from  Green 

lies ;  thence  a 

^er,  a  distance 


of  1  lo  miles  more ;  but  from  thence  to  Yellowstone  lake,  a  dis- 
tance of  fifty  miles,  is  a  difficult  trail,  which  can  be  traversed  only 
on  foot  with  pack  animals  and  with  considerable  dan<^er.  On 
the  west  side,  by  way  of  the  Utah  and  Northern  Railway,  from 
Ogden,  Utah,  stopping  at  Pleasant  Valley,  there  is  a  wagon  road 
by  way  of  Red  Rock  and  Henry  lakes,  which  reaches  the  Upper 
Geyser  bafiin  by  about  sixty«five  miles  travel.  A  still  better 
route  is  that  by  the  Utah  and  Northern  Railway  to  the  vicinity 
of  Bozeman,  Montana,  from  thence  a  wagon  road  by  way  of 
Boteler's  Ranche,  only  about  thirteen  miles  distant  from  the  Park, 
with  a  good  wagon  road  to  Gardiner's  river  and  the  mammoth 
Hot  Springs.  Before  the  close  of  the  present  year  (1881),  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railway  will  undoubtedly  be  completed  to  Fort 
Ellis  or  beyond,  and  probably  its  branch  to  the  Park,  so  that  this 
great  wonderland  will  then  be  for  the  first  time  easily  accessible 
by  the  shortest  and  swiftest  route.  ^ m  ■ 

It  should  be  said  that  that  portion  of  the  Park  lying  east  of 
the  Yellowstone  river  and  lake  is  so  rough  and  mountainous  and 
possesses  so  few  attractions,  that  it  is  not  often  visited.  The 
lofty  mountain  chain  which  extends  from  the  southeastern  arm  of 
Yellowstone  lake  to  Slough  creek  and  the  Tower  creek  falls 
of  the  Yellowstone,  has  but  a  single  and  very  difficult  pass 
over  it.  '•'  *'  ■"'*'*  V-"***',!.     ««  *•  Mj.-.'imntjii  ,j-,:'n  ,-  inrri  •■'<('■•,?  f» 

The  elevated  plateau  enclosed  between  this  mountain'  range 
and  the  Yellowstone  lake  and  river  affords  a  fine  pasture-ground 
for  the  elk,  black  buffalo,  deer,  bighorns  and  moose,  which,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Park,  are  so  ruthlessly  slaughtered  by  wanton 
tourists,  and  after  being  deprived  of  their  skins,  antlers,  or  horns, 
and  tongues,  are  left  to  be  the  prey  of  wolves,  panthers  and 
coyotes.  Amfid  these  lofty  pasture-grounds  specimens  at  least 
of  our  great  game  animals  might  be  kept.  In  the  extreme  north- 
east corner  of  the  Park,  on  Clark's  fork  of  the  Yellowstone,  are 
some  mines  of  gold  and  peHiaps  silver,  which  might  better  be 
ceded  to  the  miners  than  suffered  lo  encroach  on  the  Park. 

Thfe  attractive  features  o(f  the  Park  are  all  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Yeltewstone  river,  and  west  of  the  east  or  southeast  shores  of 
the  Yellowstone  lake.   Approaching  the  Park  from  the  north,  from 


5"'r3»^^-oW- .  - 


>'iBi'»qM!r' 


laja 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


Dozeman  and  Boteler's  Ranche,  the  road  passes  first  along  what 
is  called  outside  the  Park  the  Upper  CaAon  of  the  Yellowstone, 
a  narrow  passage  of  that  river  between  perpendicular,  rocky 
walls,  from  2,000  to  3,000  feet  in  height.  This  extends  for  about 
three  miles.  Ten  miles  farther  on,  Cinnabar  Mountain,  so  called 
from  its  surface  of  brilliant  red  clay  (the  color  being  due,  how- 
ever, to  red  ochre  and  not  to  cinnabar),  is  passed,  with  its  im- 
mense "  Devil's  Slide,"  a  huge  stone  trough,  which  extends  to  its 
summit,  with  smooth,  dark,  nearly  vertical  parallel  walls,  thirty 
feet  apart  and  200  feet  in  height.  A  short  distance  beyond  this 
we  enter  the  Park,  passing  between  Sepulchre  Mountain,  the 
northern  terminal  mountain  of  the  Upper  Madison  Range,  on 
the  right  hand,  looking  south,  and  the  caflon  of  Gardiner's  river, 
an  affluent  of  the  Yellowstone,  which  here  has  a  course  nearly 
west  by  south,  through  deeply  worn  banks.  Shortly  after  leaving 
Sepulchre  Mountain  we  come  to  a  terraced  hill,  quite  steep  and 
of  various  colors,  iti  which  are  situated  die  Mammoth  Hot 
Springs,  whose  wonderful  forms  and  character  we  will  allow  an 
eye-witness  to  describe  presently.  Crossing  at  the  foot  of  these 
terraces  the  Gardiner  river  at  the  point  where  its  caflon  com- 
mences, we  ride  along  by  the  side  of  a  succession  of  cascades  of 
one  of  its  eastern  affluents,  and  striking  due  east,  at  a  distance 
of  twenty  miles,  reach  Bat  ronette's  bridge  over  the  Yellowstone, 
and  a  little  above,  just  where  the  Yellowstone  emerges  from  its 
Grand  Caflon,  Tower  creek  comes  in  from  the  west,  plunging 
down  156  feet,  and  within  the  next  two  hundred  yards  by  a  suc- 
cession of  rapids  leaping  into  a  dark  and  dismal  gorge,  260  feet 
in  depth.  Basaltic  tufa  cones  and  columns,  in  the  form  of  towers, 
turrets,  pinnacles  and  cathedrals,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  falls,  have 
suggested  its  name.  At  these  falls  the  Grand  Caflon  of  the  Yellow- 
stone, twenty  miles  in  length,  and  one  of  the  great  wonders  of  the 
Park,  terminates.  Southward  from  the  Tower  falls  commences  the 
long,  rolling,  and  somewhat  difficult  ascent  to  Mount  Washburn, 
the  Pisgah  of  the  Park,  from  the  summit  of  which  can  be  seen,  in 
near  or  distant  view,  all  its  glories.  Descending  from  the  moun- 
tain, t^e  trail  takes  us  again  to  the  Yellowstone  and  to  the  great 
falls  which  precede  its  plunge  into  the  Great  Caflon.     Reserving 


■  .««.•'££  „ rr-"j' .'■*!./ v^''  ^i^.mit^sm'i'ititsmmsin^ms'em ' 


long  what 
L'UowKtone, 
jlar,  rocky 
s  for  about 
n,  so  called 
due,  how- 
yith  its  im- 
tends  to  its 
vails,  thirty 
leyond  this 
>untain,  the 
Range,  on 
iner's  river, 
urse  nearly 
fter  leaving 
e  steep  and 
nmoth   Hot 
rill  allow  an 
loot  of  these 
cafton  corn- 
cascades  of 
It  a  distance 
ifellowstone, 
-ges  from  its 
ist,  plunging 
ds  by  a  suc- 
rge,  260  feet 
m  of  towers, 
10  falls,  have 
ftheYellow- 
)nders  of  the 
mmences  the 
t  Washburn, 
n  be  seen,  in 
m  the  moun- 
tQ.  the  great 
Reserving 


aKiSKSSSSWt- 


^ 


V,f' 


■■:<■■ 


»    -I 


.r- 


iWP—^WW""- J'..^" 


'It 


FRlNCirAt.   onjRCTS  Of  INTHMHar  tN  THR  PARK,  |jjj 

a  dcHcription  of  these  for  the  pootic  lan^'ua|,;e  of  nn  (^yi^witnuss, 
wc  follow  the  couriie  of  the  river  to  Sulphur  MoutUain,  with  iut 
boiling  springs  of  sulphuretted  water,  then  four  miles  farther  to 
the  Mud  Volcapo,  or  Mud  Geysers,  spouting  springs,  which 
throw  up  malodorous  mud  instead  of  water,  and  one  of  which, 
from  its  preternatural  activity,  is  named  "The  Devil's  Work- 
shop." Ii)ight  miles  farther  on,  we  reach  the  northern  extremity 
of  tlie  beautiful  Yellowstone  lake,  at  the  point  where  the  Yellow* 
stone  river  leaves  it.  This  lake,  the  surface  of  which  is  7,788 
feet  above  the  sea,  is  twenty-two  miles  in  its  grmtest  luni^th,  and 
about  fifteen  miles  in  width,  and  has  a  shore  line  of  more  than 
300  mil^s,  from  its  very  irregular  form.  There  are  a  number  of 
islands  in  it,  and  its  beauty  is  too  great  for  description.  To  com* 
prehend  its  loveliness  several  days  should  be  spent  in  camping 
on  its  borders.  From  this  lake  we  may  take  either  of  two  trails, 
the  one  going  nearly  south,  pust  the  Geysers  of  the  Yellowstone 
lake,  on  the  east  side  of  the  great  divide  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  across  a  spur  of  that  divide  to  Heart  lake,  at  the  foot  of 
Mount  Sheridan,  where  there  are  other  geysers,  and  thence  by  a 
new  trail  westward  past  Lewis  lake  and  Shoshone  lake,  where 
there  are  more  geysers  and  a  lake  four  feet  higher  than  the  Yel* 
iowstone,  and  thence  northward  by  a  difficult  pass  over  the  Rocky 
Mountains  to  the  Upper  Geyser  basin,  on  the  Upper  Madison 
river,  from  which  point  there  is  a  good  road  (the  Norris  road) 
to  the  Midway  Springs  and  the  Lower  Geyser  basin,  on  the  Fire 
Hole  river.  Or,  we  may  go  from  the  geysers  on  the  Yellowstone 
lake  by  a  shorter  though  difficult  trail  directly  west  to  the  Upper 
Geyser  basin,  without  visiting  Heart,  Lewis  and  Shbshone  lakes. 
From  this  Upper  Geyser  basin  we  pdss  by  the  Norris  road,  as  we 
have  said,  to  the  Mkjway  Springs,  the  Lower  Geyser  basin,  in 
the  Fire  Hole  river,  the  Gibbon's  Fire  Hole  basin  and  geysers  on 
the  Howard  road,  the  falls  and  caAon  of  Gibbon's  fork,  the  Mon- 
ument Geyser  basin,  the  Norris  and  Fire  Hole  basins,  of  geysers 
and  craters  of  spent  vol0anoes,  the  remarkable  formation  of  Pine 
and  Beaver  lakes,  the  Obsidian  or  volcanic  glass  cliffs,  and  the 
road  of  glass  over  thetn»  and  so  back  to  the  Mammoth  Hot 
Spriogsat.tbe  entmnoe  tQ  ti>e  Park. 
7« 


I 


|J3^  OVit   WKSrKK.V  EMPIHE, 

W«  have  purposely  avoklcd  in  tliin  mrr**  liinerary  any  dcscrip' 
tion  of  these  wondcrn,  ihai  we  mi^'ht  <!o  thtrn  better  juxtice  in 
the  vivlil  portrayal  (»f  eye-witne-iHrH.  The  tour  of  lh«*  Park  thus 
de«crib<*d  covers  164  milcH,  and  cannot  welt  Im;  gonr:  over  in  lesii 
than  twelve*  days. 

Turnin]^  now  to  these  vaHoiis  points  of  intei^M,  let  us  go  over 
them  in  detail,  tisin^  the  descriptions  of  'hose  who  have  studied 
them  most  thorouj^hly,  an4  b«en  mott  aceply  impressed  with 
their  grandeur  and  beauty.      '      '         "  f 

'  Let  us  begin  with  a  dfucription  of  the  Mammoth  Hot 
Springs  of  Gardiner  river,  from  the  K%L\\rt  and  skilful  pen  of 
Rohrrt  K.  Strahorn,  V.^\. :  "  Tlie  first  impression  of  these  Springs 
whicli  thr  l)cholder  receives  is  that  of  a  snowy  mountain  btauti- 
fully  terraced,  with  projections  extending  otit  in  various  direc- 
tions, resembling  frozen  cascades,  as  though  the  high,  fbnm-crc«ted 
waves,  in  thtir  rapid  descent  over  the  su«ep  and  rugged  declivit)', 
were  suddenly  arrested  and  congfeak  d  on  the  spot  in  all  their 
native  beauty.  1  here  are  fifty  or  sixty  of  these  spring-s  of  greater 
and  smnMer  dimensions,  cxtendmg  over  an  area  of  about  a  mile 
square  lOugh  there  are  remains  of  s[  rings  of  the  same  kind  for 
miles  uruund,  and  mountains  of  the  same  dfposii,  overgrown  with 
pine  frees,  perhaps  hundreds  of  years  olii.  Most  of  the  water  is 
at  boilin>^r  heat,  and  contains  in  solution  a  greui  amount  of  lime, 
sulphur  and  magnesia,  with  some  soda,  alumina  and  other  sub- 
stances, which  are  slowly  deposited  in  'very  conceivable  form 
and  shape  as  the  water  flows  along  in  its  course  down  the  moun- 
tain skle. 

"On  each  level,  or  terrace,  there  Is  a  large  central  spring,  which 
is  usually  surrounded  by  a  basin  of  several  feet  in  diameter,  and 
the  water,  after  leaving  the  main  basin  at  different  portions  of  the 
delicately-wrought  rim,  flows  down  the  declivity,  step  by  step, 
forming  hundreds  of  basins  and  reservoirs  of  every  size  and 
depth,  from  a  few  inches  to  six  or  eight  feet  in  diameter,  and 
from  one  inch  to  several  feet  in  depth,  their  margins  beautifully 
scallbped  with  a  finish  resembling  bead-work  of  exquisite  beauty. 
Ufidornealli  the  sides  of  mairy  of  the  basins  are  beautifolly  ar- 
ranged stalactites,  formed  by  the  dripping  of  the  water ;  aod,  by 


*L, 


,.^ia&.'.«jM#M.'«.    iiiin  i»rt  nil|-»i|i«li«.caJ>:jW6i».>— >Jli-'»' 


*«E-" 


UAMMOTM  nor  SJNtL^aSi'-B.  M,  STMAHOXN'S  DUStltltTION. 


»a3$ 


any  dcscrip- 
f»T  jiiHticp  in. 
ih«-  Park  thus 
r  over  in  le»M 


et  us  go  over 
li.ivc  studied 
jrrssfd  with 

immoth     Hot 

kilful  pen  of 

ihesc  Springs 

untain  bcauti- 

varioiis  direc' 

I,  fonmcr<?«t<'d 

,'g^d  decHvit>', 

Dt  in  all  their 

nj^s  of  greater 

I  about  a  mile 

same  kind  for 

vcrgrown  with 

of  the  water  is 

nount  of  lime, 

ind  other  sub- 

iceivnblc  form 

)wn  the  moun- 

1  Spring,  which 
diameter,  and 
portions  of  the 
,  step  by  step, 
very  size  and 
diatnett*r,  and 
ins  beautifully 
quisitt;  beauty, 
beautifully  ar- 
i^atcr;  and,  by 


digging  hrfteatli  the  iiur(<ic«  at  ptirei*  where  the  spHnjjs  ar**  In 
active,  thr  mo  Uelkate  nntl  charming  «prnmens  of  ts^ry  char 
acter  and  form  i  ^n  be  obtained — stalactites,  sratagmiten,  grorttos, 
etc..  all  delicately  arranged  is  the  water  filtrates  through  the 
crcvicea  and  perforations  of  th^  d(.'|X}sit.  h  i«  a  nrene  sublime  in 
itiell,  to  tee  the  entire  area,  with  its  numerous  and  terraced 
reservoirs,  and  millk>ns  of  uelicaff  little  urns,  sj.arkling  with 
••ater  transparent  as  glass,  and  tint^»'d  with  many  varieties  of 
i-oloring,  all  glisteniny  under  tin  glare  of  a  noonday  sun. 

"  The  larg«'Hl  spring  now  uclive,  situated  about  half  way  vi()  the 
mountain  on  the  out«:r  ed^c  of  the  main  terr  u  (  has  a  bfiHin  about 
twcnty-hve  by  lorty  feet  in  diameter,  in  the  centre  of  which  the 
water  boils  up  heveral  inches  aUwe  the  surface,  and  is  «so  trans- 
parent that  you  can,  by  approaching  the  margin,  look  down  into 
tl)e  heated  depths  many  feet  below  the  suriace.  The  sides  of  the 
cavern  are  ornamented  with  a  •  or.il  like  formatioi)  of  almost  ev^^ry 
vaiiety  of  shade,  with  a  Tme,  ailky  subHtunre,  much  like  moss,  of 
a  bright  vegetable  green  spread  over  it  thinlj',  which,  with  the 
slight  ebullition  of  the  water  keeping  it  in  constant  motion,  and 
the  blue  sky  rellcrterd  in  the  transparent  depths,  gives  it  an  en- 
chanting beauty  far  beyond  the  skill  of  the  finest  artist.  Here 
ill  the  hues  of  the  rainlww  are  seen  and  arranged  so  gorgeously 
that,  with  other  strange  views  by  which  one  is  surrounded,  you 
almost  imagine  yourself  in  some  fairy  region,  the  wonders  of 
which  baffle  all  attempts    >f  pen  or  penal  to  portray  tliem. 

"Besides  the  elegant  smlpturing  of  this  de[M)sit,  imagine,  If 
you  can,  the  wonderful  variety  of  delicate  and  artistically  arranged 
colors  with  which  it  is  adorned.  The  mineral-chargfl  fluid  lays 
down  pavements  here  and  there  of  all  lite  shades  ot  red,  from 
bright  scarlet  to  rose  tint,  beautiful  layers  of  bright  sulphur-yellow, 
interspersed  with  tints  of  green,  all  elaborately  arranged  in  Na- 
ture's own  order. 

"At  the  foot  of  the  mountain  are  several  springs  whose  waters 
have  effected  remarkable  cures  in  cases  of  chronic  rheumatism, 
rruptive  diseases,  etc.  The  medidnai  properties  ol  each  fountain 
seem  to  be  different,  and  the  invalid  can  find  which  are  best 
adapted  to  his  or  her  own  case." 


•:'«»• 


I 


#' 


i 


^l 


^ 


Ot/M   trUSlAHJV  /(Mf/MM, 


••f V  «  M 


1156 

On  lravin((  thr  Mot  Spring  to  mak^  th**  Hrniit  of  the  Park, 
tht:  (avoritr  cnurnc*  in  that  Ittaciin^  I'MHtward  to  the  Y(*llow«it(>nr 
CftAofi.  Iho  roui<!  (MMftM  up  (»aftlin«r'ii  riv«r,  with  itfi  thrrr 
falls,  through  a  plranant  nnintry.  twmty-two  milrn,  to  Tow^r 
crRvk,  a  rapiil,  Hnow-t'cU  l^rook,  twelve  or  fift«(*n  fei*t  widr,  nn<l 
on«  or  two  feet  tlrcp,  which  hcrr  join*  ih«  YellowHionr.  Towrr 
cr<^ek  nnt*  in  the:  hi^j  » clivide  hetwern  the  valleyH  of  the  MiiiHoiiri 
ami  Ycllowhtonr,  an<l  How?!  for  about  ten  tnih-H  throii^^h  n  caflon 
MO  deep  ami  kIo<ii)  y  tliat  it  hui  c.irncd  lUe  apprllation  of  the 
"  Devil'M  Den."  Atxitit  two  humirnl  yardn  above  it«  entrance 
into  the  Ycllowntone,  the  Mream  |M)iirA  over  an  abrupt  denrrnt 
of  1 56  feet,  forming  one  of  the  moHt  beautiful  falU  to  lie  found  in 
any  country.  Thene  falls  are  about  a6o  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  Yrllowstonc  at  the  junction,  and  are  nurrounded  with  c<*lumn!i 
of  volcanic  breccia,  risinff  fifty  feet  al)Ove  the  falls,  and  extendinf^ 
down  to  the  foot,  standinfif  like  )(loomy  sentinels,  or  like  f>i^antic 
pillars,  at  the  entrance  of  aome  ^rrand  temple.  Of  these  columns 
the  late  Hon.  N.  V.  Ltfn^ford,  the  ftrst  superintendent  and  hiH- 
torian  of  the  Park,  said :  "  Sor-e  resemble  towers,  others  the  spires 
of  churches,  and  others  still  shoot  up  as  little  and  slender  as 
the  minarets  of  a  mosque.  Some  of  the  loftiest  of  these  forma- 
tions, standing  upon  the  very  brink  of  the  fall,  are  accessible  to 
an  expert  and  adventurous  climber.  The  position  attained  on 
one  of  these  narrow  summits,  amid  the  uproar  of  waters,  and  at 
a  height  of  360  feet  aborve  the  boiling  chasm,  as  the  writer  can 
affinrit  requires  a  steady  head  and  strong  nerves ;  yet  the  view 
which  rewards  the  temerity  of  ttw  exploit  is  full  of  compensa- 
tions." Below  the  fall  the  stream  descends  in  numerous  rapids 
with  frightful  velocity,  through  a  gloomy  fi;or^e,  to  its  union  with 
the  Yellowstone.  \c&  bed  is  filled  with  enormous  boulders, 
against  which  the  rusl  ^  waters  break  with  great  fury.  M^ny 
of  the  capricious  formations  wrought  from  the  shal<i  e><dte  mer- 
riment as  well  as  wonder.  Of  this  kind,  especially,  is  a  huge 
mass,  sixty  feet  in  height,  which,  from  its  supposed  resemblance 
to  the  proverbial  foot  of  his  Satanic  Majesty,  is  called  the  "  Devil's 
Hoof."  The  scertery  of  mountain,  rock  and  forest  surrounding 
the  falls  is  very  beautiful.     The  name  of  "Tower  Falls"  was,  of 


CK/iMH  fALl&^LAMtifOMO  ASti  VOASd. 


las; 


of  the  Piirk. 

Y»*llowHif)nr 

th  ii«i  thrrr 

H.  to  'row»*r 

'•t  WMir,  An<l 

one.      I'owrr 

the  MiRHOiiri 

lujfh  A  ctiAon 

lation  of  the 

it*  rntnirue 

►rupt  <le)went 

r>  Ix!  found  in 

the  level  of 

with  ailumnn 

nd  extendinjf 

hev!  columns 
lent  and  his- 
jer»  the  spires 
ul  slender  a« 
these  fornia< 
accennible  to 
n  attained  on 
M^aters,  and  at 
he  writer  can 
yet  the  view 
of  compensa- 
rterous  rapids 
its  union  with 
ous  boulders, 
;  fury.  M^ny 
\t  ejictte  mer- 
lly,  is  a  huge 
)  resemblance 
d  the"  Devil's 
;  surrounding 
'alls  "  was,  of 


cAiiffti*.  Ru^etted  by  iiome  of  the  most  fonMpiruotit  fdalu rr«  of 
the  ttccncry.  I'he  sidcufsf  the  chaum  arr  worn  into  caverns,  lined 
with  variously  tir'.u  inoviieH,  nouiished  by  <  loads  of  spray  whiih 
rinc  from  the  cataract ;  while  above  anci  to  thr  left,  a  npur  fnmi 
the  great  plateau  rises  over  all  with  a  p«-rpendicular  front  of  400 

"  Nothinif,"  says  Lieutenant  Donne,  "can  be  more  chastely 
b<'autifitl  than  this  lovely  cast.ulf,  hidden  away  in  the  dim  li^dit 
of  oversluidowin;^  rocks  and  w<m><K,  its  very  voire  hushed  to  a 
low  murmur,  unheard  at  tlu!  distance  of  a  few  himdred  yartls. 
Thousands  mi^ht  pass  by  within  a  half  mile  and  not  dream  of  its 
existence :  but  uncc  seen,  it  passes  to  the  list  of  most  pleasant 
memories."      l.-.,.  ,, i  ,..  .  ' 

A  fme  view  of  Tower  falls  can  b<'  had  from  an  easily  ascended 
cliff  aliove  them,  but  a  better  one,  a  prosfK^ct  that  is  simply  en- 
(hantin^,  can  be  obtained  by  walking'  down  to  the  mouth  of 
Tower  creek,  300  yards,  and  followinj^  up  stream,  throu^^h  the 
beautiful  t;ateway,  to  their  foot.  1  wo  hundred  yards  above  the 
falls  is  a  finely  sheltered,  piauresquu  camp,  with  grass,  wood  and 
water  abundant.  .0   ....    •.  ..a    m-   *  1 .*./.;     m   1 

I'rom  Tower  creek  and  falls  we  have  a  choice  between  two 
routes,  one  leading  along  the  western  bank  of  the  Yellowstone 
river,  and  overlooking  the  (jrand  Caflon  for  twenty  miles,  the 
other  ascending  by  a  long  and  wearisome  climb  the  northern 
slope  of  Mount  Washburn,  10,388  feet  above  the  sea,  from  whose 
summit  all  the  points  of  interest  in  the  Park  can  be  discerned 
with  a  good  field-glass  in  the  clear  and  transparent  summer  air. 
Most  visitors  prefer  this  ascent  first,  as  giving  them  a  more  com- 
prehensive idea  of  the  magnificence  of  the  Park.  We  will  follow 
their  example,  in  imagination  at  least,  and  will  allow  Rev.  Way- 
land  Hoyt,  D.  D.,  of  Brooklyn,  who  visited  the  Park  in  1878  in 
General  Miles'  party,  to  describe  to  us  the  glorious  vision :  * 

"Let  us  take  our  stand  for  a  little  now  upon  Mount  Wash- 
burn.   Its  rounded  crest  is  more  than  10,000  feet  above  the  level 

*  Thii  glowing  picture  of  the  view  from  Mount  Wuhburn,  u  well  as  tomt  other  eloquent 
[MMMge*  farther  on,  are  enpied,  by  the  kind  permiiiion  of  ilie  author,  from  an  adilreti  on  (be 
Vcltow*loii«  I'arlt,  which  Ur.  U«]rt  |>rcparcd  after  hit  return,  but  which  it  at  yet  unpubliithed. 


-_i 


V 


1238  O^^   WESTERN  EMPIRE.  * 

of  the  sea,  and  perhaps  5,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the  valley 
out  of  which  it  springs.  Its  smooth  slopes  are  easy  of  ascent. 
You  need  not  dismount  from  your  horse  to  gain  its  summit. 
Standing  there  you  look  down  upon  the  whole  grand  panorama, 
as  does  that  eagle  yonder,  holding  himself  aloft  upon  almost  mo- 
tionless wings.  I  doubt  if  there  is  another  view  at  once  so  ma- 
jestic and  so  beautiful  in  the  whole  world.  Your  vision  darts 
through  the  spaces  for  1 50  miles  on  some  sides.  You  are  stand- 
ing upon  a  mountain  lifting  itself  out  of  a  vast  saucer-shaped 
depression.  Away  yo.-^der,  where  the  sky  seems  to  meet  the 
earth,  on  every  side,  around  the  whole  circumference  of  your 
sight,  ajre  lines  and  ranges  of  snow-capped  peaks  shutting  your 
glances  in.  Yonder  shoots  upward  the  serrated  peak  of  Pilot 
Mountain,  iix  the  Clark's  Fork  Range.  Joined  to  that,  sweep 
on  around  you,  in  the  dim  distance,  the  snowy  lines  of  the  Madison 
Range.  Yonder  join  hands  with  these  the  Stinking  Water  Moun- 
tains, and  so  on  and  on  and  around.  Do  you  see  that  sharp, 
pinnacle->pointed  mountain,  away  off  at  the  southwest,  shining,  in 
its  garments  of  white,  against  tlie  blue  of  the  summer  sky  ? — that 
is  Mount  Everts,  named  after  the  poor  lost  wanderer,  who  for 
thirty-seven  days  of  deadly  peril  and  starvation  sought  a  way  of 
escape  from  these  frowning  mountain  barriers,  which  shut  him 
in  so  remorselessly,  and  it  marks  the  iivide  of  the  continent. 

"Take  now  a  closer  view  for  a  moment.  Mark  the  lower 
hills,  iblded  in  their  thick  draperies  of  pine  and  spruce  like  dark 
green  velvet;  of  the  softest  and  the  deepest ;  notice,  too,  those 
beautiful  park*ltke  splices,  where  the  trees  refuse  to  grow,  and 
where  the  prairie  spreads  its  smooth  sward  freely  toward  the  sun- 
light. And — those  spots  of  steam,  breaking  into  the  vision  every 
now  and  then,  and  floating  oif  like  the  whitest  clouds  riiat  ever 
graced  the  summer  sky-— <those  are  the  signals  of  the  geysers  at 
their  strange  duty,  yonder  in  the  geyser  basins,  thirty  miles  away. 
And-^those  bits  of  silver,  flashing  hither  and  thither  on  the  hill- 
sides amid  the  dense  green  of  the  forests— these  are  wateHalls 
and  fragments  of  ice-glaciers,  which  for  ages  have  been  at  their 
duty  of  sculpturing  these  mountains,  and  have  not  yet  completed 
it.   J^(i7:r-^hat  lovely  deep  blue  sheet  of  water,  of  such  a  dainty 


APPROACH  TO   TU£.    GREAT  FALLS  AND  GRAND  CAfJON. 


1*39 


>f  the  valley 
sy  of  ascent, 
its  summit, 
id  panorama, 
n  almost  mo- 
once  so  ma- 
vlsion  darts 
ou  are  stand- 
aucer-shaped 
to  meet  the 
ence  of  your 
shutting  your 
peak  of  Pilot 
that,  sweep 
the  Madison 
Water  Moun- 
that  sharp, 
;st,  shming-,  in 
er  sky  ? — that 
lerer,  who  for 
ight  a  way  of 
hich  shut  him 
continent, 
trk  the  lower 
ruce  Kke  dark 
ice,  too,  those 
to  grow,  and 
ward  the  sun- 
e  vision  every 
jds  tfiat  ever 
:he  geysers  at 
ty  miles  away, 
er  on  the  hill- 
are  waterfalls 
been  at  their 
^et  completed 
such  a  daint}' 


shape,  running  its  arms  out  toward  the  hills,  and  bearing  on  its 
serene  bosom  emeralds  of  islands — that  is  the  sweetest  sheet  oi' 
water  in  the  world — that  is  tlic  Yellowstone  lake.  And — that 
exquisite  broad  sheen  of  silver,  winding  tliroug^i  the  green  oi 
the  trees  and  the  brown  of  the  praine~-lliat  is  the  Yellowstone 
river,  starting  on  its  wonderful  journey  to  the  Missouri,  and 
thence  downward  to  the  gulf,  between  six  and  seven  thousand 
iiiiler,  away.  But,  neater  to  us,  almost  at  our  feet,  as  we  trace 
this  broad  line  of  silver,  the  eye  encounters  a  frightful  chasm,  as 
if  the  earth  had  suddenly  sunk  away,  and  into  its  gloomy  depths 
the  brightness  and  beauty  of  the  shining  river  leaps,  and  is 
thenceforward  lost  altogether  to  the  view — that  is  the  tremendous 
cafton  or  gorge  of  the  Yellowstone."  ^l;..!.!    ,,. 

Contru.y  to  the  Latin  adage,  "FcutJis  descensus  Avemi!"  the 
descent  frcum  Mount  Wasliburn  to  the  Grand  Cafton  of  the 
Yellowstone  Is  one  of  considerable  difficulty  by  the  old  trail ;  but 
by  a  new  one  traced  by  Mr.  P.  W.  Norris,  the  present  superin- 
tendent of  the  Park,  it  is  much  easier.  The  old  trail,  more  than 
twenty  miles  in  length,  followed  the  Waiihburn  Range  at  a 
considerable  distance  from  the  river,  through  tangled  forest  and 
along  rocky  and  precipitous  passes,  to  the  upper  and  lower  falls 
of  the  Yellowstone,  just  where  Cascade  creek  di.scharges  its 
waters  into  the  river.  This  is  above  the  Grand  Cafton,  or*  rather, 
at  the  point  where  it  commences;  for  these  two  falls,  the  upper  of 
about  150  feet,  and  the  lower  of  ^^50  Teet,  with  the  rapids  wbich 
follow,  constitute  a  part  of  the  tremendous  depth  to  which  the 
Grand  Cafton  sinks,  and  which  it  maintains  to  the  point  of  emer- 
gence at  Tower  creek  falls,  twenty  miles  below.  At  one  or  two 
points  near  its  lower  terminus  daring  and  adventurous  spirits 
have  reached  the  floor  of  the  cafton,  but  have  found  it  extremely 
perilous  and  di^cult  to  clamber  out  of  it ;  they  describe  it  as 
having  its  full  share  of  disagreeable  sounds,  sights  and  smells, 
from  the  great  number  of  hot  springs  of  sulphur,  sulphate  of  cop^ 
per,  alum,  etc.  The  water  is  warm  and  impregnated  with  a  vll-> 
lanous  taste  of  alum  and  sulphur,  and  along  the  dark  margin  of 
the  river  are  numerous  chemical  and  corrosive  springs,  some 
depositing  craters^  of  calcareous  rock,  and  some  casting  up  vol- 


n  -"  i^-»:.-j««Mb  ^^■r,irrti%rv..-r- 


1240 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


umes  of  mud  or  muddy  waters.  The  greater  part  of  the  Grand 
CaAon,  however,  and  especially  its  upper  two-thirds,  had  always 
been  regarded  as  entirely  inaccessible,  till  the  summer  of  1878, 
when  Messrs.  Hoyt  and  Rouse,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  succeeded 
ftt  the  imminent  peril  of  their  lives,  in  descending  to  it,  a  little 
Ibelow  the  Great  falls.  They  describe  it  as  fearfully  gloomy 
and  uncanny.  Rev.  Dr.  Hoyt  and  his  party  took  the  old  trail  and 
approached  the  river  at  the  mouth  of  Cascade  creek,  between 
the  upper  and  lower  or  Great  falls,  at  the  point  where  they  could 
look  down  into  the  Grand  Caflon  at  the  place  of  its  greatest 
magnificence,  and  of  the  many  descriptions  of  this  great  wonder 
of  the  world,  that  which  he  has  given  may  justly  be  esteemed 
the  most  graphic  and  beautiful.     It  is  as  follows: 

"Well,  we  have  reached  Ciascade  creek  at  last;  r.nd  a  beautiful 
g^ove  of  trees,  beneath  whose  shade  sparkles  a  clear  stream, 
whose  waters  are  .ree  from  the  nauseous  taste  of  alkali,  furnishes 
a  delightful  place  in  which  to  camp.  Now — dismounting  and 
seeing  that  your  horse  is  well  cared  for,  while  the  men  are  un- 
k)ading  the  pack-mules  and  pitching  the  tents — walk  up  that 
trail,  winding  u^  that  hillside ;  follow  it  for  a  litde  among  the 
solemn  pines,  and  then  pass  out  from  the  tree-shadows,  and  take 
your  sUrU  ^pon  that  jutting  rock — clinging  to  it  well  meanwhile. 
and  being  very  sure  of  your  looting,  for  your  head  will  surely  grow 
dizzy-i-and  there  opens  before  you  one  of  the  most  stupendous 
scenes  in  Nature — the  lower  falls  and  the  awful  canon  or 

THE  YeL-'^OWSTONE.        , .i\.i'.A\vynm  \  -VlU    px  iljii.[  4  ~j>i.Ui>Mia>  ,7*!Mitj^,. 

"And  now,  where  shall  F  begin,  arid  how  shall  I,  iri  atiy  wise, 
describe  this  tremendous  sight— its  overpowering  grandeur,  and 
at  the  same  time  its  inexpressible  beauty? 

'•Look  yonder — those  are  the  lower  falls  of  the  Yellowstone. 
They  are  not  the  grandest  in  the  world,  but  there  are  none  more 
beautiful.  There  is  not  the  breadth  and  dash  of  Niagara,  nor  is 
there  the  enormous  depth  of  leap  of  some  of  the  waterfalls 
of  the  Yosemite.  But  here  is  majesty  of  its  own  kind,  and 
beauty,  too.  On  either  side  are  vast  pinnacles  of  sculptured 
rock.  There,  where  the  rock  opens  for  the  river,  its  waters  are 
compressed  from  a  width  of  200  feet,  between  the  tapper  «{^ 


XEV.  DK.  I/OYT'S  DESCRIPTION  OF  TItR  GRAND  CAS^ON. 


1 34 1 


the  Grand 
lad  always 
:r  of  1878, 
succeeded 
it,  a  little 
illy  gloomy 
>ld  trail  and 
;k,  between 
they  could 
[its  greatest 
■eat  wonder 
esteemed 

a  beautiful 
ear  stream, 
di,  furnishes 
mnting  and 
ten  are  un- 
alk  up  that 
among  the 
vs,  and  take 
meanwhile, 
surely  grow 
stupendous 

L   CANON   OK 

in  any  wise, 

andeur,  and 

Yellowstone. 
:  none  more 
igara,  nor  is 
e  waterfalls 
1   kind,  and 

sculptured 
;  waters  are 

upper  and 


lower  falls,  to  1 50  where  it  takes  the  plunge.  The  shelf  of  rock 
over  which  it  leaps  Ts  absolutely  level.  The  water  seems  to  wait 
a  moment  on  its  verge;  then  it  passes  with  a  single  bound  of  350 
feet  into  the  gorge  below.  It  is  a  sheer,  unbroken,  compact, 
shining  mass  of  silver  foam. 

"But  your  eyes  are  all  the  time  distracted  from  the  fall  itself, 
great  and  beautiful  as  it  is,  to  its  marvellous  setting — to  the  sur- 
prising, overmastering  caflon  into  which  the  river  leaps,  and 
through  which  it  flows,  dwindling  to  but  a  foamy  ribbon  there  in 
its  appalling  depths.       .••  '■'  '-^  ■■!<  '  -f 

V.  "As  you  cling  here  to  this  jutting  rock,  the  falls  are  already 
many  hundred  feet  below  you.  The  falb  unroll  their  whiteness 
down  amid  the  caAon  glooms.  Hold  firmly  on,  and  peer  over 
the  rock  to  which  you  cling  and  gaze  down ;  that  apparently 
narrow  stream  is  the  large  river  flowing  nearly  2,000  feet  below 
you  ;  it  is  sheer  that  distance  ;  these  rocky  sides  are  almost  per- 
pendicular—-indeed  in  many  places  the  boiling  springs  have 
gouged  them  out  so  as  to  leave  overhanging  cliffs  and  tables  at 
the  top.  Take  a  stone  and  throw  it  over — you  must  wait  long 
before  you  hear  it  strike.  Nothing  more  awful  have  I  ever  seen 
than  the  yawning  of  that  chasm.  And  the  stillness,  solemn  as 
midnight,  profound  as  death !  The  water  dashing  there  as  in  a 
kind  of  agony  against  those  rocks,  you  cannot  hear.  The  mighty 
distance  lays  the  finger  of  its  silence  on  its  white  lips.  You  are 
oppressed  with  a  sense  of  danger.  It  is  as  though  the  vastness 
would  soon  force  you  from  the  rock  to  which  you  cling.  The 
silence,  the  sheer  depth,  the  gloom  burden  you.  It  is  a  relief  to 
feel  the  firm  earth  beneath  your  feet  again,  as  you  carefully  crawl 
back  from  your  perching  place. 

"But  this  is  not  all,  nor  is  the  half  yet  told.  As  soon  as  you 
can  stand  it,  go  out  on  that  jutting  rock  again,  and  mark  the 
sculpturings  of  God  upon  those  vast  and  solemn  walls.  By  dash 
of  wind  and  wave,  by  forces  of  the  Irost,  by  file  of  .snow  plunge 
and  glaciei  and  mountain  torrent,  by  the  hot  breath  of  boiling 
springs,  those  walls  have  been  cut  into  the  most  various  and 
surprising  shapes.  I  have  seen  the  middle  age  castles  along  the 
Rliine ;  there,  those,  castles  are  reproduced  exactly.     I  have  seen 


jism. 


JUUiSL 


.^M^.  .it^MJ* 


1242 


Ol/X    WESTKBN  f.MPtRK. 


f^\ 


the  soaring  summits  of  the  great  cathedral  spires,  in.  the  country 
beyond  the  sea ;  there  they  stand  in  prototype,  only  loftier  and 
sublimer. 

"And  then,  of  course  and  almost  beyond  all  else,  you  are  fasci- 
nated by  the  mflg-ancence  and  utter  opulence  of  color.  Those 
are  not  simply  gray  and  hoary  depths  and  reaches,  and  domes 
and  pinnacles  of  sullen  rock.  The  whole  gorge  flames.  It  is  as 
though  rainbows  had  fallen  out  of  the  sky  and  hung  themselves 
there  like  glorious  banners.  The  underlying  color  is  the  clearest 
yellow ;  this  flushes  onward  into  orange.  Down  at  the  base  the 
deepest  mosses  unroll  their  draperies  of  the  most  vivid  green  ; 
browns,  sweet  and  soft,  do  their  blending;  white  rocks  stand 
spectral ;  turrets  of  rock  shoot  up  as  crimson  as  though  they 
were  drenched  through  with  bk>od.  It  is  a  wilderness  of  color. 
It  is  impossible  that  even  the  pencil  of  an  artist  tell  it  What 
you  would  call,  accustomed  to  the  softer  tints  of  nature,  a  great 
exaggeration,  would  be  the  utmost  tamcness  comfiared  with  the 
reality.  It  is  as  though  the  most  glorious  sunset  you  ever  saw 
had  been  caught  and  held  upon  that  resplendent,  awful  gorge  ! 

"  Through  nearly  all  the  hours  of  that  afternoon,  until  the  sun- 
set shadows  came,  and  afterwards  amid  the  moonbeams,  I  waited 
there,  clinging  to  that  rock,  Jutting  out  into  that  overpowering, 
gorgeous  chasm.  I  was  appalled  and  fascinated*  afraid  and  yet 
compeUed  to  cling  there.     It  was  an  epoch  in  my  life." »,  ;a  .^twifut 

But  we  must  hasten  forward.  The  trail  above  the  upper  falls 
folk)ws  closely  the  right  or  west  bank  of  the  Yellowstone  to  the 
Yellowstone  lake,  a  distance  of  eighteen  or  nineteen  miles.  On 
the  way  Sulphur  Mountain  is  passed  on  the  right,  and  the  Sulphur 
Hills  on  the  left,  east  of  the  river,  though  oekhcr  of  tbera  are  more 
sulphurous  than  many  other  hills  and  mounds  in  the  Parle.  Eleven 
miles  from  the  Great  Falls  is  the  Mud  Volcano,  sur.  interesting 
though  somev/hat  dirty  object  Eight  miles  more  bring  the 
traveller  to  th<:  Yellowstone  lake,  one  of  the  most  beauttful  sheets 
of  water  in  "Our  Western  Empire,"  and  hardly  surpassed  in 
beauty  by  any  hike  on  our  globe.  It  is  twenty-two  miles  in 
length,  and  (i-om  twelve  to  fifteen  in  breadth.  Its  shape  is  pecu- 
liar, several  long  peniosulais  extending  into  ix  from  the-  southern 


K£.' 


-V.-Urt  :;^.,..i£i.'Ji 


THE    YKLLOtrSTONR   LAKE. 


1343 


the  country 
/  loftier  and 

ou  are  fasci- 
)lor.     Those 

and  domes 
Ives.     It  is  as 

themselves 

>  the  clearest 

the  base  the 

/ivid  green ; 

rocks  stand 

though  they 

CSS  of  color. 

II  it.     What 

:ure,  a  great 

red  with  the 

)u  ever  saw 

ful  gorge ! 

ntil  the  sun- 

ims,  I  waited 

^erpowering, 

"aid  and  yet 
> '» 

e  upper  falls 
rstone  to  the 
I  miles.  On 
the  Sulphur 
em  are  mors 
ark.  Eleven 
r.  interesting 
e  bring  the 
uitiful  sheets 
surpassed  in 
wo  miles  in 
Ape  is  pecu- 
the.  southern 


shore,  so  that  it  has  been  compared  to  the  human  hand,  though 
as  Professor  R.  W.  Raymond  humorously  suggests,  "  the  imagi- 
native gentleman  who  6rst  discovered  this  resemblance  must 
have  thought  the  size  and  form  of  fingers  quite  insignificant,  pro* 
vided  the  number  was  complete.  The  hand  in  question  is  afflicted 
with  elephantiasis  in  the  thumb,  dropsy  in  the  little  finger,  hornet 
bites  on  the  third  finger,  and  the  last  .stages  of  starvation  in 
the  other  two."  The  shore  line  of  the  lake  is  over  300  miles 
in  length ;  its  superficial  area  is  nearly  300  square  miles ;  its 
greatest  depth,  by  a  series  of  careful  :;oundings,  is  found  to  be 
300  feet.  Its  elevation  above  the  sea,  by  repeated  observations, 
has  been  ascertained  to  be  7,788  feet.  Professor  Hayden  very 
enthusiastically  declares  that  "only  four  lakes  are  known  to  have 
so  great  an  elevation  in  any  part  of  the  world,  up  to  this  time, 
namely,  Lakes  Titicaca,  in  Peru,  and  Uros,  in  Bolivia,  which  are 
respectively  12,874  and  12,359  feet  above  the  sea-level;  and 
Lakes  Manasasarowak  and  Rakastal,  in  Thibet,  Asia,  both  of 
which  lie  at  the  great  height  of  1 5,000  feet."  With  all  due  respect 
to  the  Professor,  we  think  that  this  statement  should  be  taken 
with  some  reservation  as  to  the  size  of  the  lakes ;  for  in  the  very 
article  from  his  pen  which  describes  the  Yellowstone  Park  and 
contains  this  sentence,  we  find  that  Shoshone  lake  has  an  eleva- 
tion of  7,870  feet  (Mr.  Norris'  report  of  1879  makes  this  7,792 
feet,  four  feet  higher  than  Yellowstone  lake),  and  Madison  lake, 
8,301  feet.  Both  these  are  in  the  Park,  arwd  though  smaller  than 
Yellowstone  lake,  they  are  entitled  to  be  called  lakes.  Moreover, 
we  find  in  "  Whitney's  Survey  of  Colorado  "  the  following  eleva- 
tions assigned  to  some  of  the  lakes  of  that  mountainous  State : 
Chicago  lakes,  11,500  feet;  Green,  io,opo  feet;  Gtariu,  8,153 
feet;  Mary  or  Santa  Maria,  9,324  feet;  San  Miguel,  9,720  feet; 
Twin  lakes,  9,357  feet;  San  Cristoval,  9,000  feet;  and  Osborn's, 
8,821  feet.  Lake  Carpenter,  in  the  Bighorn  Mountains,  »s  about 
1 1 ,000  feet. 

We  might  enumerate  some  others,  but  these  will  suffice.  They 
are  none  of  them  as  large  as  Yellowstone  lake,  though  all  of 
sufficient  size  to  be  properly  denominated  lahes.  One  other 
popular  notion,  which  is  often  repeated  in  the  descriptions  of 


1244 


OCX   WESTERN  F.MPIRR. 


Yellowstone  National  P;  V,  may  as  well  be  corrcctrxl  in  this 
place:  the  Yellowstone  lai  is  in  no  sense  the  source  of  the  Yel- 
lowAtonc  river.  That  river  rises  by  two  forks  at  least  forty-five 
or  fifty  miles  southeast  of  the  Yellowstone  lake,  one  affluent 
having  its  source  in  a  small  lake  in  the  Shoshone  Mountains, 
presumably  higher  than  Yellowstone  lake,  and  the  other  in  the 
elevated  plateau  between  the  Shoshone  and  Wind  River  Moun- 
tains. One  of  these  sources  is  in  about  latitude  43°  45',  and  the 
other  in  about  43°  50'.  The  Yellowstone  river  flows  through 
the  Yellowstone  lake,  just  as  the  Rhine  Hows  through  Lake 
Geneva.    .  <•  ;.  ^ii.;-»»|  >(  •,0  .»>  >.  ,)  '  a 

But  let  us  return  to  our  lake  itself.  Situated  uport  the 
very  crown  of  the  continent,  the  lake  receives  but  few  tributa- 
ries of  any  considerable  size,  the  upper  Yellowstone  being  much 
the  largest,  and  Beaver  Dam  creek  and  Pelican  creek,  both  on 
the  eastern  side,  the  next  in  importance.  There  are,  in  all,  six- 
teen or  eighteen  small  streams  from  the  moutitain  ranges,  on  the 
lorth,  east,  south  and  southwest  sides,  which  bring  to  the  lake 
their  tribute  from  the  snow  line ;  several  of  these  affluents  are 
strongly  chirgdl  with  sulphur,  alum  or  alkalies,  and  these  and 
the  springs  on  the  banks  of  the  lake  render  its  waters  near  the 
shore,  at  some  poi.its,  turbid  and  unpleasant;  but  at  a  little  dis- 
tance from  the  shore,  at  all  points,  and  at  the  very  brink  of  the 
lake  at  many,  the  water  is  clear,  pure  and  sweet.  It  abounds 
with  fish,  mainly  trout,  as  does  the  Yellowstone  above  the  Great 
falls ;  but  it  is  a  most  remarkable  iiact,  that  very  many  of  the 
trout,  both  in  the  lake  and  river,  above  the  falls,  are  infested  by 
an  intestinal  worm,  of  a  s[)ff'ies  not  hitherto  known  as  a  parasite 
of  any  of  the  salmomda.  In  some  cases  the  worms  eat  their  vvay 
out,  and  the  fish,  if  not  too  severely  injured,  recovers,  but  with 
deep  scars.  It  is  said  that  the  larger  fish  sometimes  have  from 
five  to  fifty  of  these  parasites,  and  that  their  presence  makes  the 
fish  very  voracious,  snapping  viciously  at  the  hook,  "which  is 
strange/'  as  Professor  Raymond  remarks,  "  when  one  considers 
that  they  have  already  more  bait  in  them  than  is  wholesome." 
Of  course,  not  all  the  trout  are  thus  infested,  and  usually  the 
Yisl(ii>g  .(^rties,  aftf^r  .rejecting  the  dis^$«dJg§h,fiQd  enough  that 


Jt/l-SSJtS.    MARSHALL   AND  STRAIIOHS'S  nESCKtPTlOl^. 


1245 


ctrd  in  this 
of  the  Yf  1- 
ist  forty-five 
one  affluent 
Mountains, 
other  in  the 
<ivt'r  Moun- 
45'.  and  the 
)ws  through 
rough  Lake 

d   u[)on    the 

few  tributa- 

:  being  much 

eek,  both  on 

e,  in  all,  six- 

anges,  on  the 

to  th<.>  lake 

afRuents  are 

id  these  and 

^ers  near  the 

at  a  little  dis- 

brink  of  the 

It  abounds 

>ve  the  Great 

many  of  thf 

t  infested  by 

as  a  parasite 

eat  their  way 

/ers,  but  with 

2s  have  from 

ce  makes  tlu' 

)k,  "which  is 

Dne  considers 

wholesome." 

1  usually  the 

1  enough  that 


arc  sound  to  supply  their  demand.  Below  the  Great  falls  the  fish 
are  not  diseased,  and  there  are  grayling  and  white  fish  in  almost 
as  great  numbers  as  the  trout. 

The  remarkable  beauty  of  the  lake  cannot  be  too  highly  ex- 
tolled. All  the  visitors  to  it  have  been  charmed  by  its  loveliness. 
Mr.  Marshall,  who  is  not  given  to  sentimental  writing,  says :  "  It 
contains  several  beautiful  islands,  is  surrounded  by  some  of  the 
grandest  mountains  in  North  America,  and  is  of  so  irregular  a 
form  as  to  give  an  uncommon  beauty  alike  to  its  bold  bluiif  shores 
and  its  stretches  of  sandy,  pebbly  bea<:hes.  Its  waters,  pure  and 
cold,  in  places  300  feet  deep,  shine  with  the  rich  blue  of  the  open 
sea,  swarm  with  trout,  and  are  the  summer  home  of  countless 
swans,  white  pelicans,  geese,  brant,  snipe,  ducks,  cranes  and  other 
water  fowl,  while  its  shores,  sometimes  grassy,  but  generally 
clothed  with  dense  forests  of  pine,  spruce  and  fir,  furnish  coverts 
and  feeding  grounds  for  elk,  antelope,  black  and  white-tailed  deer, 
bears  and  mountain  sheep.  Scattered  along  the  shores  of  the 
lake,  and  on  the  mountain  slopes  which  overlook  it,  are  many 
clusters  of  hot  springs,  solfataras,  fumaroles  and  small  geysers. 
At  one  point  a  hot  spring,  boiling  up  in  the  edge  of  the  lake,  has 
deposited  the  mineral  carried  in  solution  by  its  waters,  and  built 
up  a  rocky  rim  about  itself,  so  that  wading  out  into  the  lake  you 
can  climb  on  the  rim  of  the  spring,  and  standmg  there  can  catch 
trout  out  of  the  cold  water  of  the  lake,  and  without  detaching 
them  from  the  hook,  plunge  them  into  the  boiling  spring  and 
cook  them." 
The  more  poetic  Strahorn  thus  eulogiaes  it:  ' 
"  In  the  early  part  of  the  day,  when  the  air  is  still  and  the  bright 
sunshine  falls  on  its  unruffted  surface,  its  bright  green  color, 
sliading  to  a  delicate  ultramarine,  commands  the  admiration  of 
every  beholder.  Later  in  the  day,  when  the  mountain  winds 
come  down  from  their  icy  heights,  it  puts  on  an  aspect  more  in 
accordance  with  the  fierce  wilderness  around  it.  Its  shores  are 
paved  with  volcanic  rocks,  sometimes  in  masses,  sometimes 
broken  and  worn  into  pebbles  of  trachyte,  obsidian,  chalcedony, 
cornelians,  agates  and  bits  of  agatized  wood ;  and  again  ground 
to  obsidian  sand  sprinkled  with  crystals  of  California  diamonds." 


ia4<^ 


OUK    h^'SST/lKM  BM/>IMM, 


The  enthuRiastic  I-anpford  *  %Ay% : 

**  Secluded  amid  the  toftic'Kt  (>eaks  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
possessing  strange  peculiarities  of  form  and  beauty,  thi»  watery 
solitude  is  one  of  the  mo»C  attractive  objects  in  the  world.  Its 
southern  shore,  indented  with  long,  narrow  inlets,  not  unlike  the 
frequent  fiordu  of  Iceland,  bears  testimony  to  the  awful  upheaval 
and  tremendous  force  of  the  elements  which  resulted  in  its  erec- 
tion. The  long  pine-crowned  pronnontories,  stretching  into  it 
from  t!>e  base  of  the  hills,  lend  new  and  charming  features  to  an 
aquatic  scene  full  of  novelty  and  splendor.  Islands  of  emerald 
hue  dot  its  surface,  i^m\  a  margin  of  sparkling  sand  forms  its  set- 
ting. The  winds,  compressed  in  their  passage  through  the  moun- 
tain gorges,  lash  it  into  a  sea  as  terrible  as  the  fretted  ocean, 
covering  it  with  foam.  But  now  it  lay  before  us  calm  and  un- 
ruffled, save  as  the  gentle  wavelets  broke  in  murmurs  along  the 
shore.  Water,  one  of  the  grandest  elements  of  scenery,  never 
seemed  so  beautiful  before." 

Besides  its  entrancing  shore  line,  the  lake  is  dotted  with  nu- 
merous islands,  which  lend  rare  beauty  by  their  luxuriant  vege- 
tation. Fish  abound  in  the  lake,  game  of  all  kinds  inhabit  tlie 
surrounding  forests,  and  the  piacid  surface  of  the  water  and 
grassy  margins  render  this  mountain-locked  sheet  the  earthly 
paradise  for  myriads  of  water-fowl. 

Professor  Rossitcr  W.  Raymond,  the  man  of  fiacts  and  figures, 
"  with  no  nonsense  about  him,"  felt  himself  constrained  to  say 

"  The  scene  presented  to  our  eyes  by  this  lake,  as  we  emerged 
from  the  thick  forests  on  the  western  side  and  trod  with  exulta- 
tion its  san<iy  shore,  was,  indeed,  lovely.  The  broad  expanse  of 
shining  water,  the  woorlod  banks  and  bosky  islands,  the  summits 
of  lofty  mountains  beyond  it  feiintly  ftushed  with  sunset,  the  deep 
sky,  and  the  perfect  solitude  and  silence,  combine  to  produce  a 
memorable  impression." 

'  We  add  a  paragraph  or  two  from  Rev.  Dr.  Hoyt's  eloquent 
address,  from  which  we  have  already  quoted  so  largely:  tt*»vfc<i 
.  "  From  a  gentle  headland,  at  last  we  overlooked  the  lake.  It 
was   like  the  fairest  dream  which  ever  came  to  bless  the  un- 


'IT'VI!' 


iM.'t  ;• 


*  Laie  Superintendent  of  the  Park. 


DK.   nOYT  OX   TUE    Yh  ll.OWSTOhfR  t.AKR. 


1347 


y  Mountains, 
y,  thi»  watery 
ic  world.  Its 
not  unlike  the 
ivful  upheaval 
ed  in  its  erec- 
tching  into  it 
features  to  an 
is  of  emerald 
forms  its  set- 
igh  the  moun- 
fretted  ocean, 
calm  and  un- 
turs  along  the 
tcenery,  never 

otted  with  nu- 
ixuriant  vege- 
ds  inhabit  die 
he  water  and 
Bt  the  earthly 

ts  and  figures, 
ained  to  say : 
is  we  emerged 
>d  with  exulta- 
ad  expanse  of 
s,  the  summits 
inset,  the  deep 
I  to  produce  a 

oyt's  eloquent 

rgely:     •'•■i^;\ 

d  the  lake.    It 

bless  the  un- 


troubled slumbers  of  a  child.  How  still  it  was  !  What  silence 
reigned  I  How  lovingly  it  laid  its  hush  upon  you  !  I  rannot  tell 
you  of  it  better  than  in  thoK<;  words  of  Scrijjiure — '  for  they  rest 
from  their  labors.'  To  me  that  vision  must  henceforward  be  liic 
best  illustration  of  tlie  unvexed,  tranvparent  8ea  of  glass,  and  tlie 
rest  of  the  Beyond. 

"And  yet  it  was  not  a  stillness  and  a  reit  devoid  of  music  and 
of  motion.  You  could  hear  the  murmur  of  the  breezes  through 
the  tree-tops ;  you  could  ice  where  they  roughened  the  lake's 
surface,  and  strewed  new  brightness  on  its  waters.  IMeets  of 
pelicans,  white-breasted  and  white-winged,  with  swans,  large  and 
inexpressibly  graceful,  sailed  majestically  out  upon  the  waves. 
Birds  sang  in  the  edges  of  the  groves;  eagles  and  wild  fowl  filled 
the  upper  air.  The  whole  scene  was  redolent  of  a  glad  and 
happy  hfe."   -.■    •   " m,-w.,- .•  >  ■       ^^^.•^   •  -  ,   -  -  • 

But  we  must  move  forward,  or  our  exploration  will  ocatpy  too 
much  time  and  space.  As  it  is,  we  must  forego  any  tour  into  the  al- 
most wholly  unexplored  region  east  and  north  of  the  Yellowstone 
lake,  and  must  also  postpone  to  another  season  our  hoped-for  visit 
to  Heart,  Lewis,  Shoshone  and  Madison  lakes,  all  ot  which  have 
small  geysers,  or,  rather,  spouting  spring?;,  on  their  banks.  Very 
fair  and  beautiful  are  these  lakes,  set  as  gems  in  the  rocky  and 
frowning  heights  of  the  "  Great  Divide,"  and  in  the  not  distant 
future  they  will  he  among  the  most  interesting  of  the  many 
attractions  of  the  Park ;  bat  until  they  are  rendered  more 
accessible  by  good,  or  at  least  passable,  roads,  wc  must  neglect 
them. 

There  are  two  routes,  both  as  yet  only  trails,  from  the  Yellow- 
stone bke  and  river  westward  to  the  basins  of  the  Upper  Madison 
and  its  largest  branch,  the  Fire  Hole  river— the  home  of  the  gey- 
sers. The  southernmost  takes  us  from  the  geysers  or  boiling 
springs,  on  the  banks  of  the  lake,  over  two  arms  of  the  Great 
Rocky  Mountain  Divide  (which  here  takes  a  horseshoe  fwm, 
enclosing  ^oshone  lake),  directly  to  the  Upper  Geyser  basin, 
on  the  Upper  Madison  river.  This  trail  is  more  difficult,  and 
crosses  the  mountains  at  a  greater  elevation  than  the  other,  but 
tt  ts  shorter,  not  exceeding  fourteen  oaiies,  and  it  does  not  require 


13^  V      ovjt  tyesr£*ty  gur/MX. 

any  retracing  of  our  courtc.  I'he  norrhernmoAt  rrqtiirrs  a  return 
over  the  roul<r  aloiij»  ihtr  Yellowstone  rivrr,  already  travt-lletl  for 
aU)Ut  liftren  mileH.  to  th(  momh  of  a  small  cn'ck,  and  then  a 
journey  nlun^  the  valley  of  that  (reek  to  Mary's  lakt*.  the  source 
of  the  I'^asi  I'ork  of  l*"irc  Mole  river,  ami  alonf(  the  valN-y  of  that 
stream  to  the  Lower  Cieyser  basin,  which  is  situated  at  ilu  lorku 
of  the  Fire  I  lok  river.  Ihi;*  trail  is  about  twenty-three  milrs  in 
length,  and  involvcH  a  rrtracing  of  our  course  several  times — 
first,  as  we  have  seen,  in  the  descent  of  the  Yellowstone  river 
from  the  lake  to  the  base  of  Sulphur  Mountain  ;  next,  a  journey 
to  th«  Upper  Geyser  basin,  and  from  it  back  to  the  Lower 
basin.    We  will,  therefore,  take  the  southern  trail  in  our  imagin.^ry 

journey,  ii.  ;•  v.ny       n/ty^/    ini  li-   •■^,;i;-'  ...»•     i 

Before  attempting^  a  descHption  of  die  'woncffffji  or  these  nnd  the 
other  geyser  basins,  a  fc'wwordsof  explanation  in  rcj^ard  togc  yscrs 
may  be  desiraUt.-.  From  our  childhood  we  have  all  been  familiar 
by  name  at  least  with  the  geysers  of  Iceland,  and  have  read  of  their 
performances  with  wonder.  There  have  t^ecn  reports  of  geysen? 
in  other  countries,  and  in  other  portions  of  our  own  country : 
but  on  examination  all  the  reputed  geysers  of  California  and 
elsewhere  have  proved  to  be  on\y /itmaro/es,  sol/ataras  or  boiling' 
springs,  and  the  only  true  geysers  known  are  those  of  Iceland  and 
of  our  own  Yellowstone  National  Park  ;  and  as  between  Iceland 
and  our  Park,  our  geysers  are  in  number  as  tiity  to  one  of  their.Hi 
and  as  to  power  and  beauty  altogether  beyond  them.  "  Here," 
says  Mr.  William  L  MarsI  all,  "are  more  geysers  than  in  all  the 
world  beside,  and  they  spout  columns  of  boiling-hot  water,  of 
si«e8  v£trytng  with  the  dimensions  of  their  orifices,  from  a  few 
inches  to  twenty  feet  in  diameter,  and  to  heights  ranging  all  the 
way  from  ten  or  fifteen  up  to  250  or  275  feet,  the  eruptions  being 
accompanied  by  a  constant  succession  of  miniature  earthquak'^s, 
by  a  terrible  noise  like  almost  continuous  underground  thunder, 
and  by  the  evolution  of  immense  masses  of  steam,  which  tower 
hundreds  of  feet  above  the  water.  The  subterranean  explosions, 
from  twenty  to  seventy  a  minute,  sounding  and  jarring  the 
gjround  like  a  heavy  artillery  duel,  manifest  themselves  in  mighty 
pulsations  along  the  column,  shooting  it  upwards  an  '  outwards 


YKLt.Ott^STOSE  CX\'SJ(Ai  THe  FtNP^T  IN  T/IK  W-Oftl.P. 


IM9 


■rs  a  rrtum 

r.i\<  llfd  for 

and   llicri  A 

,  the  sourct: 

ill'-y  of  that 

It  ilw   I'orkw 

rfc  milrs  in 

ral  timcK — 

vstone  river 

itt,  a  journey 

)  the  Lower 

ur  ifnagtn««ry 

these  a  nd  the 
n\  to  g( )  Bcrs 
ix:en  familiar 
read  of  theii 
ts  of  jjeyscrH 
iwn  country ; 
alifornia  anci 
ras  or  boilinjij 
)f  Iceland  and 
:ween  Iceland 
one  of  theirs; 
:m.     "  Here," 
han  in  all  the 
hot  water,  of 
»,  from  a  few 
inging  all  the 
uptions  being 
;  earthquak'rs, 
)und  tiiunder, 
I,  which  tower 
an  ex  plosions, 
id  jarring  the 
Ives  in  mighty 
an'^  outwards 


in  jets,  rising  to  ever-varying  hetghtx.and  coni^tuntly  divi<ling  and 
subdividing,  and  nhiv^ring  into  milk  white  nprny.  ,     ' 

"A  geyser  eruption  is  not  at  •ill  lik<  the  play  of  an  artificial 
Tountain,  in  which  the  water  is  pushed  up  by  prrsMint  to  .1  uniform 
height,  or  if  made  to  vary  1  umt  do  ho  with  a  regularity  which 
Sdon  hecomea  wearisome,  but  in  like  a  cataract  of  crystal-clear, 
boiSing'hot  water — not  falling  in  den|);ur  of  rcHinLinctr  to  gravity, 
but,  as  if  iniitinct  with  life,  leaping  towaniM  heaven,  shivering  up- 
wardn  (precisely  as  u  cataract  does  downwards)  into  rockets  of 
milk-white  spray,  each  as  it  ceases  tn  rise  emittinj(  a  little  pulf 
of  steam,  which  proclai<nB  what  was  tht>  force  whi<h  lifted  it,  and 
which  now,  like  the  soi  I  tleserting  the  body,  leavea  it,  no  longer 
able  to  triumph  o\er  gravity,  but,  unsupporteil,  to  fall  to  the 
steaming  mounti  lu^low  in  showei  ^  of  shining  prarU  and  flitHhing 
diamonds,  while  the  central  portionti  of  t  '*  (^ilumn  drop  down  in 
immense  volumes  that  strike  the  moiin<'  mt\\  a  roar  liko  a  ca>.a- 
ract,  or  Hkc  the  thunder  of  distant  surf.  Every  instant  the 
column  is  changing  Its  height  and  sha|>e,  as  the  mighty  and  mys> 
terious  forces  of  tho  under  world,  shaking  the  mountains  in  their 
struggles  for  freedom,  pulsate  along  it;  and  it  is  always ert  v  eloped 
and  surmounted  by  vast  banks  and  lofty  pillars  of  steam,  ever 
swaying  with  the  wind,  constantly  assuming  fantastic  forms,  and 
crowned  and  fringed  wiih  rainbows.  ITiese  indescribably  mag- 
nificent displays  occur  wit:l\  some  geysi^rs  at  fixed  periods,  as  in 
the  case  of  Old  Faithful,  which  spouts  from  an  onfice  seven  feet 
long  by  two  feet  wide,  every  sixty-seve-'  minutes,  its  eruptions  last- 
ing from  four  to  six  minutes.  It  is  the  onlv  large  geyser  known 
in  the  world,  which  spouts  ho  frequently  and  with  sutih  unfailing 
regularity;  whence  its  name.  In  more  than  one  hundred  erup- 
tions of  it,  which  I  witnessed  during  my  two  visits  to  the  Park  in 
1873  and  1875,  I  never  knew  it  to  be  more  than  three  minuter 
behind  its  appointed  time.  Most  of  the  great  geysers,  however, 
spout  at  very  irregular  intervals,  varying  from  three  or  four  hours 
to  several  days,  or  even  two  or  three  weeks,  their  eruptions  last- 
rng  from  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  to  two  or  three  hours,  and 
sometimes  even  as  long  as  nine  hours. 

"  No  geyser  spouts  constantly,  though  some  of  the  small  ones 


79 


.!rlo  iTti'v;  w-il  r  III  '   rUui.]/!  yu:  ,iv(v 


r 


laje 


OVK   WgSTKHf  MMftilM. 


#) 


upmit  monx  of  th^  rtmc  Between  «!rupt{oni,  «iomi»  poiir  <Hit  fmm 
thrir  Iwautifully  ornmnrntrd  eratrn  Krcat  pufiHof  tf  am  i.'<«  im- 
menm?  high  prrsnurc  rn^nm,  little  jetn  of  iicaUlin|{  nprvk/  iKin;; 
constantly  thrown  to  the  top  of  the  crater,  or  a  little  above  it, 
whllr  there  in  a!!  the  time  a  tound  of  fit;rrr  botlini;;  l)rlow,  -^nd  in 
ofhern  the  hot  water  standa,  a  wonderfully  traniparent  pool,  in 
vant  naiicer-iihaped  hatint,  from  ten  to  aeventy-Hve  feet  acroM, 
within  rach  of  which  ia  the  wril  or  tube  froii  which  the  eruption 
occur*,  at  which  the  water  iilowly  boiU.  No  lan^^uagr  can  ad«* 
quatrly  dcncribe  the  gracefully  curved  and  scalloped  forms  in 
which  the  silicious  rock  deposits  on  the  bottumn  an<l  mnrginn  of 
these  lianins,  nor  the  beauty  of  the  countless  vivid  and  delicate 
colors  with  which  they  are  dyed.      •    (  •:.  '   •.       i      •    <U'i 

"  Standing  or  lying  all  about  the  geyser  craten  and  hot  springs 
are  ^'ves,  killed  by  the  hoc  silicious  waters  or  by  th<'ir  mineral 
depoHitA.  Nothing  in  nature  can  be  more  spectral  than  these 
nakod  trunks  of  trees,  stripped  of  bark  and  bare  of  branches,  and 
bleached  white  as  snow,  seeming  like  the  ghosts  of  the  groves 
and  forcHts  buried  beneath  these  mounds.  When  the  wood  falls 
in  the  Immediate  line  of  overflow  of  spring  or  geyser,  the  hot 
water  soon  soaks  it  soft  and  petrifies  it.  Immense  quantities  of 
wood  may  be  seen  here  in  all  stages  of  petrifaction. 

"  It  is  plain  that  while  the  amount  of  hot  spring  and  geyser 
action  in  the  Park  has  been  about  the  same  for  ages  past,  its  cen- 
tres of  activity  have  always  been,  and  are  now,  constantly 
changing.  Several  of  the  largest  geysers,  whose  age  wc  do  not 
know,  are  plainly  of  very  recent  origin — notably  'Old  Faithful' 
and  the  'Castle ' — since  high  up  on  the  mounds  of  each  are 
lying,  partially  imbedded  in  the  rock,  and  not  yet  wholly  petrified, 
the  trunks  of  large  pine  trees,  wluch,  had  they  been  there  very 
many  years,  must  have  been  completely  buried  by  the  rapid  de 
posit  of  the  rock,  while  alike  in  the  woods  and  in  the  open  ground 
are  humerotis  extinct  craters,  and  many  others  which  are  plSiinly 
dying  out.  Two  of  the  greatest  among*  the  geysers  of  the  Upper 
Geyser  basin  of  the  Fire  Hole  are  certainly  of  very  recent  origin, 
having  broken  out  between  the  autumn  of  1873  and  the  spring 
-of  1874 ;  and  many  pulsating  and  boiling  springs,  which  do  not 
spout,  are  plainly  but  a  few  years  old. 


imir  rnit  fmm 
t»  am  i.'<c  im- 

ittle  ubovi*  ii, 

l)dow,  iml  in 
•rent  pnol,  in 
'r  feet  acroM, 

1  the  eruption 
mar.  can  ad«> 

p«»l  forms  in 
n»l  mnr)(inn  of 
li  unU  doltcatc 

nd  hot  tprin^rii 

'  th<'ir  mineral 

ml  than  these 

f  branches,  and 

of  the  jjroves 

the  wood  falls 

jjcyser,  the  hot 

le  quantities  of 

an.     /•  :,'i!V>:7/.i 

inp  and  geyser 

cs  past,  its  cen- 

ow,   constantly 

age  wc  do  not 

'Old  Faithful* 

is  of  each  are 

vholly  petrified, 

icen  there  very 

•y  the  rapid  de 

he  open  ground 

^ich  are  piftinty 

rs  of  the  Upper 

y  recent  origin, 

and  the  spring 

,  which  do  not 


'^ffc^ 


■■ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Senes. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historicai  IVIicroreproductions  /  Inttitut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiquas 


A:«iuM3»- 


ns 


NUMB  KM  OF  TIFR   GEYSERS. 


I35I 


"No  one  knows  how  many  geysers  and  hot  springs  there  are 
in  the  Park.  Dr.  Hayden  estimates  that  in  the  two  Fire  Hole 
River  Geyser  basins,  within  an  arc-a  about  equal  to  that  of  an 
ordinary  township,  say  thirty-five  or  forty  square  miles,  there  are 
at  least  2,000,  and  in  the  whole  Park  there  are  supposed  to  be  at 
least  10,000  hot  springs,  steam  jets,  geysers  and  mud  springs. 
The  solfataras,  fumaroles  and  salses,  of  which  some  are  found 
scattered  through  the  geyser  basins,  but  most  of  which  are  in 
groups  here  and  there  outside  the  Geyser  basins,  especially  at 
Brimstone  Mountain,  on  the  summit  of  the  divide  between  the 
Yellowstone  and  Fire  Hole  Valleys ;  at  numerous  points  about 
Yellowstone  lake,  on  Pelican  creek,  at  Crater  Hills,  and  at  Mud 
Volcanoes,  en  the  west  bank  of  the  Yellowstone  river ;  on  Alum 
creek,  along  the  Grand  Cafton,  and  on  the  slopes  of  the  Sierra 
Shoshone  and  the  Elephant's  Back  Mountains,  follow  naturally 
in  our  catalogue  of  attractions.  These  from  thousands  of  vents, 
pour  out  sulphurous  hot  water,  or  steam  charged  with  sulphu- 
retted hydrogen  and  other  gases  commonly  emitted  from  volcanic 
craters,  or  boil  and  spout  mud,  slate-blue,  or  white,  or  pink,  or 
lavender,  or  blackish  green,  or  brown,  some  thin  as  mush,  some 
thick  as  hasty  pudding,  with  much  puffing  and  rumbling  and 
hissing  of  steam  escape-pipes,  and  often  with  much  trembling  of 
the  ground.        ! 

"About  many  of  them  are  deposited  beautiful  incrustations  of 
sulphur  and  silica,  of  a  light  buff-color,  or  solid  sheets  or  delicate 
feathery,  frost-like  crystals  of  bright  yellow  sulphur,  together  with 
alum  and  other  volcanic  products.  Some  of  the  larger  of  these 
sulphurous  steam  jets,  pouring  out  of  openings  several  feet  in 
diameter,  keep  up  a  continual  roar,  like  a  hoarse  fog-whisde; 
others,  night  and  day,  maintain  a  steady  series  of  explosions,  like 
distant  thunder,  from  twenty  to  fifty  peals  a  minute,  audible  for 
miles  around,  and  each  jarring  the  ground,  so  that  you  may,  ia 
.  some  cases,  plainly  feel  it,  sitting  on  your  horse,  a  half  a  mile 
away  from  them. 

"  Some  of  these,  also,  are  plainly  of  quite  recent  origin ;  for, 
walking  about  among  them  at  Brimstone  Mountain,  where,  over 
many  acres,  the  vegetation  is  utterly  destroyed,  and  the  surface 


•X 


*'y'^j^"^. 


"■w'T  j-'imn»'« 


1353 


OUR   WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


of  the  earth  blasted  and  burned,  and  streaked  red,  and  yellow, 
and  white,  seems  a  mere  heap  of  ashes  mixed  with  sulphur, 
near  the  centre  of  the  great  area  of  desolation,  we  saw  the  pros- 
trate trunks  of  several  pine  trees  not  yet  entirely  destroyed  by 
the  corrosive,  stilling  vapors,  but  so  far  decayed  that  we  could 
kick  them  to  pieces  easily.  The  waters  of  this  cluster  flow 
towards  the  Yellowstone,  and  in  a  hollow  have  formed  a  minia- 
ture Dead  sea,  whose  steaming,  sulphurous,  heavy,  j^reen  waves 
support  no  form  of  life,  and  beat  sullenly  on  a  shore  whose  deso- 
lation is  in  marked  contrast  to  the  luxurious,  grassy  slopes 
which  stretch  for  miles  to  the  east  towards  and  across  the 
Yellowstone."  i- f  '    "        '  • 

We  shall  not  attempt  in  this  place  any  explanation  of  the  phi- 
losophy of  die  geyser,  for  two  reasons :  one,  that  scientists  are 
not  agreed  in  their  views  of  it ;  the  only  thing  fully  ascertained 
in  regard  to  it  is  that  the  hot  water  (from  whatever  source  it  may 
be  derived)  passes  up  through  long  tubes  or  pipes  of  different 
diamet'Ts;  and  the  other,  that  their  explanations  are  too  ab- 
struse to  be  understood  by  the  masses,  even  if  (which  is  doubtful) 
they  understand  them  fully  themselves.  .  . 

Let  us,  then,  turn  to  a  contemplation  of  these  geysers,  and  espe- 
cially of  those  of  the  Upper  Geyser  Basin,  where,  though  some- 
what fewer  in  number  than  in  the  Lower  basin,  they  are  of  much 
greater  power  and  magnificence.  And,  first,  let  us  folbw  Rev. 
Edwin  Stanley,  a  visitor  to  the  Park,  whose  "  Rambles  in  Won- 
derland "  gives  a  very  interesting  account  of  this  Upper  basin,  as 
he  marshals  the  geysers  in  a  grand  parade  ;;-■  '  •    • '"  ' '' 

,  "  Let  us  imagine  ourselves  for  once  standing  in  a  eerrtral  posi- 
tion, where  we  can  see  every  geyser  in  the  basin.  It  is  an  extra 
occasion,  and  they  are  all  out  on  parade,  and  all  playing  at  once. 
There  is  good  Old  Faithful,  always  ready  for  her  part,  doing  her 
best — the  two  by  five  feet  column  playing  to  a  height  of  1 30  feet 
— perfect  in  all  the  elements  of  geyser  action.  Yonder  the  Bee- 
hive is  sending  up  its  graceful  column  200  feet  heavenward,  while 
the  Giantess  is  just  in  die  humor,  and  is  making  a  gorgeous  dis- 
play of  its,  say,  ten  ittt  volume  to  an  altitude  of  250  feet.  In 
the  meantime  the  old  Casde  answers  the  summons,  and  putting 


■« 


and  yellow, 
iih  sulphur, 
aw  the  pros- 
estroyed  by 
at  we  could 
cluster  How 
ned  a  ininia- 
^>:reen  waves 
whose  deso- 
rassy  slopes 
across  the 

n  of  the  phi- 
icientists  are 
y  ascertained 
•ource  it  may 
J  of  different 
are  too  ab- 
h  is  doubtful) 

srs,  and  espe- 
:hough  some- 
r  are  of  much 
I  follow  Rev. 
bles  in  Won- 
3per  basin,  as 

central  posi- 
It  is  an  extra 
ying  at  once, 
irt,  doing  her 
^t  of  1 50  feet 
ider  the  Bee- 
;n\v<ard,  while 
jorgeous  dis- 
?5o  feet.     In 

and  putting 


»T/m  PARADE   OF  TUB   GRYHERSr 


1253 


on  its  strength  with  alarming  detonations  is  belthing  forth  a  gi- 
gantic volume  seventy  feet  above  its  crater ;  while  over  there,  just 
above  the  Saw-mill,  which  is  rallying  all  its  force  to  the  exhibition, 
rustling  about  and  spurting  upward  its  six-inch  jet  with  ai>  much 
self-importance  as  if  it  were  the  only  geyser  in  the  basin,  we  see 
the  Grand,  by  a  more  than  ordinary  effort,  overtopping  all  the 
rest,  with  its  hfcaven -ascending,  graceful  volume,  300  feet  in  the 
air.  Just  below  here  the  Riverside,  the  Comet,  the  complicated 
and  fascinating  Fantail,  and  the  curiously-wrought  Grotto,  are 
all  chiming  in,  and  the  grand  old  Giant,  the  chief  of  the  basin,  not 
to  be  left  behind,  or  by  any  one  outdone,  is  towering  up  with  its 
six  feet  fountain,  swaying  in  the  bright  sunlight  at  an  elevation 
of  250  feet.  In  the  meantime  a  hundred  others  of  lesser  note, 
we  will  say,  are  answering  the  call  at  this  grand  exposition,  and 
coming  out  in  all  their  native  glory  and  surpassing  beauty.  Just 
listen  to  the  terrible,  awful  rumblings  and  deafening  thunders,  as 
if  the  very  earth  would  be  moved  from  its  foundation — the  thou- 
sand reports  of  rushing  waters  and  hissing  steam,  while  Pluto  is 
mustering  all  his  forces,  and  Hades  would  feign  disgorge  itself 
and  submerge  our  world.  But  then  look  upward  at  the  immense 
masses  of  rising  steam  ascending  higher  and  still  h'gher,  until 
lost  in  the  heavens  above ;  while  every  column  is  tinseled  over 
with  a  robe  of  silver  decked  with  all  the  prismatic  colors,  and 
every  majestic  fountain  is  encircled  with  a  halo  of  gorgeous 
hues." 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  however,  the  geysers  are  never  all  in 
action  at  the  same  time.  Their  periods  of  activity  are  different 
at  different  times,  and  with  some  of  them  are  at  increasingly  long 
intervals,  and  probably  they  will  eventually  cease  to  act,  as  so 
many  others  have  done.  New  geysers  are  constantly  forming, 
and  may  take  the  places  of  the  silent  ones.  Some  of  the  most 
remarkable  of  the  number  are  so  uncertain  that  parties  have  re- 
mained at  the  basins  for  two  or  three  weeks  without  witnessing 
their  action,  and  again  perhaps  soon  after  they  have  sent  up  a 
magnificent  column  twice  or  thrice  in  twenty-four  hours.  One 
explorer.  Lieutenant  Barlow,  tells  us  that  near  the  edge  of  the 
basin,  where  the  river  makes  a  sharp  bend  to  the  southeast,  is 


iiii 


-ikiV 


1354 


OUR   IVESTERN  EMPIRE. 


found  the  initial  geyser — a  small  steam  vent — on  the  right. 
Soon  on  either  side  of  the  river  are  seen  the  two  lively  geysers, 
called  the  "  Sentinels,"  because  of  their  nearness  to  the  gate  of 
the  great  geyser  basins.  The  one  on  the  left  is  in  constant  agi- 
tation, the  waters  revolving  horizontally  with  great  violence,  and 
occasionally  spouting  upward  to  the  height  of  twenty  feet,  the  lat- 
eral direction  being  fifty  feet.  Enormous  masses  of  steam  are 
ejected.  The  crater  of  this  is  three  feet  by  ten.  The  opposite 
Sentinel  is  not  so  constantly  active,  and  is  smaller.  About  250 
yards  from  the  gate  are  three  geysers  acting  in  concert.  When 
in  full  action  the  display  from  these  is  very  fine.  The  waters 
spread  out  in  the  shape  of  a  fan,  in  consequence  of  which  they 
have  been  named  the  Fan  Geysers.  One  hundred  yards  farther 
up  the  side  of  the  stream  is  found  a  double  geyser,  a  stream  from 
one  of  its  orifices  playing  to  the  height  of  eighty  or  ninety  feet, 
emitting  large  volumes  of  steam.  From  the  formation  of  its  crater 
it  was  named  the  Well  Geyser. 

Still  above  are  found  some  of  the  most  interestinc:  and  beau- 
tiful  geysers  of  the  whole  basin.  First  are  two  smaller  geysers 
near  a  large  spiing  of  blue  water,  while  a  few  yards  beyond  are 
seen  the  walls  and  arches  of  the  Grotto.  Thip  is  an  exceedingly 
intricate  formation,  eight  feet  in  height  and  ninety  in  circumfer- 
ence. It  is  by  many  called  the  gem  of  all  the  geysers.  It  is 
absolutely  magnificent — a  sight  of  resplendent  beauty,  that  greets 
the  eyes  nowhere  outside  of  the  region  of  the  National  Park.  It 
is  simply  a  miniature  temple  of  alabaster  whiteness,  with  arches 
leading  to  some  interior  Holy  of  Holies,  whose  sacred  places 
may  never  be  profaned  by  eye  or  foot.  The  hard  calcareous 
formation  about  it  is  smooth,  and  bright  as  a  cleati  swept  pave- 
ment. Several  columns  of  purest  white  rise  to  a  height  of  eight 
to  ten  feet,  supporting  a  roof  that  covers  the  entire  vent,  forming 
fantastic  arches  and  entrances,  out  of  which  the  water  is  ejected 
during  an  eruption  fifty  or  sixty  feet.  The  entire  surface  is 
composed  of  the  most  delicate  bead-work  imaginable,  white  as 
the  driven  snow,  -massive  but  elaborately  elegant. and  so  peerlessly 
beautiful  that  the  hand  of  desecration  has  not  been  laid  upon  it, 
and  it  stands  without  flaw  or  break  in  all  its  primal  beauty — a 
grotto  of  pearls,  "  the  beautiful  princess  of  all  the  realm." 


THR   GIANT  ASD   OLD  FAtTr'FUI.  CRYSERS. 


1*55 


on    the    right, 
lively  geysers, 
|to  thij  gate  of 
constant  agi- 
violence,  and 
|ty  feet,  the  lat- 
of  steam  arc 
The  opposite 
About  250 
ncert.     When 
The  waters 
of  which  they 
1  yards  farther 
a  stream  from 
or  ninety  feet, 
on  of  its  crater 

ing  and  bcau- 
maller  geysers 
ds  beyond  are 
^n  exceedingly 
y  in  circiimfer- 
jeysers.     It  is 
ity,  that  greets 
onal  Park.     It 
5S,  with  arches 
sacred  places 
ird  calcareous 
J  swept  pave- 
leight  of  eight 
vent,  forming 
Iter  is  ejected 
ire  surface  is 
able,  white  as 
I  so  peerlessly 
I  laid  upon  it, 
lal  beauty — a 
ealm." 


Proceeding  1 50  yards  farther,  and  passing  two  hot  springs,  a 
remarkable  group  of  geysers  is  discovered.  One  of  these  has  a 
huge  crater,  five  feet  in  diameter,  shaped  something  like  the  base 
of  a  horn — one  side  broken  down — the  highest  point  being  fifteen 
ftrel  above  the  mound  on  which  it  stands.  This  proved  to  b(?  a 
tremendous  geyuer,  which  has  been  called  the  (iiant.  It  throws 
a  column  of  water  the  size  of  the  opening  to  the  measured  altitude 
of  130  feet,  and  continues  the  display  for  an  hour  and  a  half. 
The  amount  of  water  discharged  is  immense,  almost  equal  in 
quantity  to  that  in  the  river,  the  volume  of  which  during  the 
eruption  is  doubled.  But  one  eruption  of  this  geyser  was  ob- 
served. Another  large  crater  close  by  has  several  orifices,  and 
with  ten  small  jets  surrounding  it,  formed  probably  one  connect- 
ing system.  The  hill  built  up  by  this  group  covers  an  acre  of 
ground,  and  is  thirty  feet  in  height. 

Harry  J.  Norton,  Esq.,  formerly  of  Virginia  City,  made  the 
rounds  of  all  the  geysers,  and  describes  the  leading  ones  as  fol- 
lows: "In  our  opinion,  there  is  no  geyser  in  the  entire  region 
that  is  so  richly  deserving  of  mention  as  our  ancient-looking, 
steadfast  friend,  Old  Faithful ;  for  its  operations  are  as  regular 
as  clock-work,  of  most  frequent  occurrence,  and  of  great  power. 
Standing  sentinel-like  on  the  upper  outskirts  of  the  valley,  at 
regular  intervals  of  sixty-seven  moments,  the  grim  old  vidette 
sounds  forth  his  'all's  well '  in  a  column  of  water  five  or  six  feet 
in  diameter,  throwing  it  skyward  to  a  distance  of  1 50  feet,  and 
holding  it  up  to  that  height  for  eight  or  ten  minutes'  duration. 
The  stream  is  nearly  vertical,  and  in  descending  the  water  forms 
a  glittering  shower  of  pearl-drops,  plashing  into  a  succession  of 
porcelain-lined  reservoirs  of  every  conceivable  shape  and  many- 
colored  tints.  The  mound  is  not  far  from  twenty  feet  in  height, 
and  gradually  slopes  down  to  the  south  in  regular  terraces  to  a 
neighboring  hot  spring.  One  of  the  artistic  reservoirs  nearest 
the  crater  is  half-filled  with  irregularly  shaprd,  perfectly  polished 
white  pebbles,  which  must  have  been  thrown  out  at  the  different 
eruptions.  When  the  eruption  ceases  the  water  recedes,  and 
nothing  is  heard  but  the  occasional  escape  of  steam  until  another 
exhibition  occurs.      Old  Faithful  will  ever  be  the   favorite  of 


I 


II  ,f 


\.  I 


J 


f)j6  OUM   WESTERN  RMP/EE. 

touritts,  as  it  never  fails  in  regularly  giving  a  display  of  lu 
powers. 

"Crossing  the  river,  and  proceeding  down  its  cast  bank  an 
eighth  of  a  mile,  we  come  to  the  Beehive.  Marly  in  the  afternoon 
an  eruption  took  place  without  a  moment's  warning.  The  column 
of  water  ejected  filled  the  full  size  of  the  crater,  and  shot  up  at 
L'ast  200  feet.  So  nearly  vertically  does  the  stream  ascend  that 
on  a  calm  day  nine-tenths  of  the  volume  would  fall  directly  bark 
into  the  aperture.  From  this  cause,  probably,  there  is  no  mound 
of  any  consequence  built  around  it.  At  the  time  we  witnessed 
its  action,  the  ascending  torrent  was  interposed  between  us  and 
a  bright,  shining  sun,  and  through  its  cloud  of  spray  there 
was  formed  a  rainbow  of  magnificent  proportions,  lending  the 
fountain  a  crowning  splendor  and  glory  that  it  could  not  other- 
wise possess.  ■i\    1     ' 

"To  the  right, and  down  stream  a  few  hundred  yards  from  the 
Beehive,  is  the  Giantess,  with  a  crater  eighteen  by  twenty-five 
feet.  We  came  upon  it  during  one  of  its  lucid  intervals,  and 
looking  down  into  the  gaping  chasm  could  just  discern  the  water 
a.  great  distance  below,  as  in  a  state  of  apparent  tranquillity. 
Presently,  however,  there  came  up  from  its  gloomy  depths  a 
dismal  groan,  quickly  followed  by  a  dense  volume  of  steam  and 
a  rumbling  sound  beneath  our  feet,  as  of  terrific  underground 
thunder.  In  a  moment  more  the  seething  elements  below  were 
in  wildest  commotion.  The  rolling  and  clashing  of  waves,  the 
terrible  steam-clouds  rushing  to  and  fro  under  the  frail  crust,  the 
thunder  of  the  raging  waters,  a«,  lashed  into  fury  by  the  pur- 
suing steam,  they  sought  to  burst  apart  their  prison  wall  and 
escape — all  were  but  too  distinctly  heard  and  felt.  Spell-bound 
we  stood,  and,  with  enraptured  awe,  silently  awaited  the  result  of 
this  terrible  confusion.  Spasm  succeeded  spasm ;  the  agitated 
flood  boiled  up  to  the  surface  of  the  crater,  and  with  a  deafening 
report  the  immense  body  of  water  was  hurled  into  the  air  over 
a  hundred  feet.  Like  some  gigantic  fountain  impelled  by  an 
engine  power  that  could  have  revolved  a  world,  the  boiling  jet 
continued  to  play  for  several  minutes.  Surrounding  this  majestic 
liquid  dome  is  a  circle  of  smaller  jets  issuing  from  the  same 


iplay  of  its 

St  hank  an 

c  afternoon 

The  column 

shot  up  at 

ascend  that 

irectly  back 

no  mound 

'e  witnessed 

vecn  us  and 

spray  there 

lending  the 

d  not  other- 

rds  from  the 

'  twenty-five 

ntervals,  and 

rn  the  water 

tranquillity. 

ny  depths  a 

M  steam  and 

underground 

s  below  were 

if  waves,  the 

-ail  crust,  the 

by  the  pur- 

ion  wall  and 

Spell-bound 

the  result  of 

the  agitated 

1  a  deafening 

>  the  air  over 

pelled  by  an 

»e  boiling  jet 

this  majestic 

)m  the  same 


THR   PAN  AND    Thti   GRAND   OH  YSERS. 


1257 


crater,  but  from  lesser  apertures  below,  giving  the  main  column 
the  appearance  of  a  fountain  within  a  tuuntain.  Playing  hither 
and  thither  in  the  mellow  sunlit  mist,  miniature  rainbowH  were 
seen,  and  the  air  glistened  with  the  falling  wutcr-bcails  as  if  a 
shower  of  diamonds  were  being  poured  from  the  goUlon  gates 
of  the  Eternal  City. 

"  Suddenly,  just  below  us  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river,  a 
vast  column  of  steam  burst  forth  and  ascended  several  hundred 
feet.  On  the  qui  vive  for  new  wonders,  we  hurried  over  a  slight 
knoll  in  that  direction,  and  arrived  just  in  time  to  witness  the  I'^an 
(Jeyser  getting  up  steam  for  an  eruption.  It  requires  more  in- 
side machinery  to  operate  this  geyser  than  any  of  the  others.  In 
fact,  it  is  a  massive  natural  engine,  35  by  100  feet,  with  two  small 
valves,  two  escape  pipes,  and  at  the  extreme  upper  end  a  large 
smoke-stack — five  separate  and  distinct  craters.  When  we  ar- 
rived, we  could  hear  a  sound  as  of  cord-wood  being  thrown  into 
a  mammoth  furnace.  This  continued  several  seconds,  ceased, 
-and  was  followed  by  great  quantities  of  steam  from  the  smoke- 
stack ;  then  the  two  valves  opened,  shooting  out  swift,  hissing 
jets  of  steam.  The  next  moment  there  would  be  an  unearthly 
roar  from  the  double  craters  ;  both  would  fill,  and  ''rom  each  aper- 
ture a  column  of  water  two  feet  in  diameter  shot  upward  over 
eighty  feet,  one  ascending  nearly  vertical,  and  the  other  at  an 
angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees,  thus  forming  the  *  fan.'  The 
eruption  would  continue  from  two  to  four  minutes,  then  the  flow 
cease  for  eight  or  ten  seconds,  and  then  the  entire  movement 
would  be  repeated.  These  repetitions  continued  for  about 
twenty-five  minutes,  then  ceased  altogether.  It  requires  no  great 
flight  of  fancy  to  see  in  this  marvellous  natural  mechanism  a  vast 
engine  running  under  the  guidance  of  a  ghostly  engineer,  and 
being  'stoked'  from  Pluto's  wood-pile  by  a  thousand  goblin 
firemen." 

Near  the  middle  of  the  Upper  Geyser  basin  is  the  "Grand 
Geyser,"  the  most  remarkable  in  many  respects  in  the  world. 
Lieutenant  Doane,  U.  S,  A.,  who  spent  several  days  in  its  imme- 
diate vicinity  in  1877,  thus  describes  it:  "Opposite  camp,  on  the 
other  side  of  Fire   Hole  river,  is  a  high  ledge  of  stalagmite, 


':   I 


13^8  Ol'Jf  WKSI/iitfi/  KMPfffF. 

sloping  from  the  base  of  the  mountain  down  to  the  river.  Nu 
meroiDi  Hnuill  knolls  are  scaltered  over  itn  nurfacr,  the  (raters  of 
boiling  sprinj^H,  from  fifteen  to  twenty-five  feet  in  (hamcter;  some 
of  these  throw  water  to  tlie  h<ij{ht  (»f  three  and  four  feet.  On 
the  Aumniit  of  this  bank  of  rotk  \%  tlw  firand geyar  of  Ike  xoot-ld, 
a  well  in  the  .strata,  twenty  by  twenty-five  feet  in  diametric  iiuas- 
urenentH  (the  perceptible  elevation  of  the  rim  being  but  a  few 
inches),  and  when  quiet  having  a  visible  depth  of  loo  feet.  The 
edge  of  the  basin  is  l)ounded  by  a  heavy  fringe  of  rock,  and  sta- 
lagmite in  soliil  kiyers  is  deposited  by  the  overflowing  waters. 
When  an  eruption  is  aliout  to  occur,  the  basin  gradually  fills  with 
boiling  wat<r  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the  surfactr,  then  suddenly, 
with  heavy  concussions,  immense  clouds  of  steam  ri»e  to  the 
height  of  500  feet,  and  the  whole  great  body  of  water,  twenty  by 
twenty-five  feet,  ascends  in  one  gigantic  column  to  the  height  of 
ninety  feet;  from  the  apex  o^  this  column  five  great  jets  shoot  up, 
radiating  slightly  from  each  other,  to  the  unparalleled  altitude  of 
250  feet  from  the  ground.  The  earth  trembles  under  the  ue- 
scending  deluge  from  this  vast  fountain ;  a  thousand  hissing 
sounds  are  heard  in  the  air;  rainbows  encircle  the  summits  of  the 
jets  with  a  halo  of  celestial  glory.  The  falling  water  plows  up 
and  bears  away  the  shelly  strata,  and  a  seething  Hood  pours 
down  the  slope  and  into  the  river.  It  is  the  grandest,  the  most 
majestic,  and  most  terrible  fountain  in  the  world.  After  playing 
thus  for  twenty  minutes,  it  gradually  subsides,  the  water  lowers 
into  the  crater  out  of  sight,  the  steam  ceases  to  escape,  and  all  is 
quiet.  This  grand  geyser  played  three  times  in  the  afternoon, 
but  appears  to  be  irregular  in  its  periods,  as  we  did  not  see  it  in 
eruption  again  while  in  the  valley.  Its  waters  are  of  a  deep 
ultramarine  color,  clear  and  beautiful.  The  waving  to  and  fro 
of  the  gigantic  fountain,  in  a  bright  sunlight,  when  its  jets  are  at 
their  highest,  affords  a  spectacle  of  wonder  of  which  any  descrip- 
tion can  give  buf  a  feeble  idea.  Our  whole  party  were  wild  with 
enthusiasm ;  many  declared  it  was  300  feet  in  height ;  but  I  have 
kept,  in  the  figures  as  set  down  above,  within  the  limits  of  abso- 
lute certainty." 
,    "  In  some  of  the  elements  of  beauty  and  interest,"  says  Pro- 


•  river.     Nu 
he  craters  of 
meter;  some 
|)ur  feet.     On 
of  Ike  wot'Ui, 
inptric  nu-as- 
|ng  but  a  few 
feet.     The 
rock,  and  Hta- 
wing  waters, 
iialiy  fills  with 
en  suddenly, 
n  rise  to  the 
tcr,  twenty  by 
the  height  of 
jets  shoot  up, 
ed  altitude  of 
inder  the  ue-- 
jsand   hissing 
iumnitsof  the 
Iter  plows  up 
r  Hood   pours 
dest,  the  most 
After  playing 
water  lowers 
;ape,  and  all  is 
the  afternoon, 
d  not  Hce  it  in 
re  of  a  deep 
»g  to  and  fro 
its  jets  are  at 
li  any  descrip- 
vere  wild  with 
It ;  but  I  have 
imits  of  abso- 

st,"  says  Pro- 


77/A   l.OWHH  CMYSKM  BASIN  AND  ITS  i.AUGS.  gjj^ 

fesfor  R.  W.  Rayr...ind,  "rhe  Lower  CieyHcr  hosin  is  Huperior  to 
its  more  startliiiv;  rival.  It  is  broader  an<l  more  easily  survey-d  a$ 
a  whole:  and  itit  sprin;4<<.  are  monr  nunx'-ous,  though  not  so  pow- 
erful. Nothing  can  be  lovelier  than  the  sight,  at  sunriHe,  of  the 
white  Rteamcolumns,  tinged  wirh  rosy  morning,  ascending 
ag^iinst  tlx;  background  of  th*;  dark  pine  woods  anil  the  •  lear  itky 
above.  The  variety  in  form  and  character  of  these  springs  in 
(|uite  remarkable.  A  few  of  litem  make  faint  deposits  of  sulphur, 
thougli  the  greater  number  iippear  to  bo  pur<rly  silicious.  One 
very  large  basin  (forty  by  sixty  feet)  is  filled  with  the  most  beau- 
tiful slime,  varying  in  tint  from  white  to  pink,  which  blobs  and 
spits  avvuy,  trying  to  boil,  like  a  heavy  theologian  forcing  a  laugh 

to  please  a  friend  in  spite  of  his  natural  specific  gravity 

The  /</«^';y  or  extinct  geysers  arc  the  most  l)eautiful  objects  of  all. 
Around  their  borders  the  white  incrustations  form  quaint  ara- 
besques and  ornamental  bosses,  resembling  petrified  vegetable 
growths.  The  sides  of  the  reservoir  are  corrugated  and  indented 
fancifully,  like  the  recesses  and  branching  passages  of  a  fairy 
cavern.  The  water  is  brightly  but  not  deeply  blue.  Over  its 
surface  curls  a  light  vapor;  through  its  crystal  clearness  one  may 
gaze,  apparently,  to  unfathomable  depths ;  and,  seen  through 
this  wondrous  medium,  the  white  walls  seem  like  silver,  ribbeil 
and  crusted  with  pearl.  When  the  sun  strikes  across  the  scene, 
the  last  touch  of  unexpected  beauty  is  added.  The  projected 
shadow  of  the  decorated  edge  reveals  by  contrast  new  glories  in 
the  depths;  every  ripple  on  the  surface  makes  marvellous  play 
of  tint  and  shade  on  the  pearly  bottom.  One  half-expects  to 
see  a  lovely  naiad  emerge  with  Hoating  grace  from  her  fantasti- 
cally carven  covert,  and  gayly  kiss  her  snowy  hand  through  the 
blue  wave. 

"  In  one  of  these  laugs  the  whitened  skeleton  of  a  mountain  buf- 
falo was  discovered.  By  whatever  accident  he  met  his  fate  there, 
no  king  or  saint  was  ever  more  magnificently  entombed.  Not 
the  shrine  of  St.  Antony  of  Padua  with  its  white  marbles  and 
its  silver  lamps,  is  so  resplendent  as  this  sepulchre  in  the  wilder- 
ness." 

Did  space  permit  we  might  give  a  score  of  other  testimonies* 


•X>.:-Ti- 


i3<k> 


OlM  U'ltSriMS  MittrntM, 


to  thr  bratity  of  thrtr  va«t  and  rxqiimtiily  Kriilptitrc'il  and  j«'W- 
drtl  ctipx  tillfrd  to  thr  hrint  with  Htaldin^r  water,  yvi  no  rntran* 
cin){ly  hcaiitifiil  that  yon  cannot  rv%\>,i  thr  tcmpu'ion  to  thruMt  in 
your  hand  and  phick  the  Milvcr  llowors  and  ^'athcr  the  >;l<amin); 
j<!w/U~-biit  wr  arr  comprllrd  to  dtniMt. 

Yet  (jcyscrdom  '\%  not  n  parachtir.  "The  Cicyiirr  baMini  in 
thomnclvcH,"  nay*  Kcv.  Dr.  Iloyt,  "are  very  ({hattly  placcii. 
Save  the  jcweleil  rups,  and  the  upward  phinjjc  of  the  whitr 
water,  there  iH  httle  hcauty  in  th<in  that  we  Hhould  dciiire  them. 
Where  the  jfcysers  spurt  uj)  their  hot  and  hissing  waves,  an<l 
scatter  them  about,  and  then  <lepo»it  as  the  scattered  waters  cool, 
th(!  hme,  and  ma^mesia,  and  sulphur,  with  which  they  are  (harj^id, 
nothinj;  j;reen  can  j^row.  The  aspect  is  that  of  a  de»«:rt,  except 
only  that  the  sand  instead  of  bein^  brown  is  white.  It  seems 
more  like  a  place  of  death  than  life — your  horse's  feet  are 
scalded  in  the  hot  streams — you  must  be  very  careful  vhert:  you 
In-ad,  lest  the  thin  crust  break  beneath  you,  and  let  you  down 
into  the  l)oiling  pooli,  and  sudden  death  below.  The  air  is 
stenchful  with  the  breath  of  noxiojs  jjascs.  Flowers  do  not 
bloom ;  jjrass  cannot  spread  its  greenness :  trees,  if  they  come 
within  the  circle  of  the  geyser  action,  stand  bleached,  leatless, 
lifeless.     It  is  the  ter«ible  side  of  nature  which  you  see." 

Turning  our  faces  northward  we  follow  the  Tirehole  or  Upper 
Madison  river  for  four  or  five  miles  from  the  Lower  Geyser  basin, 
till  at  a  point  opposite  a  forty  foot  fall  of  the  river  we  enter  upon 
the  New  Norris  road,  constructed  by  Superintendent  Norris 
in  1878,  which  leads  to  new  wonders  of  various  kinds.  The 
Gibbon's  fork  of  the  Firchole  or  Madison  river,  which  has  its 
source  in  or  near  Beaver  lake,  in  the  upper  Madis(;n  Kange, 
from  its  source  to  its  mouth  abounds  in  geysers,  hot-springs,  and 
fumaroles.  These  are  not  only  found  on  its  banks,  in  its  cations, 
and  in  the  vicinity  of  its  numerous  water-falls,  but  along  the 
slopes  of  the  mountains  adjacent  there  are  four  or  five  of  these 
Geyser  basins.  The  sou tliern most  of  these,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  fork  known  as  Gibbon's  Firehole  Basin,  is  on  the  Howard 
road.  Norris's  road  is  some  miles  east  of  this,  and  passes 
.  through  a  valley  till  it  strikes  Gibbon's  fork  just  at  the  fo|Ot  of  the 


OmnOAf'S  FOUK-flUKHOLR   BASIS, 


liftl 


r«'i|  an'l  jew- 

I  HO  rntran* 

n  to  tItriiHt  in 

the  j;l<aminj; 

iirr  baNins   in 

lastly    plairH. 

«)!  thr  whit«r 

tlftiin*  them. 

\^  wavt's,  unil 

1  watrrs  cool, 

an*  (luir^^id, 

<lrH«;rt,  except 

t<'.     It  )((!tn)s 

se's    fort   arc 

fill  v'liere  you 

let  you  down 

The  air  i» 

owcrs  fjo  not 

,  if  they  come 

idled,  leailebs, 

see." 

hole  or  Upper 
•  Geyser  basin, 
we  enter  upon 
L'ndent  Norris 
»  kinds.  The 
which  has  its 
idison  Range, 
Jt-springs,  and 
,  in  its  caflons, 
but  along  the 
r  five  of  these 
the  mouth  of 
1  the  Howard 
s,  and  passes 
the  foot  of  the 


long  nnil  dorp  caAoit  of  th«t  river.  *n  that  ranon  and  on  a 
bram  h  or  crrck  which  un»t»'H  with  it  there  are  iJum«n)HH  wa^cr* 
filU  lioin  eighty  ti)  one  hundred  feet  in  height.  The  carton  itnelf, 
ihoiigh  not  %o  deep  and  carrying  \t.n%  water  than  that  of  the  Yel- 
IdWMtone,  in  full  of  romanti':  beauty  anti  wiUtnesi.  Along  itn  bed 
and  near  it  are  pulsating  geyser  coneH  of  lK)th  yePow  an<l  rrinv 
•on,  paint  Mpringn,  and,  rivuhts  of  nearly  every  color,  geyser*, 
throwing  their  jets,  some  at  hast  too  f«*et  at  angles  of  from  40' 
to  60",  instead  of  vertically,  as  in  tlu?  old  basins,  and  in  the  open 
basin  along  the  roail,  beside  many  small  but  l)eautifu!  geysers, 
is  a  large  crater  form<.'d  so  recently  that  many  pine  trees  in  and 
around  it  still  retain  their  seared  and  mud-laden  leaves. 

Ascending  the  (« rand  Carton  of  the  (Wbbon,  we  find  at  it* 
head,  upon  the  crest  of  the  west«*rn  mountain  spur,  which  rises 
nearly  vertically  full  1,000  feet  above  the  highest  j)oint  of  the 
Carton  Walls,  a  geyser  basin  of  not  more  than  fi«'e  acres  in  ex- 
tent, which  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  interesting  in  the 
park.  To  this  basin,  as  its  first  discoverer,  Mr.  Norris  has  given 
the  name  of  Mu.uiment  basin.  In  this  there  is  at  least  one  pow- 
erful and  active  geyser — a  hissing  fumarole  plainly  audible  for 
miles ;  two  other  fumaroles,  one  tall  and  pulsating  like  the  exhaust 
pipe  if  a  huge  Corliss  engine,  and  the  other  with  the  orifice  and  ter- 
minal of  its  cCi. '  horizontal  instead  of  vertical.  Ihere  are  also 
twelve  pulsating  geyser  cones,  from  two  to  thirty  feet  in  height, 
and  similar  in  appearance  to  the  famous  Liberty  Cap.  A  parto*" 
these  are  now  extinct  and  slowly  wearing  away.  Mingled  w"  '1 
these  arc  numerous  hot  springs  and  spouting  geysers.  A  short 
distance  above  this  Monument  basin  we  come  to  another,  at  the 
upper  carton  of  the  Gibbon,  and  here  after  ascending  the  inevit- 
able water-fall  come  to  the  Norris  and  Firehole  basins  of  the 
Norris  fork  of  the  Gibbon.  Here  is  a  beautiful  grassy  park,  and 
sunny  glades  five  or  six  miles  in  extent,  and  the  whole  dotted 
and  begirt  with  huge  boiling  springs,  sputtering  paint-pots,  spout- 
ing geysers,  and  several  extensive  craters,  with  some  active  gey- 
sers which  throw  up  their  waters  with  great  frequency  and  reg- 
ularity. One  of  tliese  has  been  named  "  the  Minute  Man." 
Three  miles  more  bring  the  traveller  to  Beaver  and  Pine  lakes, 


' ; 


,     I 


••  M^J^",  l>  <f»  JWtd 


1262 


OCX    WESTE/tf/  EMPIRE. 


the  former,  though  of  considerable  extent,  being  artificial  in  the 
F.ensc  of  having  been  formed  by  a  succession  of  beavers'  dams. 
These  lakes  abound  with  feathered  game,  and  on  their  banks  are 
fumarolos  and  hot  springs  heavily  charged  with  alum. 

On  the  bank  of  Beaver  lake  diere  is  a  wall  of  vertical  columns 
of  obsidian  or  volcanic  glass,  many  hundred  feet  in  height  and 
for  two  miles  in  length.  There  are  cliffs  of  impure  obsidian 
elsewhere  in  the  Park  and  in  this  and  other  countries,  but  no- 
where has  there  been  found  any  of  this  volcanic  glass  so  pure 
and  perfect  as  this,  or  in  such  vast  quantity.  The  columns  are  of 
black,  yellow,  mottled,  and  banded  obsidian,  but  as  regular  in  form 
as  the  basaltic  columns  of  the  Giant's  Causeway.  Great  masses 
of  this  volcanic  glass  had  fallen  from  the  columns  and  formed 
a  barricade  some  250  or  300  feet  in  height,  at  an  angle  of  45°  to 
the  margin  of  Beaver  lake.  Mr.  Norris  had  large  fires  kindled  on 
this  sloping  barricade,  and  then,  suddenly  cooling  it  by  throwing 
cold  water  on  it,  broke  it  in  ?ces  and  then  with  great  labor 
crushed  it  and  made  a  good  Wa^on  road  over  this  barricade  of 
glass. 

From  the  obsidian  cliffs  there  is  a  good  wagon  road  to  the 
Mammoth  Hot  Springs,  and  tlience  to  the  northern  entrants  to 
the  Park.  We  have  dius  completed  our  tour  of  the  most  im- 
portant objects  of  interest  in  the  Park  at  the  present  time.  What 
new  wonders  will  be  brought  to  light  when  the  whole  region  east 
of  the  Yellowstone  river  and  lake  shall  be  thoroughly  explored, 
when  the  southern  portion,  now  almost  wholly  unknown,  shall 
have  been  carefully  investigated,  and  when  even  the  northwest 
portion,  drained  by  the  Gallatin  river,  shall  become  better 
known,  remains  for  other  and  future  travellers  and  tourists  to 
describe.  What  is  alreaxly  known,  stamps  it  as  the  most  remark- 
able region  on  the  globe. 

"This  whole  region."  says  Dr.  Hayden,  "  was,  in  comparatively 
modern  geological  times,  the  scene  of  the  most  wonderful  vol- 
canic activity  of  any  portion  of  our  country.  The  hot  springs 
and  geysers  represent  the  last  stages—the  vents  or  escape  pipes — 
of  these  remarkable  volcanic  manifestations  of  the  internal  forces. 
All  these  springs  are  adorned  with  decorations  more  beautiful  than 


artificial  in  the 
beavers'  clams, 
their  banks  are 
lum. 

ertical  cohimns 
t  in  height  and 
[npure  obsidian 
imtries,  but  no- 
glass  so  pure 
columns  are  of 
regular  in  form 
Great  masses 
ns  and  formed 
angle  of  450  to 
fires  kindled  on 
it  by  throwing 
i^itb  great  labor 
lis  barricade  of 

on  road  to  the 

lern  entranv.2  to 

)f  the  most  im- 

ent  time.    What 

hole  region  east 

>ughly  explored, 

unknown,  shall 

the  northwest 

become  better 

ajid  tourists  to 

le  most  remark- 

1  comparativefy 
:  wonderful  vol- 
he  hot  springs 
•  escape  pipes — 
internal  forces, 
e  beautiful  than 


ACCESS    TO    THE   PARK. 


IJ63 


humcn  art  ever  conceived,  and  which  have  required  thousands 
of  years  for  the  cunning  hand  of  Nature  to  form."  "It  is  prob- 
able," he  remarks  elsewhere,  "  that  during  the  Pliocene  period, 
the  entire  country,  drained  by  the  sources  of  the  Yellowstone  and 
the  Colorado,  was  the  scene  of  volcanic  activity  as  great  as  that 
of  any  portion  of  the  globe.  It  might  be  called  one  vast  crater, 
made  up  of  a  thousand  smaller  volcanic  vents  and  fissures,  out 
of  which  the  fluid  interior  of  the  earth,  fragments  of  rock  and 
volcanic  dus^  were  poured  in  unlimited  quantities.  Hundreds 
of  the  nuclei  or  cones  of  these  vents  are  now  remaining,  some 
of  them  rising  tea  height  of  10,000  to  11,000  feet  above  the 
sea." 

Up  to  the  present  time  the  access  to  the  Park  has  been  only 
by  long  and  difficult  journeys,  involving  too  great  fatigue  for  any 
but  the  most  robust,  and  almost  entirely  excluding,  by  its  very 
wearisomeness,  the  visits  of  the  gentler  sex.  Moreover,  tlie 
necessary  absence  of  any  considerable  hotel  accommodations,  01 
other  provisions  for  a  stay  of  at  least  ten  or  twelve  days  in  the 
Park,  and  the  frequent  presence  of  hostile  bands  of  Indians 
within  it,  have  prevented  any  very  large  influx  of  visitors  to  it. 
These  difficulties  are  now  almost  wholly  obviated.  The  Utah 
and  Northern  Railway  is  within  fifty  miles  of  Yellowstone  lake, 
and  swift  coaches  over  good  wagon  roads  traverse  the  remainder 
of  the  way.  Before  the  opening  cf  the  next  season  (the  season 
is  from  the  middle  of  August  to  the  middle  of  October),  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railway  will  be  running  through  trains  from 
Chicago  and  St.  Paul  to  Fort  Ellis,  and  not  impossibly  to  the 
Park  itself.  The  hardships  of  the  journey  will  all  be  gone,  and 
the  time  of  reaching  there  will  be  reduced  to  about  flight  days, 
and  the  expense  to  one-half  what  it  is  at  present.  The  Indians 
have  gone  for  good,  and  the  era  of  fast  coaches,  good  hotels, 
restaurants  and  bathing-houses  is  coming  on. 

The  impression  that  there  is  little  of  interest  in  the  Park  except 
the  phenomena  we  have  described  should  be  carefully  and  for- 
ever dispelled  from  the  minds  of  the  public.  "Few,  I  suppose," 
says  Mr.  William  I.  Marshall,  "would  care  to  live  long  among 
spouting  geysers  and  boiling  springs,  or  even  upon  the  banks  of 


5?^-S«3s^ 


126^  OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

the  brilliantly  colored  Grand  Caflon  of  the  Yellowstone;  but 
these  cover  only  a  small  part,  probably  not  more  than  two  or 
three  per  cent.,  of  the  surface  of  the  Park,  which  embraces  3,578 
square  miles,  or  2,298,920  acres,  an  area  almost  one-half  as  larj^e 
as  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  and,  of  course,  extensive  enough 
to  contain  an  immense  variety  of  scenery.  There  are  scores  of 
miles  of  beautiful  valleys  traversed  by  rivers  of  the  purest  water, 
swarming  with  trout,  grayling  and  whitefish,  and  furnishing  the 
finest  hunting-grounds  for  ducks,  geese,  swans,  and  other  water- 
fowl. These  valleys  are  generally  covered  with  fine  grass,  on 
which  numerous  antelopes  pasture,  while  the  greater  part  of  the 
mountains  which  bound  them  is  covered  with  the  forests  (inter- 
spersed with  those  great  grassy  slopes  which  are  so  marked  a 
feature  of  the  timbered  areas  of  the  Rocky  Mountains)  in  which 
those  fond  of  rifle-shooting  can  find  elk  and  black-tailed  deer  and 
white-tailed  deer  and  mountain  sheep,  and  occasionally  a  band 
of  mountain  buffalo  and  other  large  game.  There  are  countless 
quiet  nooks  where  one  can  camp  under  the  fragrant  pines,  besides 
green  meadows  gemmed  with  lovely  wild  flowers  and  watered 
by  bubbling  brooks,  across  which  the  beaver  still  builds  his  cun- 
ning dam,  and  beneath  whose  banks  and  in  whose  deep  pools  the 
dainty  litde  speckled  brook-trout  watches  for  his  prey.  Not  only 
are  there  scores  of  grand  mountains  lifting  their  craggy  sides  and 
rugged  summits  (few  of  which  have  ever  felt  the  tread  of  civilized 
man)  far  up  among  the  clouds,  but  innumerable  sunny  glades  and 
shady  dells,  charming  bits  of  quiet,  picturesque  scenery,  where 
one  will  see  nothing  of  the  striking,  but  only  the  gendy  beau- 
tiful. '••;-  •"/  '  ;■   ■  ■-■■■■;.  ■■      -   ',    ■;"- 

"  I  pi^esiinie  tile  h^2[d-<[uilrtei'§-f6»'  toUriSts,  When  the  Park  shall 
be  made  a  little  more  accessible,  will  be  established  on  the  shores 
of  the  lovely  Yellowstone  lake,  which,  lying  at  an  altitude  of  7,778 
feet  above  the  sea,  or  1,500  higher  than  the  surtimit  of  Mount 
Washington,  in  New  Hampshire,  covers  300  square  miles  With 
cool,  clear  water,  which  in  places  is  300  feet  deep,  and  rolls  its 
waves,  of  as  deep  a  blufc  as  tKe  open  sea,  on  300  miles  of  shore 
line  now  of  loveliest  beauty,  and  now  of  wildest  grandeur.  With 
its  opportunities  for  rowing  and  sailing  and  fishing  and  hunting, 


YELLOWSTONE  PARK  FOR  A  SUMMER  HOME. 


ia6$ 


[owstone;  but 
than  two  or 
braces  3,578 
■half  as  larjre 
tnsive  enough 
are  scores  of 
purest  water, 
turnishing  the 
other  water- 
ine  grass,  on 
er  part  of  the 
forests  (inter- 
so  marked  a 
ains)  in  which 
liled  deer  and 
onally  a  band 
are  counrless 
pines,  besides 
i  and  watered 
uilds  his  cun- 
leep  pools  the 
ey.     Not  only 
iggy  sides  and 
:ad  of  civilized 
ny  glades  and 
:enery,  where 
gently  beau- 


M      l^'l.    .^ 


he  Park  shall 
on  the  shores 
itude  of  7,778 
hit  of  Mount 
re  miles  with 
and  rolls  its 
liles  of  shore 
ideur.  With 
and  hunting, 


with  the  grandest  of  mountains  bordering  it  and  the  purest  of  air 
ever  sweeping  over  it,  and  with  the  inducements  to  open-air  life 
offered  by  its  surroundings,  it  is  surely  destined  to  become  a  most 
delightful  summer  resort  for  those  who  love  nature,  and  who, 
when  they  wish  to  see  her  strangest  and  most  wonderful  phases, 
can  sail  or  ride  in  a  few  hours  to  the  ^pouting  gevs^rs,  the  boil- 
ing springs,  the  stifling  solfataras,  the  roaring  mud  volcanoes,  the 
lofty  cataracts,  and  the  gorgeous  CaAon  of  the  Yellowstone ;  and 
when  they  would  enjoy  her  quieter  and  more  subdued  aspects 
can  find  them  on  eveiy  hand  in  endless  profusion.  Those  who 
travel  to  see  the  triumphs  of  industry  and  the  treasures  of  art, 
to  behold  the  ruins  of  an  ancient  era  or  splendor  of  modern  cities; 
those  who  wish  to  revive  historical  associations,  or  to  survey  the 
beauty  of  the  earth  as  affected  by  human  effort,  and  connected 
with  human  life,  will,  of  course,  go  to  the  old  world ;  but  there 
are  many,  and  the  number  seems  to  be  constantly  increasing, 
who,  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time,  love  yearly  to  leave  behind  them 
the  bustle  of  towns  and  the  roar  of  cities,  the  vexations  of  business 
and  the  conventionalities  of  society,  and  live  face  to  face  with  na- 
ture, resting  in  her  solitudes  or  communing  with  her  ceaseless 
health-giving  activities,  and  to  these  the  endless  features  of  the 
Park  will  offer  Yfined  attractions  and  constant  charms.".   ,  , 


•Tiijni.'f    ii  »;      /v    Ml'  »■'  <i;  iiti.ji.i   t  ■>fiir  •    '.'i.'  hio-'..  .  u.  )*i  ,^  •■.., 
ni'I  (tj   ..r  lyf   -''ll   ■■:     >'i  tJ.:.,:'.)  uu.A    !■  m:    i.iTij.'r.   t^i   i.nA    !, 
(iih'>jiii>;  J.  j-v    I'p  ,  'ii(;,",i   I   -jil?  ;•.  J^.■^^  *);ij  riv   :'  -..en    .,    ■]  }'.    ;    •  ,,■ 
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.'•■uh./    /•Aiiur  <  y<'   '•>;*. Xii;.':r>'    (lu:    Ut   "ii-  .<:(j')f  ,i(> -i   /;,    .      1  r.^^ 

•t^^iii}    I"  'iiy.''t]\-  -u':    {Un^M  in  rn'jr    nii<\y\    11    i- vif*  m.'yl    •,■■: 
lii)^'>v.ii..;  MT)n'  Jiiif  iKii.'f,'    i;  ,rfiir>ii-;  ihf.' )   .(i;  :ii  '  i  t"»hij.tij»il  iy_/-, 
i;|(rr>N  (.vf.vi'/  to  ,'.->^i[.>infi-.i  f.  i.i",;,;  1  ■!   Ii-ff'!  ;•  >■  tur,  .•>;.'{  .ni)  ,. 
robufijii!  wof  .',i^  jUup  III  •.♦5„  dio<.{  .'{^^u'-hIi  ,f;:jff:  vi)  :i':'i);;i;-itn  :?  ■  • 


■"^5fsr^ 


,  tAa^^arew£.-^::si.t£La,ausKM>^>.iJ:ii^:Jii::^-U:.^.*A'.- 


1266 


III     I , 


I 


OUM   WESThRN  EMPUiE, 

i     •'  1  r  111  I  I., ,  ;■  ', 

I 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
i'  1,11,  ALASKA,    I'.ii 


I   III , 
I  ,  .' 


RiLATioM  Of  Alaska  to  Ouh  Wutbkn  Empikk— Anothck  Kamschatka— 
Absurdity  or  the  Stories  told  op  m  Present  or  Prospective  Produc« 
TivENEss — Its  Furs,  Fisheries,  and  Timber,  somewhat  valuable— Pbcu* 
LIAR  Form  or  the  Territory — The  Bull's  Head  with  i-wo  long  Horns — 
Its  three  Divisions,  Sitka,  Yukon,  and  the  Islands— Area— Populatioh 
— Topography — Mountains — Rivers — The  Limits  and  Area  or  each  Di- 
vision—Geology— Volcanoes  and  Glaciers — Mineralogy— Coal — Me- 
tals— Minerals — Gold  and  Silver — Recent  Discx)veries — Zo5logy — The 
Divisions  in  detail — The  Sitkan  Division — Its  Fur  Trade,  Fisheries, 
AND  Timber — Its  Agricultural  Productions  confined  to  a  few  Veoeta* 
BLE6— s.  The  Yukon  District  of  little  Value,  except  for  its  Fur 
Trade,  Whale  and  other  Fisheries  on  the  Coast — 3.  The  Island  District 
— Some  Arable  Land  on  the  larger  Islands,  and  a  possibility  Or  ru- 
TURE  Dairy-farms  tHerb,  though  at  Too  grbAt  Cost  rOR  muck  Pro<^ii^ 
THt  Capture  of  the  Fur  Seal  on  the  Pribvlopp  Islands  the  principal 
Industry,  though  Fisheries  may  Increase — Detailed  Account  or  thr 
Fisheries — The  Population,  Nationalities,  and  Character — The  Na- 
tives— KoLOSHiAN  Tribes — Kenaian  Tribes — The  Aleuts — ^The  Eskimo — 
Principal  Towns  and  Villages — Meteorology  op  Fort  St.  Michael's  and 
Unalashka — Objects  or  Imititar  to  the  Tourist^Historical  Notes-^ 
Can  it  be  Commended  to  Immigrants? 

Alaska,  the  unorganized  Northwestern  Territory  of  the  United 
States,  bears  about  the  same  relation  to  "Our  Western  Empire" 
that  Eastern  Siberia  and  Kamschatka  do  to  the  Russian  Em- 
pire ;  it  is  remote  from  the  rest  of  the  Empire,  of  vast  territorial 
extent,  but  desolate  and  cold  to  the  last  degree,  and  can  never 
become  very  populous,  or  of  any  remarkable  economic  value, 
until  the  plane  of  the  ecliptic  changes,  and  what  is  now  an  Arctic 
climate  becomes  torrid,  or  at  least  temperate. 

We  know  very  well  what  is  said  about  the  ameliorating  effect 
of  the  Kuro-Siwo  or  Japan  current  upon  the  climate  of  thdSe 
high  latitudes ;  but  the  Gulf  stream,  a  similar  but  more  powerful 
current,  has  not  rendered  Iceland  a  paradise,  or  Novaya  Zemla 
a  fit  habitation  for  men,  though  both  are  in  quite  as  low  latitudes 


■  TA  t 


I*  t^fTlTl^^iiJiMVrTl      iM    1, »»    l.ii^ii  "Tr^^TlT^^^^^H*^^!*!^^"^!*!""""!* 


:r  Kamschatka — 

IPECTIVB  PKODUC* 
VALUABLB— PBCV* 
O  LONG  HORN»— 

»A — Population 
|Arca  op  each  Di« 
OGY— Coal— Mk 

» — ZodLOGY — Tm  e 

tuDE,  Fisheries, 

O  A  FEW  VSOETA* 

;EPr  FOR  ITS  Fur 
IE  Island  District 

POSSIBILITY  Op  PU- 

or  much  propit— ^ 
[ds  the  principal 
Account  op  the 
RACTER— The  Na- 
ps—The Eskimo— 
St.  Michael's  and 
isTORicAL  Norss^ 


■y  of  the  United 
istern  Empire" 
e  Russian  Em- 
vast  territorial 
and  can  never 
conomic  value, 
now  an  Arctic 

sliorating  eflTect 
imate  of  thdSe 
more  powerful 
Novaya  Zemla 
IS  low  latitudes 


1  * 


isjffcSr''" 


V 


if-' 


ALASKA  NOT  A   PAKAD/SM.  ]  .167 

as  most  of  Alaska.  We  hope  for  some  return  of  the  national 
outlay  from  the  fisheries,  the  fur  trade,  and  the  timber  of  Alaska. 
The  precious  metals  may  be  found  there — probably  they  will ; 
and  it  may  be  possible  on  some  favored  spots  to  raise  oats  and 
barley,  though  not,  to  any  extent,  wheat  or  corn ;  but  in  a  climate 
which  is  "  nine  months  winter  and  the  other  three  months  late  m 
the  finll "  how  can  either  mining  or  agriculture  be  expected  to  pros- 
per? As  to  the  absurd  prediction,  that  within  a  few  years  it  will 
become  the  principal  region  of  our  country  for  dairy  products,  it 
is  sufficient  to  say  that  Mr.  Walker  Blaine,  son  of  the  Senator, 
after  a  careful  exploration  of  Alaska  in  the  spring  and  summer 
oi  1880,  wrote  to  the  New  York  Tribune  on  the  20th  of  June, 
1 880,  that  there  was  not  a  single  cow  in  the  whole  of  Alaska. 
Even  the  ice,  which  is  always  abundant,  does  not  prove  profitable 
as  an  article  of  export,  the  manufacture  of  ice  by  machinery  hav- 
ing been  so  far  perfected  that  it  can  be  produced  in  San  Fran- 
cisco as  cheaply  as  it  can  be  imported  from  Alaska.  No  ice  is 
now  exported  from  the  Territory.  [  - 

That  we  may  do  no  injustice  to  this  great  northwestern  land, 
let  us  proceed  to  say  what  can  justly  be  said  in  its  favor. 

Alaska  is  not,  as  is  supposed  by  those  who  have  given  but 
little  attention  to  the  subject,  a  vast  compact  tract  of  territory. 
It  has  been  not  inapdy  compared  to  the  head  and  horns  of  a 
Texas  bull-— Yukon  district  forming  the  massive  head,  the  Sitkan 
shore  and  archipelago  forming  one  horn,  and  the  Aliaskan  penin- 
sula and  the  Aleutian  Islands  the  other.  The  tips  of  the  two 
horns  are  60**  of  longitude  or  3,000  miles  apart ;  and  from  the 
southernmost  of  the  islands  of  the  Aleutian  group  to  Point  Bar- 
row in  the  Anctic  ocean,  the  northernmost  point  of  Yukon  is  a' 
little  mors  than  icf*  of  latitude,  or  about  1,400  miles. 

The  area,  according  to  the  last  report  of  the  Land  Office,  is  577,- 
390  square  miles,-  or  369,529,660  acres.  The  shore  lines  around 
the  islands  and  peninsulas  are  roughly  estimated  at  25,000  miles, 
lor  the  Entire  circumference  of  the  globe.  The  entire  population , 
of  this  Territory  at  the  time  of  Its  acquisition  from  Russia  was 
said  to  be  about  29,000,  of  which  26,800  were  said  to  be  Indians 
and  the  remainder  Caucasians  and  Creoles.  It  has  not  materially 
increased  since. 


1 


ii;:a 


^ii^ik'SX^i^-::^- 


♦*\.l« 


1368 


OUR   WESTERN  EMPIKB. 


Topography — Afounlains. — Th<;  Alaskan  range,  which  seems  to 
be  a  coml)ination  uf  the  Coast,  Cascaclc  and  Rocky  Mountain 
Chains,  passes  northwestward  through  Uritinh  Columbia  a  little 
east  of  the  Sitkan  Division  of  Alaska,  enters  the  Yukon  Division 
between  the  sixtieth  and  sixty-second  parallels,  and  keeping  a 
course  parallel  with  and  at  a  little  distance  from  the  left  bank  of 
the  Yukon  river,  extends  north  nearly  as  far  as  I'^ort  Yukon  in 
latitude  66°,  turns  sharply  south  and  forming  the  backbone  of  the 
Aliaskan  peninsula  and  the  Aleutian  islands,  each  of  which  is  a 
peak  and  generally  a  volcanic  peak  of  the  range,  till  finally  its 
summits  are  all  sunk  in  the  deepest  part  of  the  northern  Pacific 
ocean.  This  range  has  the  loftiest  peaks  in  North  America 
outside  of  Mexico.  Among  the.se  are  Mount  St.  Klias,  19,500 
feet  in  height;  Mount  Cook,  16,000  feet;  Mount  Crillon,  15,900; 
Mount  Fairweather,  15,500;  while  of  the  partially  submerged 
volcanic  peaks,  Shcshaldin  is  9,000  feet  above  the  water ;  Una- 
lashka,  5,691  feet;  Atka»  4,853  feet;  Kyska,  3,700  feet;  while  poor 
Attu,  the  westernmost  of  the  group,  can  only  lift  its  head  3,084 
feet  above  the  deep  valley  of  the  Pacific.      ,,,,  ,  •,     .,,(    7/  j* 

In  addition  to  the  Alaskan  range,  there  are  several  other 
mountain  ranges  of  less  elevation :  among  them  are  tlie  Shakto- 
lik  and  Ulukuk  Hills,  near  Norton's  sound ;  the  Yukon  and  Ro- 
manzoff  Hills,  north  of  the  Yukon  river ;  the  Kayiuh  and  Nowika- 
kat  mountains  east  and  south  of  the  river,  and  a  low  range  of 
hills  bordering  on  the  Arctic  coast    nin.  •<-»  "  <.!  ».('»•»»  i. '..  '^  ' 

Rivers. — ^The  great  river  of  the  Territory  is  the  Yukon,  whose 
sources  are  in  the  Chippewayan  and  Alaskan  range,  in  British 
America.  It  is  more  ths^n  2,000  miles  in  length,  and  is  oavig9.ble, 
when  not  frozen  over,  for  i  ,500  miles.  The  delta  across  its  five 
mouths  is  seventy  miles  wide,  and  the  river  itself  is  from  one  to 
(five  miles  wide  for  the  first  1,000  miles  of  its  course.  One  of  its 
largest  tributaries,  the  Porpupine  river,  has  most  of  its  course 
above  the  Arctic  circle.  The  Tanana.h>  J50  miles  m  lertgth,  and 
the  Nowikakat,  112  miles,  are  also  tributaries  of  the  Yukon. 
The  Inland  river,  which  6ows  ii>tOiKotzebue  sound,  artd  the  Col- 
ville,  which  discharges  its  watsrs  into  the  Arctic  ocean,  are  the 
only  other  rivers  north  of  the  Yukon,    South  of  it  are  .the  Konst 

. .  ..lilt".  i>  >-i*.->' jnt 


hich  seems  to 
ky  Mounuin 
mbia  a  little 
kon  division 
nd  keeping  a 
left  bank  of 
on  Yukon  in 
kbone  of  the 
of  which  is  a 
till  finally  its 
•rthern  Pacific 
ortb  America 
Klias,  19,500 
•illon,  15,900; 
y  submerged 
water;  Una- 
et;  while  poor 
(9  head  3,084 

several  other 
e  tJie  Shakto- 
ukon  and  Ro- 
and  Nowika* 
low  range  of 

iTukon,  whose 
ige,  in  British 
1  is  navigable, 
across  its  five 
i  from  one  to 
.  One  of  its 
of  its  course 
o  length,  and 
the  Yukon, 
and  the  Col- 
cean,  are  the 
te  the  Kons* 


TOrOUKAPHY  OF  ALASKA.  x^ 

koquim,  about  600  miles  in  length,  the  Nushagak,  the  Sushitna, 
the  Aina  or  Copper  river,  and  in  the  Sitkan  division  the  Chilr.it, 
the  Takou  and  the  Stickine.  The  last  is  about  350  miles  in 
ItMigth. 

It  is  divided  by  natural  lines  into  three  ^rand  divisions,  varying 
e.ich  from  thq  other  in  natural  charnctfristics  and  value: 

1.  The  Sitkan  Division,  triangular  in  shape  with  the  latitudinal 
line  of  54"  40'  north  for  the  southern  boundary,  and  the  longitu- 
dinal line  of  141°  west  for  the  western,  and  on  the  north  and  cast 
following  the  summits  of  the  Coast  Range  of  mountains  between 
these  points,  with  a  proviso  that  this  strip  of  shore  shall  never 
exceed  ten  marine  league    in  width. 

2.  The  Yukon  Division,  consisting  of  all  the  continent  west  of 
141**  as  far  north  as  the  Frozen  Ocean. 

3.  The  islands  not  included  in  the  Sitkan  Division,  comprising 
all  the  important  islands  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  north  of  54"  40^, 
from  Alaska  to  Kamschatka,  known  generally  as  the  Aleutian 
islands,  and  also  the  Aliaskan  peninsula  and  the  Kodiak  or  Ka- 
diak  Islands,  east  of  that  peninsula,  and  the  PribylofT  group,  which 
are  remarkable  for  the  vast  numbers  of  the  fur>seal  caught 
there.  t  .i-  .  -  •     •■•  ■  ^        .,..<.       ... 

In  the  first  or  Sitkan  Division,  there  were  in  1867  about  800 
natives  and  some  800  whites  and  Creoles  ;  in  the  Yukon,  8,000 
natives,  and  100  whites  and  Creoles;  and  in  the  remainder  of 
Alaska,  the  Island  Districts,  1 7,300  natives  and  i  ,300  whites  and 
Creoles. 

This  meagre  population  is  grouped  entirely  around  the  sea- 
board and  large  rivers.  A  glance  at  the  best  map  will  <<how  that 
of  the  interior  of  the  Yukon  District  geographers  know  very 
little.  What  rivers  and  lakes  are  traced  upon  the  maps  are  usu- 
ally located  upon  slight  and  inaccurate  information,  derived  from 
the  natives.  The  interior  of  the  islands  and  coasts  longest  peo- 
pled by  a  civilized  race  is  almost  altogether  ignota  terra.  The 
coast  line  of  Baranoff  Island,  on  which  Sitka  is  located,  is  well 
known  and  accurately  defined  upon  the  charts,  but  the  interior  is 
entirely  unexplored.  The  only  road  at  Sitka  runs  into  the  woods 
to  the  distance  of  a  mile,  and  then  stops  before  a  wall  of  dense 


',3F«*c?risr???TST' 


.•t: 

.'>- 


u;o 


Ol/K    tf/i^/AMA  AMr/KM. 


forest  and  undergrowth.  The  growth  of  stunted  treen  all  along 
the  shores  of  tite  islands  and  main  land  of  the  Sitkan  Division  xh 
HO  Uiick  as  to  bo  almost  impenetrable.  There  is  bne  instance,  at 
least,  of  a  man's  having  given  an  entire  day  to  the  work  of  pcne- 
trating  inland,  and  at  the  end  of  his  labor  finding  himself  less 
than  a  mile  from  the  shore. 

Gtoiogy.'—'V\m  greater  part  of  this  vast  Territory  has  under- 
gone changes  from  volcanic  eruptions  which  have  coniplcK.'ly 
altered  the  character  of  itn  rocks.  This  is  particularly  the  ranc 
in  the  Sitkan  and  Aleutian  Divisions,  in  which  there  are  sixty-onir 
volcanoes  which  have  been  active  within  1 50  years.  The  violence 
of  the  volcanic  action  seems  to  be  decreasing,  and  of  these  sixty •* 
one  only  ten  are  now  in  a  condition  of  active  and  constant  erup- 
tion. There  are  also  very  many  extinct  volcanoes  in  the  Sitkan 
Division,  and  several  are  known  in  Yukon. 

The  immense  shore  line  and  the  mountain  slopes  are  crowded 
with  glaciers;  some  of  these  are  the  most  stupendous  in  the 
world.  One  of  these  is  described  as  fifty  miles  in  length,  and 
terminating  on  the  sea-coast  in  a  perpendicular  ice-wall  300  feet 
high  and  eight  miles  broad;  another,  thirty-five  miles  above 
Wrangell,  on  the  Stickine  river,  is  said  to  be  forty  miles  long  at 
the  base,  four  or  five  miles  across,  and  variously  estimated  at 
from  500  to  i,CKX>  feet  in  thickness. 

Mineral  Wealth. — Alaska  is  known  to  possess  coal  beds  oi 
good  quality  and  of  great  extent.  Most  of  the  coal  beds  are  in 
the  tertiary,  and  are  properly  lignite,  though  of  the  best  quality. 
That  in  the  Sitkan  District  has  been  so  far  changed  by  volcanic 
action  th§t  it  is  in  some  places  a  semi-pnthracite.  Petroleum  is 
said  to  have  been  found  of  excellent  quality  and  nearly  odorless 
near  the  Bay  of  Katmai  and  on  Copper  river. 

Copper,  native,  or  very  rich  copper  ores,  have  been  found  on 
Copper  river,  at  Kasa-an  bay,  at  Whale  bay,  below  Sitka,  and  in 
Kadiak  Island.       ,    i  n  '>  ..,.,,.(,;  tH.jrrtir,  A  -ni.i  'urm-r.y  u  -i  '■■■ 

Iron  exists  all  over  the  Territory,  arid  graphfte  in  several 
places.  There  is  bismuth  of  fine  quality  on  Vostovia  Mountain, 
and  gypsum,  kaolin,  marble,  and  the  more  common  of  the  pre- 
cious stones,  agate,  carnelian,  auiethyst,  etc.,  are  sufiiciently 
plentiful. 


€Ot.DMt/fiffa. 


II7I 


trerft  all  alonf^ 

an  Divinion  In 

|nv  inHUincc.at 

workofpene- 

himscif  IcMk 

f    (t; 

►ry  haft  umlrr- 

Ivc  coniplfK'l) 

ilarly  th«  rase 

are  sixty-oiu: 

The  violence 

of  theie  sixty-- 

constant  eriip- 

in  the  Sitkan 

(s  are  crowded 
endoiis  in  the 
in  length,  and 
e-wall  300  feet 
miles  above 
y  miles  long  at 
y  estimated  at 

9  coal  beds  of 
oal  beds  are  in 
e  best  quality, 
ed  by  volcanic 
Petroleum  is 
leariy  odorless 

>een  found  on 
i  Sitka,  and  in 

lite  in  several 
via  Mountain, 
>n  of  the  pre-  • 
'e   sufficiently  ' 


Gold  undoubtedly  exinta  in  the  Terntor>',  and  probably  at  sev- 
eral points.  In  the  Sitkan  Dintrict  there  are  several  mines  which 
have  been  worked  to  some  extent  on  UaranofT  (or  .Sitka)  Island; 
two  or  three  formerly  worked  on  the  streams  fallin(7  into  Ste- 
phen's passage,  about  seventy-five  miles  north  of  Fort  Wrangell. 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Stickine  river.     Mr.  Walker  Hlainr  says: 

"  The  gold  mines  of  the  Stickine  river  are  all  located  in  British 
Columbia,  and  as  the  stores  from  which  the  most  of  the  miners' 
supplir:s  are  furnished  are  upon  the  river,  the  business  is  diverted 
to  the  British  possessions.  Very  many  miners,  however,  winter  at 
Wrangell,  and  freight  bound  to  points  on  the  Stickine  river  is  nt 
this  place  transferred  to  the  smaU  river  steamers.  Some  ^cid 
claims  have  been  located  near  Sitka,  and  specimens  of  ore  sent 
to  the  assay  office  at  Victoria  have  been  found  to  contain  a  fair 
quantity  of  the  precious  metal.  A  quartz  mill  was  erected  during 
1878,  and  it  was  intended  to  develop  one  of  the  mines,  but  the 
unpleasant  weather  and  short  days  of  winter  will  render  it  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  carry  on  operations  during  more  than  six 
months  of  the  year.  No  sufficient  amount  of  capital  has  as  yet 
been  invested,  nor  have  the  mines  been  sufficienUy  worked  to 
determine  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  Territory.  Many  who  have 
given  the  subject  great  attention  are  fully  convinced  that  valuable 
deposits  of  the  precious  metals  exist.  Mr.  Francis,  now  and  for 
many  years  past  our  Consul  at  Victoria,  is  sanguine  in  the  belief 
that  considerable  quantities  of  gold  will  yet  be  mined,  and  his 
son,  who  was  until  recently  the  Deputy  Collector  at  Sitka,  speaks 
in  still  more  confident  terms  of  the  value  of  the  ore  beds." 

As  we  write  a  report  comes  from  Sitka,  dated  December  33, 
188O1  saying  that  about  two  months  previous  a  report  was  cir- 
cubted  that  gold  had  been  discovered  at  Tahon,  an  Indian  set- 
tlement on  the  river  of  the  same  name,  about  1 50  miles  north  of 
Sitka,  and  near  the  border  of  British  Columbia.  Further  reports 
only  increased  the  excitement,  and  when  specimens  of  the  ore 
were  brought  to  Sitka,  which  yielded  ^aoo  of  pure  gold  to  joo 
pounds  of  ore,  the  excitement  became  so  intense  that  the  people 
began  to  migrate  thither  in  such  numbers  that  the  town  was 
almost  depopulated.     It  remains  to  be  seen  whether  these  mines 


■1 


h« 


««r» 


01  M   WKSTMMS  KJHrtMK. 


prove  at  rich  M  thf7  %i*fn\  to  pronti««*.  If  thry  do,  thry  will  \m 
prftfitahle,  nlthough  thry  rnnnot  \\r  worlc^l  morr  than  four  or  fiv« 
monthH  in  the  year.  The  Ataiikan  Mountains  cwv/r:  Kouthwentwarl 
in  the  Hi  itrict  of  Yukon,  and  extend  aton^;  the  Alla<ikan  prniniiila 
and  thronjjh  thr  Almtian  hland;*.  They  Heem  to  be  the  ron<<o)i< 
dation  of  the  Rocky,  CaHcade  and  Coa<»t  Ranjf«*s.  Thejie  moun- 
tains, according  to  all  nnalo^'i"*,  nhould  contain  both  gold  and 
silver,  and  in  nil  prolnihility  they  do.  If  the  lo<lc«  are  very  rich, 
it  may  pay  to  work  them,  thouj^h  the  expeniie  will  be  murl 
greater  than  that  of  working  mines  farthri  nouth.  '  '  '  '  > 
Zodio/ry. — The  animaU  of  Alaska  lylong  rather  to  the  fauna 
of  the  Arctic  than  the  Temperate  Zone.  The  munk  ox  in  found 
in  Yukon  District,  and  the  reindeer,  though  of  a  diffrrrnt  sperien 
from  the  F.uropran.  The  polar  bear  frefujrnta  the  shores  of  the 
Arctic  Ocean,  and  sometimen  venture*  as  far  south  as  KotJjebue 
sound.  The  elk  and  moose  are  seen,  though  rarely ;  the  Kocky 
Mountain  goat  and  sheep  (the  bighorn),  several  species  of  fox, 
the  mink,  beaver,  marten,  lynx,  otter,  sea-otter,  black  brar,  wol- 
verine, whistler,  ermine,  marmot,  skunk,  muskrat  and  wolf.  Of 
amphibia,  the  seal,  sea-otter,  whale,  porpoise,  narwhal,  etc.,  are 
abundant.  Its  birds  ate  largely  game  birds,  the  ptarmigan, 
grouse,  wild  geese,  teal,  ducks,  brant,  etc.,  at  certain  seasons,  and 
eagles,  fishhawks,  gulls,  the  great  owl,  etc.,  etc.  Of  the  fish  we 
speak  elsewhere,     f-    ''•  .i-H.ti.i  /  u  ;,.        ■  ..,,   ;  .m  ,r.  ■■  ,f.;M, 

Let  us  now  take  up  the  divisions  In  detail,  and  endeavor  to 
ascertain  what  each  can  produce  with  profit.     And,  first,  of  the 

Sitkan  Division. — "Here,"  says  Mr.  Blaine,  "no  grass  has 
been  grbwn,  and  the  small  gardens  at  Sitka  and  Wrangell  pro- 
duce only  a  few  of  the  hardiest  vegetables.  So  grrat  is  the 
moisture  that  hay  cannot  readily  be  cured,  wheat  ripened,  nor 
potatoes  raised.  Even  cal^ges  will  not  head.  Whlio  our 
troops  were  in  the  Territory,  a  few  cattle  were  with  great  riifificulty 
kept  in  the  District,  but  there  is  not  at  pre.sent  a  cow  in  '.he  whole 
military  Division  of  Alaska.  Beef  is  a  luxury  most  highly  prized, 
the  only  meat  being  an  occasional  haunch  of  venison,  and,  in  th^ 
proper  season,  small  game.  The  mountains  as  a  rule  descend 
abruptly  to  the  sea,  apd  the  small  patches  of  level  land  are  few 


INK  Sit  KAN  PIVtStOS  OP  Al.AXh'A. 


\m 


thry  win  b« 

In  four  or  five 

Inithwrmwanl 

can  prninNulA 

thr  connoli. 

rPheur  motin- 

)th  jfoKI  anil 

larr  vrry  rirh. 

Iwill  b<!  miirt 

to  the  fauna 

k  ox  \%  found 

•iTrnt  Hppcirs 

shoren  of  the 

as  Kotxfbue 

y ;  the  Rocky 

secies  of  fox, 

ck  bear,  wol- 

ncl  wolf.     Of 

ivhal,  etc..  are 

e   ptarmigan, 

1  seasonfi,  and 

H  the  fish  we 

endeavor  to 
first,  of  the 
r\o  ^^rass  has 
Vranjjell  pro- 
great  is  the 
ripened,  nor 
Whil*.   our 
reatriilificulty 
V  in  '.he  whole 
highly  prized, 
n,  and,  in  th^ 
rule  descend 
land  are  few 


and  far  hi'tween.  In  a  word,  agrirulturnlty  thin  whole  ('l<itrlrt  U 
alMolutt*ly  wurthlrsH.  Ihrre  in  no  ftnldrr  for  catile,  anJ  the 
gn)un<l  un<lfr  the  most  careful  cultivation  yi«l«h  nothing  but  thr 
|MM)rcitt  varictienof  the  moNt  iniiignificant  vegetables.  The  hand 
of  man  tan  do  little  to  add  to  the  value  of  thi;  Siik.in  I )ivision. 

"The  Sitkan  Divinion  do<*H,  however,  |>OHseH««  n  great  abun- 
dance of  nu)st  valuable  xhiptimber.  The  wood,  known  an 
yellow  cetlar,  and  sometimes  called  camphor-wooti,  which  is  the 
most  durable  of  all  wotuis  for  [uirposrs  of  ship  biiilding.  is  found 
in  large  ([uantities,  ami  the  .Sitka  spruce,  inferior  to  this,  but  of 
very  great  value,  is  most  plentiful.  Logs  of  eithrrof  tlusr  woods 
can  be  easily  procureil  at  very  small  expense.  I.titnlwr  has  been 
sawed  at  n  total  cost  of  three  dollars  per  thousand,  which  would 
easily  commaml  from  twelve  to  fifteen  dollars  in  .San  I'rancisco. 
There  has  been  for  some  lime  a  small  saw  mill  in  .Sitka,  and 
nnother  has  recently  been  built  in  Klahwoch,  but  only  trilling 
tpiantities  of  lumber  have  as  yet  been  sawed  at  either  place. 
The  vast  tracts  of  timber  land  in  Oregon,  Washington  Territory 
tnd  Northern  California  will,  for  many  years,  sui)ply  the  murkct 
of  the  Pacific  coast. 

"The  fur  trade  of  the  .Sitkan  Division  is  at  present  the  most 
im|)ortant  interest.  The  small  amount  of  business  now  trans- 
acted at  Sitka  is  entirely  dependent  upon  the  exchange  of  com- 
modities for  furs  and  peltries.  For  the  past  few  years  there  has 
not  been  a  sufficient  demand  for  furs  to  make  high  prices  or 
large  gains.  Fashion  has  frowned,  at  the  dictation,  perhaps,  of 
the  hard  times,  and  competition  among  traders  has  assisted  in 
reducing  the  profits.  All  the  merchants  profess  to  have  lost 
money,  and  it  is  the  general  opinion  that  none  have  made  any. 
The  fur-seal  is  not  found  in  the  waters  adjacent  to  Sitka,  but 
large  quantities  of  other  valuable  furs  are  brought  to  this  place 
and  to  Wrangell  by  the  Indians  and  accumulated  by  traders. 
Fur-trading  is  in  its  very  nature  little  suited  to  the  permanent 
prosperity  of  a  country.  It  demands  the  frontier  and  the  wilder- 
ness as  the  seat  of  operations,  and  is  perforce  killed,  as  a  country 
is  settled  and  its  resources  developed.  It  is  the  enemy  of  civili- 
zation, and  the  more  profitable  it  is,  the  sooner  docs  it  come  to 


')  I 


1274 


OUR   n^ESTER//  XAfP/Jfg. 


an  end.  Year  by  year,  as  the  circle  of  population  widens,  the 
trippers  are  driven  farther  to  the  north.  Astoria,  for  years  the 
centre  of  the  trade,  long  ago  yielded  its  supremacy,  and  to-day 
no  furs  are  sold  in  that  market  at  first  hand.  A  large  part  of  the 
world's  supply  must  henceforth  come  from  Alaska.  She  has  no 
rival  on  this  continent,  and  in  the  mosi  important  branches  no 
formidable  competitor  on  the  globe. 

"The  fisheries  of  the  Sitkan  waters  will  perhaps  ultimately 
prove  the  most  valuable  resource.  They  have,  however,  until 
^'try  recently  been  of  but  litde  practi(.al  value.  A  few  barrels  of 
salted  fish  have  been  annually  exported,  and  the  inhabitants  have 
to  a  large  extent  sustained  life  on  the  products  of  the  sea. 
Within  the  past  two  years  two  salmon  canneries  have  been  built, 
and  quite  a  large  amount  of  money  invested  in  this  enterprise, 
but  lack  of  information  does  not  permit  me  to  say  whether  the 
venture  has  proved  successful.  „(  ,  •,    .  ,  ^.  i     .,u, 

"It  was  said  in  support  of  the  Alaskan  purchase  that  all  the  ice 
of  the  Pacific  coast  was  imported  from  that  Territory ;  but  the 
value  of  the  export  was  never  in  a  single  year  more  than  $30,000, 
and  the  successful  introduction  of  machinery  for  the  production 
of  ice  artificially  has  caused  the  business  to  rapidly  decline  and 
disappear.     No  ice  is  now  exported  from  any  portion  of  thie 

Territory."  .r.  ,, .;. ;...:.,,;,.(,,>    ..^   1,  ^ 

2.  The  Yukon  District. — Of  this  region  the  massive  head  of 
the  bull,  whose  left  horn,  the  Sitkan  Division,  we  have  just  been 
considering,  it  has  been  the  fashion  with  some  writers  to  speak  in 
the  most  glowing  terms.  It  was  "  the  garden  of  Alaska."  Here 
wheat  and  all  the  other  cereals  except  corn,  and  all  the  tubers  and 
vegetables  required  in  the  market  gardens  or  the  markets  of  the 
Pacific  coast,  could  be  raised  in  the  greatest  profusion.  In  the 
hot,  short  summer,  everything,  it  was  said,  grew  so  rapidly  that  a 
vast  population  could  be  sustained  here.  The  later  commis- 
sioners and  explorers  do  not  corroborate  these  glowing  accounts. 
"The  second  division,  called  the  Yukon."  says  Mr.  Walker  Blaine, 
"  has  been  less  explored  than  either  of  the  others.  There  were 
formerly  a  few  Russian  posts  in  the  Territory,  but  these  have  now 
been  abandoned.    At  Cook's  Inlet,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sutchiuo 


|on  widens,  the 
for  years  the 
ley.  and  to-day 
|rge  part  of  the 
She  has  no 
It  branches  no 

laps  ultimately 
however,  until 
few  barrels  of 
ihabitants  have 
ts  of  the  sea. 
ave  been  built, 
his  enterprise, 
y  whether  the 

that  all  the  ice 
•itory;  but  the 
;  than  $30,000, 
the  production 
lly  decline  and 
portion  of  the 

issive  head  of 
lave  just  been 
ers  to  speak  in 
Llaska."  Here 
the  tubers  and 
markets  of  the 
fusion.  In  the 
»  rapidly  that  a 
later  commis- 
iving  accounts. 
iValker  Blaine, 
There  were 
liese  have  now 
f  the  Sutchi.io 


THh    VUKON  DISTKJCT  OF  ALASKA.  ij^J 

river,  and  at  many  points  on  the  Yukon  river,  sufficient  grass  is 
found  to  afford  the  best  of  fodder  for  catde,  and  wild  berries  and 
smaller  fruits  flourish  in  abundance.  The  range  of  the  thermom- 
eter at  a  distance  from  the  sea-coast  is  far  greater  than  in  Sitka, 
or  near  the  sea-line,  and  the  summers  are  so  warm  as  to  produce 
the  most  luxuriant  vegetation.  On  the  Yukon  river  the  sun  has 
been  known  in  the  month  of  July  to  burst  a  spirit  thermometer, 
graduated  up  to  i3o°,  and  the  winters  are  Arctic  in  severity. 
There  is  no  trouble  in  curing  hay  at  these  points,  and  there  is 
said  to  be  good  grazing  land  for  cattle.  It  will  of  course  be  ne- 
cessary to  shelter  the  herds  during  more  than  half  of  the  year, 
and  fattening  for  market  will  not  therefore  be  profitable.  Fruit- 
trees  will  not  flourish,  and  while  some  experiments  have  been 
made  with  barley  and  oats,  which  are  said  to  have  been  satisfac- 
tory, not  a  grain  of  wheat  has  ever  been  brought  to  maturity. 
South  of  the  Alaskan  Range,  save  at  Cook's  Inlet  and  on  the 
peninsulas,  there  is  no  good  land,  and  north  of  the  mountains 
only  persistent  and  careful  cultivation  will  enable  the  farmers  to 
reap  satisfactory  results.  The  only  evidence  which  we  have  as 
to  the  land  is  from  experiments  made  by  the  Russians  and  the 
scientific  officers  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company. 
They  are  both  Very  unsatisfactory,  especially  those  of  the  former, 
as  they  were  intrusted  to  Indians,  who,  being  utterly  ignorant  of 
agriculture  and  catUe-breeding,  conducted  them  most  unskilfully. 
I'here  are  also  said  to  be  valuable  coal-beds,  but  as  no  examina- 
tion was  ever  made  by  competent  geologists,  this  cannot  be 
safely  affirmed.  Undoubtedly  there  is  conside«-able  free  copper 
in  the  district,  as  the  natives  formerly  employed  this  metal  in  the 
manufacture  of  wagons  and  domestic  articles,  but  its  location  is 
at  present  unknown.  Fur  animals  abound,  especially  those  liv 
ing  upon  the  land.  Fort  St.  Michael  was  formerly  one  of  the 
chief  trading  posts  of  the  Russians,  and  many  of  the  fox  and 
beaver  skins  now  sent  from  the  north  Pacific  are  trapped  upon 
the  Yukon.  Good  timber  is  also  foifhd  in  many  portions  of 
the  division,  but  it  is  not  so  accessible  nor  so  valuable  for  ship- 
building as  tliat  about  Sitka.  Fish  of  all  kinds,  especially  cod  and 
halibut,  are  very  abundant  at  Cook's  Inlet  and  along  the  entire 
coast.  ■■,'•(;;■■;     •■;•.:) 


■-ag"a!i!E-^t'-l'a>:-;-'!^'^0:?!ra:>~ 


1276  OUX    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 

3.  Tht  Island  Dislrtct^  which  includes  the  Aiiaskan  peninsula, 
the  large  island  of  Kadiak  and  the  group  of  islands  which  surround 
it,  the  Aleutian  Archipelago,  comprising  the  three  groups  of  the 
Fox,  the  Andreanowsky,  and  the  Ulijnie  or  Rat  Islands,  the  whole 
constituting  the  right  horn  of  the  bull ;  and  with  these  the  Priby- 
loff  group  (the  home  of  the  fur  seal),  Nounivak,  Lawrence,  and 
the  St.  Matthew  group,  come  next  in  review.  "  These  islands," 
says  Mr.  Blaine,  "are  the  most  valuable  portion  of  our  Russian 
purchase.  The  island  of  Kadiak  and  others  of  the  Aleutian  group 
contain  very  good  arable  land.  The  catde  distributed  hy  the 
Russian  Commercial  Company  succeeded  here  far  better  than 
in  any  other  part  of  the  Territory.  There  is  good  pasture  land, 
and  hay  can  be  made  with  greater  case  than  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia  river.  There  is  also  an  encouraging  report  that  a 
good  variety  of  potatoes  can  be  grown,  although  '  the  tubers  are 
said  to  be  small.'  There  is  not  much  timber  of  good  quality 
upon  these  islands,  but  the  fisheries  are  of  very  great  value. 
The  Aleuts,  who  are  the  chief  native  race,  are  by  nature  the 
most  honest  people  in  the  world.  On  the  islands  where  there 
are  no  forests,  driftwood  furnishes  the  principal  supply  of  fuel, 
and  it  is  said  that  the  unwritten  law  with  reference  to  the  rights 
of  property  is  so  strong  that,  should  an  Indian  discover  a  log  of 
wood  which  it  is  not  then  convenient  for  him  to  carry  away,  he 
may,  by  carrying  it  above  high-water  mark  and  placing  it  at 
right  angles  to  the  line  of  the  beach,  leave  it  with  full  assurance 
that  it  will  not  be  disturbed  until  his  convenience  warrants  the 
removaL  »it  ,  !vU.TjL»i>^uo'.»  .1  t<i-.»fu  r-LKiiditoinx  j     .i>  itodu  vi  iti.-' 

♦'The  chief  sources  of  our  revenue  from  Alaska  are  in  what  is 
known  as  the  Pribyloff  Islands.  St.  Paul  and  St.  George,  two  of 
the  group,  now  furnish  almost  all  of  the  sealskins  used  in  the 
workl.  These  islands  abound  with  seal,  and  being  the  property 
of  the  United  States,  are  leased  by  the  government  to  the  Alaska 
Fur  Company.  The  number  of  seals  killed  each  year  is  limited 
by  law  to  locsooo,  and  for  these  a  royalty  of  two  dollars  each 
is  paid.  If  the  law  restricting  the  number  of  seals  annually  killed 
is  strictly  enforced,  this  industry  will  for  many  years  furnish  the 
chief  part  of  the  revenue  from  Alaska,  and  constitute  the  most 
valuable  product  of  the  Territory." 


Tl 


FtSHKK/BS  OF  ALASKA. 


1277 


an  peninsula, 
lich  surround 
groups  of  the 
nds,  the  whole 
ese  the  Priby- 
-awrence,  and 
lese  islands," 
our  Russian 
Aleutian  group 
ibuted  by  the 
better  than 
pasture  land, 
!  mouth  of  the 
report  that  a 
the  tubers  are 
good  quality 
y  great  value. 
)y  nature  the 
Is  where  there 
supply  of  fuel, 
e  to  the  rights 
cover  a  log  of 
:arry  away,  he 
placing  it  at 
full  assurance 
2  warrants  the 

are  in  what  is 
ieorge,  two  of 
ns  used  in  the 
*  the  property 
to  the  Alaska 
^ear  is  limited 
)  dollars  each 
innually  killed 
irs  furnish  the 
tute  the  most 


A  correspondent  of  the  Portland  Oregonian,  writing  from  Siika 
m  the  summer  of  1880,  gives  the  following  account  of  the  fish- 
eries: 

"Alaska  is  destined  to  supply  the  world  with  Hsh.  Its  waters 
abound  in  halibut,  herring,  cod,  and  salmon;  indeed  there  is  hardly 
a  species  of  which  representatives  cannot  be  found.  While 
those  above  named  exist  here  in  endless  profusion,  flounders, 
black  bass,  rock-cod,  trout,  and  the  delicious  eulocous,  with  other 
varieties,  appear  in  vast  schools,  supplying  the  natives  with 
abundant  food  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 

"At  Klowak,  sixty  miles  from  Fort  Wrangell,  the  North  Pacific 
trading  and  packing  company  have  a  large  fishery  in  operation, 
where  during  the  present  year  especial  attention  has  been  paid 
to  herring.  The  catch  this  spring  was  very  successful,  the  fish 
being  in  prime  condition,  and  not  only  larger  in  size  but  of  better 
flavor  than  ever  before  sent  to  market.  1 70  barrels  were  sent 
to  Pordand  for  the  purpose  of  introducing  the  fish  to  dealers, 
and  if  desired  ten  times  that  amount  could  have  been  secured. 

"  Five  miles  from  the  town  of  Sitka  the  firm  of  Cutting  &  Co. 
have  a  large  cannery  erected  wher^  thousands  of  salmon  are 
put  up  ever)'  year  to  meet  the  demand  made  for  Alaska  salmon 
from  the  Eastern  markets.  While  the  salmon  from  these  waters 
have  not  the  gustable  richness,  and  lack  the  savory  flavor  of 
Columbia  river  salmon,  there  are  many  that  prefer  the  Alaskan 
species,  particularly  in  the  Eastern  States  and  foreign  countries. 
This  may  be,  perhaps,  accounted  for,  in  part,  for  the  reason  that 
Columbia  river  salmon  labels  find  dieir  way  on  thousands  of  cans 
of  wha>t  is  purported  to  be  the  genuine  article,  while  in  fact  their 
contents  are  dog-fish.  The  establishment  of  Messrs.  Cutting  & 
Co.  is  complete  in  every  detail,  and  is  under  the  superintendency 
of  Mr.  A.  Hunter.  A  large  number  of  white  r.ien  and  Indians 
find  steady  employment  at  the  cannery  during^  the  summer,  and 
it  is  remarkable  to  witness  the  proficiency  attained  by  some  of 
the  Indian  boys  in  making  cans.  Some  idea  of  the  extensive 
business  of  this  estaUishment  may  be  had  by  the  shipments  made, 
ahd  this  year  the  superintendent  will  send  40,000  cases  of  fish 
to  San  Feancisoo  knd  the  Eastern  markets.       •''  '  r-  "^ »  !'>  '*' 


ii' 


i 


•'^^i^&i?*ii^«S.^US>4)'  M-.'-'^-^^ 


12^8  OUX   WESTEJty  EMPJXE. 

"The  catching  of  cod-fish  in  Alaskan  waters  is  becomings  yearly 
a  more  prosperous  pursuit,  and  this  season  Mr.  James  Haley,  of 
Fort  Wrangell,  secured  a  schooner-load  of  cod  at  the  Knout-Znu 
bank,  in  Chatham  straits.  He  found  the  bank  swarming  with 
fish,  but  the  Indians  of  that  locality,  the  Knout-znous,  are  '  hiyu 
sullux,'  over  the  coming  of  white  men  in  their  waters,  refusing  to 
allow  the  men  to  fish,  performing  that  work  themselves  and 
charging  one  cent  for  each  and  every  fish  caught.  In  this  way 
a  full  load  was  secured,  which  is  now  in  process  of  curation  at 
Wrangell.  A  ready  market  for  the  fish  is  found  at  home  for 
supplying  the  mining  camps,  the  entire  cargo  being  readily  dis- 
posed of  at  $ioo  a  ton,  delivered  at  Wrangell.  The  Alaska 
cod,  when  once  fairly  introduced  to  Oregon  and  California  mar* 
kets,  will  rapidly  become  a  favorite  with  all  lovers  of  that  fish, 
and  in  time  supplant  the  eastern>caught  fish." 

Fop^itUimty  its  NationaliHts  mnd  Character.' — ^We  have  already 
stated  the  probable  number  of  the  population,  though  as  no  cen- 
sus has  been  taken,  it  is  impossible  to  fix  it  accurately.  Of  the 
2,2cx>  whites  and  Creoles  reported  in  1867  nearly  one-half  were 
half-breeds  with  Indian  mothers.  The  number  of  whites  and 
Creoles  has  increased,  perhaps,  500  since  that  time ;  but  the  in- 
crease has  been  almost  wholly  in .  the  half-breeds.  The  native 
tribes  were  divided  by  General  Halleck's  report  of  1869  into  four 
groups — I.  The  Kolothian  tribes,  which  occupy  the  Sitkan  Divi- 
«on,  and  extend  Us  far  as  the  Atna  or  Copper  river.  These 
tribes,  which  have  been  yarioudy  estimated  at  from  800  to  1 5,000 
(the  latter  estimate,  however,  including  the  coast  Indians  of 
Northwestern  British  Columbia),  arc  those  with  which  our  people 
have  been  brought  tnost  in  contact.  They  are^  Ttke  the  other 
Indian  tribes  of  this  coast,  of  the  Athabascan  family,  and  origi<' 
naUy  probably  of  Mongolian  or  Northern  Tartar  stbck.  They 
are  as  a  rule  more  intelligent iand  possesstmore  mechanical  skill 
than  the  Dakota  or  Sioux  fjaunily,ilMit  are  more  superstitious 
and  idolatrous,  and  quite  as  low  morally  as  any  of  the  Indian 
tribes.  Some  of  these'  tribes  have  been  hosifle  to  the  whites,  and 
have;  murdered  the  crews  of  vessels,  but  they  are  now  generally 
peaceful,  except  when  th^  are  intoxicated.    They  distil  a  fiery 


>ecoininj^  yearly 
ames  Haley,  of 
:  the  Knout-Znu 

swarming  with 
nous,  are  '  hlyu 
Iters,  refusing  to 
themselves  and 
ht.     In  this  way 

of  cu  ration  at 
nd  at  home  for 
ting  readily  dis- 
1.  The  Alaska 
California  mar- 
ers  of  that  fish, 

Ve  have  already 
ough  as  no  cen- 
irately.  Of  the 
ly  one^half  were 
r  of  whites  and 
me ;  but  the  in- 
!ds.  The  native 
)f  1869  into  four 
he  Sitkan  Divi- 
if  river.  These 
m  800  to  1 5,000 
oast  Indians  of 
irhich  our  people 
,  like  the  other 
amily,  and  origi-< 
\x  stdck.  They 
mechanical  skill . 
re  superstitious 
ly  of  the  Indian 
>  the  whites,  and 
e  now  generally 
ey  distil  a  fiery 


PRLS'CIPAL    TVW\S  AND    VILLAGES. 


1279 


and  wretched  rum,  which  they  call  "  Hoochinoo,"  from  refuse 
molasses  brought  there  by  some  of  the  ships,  and  become  very 
fiendish  and  violent  under  its  influence.  Missionaries  are  now 
laboring  among  them,  and  a  considerable  number  have  been 
converted 

2.  The  Kenaian  Tribes,  who  occupy  the  whole  of  the  Yukon 
Division  south  of  the  Yukon  river.  They  are  more  numerous 
than  the  preceding,  ranging  from  1 5,000  to  20,000.  They  are 
said  to  be  peaceful,  quiet  and  well  disposed,  though  there  is  not 
much  known  of  them. 

3.  The  Aleuts.  These  are  the  Indians  of  the  islands  and  the 
Aliaskan  peninsula.  They  strongly  resemble  the  Eskimo,  and 
are  industrious,  honest,  peaceable  and  ready  for  instruction. 

4.  The  Eskimo,  who  inhabit  the  region  north  of  the  Yukon 
nver.  These,  like  their  fellows  of  Greenland  and  the  eastern 
coast,  are  very  industrious,  patient  and  hospitable.  General 
Halleck  estimated  their  number  at  about  20,000.  Later  writers 
think  there  are  not  more  than  5,000.  • 

Want  of  Laws  and  a  Legal  Government, — There  is  to-day  no 
legal  government  in  Alaska,  and  only  two  laws  in  force  in  the 
Territory,  one  the  revenue  law  for  the  collection  of  customs  and 
the  prevention  of  smuggling,  and  the  other  ?.  law  prohibiting  the 
importation  of  liquor  into  the  Territory.  There  are  no  efficient 
means  of  enforcing  even  these  laws.  There  is  no  provision  for 
arreisting  or  punishing  a  murderer,  highway  robber,  or  pirate.  A 
few  simple  laws  woyld  be  sufficient,  but  though  the  attention  of 
Congress  has  been  repeatedly  called  to  the  matter  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Treasury,  nothing  ha^  been  done. 

JPrincipal  Towns  and  Visages. — In  the  Sitkan  Division,  Sitka, 
the  present  capital  of  the  Territory,  and  Fort  Wrangell,  are  the 
only  important  settlements.  They  have  about  1,300  and  $00 
inhabitants  respectively.  In  the  Island  Division,  St.  Paul's,  on 
Kadiak  Island  the  former  capital  under  the  Russians,  and  Una- 
lashka,  the  refitting  station  and  trading  post  of  the  Alaska  Com- 
mericial  Company,  are  small  villages.  ^  In  the  Yukon  District, 
Fort  St.  Mich4el'»|a^4|C^QO^'|.  IqJ.^^  atj^  the  only  places  of  any 


. .  /»\wa>eoSU^«*i**eii  >>ii*!v.?A->"o 


.  u^l 


i28o 


OUR   WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


Wc  have  given  some  notes  of  the  climate  of  Sitka.  Perhaps 
a  lew  items  from  the  Signal  Service  reports  in  relation  to  a  sta- 
tion at  Fort  St.  Michael's,  in  Yukon,  and  Unalaahka  Island,  in  the 
Aleutian  Archipelago,  may  be  worth  noting :    >    ,."     •     .   i'' 


rORT  ST.  MICHAEL'S,  Yukon  DItlrlcl,  Alraka. 
Ullludt  Al°  4*'< 
'  Longilud*  161"  o*. 

ll«v«lion  JO  fMt. 


-^^ 


YiAa 

AND 

MuHTMI. 


I     •■■: 

1878. 

V«w 

July 

Auguil .  . 
8»pt<mtMr 
October . . 
Nov«mb«r 
Dcetmbcf 

.     'Sw- 
Unnar/.. 
February. 
M*l«h.... 
April 

Miy 

June   .... 


Ttmpenlura. 


73 

u 

4» 
4) 

43 

30 
4» 
37 


—30 


104 
37 
a4 
3» 
3' 

;« 

«4 
6a 
60 
57 
S 


I 


s 


5»4 

4t.g 
»9  « 


'4» 

.u 

ly.o 

3»-5 

46.  i 


Hunidily. 


In. 
15.61 
3.48 
t.it 

o.U 

m 

1.89 

0.07 

B.1J 
0.41 

1.40 


FaronMler. 


1 
I 


per  ft. 

IncfiMt 

«7.» 

•9  734 
»9«9J 

ni 

P 

8«.9 

■»707 
•9*J9 

•9*1* 

*97«3 

go.o 

99S 

•9.«4a 

%:) 

3o«79 
■9»« 

87.0 

tg.Sn 

«I4 

*9'94» 

UNALASHKA  ISLAN  D,  Aladw. 
Lalliud*  S30  ts'. 
Longilud*  tM>  4ff. 
Ebvailen  ab.  ta  Irat. 


Temparalura. 


4« 

43 

48.5 
44 
49 
Sa 


'9 


7 
>> 
at 


H 

I 


38. 

37 

34 

3» 


3 


480 

40.8 
335 

J5« 

34 
39.1 
I»» 
33' 


Humidity. 


Sman. 
30-74 


a.J5 

397 
3.7* 
■0.01 

*.88 

I'd 

a.93 


fr 
•3 

I 

S 

« 


J  ! 


I6.0 
a.o 

k}.0 

ll.o 

84s 

84.0 
8a.j 


T/i^  A /tractions  0/ A/aska  to  the  summer  tourist  are  very  great. 
At  Sitka  and  its  vicinity  the  midsummer  night  is  almost  as  attrac- 
tive as  at  Tromsoe  or  the  North  Cafpfe.  At  Kotzebue  sound  it 
is  quite  as  beautiful.  Latef  in  the  Season  the  brilliant  atirora 
borealis,  or  htortherh  lights,  are  of  unsurpassed  beauty  and 
magnificence.  ■ 

Mr.  Blaine  thus  describes  the  voyajg^e  from  Nan&into,.the  last 
port  of  British  Columbia,  to  Sitka :  ' .         11.;: 

"The  picturesque  parts  of  the  voyage  are  found  between  Na- 
naimo  ^nd  Sitka.  The  steamer  sWeieps  thrbugh  a  narrow  strait 
guarded  on  either  hand  by  sndw-capped  mountains,  and  so  nar- 
row that  despite  iall  your  knowledge  ttf  perspective?!^ seems  as 
if  the  shores  meet  as  you  look  up  the  channel  from  the  bow  of 


itka.  Perhaps 
lation  to  a  sta- 
a  Island,  in  the 


,'l.  h 


.A  ISLAND.  AlMha. 

lud«t««<>4/. 
Lllon  ab.  to  iMt. 

ura. 

Humidily. 

1 

H 

3 

, 

! 

0 

e 

•  ■Mil 

•l.o 

S4S 

«4.o 

!"•» 

ta.j 

a8.< 
37 
34 
3» 

4lo 

4o.a 

3)3 

34 
99.1 

3J1 

••! 
3< 
3-5 
■o.t 

t.l 
3. 

15 

!i 
>* 

n 

H 

)3 

are  very  great. 
Imost  as  attrac- 
zebue  sound  it 
brilliant  adrora 
^  beauty  and 

nainto,.the  last 

d  between  Na- 
si narrow  strait 
ns,  and  so  nar- 
IveJtf  seems  as 
om  the  bow  of 


1 


C^Af  ALASKA   HE   COMMENDI-.n    TO   IMMlCRASTSf 


1381 


the  ship.  On  either  side  mountains,  j^rcon  at  the  base  and  white 
at  the  summit,  overhang'  the  water.  A  patch  of  marble  cropping 
through  the  trees  forms  an  occasional  and  welcome  spot  of  color 
in  the  monotonous  green,  and  the  ripple  of  a  cascade  agreeably 
breaks  the  stillness  which  everywliere  reigns  supreme,  Vox  days 
not  a  living  thing  is  seen ;  no  animal  upon  the  land,  no  Indian  on 
the  water,  no  bird  in  the  air.  The  waves,  washed  by  the  wheel 
•  against  the  shore,  tremble  into  silence;  the  hills  which  echoed  the 
whistle  sullenly  grow  calm  once  more,  and  you  seem  r.hut  In  by 
the  forces  of  nature,  and  in  th'  power  of  the  genii  of  sea  and 
strand.  There  is  apathy  everywhere,  activity  nowhere.  High 
up  in  the  sky  the  sun  rolls  lazily  along,  completing  the  task  in 
twenty  hours  which  elsewhere  he  accomplishes  in  fourteen.  The 
nights  glitter  with  weird  light.  The  sunset  is  reflected  by  the 
sunrise.  The  west  yet  glimmers  with  the  streaks  of  day,  while  in 
the  east  jocund  morn  stands  tiptoe  on  the  misty  mountain-top. 
At  10  at  night  the  finest  print  is  read  with  ease,  and  at  3  in  the 
morning  the  sun  streaming  into  the  state  room  wakens  you  from 
sleep." 

We  can  hardly  commend  Alaska  as  a  favorable  point  for  emi- 
grants, unless  it  be  those  hardy  Norsemen  whose  constant 
encounters  with  the  Arctic  climate  have  rendered  them  proof 
against  its  hardships ;  but  development,  though  slow  in  coming, 
will  yet  surely  reach  this  far-off  land  of  ice.  There  will  probably 
be  no  great  change  in  the  climate.  Neither  wheat  nor  dairy 
products  will  be  exported  in  any  large  quantity,  but  the  seal  and 
sea-otter  furs,  and  the  furs  and  pelts  of  land  animals,  will  increase 
in  value  and  perhaps  in  numbers ;  the  magnificent  forests  will 
supplement  the  fast  diminishing  timber  product  of  the  Pacific 
coast,  and  the  fisheries  will  furnish  abundant  and  healthful  food 
to  millions  who  to-day  hardly  know  that  Alaska  exists.  Then 
there  will  be  a  place  there  for  the  hardy  and  adventurous  emi- 
grant, and  his  toil  will  be  rewarded. 


81 


.7        .  ;  ;  .       Iff' 


Iw   .-■■■ 


l^i^-i^^^j^if^i:i.fiim}^^.itsitf^'is^-t''i'--'.*^ 


PART  IV. 

THE   LANDS   OUTSIDE  OF  "OUR   WESTERN   EMPIRE." 


CHAPTER   I. 


,  .  i  I 

THE  NORTHWESTERN  PROVINCES  OF  THE  DOMINION  OF  CANADA. 

t.  British  Columbia— Boundaries— Area— Islands— Soil  or  Islands  and 
Coast— Soil  and  Surface  of  the  Interior— Mountains— Rivkks—Gkol- 
oov  and  Minkralooy— Coal— Gold,  Silver,  ktc— Fisheriks— Timbkk— 
Fur-Tradk— Population— Indian*— Chief  Towns— II.  The  Northwkst 
Territories— Extent— Recknt  Division-Lakes— Rivers— Mountains- 
Soil — Climate  Warmer  than  Manitoba— Wild  Animals  and  G amk  1'lkntv 
— Rivers  and  Lakes  Stocked  with  Fish— Population— Indians— Rem- 
GioN— III.  Keewatin— The  New  Territory— Not  much  known  or  it— IV. 
Manitoba— Its  Territory  too  Small— No  Good  Reason  for  this— Its 
Boundaries— Its  Rivers— The  Province  nearly  a  Dead  Level — Climate 
— Rainfall— Meteorology  of  Fort  Garry — Agriculture- Conflicting 

"  Accounts— Report  of  an  "  English  Farmer  "—Reply  of  "a  Canadian" 
— Climate  very  Severe  in  Winter — Mr.  Vernon  Smith's  Descrifhon  of 
the  Rivers  and  Lakes  and  their  Future  Usefulness— Eakl  Dufferin's 
Description— Mr.  Vernon  Smith  on  the  Crops— Later  Statistics  not 
available— Transportation— The  Canadian  PAciric— Its  Present  Con- 
dition AND  Prospects— Religion-Education,  etc.— Principal  Towns- 
Historical  Notes— The  Red  River  Settlement— Pembina— Assiniboia— 
Riel's  Revolution — The  rapid  growth  of  the  Province  since  it  became 

'a  Part  of  the  Dominion. 


■■•  I' 


;;;  I.  BRITISH  COLUMBIA. — ^This  IS  the  most  western  province  of 
the  Dominion  of  Canada,  lying  between  the  48th  and  the  60th 
parallels  of  north  latitude,  and  the  1 14th  and  the  139th  meridians 
of  longitude  west  from  Greenwich.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  the  Arctic  portion  of  the  Northwest  Territory  ;  on  the  east  by 
the  same ;  on  the  south  by  the  United  States  (the  Territories  of 

(1283) 


4   EMPIRB." 


0^  OF  CANADA. 

L  OK  Islands  and 
s — Rivers — Gr.oL- 

niERlES— TlMHKR— 

.   The  Northwest 
ERS — Mountains — 

SANUClAMK  TLKNTY 

N — Indians — Rem- 

I  KNOWN  or  IT — IV. 

lson  for  this — Its 
\n  Level — Climate 
TURE— Conflicting 
r  OF  "A  Canadian" 
ph's  DEscRiFnoN  or 
—Earl  Dufferin's 
TER  Statistics  not 
—Its  Present  Con- 
Principal  Towns — 

IBINA — ASSINIBOIA — 
NCE  since  it  became 


tern  province  of 
^8th  and  the  6oth 
:  139th  meridians 
ded  on  the  north 
y  ;  on  the  east  by 
he  Territories  of 


i 


I 


! 


*•»■■»  ••^•»« 


■0j^i^\t%t.^?aii^ -* -.'. t*<ihaimiii>-..- V;<^,jarw^*«3^i'*  -^*  -- 


u 


TOrOiiHANIV  Ot   HNIIISII  COLLMM/A.  uHj 

WaHhin^'ton,  Idaho  and  a  hmuII  part  of  Montana)  ;  on  tin;  wuHt 
by  the  I'atiht:  Oir-an  and  thi*  Icrritory  of  Ahuka.  \i%  ana  in 
vai'iouitly  stated  at  Iroin  jjo.(xx>  to  i(>^^,(xx)  H(|iiarf  milcH.  It  in- 
cUidc'H  several  iniporiant  inlamls,  as  well  an  many  smaller  onen. 
I  he  largest  of  thene,  Vancouver  Inland,  wan  it»elt  at  ont;  time  a 
fteparate  province.  Amony;  the  othi-r  important  inlands  arc  thoHC 
of  tile  yuecn  Cliarlottc  k''""P>  which  contain  mines  of  excellent 
anthracite  coal.  The  whole  coast  forms  an  archipelago,  which  is 
continued  alon^  the  Sitkan  Division  of  Alaska.  'Iht^re  is  a  corn- 
plete  sheltered  waterway,  navi^'able  for  the  larj^est  slearn«;r8, 
between  these  islands  and  the  (oast,  and  many  of  the  rivers  of 
the  province  have  extensive  estuaries  or  Jionis,  called  by  the 
inhabitants  "canals,"  whidi  penetrate  far  into  the  interior,  walled 
m  by  lofty  and  often  perpendicular  cliffs. 

The  soil  of  the  islands  and  of  th«.'  lands  near  the  sea  is  very 
fl^ood,  and  the  climate  mild,  though  rainy.  In  the  interior,  the 
surface  is  extremely  ru^^^'eil  and  barren,  and  the  climate  severe. 
The  main  chain  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  forms  thtr  eastern 
boundary  between  this  and  the  NorJiwestern  Territory,  while  the 
Cascade  and  Coast  Ranges,  which  unite  fartlu:r  north,  here  form 
separate  chains  of  mountains.  There  are  several  elevaieil  sum- 
mits, ranginjf  from  10,000  to  13,000  or  14,000  feet,  but  none 
approaching  very  near  to  the  Alaskan  peaks.  I'hc  rivers  are 
numerous,  and  som<;  of  them  of  y^reat  size.  The  Columbia  river 
and  its  affluents,  the  Okinakane  and  the  Kootante,  drain  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  province,  the  former  Houinjij  through 
several  small  lakes  in  its  course ;  the  Frazer  river,  rising  from 
two  sources,  one  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  the  other  in  the 
Cascade  Range,  drains  the  central  portion  of  the  province,  and 
discharges  its  waters  intv)  the  Gulf  of  Georgia.  On  the  west  side 
ol  the  province,  a  half-dozen  considerable  streams,  among  which 
are  the  Salmon,  the  Simp-^on  and  the  Stickine,  find  their  way 
from  the  Cascade  Range  mto  the  Archipelago.  In  the  north, 
two  important  tributaries  of  the  Mackenzie  river  traverse  the 
valleys  between  the  mountains,  and  one  of  them  crosses  the 
Rocky  Mountains  by  a  low-lying  pass  from  west  to  east.  In  the 
north(iast  the  Finley  branch  of  the  Peace  river,  which  falls  into 


I 


"■.'v^ySi. 


esm^MK 


I31U 


OVM   trAXrMMJV  HMfiMM. 


tli<'  AthaluHca  Ukr,  ban  iiM  lourre  in  the  Cascadr  MminUinn,  and 
t:ri)n<M.'H  the  Kocky  Mounuinn  liy  anothrr  panH  near  the  joch  par 
alli'l.  1  hrrt!  arr  inimrrouM  laken  in  thr  provinrr.  |  hr  hmt 
harlxir  i«  at  l^Hquiniautt.  V'ancouvrr  iHland  and  llir  roast  alon^; 
the  Ciiill  ol  iicor^ia  would  lie  a  );ood  wh«-.it  (oiiniry  it  thr  raint 
wi:rc  not  mo  prolutc.  Oats  and  hiirlcy  do  l>4-ttc>r,  and  thn  root 
crupsi  arc  very  ^oud  North  ui  thitt  iNlaml  thrrr  in  much  fin<! 
){ra2inK  land,  the  huhcricn  on  the  coant  arc  very  important. 
Cod,  haddock,  hc^rrin^,  halibut,  Mulinon  trout,  Htur^t  on,  anchovien, 
and,  aLx)vc:  nil,  Kniinon,  are  very  ahiindant.  I'hrre  are  many 
^'old  mineii  on  thr  I'razer,  Salmon,  StmpHon  and  Sti(  kine  riverH, 
and  the  yield  is  \^x\|f^,  Silver,  copper,  zinc,  and  (piicksilvcT  are 
also  mined  to  Momr  extent.  I'here  in  coal  on  the  mainland,  Init 
not  of  an  ^ood  tpiality  aH  thitt  on  the  yiiecn  Charlotte  UlandH. 
Marble  of  ^reat  excellence  Ih  found  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
province.  Ihcre  is  an  abundance  of  ^ood  timber.  This  province 
and  Alaska  are  now,  and  are  likely  to  be  for  many  years  to  come, 
tlio  chief  st;ats  of  the  fur  trailc. 

The  population  of  liritish  Columbia  in  1K71  was;  whites,  14,- 
043 ;  Indians  and  Creoles,  about  36,000.  The  Indians  have  not 
increased  materially  in  the  last  decade,  but  th(*  white  population 
now  probably  exceeds  35,000.  ihc  capital  is  Victoria,  in  the 
Boutheastern  point  of  Vancouver  Island.  New  Westminster  is 
the  next  town  in  size,  and  is  the  see  of  an  ICnf^lish  bishop. 
There  arc  a  number  of  forts,  hut  few  other  towns  of  considerable 
size.  The  province  has  a  lioutenant-governor,  and  is  repre- 
sented in  the  Dominion  Parliament  by  three  senators  and  six 
representatives.  '       <  '-    '         ' 

II.  Tht  NorUavesttm  Territories. — This  has  been  until  re- 
centl>  the  (ii  .lar  designation  of  all  that  part  of  the  Dominion  of 
Canada  Wi:  ch  lay  north  of  the  United  States  and  west  of  the 
province  of  Ontario  and  Hudson's  bay,  except  the  provinces  of 
British  Columbia  and  Manitoba.  The  Parliament  of  1 880,  how- 
ever, made  some  changes  which  restrict  the  extent  of  this  vast 
and  almost  unknown  domain.  It  still  retains  more  than  3,000,000 
of  square  miles;  but  while  it  extends  from  the  49th  parallel  to 
the  Arctic  Ocean,  its  eastern  limit  is  found  in  the  chain  of  lakes 


lotintainH,  uml 
r  ihr  50th  par- 
(»•       Ihr  hmt 
hr  roAHt  alonjl 
try  il  ihr  rainn 
,  and  thr  rool 
r  iH  much  tine 
cry  important, 
•  on,  anchovii'H, 
wrc  arc  many 
Stit  kinc  rivcrn, 
(juicksilvrr  arc 
:  mainland,  Init 
larlottr  Islandit. 
crn  part  of  the 
rhi«  province 
f  ycarH  to  come, 

fas:  whites,  14.- 

idians  havr  not 

hite  population 

Victoria,  in  the 

Westminster  is 

l^nf^lish   bishop. 

I  of  considerable 

r,  and  is   repre- 

«natorH  and  six 

been  until  re- 
the  Dominion  of 
and  west  of  the 
the  provinces  of 
nt  of  1 880,  how- 
itent  of  this  vast 
re  than  a.ooo.cxx) 
49th  parallel  to 
le  chain  of  lakes 


whirh  mark  the  rim  of  thr  lliidHoii  May  iNinin — I-ake  W'inniprj^', 
l-ik**  NfUon,  Drrr  lake,  l^ikc  WollaHtun,  etc.  All  tlu-  land 
raRt  of  ManitulNi  ami  lake  Wmniprj^',  to  th**  tioundaricH  of  On- 
tario (wl)irh  have  lj«-«'n  ronniih-rabiy  rxtiiidtd  wcstwanl  an«l 
northwcHtuard),  arc*  comprinrd  in  ilw  new  and  as  yet  nut  fully 
organized  provim e  of  K<-«'watin,  or  K(*Haydin. 

This  vast  Territory  of  the  Northw<'»»t  is  but  little  known  except 
by  the  hunter  and  trapper.  It  Is  a  kind  of  ^^rent  lakes  and 
lui^^hty  rivers,  lietwcen  th<'  foothills  (»f  ihr  Rocky  Mountains 
and  the  dreat  Arctic  Plain  and  thr  rimof  tlu*  (ireat  Mudson  May 
bastin  stretrhes  the  !,ow  Central  I'lain,  whiih  extends  from  thr 
Arctic  Ocean,  at  thr  broad  titlta  of  the  Mackrn/ie  river,  south- 
warti  throujjh  all  tlu:  lon^j  vallry  of  that  river,  thr  .Slave  river  and 
lake,  the  Athalxisca,  the  Peace,  the  .Saskat(  hewan  and  the  Krd 
river,  with  all  the  lakes  in  their  course,  to  the  head  waters  ol  the 
Mississippi,  in  Minnesota  (which  arc  not  two  miles  distant  from 
those  of  the  Red  river),  and  thence  down  the  Mississippi  X'ailey 
to  the  ^'ulf.  Nowhere  else  in  the  world  is  there  such  a  (ontinu- 
ous  valh'y  throuj^jh  the  whole  lenj,'th  of  a  continent.  Tlu;  soil 
of  these  river  valleys  is  very  jjood,  even  up  to  the  limit  whrre  the 
cold  season  is  too  protract«:d  for  most  agricultural  products. 
There  are  great  tracts,  called  barrens,  and  which  desrrve  the 
name,  where  hardy  lichens  and  mosses  form  the  only  vejjetation; 
but  the  valleys  of  the  Saskatchewan,  the  Peace  river,  th(!  Atha- 
l)asca  and  the  Nelson,  have  a  ){ood  soil,  and  a  climate  said  to  be 
I)etter  than  that  of  Manitoba*  or  Northern  Minnesota.  In  this 
valley,  as  far  north  as  Peace  river  and  Athabasca  lake,  it  is 
asserted  that  one-half  the  prairie  land  is  arable,  and  most  of  this 
is  suitable  for  wheat-growing,  or  at  least  for  the  cultivation  o*" 
sonu!  of  the  cereals.  Along  the  foothills  of  the  Rocky  or  Chip- 
pt'wayan  Mountains  the  soil  is  not  so  good,  and  the  water  has  a 
tendency  to  be  alkaline.  The  northern  portion,  and,  ind(!ed, 
nearly  the  whole  of  this  vast  Territory,  has  lx.'en  the  favorite 
hunting-ground  of  the  Indians,  the  French  voyageurs,  and  the 


*  lUttlrforil,  in  latitude  53°,  700  niil«i  tfortliwent  of  Winnipeg,  ha<  a  climnle  nver.iging 
keven  dF;,TeiM  w:irmer  than  that  city,  and  the  whole  nurth  .Saskatchewan  Valley  is  materially 
wwracr  than  .Manitoba. 


12&3 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


Scotch  traders  and  trappers.  It  is,  with  the  provinces  and  Terri- 
tories west  of  it,  the  main  dependence  of  the  civilized  world  for 
furs.  Buffalo,  beavers,  sables,  martens,  wolves,  foxes,  bears,  otter, 
fishers,  etc.,  are  very  numerous,  and  the  uttermost  diligence  of 
the  hunters  and  trappers  does  not  materially  diminish  their  num- 
bers. The  musk  ox,  the  polar  bear,  and  the  blue  and  Arctic  foxes 
are  found  toward  the  mouth  of  the  Mackenzie  river  and  along 
the  coasts  and  islands  of  the  Arctic  Archipelago.  Ueer  are 
abundant  in  the  south  and  west,  and  the  elk  and  moose  are  often 
seen.  Geese,  ducks,  swans,  ptarmigans  and  various  kinds  of 
grouse  are  found  in  great  quantities  on  and  near  the  numerous 
lakes.     The  lakes  and  streams  are  well  stocked  with  fish. 

The  population  until  1871  was  mainly  Indian,  with  a  small 
number  of  Canadian-French  voyageurs,  Scotch,  Iri':h  and  Ameri- 
can trappers  and  hanters,  and  some  half-breeds.  Within  the  last 
decade,  however,  the  immigration  to  Manitoba  has  very  largelj' 
migrated  from  that  province  to  the  better  and  dryer  lands  along 
the  Qui  Appelle,  or  Assiniboine,  and  the  Saskatchewan  rivers,  and 
the  land  has  been  found  well  adapted  to  wheat  culture,  and  the 
climate  more  favorable  than  that  of  Manitoba.  The  white  popu- 
lation  of  the  southern  part  of  the  Territory  has  thus  largely  in- 
creased. It  was  computed  in  187 1  that  there  were  about  67,000 
Indians  in  the  Territory,  and  not  over  1,000  whites.  There  may' 
be  now  10,000  whites  in  the  Territory. 

The  completion  of  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railway  through  the 
southern  portion  of  the  Territory  within  a  few  years  will  probably 
greatly  accelerate  its  growth.  Battleford  is  the  capital,  though 
until  very  recendy  the  lieutenant-governor  and  the  bishop  of  the 
diocese  resided  at  Winnipeg,  in  Manitoba.  It  is  not  represented 
in  the  Dominion  Parliament. 

III.  Keewatin,  or  Kewaydin. — Of  this  new  and  unorganized 
Territory  there  is  little  to  be  said.  It  is  almost  wholly  in  the 
basin  of  Hudson's  bay,  and  its  numerous  lakes  and  rivers  all 
drain,  direcdy  or  indirectly,  into  that  bay.  Its  southern  boundary 
under  the  report  of  the  commissioners  is  not  lower  than  52° 
of  latitude,  and  this  in  that  longitude  insures  for  it  a  rigorous 
climate.     The  Canadian  almanacs  state  its  area  as  about  500,000 


«M|fW*«*«M(ri**;**««i»aW*s^  m^r'^j^^ir-vtm^it 


tices  and  Terri- 
lized  world  for 
es,  bears,  otter, 
5t  diligence  of 
nish  their  num- 
nd  Arctic  foxes 
ver  and  along 
>.  Ueer  are 
loose  arc  often 
rious  kinds  of 
■  the  numerous 
ith  fish. 

),  with  a  small 
i':h  and  Ameri- 
Within  the  last 
as  very  largely 
'er  lands  alonjr 
wan  rivers,  and 
ulture,  and  the 
he  white  popu- 
hus  largely  in- 
e  about  67,000 
s.    There  may 

ly  through  the 
s  will  probably 
capital,  though 
e  bishop  of  the 
ot  represented 

d  unorganized 
:  wholly  in  the 
and  rivers  all 
liern  boundary 
wer  than  52° 
r  it  a  rigorous 
about  500,000 


KESTRICTED  AREA    OF  MANITOBA.  1287 

square  miles,  of  which  not  more  than  30,000  are  fit  for  culture. 
It  is  probably  a  good  country  for  hunters  and  trappers.  We  have 
no  means  of  ascertaining  its  population,  though  we  know  it  to  be 
mostly  Indians  and  trappers;*  but  the  census  of  the  whole  Do- 
minion will  be  taken  during  the  present  year  (1881).  If  there  is 
mineral  wealth  in  this  Territory,  it  is  as  yet  undiscovered. 

IV.  Manitoba. — This  province  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada  was 
organized,  with  its  present  boundaries,  in  1871.  The  circum- 
stances attending  its  organization  probably  had  much  to  do  with 
its  somewhat  restricted  area.  That  in  a  region  where  it  was  as 
easy  to  carve  out  a  territory  or  province  of  75,000  or  100,000 
square  miles  as  of  any  less  extent,  and  still  leave  immense  tracts 
of  unorganized  territory,  it  does  seem  surprising  that  the  founders 
of  the  province  should  have  contented  themselves  with  an  area 
of  only  14,340  square  miles,  less  than  one-third  of  that  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  only  one-sixth  of  that  of  Minnesota,  its  nearest 
neighbor  on  the  south.  And  this  wonder  is  heightened  when  we 
find  that  its  present  limits  exclude  almost  the  whole  of  the  two 
great  lakes,  Winnipeg  and  Manitoba,  as  well  as  the  large  rivers, 
whose  valleys  are  so  fertile,  and  whose  lands  are  so  much  more 
desirable  than  those  included  within  its  boundaries.  The  first 
requisites  for  a  new  Territory  are :  that  it  .shall  have  an  abun- 
dance of  good,  arable  land,  wich  large,  navigable  rivers,  if  possible; 
a  climate  not  too  moist,  even  if  it  is  somewhat  told ;  and  good 
grazing  lands  and  timber,  as  well  as  a  large  farming  area.  All 
of  these  Manitoba  might  easily  have  had  by  extending  its  boun- 
daries northward  and  westward.  Manitoba  is  bounded  on  the 
north  and  west  by  the  Northwest  Territory ;  on  the  east  by  Kee- 
watin,  or  Kewaydin,  which  interposes  a  narrow  tract  between  it 
and  Ontario ;  and  on  the  south  by  the  State  of  Minnesota  and  the 
Territory  of  Dakota,  or,  as  it  will  speedily  be  called,  the  Terri- 
tory of  Pembina.  It  lies  between  the  parallels  of  49°  and  50°  30' 
north  latitude,  and  between  the  meridiaiis  of  96°  and  99°  west 
longitude  from  Greenwich.  Its  area,  as  already  stated,  is  14,340 
square  miles,  or  9,177,600  acres.f 

*Whitakcr's  Almnnnc  for  1881  estimates  the  popuUition  at  about  10,000. 

f.'Vn  official  statement,  in  Whitaker's  Almanac  for  1881  gives  the  area  as  13,923  square  milei. 


ia88 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRR. 


■•>■ 

h 
If 

ill 


I 


Surface,  Soil,  and  Geology. — ^The  province  lies  almost  entirely 
in  the  valley  of  the  Red  river,  and  is  nearly  a  dead  level,  though 
rising  very  gently  toward  the  south.  Lake  Winnipeg,  on  its 
northern  boundary,  is  a  little  more  than  loo  feet  lower  than  the 
Red  river  where  it  enters  the  province  on  the  southern  boun- 
dary ;  the  surface  of  the  lake  being  628  feet  above  the  sea ;  Fort 
Garry,  which  is  at  some  height  above  the  river  banks,  724  feet, 
while  the  Red  river  at  Emerson  is  about  760  feet.  So  level 
is  the  area  around  Winnipeg  that  it  is  often  overflowed  by  the 
Red  river  when  it  is  swollen  by  T  t  melting  of  the  winter  snows. 
West  of  the  river,  the  streams  have  cut  their  way  through  the 
yielding  soil  ^d  flow  in  deep  troughs,  or,  as  they  are  called  in 
the  provincial  Canadian  voyageur's  French,  coulees,  a  corruption 
of  coulisses.  The  roads,  in  the  spring  and  autumn  especially,  are 
miry  and  wretched,  and  animals,  carriages,  and  wagons  are  fre- 
quently stuck  in  the  mire. 

Most  of  the  country  where  not  cultivated  is  ov;  ^J!  with  tall, 
coarse  grass.  There  is  a  sufficiency  of  timber  in  the  province 
for  all  immediate  wants,  and  the  banks  of  the  lakes  and  rivers 
outside  of  the  province  are  heavily  wooded.  The  soil  is  alluvial, 
this  whole  region  having  once  been  the  bed  of  a  great  lake. 
The  floods  in  the  lower  Red  river  may  make  the  soil  richer,  but 
they  interfere  at  times  very  seriously  with  the  crops  and  with  the 
comfort  of  the  settlers.  East  of  the  Red  river,  there  is  more 
forest  than  west  of  it,  and  the  land  is  not  quite  so  uniformly  level. 
There  are,  however,  extensive  marshes. 

The  climate  is  remarkably  healthful,  but  the  winters  are  very 
severe.  The  rainfall  is  slightly  greater  than  at  Pembina,  Dr^:ota, 
on  the  southern  border,  and  with  the  humid  atmosphere  frois  the* 
adjacent  lakes,  is  amply  sufficient.  We  give  on  page  ;2^9  ^'le 
reports  of  the  Canadian  Signal  Service  of  the  temperature  at  Fi  i . 
Garry,  Winnipeg,  Manitoba,  and  as  the  Canadian  authorities  do 
not  report  the  rainfall,  we  have  added  that  at  Pembina,  which 
is  only  a  little  less  than  that  of  Fort  Garry. 

Agriculture  and  Agricultural  Productions. — There  is  hardly 
any  inhabited  region  of  the  globe  about  which  so  many  conflict- 
ing statements  have  been  made,  as  Manitoba.     These  contradic- 


* 


1 


TEAfrf.R.lTUKF.    .IT  FOKT  GARRY. 


\ost  entirely 
evel,  though 
ipeg,  on  its 
iver  than  the 
them  boun- 
ce sea ;  Fort 
iks,  724  feet, 
:t.     So  level 
lowed  by  the 
nnter  snows, 
through  the 
are  called  in 
a  corruption 
:specially,  are 
jons  are  fre- 

v^^  with  tall, 
the  province 
es  and  riverj 
ioil  is  alluvial, 
a  great  lake, 
oil  richer,  but 
5  and  with  the 
here  is  more 
liformly  level. 

Iters  are  very 
ibina,  Drl  ota, 
•here  froi  ;  rhr 
page  :  2c  v  '  *^ 
:rature  at  Ft  ;t 
authorities  do 
embina,  which 

»ere  is  hardly 
many  conflict- 
lese  contradic- 


t 


K 
o 


a'8?s"84P^a      ft-STjjp 


Ot       Ui  Wt 


U(       in       1^       i/i 


WWWWUI^W  MMUI 


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5    Si    i    U   "S     8.    B 


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il     \y    S    "»4     u*     *3     ]5» 
U     ^      6t    'M      bo     b     >b 


s)  »  '3   e  e 

«o     »b     ^      M     >b     w 


£''? 


Maximum  Ttmpernlure. 
Miiiimam  Temperature. 
Range  of  Temperature. 
Mean  Tmiptrature. 


Rain&ll,  monthly  and 
annual. 


•A 


Mean  Humidity. 


•^    >=<    X    >    g    5    „ 


'Ml 


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Maximum  Temperature. 


Minimum  Temperature. 


Range  of  Temperature. 


Mean  Temperature. 


H 

m 

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PI 

> 


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RaiolaU. 


Mean  Humidity. 


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So 


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1390 


OVR    IVRSTK/IN  EMPIRE. 


tions  concern  it<t  climate,  its  soil,  its  farm  products  and  its  graz- 
ing lands,  and  live-stock.  Here  are  some  brief  specimens  from 
two  Manitoban  farmers,  one  signing  himself  "an  Knglish  farmer," 
the  other  "  a  Canadian."     "  The  Knglish  farmer  "  says : 

"  In  my  opinion  a  good  farming  country  should  possess  the 
following  essentials — viz.,  good  soil,  a  regular  succession  of  sea- 
sons and  a  climate  that  will  admit  of  outdoor  work  being  per- 
formed during  at  least  eight  or  nine  months  in  each  year."  He 
admits  that  the  land  in  Manitoba  is  much  of  it  good,  but  com- 
plains that  most  of  that  which  is  worth  anything  is  either  "  half- 
breed  reserve,"  or  bought  up  by  speculators;  and  says  that  if 
settlers  want  free-grant  land  worth  working,  they  will  have  to  go 
beyond  Manitoba  into  the  Northwest  Territory  to  get  it.  Hav- 
ing obtained  this,  he  says,  the  list  of  advantages  becomes  ex- 
hausted, for  good  land  is  absolutely  all  that  the  Canadian  North- 
west can  give  the  settler. 

"  In  the  next  essential,  the  regular  succession  of  the  seasons, 
those  who  come  here  are  woefully  disappointed — there  being 
only  one  season  that  you  can  reckon  upon  with  any  degree  of 
certainty,  and  that  is  a  winter  extending  over  more  than  half  the 
year,  and  surpassing  in  its  frequency  of  storms  and  intensity  of 
cold  any  region  yet  discovered  outside  of  the  Arctic  Circle.  It 
is  a  winter  that  Europeans  can  form  no  adequate  conception  of, 
exceeding  in  its  severity  even  the  cold  of  Iceland.  This  Is  no 
random  assertion,  as  the  following  will  show ; — At  the  latter  end 
of  last  winter  I  was  transacting  some  business  with  an  Icelander, 
who  has  been  living  in  Manitoba  for  the  last  five  years,  and  in 
the  course  of  conversation  I  asked  him  if  it  was  much  colder  in 
Iceland  than  it  was  in  Manitoba?  With  a  look  of  mingled  aston- 
ishment and  amusement  he  said  : — '  What !  colder  in  Iceland  ? 
Oh,  dear,  no !  We  not  haf  so  mooch  steady  cold  in  Iceland  as  we 
haf  here  in  Manitoba.'  So  if  any  who  happen  to  read  this  letter 
are  desirous  of  coming  to  a  country  colder  than  Iceland  let  them 
by  all  means  pack  up  and  start  off  at  once,  so  as  to  be  in  time  for 
the  beginning  of  the  '  beautiful  winter,'  which  will  soon  be  upon 
us.*   But  if  any  such  be  heads  of  families,  I  would  urge  upon  them 

*  This  complaint  of  the  severity  of  the  winter  climate  seems  to  be  well  founded.    Rev.  H   '• 


*  i|Wl>  »»jft^- 


<«mV>.^1KT^Mo'A.>k«Kr-aMM«*<a."rf'.&.V^~i<.t^.'^^£WM-n'rAV. 


^■*^  ?.'vA«<«.£^rM  ^»- .  .t-^j  . 


intl  its  graz- 
imens  from 
lish  farmer," 
ys: 

possess  the 
ssion  of  sea- 
being  per- 
year."     He 
od,  but  com- 
either  "  half- 
says  that  if 
ill  have  to  go 
get  it.     Hav- 
becomes  ex- 
ladian  North- 

the  seasons, 
—there  being 
iny  degree  of 
:  than  half  the 
id  intensity  of 
:tic  Circle.     It 
conception  of, 
d.     This  Is  no 
the  latter  end 
1  an  Icelander, 
:  years,  and  in 
nuch  colder  in 
ningled  aston- 
ir  in  Iceland? 
1  Iceland  as  we 
read  this  letter 
:eland  let  them 
)  be  in  time  for 
soon  be  upon 
rge  upon  them 

rounded.    Rev.  H    *• 


AN  "ENGLISH  FARMER'S"   COMPLAINTS  OF   MANITOBA. 


129I 


to  spend  one  winter  here  themselves  before  bringing  the  wife  and 
little  ones,  or,  like  some  of  us  who  are  here  now,  they  may  have 
to  regret  with  a  lifelong  sorrow  the  folly  of  bringing  delicate  or- 
ganizations to  suffer  the  rigors  of  a  winter  such  as  only  hardy 
men  could  hope  to  endure.  It  is  not  only  humanity  that  suffers 
during  the  winter,  but  the  horses  and  cattle  get  into  a  miserable 
condition  through  the  intense  cold  and  poor  food.  The  hand- 
books for  emigrants  describe  in  glowing  terms  '  the  beautiful 
meadows,  the  vast  fields  of  rich  prairie  hay.'  I  have  been  here 
since  June,  1879,  and  have  travelled  during  that  time  over  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  Manitoba  and  for  some  distance  into  the 
Northwest  Territory,  and  have  not  yet  met  with  anything  that  I 
could  call  good  hay.  There  is  an  abundance  of  hay  here,  but  it 
is  very  inferior ;  it  is  a  long,  coarse  grass,  dry  and  tasteless,  hav- 
ing none  of  the  sweet  aroma  that  good  hay  always  gives  out. 
It  is  also  sadly  wanting  in  nutritive  properties,  but  what  it  is 
deficient  here  may  be  made  up  in  bulk,  as  there  is  an  abundance 
of  it,  such  as  it  is.  Any  one  who  has  had  an  opportunity  of  test- 
ing his  teeth  upon  Manitoba  beef  can  easily  understand  that  the 
food  must  be  coarse  indeed  tg  produce  such  hard,  dry,  almost 
tasteless  meat. 

"Sheep-farming,  sheep-breeding,  and  wool-growing,  are  also 
urged  upon  the  settler  as  being  the  most  profitable  branches  of 
industry  the  settler  with  capital  can  engage  in.  Estimates  are 
made  and  long  calculations  are  worked  out  proving  beyond  a 
doubt  that  there  is  a  fortune  in  it.  What  is  the  truth  in  relation 
to  this  matter?  Just  this.  Several  attempts  have  been  made  in 
this  direction,  but  the  result  has  been  pretty  much  the  same  in 
every  instance  that  I  have  heard  of — either  complete  failure  or 
a  success  that  was  very  little  better.  I  have  seen  three  flocks  of 
sheep  since  I  came  here,  and  of  all  the  ragged,  scabby,  attenu- 
ated embodiments  of  sheep-life  they  were  the  worst.  I  have  seen 
sheep  trying  to  bite  a  living  off  a  hillside  in  Spain  where  there 

Vandyke,  Jr.,  who  visited  Manitoba  in  the  autumn  of  1879,  found  very  conclusive  evidence  of  it. 
The  table  of  the  Signal  Service,  page  1289,  indicates  a  very  severe  winter  climate  and  a  brief 
)>ut  hot  summer.  Thinic  of  a  climate  where  the  thermometer  sinks  below  zero  (and  more  than 
43°  below)  fur  five  successive  months,  where  the  mean  temperature  is  34°5,  and  the  annual  range 
138". 


i6,v.j--V'>».ei^«.jM.K».  .»«--t#; 


p^''Ti:r'7-tF'T-TV?-'*.Tfns»^a^-r 


>^-^r^vtir":.T'.— 


i 


-I 


13^2  OVK    H'-eSTFRN  KUPIKF.. 

was  scarce  grass  enough  for  a  half-grown  rabbit.  I  have  watched 
the  little  Welsh  mountain  sheep  browsing  upon  the  nourishing 
refuse  of  a  slate  quarry.  Yet  any  of  these  would  have  stood 
forth  as  veritable  Southdowns  compared  with  the  sheep  I  have 
seen  in  Manitoba.  And  then  the  quality  of  the  mutton !  Imagine 
the  flavor  of  'seven-day  veal '  combined  with  the  firmness  of  fif- 
teen-year-old male  mutton  and  you  have  it  e.xactly.  Some  will 
wonder  why  this  shoulil  be  the  case.  The  reasons  are  simple, 
but  yet  they  are  such  as  cannot  be  easily  overcome.  In  the  first 
place  the  prairie  grass  is  too  coarse  for  sheep.  In  the  next  place 
there  is  a  fatal  enemy  to  sheep  here  in  the  form  of  a  weed  called 
•wild  barley.'  It  se'-ms  to  be  growing  all  over  the  prairie.  The 
seed  of  this  weed  is  scarcely  a  fourth  the  size  of  a  barleycorn, 
and  it  is  armed  with  a  hard,  sharp  spear.  This  goes  into  the 
sheep  and  the  point  breaking  remains  in  the  skin,  causing  contin- 
uous irritation  and  pain  quite  sufficient  to  prevent  sheep  from 
ever  thriving  where  such  a  pest  prevails. 

"Another  difficulty  that  the  settlers  in  Manitoba  and  the  North- 
west will  have  to  contend  with  is  alkali.  It  is  present  in  such 
large  quantities  throughout  the  \6\\  that  the  water  everywhere 
is  impregnated  with  it.  To  such  an  e.xtent  does  this  prevail  in 
some  places  that  I  have  frequendy  known  setders  have  to  dig 
five  or  six  wells  before  they  could  get  one  sufficiently  free  from 
alkali  to  admit  of  its  being  used.  This  bad  water  is,  I  feel  cer- 
tain, the  principal  cause  of  the  death  of  such  a  large  proportion 
(eight  out  of  every  ten)  of  the  horses  that  are  brought  into  Man- 
itoba from  Ontario  and  elsewhere,  within  eighteen  months  of 
their  arrival.  In  fact  I  know  of  one  family,  father  and  sons,  who 
brought  fourteen  horses  with  them  from  Ontario,  and  in  two 
years  there  was  only  one  alive  out  of  the  fourteen.  These  are 
matters  that  should  certainly  be  made  known  among  intending 
emigrants.         .  /    .       -        ;, 

"When  the  three  seasons — i.  e.,  the  spring,  summer,  and  au- 
tumn— are  squeezed  into  some  four  or  five  mpndis  at  the  most, 
the  thoughtful  mind  will  easily  realize  that  this  alone  is  sufficien; 
to  prevent  Manitoba  from  ever  being  a  good  farming  country;, 
for  you  must  bear  in  nlind  that  within  this  four  or  five  months  thfe 


8: 


■iii 


-■<«'i*«WfA*ic«ft*»«it.a.i*w;»jr*.*«fcM*r =<*•-"*(  **»M:i*'l«.-«^-a»i« 


.-C*  -.A'V     .^,  . 


have  watched 
the  nourishing 
Id  have  stood 
sheep  1  have 
ton!     Imagine 
firmness  of  fif- 
ly.     Some  will 
ns  are  simple, 
e.     In  the  first 
the  next  place 
f  a  weed  called 
e  prairie.     The 
if  a  barleycorn, 
goes  into  the 
causing  contin- 
ent sheep  from 

I  and  the  North- 
present  in  such 
ater  everywhere 
:s  this  prevail  in 
lers  have  to  dig 
ciently  free  from 
ter  is,  I  feel  cer- 
arge  proportion 
ought  into  Man- 
teen  months  of 
;r  and  sons,  who 
irio,  and  in  two 
een.  These  are 
imong  intending 

ummer,  and  au- 
rchs  at  the  most, 
done  is  sufficien,* 
iarming  country;, 
r  five  months  tha 


LENGTH  OF  THE  COLD  SEASON. 


1293 


whole  of  the  farm  work  for  the  year  has  to  be  completed. 
Breaking  the  sod,  backsetting,  sowing,  planting,  fencing,  haying, 
harvesting,  well-digging,  house-building,  besides  a  long  list  of 
other  jobs  that  cannot  possibly  be  done  while  land  and  water  lie 
in  the  icy  grip  of  winter.  All  these  have  to  be  done  in  the  brief 
interval  oocurring  between  the  beginning  of  June  and  the  middle 
or  end  of  Octolirr.  Take  the  last  spring  as  an  instance  of  the 
wonderful  adaptation  of  this  country  for  farming  May  was 
nearly  gone  before  spring  was  really  come,  and  for  a  fortnight 
or  three  weeks  after  the  surface  of  the  ground  had  thawed  the 
whole  country  was  so  saturated  that,  except  in  a  few  instances 
where  the  land  lay  high,  it  was  quite  impossible  either  to  plough 
or  sow,  and  the  result  was  that  by  the  end  of  seed-time  the  ma 
jority  of  the  farmers  of  Manitoba  had  put  in  only  one-half  the 
number  of  acres  of  wheat  and  oats  they  had  intended  doing. 
The  consequence  of  this  will  be  that  our  farmers,  who  are  heavily 
indebted  to  the  machine  agents  for  implements  of  various  kinds 
bought  on  time,  will  be  unable  to  meet  their  notes,  and  will 
either  have  a  visit  from  the  sheriff  or  will  be  forced  to  get  cash 
from  the  money-lenders  at  from  fifteen  to  twenty  per  cent.,  0(t 
by  giving  a  mortgage  on  their  property  they  may  get  the  money 
at  twelve  percent.,  and  this  I  am  assured  is  already  the  condition 
of  more  than  half  the  farmers  of  Manitoba.  This  state  of  thing.s 
is  not  at  all  surprising  when  we  consider  that  the  resources  of 
the  country  are  limited  to  the  production  of  wheat,  oats,  pota- 
toes and  beets." 

As  a  meaxis  of  health  and  enjoyment  for  the  family,  as  well  as 
a  source  of  profit  to  the  farmer,  fruit  culture,  where  practicable, 
is  really  a  necessity.  The  Clerk  of  the  Legislative  Assembly, 
Mr.  Thomas  Spence,  in  a  book  for  emigrants  entitled  "  Prairie 
Lands  of  Canada,"  asserts  "  that  there  is  no  reason  why  every 
farm  may  not  have  its  orchard  in  this  as  in  other  parts  of  the 
Dominion." 

The  "English  farmer"  replies, "  If  Manitoba  is  so  well  adapted 
to  the  growth  of  fruit,  how  is  it  that  at  the  Provincial  Agri- 
cultural Exhibition^  held  at  Portage  la  Prairie  in  October,  1879, 
the  whple  display  of  Manitoba-grown  fruit  amounted  to  two 


•Bsjioavrif*:' 


13iH 


OLft    H'HSrt/tJV  UMi'/ZiE. 


% 

Hi 


! 


plates  of  crab  applos  almost  as  lar^e  as  walnuts — having  a  smHI 
and  tast<:  that  wuiild  give  any  one  the  idea  that  they  were  grown 
in  a  bed  of  iron  tilings  and  watered  with  vinegar? 

"The  general  testimony  of  those  1  have  met,  who  have  been  here 
five,  six,  and  seven  years,  is  that  *  scarcely  any  of  the  fruit-trees 
planted  lure  outlive  the  second  winter.'  This  is  no  hearsay,  but 
the  testimony  of  men  thoroughly  conversant  with  fruit  culture, 
who  have  tried  over  and  over  again  to  ,^row  apples,  pears, 
peaches,  etc.,  but  always  with  the  same  results — failure  and  dis- 
appointment. I  met  with  a  nursery  agent  here  last  spring,  who 
told  me  that  he  had  sold  several  thousand  fruit  trees  of  various 
kinds  during  his  trip  through  Manitoba,  but  he  rather  thought 
he  shoiilil  not  come  again,  for  from  what  he  saw  and  heard  of 
the  winter  he  should  not  expect  to  find  any  of  the  trees  alive 
next  year.  So  the  settler  in  Manitoba  will  save  time  and  money 
by  leaving  the  fruit  trees  alone,  as  an  orcliard  here  is  totally  out 
of  the  question." 

Per  contra,  a  "Canadian"  says,  of  the  climate: 

"As  to  Manitoba  it  possesses  a  climate  exactly  the  same  as 
Minnesota,  at  Moorehead,  or  Dakota.at  Fargo.  The  winters  are 
known  to  be  severe,  that  is,  as  the  thermometer  shows;  but  they 
are  probably  less  trying  than  the  more  humid  winters  on  the 
seaboard.  The  snowfall  is  very  light,  not  more  than  a  foot  and 
a  h.ilf.  The  horses  of  the  country  gra^  out  all  winter ;  and 
sometimes,  after  having  been  turned  out  in  the  fall,  return  in  the 
spring  with  increased  numbers,  from  the  mares  having  foaled. 
They  paw  the  light,  mealy  snow  off  the  grass  and  find  plenty  of 
nutritious  food."         wij.  .  iiu.t  .     ;i.     i     ai  •  ;  j  v  j  j  io       .1.  , 

Of  the  lands,  he  says,  "They  are  contiguous  to  those  of  Minne- 
sota and  Dakota,  and  the  same,  being  only  separated  by  an  as- 
tronomical line.  If  there  is  any  difference  in  as  far  as  the  lands 
themselves  are  concerned,  it  is  that  the  fartlier  you  proceed  down 
the  Red  river  of  the  North,  say  from  the  point  of  Moorehead  or 
Fargo,  the  nearer  you  get  to  what  was  undoubtedly  in  previous 
geologic  ages  the  centre  of  the  great  lake  which  at  one  time 
covered  the  whole  of  this  territory,  and  the  deeper  you  find  the 
alluvium  resting  on  a  lacustrine  clay  formation.    This  fact  gives 


^._^-W^^a  •Mn,f,^»»*' 


>.W.-'«rt*M')"-  »-*-  .AM»-'.''iV 


rilh.    MAXn OKAS'  MAA'StlY  L.I.WS    VEKV   VALUABLE. 


1305 


— havin^j  a  smell 
they  were  f^rown 
r? 

\o  have  been  here 

of  the  fruit-trt;es 

s  no  hearsay,  but 

vith  fruit  culture, 

w  apples,  pears, 

—failure  and  dis- 

iast  spring,  who 

trees  of  various 

e   rather  thoujrht 

aw  and  heard  of 

f  the  trees  alive 

:  time  and  money 

lere  is  totally  out 


;actly  the  same  as 
The  winters  are 
•  shows;  but  they 
d  winters  on  the 
e  than  a  foot  and 
t  all  winter;  and 
fall,  return  in  the 
es  having  foaled, 
ind  find  plenty  of 

0  those  of  Minne- 
parated  by  an  as- 
IS  far  as  the  lands 
ou  proceed  down 
of  Moorehead  or 
•tedly  in  previous 
'hich  at  one  time 
sper  you  find  the 
This  fact  gives 


the  advantage  to  Manitoba,  although  it  is  undr)ubtr(l  that  the 
banks  of  the  river  above  the  boundary  line  are  of  the  same  for- 
mation. This  deep  alluvium,  held  l)y  a  closely  retentive  clay 
sub-soil,  has  been  enriched  by  ashes  from  fires,  decaying  V(!geta- 
tion  and  the  uroppings  by  animals  ami  birds,  for  ages,  imtil  it 
has  naturally  become  the  richest  on  the  face  of  the  ^lobe,  and 
especially  adapted  to  the  growth  of  wheat.  It  would  be  folly 
for  anybody  to  attempt  to  deny  this  fact,  so  well  known  to  thou- 
sands and  susceptible  of  such  easy  proof. 

"The  country  is,  however,  quite  new,  and  linglish  farmers  may 
find  many  things  which  are  both  new  and  strangi;  to  them;  for 
Instance,  the  roads  are  of  the  most  primitive  kind,  and  in  the 
early  spring,  when  the  snow  and  frost  go  away,  before  the  sur- 
face dries,  it  is  not  so  easy  to  drive  over  them  as  it  is  over  the 
roads  of  the  Central  Park,  New  York.  But  as  the  season  ad- 
vances they  do  dry,  and  then  the  roads  become  as  smooth  and 
hard  as  any  in  the  world.  All  this  is  fully  stated  in  the  gov- 
ernment pamphlets  referred  to,  and  the  very  clearest  and  fullest 
warnings  are  given  to  emigrants  as  to  the  kind  of  difficulties 
they  may  have  to  encounter.  A  section  of  the  Canadian  Pacific 
Railway,  loo  miles  west  of  Winnipeg,  will  be  completed  this 
fall;  and  this  will  open  up  very  great  facilities  for  settlers  along 
its  line. 

"  There  are  undoubtedly  many  marshes  in  tli  province  of  Man- 
itoba, and  these  are  very  fully  set  forth  in  the  government  pam- 
plilets  and  maps.  But  they  are  all  susceptible  of  very  easy 
drainage ;  and  large  drainage  operations  are  now  being  carried 
on  by  the  provincial  government,  under  an  arrangement  with  the 
Dominioh  government.  Your  correspondent  says  that  these  can- 
not be  drained  because  the  rivers  are  too  near  the  level  of  the 
prairies.  A  difference  of  four  feet  is  given.  It  is  folly  to  make 
such  an  assertion  as  this  in  the  face  of  the  fact  that  the  Red 
river  and  the  Assiniboine  have  cut  their  winding  ways  very  deep 
below  the  level  of  the  prairies,  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet  at  the 
very  least,  and  there  are  everywhere  natural  coulies  entering 
these  rivers,  making  the  task  of  drainage  very  easy  and  inexpen- 
sive, while  the  land  so  drained  will  become  the  most  valuable  in 
the  province  and  naturally  the  richest  in  the  world. 


1396  OVM   Wt:S1lliN  HMriUB. 

"A«  to  the  /ovrrnmrnt  land  rcjrulatinnn,  it  Is  prrhnp^  not  of 
very  much  intcrcHt  to  tliscuHH  \\\v.%v.  nt  kn^th  in  your  columns; 
but  in  view  of  tlu*  rrffrcnce  your  correHpondcnt  has  made;  to 
thrm,  ptrrhapii  you  will  (M-Tniit  nic  to  Hay  that  they  are  the  iiame 
as  those  of  the  Unitcil  States  jjovcrnmcnt,  with  the  exception 
that  \\\v.  fccH  are  a  little  Icsh.  Any  man  can  get  a  homestead  of 
1 60  ncrcrH  free  on  any  unocaipicil  surveyed  government  lands  on 
condition  of  three  years  settlement,  and  he  can  pre-empt  160 
acres  more.  The  lands  granted  for  railway  purposes  are  sold  in 
the  same  way  as  in  the  United  States.  The  government  lands 
open  for  free  settlement  are  ilividcd  in  alternate  sections  with 
the  railway  lands.  The  '  eighty  acre  '  restriction,  to  which  your 
correspondent  refers,  was  done  away  witli  about  a  year  ago." 

It  seems,  however,  that  there  is  some  ground  of  complaint 
even  now,  in  regard  to  land  grants  in  Manitoba,  and  the  migra- 
tion  of  some  large  bands  of  Meniionites  across  the  line  to  Minne- 
sota and  Dakota  on  this  account  the  last  year  would  indicate  that, 
there  had  been  some  favoritism,  at  least. 

The  descriptions  of  the  region  north  and  west  of  Manitoba  by 
Mr.  Vernon  Stnith  in  the  "  Nineteenth  Century,"  and  by  Lord 
Dufferin,  at  Winnipeg,  are  very  eloquent,  and  though  perhaps  0. 
little  overstated  are  worthy  of  quotation  here  : 

"In  the  very  centre  of  this  great  Dominion  of  Canada,  equi- 
distant from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Arctic  Ocean,  and  mid- 
way in  the  other  direction  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  lies 
the  low  depression  of  Lake  Winnipeg,  300  miles  long,  6fty  to 
sixty  miles  wide — the  future  Black  Sea  of  Canada.  Its  shape  is 
roughly  a  parallelogram  lying  north  and  south ;  at  three  of  its 
four  corners  it  receives  the  waters  of  a  large  river;  the  main  trunk 
of  a  hundred  smaller  ones.  At  the  remaining  northeast  angle  a 
fourth  and  larger  river— the  Dardanelles  of  the  system — conveys 
the  accumulated  waters  of  nearly  a  million  square  miles  into 
Hudson's  bay.  This  l^ke  Winnipeg  receives  the  drainage  of 
the  future  wheat-field  of  the  world.  The  Red  River  of  the  North, 
with  its  afiBuents,  the  Assiniboine,  the  Quiappelle,  the  Red  Lake 
river,  the  Souris  and  a  score  of  others,  discharge  their  waters  into 
it  through  the  grass-covered  deltas  at  the  southwest  angle.     At 


lii 


,.(  . 


■gT Wtorw*i*»>t»T»w*in.«M»^,*n  -^^v.. 


» ■  ^^^  r. .  ( u^-«»; »  vi*a«  r»*.  «••  *? 


<-rhapH  not  of 

our  columnH; 

has  tnuilc  tu 

arc  tin:  unme 

the  exception 

homestead  of 

ment  landn  on 

pre-empt  1 60 

Imi!h  art!  sold  in 

.'rnmcnt  lands 

sectionii  with 

to  which  your 

year  ajjo." 

I  of  complaint 

and  the  mi^ra* 

line  to  Minnc- 

Id  indicate  thar 

>f  Manitoba  by 
"  anti  by  Lord 
Dw^h  perhaps  0. 

f  Canada,  equi- 
)cean,  and  mid- 
&nd  Pacific,  lies 
»8  long,  fifty  to 
a.  ItK  shape  is 
at  three  of  its 
the  main  tnmk 
>rtheast  angle  a 
I'stem — conveys 
uare  miles  into 
the  drainage  of 
er  of  the  North, 
,  the  Red  Lake 
heir  waters  into 
/est  angle.     At 


AMMl  OVrflLKIff  OM  WMUfirKa  LAKM  AND  ITS  KIVHKS.      \^j 

th«  ■Diirh«'ail,  and  only  twmiy'fivc  milet  dintAnt  oloni;  thr  shurM 
jf  iho  lake,  tlie  large,  impetuous  river,  which  gives  itH  minic  lo 
the  fretlt-watcr  aea  into  wkkh  it  ruahi's,  pour*  its  wild  majenltc 
fkxid  from  the  Ijiwrentian  hif^hlands,  which  iqwrate  thr  waNrsof 
l^ke  Superior  and  the  uAluenu  of  the  St.  LawrcAce  k%Mt{  ihoM 
that  seek  Lake  Winnipeg.  U  Lord  IJufitrin's  siNstck  at  the  capital 
of  Manitoba,  he  dcHcribca  m*  fdl  atoualy  this  noble  Hfvdr  that  any 
'  rtore  meagre  dtiHcriptiun  than  his  appears  almost  presu./iptiiotiN. 
After  describing  thtf  route  of  th«i  travrller  from  Luke  S(»perior 
up  the  Kamanistaguia,  over  the  height  of  land,  down  tilt  liaautihil 
Rainy  river  into  the  lovely  I^alcQ  of  the  Woods-^    .<.:j,f.. 

**  'Tor  the  last  eighty  miles  of  his  voyage  (he  says)  he  will  be 
consoled  by  sailing  through  a  sncceasion  of  laiid-lodkcd  chaaoeU, 
the  beauty  of  whose  toeneryt  while  it  resembles,  certainly  excels 
the  far-famed  Thousand  Islands  0/  the  Ht*  Lawrencei  From  this 
lacustrine  Paradise  of  sylvan  beauty  we  are  able  at  once  to  trans* 
fer  our  friend  to  the  Winnipeg,  a  river  wliose  existence  in  the 
very  heart  of  the  contiaent  is  in  itself  one  of  nature's  most  de« 
ligMil  miraolflSv  so  bealutiful  and  varied  are  its  rocky  banks,  itA 
tufted  islands ;  «o  broad,  so  deep,  so  fervkl  is  the  volume  af  its 
waters,  the  extent  of  their  lAkedifcc  expansions  and  the  trcmeft> 
dous  power  of  their  rapids.'  .  ,11.. .;  ... 

"The  Winnipeg,  in  its  short  btltpfctUreique  course  of  1 35  miles 
from  the  Lake  of  the  Woods*  falls  500  teet^  ind  though  not  navi- 
gable,  in  consequence,  for  steamers,  was  fbr  over  two  ctnturits 
the  route  by  which  all  the  trade  of  the  interior  continent  was  con- 
ducted by  tlte  great  fur  (tompinies  from  and  to  thpir  depots  at 
Mackinaw  and  Moatnoal.  The  Lake  of  the  Woods  Itself  is  a 
noble  expanse  of  waten  and  with  its  a,ooo  ishuids  ofilcrs  some 
lovely  places  for  setUeraent.  At  the  oodct  to  the  river  an  Ice> 
iandic  colony  has  been  latttly  formed^  and  ita  Iridian  liame  of 
Keewatin  has  been  attached  no#  to  the  whdie  province,  whksh 
covek-s  the  area  betMseen  the  old  province  of  Ontario  And  Mailif 
toba,  the  pioneer  of  the  new  western  pirovinces.  A\\nv\\  hy\\t\u 
(n/^This  (tha  Winoipcg)  is  the  body  of  witer  that  falla  into 
the  southeaster^  angle  of  Lake  Wlanipeg.  Paaskig  now  to  the 
northwest  comer  of  the  sadwo  inladd  rdservoir,  the  mouths  of  the 

82 


»4>«1.  •«•-■•«'<  W*^ 


1^  OUK   WgSTEMM  kMrtMM, 

two  riveri  beln^  dia^nany  acroM  the  kke,  about  if%  mltea 
apart,  wc  find  another  great  river— the  Danube  of  North  Amrr* 
ica— stretching  it*  long  twofold  channel,  each  1,000  milcn  in 
length,  to  the  foot  of  the  Rocky  Mountftint  of  the  West.  Thia 
it  the  Saskatchewan,  who»e  two  arm*  or  branchea,  rising  not  very 
far  aaunder  in  the  great  backbone  of  the  continent,  gradually  di« 
verga  until  the  distance  between  them  is  over  300  miles,  and  then 
convei^ng  up,  finally  join  at  a  point  773  miles  from  the  source' 
of  the  north  branch,  and  810  by  the  south  branch,  from  whence 
the  united  stream  runs  a8a  miles  to  its  debouchure  in  Ijike  Win- 
nipeg, making  the  total  length  from  the  lake  1,034  miles  by  one 
branch,  and  1.09a  by  the  other,  to  their  sources  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  Both  these  rivers  run  their  whole  length  through  the 
prairie  land  of  the  Northwest,  and  it  is  from  isolated  settlements 
on  these  rivers,  such  as  Prince  Albert  and  Carlton,  that  the  largest 
returns  of  agricultural  yields  have  been  received.  Both  rivers  are 
navigable  throughout,  cxce|»'ing  the  three  and  a  half  miles  near 
the  mouth,  where  the  river  passes  over  rapids  and  falls  of  a  total 
height  of  forty-four  feet  into  the  lake.  Laat  year  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  constructed  a  tramway  four  m'  1  long  to  overcome 
these  obstructions,  and  they  also  placed  a  mer,  the  '  North- 
cote,'  at  the  head  of  this  tramway,  which  during  the  season  made 
five  doable  trips  from  the  Grand  Rapids  to  Carlton,  550  miles, 
and  one  trip  up  to  Edmonton,  over  i  /x)0  milea  from  the  lake, 
along  the  north  branch. 

"  Last  season  a  second  steamer  was  placed  on  the  river,  and 
during  the  year  the  navigation  of  both  branches  was  thoroughly 
tested.  The  two  Saskatchewans  drain  what  is  especially  known 
as  the  '  fertile  belt,'  containing  not  less  than  90,000,000  acres  of 
as  fine  wheat  land  as  can  be  found  in  any  country. 

"  Such  are  the  three  main  rivers  that  pour  their  accumulated 
waters  into  Lake  Winnipeg,  all  of  them  of  a  size  and  capacity 
whirh  Ml  Europe  would  class  them  as  first-class  rivers.  Their 
united  length,  with  their  nKMt  important  affluents,  is  not  less  than 
■f  o/xx>  miles,  of  which,  certainly,  4,000  are  availaUe  for  steam 
navigation.  The  outlet  ci  this  magnificent  and  comprehensive 
Miter  system  is  the  large  but  little  known  Ndson,  which,  issuing 


«.._ 


•i-jwoi  ^losiwiwioearifia**  rit»i«n:T:.i-t,-K»»^— =-— .t- 


out  a7s  mile* 

If  North  Amrr- 

|i,ocx>  milcM  in 

icWett.    This 

rising  not  very 

t,  graduaUy  di- 

miles,  and  then 

m  the  source' 

h,  from  whence 

e  in  l^ke  Win* 

54  miles  by  one 

s  in  the  Rocky 

igth  through  the 

led  settlements 

,  that  the  laiigest 

Both  rivers  are 

half  miles  near 

id  falls  of  a  total 

!ar  the  Hudson's 

long  to  overcome 

mer,  the  •  North- 

the  season  made 

irlton,  550  miles, 

•  from  the  lake, 

>n  the  river,  and 
i  was  thoroughly 
especially  known 
000,000  acres  of 
ry. 

lieir  accumulated 
lise  and  capacity 
,ss  rivers.  Their 
s,  is  not  less  than 
u'laUe  for  steam 
i  comprehensive 
m,  which,  issuing 


C^Af  0CM4N  STMAMKHS  ASCMffl*   TMM  SAliONt 


•»« 


-  V»  ,l«»TS-=,rT^,.^ 


from  the  northeast  angle  of  the  take,  disrharge^  its  «iirptu4  watt* rn 
into  lluUiion's  bay.  Thin  riv«r — broad,  drrp.  firnt  (-la^4<«  in  rvrry 
rcupect— may  liavr  probably  an  important  bearing  on  thr  future 
prospects  of  this  northern  section  of  America.  Ijikr  Winni|)r^ 
is  700  (ret  above  thcocean  level;  as  Car  as  known  thu  Nrlnon  has 
neither  rock,  nor  shoal,  nor  excessive  rapid  to  interfere  with  its 
navigation  by  properly  constructed  steamers.  Its  even  grmlual 
slope  of  twenty  inches  to  the  mile  is  not  more  than  is  constantly 
and  safely  worked  on  other  American  rivers.  'I'he  Uppor  Mis- 
souri and  Yellowstone,  with  far  worse  water  to  contend  with,  were 
constantly  navigated  in  1877  by  twenty*sevrn  steamers;  whilst 
the  old  Danube  at  its  Iron  Gate  has  water  quite  as  strong  to 
contend  with,  and  not  half  the  breadth  and  depth  of  water  for  a 
vessel  to  pick  her  way  in.  The  question  remains  to  be  solved 
whether  this  river  is  really  available  or  not  for  ocean  steami^s  to 
work  through  to  the  lake  above,  and,  if  not,  whether  the  lake 
.itcamers  can  be  trusted  to  bring  their  cargoes  down  with  a  cer- 
tainty of  being  able  to  rcascend  again.  The  outlet  of  Nelson 
river  is  a  harbor,  a  mile  wide,  and  with  any  depth  of  water.  It  is 
called  Port  Nelson,  at^  I  not  very  far  from  it  is  the  old  York  Fac- 
tory, for  a  long  time  the  head-quarters  of  the  Hudson's  Kay  Com- 
pany, and  from  which,  for  the  last  200  years,  from  two  to  five 
vessels  have  annually  sailed  for  England,  and  not  unfrequently 
under  the  convoy  of  a  man-of-war.  Fort  Nelson,  although  situ* 
ated  in  ninety-three  degrees  of  west  longitude,  in  the  very  heart 
of  the  continent,  is  eighty  miles  nearer  to  Liverpool  than  New 
York  is.  For  four  certainly,  probably  five  months  in  the  year, 
it  is  as  clear  of  ice  as  any  other  of  the  North  Atlantic  ports. 
There  is  no  question  about  its  accessibility  for  ordinary  ocean 
steamers  from  June  to  October,  and  it  only  remains  to  be  proved 
whether  these  same  vessels  cannot  force  their  way  up  the  great 
Nelson  river  and  load  then*  cargoes  directly  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Saskatchewan,  the  Red  river  or  the  Winnipeg,  in  the  very  centre 
and  heart  of  this  great  wheat-field  of  the  Northwest,  where  200,- 
000,000  acres  now  await  the  advent  of  the  farmer  to  be  rapidly 
brought  into  cultivation.  .  w., . 

"Mr.  Vernon  Smith  says  of  the  yield  of  cereal  and   root 


J — 


ijoo 


OUR    WESTERN  EMPIRE. 


M    I 


J-    i> 


crops  in  this  Northwestern  region,  not  conftnihgf  hU  ^tktet^^nts, 
it  wUl  be  observed,  to  Manitoba :  The  fact  established  by  clima- 
tologists,  that  tlie  cultivated  plants  yield  the  greatest  products 
near  the  northel-nmost  limit  at  whieh  they  %t&ii,  is  Ailly  illusthaited 
in  the  productions  of  the  Can^ian  Territories ;  afid  the  rettfrns 
from  Prince  Albert  and  other  new  settlertient^  Oii  Hhe  Sii^katche- 
wan  show  a  yield  of  40  bushels  of  spring  wiieat  i!o  the  acre, 
averaging  63  pdunds  to  the  bushel,  whilst  one  ^xe^tfbnial  field 
shdwed  68  pounds  to  the  bushd,  and  another  loie  0^2,69O  bushels 
weighed  66  pounds,  producing  respectively  46  th^  42 1!^  j[)0'jnds 
of  dressed  fknir  to  the  bushel  of  wheat  In  sbuch^rn  latitude? 
the  warm  spring  develops  the  joie^s  of  the  plant4  i^  rapidly. 
They  run  into  stalk  and  leaf,  to  the  d^t^imbht  oi^  the  i^ed.  Com 
Inat2e,  for  eNamj^e,  in  the  Weat  Indies  runs  bfVeb  thirty'  ffeet  high, 
but  it  produces  only  a  few  grains  at  the  bo»*Tth  'of  d  sjiibrigy  cob 
too  coarse. far  himun  food.'         •■■'>''*«    -"  ■    '^ii  "i  Hyi-n-T  .i...  • 

"  Whatever  be  the  caose^  tH*  aiic6i-«atri<K!  Wiuh!s  Ih  tfiWHeW 
Northwest  seem  to  pk-ove  that  its  soil  ^dsess*6i/  linUsiially  pro- 
lific powers.  In  1877  careflilly  prepared  rejiorts  ^^At.  made  by 
thnty-four  different  seittkmcintft,  artd  althbugh  lies^n-d  ih  niany 
cases  by  tirctmiBtabces  Ideal  and  eptceptlbr^I— >k^^  ibi  irist^nce,  a 
series  of  very  heavy  rain-'Storttis  whibh  caught  tfi^  Whbsit  just  as 
it  was  ripeniagu^he  yiddH  periacre  wi&rti:  Of  wHtlit,  frtlhi  2%  t6 
55  bushels,  v^ith  an  average  of  Jie^  ;  bikrtey,  fh>m  4!^  to  ^b!  Aver- 
age 42)^  ;  oatB,  40  to  6q,  airefrage  ^t ;  p^^^veiiige  J^)^,  ^(!>ta- 
t«eB  219,  anid  turnipi  662  bushels  tx»  the)  vtt^.  iHdivldiidl  ckses 
were  enumerated  of  loobushels  of  oat^  (Iter  a£l^,  biiflisv  ai  high 
a»  60  busbili,  and  weighing  froM  ^  t6  5t;  ^biindW  t6  the 
bushel.  Potatoes  have  yielded  ad  high!  as  6l(k>  blush^b'to'd^e 
aicre,  and  bf  a  quality  un^ar^ssed,  «i  !ai-6  all  tk^  t^i  cH6]^s. 
Turnips  have  yielded  1,000  biisheh  to  th^  i.Qi%\  '7bb  B^fn^  i^Xti- 
n»0n,  whilst  cabbage,  ceiKUAdwer  and  celety  ^HoW  kh^iih  ^hb^oud 
size,andof  excellent  quality ^and'flavbi'/^        '      '    "  '  '^ 

We  «^k«t  tint  -we  o^ellliaM^  b  plh>etife  'kt«r  dtyt^tiek'  6i  t4ie 
croipisiof  tbe  fh>rthw»fesi^rrtwh*ati*gf?^."  Thtfi^Vfi<if  6^  on 
these  northern  alluvial  prairies  are  gonertiHy' WtfiH '  fei'^^  ihk'ii 
latftr  o*cB.    But  fai^  sptjng  wh^tl  and  ^nid  df  tM'  mdc  oii4als 


¥twAe^«akhM)c^ 


■  J  *,ja»ti*(U  M«iS?i«iA.'»^i?T.^rSTCi5?S 


TTv^,rr;sgiS!r7AiSSyEi»F-aCKfil?«-:V^.-V-,»S^:iJ^ 


lis  statements, 
hed  by  clima- 
itest  products 
ttillyiHustiiated 
id  the  rettims 
Ifhe  Sti^katche- 
t^  the  acre, 
let^ptibnal  field 
2,000  bushels 
^  42|^  j[)0'jnds 
ih^m  laihudes 
te  ib6  rapidly, 
tei^^ed.  Corn 
^irtyi  ftet  high, 

f  i  sjiriciriffy  cob 

1  fi'ji"'''''  .-I'"'" 

!t!s  Ih  thii  ttew' 
linUsiiaJly  pi*o- 
I  v»^^e  ftiade  by 
ssen-d  Ih  n^any 
;,  lot  Inlstance,  a 
iri  SWhlesit  just  as 
heat,  fi^ki  2$  to 
1  4dr  to  ^i  iyer- 

iHdivldildl  c^^es 
i,  bMfl^y  a^  high 

jj6undW  to  the 
.bushWs'to^tfte 

ti«i  Wbt  cW)jps. 
"fob  Bi^fe^  cbm- 

■lid'aA  ^hb^otis 

fit  .nf.v/^d  ttf.-'i-  I'- 

riifyttovdi'te 

fclAVfiiif  ^rfebb  on 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAIL  WA  Y. 


I3OI 


there  us  probably  no  more  prolific  region  than  the  Red  River 
Valley  and  the  Saskatcliewan  country.         ,  ,.,.       .:.,i,.,    :  .  < 

TransftortatioH, — As  yei  the  larger  part  of  the  grain  product 
of  Manitoba  5adsa  market  byway  of  the  railway  which  connect^ 
Wii(intpeg  with  the  Northern  Pacific,  and  then  carries  it  either  to 
DuUith  or  Chicago.  What  may  be  its  route  when  the  Canadian 
Pacific  is  completed  to  the  Saskatcln^wan  country,  or  when  the 
ocean  steamers  shall  aacepd  the  Nelson  from  Hudson's  bay  to 
Lake  Wwoipeg;.  ca'inot  now  be  predicted.       m      >    .  .  j  .  i 

The  Canadian  Pacific  Railway  demands  a  notice  as  one  of  the 
five  greni  trM»k  lines  now  constructed  or  in  process  of  construc- 
tion to  the  Paci^<{  coast.  It  has  been  for  some  years  in  progress, 
but  has  been  embarrassed  by  the  lack  of  means  and  efficient  gov- 
ernment aid  It  is  jpQvi  taken  up  by  an  association  of  English 
and  American  capitalists,  the  Dominion  government  rendering 
liberal  assi<;(ance  by  land  grants,  subsidies,  and  the  gift  to  die 
company  of  the  portions  of  the  road  already  completed.  The 
chief  poir  "^s  of  the  compact  are  allegied  to  be :  :      .,         1 : 

The  total  length  of  the  projected  system  is  to  be  2,200  miles, 
of  which  it  may  be  said  that  600  miles  are  either  completed  or 
under  construction.  The  government,  it  is  announced,  are  pre- 
pared %o  grant  a  sMibsidy  of  $aOkOOO,ooo  in  cash,  payment  to  be 
spread  over  the  period  of  ten  years,  assumed  to  be  necessary  for 
tb?  construction  of  the  Hne,  an  amount  equal  to  <|ti  0,000  per 
milot  or  abojut  one-ithird  x>f  the  eilimated  cost.  A  further  grant 
will  b<^  madie  of  35,000,000  acres  of  land,  to  be  located  in  alter- 
nate sections  along  the  route,  as  was  done  in  the  case  of  the 
Union  and  Centml  Pacific  companies.  The  600  miles  under  con- 
strucjtion  will  be  handed  ovoT:  to  the  company  without  cost 

Two  hundred  Jind  twenty-two  miles  more  were  placed  Under 
contract  before  the  nfew  company  took  charge  of  it.  The  total 
cost  is  estimate()  at  $644750,000.  A  submarine  telegraph  from 
MancouKer's  Iskand  to  Yoddo,  Japan,  is  also  projected  as  a  part  of 
this  system  of  cqmnntnication.  .■■>,,.., 

B4ligion,  Educatum,  eU. '^Manitoba  has  a  large  Roman  Cstth-*' 
olic  population,  that  religious  system  having  been  kmgago  estab-^  ' 
li^ihed  here  bytfae  missionaries  among  the  Indians.    A  Roman 


1 


Ti^-'SKtflZJiUi^^^'Wjii-^  ■»!*i/^^'yr'. 


*  WfMCWIWraiSaP  iJfl^CffSf "iT  '•^r^i»nBK«J«**!<W '  f^ 


Zl: 


m 


130a 


OC/X    WESTERN  EMPIKE. 


Catholic  archbisiiop  has  his  see  at  St.  Boniface.  There  is  also  an 
Anglican  bishop,  whose  see  is  at  Fort  Garry.  The  board  of  edu- 
cation ib  composed  of  equal  numbers  of  Catholic  and  Protestant 
members.  Separate  schools  are  established,  and  are  maintained 
pardy  by  fees  and  assessments  and  partly  by  a  provincial  grant. 
St.  John's  College  (Anglican)  and  St.  Boniface's  (Roman  Cath- 
olic) were  incorporated  in  1873.  There  is  a  very  considerable 
Scotch-Presbyterian  element  in  the  population,  and  Methodists, 
Baptists,  Congregationalists  and  Mennonites  are  also  represented 
in  the  province. 

Principal  Towns. — Winnipeg,  the  capital,  has  grown  up  around 
Fort  Garry  within  the  past  decade.  It  i6  reported  as  having  about 
1 2,000  inhabitants,  and  has  considerable  business  and  enterprise. 

St.  Boniface,  Selkirk,  Shelley,  Emerson,  Amaud  and  Dufrost  arff 
growing  towns,  v' I    >•    •  fi.>i.'iri>Mt  I     Hf  =  ;.'i<;}''[r  •  Mcn   >"'     ',.'•  , 

HistonccU  Notes. — Manitoba  is  the  northern  part  of  the  region 
purchased  by  Thomas  Douglas,  Earl  of  Selkirk,  in  18 10,  from  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company.  He  planted  here  the  fomdus  "  Red 
River  Settlement,"  called  also  "Pembina,"  and  later  "Assiniboia." 
The  first  settlers  here  were  Scotch  Highlanders.  In  181 5  a  con- 
siderable number  of  Canadians,  of  English,  Scotch  and  French 
descent,  and  some  half-breed  Indians,  joined  the  colony.  When, 
some  years  later,  the  United  States  boundary  line  was  run 
through,  it  was  found  that  the  greater  part  of  the  colbny  was 
south  of  that  line,  and  especially  that  what  are  now  Pembina, 
Dakota,  and  St.  Vincent,  Minnesota,  were  peopled  by  these 
colonists. 

Meanwhile  the  population  did  not  increase  rapidly,  owing  to 
the  attacks  of  the  Northwest  Company,  then  hostile  to  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company,  the  severity  of  the  winters,  and  repeated 
destructive  vbitations  of  grasshoppers,  wnich  destroyed  their 
crops.  The  Hudson  Bay  Company  at  length  took  possession  of 
so  much  of  the  colony  as  remained  north  of  the  boundary,  and 
established  a  local  government,  with  the  title  of  "  The  Council 
of  Assiniboia,"  which  continued  to  administer  the  government 
till  March,  1871.  In  1869  and  1870  there  was  a  movement  to 
transfer  the  authority  to  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  then  just 


^•:«3!T*r*33ss»raiisspWTflP.ssaB»s«»,j«jiwf  i .-,-» _..«j>jMisi.  -# 


THE  CLASSES  WHO  PMEFEM  PfOT  TO  CO   WEST. 


iy>3 


ere  is  also  an 
board  of  edu- 
nd  Protestant 
re  maintained 
>vincial  grant. 
Roman  Cath- 
considerable 
d  Methodists, 
o  represented 

wn  up  around 
3  having  about 
,nd  enterprise, 
td  Oufrost  are 

t  of  the  regioiv 

1810,  from  the 

famous  "Red 

r  "Assiniboia." 

In  181 3  a  con- 

:h  and  French 

olony.    When, 

line  was  run 

he  colbny  was 

now  Pembina, 

pled   by  these 

)idly,  owing  to 
lie  to  the  Hud- 
,and  repeated 
estroyed  their 
;  possession  of 
boundary,  and 
"The  Council 
le  government 
\.  movement  to 
lada,  then  just 


organized.  This  was  opposed  by  the  French  Canadians  and 
half-breeds,  and  under  a  Canadian-French  leader,  Louis  Riel, 
they  organized  an  armed  resistance,  took  possession  of  the  treas- 
ury, and  imprisoned  many  of  their  opponents.  In  July,  1870,  an 
arnted  force  from  Canada  appeared  in  the  province,  captured  the 
insurgent  leaders,  and  gave  opportunity  for  an  elective  govern- 
ment, which  soon  united  with  the  Dominion,  and  is  represented 
in  the  Dominion  Parliament.  The  growth  of  the  province  since 
that  time  has  been  rapid. 


11  III 


ii<  '(It, 


CHAPTER  a 


.  / 1 1    )  K  '• '  ■  I  '•  1    I  I  r .  )  I  wi   M   -; 

..     .  .    .  ,il! 

'  '.li  1;.   .i!i.    ')''., 

,    .  .  •  1...       I      . 

EOnS  FOR  IMMIGRANTS  ON  THE  ATLANTIC  SLOPt.  ' " 

1  'III. )'  I 

Why  many  Immigrants  do  not  like  to  go  to  the  West — Views  or  iuNV  op 
OUR  OWN  People  on  the  Subject — Are  there  not  Homes  for  these  on 
.THE  Atlantic  Slope? — Advantages  of  the  EAst — Wisconsin  and  Michi- 

^  CAN — Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois — Tennessee — Maine,  New  Hampshire 
AND  Vermont — Massachusetts  and  Connecticut — Northern  Nwir  Yottic- 
— Long  Islanc^-Advamtage6  of  New  System  of  Ensilage  here  and  in 
New  Jersey — New  Jersey — The  Southern  Counties — West  Virginia 
— North  Carolina — East  Tennessee — Northern  Georgia — Florida — 
Conclusion. 

;r  ).•,  In.;    I      ;/    Mii  •  •■      Iv-m  ini,. 

While  we  have  given  a  full  and  (air  description  of  the  advan- 
tages which  the  West  offers  to  the  intending  Immigrant,  and  have 
demonstrated  its  superiority  to  any  other  portion  of  the  globe 
which  is  now  inviting  immigration,  we  are  not  unmindful  of  the 
fact  that  there  are  very  many  of  the  nearly  600,000  immigrants 
who  have  landed  on  our  shores  during  the  past  year  to  whom  the 
continuation  of  their  journey  to  the  far  West  is  either  a  very  great 
hardship  or  an  impossibility.  They  have  friends  in  the  Eibtitkn 
States,  who  are  comfortably  situated,  and  who  desire  to  have 
them  near  them;  or  they  are  somewhat  advanced  in  life  and  have 
but  scanty  means,  which  would  be  entirely  exhausted  on  reaching' 
the  West ;  or  they  have  children  or  grandchildren  whose  homes 
are  on  the  Atlantic  slope,  and  to  whom  they  would  be  again 
united ;  or  they  are  not  in  robust  health,  and  die  Western  lands 


/>:*#*  ■■>Wk,«*»r«t'-i.  S*^i!£--.«*X', 


w 


Mi 


)>3PH 


CUM  U^aSTSM9  MMMJ9M. 


M«m  M  far,  the  climale  id*  unliUe  thm  to  which  they  have  been 
aoaistomed,  and  all  the  Ikde  comforts  of  an  old  civiliaation  have 
bttcome  ao  tndiapeiMaUe  to  them,  that  they  dncad,  as  those  ad- 
vance in  Ufi^  always  do,  the  privations,  to  which  they  will  be  ex- 
posed. These  things  did  not  seem  ao  f^  and  formidable  when 
they /were  on  the  other  side  of  tlpe  Atku^tic  as  ihey  do  now;  and 
if  they  persist  in  gfoiag  West;  these  matteni  wiU  grow  more  and 
mmie  ditUsteful  to  thenar  tiU  they  denrelop  into  a  genuine  home* 
sickness  and  serious  discontent. 

There  are  also  very  large  numbers  of  our  Eastern  people  who, 
after  all,  make  up  the  larger  part  of  the  emigration  to  the  West, 
who,  for  one  reason  or  another,  while  they  do  not  care  particu- 
larly about  going  to  the  Weal,  |>f  cjf^r'  iobie  change,  and  for  many 
reasons  .^^Ifp^id  bfe^tt^if  s»|j«fif4  wit^^a©  Ga«|erf|  tha«  <a  \^estern 
location.  Their  friends  and  acquaintance  are  here.  They  can 
fthd  her*  good  schools  and  church^^,  the  land  is  all  broken,  t'eady 
f6r  llieir  Crops,  and  there  is  ^  hon^e  market,  readily  accessible, 
whqre  they  can  sell  at  fair  prices  all  they  hav^  to  aelUand  buy  at 
9r  reasonable  rate  all  they  need  to  buy. 

<  kis  from  these  classes  that  we  oftehest  hear  the  inquiry:  "Is 
in.ttt  not  some  region  east  Of  the  Mississippi  where,  all  things 
being  tkkeh  into  the  account,  a  man  or  a  family  can  live  as  well 
and  make  as  much  money  as  in  the  West,  and  at  the  same  time 
avoid  chskafxlabipfi  inconveniences  inddiscomfibirts  of  a  lifei  on 
thefr<lMlier^'« 

IW9  answer!  Hiat  depecwts  upon  several  eonsiderattons  ^ 
niney  Isinol  madei'4juite  as  rapidly  in  klgtiieuUtrrM  and  padtOrai 
pMrtuitBint'the  East  as  in'thei  West  >bMaii9e  ^  larger  captllal  is 
aaqunred  ^or  cMten^e  operaiionft,  and  k  is  tnOire  ddfVieult  to  pro- 
aitm:lhe  necessaiy  quantfiy  of  hMd;  but#ith  the  iiame  resolate 
iriUv'thdre  is  nothing  impoasihte  (as  Kossuth  i^ys)  to  him  wh6 
wUla^  and  the  acbievement  of  a  great  (brtune  Is  not  a  tadk  which 
ianii>iisiknpos8ibleti»  a  resolute  spirHi  at  tiie  East  than  sit  the 
>^el  It  is  iha  to  be  conskbred  that  many  men  are  not  ambi- 
tioi»tb  aeoumulate  large  fortunes,  ilr<lo  dofhls  they  mu^t  fofegb 
alli^  eomforts  and  pleasures  of  society  for  a  Gotosfderable  time. 
Tbfdiem  a  coMpetehce  is  the  extent  of  tbeiv  ambition,  and  with 


■  %!!<sa"MJKV*SW»WS»vll^aJoll*«a!iiav*>.'J&:s^v.■^.^ 


DESIRABLE  LOCATfONS  ON  THE  ATLANTIC  SLOPE. 


^30J 


y  have  been 
iMtiofi  have 
those  ad- 
y  will  be  ex« 
itdable  when 
do  now;  and 
>w  more  and 
nuine  home* 

ri>li   -MlllJ  Jt.itl 

people  who, 
to  the  West, 
care  particu- 
and  for  many 
pin  A  Western 
e.  They  can 
)roken,  ready 
Qy  accessible, 
ill.  and  buy  at 

!  inquiry :  "  Is 
ere,  all  things 
m  live  as  well 
;he  same  time 
(s  of  ii  llfdon 

;.j  ■  ■,■•! 

oksjlderatlons^ 
I  ^nd  padtorai 
rger  capt^I  is 
Kwicult  to  pro-' 
l^ftme  resolute' 
i)  to  him  whd* 
)t  a  ta^k  which 
jt  than  ^t  the' 
are  net  ambl- 
;y  muit  foVegd 
sMerable  time; 
Uion,  and  with 


it.  if  they  can  have  friends,  society  and  abundant  advantages  of 
intellectual  and  moral  culture,  they  are  as  happy  as  men  well  can 
be  in  this  life. 

To  the»c  classes  we  have  to  say:  You  will  find  a  larger  meosi 
ure  of  enjoyment  east  of  the  Mississippi  than  you  would  wert  of 
it.  Tliere  is  the  same  choice  of  occupations  here  as  at  the  West. 
Land  is  not  quite  so  low,  generally,  but  on  the  other  hand  you 
avoid  the  long  and  expensive  journey  to  the  West.  The  agri- 
cultural production,  under  favorable  circumstances,  does  not 
differ  nateriaJly ;  but  there  prices  are  low  and  the  cost  of  trans- 
portation to  a  better  and  higher  market  is  very  heavy,  while  here 
you  have  a  market  almost  at  your  doors,  and  that  one  which 
pays  the  highest  price  for  produce.  If  there  is  a  difference,  as 
there  certainly  is  in  some  sections,  the  Eastern  climate  is  healthier, 
neither  the  heat  nor  the  coW  so  oppressive,  the  rainfall  sufificifent 
to  prevent  any  apprehension  of  n  drought,  the  insect  pests  much 
less  formidable,  and  tlie  danger  from  malarial  fevers  less  serious. 
The  intensity  of  the  cold  of  winter  is  greater  in  the  northern  tier 
of  States  and  Territories  of  the  West  than  in  the  middle  Atlantic 
States,  and  the  heat  of  the  Southwestern  States  and  Territories 
ia  summer  has  no  parallel  in  the  East. 

,,,"Bat  where,"  it  may  be  asked,  "are  these  lands  whidhare  so 
desirable?"  It  is,  we  answer,  hardly  possible  to  go  amiss  of 
them,  Wisconsin  and  Michigan  are  as  truly  States  for  immi- 
grants as  Iowa  and  Minnesota;  more  so  than  Missouri.  North-: 
ern  Wisconsin  and  the  Northern  Peninsula  of  Michigan  have,  it 
is  true,  a  severe  winter  climate,  though  not  more  so  than:  North*' 
ern  Minnesota  or  Dakota,  and  in  gencfal  the  winter  mean 
temperature  is  not  lower  than  thati  of  Iowa.  In  both  State*  there 
are  good  Ijinds,  yielding  with  pjroper  culture  as  large  crops  of 
wheat,  barley,  oats,  and,  in  ordinary  seasons.  Indian  corn,  and  as 
many  bushels  of  the  root  crops  aa  the  trans-Mississippi  States. 
In  both  these  States  there  are  extensive  granng  lands,  and  both 
stock-raising  and  dairy-farming  aire  already  conducted  on  an  ex- 
tensive scale.  Both  States  are  rich  in  minerals ;  gold  and  silver 
are  fpund  in  moderate  quantities ;  but  copper,  zinc,  iron  and  lead 
abound,  and  so  nearly  pure  as  to  be  easily  reduced;  while  the 


ci%i>*^  ■•■A^jiiu^'f « jMu::i&';r 


I 

I 


i 


IJ06  Ot/Jt   WBSTEMAr  EMPIRE. 

9 

rarer  metals  are  found  in  ample  quantities.  Coal  is  less  abun* 
dant  as  yet,  but  the  immense  forests  furnish  not  only  vast  amounts 
of  timber  and  lumber,  but  all  the  fuel  which  will  be  required  for 
many  years.  Those  who  prefer  the  isolation  of  a  new  country 
can  find  homes  here  reasonably  free  from  neighbors,  while  their 
crops  can  be  speedily  conveyed  to  market  at  a  very  moderate 

cost.     ■"  .t         i'-       '  ii.  •'      '■    *       '''  1  ' 'i    '  ■      '•''!     ''  '"  '■'  '  '■"    ' 

OAio,  Indiana  and  Illinois  have  now  no  desirable  government 
lands  for  sale,  but  there  are  valuable  State  lands  (school  and 
swamp  lands),  and  Illinois  especially  has  yet  some  excellent  rail- 
road lands  which  can  be  purchased  at  moderate  prices.  A 
skilful  farmer,  buying  his  land  low,  can  always  be  sure  of  making 
his  farm  pay  in  either  of  these  States.  There  are  also  extensive 
coal  and  iron  mines  in  all  three. 

:  Portions  of  Kentucky  are  desirable  for  immigrants,  but  both 
Middle  and  Eastern  Tmmssee  are  more  so.  The  soil  is  not  as 
rich  as  in  some  of  the  Western  States,  but  there  is  a  close  clay 
sub-soil,  and  the  land  retains  and  is  permanently  benefited  by 
manures,  and  under  their  influence  yields  liberal  crops.  There 
is  much  heavy  timber,  and  most  of  the  land  has  to  be  cleared  before 
cultivation.  Hitherto  much  of  this  region,  especially  the  Cum- 
berland Plateau  of  Middle  Tennessee,  has  been  inaccessible  to 
markets ;  but  now  railroads  have  been  built,  and  several  colonies 
liave  established  themselves  there.  One  of  these,  sent  out  under 
the  direction  of  an  association  of  which  Thomas  Hughes,  M.  P., 
("Tom  Brown  at  Rugby")  is  President,  have  founded  a  colony 
called  Rugby,  and  are  making  very  fair  progress  in  developing 
the  region,  for  the  time  which  has  elapsed  since  their  colonial 
enterprise  was  commenced.  The  English  members  of  the  colony 
are  satisfied  that  they  can  accumulate  property  much  faster  than 
they  could  have  done  in  England.  '    •     ii  •  .    •<     '   i.,  ..r. 

East  Tennessee  has  not  a  rich  soil,  but  its  miheral  wealth  is 
very  great,  especially  in  coal  and  iron  of  the  best  quality.  There 
are  also  some  gold  and  silver  ores,  though  the  mining  for  them 
is  only  moderately  profitable^  These  mineral  deposits  exist 
throughout  the  region  occupied  by  the  Appalachian  chain  of 
mountains,  and  render  West  Virginia,  Western  North  and  South 


,-'ssrw«!?^s/=-W!airi<»*i«w  s;-'jifi'.M«#<,.  »*i>  ,■•.■■  .^..a,,. 


LONG  ISLAND  AS  A  HOME  FOK  IMMIGRANTS. 


1307 


9  less  abun- 
vast  amounts 
required  for 
new  country 
s,  while  their 
ry  moderate 

government 
(school  and 
xcellent  rail- 
prices.    A 
jre  of  making 
also  extensive 

ints,  but  both 

soil  is  not  as 

\  a  close  clay 

benefited  by 

crops.    There 

cleared  before 

ally  the  Cum- 

inaccessible  to 

Everal  colonics 

sent  out  under 

Hughes,  M.  P., 

nded  a  cnlony 

in  developing 

I  their  colonial 

rs  of  the  colony 

jch  faster  than 


1   ,\u 


1  // 


leral  wealth  is 
[uality.  There 
ining  for  them 
deposits  exist 
hian  chain  of 
Wth  and  South 


Carolina^  and  Northern  Georgia  and  Aiabama  desirable  localities 
for  those  who  desire  to  engage  in  mining,  or  who  prefer  to  prose- 
cute the  timber  or  lumber  trade.  But  while  the  principal  deposits 
of  gold  and  silver  are  found  in  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina 
and  Northern  Georgia,  West  Virginia  and  East  Tennessee  have 
the  most -inexhaustible  resources  in  coal,  iron  and  lime  in  close 
proximity  to  each  other  and  to  the  railways ;  and  the  best  salt 
springs  and  petroleum  springs  and  wells  in  the  country,  with 
large  tracts  of  black  walnut  and  other  hard-wood  timber.  When 
cleared,  the  lands  with  proper  tillage  yield  good  crops,  and  will 
continue  to  do  so  permanently. 

East  of  the  Alleghany  or  Appalachian  range  there  are  many 
desirable  localities.  In  Maine  the  Scandinavians,  Finns  and 
Northern  Russians  will  find  a  climate  much  like  their  own,  an 
abundance  of  timber,  and  land  which,  with  good  farming,  will  yield 
fair  crops.  The  other  New  England  States  have  many  old  farms 
which  are  capable  of  becoming  profitable  under  intellij^'ent  cultiva- 
tion. There  are  here  also  opportunities  for  employment  for  me- 
chanics and  operatives  in  manufactories.  In  Northern  New  York 
the  vast  area  known  as  the  "North  Woods,"  "John  Brown's 
Tract,"  "  The  Adirondacks,"  etc.,  offers  some  desirable  lands  to 
an  industrious  farmer.  The  country  is  well  watered,  and  its 
numerous  lakes  abound  in  fish  and  its  forests  in  deer  and  other 
game.  With  the  completion  of  some  projected  roads,  it  will  be 
easily  accessible.  '    •*  >  •       i '    '  ' 

But  the  best  region  for  imini'grants  in  the  State  of  New 
York  is  on  Long  Island,  and  mainly  in  Suffolk  county.  It  seems 
almost  incredible  that  600,000  acres  of  land,  lying  between  thirty- 
five  and  ninety  miles  from  New  York  city,  the  best  and  most 
inexhaustible  market  in  the  world.  With  a  good  soil,  a  very 
,  healthful  climate,  well  watered,  and  having  a  sufficient  but  not 
excessive  annual  rainfall,  should,  from  the  apathy  of  its  owners 
lie  unimproved,  and  be  at  the  present  time  for  sale  at  from  five  to 
fifteen  dollars  per  acre.  And  the  wonder  is  all  the  greater,  when 
we  find  that  a  railroad  passes  through  the  whole  length  of  this 
tract,  with  several  branches,  and  that  no  part  of  it  is  mere  than 
twelve  miles  from  the  railroad,  and  much  of  it  within  from  one  to 


five  mlleii  of  it,  and  that  this  railroad  is  now  ofTcriDg  every  facility 
to  farmers  to  transport  their  produce  to  market,  and  to  brin^^ 
from  the  city  the  needed  fertilizers.  The  shores  of  tlie  islaiul 
abound  in  the  best  qualities  of  edible  fiHh,  oysters,  clams,  mussels, 
scollops,  lobsters,  crabs,  etc.,  and  the  game-birds  and  four-footed 
game  of  the  whole  region  arc  abundant.  On  the  island  are  forty 
factories  for  the  production  of  oil  from  the  menhaden,  and  the 
ti*  h-Hcrap,  or  guano,  one  of  the  best  fertilizers  known,  is  now 
sent  gway  from  the  island,  because  there  is  little  or  no  demand 
for  it  there.  This  apathetic  condition  is  now  passing  away  and 
the  Long  Island  farms  are  in  demand. 

The  land  can  be  cleared  at  from  hve  to  ten  dollars  per  acre, 
some  of  the  timber  being  large  enough  for  building  purposes  or 
(or  railroad  ties.  It  will  yield  fmm  twenty-five  to  diirty-five 
bushels  of  wheat,  or  from  twenty  to  tweiay-eight  bushels  of  rye. 
to  the  acre,  from  350  to  350  bushels  of  potatoes  of  the  b^st 
quality,  and  with  good  cultivation  and  fair  manuring,  the  whole 
region  can  be  transformed  into  market  gardens,  fruit  orchards, 
and  strawberry,  blackberry  and  raspberry  lands  of  the  greatest 
productiveness,  and  for  oil  these  products  there  is  an  unfailing 
demand,  at  the  highest  pricos.  in  New  York  and  Brooklyn  and 
the  cities  adjacent.;;   ,/   ,,    j\u\wii  'nlJ      .r»niij,i  r'jioin'i/l**/  at, 

This  is  a  very  paradise  foir  the  markct-^^ardener.  The  great 
cities  of  New  York,  ^rooklyj)»  Jersey  City  and  Newark,  and  the 
smaller  cities  and  towns  of  Hoboken,  Bergen,  Bayonne,  Long 
Island  City,  Yonkers,  Garden  City*  Breslau,  Hempstead.  Flush- 
ing, Jamaica  and  Huntington-^r^having  together  a  population  of 
two  and  a  half  millions — are  all  largely  dependent  upon  this  re- 
gion for  market-garden  produce.  The  great  summer  resorts  of 
Coney  Island,  Rock^way  Beach,  Long  Beach,  Fire  Island,  Mon- 
tauk,  etc.,  all  pn  Long  Island,  which  are  visited  by  more  than 
two  millions  of  people  every  season,  furnish, additional  markets 
for  all  tl^  fruits,  vegetables  and  root  crops  which  can  be  raised. 

The  new  sy^ten^  pf  ^n(^lage  is  destined  to  wotjc  wonders  on 
these  Long  Island  ^nd  New  Jersey  lands.*     By  its  use  and  the 

*  Ensilage  it  (h«  narfife  given  to  *  preparation  of  green  forage  })1an)!i  for  winter  feeding,    "fhe 
jiUnts  may  be  com  (the  UJIcr  and  larger  growiagTarielia»prcfefreA),'Ci'bttliib  it  i»**in  the  silk}'' 


•:*V4**««««t; 


I vM^^.k^iV';«>'<^iiR'fvyu.MKT>««.^'h»)>^iK.i>a-fM^«J^f. .<.,,.«. ^^u£au   .J 


A'A»K  y/.A'sey  as  a  home  ito/t  /.vy/o'A'.i.vrs. 


1309 


every  facility 
and  to  brin^ 
of  tlie  inland 
ams,  musseln, 
id  four-footed 
land  arc  forty 
idcn,  and  the 
nown,  is  now 
no  demand 
ng  away  and 


r 


lars  per  acre, 
g  purposes  or 

to  tJiirty-five 
jufiiiels  of  rye. 
i%  of  the  bf'st 
\ag,  the  whole 
fruit  orchards, 
»f  the  greatest 
is  an  unfailing 

BrPpklyn  an4 

^  II     .    :  *. 

Ef.  The  great 
ewark,  and  the 
Bayonne,  Long 
ipstead.  FJush- 
i  population  of 
It  upon  this  re- 
vmer  resorts  of 
rp  Island,  Mon- 

by  more  than 
itional  markets 

can  be  raised. 
4*^  ponders  on 
it3  uae  and  the 

)r  winter  feeding,    "the 
lilitl>ki»*'intheiilk}'' 


soiling  of  the  cattle  in  summer  a  farmer  can  keep  a  dairy  nrrd  of 
from  eighty  to  one  hundred  cows  on  a  farm  of  (ilty  acres,  and 
raise  in  addition  at  least  $2,yx>  or  $3iOCO  worth  of  market 
vegetables  and  small  fruits,  wliile  in  the  West,  on  the  old  system, 
he  would  require  at  least  640  acres  for  the  same  purpose.  At 
the  same  time,  the  large  amount  of  manure  produced  will  enable 
him  to  keep  his  whole  farm  in  the  hig^uat  condition  for  produc- 
tiveness. The  system  m  very  simpte,  and  not  beyond  the  meant 
of  even  the  poor  emigrant;  for  the  returns  arc  so  speedy  that  the 
cost  of  the  necessary  structures  can  be  paid  for  from  the  milk 
receipts  of  the  first  y<:ar. 

The  island  affords  also  great  opportuniues  for  successful  manu- 
facturing. The  great  city  of  Brooklyn,  at  its  western  extremity, 
has  more  tlian  |^25cuX)o,ooo  invested  in  manufacturing, and  therii 
is  now  rapid  progress  in  the  establishment  of  manufacluriea  in 
tlic  counties  of  ^eens  and  Suffolki  I  l^tT  7;  >/  -i  Otntii .    ii  | 

The  climate  of  Long  Iskod  is  healthful  and  mild,  the  mean 
annual  temperature  being  50**  and  the  extremes  98°  or  rarely 
100°,  and  zero,  or  at  lowest  -^5".  The  cool  siEm-bruezes  moderate 
the  summer  heat  and  mitigate  the  winter's  cokJ. 

Another  region  wluch  posaesaett  exceptional  advantages  for 
fruit-culture  and  market-gardening  and  dairy-farming  is  Soutkerm 
New  jfersty.  The  Secrttairy  of  the  Bureau  of  Suti  sties  of  Labor 
and  Industry  of  New  Jersey  furnisbea  u»  the  following  interesting 
facts  relative  to  this  region.  '        ..1  4u    ..  <<..>      .    ,    u,    ,  li 

There  are  more  than  a  miUion  aoref  of  uncleared  lands  i*  the 
eight  southern  counties  of  New  Jersey,  which  can  be  ptuxdaaaed 
at  from  five  to  twenty  dollars  per  acre.  They  have  been  held 
by  large  proprietors,  and  most  of  th^m  have  their  title»  dirtet 
from  the  "Lords   Proprietors,"   Pernio  Fenwick,  Byllinge  and 

others,  who  received  their  granfts  from  Charle!^  II.     'Ilhese  great 

I  '        I      I    .       ^         ...  ■  ,  I      ,  I 

Alfalfa,  Hungarian  gnus,  ftgyptfan  rtce  com,  pearl  miRet  or  sorghum.  Kiiher  should  be  sowed 
very  thick  and  cut  up  at  the  rooU,  chopped  up,  ears  and  all,  into  piecen  ■*  Mcl^  aail  a  Mf  ih 
leugth  aiid  then  fi»^  in  «  dooe  pit  wiUr  cwnented  wallt/iand  4oor»  lra|hpUd  tloii|ii  wtil  l%\  the 
pit  (whiqh  is  called^  /I'/tf)  h  weU  filled,  when  it  is  covered  with  six  inches  of  stroMr,  and  upon 
this  ai^  Md  heavy  {iliMkt,  jointed  or  (on^A  and  gfoovet^,  and  heavy  wefghh  put  upon  rtie  top 
either  of  stone  qr  |p«^.    Ii  kMfs  9«|f«c|ly  and  is  M  Ijwoiiilb  thf .  wiiil^  nNdtrint  my  'wm  vt 


hay  unnecessary. 


.<>>    titnj.lt/.  ''fl*  fi'»  •'I'ftj.l  ^{iMfitii,^    r'M»<f  I'll      !i.    >i  »fll 


MJitfc.V.-w"'**firf''lJi*i>''  'W.  *?rtii.i£A*'y' 


1310 


OUM   WRSTMMN  KUriKM, 


etUtet  are  now  broken  up,  ami  the  uae  of  anthracite  ami  other 
coaU  for  the  furnace*  and  f|flaa*(-workii,  and  for  fuel,  ban  rendered 
their  former  buRiness  lean  productive. 

The  soil  of  these  lands  is  good,  a  light  loam,  but  easily  culti- 
vated ;  it  can  be  readily  fertilised  by  the  use  of  marl,  which  is 
abundant  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  and  is  worth  from  %\  to  f  1.75 
per  ton ;  lime,  which  is  worth  from  twelve  to  fifteen  cents  a 
bushel ;  or  6sh  guano,  which  is  a  very  powerful  manure,  worth 
from  %\  5  to  |i8  per  ton.  It  will  produce  almost  any  crop  which 
you  may  desire  to  cultivate,  and  yields  fine  crops  of  the  tereals 
and  Indian  corn  (thirty  to  sixty  bushels  of  the  latter),  root  crops, 
melons,  market-garden  vegetables  of  excellent  quality,  fruit  of 
great  excellence,  and  all  the  small  fruits.  Railroads  traverse  all 
these  counties,  and  both  New  York  and  Philadelphia  furnish  ex- 
cellent markets.     Iv    u* '»'iiwiot,jr.  '    I'll   r"        •«;,,'  t'l    '•»iij  I  ti 

The  climate  is  very  mild.  tHie  mean  annual  range  of  the  ther- 
mometer  being  only  43^^  the  mean  average  being  about  51°, 
and  the  extremes  being  about  90"  and  is**  Fahrenheit. 

The  rainfall  is  about  forty-eight  inches.  Ploughing  can  be 
done  every  month  in  the  year.  The  culture  of  the  grape  is  a 
favorite  industry,  and  the  grape  attains  great  perfection  from  the 
long  season  without  frost.  The  region  is  remarkably  healthy  and 
free  from  all  malarious  influences.  It  is  especially  commended 
for  sufferers  from  pulmonary  complaints. 

Here  are  glass-works,  silk  factories,  iron  mines,  artificial-stone 
works,  iron  furnaces,  and  a  great  variety  of  other  manufacturing 
and  mining  industries. 

"i  There  are  desirable  lands  at  moderate  prices  also  in  Central 
Piimsylvama,  Northern  Mmryianti,  and  large  tracts  of  some  of 
the  best  lands  the  sun  shines  on,  though  now  exhausted  by  the 
slovenly  farming  of  the  period  before  the  war,  in  VirgiMta. 
These  lands  can  be  easily  reclaimed,  and  can  be  bought  at 
reasonable  prices. 

The  lands  in  Eastern  North  Carolina,  though  fertile,  arc  very 
often  subject  to  malarial  fevers.  Where  they  can  be  freed  from 
these  by  drainage  or  the  extensive  planting  of  the  Eucalyptus 
there  are  no  better  farming  lands  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 


ii 


j^ffcHxaaJtaXki-iimagyM^^^  aw^.'  a,' 


Ithracitc  and  other 
fuel,  has  rendered 

m,  but  eatiily  cuiti- 
of  marl,  which  in 
h  frr>m  $1  to  $1.75 
to  fifteen  cents  a 
ful  manure,  worth 
est  any  crop  which 
ropH  of  the  Cereals 
latter),  root  crops, 
nt  quality,  fruit  of 
lilroads  traverse  all 
idelphia  furnish  ex- 

range  of  the  ther- 
■c  being  about  51°, 
ihrenheit. 

Ploughing  can  be 

B  of  the  grape  is  a 

perfection  from  the 

larkably  healthy  and 

pecially  commended 

lines,  artificial-stone 
)ther  manufacturing 

ices  also  in  Central 
tracts  of  some  of 

r  exhausted  by  the; 

I  war,  in  Virgtma. 
can  be  bought  at 

gh  fertile,  arc  very 
^  can  be  freed  from 
of  the  Eucalyptus, 
in  tic  coast. 


<*■ 


COSCLMION. 


IJII 


Ftorid«k  has  received  more  emigrants  and  settlers  from  the 
North  than  any  other  Southern  State.  Its  fine  dimutc,  which 
has  had  quite  as  much  rc-puuiion  as  it  deserves  for  the  relief  of 
pulmotvary  diseases,  its  orange  culture,  and  its  fme  hunting  and 
fishing,  have  been  its  great  attractionu.  The  cultivation  of  the 
orange  haji  been  greatly  dev<;lo|>ed,  and  is  profitable  to  those  who 
can  wait  for  the  maturity  of  the  orange  groves.  They  should 
not  be  permitted  to  bear  n  fiil'  cro[)  till  they  are  ten  years  old, 
and  from  the  tenth  to  the  thirtieth  year  they  are  very  profitable. 
At  long  intervals,  however,  a  severe  frost  destroys  the  fruit,  and 
kills  or  blights  many  of  the  trees.  The  present  winter  (1880- 
1881 )  has  been  most  destructive  to  the  crop.  Some  parts  of  the 
peninsula  are  aubject  to  malarial  diseases. 

conclVsiom. 


■1)1,  ,(i' 


j»,.,i   I. 


inr. 


ii    /  I 


.\    I  ••  I. 


■'    1 1 


1  Imw  iht  trtad  at  pionMra 
■'  "  ''    or  naliontyettobti 

Th«  fini  low  wtkh  of  wavw,  wWc  i 

Shall  roll  •  human  m*. 
I  hear  the  far-off  voyagtr't  horn ; 

I  M«  ihc  Vanket'*  Irall— 
HU  fuot  on  tvcry  mountatii-pMa, 

On  ev«r]r  stream  hU  tail. 
Behind  ihr  tcarcd  xjuaw't  hirrh  canot. 

The  tieamer  imokcn  and  raves, 
And  city  lots  are  MakaU  for  laU 

Above  old  Indian  graves. 
The  rudiments  > /  empire  here 

Are  plastic  yet  and  warm  ( 
The  ehaot  of  a  aaighty  world 

h  rounding  into  form  I  —J.  G.  WkiTTIIR. 


Our  task  is  done,  our  work  completed.  For  the  first  time 
since  we  became  a  nation  has  an  attempt  been  made  to  portray 
with  accuracy  and  completeness  of  detail,  the  region  beyond  the 
Mississippi.  Wc  have  sought  to  show  its  vast  extent,  its  mineral 
wealth,  its  varied  climate,  the  bountiful  production  of  its  fields  of 
golden  grain,  the  flocks  and  herds  on  its  myriad  hills  and  moun- 
tain slopes,  its  rapid  progress  in  civilization  and  material  devel- 
opment, the  manner  of  men  who  are  occupying  this  vast  empire 
of  the  future,  their  advance  in  population,  organization,  education, 
morals  and   religion.     We  lave  shown  the   phenomena  which 


ISIS 


OVM  W^STMHH  MJurmM. 


9^t^ 


make  thi»  We%tem  Finplpe  tM  wrymfpflamf,  nht  afofN}  of  the 
globe,  a«  it  \%  tu-<Uy,  hut  of  all  th«  a^'rn;  vir«f  have  iirvfT>Vf>rr(f  th« 
grarea  of  the  geologic  race*  of  animaU,  and  di-iirribrd  the  mon* 
iters  of  the  age*  beforv  there  were  any  meanuremf^nta  of  rim*-  \ 
and  wc  have  Hrurrht>d  the  leavrm  of  unwrttvrn  hUtory  to  learn 
something  of  the  raccH  who  reart-'d,  agct  ago,  the  tcrmplei  and 
thrinen.  the  furtresMt  and  towcrw,  which  are  now  without  record 
or  inhabitunt  ■'    •-■    \ 

And  not  content  with  rhf!i,  hut  looking  k^nrtHi  tt>  llilit  nnt  Hta- 
tant  future,  when  thin  continent,  from  the  Arctic  nea  to  th«  Mexi* 
can  gulf,  and  from  Atlanti«'H  Hurf*beat  to  the  puUaling  wairet  of 
the  I'aoihc,  iihail  all  bo  pait  and  { '^rcel  of  the  mvghiient  and 
grandest  of  empires ;  we  have  ImeHy  sketched  th<:  provin^ea  of 
the  Frozen  Zone,  and  tht*  wcsttvn  ix)rtion  of  that  Dominion  to 
the  nurth  of  us.  to  whom  we  stretch  forth  the  hand  of  welcome ; 
and  yet  more  hrieMy.  have  noticed  the  advantages  which  still 
attract  immigrants  to  our  Atlantic  States. 

I'he  efforts  of  the  railroad  companies,  State  boards  and  emi- 
gration societies  to  picture  each  State  and  Territory  with  which 
they  were  connected  as  an  earthly  paradise,  and  the  unwarranta- 
ble  depreciation  of  the  lands  of  other  organizations,  in  which  they 
and  others  have  iiulutged,  have  been  alike  foreign  to  our  purpose ; 
and  having  nothing  but  the  truth  to  utter,  we  have  sought  to 
"  nothing  extenuate,  nor  set  down  aught  in  malice." 

That  this  fair  land  may  develop  far  more  rapidly  than  it  has 

done  in  the  pai '.  in  wealth,  inteUigcnce  and  virtue,  is  our  most 

earnest  wish  and  prayer ;  and  then  shall  we  rejoice  tu  realize  the 

truth  of  the  JMst  uttered  predictioa  of  the  genial  and  nkty 

Holmcac     'tMLfn   in  doiricd  I.    irnr>iij    >^    im" 

••  I  ,M«  thfl  livim  lida  rail 


•tli  I' 


i|  (t'»i'j-  1    "*!•••  "»t  iiviiwiiot  raJI  o« I 

'^ '  It  crown*  with  Aamipf  lowtta 

|»:i  ..Hiftj     i(    'II  'J/i  >.'i'|l««l«yein»to(  Ubmtor, 


I  I'll],   /  >i.iij  I  >•.  fi)  ti 


\x)  r\A  ^\\  r\t  |i>  iiMiru      Tht Sytwiufd't UftJ »f  flowtrib    t     !.»m./  ^-Ji  .t!i(i.  .// 


fill'  •! 


I            II    <    I     ■    I<  Mrcanii  beyond  the  •plinUrcd  lidgt 
M   I  <M.  ^IIUl    JiMi      Vk..  ^,^/.v- M-^k ».„—.. 


Yh«t  (wHi  iht  Northern  itlowmi 

l-)V  »t>  {{^11  *u.rri    l>rir.  ftaaiButtniKXk  i«niiHtWMW,l>i'{M  •'li     •  «;n|.>  nu.t 

•»iiipir»  1,  1./  .liill  \\n\,    Th«Bomio«itUoMnl",,„   ),,  •,„,„,;,„  .„(t   tn  un.|.> 

.jimtHi"!! » .(loiiKsHiK^jio  no'  •  lO*./!.!'.  umIi  .  »'iitij)   »ili  >'> 

iVmAm   ».fiwft«»ff>f!.|     »f|f   n'H'H^.    »/«;<i    »'//      n«ii';il-ii    \>ur,    Au^nm 


LBD'14 


n«n<i-BiW*-t*'  iH«>>n)MM  jfu.i 


•  .»N.liM^.ai'S.««:'Vl'y'lk'  '.'v«l.i>r 


t  alofw  rtf  the 

ribed  the  mon* 
m^ntt  of  ttmf  i 
iftiory  to  learn 
«  templet  nnfl 
without  record 

to  that  not  dU- 
ea  to  th«  Mfxi- 
ating  wairf*  of 
mtf(htieiit  and 
H:  provliwea  of 
it  Dominion  to 
ul  of  welcome ; 
igcs  which  itill 

sarUji  and  cmi- 
tory  with  which 
the  unwarranta- 
8,  in  which  they 
to  our  purpose; 
have  nought  to 

idly  than  it  has 
ue,  iH  our  most 
ce  to  realize  the 
enbl  and  fikty 

II,  /  'i.ti)  I  It.  fli' *i 

iHii;/  »'Ii  ,(iili   '// 

,1   ^%    .,<  >«|'l[,«    lUl.t 

'U;tn  '"'t  1"  Hftijo 
■mIi  ,  »»jiitii)  Mil  ^'' 
il-il    f>fir,    .-•(i.TJfii 


irf^/'-rfi-C'-'Af  .,-..-o*a««-. 


'  -l' 


